SS ~ Heart on the Line ~ Note page 44 - Page 3

Chapter 3

Geet sat Nyra down on the living room floor and fed her a bowl of porridge with cut up bananas. Nyra yapped on endlessly about the puppy and wanting to play outside.

After she’d finished feeding her, she gave Nyra a quick shower and changed her clothes.

“Where we going?” Nyra asked as Geet packed her clothes in a backpack.

“Daddy is coming to pick you up for the day” Geet informed. “Your dadi misses you so you’re going to be with them today” she added.

Nyra nodded. She moved to the window and watched outside for her father’s car.

Geet kept an eye on Nyra as she pulled out some decoration items from the boxes and started placing them neatly around the kitchen and living room. Nyra grew bored watching and grinned seeing an empty cardboard box. She climbed inside making it her house and yapped on to herself. Geet smiled admiring her whilst she opened the box with her posh dinner set in and gently started placing them away.

It was after half an hour, she grabbed her phone and shot a text to her ex-husband.

Geet: Nyra is waiting. Where are you?

After another 15 minutes, she had a reply.

Rahul: Can’t come today. I’m busy.

Geet: This is the third time you’ve pushed picking her up. She’s your daughter as well.

Rahul: I’m busy! I’ll pick her up next week

Geet: What could be more important than Nyra???

She scowled as her phone rang, she stepped further into the kitchen turning her face slightly away from Nyra as she answered. “It’s been 3 weeks since she’s seen you” Geet stated as soon as she answered.

“Like I said, I’m busy”.

“You need to make more of an effort, Rahul!”

“Well, I wouldn’t have gone weeks without seeing her if you’d just given us a chance!”

“Don’t even go there” she hissed. “You cheated on me. With my own f*cking friend and that too on our bed” she pointed out.

“I said sorry! It just happened” he shot back in exasperation.

“Don’t, Rahul” she sighed heavily. “Look, we need to at least get along cordially for the sake of Nyra. We’re divorced. You need to just make an effort for her”.

“Just give her the phone, I can’t come now. I’m busy” he snapped.

Geet gritted her teeth and masked her anger walking across and held out the phone to Nyra. “Baby girl, it’s daddy”.

“Daddy” she squealed taking the phone. “Daddy, I saw doggy papa” she excitedly narrated. “Stwanger say bad word and mama call him cwazy. Daddy when you coming? I weady in my pwincess dwess. Mama put on my cwown”.

“Daddy can’t come today, princess” Rahul finally managed to get a word in. “Daddy’s busy right now. But I’ll come next week” he promised.

“But daddy you say dat last time” Nyra pouted. “I miss you”.

“Princess, you know I miss you lots but mama took you away so I can’t see you much”.

Nyra sniffed pouting her lips and threw the phone down. “I don’t wike you mama. You took me away from daddy” she cried throwing herself onto the floor.

Geet’s body vibrated with anger and hurt at the same time. Once again, her husband was pinning the blame on her and trying to poison her daughter’s mind against her. She grabbed the phone and stalked off into the kitchen glancing over her shoulder at her wailing daughter.

“Stop blaming me, you ass! Because of you, she’s crying!”

“No, Geet. It’s because of you. You split us up” he yelled cutting the phone.

Geet glared at the phone and tossed it on the counter before she walked across. She crouched down and lifted Nyra into her arms.

Nyra turned burying her face in her mother’s bosom and sobbed. “I want daddy back”.

“I’m sorry, baby girl” she rocked her gently. “Daddy will see you next week” she promised and hoped desperately that he will make the effort to pick her up and spend the day with her.

“I want to see daddy now” Nyra screamed. Fat tears rolled down her rosy cheeks falling onto her dress.

“Daddy is busy, but he’ll see you next week” Geet tried to reason.

“No. It not fair, mama! I want daddy. I don’t wike you” she screamed.

Geet rubbed at her daughter’s teary eyes and rocked her. “How about… we go ask the neighbour if you can play with Pepper?” she suggested trying to soothe her inconsolable child.

Nyra continued crying for a minute before she soothed herself and hiccupped. “I can palay with papa?”

“Pepper”

“Papa” Nyra copied.

Geet nodded giving up on trying to correct her.

“Ok, good. First let’s get you out of these so you don’t ruin your dress” she said standing up with Nyra on her hips. “Once you’ve changed and ate a snack then I’ll ask if you can play with Pepper” she explained.

“Ok” Nyra agreed resting her head on her mother’s chest and popped her thumb in her mouth.

“Pepper” Maan whistled. “C’mon boy” he called as he waited outside. He had showered and dressed in a pair of jeans with a black shirt. After breakfast, he was ready to start his day which first meant tending to Pepper and his walks.

Pepper barked excitedly with his tongue hanging out his mouth and wagged his tail.

“Did you get your ball?” Maan asked.

He whimpered looking sad.

“Guess that means you’ve lost another tennis ball” Maan muttered rolling his eyes. “Sit” he pointed. “Don’t move” he added as he headed back inside his house to grab another ball.

