3. Sick and Deal
That one word has given me the entire world's joy.
I turn back to see Aarush standing
Krutika Desai
Aaru, bachha what are you doing here?
Aarush
Maine aapko dekha aur main aapke paas aa gya.
(showed all his tiny teeths while smiling)
I saw you and came to you.
Krutika Desai
No baby, your class is going on right? It's bad.
Aarush
Mumma mumma, Aditi is not okay?
Krutika Desai
She is baby. Don't worry.
Krutika Desai
You go in your class now and I'll go check on our brave girl. Okay?
Aarush
Done mumma.
(gave a high-fi to Krutika and left to the class)
Aarush is 4 years old. He got lost in some function 2 months ago and was crying miserably when a generous lady approached us with him. Since then, he has been with us.
I don't know if his parents our looking for him or not.
But I don't have the courage to advertise my children over some lost child poster. I don't trust the world especially not for my kids.
Today we are a family of 157 people, among whom 120 are kids and 37 comprise the faculty.
And guess what, I am 'Mumma' to all the children. Being 23 and being a mumma is indeed beautiful and unexpected. Like, who would have thought of this? But you see life is the most unpredictable.
Aur woh kehte hain na,
"Jab God ki marzi hoti hai toh cheezo mein logic nahi, magic hota hai"
As they say," When God wills it, the world runs not on logic, but on magic."
Anyway, there's a reason why all the children here call only me 'mumma'. And that reason is the reason why all this started, this small world which is my heaven.
Turning towards the dormitory, I find Shanti running here and there through the shelves.
Shanti
(turned back immediately)
Didi. (finally exhaled in relief)
Subah se ro rhi hai.
She has been crying since morning.
Those words hit my gut directly. I rushed towards the other door. Shanti looked utterly exhausted. I know my baby very well, she won't let a person breathe if she is not feeling good.
I opened the door in haste. Saw her crying on the bed refusing to everything the other 2 members were trying to do. And I regret it. I regret not being here, to go to gym, to not be on my baby's side for a whole day.
The moment I walked in the room, she sensed me and jerked her head back to see me. Her tear-filled eyes came in my view.
Krutika Desai
Aditi....
(low voice)
Silence spread through the room as I walked towards the bed. Aditi didn't leave a second to crawl to me.
Aditi
Mum-mum-mumm-mumma....
(soft weeping tone)
All the staff left the room.
Krutika Desai
Mera baby...
(sat on the bed)
Aditi
Mum-mumma...
(lips quivering, breath choked)
This is Aditi. My jaan, my world. 2 years old power pack which right now is not well.
I found Adu almost 2 years ago on 11th October. She was a newborn left stranded in a narrow lane passing on the back of this orphanage which before was just a barren piece of land with a building of boys hostel. I found her then and went straight to the hospital in emergency.
Doctor checked her and told me that she was born the same day probably in the morning and has been left by the noon.
That day I decided not to let her be left alone ever again. I know it's weird but that awkwardness can't be prioritized before the risk of leaving her alone again.
Being a girl in a society like ours is tough already, first of all you may or may not even have the chance to be born in a lot of places. & if you're born then there's always a fear of getting in danger.
It's basically more like by the men, for the men, of the men.
So not taking up any risk further, I came home with Adu, told my parents about it and pleaded them to support me which they do till date.
Then came a moment when I had grown exceptionally close to Aditi in just 15 days. Adu was being fed on infant formula. She became an integral part of my life, and truth to be told, it was both ways.
Then came the decision to open a home for children because I and Aditi were genuinely touched and bonded to each other and the destination was exactly where Adu was found. That exact place in Delhi which now is known as "Little Steps". Since just the renovation was to be done, it got completed in 1 month.
By the end of the 1st month of having Adu with me, I turned 22. Adu got sick once, and the doctor told me that she had low birth weight and that the formula might now get contaminated, so it was better to go for breastfeeding.
So then, after thinking about it, I agreed to it because now I could do anything for my Adu. With both hormonal treatment + breast stimulation it took me 10 weeks to get ready for breastfeeding. And when I say this, I mean it that it was never a decision taken in a hurry. I've been a very patient person throughout the situation or I should say Adu was the reason why I became so patient.
And then the real motherhood of mine started. My parents gave me the freedom to decide and discuss my life to my loved ones which is a blessing in its own way.
Right now I was sitting on the bed with Aditi in my arms and her head on my chest. This is exactly how everyone started calling me mumma because Aditi used to call me. I can't take Adu with me because I am not in a stable position right now and also she is more free here with everyone else.
Aditi
(eyes fluttering open and shut)
(fingers coiled on Krutika's kurti neckline)
Krutika Desai
(patting Aditi's back)
*phone rang*
Aditi
(head tilted up quickly)
Mumma...Haatrinnnn..haatrinnnn..
(indicating phone call)
Krutika Desai
Yes yess baby. Very good
(picked up the phone)
Krutika Desai
Adu maasi
(aunt)
Aditi
(face beamed)
Maachi
Naina Rawat
📞Have you had your medicine?
Aditi
(face scrunched on reaction)
Krutika Desai
(chuckled)
📞yes she did
It was Naina's break time, that's when she calls us every day.
On the other hand, in a meeting room in Delhi, a very important deal was getting signed. The one which change a country's GDP altogether.
Roger Ivans
(stood up offering a hand for handshake)
Roger Ivans
So, thank you Mr. Shekhawat
Was indeed an honour to meet you.
There he sat, the emperor and the backbone of the business world.
Abhay Shekhawat
(stood up)
Pleasured to remind you to be...in limits.
(managed a smile somehow)
Roger Ivans
No worries Mr. Shekhawat (a bit nervous)
I'll just share you the details of area.
author
Hello my cute budding delulu darlings 🫂
author
I hope you liked the chapter
author
Oh and happy 79th independence day
Jai Hind Jai Bharat 🇮🇳
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