Chapter 11

Adi was studying in his room. He didn’t realize the time and when he looked outside his window sky was already filled in an orange hue. Meera came inside his room and went to sit on his bed silently. Adi looked at Meera then closed his book and went to sit on the bed with his back to the headboard. Meera silently sat between his legs with her back on his chest. Adi put his arms on her waist and patiently waited for her to speak.

It's their thing now. Whenever Meera needed to talk about something she would come inside his room and sit silently on his bed and then he would make her sit between his legs and wait for her to talk. Mostly those talks are not so serious. Sometimes she will just rant about what her teacher or classmate did in class and sometimes tell him what she did with family or her friend Tanisha. And who he is to say no to his Angel he listens to everything she has to say.

"Adi, Can I ask you something?"

"You don't need my permission to ask me anything, Angel, just ask."

"Adi, why are you Adarsh Khanna but I’m Meera Ahuja? Di is also Aditi Khanna. Mom, Dad, Grandma, everyone is Khanna, why am I different?" Meera asked innocently.

Adi stiffened for a second but then forced himself to relax. His hold on Meera got more firm then he kissed her head.

"Angel, why are you asking this today? Did something happen?" Adi asked softly.

“I heard when Rohan bhai and Shreya Di were talking….I swear I was not eavesdropping, Adi….”

“I know my Angel” Adi said and nudged her to continue.

"When they came here to play here today, I heard Shreya Di saying to Rohan bhai that she thinks I'm your and Aditi Di’s cousin. When Rohan bhai teased her that she is crazy to think like that then she asked why I'm Ahuja and you all are Khanna?" Meera told him without leaving anything.

Adi tightened his hold on Meera and said "Angel, I'll tell you everything because I know my Angel is an intelligent girl, she can understand everything. But remember one thing, what I'm going to tell you will not change anything between us. You will always be my Angel, understand?"

Meera nodded. Adi made her lean on his chest and kissed her head.

"Your parents...I mean your real parents were my uncle and aunty. They were best friends of Mom and Dad."

Meera turned around in his hold and looked at him with her confused doe eyes. 

“Where are they? Why did they leave me here? Did they don’t want me?” Meera asked with teary eyes.

“No, why would anyone don’t want you? You are the bestest girl in the world.” Adi rubbed her back to comfort her.

"You were just a little baby when Mom and Dad brought you here. You were crying continuously but when I came to you, you stopped crying. You became my Angel that day. I didn't remember much but Mom told me you and I were inseparable" Adi said smiling.

Silence filled the room. Meera hide her face in his chest hugging him tightly. 

"Adi, what happened to my parents?” Meera asked, sobbing.

"They went to God. He needed them so they went to him but they loved you so much, Angel" Adi said.

"But I also needed them then why did they leave me? They should have taken me with them" Meera said crying.

"Angel, we all are God's kids, right? We all came here leaving him alone so God asked your parents to come back to him. He also wanted her kids with her just like our Mom and Dad want us with them. And they didn't take you with them because God's home is so far away and you were so small that time you couldn't go that far therefore your parents gave you to Mom and Dad" Adi said trying to make it as simple as her 10 years old brain could understand.

"Adi, that means Mom and Dad are not my real parents. I'm different from you and Di" Meera sobbed.

Adi kissed her forehead and asked "Angel, do you love Grandma, Mom and Dad same as me and Di love them? Did your love different for them?”

“No, I love them all the same. They are not different for me” Meera said honestly.

"Do you think all of them love you also?"

"Yes, all love me. I'm their favourite."

"Do you feel anytime that Mom and Dad love me and Di more than you or do they care for us more than you?"

"Never. They all love me the same."

"Then how can you think you are different from us. You are my Angel and there is nothing wrong in my Angel so never think that you are not one of us okay."

Meera nodded mumbling sorry. She again hugged him and hid her face in his chest.

"I love Mom and Dad. I don't want my real parents. If God took my parents then maybe he needed them more than me. I'm happy here" Meera said looking into Adi's eyes.

Adi wiped her tears and kissed her forehead again.

"Adi, promise me as my parents went to God, leaving me, you will never leave me," Meera asked with urgency in her voice.

"I promise I'll never leave you my Angel. I’ll always be there for you" Adi promised.

"If God asks you to come to him then also you will not leave me" Meera asked, looking in his eyes for assurance.

Adi smiled. "I promise if God asks me to leave you then also I'll not leave you. I'll always be with you. I'll never leave you for anyone, Angel."

Meera sighed in relief. Adi held her close and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Do you want to see your parents' photo?" Adi asked after a few minutes of silence.

Meera nodded eagerly. Adi took his phone from the side table and tapped it for a few seconds then turned the screen towards Meera. It was a family picture of Sameer and Shalini with Meera in Sameer’s arms.

Meera looked at the photo and fresh tears came in her eyes. She kissed the photo. 

"I'm not angry with you. Don't worry about me I'm happy here. You also live happily with God."

Adi smiled and hugged her again. After sometime he noticed Meera's body went still and her breath became even indicating she fell asleep. Adi made her lay next to him and held her close in his arms. 

"I always wanted you to stay away from every pain in the world, Angel but I can't snatch your right to know about your parents. You needed to know about them and cry for them but not alone. There's a reason why I wanted it to be me who tells you about your parents, Angel. I'll always be there for you to share all your pain and happiness."