“Pepper” he called seeing his puppy was no longer on the steps of the porch. He panicked hurrying out and sighed in relief seeing that his Pepper had crossed over to the neighbour’s side and was waggling his tail excitedly at Nyra and her mother.

Nyra cupped Pepper’s face laughing and popped kisses on the top of his head.

Pepper was loving the attention. Geet was sat on the porch steps keeping her daughter close and showed Nyra on how to pet the little puppy.

“Pepper, what did I tell you about stranger danger?” he asked walking across.

Geet looked at him as did Nyra.

Maan paused noticing the rosy cheeks of the young girl and dried tear marks on her face. He then looked at Geet and said, “Is everything ok?”

“Yeah, it is. Can Nyra play with Pepper?” she asked looking at him bashfully.

“Sure, but we’re on our way to the park for his walk” Maan pointed.

“Oh, ok. Nyra, we’ll play with him later” she told her.

“No, you pwomised mama” Nyra’s eyes got bigger and pooled with tears.

“I know, baby. But they’re going to exercise now” Geet nodded picking Nyra into her lap and rocked her.

“Nooooo”

Maan gulped and looked unsure. “Uh… If you want, she can come with us to the park?” he said panicking at the sound of the young child wailing loudly.

Geet looked at Nyra, she was already disappointed and she didn’t want her daughter crying even more. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s only round the corner, 10 minutes from here” Maan pointed down the street.

“Thank you” Geet stood slowly. “Is it ok if I just get ready quickly?”

“Yeah, fine. We can wait” he agreed.

She smiled letting Nyra know they’re going to the park to play with Pepper and turned heading inside to quickly change out of her clothes.

“Mama, I stay with stwanger?” Nyra asked.

“Not today, mama will be ready in 5 minutes” she said climbing up the steps and headed to her bedroom. Geet placed Nyra on the bed and rummaged through her wardrobe. Geet undressed out of her shorts and vest and into a comfortable pair of leggings and a t-shirt with her sneakers. She pulled her hair out of her messy bun and dragged a brush through her hair before tying up into a ponytail. Looking a little more presentable to go out, she grabbed Nyra and returned downstairs where Maan and Pepper were waiting.

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Chapter 4

“Thank you for letting us join you” Geet offered her thanks again. They’d arrived at the park, Maan had crouched down to Nyra’s level showing her how to throw the ball and Pepper chasing it before he brought it back to them to be thrown again.

Whilst Maan’s throws were long, Nyra’s only went a couple of feet before slowing down. Pepper was still excited chasing the ball and bringing it back to her barking in excitement.

Maan had retired to the bench watching as Nyra stood closely and Pepper continued to play with her. “Like I said before and the million times before that, no worries and it’s ok”.

Geet nodded with a small smile. “Fun morning for us” she remarked.

“Yeah, next time don’t switch on that lawn mower at 9” he laughed.

“Who still sleeps at 9?” Geet countered playfully.

“I do” he pointed out. “And so does the rest of the world”.

“Well, I’m an early riser. When you have kids, you’ll see” she laughed.

Maan scrunched his nose.

“Why did you make that face?”

“What face?” he quickly straightened.

“Oh my God. You don’t like kids?” she asked.

“Well… I wouldn’t say that…” he looked thoughtfully.

Geet raised her brows questioningly.

“It’s not that I don’t like kids. Just… never really had anything to do with them or be fond of them” he shrugged. “Well of course until your daughter”.

“How could you not like kids?” she shook her head.

“Your kid’s ok. Others, not so much” he chuckled shrugging his shoulder. “Anyway, where are you from, Geet?”

“Oh, I’ve always lived here. My parents just live 20 minutes away from here and I’ve been staying with them for some time”.

“No husband?” Maan asked gesturing to her pregnant belly.

“Ex-husband” she replied looking away from him and focusing on her daughter.

“Oh, sorry”.

“Don’t be” she shrugged. “Nyra was upset for that reason” she added.

“What reason?” he looked at her curiously.

“My ex was supposed to pick her up for the weekend to spent time with her, but as always for the last 3 weeks, his excuse was he’s too busy. Nyra was crying for that reason”.

“Sounds like an ass”.

“Shh” Geet frowned. “I don’t need Nyra to hear that”.

Maan shrugged apologetically and grinned at her innocently.

“So, what’s your story?” Geet inquired.

“Nothing interesting” he smiled. “It’s just Pepper and me in that house”.

“No family?”

“Yeah, I have got crazy bunch. Parents and 1 brother and sister” he informed.

“I know all about crazy families” Geet smiled. “I’ve got my parents, then 2 brothers and twin sisters”.

Maan whistled. “Ok, mine aren’t that crazy and busy” he laughed.

Geet smiled and looked over at Nyra. She was now trying to climb onto Pepper as if he were a horse. “Nyra, no baby” she stood and walked over. “He’s a puppy. We don’t climb on him”.

“He want to palay horsey, mama” she pouted.

