The Ex's At War

Chapter 16 - RIGHTFUL RIGHTS

I was breathing over his neck, subconsciously I had snuggled into him in sleep, I had fisted the strap of his vest to not let him go away from me and my nails were digging on his collar bone. It was like I was venting all my frustration in sleep only and that rhino slept like a rhino. He gave away no signs of being bothered instead had wrapped me by his arm. A drop of tear trickled down just as I opened my eyes. It was difficult to differentiate if I was crying in sleep or I had slept while crying. I sniffled a little and he pressed me more to his chest.

It wasn't like I was surprised or shocked to see both of us in that state but just that I was hating it now. How could he sleep so peacefully after making me cry like hell? Of course he checked on me last night but I pretended to be asleep but he should have known that I was hurt. Although I wasn't facing him I knew he lied down beside me, slowly sleep took over and here in the morning I open my soggy eyes to his warm and protective torso.

I tried to push him apart but he pulled in more. I raised my head to look at his sleepy face which didn't have a single line of regret on it and that escalated my temper manifolds. I wanted him to feel my pain, wanted him to know how hurt I was. He wasn't reacting to my pushes nor my nails digging on his skin, finally I opened my mouth and scratched my teeth on his collar bone like a rat but he hardly moved. I couldn't believe that I could be this silly but I was.

I felt something breathing on my tummy. I loosened Manik's grip on me to have a look and found Manini sandwiched between us, her face my buried in my stomach while the rest of her body had become the side pillow of her Daddy. She was enjoying her carefree beauty sleep in the warmth of us. I quickly spread apart to pull her up but Manik had locked her with his legs, he used whatever he could to have us close.

"What are you doing?", he grumbled in a sleepy tone while I was trying to free my baby from him grip but I did not reply. Manik stretched his limbs comfortably to break his slumber and looked at me, he blinked a few more times to study my face properly, "What is wrong with you? Why is your face so puffy and your eyes look red..Did you cry?", almost immediately he was awake and aware trying to note the other details over my face. His sudden question made me conscious in a nanosecond.

"No", I replied wryly to avoid his chain of queries and got up without any further ado. Honestly I didn't want to see his face.

Manik shrugged his shoulders and saw his baby, he nudged Manini under the blanket and she rolled into his lap. I freshened up while the Daddy daughter sat to watch Doraemon at that hour in the morning. Manini explained to him the characters and Manik listened to her attentively.

"Kaddu come you have to brush your teeth", I did my best to only focus on my daughter and not the monster on whose lap she sat.

"Mommy I am showing Dolemon to Daddy", she signaled me to stop. I was already annoyed and she was annoying me more now but before I could say something Manik intervened.

"Princess listen to Mommy...do brushy first then we will watch all the cartoons okay", he suggested in his own sweet way, she made a face in the beginning then raised her hands towards me to pick her up. I sensed Manik was gaping at my straight face only but I made sure that I wasn't weak. I headed to the bathroom with Manini in my arms dangling her legs and blowing kisses to her Daddy on the bed.

"Nandu where have you kept my shaving kit?", he bellowed in the next moment and as determined I didn't reply and he yelled again. Manini looked at me with the brush in her mouth. She did notice the coldness in me. Even though she was small she was somewhere aware of the differences in between her parents but she had never seen me this straight faced pertaining to Manik at least.

"Godd!! I literally had to ransack the whole cupboard to locate this", he unmindfully washed his face and applied some shaving cream on it.

"Daddy I will shhabe you", Manini actioned the razor moves on her cheek. Manik gave me a sarcastic look.