If she hated him again?

40

"You're my baby boy Mowgli! I lubbb youuu soooo much!" Neil said dramatically, pulling him towards himself, while Mowgli scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Hey listen listen. Keep this incorrect version of words with yourself alright? Keep this for Zara instead. I'm 13, I understand everything. Buttering won't work here. Realise your mistakes Dad." Mowgli glared at him, while he released himself and sat in a corner, away from him.

Neil looked down, suddenly interested in his shoes. He was late to realise it. He'd been ignoring him for whole three years! He wondered what the poor soul understood.

"Mowgli why are you so red? Kya hua bache?" Shweta spoke suddenly but he shook it off politely with a nothing.

Neil looked at Avni and gestured for her to take his side and help him to pacify their Sonny. Avni put her expression in a such a way that reminded him that he had hurt her too.

"I backed you so many times Neil. I thought you'd realise. See you didn't. Now let's celebrate Zara's birthday. He is finally on normal terms with her. Come." Avni spoke, neither politely nor angrily and glanced towards Zara who was waiting for cutting the Barbie cake.

"Hey Avni." Akash and Kia came and gave her a sidehug. "I'm so sorry for the short term notice Akash." Avni apologised, hiding her family's turmoil.

"Zi is still small isn't she? According to the average height and all?" Akash commented glancing at the small child, holding his own son who was there years bigger than Mowgli.

"You know she's physically weak. It persists ." Avni whispered, so she was audible to only Akash.

"You met Neil? He is there with Ali and Riya." Avni spoke, forgetting Zara's weakness. She was brave at heart.

"I...tried talking to him. Clearly he doesn't want to." Akash spoke sadly. "It..it wasn't your fault Akash. You wanted your son's safety and I understand you would not have wanted that he be threatened or something-" Avni replied, as an attempt to make him feel better.

"No Avni. He was right. We didn't help. We didn't do anything. We did nothing to prove ourselves as your friends. We backed out at the last moment-"
"Yeah you did." Neil interrupted rather abruptly.

"Guys let's not create a scene." Ali spoke looking at them. Neil scoffed and went while Akash lowered his head. Avni hugged him muttering it's okay. It was over. I don't care.
<<<<<<<<<<

AvNeil held her small hands, helping the little one to cut the cake. "Nai! Mai dai ke saath cut karunga!" Zara protested, jerking away their hands and rested it on her waist. Avni chuckled and called Mowgli.

He came forward, passed a smile to Zara and cut the cake with her. "Khao na!" Zara grunted when he refused to eat a part of the Barbie's head. "I hate these dolls!" He said making an ughhh face. "Arey it's tasy!" She mispronounced and he was forced to do it. He smiled and went to his room. Before he could lock it Zara ran upto him and pulled him to the kitchen to show him something.

"Look, Neil aaraam se samjhate to maan jaata vo. Scolding is not a magical solution to everything." Avni said, softening a bit.

"I...I'll change. I'll talk to him don't worry." Neil spoke sadly, remembering his words. He was so guilty.

Avni could do nothing but nod as he followed her kiddos to the kitchen

>>>>>>>>

"I've hidden my toffees. Mumma ordered not to eat. We can take one. She won't knowww!" Zara spoke and picked her toffees from behind the water bottle.

The brother sister laughed and ate all the toffees on the name of one. They didn't even realise it and came out of the chocolate land when

"Uhm uhm." Avni coughed loudly behind them.

They both stopped eating at the same time, and looked awkwardly at each other, scared to look at their mom. "Ma hum to bas-"
"Haan ma hum to bas dentist ke appointment ki tayari kar rahe the." Avni completed for them sarcastically.

She faked her anger. Seeing their scared expression, she began laughing and hugged her kids.

"You look so cute muah!" She spoke, hugging Zara and then Mowgli. "Mowgli you're burning. I'll call the doctor. " Avni spoke shocked.

"Ma..Im-"
"No. Shut up. Come with me. Get up. Zara you go and sleep with dadi ok? Mowgli come." She spoke picking him in his lap and went to their room.

Neil was changing into his tshirt when he saw Avni enter with Mowgli hurriedly and was scared. " Avni kya hua?" "Neil please call the doctor. Khud to ye kuch realise karta nahi hai. Fever hai itna isey!" Avni chided him at the same time. Typical. Indian. Mom.

"WHAT? WAIT!" Neil literally yelled. And Mowgli who was feeling a bit dizzy felt more ill after Avni had made him realise.

"Give him to me." Neil spoke and was about to take him in his arms but he clung more to Avni, refusing to go to him.

Neil forcefully took him in his lap.

"CHHODO MUJHE! LEAVE ME! MUMMA!" Mowgli cried and yelled, forwarding his arms towards her. Avni looked on helplessly.

"Baby, mogu bas bache. Baat to sunlo papa ki. Mowgu! Beta Papa ko-" Neil tried to explain but he was continuously wriggling in his grip, not wanting to be in his touch.

"NAHI SUNNA MUJHE KUCH! AAP JAAYO USKE PAAS! SULAO USEY. PLAY WITH HER! WHY MOWGLI? MAI TO KUCH NAHI LAGTA! I DIE OR LIVE YOU DON'T CARE ANYMORE. YOU JUST PRETENDED YOU DID! Then you cared for me because you didn't know you had a son. Now you care for her because she wasn't supposed to live. Go on and change sides! You don't even remember when are my exams , you don't even ask how my day was, you don't attend my parents teacher meetings, Dadu or Mumma does. Why? Because you're busy playing with your pari. You know what? I wish you wouldn't have told me that you were my dad! I was glad living as an orphan! I was happy at the orphanage. I never knew life with parents was so sad and depressing. Varna I wouldn't have ever insisted that I want a family! I was happy with the theory I don't have parents. Atleast ussey mujhe na attention multi thi. Aur ussey na hee mujhe koi problem thi. But now, you've turned me selfish! I WISH I COULD LIVE THAT LIFE AGAIN! I LIKED IT BETTER WHRN YOU WERE just my Superman and she was Jaan Didi. That's it. You're a terrible dad! I can't even blame. Every dad is like this! Everyone! You all don't care about me! I hate you! I hate you!" Mowgli yelled, sobbing really violently in his arms. Neil closed his eyes, letting his tears flow.

He had no idea his son was killing himself with these emotions everyday.