Chapter-3
It was a sunny Sunday morning after so long. Malhar was shaving when his phone beeped. It was a message from forensic lab.
"Fingerprints of the subject matched," Malhar sighed and his expression became hard and unforgiving.
The Ayah at the orphanage was looking frazzled due to handling all the kids alone without any help. A baby was playing by himself on a tiny wobbling chair when he suddenly saw the Ayah playing with other child. Furious that the Ayah was giving attention to a kid other than him, the baby started crying, asking the Ayah to lift him up on her godi.
It felt to Kalyani as if her heart was pierced with hundreds of poisonous arrows. Her baby needed the love of his mother, but she was so helpless. She couldn't afford to let anyone in the orphanage know she watches Moksh stealthily despite signing on the paper which said she'd not try to keep contact with the child after giving him up to the orphanage. She was the worst and unluckiest mother in the world. But what she could do? Ever since she was pregnant, Atharv wanted her to abort the child. He didn't want to become a father and lose his freedom. And when Kalyani found out Atharv was secretly giving her food that could cause miscarriage, it was the first time Kalyani lifted her hand on Atharv. She knew he was having an affair and a child would make it more difficult for him to begin a new life with his mistress. But she never thought he could think to kill his own child. When Moksh was born, Atharv had not even seen his face and Kalyani had no choice other than to give up Moksh to an orphanage because she knew for sure Atharv would try to harm him again if Moksh stays with Kalyani.
Moksh was now crying harder and in an effort to reach Ayah, he shifted on the chair and the chair lost his balance. Kalyani despite herself ran towards him when a man caught hold of Moksh and prevented him from falling down.
"Mera baccha," he said to Moksh in baby language, "Dekh Baba aa gaye hain na. Ab to rona band kar. Mera Gussail baccha." Moksh looked at the man's face for a second and then a big smile broke out on his plump face and he began laughing.
Kalyani was shocked beyond limit.
"What are you doing here Malhar?" Kalyani was incredulous.
"Can't you see I'm spending some quality time with my son? Hai Na, Moksh. Look at this Gandi Aunty. She couldn't see anyone happy. Go to her godi now, I'll go and complete the adoption formalities," Malhar said, handing Moksh over to Kalyani.
Kalyani waited for Malhar to go inside orphanage office and when she was sure no one was seeing her, she kissed Moksh all over his face and his teddy like arms.
"Mera baccha," Kalyani was saying repeatedly. After one long year, she was holding her baby in her hands. She knew now that he was adopted by that Malhar Malhotra, she may never see him again. But at least she got to hold her child.
Malhar wiped the corner of his eyes. His phone rang. It was Saarthak on other sign.
"Have you signed the adoption papers?" Niketan asked.
"Yes," Malhar said. His voice was choked with emotion.
"Don't you think you're going too far now by using a one-year old to catch his mother and put her behind the bars?" For the first time Malhar felt Saarthak doubting his actions.
"I don't have any choice," Malhar said, leaning against the wall, "And there's something else. I don't want Moksh to live the life of an orphan like I did. I had you but Moksh has no one. He doesn't deserve this. I don't know why I feel some connection with him. Like there's some Raabta between us."
When Malhar was sure, Kalyani had spent considerable time with Moksh, he went back to them and said, "Hey, what's your name?"
"Kalyani. Kalyani Deshmukh."
"Yeah, Kalyani Whatever," Malhar said carelessly, "Hey! It's my first day with Moksh. Can you please help me buy some clothes and things for him. Look I would have done it myself but women know these things better and I don't know any woman..."
Kalyani retorted, "You don't know any woman? What about the girls you told me in our first meeting who are crazy for you..."
"Oh them," Malhar said, mentally cursing himself for his stupid mistake, "They would give anything to have me looking at them just once but they are not mothers. I mean, they don't have that maternal behenji vibe."
"Ok," Kalyani thought to end this talk there itself. She was getting a chance to spend more time with her child, without hiding. She can't let this chance pass.
Malhar opened the car door for her and went into the car from driver's side.
"Babes, can you please hold Moksh?" Malhar said, "I have to drive."
Malhar smiled on seeing joy in Kalyani's eyes. He turned on the radio.
"You can turn it off if you have any problem," Malhar suggested.
"No, it's fine. How come you're adopting Moksh? You don't seem like the type..."
"Ah," Malhar said waving this hands, "There's no more exhilarating feeling than having girls throw their hearts under my feet. But deep down, you know I have a paternal bone lodged somewhere in myself. Maybe it's a thing from some previous birth."
"Yeah, sure," Kalyani scoffed. Just then Moksh dropped his pacifier on the car floor.
With Moksh on her lap, Kalyani bent down to pick it up when her hand brushed with Malhar's who had already picked the pacifier. And the song playing on the radio was:
https://youtu.be/aVPwXQgY2QI
Guys please tell me your feedback on this chapter.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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