“I don’t think he does” she chuckled tweaking her daughter’s nose playfully. “How about you throw the ball and tell him to get it?” she gestured.

Nyra bit down on her lower lip thoughtfully then nodded. “Ok” she picked up the ball and chucked it across. “Papa get it” she pointed.

“Pepper” Geet and Maan corrected.

“I say dat” Nyra told them.

After they’d played for a while, Geet glanced at the time and told Nyra it was lunch time and they better get back as the moving van will soon be coming to drop off the large items. Nyra agreed feeling hungry and they started making their way back to their new home.

“Thanks again for letting us play with Pepper” Geet thanked him. “Nyra, baby girl thank Maan” she nudged her.

“Thanks stwanger” Nyra grinned.

“You’re welcome, darling” he smiled.

“It pwincess” she giggled.

“Ok, princess” he laughed. “Right, I’ll see you around, mama bear”.

Geet rolled her eyes and tugged Nyra along. “Bye stranger danger”.

He smirked giving her saluting wave and headed inside to his house as she did the same.

After she’d finished feeding Nyra, she placed her daughter in the living room with a bowl of fruits to snack on whilst she ate her lunch. Nyra forgot about her bowl halfway through and climbed into the cardboard box and played house again which suddenly turned into a shop where she was selling fruits. Geet looked on in amusement at her daughter’s antics as she entertained herself.

An hour after, the moving van had arrived with their sofa, dining room and chairs along with the large appliances. Geet tugged Nyra to the stairs whilst the workers brought in the appliances and left them in the living room. After they’d brought everything in, Geet thanked and paid them. With the living room and kitchen filled with the appliances, there wasn’t much space for Geet and Nyra downstairs.

“Shall we go outside to play?” Geet looked down at Nyra.

“We palay with papa?” she asked eagerly.

“Maybe another time” she answered. “How about we go to nana and nani’s house?” she asked.

“Ok” Nyra agreed nodding her head.

Geet grabbed her car keys and lifted Nyra into her arms, she walked out settling her daughter in her booster seat then climbed into the front driving to her parent’s house.

Viraj opened the door hugging Geet tightly then took Nyra into his arms. “We were coming by later” he told her wrapping an arm around Geet’s shoulder.

“I know, but after the delivery there isn't much space for me, Nyra or this one” she chuckled rubbing her belly.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yeah, we ate sandwiches” Geet informed. Viraj placed Nyra down and she hauled ahead to the library pulling out her crayons and colouring book. Viraj walked across sitting down on the sofa keeping an eye on her.

“Geet, come and sit here” Megha patted the space besides her. “How are you feeling today? Do you need me to do anything?”

“No, I’m ok. Thanks mama” she smiled. “Where’s Payal and Mansi? House seems quiet” she asked looking around.

“Your sisters have gone out shopping as their usual spending spree” Megha answered and rolled her eyes at her husband.

Viraj laughed and shook his head. “Let them shop and enjoy themselves”.

“Look at your papa, he is supposed to be teaching them to become responsible instead he continues to spoil them”.

“True that, papa. I was married and already pregnant with this madam” Geet agreed with her mother. “Mama also already had Varun bhai by then” she pointed out.

“Are you jealous of your own daughter and sisters shopping spree?” he teased his wife and daughter.

“Yes” Geet nodded.

“No” Megha replied.

“I thought Nyra was supposed to be with…” Viraj let the words hang not saying his ex-son in law’s name not wanting to Nyra to hear.

“He’s apparently too busy” Geet sighed heavily. “She’s been crying for a long time, thankfully our neighbour distracted her or else I didn’t know what I was about to do” she explained.

“Neighbour?”

Geet nodded and told them about her neighbour Maan and his dog Pepper. She also gave a brief version of her conversation with Rahul.

“That’s very nice of him” Megha complimented.

“Yeah, he was kind enough to let us play with his puppy. I wanted to kill Rahul for a moment” she muttered angrily. “But then I couldn’t risk going to jail before this one is out” she patted her belly. “And he agrees” she laughed feeling the kick.

Megha smiled placing her hand on her daughter’s belly and grinned. “I miss being pregnant” she said wistfully.

Viraj’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? You threatened to kick me out after Mansi and Payal”.

“I don’t want to remember that pregnancy from hell” Megha shuddered remembering the 9 months of her pregnancy with the twins.

“Do you see how your mother changes her tunes every few days?” he joked. “You were just saying you miss being pregnant”.

“Yeah, I do miss being pregnant like how I was with Geet and Yash. They were my easiest ones” Megha reminded.

“Thanks mama” Geet grinned.

“Anyway is he definitely going to be coming next week?” Viraj inquired.

“I’m not sure. I’m going to plan something for us to do if he doesn’t come” she responded. “I might not tell her until he shows up” she added.

“That might be better” Megha agreed. “This way she isn't hurt”.

Geet hummed in agreement looking over where Nyra was focused on her latest colouring image.

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I will give a sketch of Maan's family when they are introduced.

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