A/n: So, I was going through my childhood videos and realized that my little brother and I were not always on best terms. He is seven years younger than me I did not really like him when he was born. 🤣
This piece of work is inspired by jealousy.
This is a sort of a sequel to Ayaan Chachu and Make way for baby
This story CAN stand on its own, though!
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Ayaan was in his office, sorting out the latest deal he had made with an online purchaser from England. He loved his work. Everybody, including himself, had thought that Ayaan Ahmed Khan will never grow up and find something sustainable to do. Boy, the world had been wrong!
Today, he was the owner of a well-established vintage car and motorbikes showroom and garage. He had a clientele all over the world. The best part was the he enjoyed his work and was passionate about each and every vintage baby in his display.
Asad had helped him get started - anything to make his brother responsible. Ayaan's family had not been that supportive though. The thought of not going into something that was tangible and financially assuring was a dare. But, Humaira had stood by his side - well, that can partly be because she could finally take a breath and not worry about her husband chatting up the ladies of Bhopal.
It was just another day at work for Ayaan when the door to his office opened and slammed. He looked over from his pile of paperwork, almost expecting his heavily pregnant wife complain about something. The pregnancy hormones were driving Ayaan crazy. He took a double take when instead he saw his twelve-year-old niece standing in his office. And boy she looked angry.
"Mahek! What a surprise! What are you doing here?"
Mahek pressed her lips together, crossed her arms and said, "Why? Am I not allowed to be here anymore?"
Ayaan grinned at the girl in front of him. She really was Asad Ahmed Khan's mini-me. Apart from inheriting his strong features and no-nonsense personality, she also followed her father's steps when it came to anger.
Upon seeing Ayaan smiling, Mahek stomped her feet and said, "Chachu! Are you laughing at me? Do I look amused to you?"
Ayaan's grin only got wider but he controlled himself, "Of course not, mohtarma! I wouldn't dare laugh at my princess. Now, c'mere and tell your Chachu was has you so upset!" he gestured for her to come forward.
She quickly rushed over to him and hugged him tightly. Mahek shared an inexplicable bond with Ayaan. She loved all her aunts, but her Ayaan Chachu had always been her favorite, ever since she was a little baby.
"Chachu?" she said in a small voice.
"Yes?"
"Can I come live you and Humaira Khala?"
Ayaan's eyes widened at Mahek's question. She never, never ever stayed at anyone else's place. She hated sleepovers and never wanted to be away from her home for too long. She loved her own space and was very particular about her room and her things. Now, this was something serious.
He gently pushed her away and looked into her eyes, "What's wrong, Mahek? And how did you get here? Who did you come with" his eyes got panicked when he realized, "Ya Allah! Tell me you didn't run away, Mahek!"
She didn't need to answer him, her guilty face did all the talking. She huffed to hide her guilt and threw herself into one of the plush chairs.
"Chachu, please. Can I come live with you? I don't want to go back home. No one cares about me. It's all about Zain. Zain smiled', Zain laughed', Zain rolled'. Even Mehtab doesn't want to come play with me anymore. I agree that he annoys me but, he used to like telling me about his wrestlers but not anymore! He prefers Zain! And Zain cannot even answer him back, yet! Dadi and Ammi are always around Zain and when Abbu comes home, Zain lures him too." Her voice was quivering and shaking and Ayaan could tell that Mahek was near tears.
Ayaan sighed. It was a classic case of sibling jealousy. The entire family was expecting Mahek to be jealous when Mehtab was born, but instead, she had taken to him very nicely. Dilshad had said it was just as Asad had taken well with Ayaan and Najma. So, it was a complete surprise to see her so jealous of the latest addition to the Khan family, six-months-old Zain.
He moved closer to where she was sitting and pulled her into a side hug. "Mahek, you know that your family loves you, right? And Zain is so little, he needs all the help right now. Do you remember when Mehtab was that tiny? You were not this worried then! It's going to all fine, little mohtarma!" he tried to cheer her up.
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say.
She pulled out of the embrace, "I am not little anymore, Chachu! Don't call me that! And you are wrong! No one loves me or cares about me. Please, please, let me come with you?" she gave him her best wounded look.
