Myra was deep asleep and groaned when she felt a gentle pat on her cheek. She tried to open her eyes but a pair of little palms closed her eyes and Myra smiled touching those palms. Removing those palm, Myra saw a little girl giggling and kissing her cheek.
Myra: My little Laya is awake already ? Where is your appa ?
Laya: Amma, appa do milk for Laya.
Myra: Aww my Laya wants milk.
Myra sat leaning on the head board and was about to carry Laya to her lap but the little girl refused and sat next to her caressing Myra’s baby bump.
Myra: Two more months and Laya will be big sister.
Laya: Amma, I wan bother pease ( I want brother please )
Myra: Lets see if Laya will have brother or sister. Did you brush your teeth ?
Laya: hmm, appa bush my teet ( appa, brushed my teeth )
They heard the sound of the door opening and saw Keshav entering holding a tray. He placed the tray on the night stand and sat on the bed next to Myra, scooping Laya to his lap. He placed a kiss on her cheek and heard a whining sound which made him chuckle. He saw Myra pouting and he pecked her lips making her smile.
He held the milk in his hand and made Layaa sip slowly while he talked to Myra.
Keshav: Do you want to sleep more or shall I get your breakfast in bed ?
Myra: Your son let me sleep well last night and that came a surprise so I will get ready and we shall have breakfast together.
Keshav: So you too think we will have son ?
Myra: Laya believe that she will have brother and I’m manifesting for her. If we have boy then team will be equal.
She smiled and felt a sudden kick which made her gasp. Keshav touched her bump and caressed slowly as he made conservation with the baby.
Keshav: Baby, don’t trouble my butterfly. Be good like your elder sister. Am I right Laya ?
Laya: Yesh appa, I m goog gal ( Yes appa, I m good girl )
Keshav chuckled looking at the milk over her upper lips. He was about to wipe with his thumb but Laya wiped on his sleeves. Keshav moved the hair from her face and Laya laid on his shoulder while Myra closed her eyes and leaned on his other shoulder. She was deep in sleep but startled and opened her eyes hearing a scream.
She looked at Keshav who was working on his laptop as if nothing happened. Myra looked around and got down from the bed limping a little and searched around the room.
Keshav: What are you searching for butterfly ?
Myra: Ketchup, where is Laya ?
Keshav frowned hearing her words and saw Myra still searching around. She stopped and ducked her head looking at her stomach. She touched the flat abdomen with lot of confusion swivelling on her face.
Keshav moved to her and touched her shoulder to face him. Myra looked at him and her abdomen once again.
Myra Mv: Was it a dream ? But it felt real, I saw the face of our daughter .. daughter ? Does it mean we will have our children in future ? Will my dream come true like the one I had on the day of wedding ?
Myra’s cheeks turned red and she smiled reminiscing the dream of her being heavily pregnant and them being parents to little Laya.
Keshav: What happened little one ? Who is Laya ?
Myra: No one… I mean.. Laya… Laya .. yes, Laya is my student from the academy and I had dream of her coming to our home to meet me. Yes, nothing else..
Keshav: Thats ok but why are you holding your abdomen ?
Myra removed her hands quickly and turned away from him to hide her flushed face.
Myra: Nothing, did you hear the scream ? Come lets go check on what happened.
Keshav carried her in his arms and saw her red cheeks and her eyes not meeting him. He descended the steps slowly his gaze completely on her.
Keshav Mv: Did you dream of our children butterfly ? Did we name our daughter Laya ? A beautiful name to our princess but why don’t you share the dream with me ? I hope your dream comes true like the one you dreamt on our wedding day. You were lucky to see our daughter even before she was born and I will have to wait for god knows how many years.
They reached the hall and he made her sit on the couch and got settled beside her. They saw Roshni pacing and almost crying over the call. Archana, Madan and Krish were watching her. She cut the call and slumped on the couch next to Krish.
Archana: Roshni, will you now tell us what happened that made you scream in the morning ?
Roshni: What else is suppose to happen ? The project that I have been working for almost 3 months has vanished completely from my laptop. The presentation I made for the project had also vanished like a magic happened.
Madan: You must have saved a copy of it somewhere else Roshni.
Roshni: I made a copy of it in my pendrive which I left plugged in my laptop last night. I lost everything.
Madan: But how could that happen when you worked at home ? Did you erase or format your disk by mistake ?
Roshni: Why will I do that especially when I have only two days left to present the project.
Krish walked away without a word leaving his parents perplexed. Myra was still gathering the information and casually she looked at Keshav who had a devilish smirk sipping the coffee.
She informed Keshav to take her back to room and he did as she said. Myra locked the door and held Keshav’s chin to look into her eyes.
Myra: Don’t lie to me and I want to know only the truth. Do you have hands on what happened with Roshni’s project and presentation ?
Keshav: No little one, Why will I do that ? Go get bath and I need to go shopping and pack our things for our travel.
Myra: Its ok if you are not ready to share with me. I will get ready later and you may leave for shopping.
She sat on the bed scrolling through her mobile. Keshav sighed in defeat and sat by her foot and placing her injured foot on his thigh, he started removing the bandage and applied the gel massaging gently.
