Love knocks again - Completed

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"What sound does a horse make?" asked Vihaan

Shivay looked at the boy who was taping his horse toy on table making riding sound and sighed. Well, here is one reason kids intimidate Shivay. They ask you such questions for which you are supposed to know an answer, but unfortunately don't know.

"Er... I am not sure."

Vihaan lifted his head and looked at Shivay disappointedly. "You are not?" Then he went back to playing with the toy mimicking what could definitely not be a horse's sound.

Annika has excused herself to go to kitchen leaving behind Shivay and Vihaan in the makeshift dining table with a toy, glass of juice and no common topic for conversation.

Shivay knew that as an elder he was supposed to take the responsibility of pulling the younger one into conversation.

"So," he asked. "What is his name?"

Shivay pointed at a knight in complete medieval war time attire sitting on the horse that Vihaan was playing with.

"It is a she. Mumma said soldiers don't have to be boys. They can be girl. So, I named her Vinika. You know Vinika is..." then he paused as if giving Shivay an opportunity to guess.

Shivay's lips curved into a smile as he realized someone was waiting for his genius idea to be appreciated. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "I get it. Vihaan and Annika. Vinika." Patting Vihaan's shoulder, Shivay said, "That is a brilliant name."

"Thank you." Vihaan's smile that followed was very wide and genuine.

It was plainly evident how efficient Annika was being as a mother. It has been over an hour since Shivay has come to the house and Vihaan was winning his heart again and again over every second only. That is saying something given the fact that Shivay doesn't consider him a kids' person at all. However, Vihaan impressed him immensely with his buoyant smile, infectious energy and unimaginable cleverness for his age. After spending a week with a nephew who brought hell to earth because Shivay lifted his toy, seeing a boy who voluntarily shares chocolates with him saying 'mumma says we should share whatever we have with others' is welcome change. Shivay was only a minute away from pulling Vihaan's cheeks and hug him for being so adorable.

Even for someone being too engrossed in a kid, Shivay didn't miss to observe that there were no traces of a husband or father. Annika did say that Vihaan was her only family, but Shivay expected at least to see family photo. Knowing Annika, she did seem like a person who wants her son to know about all his family even if they weren't literally or otherwise present in their life.

What about Vihaan's father? What about Annika's parents? Not even their photo?

Widow or Divorcee? Seemed like the top two options.

Vihaan couldn't be adopted for he resembled Annika a lot. However, it could be an in family adoption. He wouldn't put it past Annika to be bigger person and take responsibility even if he wasn't her own son.

Shivay swore he wasn't going to be nosy about her. But, this put too much temptation on his curiosity that Shivay felt he would just explode if he develops any more speculations about Annika or her life.

"What are you both talking about?" Annika asked as she came out of the kitchen with two bowls. Shivay immediately stood up. "Can I help you?" he asked. Annika looked at him. "oh, you can." She gave him a lopsided smile. "You are not my boss today so I can get some work from you." She teased.

***

"I don't have to take nap today. It is Diwali. So, I can watch cartoon before it is time for bursting crackers." A grinning Vihaan informed Shivay.