Chapter 5

"Angel say Adi....ADI... I want to hear your beautiful voice. Please say" requested Adi to his angel. 

But his stubborn Angel only laughed looking at his face. 

"Babies usually say Maa first, Adi then they learn other words. Meera's first word will also be ``Maa just like you" Anita said smiling.

Adi frowned and said "Mom, you don't know anything. She is my Angel so she will take my name first then I’ll teach her other words. My first word was Maa because I was your Adi. But she is my Angel so she will take my name." 

Anita looked at her son wide eyed and others laughed shaking their heads.

"Well Adi is not wrong, Anita. He has a point. My son is so intelligent" Amar said chuckling. 

Anita glared at Amar and he laughed more teasing her.

Then a cute little girl and a boy of 4-5 years came running in the hall screaming.

"Adi...Adi.. where are you?"

Adi turned towards the voice and saw his classmates Shreya and Rohan. He got excited seeing his friends and ran towards his friends leaving Meera behind.

"Shreya, Rohan how come you are here today? I thought you will come tomorrow" Adi asked, hugging both of them.

"Adi won't you introduce your friends to us?" Radhika asked.

Adi smiled sheepishly and said "grandma, he is Rohan and she is...."

"Adi's friend Shreya," Shreya interrupted, bouncing on her heels.

"Idiot, let me speak first" Adi admonished.

"They are my friends from school. Rohan, Shreya she is my grandma and they are my Mom and Dad."

“Namaste,” both greeted the elders in unison.

"We are your new neighbours, Aunty. Now we can play with Adi all day" Shreya said excitedly.

“Let me show you my toys collection,” Adi said and took them to his room.

Meera looked at the whole scene with a frown. Her hazel orbs staring at Adi’s back in confusion. Tears welled up in her doe eyes. Adi had taken a step on the stairs when he heard Meera’s cries. Adi ran towards her and sat beside her.

“Angel what happened? Tell me and please don't cry. You know I can't see you crying. I’m here, don’t cry.” 

Meera kept crying and shrugged Adi’s hands from her face.

As if understanding her silent complaint, Adi said, "I left you here seeing my friends that’s why you are angry at me, right my Angel? I'm sorry Angel forgive your Adi this time. I promise I will never leave you for anyone or anything, please stop crying." 

Adi’s eyes also turned teary. It hurts him to see his Angel cry especially if it is because of him. Seeing Adi's tears Meera stopped crying and moved her hands towards his eyes trying to wipe his tears.

“Ayii” 

Adi looked at his Angel shocked.

"What? What did you say, Angel? Sorry I didn't hear it clearly please say one more time."

"Ayyii," Meera mumbled and laughed, moving her hands in the air. 

"Aww it’s Adi, Angel. You are doing great. Now try Adi… A-D-I."

"Aayii."

“A-D-I...ADI”

“Aadiii”

“That’s my Angel, I’m so proud of you” Adi clapped his hands and patted Meera’s cheeks.

Adi turned towards his family who were looking at the whole exchange with their jaws dropped.

"Mom see my Angel spoke my name first" he declared proudly.

He had happy tears in his eyes. He kissed his Angel many times and Meera giggled every time he kissed her.

All the elders looked at them in awe. 

"Our Adi was right, indeed Meera is only his Angel" Anita whispered.

Elders blessed them in their hearts and prayed for their happiness. Adi forgot about his friends and his toy collection and got lost with his Angel in their own little world. 

~~~

It has been a week already since they did the funeral of Sameer and Shalini. Police were still trying to find the killers. To lighten the mood Amar planned a picnic for the whole family. 

“Mohan, did you put the snacks bag in the car?” Anita asked.

“Yes Madam” Mohan replied and went inside the kitchen.

“You did right by keeping Mohan at work here, Mom” Anita said.

“He did save Meera's life. We can only do this for him” Radhika said.

“Mom, grandma lets go, everyone is waiting for you both” Aditi yelled from the door.

Anita took the passenger seat and Radhika sat in the back with Meera on her lap. Adi and Aditi on her either side. Amar drove them to a Park suitable for kids. Anita spread the mat on the ground under a tree. 

"I can’t believe it’s already been more than a week since Meera came into our lives" Radhika said, sitting on the mat. 

“More than a week since Shalini and Sameer....” Anita sobbed remembering her friends. 

Amar held her shoulder and wiped her tears and motioned her to look towards the kids. Adi was sitting on the ground with his back against the tree with Meera between her legs. Aditi was trying to feed her grapes while Adi and Meera were laughing at something.

“We can’t change the past but we can do our best to keep their smiles always like this,” Amar said.

“Aditi Di, when will Angel walk like us?” Adi asked his sister.

"Adi, Meera is a small baby. She will learn how to walk, run and everything slowly. Our Meera will also start walking soon."

Nodding his head Adi looked towards his Angel and got lost in thoughts. Suddenly he screamed in excitement.

"Diii!"

"I'm not deaf, why are you screaming?" Aditi shot a glare towards him.

Smiling sheepishly Adi mouthed sorry.

"I will teach my Angel and then she will also walk and run like us" Adi said excitedly.

Aditi also nodded excitedly.

Adi looked towards Meera and said "Angel, are you ready? Your Adi will teach you how to walk. Don’t worry you don’t have to learn in one day. I’ll teach you daily."

Meera squealed on his lap and patted his cheek.

“Adii”

Adi smiled hearing his name from his Angel's mouth and kissed her cheek. Then kneeling down in front of Meera he took her both hands in his and made her stand.

"Angel now you have to move forward with me."

Adi moved one step backwards and Meera by putting all her strength tried to follow him but fell down. Adi held her firmly but gently and made her stand again.

"You are doing great, Angel. If you try like this you will learn to walk soon" encouraged Adi. 

Watching this scene Amar said "Anita, you always complain that your Adi has zero patience now see how he is teaching his Angel patiently without getting irritated or angry."

"This patience is only reserved for his Angel, Amar. He still has zero patience but in front of his Angel he is totally different Adi" replied Anita.

True to Amar's words all day Adi patiently tried to make his Angel walk. When she fell he was beside her to support her. At the end of the day when they got up to go back home Meera finally took a small step towards Adi and Adi squealed in happiness. 

“I’m so proud of you my Angel” Adi said, kissing her forehead.