Keshav: I did that butterfly and she deserve more for all the pain she has been giving to our family. I was there and saw you did not trip over the edge of the couch but over her feet which she did intentionally. Amma used to do only cooking and the maid took care of other chores but she stopped working because that witch treated her like shit, still Amma never let her do any work and even washed her clothes, cleaned her room. No maid was ready to work for us and now I have finally got someone and she will join next week. Appa treated her as the same as he did with me, Krish, you and her since childhood but what did we all get in return ? She has been abusing you verbally for almost a year and now she started physically too. She has been playing sick games that are going out of control.
Myra: I understand but don’t blow this out Ketchup. Please for my sake. Also I m not hurt that bad and its just a sprain. Lets wait until Krish come with his decision. Now will you tell me how did you that ?
Keshav: I will answer your question but I also want you to answer my question. Promise me you will answer genuinely.
Myra: I won’t lie to you Ketchup.
Keshav: I don’t lie too little one instead I chose to postpone the time to reveal the truth to you. Answering to your question, I work in CBI as a hacker. I lived in Delhi most of the times and now I have taken a break and work from home on emergency calls.
Myra: Are you serious ? How ?
Keshav: Right after I joined the software company in Bangalore I have been working on my hacking techniques and got certified in it. Two years later I passsed out the Civil Services Examination. After clearing the CSE, I applied for the CBI post through the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and cracked the interview. This is my main job while freelancing is for part time to cover my work but my other job is my passion.
Myra: What is that ?
Keshav: I will let you know when you ready to know it but don’t worry that doesn’t involve any danger.
Myra: So your job in CBI might put your life in danger ?
Keshav: No, Risk factors are very rare in my job still I want you to keep this secret from everyone. I don’t want you to be scared about my job.
Myra: Why will I be scared ? I m so proud of and you really amaze me Ketchup. Everyday I see a different version of you.
Keshav: And I hope you will like and love all my versions when you get know of it.
Myra: I will. Ok, Now tell me about your friend Varun. Is he from your department ?
Keshav: I head a team now after all these years and he is my right hand man. I got you those special tickets to the music event with my influence.
Myra: What else have you done ?
Keshav: Nothing, I was forced to do that last night and I don’t regret even a bit. Now its my turn little one and I will ask two question with liberty to answer one of them.
Myra knew something was coming and gave a nod hesitatingly.
Keshav: Question 1. Who is Laya ? Question 2. Did you have a dream like the one you had on the day of our wedding ?
Myra Mv: You are too smart Ketcup. Answering either of the question will give you the answer. Still I m feel shy to confess the dream directly to you so I will give you the indirect answer and may be some day I will let you know about the dream of our baby girl and yet to be born son.
She blushed just with the thought of the dream and bit her cheek to hide the smile.
Myra: I had a dream which felt so real. Now get ready and leave for shopping. I want you back home on time.
Keshav didn’t push her further nor did he tease her like he did everytime, afterall this was a beautiful dream of their life and he wished for it come true one day and that day to be soon. He wrapped her ankle with bandage and fed her breakfast before he left for shopping. Naina arrived to visit Myra and sat on the couch placing the shopping bags on the teapoy.
Myra: I didn’t know you went shopping. What did you buy now ?
Naina: Not for me, I did shopping for you Myra.
Myra: Ketchup had gone shopping Naina. What was the need for you to do shopping ? We will be leaving for few days and not to settle at the place he will be taking me.
Naina: Let him do shopping but I have done the actual shopping you will need. Thank me later but I want you do this shopping for me when I go on honeymoon so be thoughtful to return the favour.
Naina closed the door and picked the short silk night wears, lace lingerie, razor set and some silk tank tops and shorts. Myra choked on her saliva and coughed gasping for air. Naina pat her head and passed water to her.
Myra: What the fuck Naina ? You thought I will wear them ? No way, please save them for your honeymoon.
Naina: Stop being a brat Myra. You will be leaving for whatever you call a vacation or honeymoon tomorrow. You may or may not take your relationship to the next stage but it is always better to be prepared.
Myra: Naina, me wearing this infront of Ketchup ? Oh god…
Naina: Do yo think that man will not do anything and everything to make it special to you ? And if you are ready for the big step don’t you think you will need something special for that moment ? Now tell me should I do a special packing for you ?
Myra: Ketchup will be doing the packing when he will be back from shopping. What if he see all these things ?
Naina: I got your thoughts. I will pack in a small trolley with your other inner wears. You tell him to pack your other things alone.
Naina did all the packing needed before she left to her home. Keshav returned home holding bags and placed them on the couch before he sat next to Myra to check her ankle.
Myra: I can walk now Ketchup so don’t you worry.
Keshav: Good, I will do the packing now. Should I get anything for you to eat before I start with my work ?
Myra: No, Naina got me juice an snacks before she left. Also she did packing of personal things so you have to pack only my outfits. Will you tell me the destination now ?
Keshav: Few hours little one and you will know in the morning. Also I m packing only flats and sneakers, it would be good for your ankle at the present condition.
He pecked her forehead and started packing their things. Myra smiled watching him focused on his work.
Myra Mv: I m really looking forward to this vacation…. no not vacation anymore, its honeymoon Ketchup. I feel 24 hours is very short period of a day to spend with you. I m going crazy for you Ketchup.
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A/N:
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