You're Mine, Remember?

Dusting off the dust away from her sweatshirt, Nidhi walked out of the Door of the Juvenile Home which had been her "Home" For the last 2 years. She stopped after taking two steps and breathed the fresh air of Freedom. Without looking back she walked to the Man who stood there leaning on the car with a bright smile on his face. She stood in front of him and narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing his face for a good 10 minutes. The Man smiled some more and tucked his hands inside his coat's pockets and leaned back in his car. "Why do I feel that I know You..??" The Man smiled and removed a wrapper from his pocket and forwarded it towards her. She suspiciously gazed at the wrapper and with a surprised expression looked at him "Gummy Uncle.???" "Finally..!!! I knew once you see this chewing gum you'll remember your Gummy Uncle. How is my Candy Bear..??" Tears surfaced her eyes and within seconds she hugged the life out of him. He gently stroked the back of her head as she sobbed over his shoulder. "Are you kidding me, Uncle..?? Where have you been..?? I have been waiting to meet You for so long so that you could tell me what exactly happened to my Mother..!!" He smiled sadly at her Mother's mention. Only if he could tell her what happened to her Mother. But no, he was not a person who could break a promise that he had made to his Bestfriend..?? He broke the hug and moved back a bit to give her his most famous confident smile which always has been an energy booster for Nidhi. "Nunu, Do you now remember my full name, or you still tend to forget my name.??" She chuckled at his question and nodded her head in negation. "No Mr. Vardhman Suryanshi, I'm not that same 12-year-old girl who you had left behind while going away. I'm more mature now" she faked a frown but smiled still. "I can see that..!!!" he said looking her up and down and smiling approvingly. She let out a laugh in an attempt to hide her tears from Vardhman but he knew better. "Let's go. I think someone wants to meet You." he ushered her to the passenger seat while she sat and looked at him confused "ME..??" Vardhman smirked and accelerated the car towards their desired destination. --------------------------- After a good 20 minutes ride, they stopped in front of a big bungalow who she thought to be Vardhman's House "Is it your House Uncle..?" She asked looking here and there wondering why they were at a hill station  "First of all come inside and meet her. Niharika..!!!" Vardhman shouted for someone from inside the house. Quickly a chubby lady holding her baby bump emerged in front of them. Nidhi turned towards him and raised her eyebrow at him. "Ahh, don't look so shocked Nunu she's my Wife, Niharika. And Nihi She's Nunu, ohh I mean Nidhi" He motioned Niharika that Nidhi was the one whom he had mentioned about. "Ahhh, I see. Nidhi...Welcome, Welcome to our small House" Niharika smiled and climbed down the steps slowly. Nidhi made a weird face and looked at Vardhman with an awkward face. Vardhman instantly knew what was the case and till the time Niharika walked towards them and finished the apple she had munching upon. "Nidhi, why are you making such weird faces ?? Ahh don't mind my accent, blame these mood swings I face because of this little Vardhman inside my body." Nidhi looked shocked at Vardhman because she believed that when she had last seen Vardhman he was Unmarried. And now after meeting him after 8 long years, he is giving her shocks one after the other. But what the poor girl didn't know that there was another shock waiting for her. And the Shock arrived at the right time. "Nidhi Didi!!" an overly excited voice of a boy of around 4 was swiftly making his way towards her and before she could register anything the boy just jumped over her in his overexcitement making her land straight on her a**. The Boy rubbed his nose over her shoulder and instantly felt a warmth of his 'supposedly long lost Sister'. Nidhi's head hurt as she couldn't register anything. And without her notice, she slipped into unconsciousness. (Didi: Abbreviation used for Elder Sister) ------------------------ "Nidhi? Baby are you awake..??" It was Niharika's voice that reached her eardrums first and slowly she opened her eyes. She was taken aback to find all of them hovering above her and looking at her with their worried expressions. She got up with a start and looked at everyone bewildered at the increase in the number of people she had seen. And she scrunched her eyebrows together as she saw a supposedly new face looking at her with keen interest. A boy who looked almost of her age was eagerly running his eyes all over her face as if scrutinizing her. She decided to ignore the Boy and searched for Vardhman who entered the room and bit his tongue at her questioning gaze. "Before I faint again from all the things that you've kept from me, Uncle can you please explain to me what exactly is going on..??" she finally voiced out her dilemma and looked at all of them turn by turn and returned her gaze on Vardhman. Vardhman smiled nervously and looked at Niharika who smiled at him, silently motivating him to continue. "Actually Nunu, after I shifted to Mumbai, I met Niharika who had her own NGO and she helped all the children who were facing some kind of diseases. Upon meeting her, I instantly felt an attraction towards her and I gathered some courage to propose to her. And 6 years ago I married her. Rest you can predict. That's Shaurya (the small boy who had jumped on her earlier) and that's Parth, Niharika's brother and he's the same age as yours (Pointing at the same boy who looked new) and we are pregnant with