Chapter – 5

Third Person’s POV

Hearing his Granny’s words Aditya became confused.

ADITYA : Condition? What condition? What are you talking about, Granny? What happened to Ayu?

Granny looked at Aditya with an angry and disappointed expression.

GRANNY : Aren’t you Ayu's father? Shouldn’t you have an idea of what is going on in your son’s life? Ohh of course, whom am I saying! Have you ever met your son while he was awake? Have you ever play with him for a single second? Answer me Adi, have you ever play with him for a single second in these years? Do you know anything about him?

Aditya lowered his head in shame. He had nothing to answer. Because the answer was no. It’s true he never spent a full day… forget about full day, he had never spent a half-day with him till then.

VEDIKA : what conditions were you talking about, Asha Aunty?

Granny snorted hearing Vedika's question.

GRANNY : Why do you care, Mrs. Kapoor? Your business parties are more important than your grandson and daughter… right?

ADIRAJ : Mom!

GRANNY : Shut up! I will not hear anything from you. You all should go back to your office. There must be some important work is pending.

Granny said sarcastically. She then again looked at Aditya and said in disappoint tone…

GRANNY : I had expected better from you. But you are no different from them. You are just like your granddad and father. I think my dear grandson Adi got lost in his childhood. You can’t be my grandson. You are son of Mr. Adiraj & Mrs. Nandita Chauhan. I have lost my grandson.

Saying this Granny ordered her caretaker Priya to push her wheelchair. Ayush who was in Granny lap sensed that they were leaving his mother, he started showing tantrums by throwing his hands and legs and crying loudly.

Granny was trying to calm him but he was not ready to listen. He didn’t want to leave his mother.

Aditya who had been standing quietly since Granny spoke all these, got back his sense hearing Ayush's cry. He walked towards them and picked up Ayush from Granny's lap to his arms.

GRANNY : What are you doing? Give him back to me!

Granny shouted at him but ignoring her shout completely, Aditya took Ayush near Jeevika's bed and told him with a very gentle voice…

ADITYA : Ayu, I am staying here with your mumma. Do you want stay with me?

Hearing the word ‘mumma’ and ‘stay’ Ayush stop crying. He understood if he stays with Aditya he can stay with his mother. So when Aditya again asked him does he want to stay with him or not? He replied mumma Which means he wants to stay with his mother.

Aditya looked at his granny with a victory smile on his face whereas his granny was looking at him shockingly.

GRANNY : I really don’t know you…you are doing politics with a child!!! He is not a business deal!

ADITYA : Granny, it is not like that –

Granny stopped him from talking further by showing her palm to him.

GRANNY : You think your life as a business deal…right? For you your wife and son are business deals…right?

ADITYA : Granny, you are overreacting…

GRANNY : Let me give you the certificate, Mr. Aditya Chauhan. You have lost his deal very badly. You became the worst businessman. You think of life as a business deal…right? Then I wish you to win this deal…best of luck.

Saying this Granny left the ward with her caretaker. Aditya sighed and looked at his wife on the bed with a pained expression.

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Aditya opened his eyes and saw his wife and son sleeping peacefully. He would have been happy seeing the scene in front of him if the continuous low beeping sound of machines had not remind him of the condition of his wife.

It was already morning then. One night had passed but there was no sign of Jeevika waking up.

Aditya's POV

I can see that my son is completely dependent on Jeevika. Yesterday night, he was not ready to leave Jeevika so he stayed with me.

I don’t know how everything will be managed. Today his nanny is coming back from her village. She was on leave. God knows for what reason or how many days or from when…I have no idea about it.

Yesterday I told my assistant to inform her. Hearing Jeevika's condition she is coming today, canceling whatever work she had. She actually used to be Jeevija's nanny.

I am caressing my son’s head. I believe this is the first time I am ever doing it. It feels amazing. Why have I never done this before?

Ayu opened his eyes, maybe feeling my touch. He looks so cute. I want to kiss his face. Have I ever even done that before also? Perhaps once or twice. Why have I not done this before?

‘Because you were busy expanding your business.’ – my subconscious mind mocked me.

“mumma” – my son’s voice broke my trance. He is looking at his mother with teary eyes. My poor boy! Wake up Jeevika…please wake up. Listen to our son's urge.

ADITYA : Ayu, are you hungry? What do you want to eat?

He looked at me but didn’t say anything. I am sure he must be hungry. Umm, but what does he eat at breakfast? I…I don’t know.

‘What kind of a father are you? Granny was right.’ - My subconscious again mocked him.

No, I don’t have time for this. Umm, what can give him? I guess cereal will be a good choice.

Third Person's POV

Aditya had ordered his bodyguard to bring cereal for his son and bread and peanut butter for him.

Aditya was feeding Ayush first. He thought as Ayush was almost 3 years old, he will be able to eat alone but he wasn’t even touching the bowl. So without finding any way he had to feed him. It’s not like he didn’t like it. He liked it very much and it was his first time feeding him. He enjoyed it. First Ayush didn’t want to eat he was calling his mumma's name and even shaking her mother’s figure. Aditya had to coax him a lot. After some coaxing, he gave up and started eating like a good boy. He must be very hungry.

After feeding him, Aditya started eating his bread and peanut butter. Ayush looked at him and his food. Aditya sensed his gaze so he looked up and saw Ayush was looking at his food. Aditya smiled and offered him some.

ADITYA : Do you want to taste it?

Aditya forwarded a small piece of bread spread with peanut butter. Seeing this Ayush grinned and was going to take the piece but he suddenly withdraw his hand and looked at his mother and called her.

Aditya understood he was seeking permission from his mother. Aditya sighed seeing this.

ADITYA : You can take it. Mumma will not say anything.

Ayush again looked at Aditya and happily took the small piece of bread.

Aditya was eating happily seeing his son also eating but suddenly Ayush started taking deep breaths as if he was feeling suffocating.

Aditya got worried he hurriedly took Ayush in his lap and started rubbing his chest. Hearing Aditya's shout some doctors entered the room and started attending to Ayush.