Silver Lining | Grooms #3

XXV. Lazy Afternoon

Esha rubbed her eyes, walking into the living room and yawning. Amey came running from the kitchen and hugged her legs. "Good morning, Maasi."

Instead of scowling at him first thing in the morning, she leaned down and pecked his cheek. "Good morning, baby. Did you sleep well?"

He nodded, "Yeah, mom read me story. Snow white and seven dwarfs."

Esha chuckled and teased Neha, "You're going to turn him into a girl, Neha."

"As if. I'm teaching my kid to be in touch with his feminine side." Neha defended her actions, though the slight selfish gain in reading Amey that story would be the fact that it was her favorite bedtime story growing up.

Esha picked him up and placed him on top of the kitchen counter. "What's for breakfast?" She sent a smile to Nikhil who was pouring creamer in his coffee and looked around to find Anaya munching on Nutella bread. "Where's the lovebirds?"

Rahul answered, looking up from the stove where he had been making omelet, "Romancing, I'm sure. Omelet or scrambled?"

"Scrambled, please." She answered before telling Amey to sit still so she could quickly walk to the other end of the kitchen and get a cup so she could pour juice in it.

After getting the mug, she turned to witness Nikhil talking to Amey while feeding him tiny bits of the omelet. She smiled, along with Neha who came up to stand next to her. "He's amazing. Wherever did you find him?"

She chuckled to herself, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Neha went on to inform, "You know, he was giving me such a hard time getting ready. Nikhil must have heard so he came over and I don't know magic he did, but Amey took a bath without a single whine. The two of them are probably best friends by now."

Rahul muttered at the two of them, "Okay, no need to make me jealous."

Neha laughed and went up to him, placing a kiss on his cheek, "Oh, babe, it's okay. Amey still loves you more." She then went to Nikhil, "Thanks Nikhil, I got it."

He answered, "I don't mind. You go have your breakfast."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded, and she went to grab a bite. She walked up to the fridge, filled up the cup with OJ and came to stand next to him. Amey forwarded his tiny hands, making the grabbing motion of 'give-me'. Nikhil moved slightly so she could stand in front of Amey. She carefully tilted the cup so Amey would drink only a little at a time and not slobber it down to make a mess.

"Eshu, here you go." Rahul placed a plate of scrambled eggs for her. She thanked him, eating while standing there instead of going to sit with Neha. Rahul turned off the stove and went over to his wife. Esha turned her focus to Amey and Nikhil again.

"Hey kiddo, want to try this?" She asked Amey, knowing he would nod. The kid was only three, but he loved trying everything. He had to have a bite of everything everyone was eating. Only then would he decide his favorite from the choices and eat more of that. Once he nodded, she forwarded a spoonful to him. After he chewed, she asked, "More?"

He nodded, and she went to feed him another morsel when he put his tiny hands on her wrist, turning the direction towards Nikhil. He ordered him, "Try;yummy."

Nikhil chuckled and abided, eating the morsel Esha was offering. "Hmm, you're right, kid. It is yummy."

Esha glared at him, noticing the mischief in his eyes. She was sure he was commenting more on her feeding him than the food itself.

Amey cheekily grinned oblivious to Nikhil's innuendos, "I know. Maasi, give him more."

Nikhil teased, "Yeah, maasi. I want more."