Ayaan looked at his niece and then it struck him. It was not just sibling feud here! Mahek was going through the typical pre-teen emotions. No one loves me! Yeah that is teen behavior alright. Ayaan knew what to do now.
"You know what, Mahek. I won't call you little anymore, scout's honor!" he made the sign with his right hand. "And what do you say about a little ice-cream run with your handsome Chachu?"
***
While waiting for their ice-creams, Ayaan decided to text his brother to inform him about Mahek's whereabouts. Knowing Asad, he probably would have pulled out all his hair by now and fractured the bridge of his nose by pinching it too much. And Mona Darling! She must have gone all dramatic, cooking up ideas ranging from kidnapping to an alien invasion. Yeah, it was better to inform them.
The uncle-niece duo took their ice-creams and went to the quiet lake area and sat down on one of the big rocks. Ayaan thought of talking to his princess now.
"Mahek? You know how I felt when Nuzzat was born? I was so angry at her! Because now I had to share Ammi and Abbu with not only Nikhat but Nuzzat too! I thought that they did not love me anymore and that's why they had gotten a new baby."
Mahek looked at her Chachu with a shocked expression, "But Nuzzat Phuppi is so sweet and so are Dadu and Shireen Dadi."
"I know that now. But I was a little boy then, I did not understand. But you are a big girl, Mahek! Not even my little mohtarma, anymore! You should know that a parent's love can never falter for their baby. It only grows. And when we have more people in our lives, we don't replace the people we already love, the heart simply makes more room for them."
Mahek looked pensive for a few minutes, taking it all in. Deep down, she knew that her family loved her, even that terror Mehtab. And she loved them back, including Zain. But there was still a nagging feeling.
Ayaan looked at her and she seemed still unsure. He thought of letting up the grave mood, "And you know what? Being the elder sibling can be so much fun. I can teach you all about ruling over the little ones. Trust me, you will love it.
"Moreover, you have nothing to worry about, Ms. Princess Khan. You were, you are and you always will be the princess of the family. Look, you are the only girl in the Khan clan! Nikhat Phuppi has Aadil, Najma Phuppi's twins, Nuzzat Phuppi's tiny little Aslan and your charming Chachu's Hamid, and let me tell you a little secret. You know how Humaira Khala is having another baby? It's going to be another boy!"
Mahek's eyes grew big on the revelation. Wow, she had not thought about her situation that way. It was true that she was the only girl and that meant being highly pampered.
"Mahek, you know what you can do? You can help your Ammi in taking care of Zain. That way, you can make sure that he doesn't turn out to be so messy like Mehtab!"
She nodded solemnly at Ayaan. Mehtab was really very messy and she hated it.
It was funny to watch Asad and Mahek complain about the mess while Zoya and Mehtab couldn't care less. Dilshad could be seen always refereeing.
Ayaan could tell that she was starting to feel better. He started smiling. He was feeling quite proud of himself. He really had this children business down. And to think that no one in the family was ever comfortable to leave him alone with the kids.
Mahek looked up to her Chachu and felt a lot better. She knew she shouldn't have listened to the girls in her school. Upon hearing Mahek's complaints about the new baby, they had made her feel confused and question everything. She should know better than listen to other people.
"I am sorry, Chachu! I don't know why I was even thinking about all this! I feel stupid" she frowned.
"Hey, hey, now! It's alright you know. I know you are very smart and all grown up now but its okay to be the little girl once a while! Now, turn that frown upside down, Ms. Khan!"
She grinned at Ayaan and said, "Thank you, Chachu! Can you take me home, please? I think I may have worried Ammi-Abbu." She looked sheepish.
Ayaan smirked down at her and teased her. "What about your dear Chachu and Khala? Didn't you want to come live with us? Come on! It'll be fun. Don't you think?"
Mahek scrunched her nose; she knew that her uncle was only teasing her but to make sure, she replied cheekily, "Um, I think I'll pass that offer. Humaira Khala is very scary these days, you know? I'll come visit you once the baby is here!"
She could channel the Farooqui within her, when she wanted to!
A/n: Leave me lots of love!
P.S. The jealousy part is all my younger self, but the wise Ayaan Chachu is all my imagination! Coz, ya know, it's a story and real life sibling jealously is harder to break! 😆
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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