our second child (he walked up to Niharika and caressed her baby bump while she caressed his hand shyly and looked at her) Nidhi felt awkward being surrounded by new people. She didn't know how to start a conversation with them. Vardhman sensed her hesitation and sat beside her and signaled Shaurya to come forward. He quickly stood beside his father, looking at Nidhi with his big innocent yet mischievous eyes. "Nunu you know, Shaurya was the most eager person who wanted to meet You. He always complained to me about how he felt lonely and wanted some company. Then I decided to tell him about You. He eagerly listened about You and wanted to meet You the moment I told him that he was a complete replica of You." Nidhi looked at Shaurya and gave him a bright smile. He smiled back and jumped on Nidhi. This time she giggled as he was hanging between Vardhman and her. She patted his back and breaking the hug, she kissed his cheek. "Shaurya you have the same initials as me. That means we will definitely gel well.!! Right..??" she expectantly raised her hand for a high-five to which he eagerly nodded his head and returned the high-five. She chuckled and her gaze landed on Niharika. She got down from the bed and walked towards her. "Will it be okay to call you Aunty ??? Because you don't look like one. I wonder how come you got stuck with this Oldy" she made a fuss about Vardhman only to make her laugh which she surely did. Niharika slowly moved closer to her and hugged her warmly and stroked the back of her head, just like Vardhman had done. Nidhi closed her eyes and felt a Mother's warmth is Niharika. Niharika broke the hug and kissed Nidhi's forehead. "You can call me whatever you want to baby. After all, we are a FAMILY" she winked completing her sentence. This line brought tears to her eyes and she realized that she didn't lose her family. True that she was orphaned, but these people were her new family now. This is the Family she already has..!! "Now Nidhi, freshen up quickly. I have prepared a very delicious Lunch for you. Nihi can you please help her arrange her clothes??" Vardhaman asked. "Of course Vardhaman. You go and serve the dining table. The food better be edible or I'm going to make you prepare everything all over again. Got it??" Vardhaman visibly gulped." Oh, come on Nihi. Of course, the Lunch is going to be edible enough that you will not be able to stop yourself from licking your fingers." "We'll see," Niharika warned. Nidhi chuckled as she saw Vardhaman's scared expression as he escaped the room quickly. "I don't know how to say this Nidhi, but I can understand the sudden change that you might be facing. I also didn't get my mother's love, in fact I never got to know how my mother was. So I can understand how you must be feeling because I've been through that kind of pain, that kind of loss. It feels like your heart is wailing for your mother's love, but there's no one who understands you. That kind of feeling when you don't feel safe around your own people, because your mother is not one of them, or they can never take your mother's place. But let me assure you one thing. Those who get past this tough phase are the ones who are capable of all kinds of pain. Any pain compared to this feels so small that you stop feeling bad for that pain. You stop feeling hurt by that pain. I just want to say this to you. Once you get over the loss of your father, you'll start feeling all the happiness that people around will provide you. So please help us be that people who will be able to take away that pain, and help you feel all the happiness in the world." Nidhi stared at her for the longest time. She had always wondered how her mother was. Spending only 5 years of her life with her wasn't enough for her to know how her mother was, or who her mother was. But she surely knew, Niharika was the mother she had been waiting for. She moved forward and wrapped her arms yet again around her, careful not to hurt the baby and let out the tears she had kept locked within herself. Niharika's own eyes were filled with tears as she caressed the girl's hair lovingly. "We'll get past this Nidhi. I promise." She nodded as she cried some more. At that moment, only those words gave her hope that she was going to get past this. Because she had another family around her, who was ready to help her through all the thick and thin. And that was enough to have her pushing the pain away from her. The pain that her parents had indirectly caused to her. The pain which she was going to overcome. Come what may.         Dusting off the dust away from her sweatshirt, Nidhi walked out of the Door of the Juvenile Home which had been her "Home" For the last 2 years. She stopped after taking two steps and breathed the fresh air of Freedom. Without looking back she walked to the Man who stood there leaning on the car with a bright smile on his face. She stood in front of him and narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing his face for a good 10 minutes. The Man smiled some more and tucked his hands inside his coat's pockets and leaned back in his car. "Why do I feel that I know You..??" The Man smiled and removed a wrapper from his pocket and forwarded it towards her. She suspiciously gazed at the wrapper and with a surprised expression looked at him "Gummy Uncle.???" "Finally..!!! I knew once you see this chewing gum you'll remember your Gummy Uncle. How is my Candy Bear..??" Tears surfaced her eyes and within seconds she hugged the life out of him. He gently stroked the back of her head as she sobbed over his shoulder. "Are you kidding me, Uncle..?? Where have you been..?? I have been waiting to meet You for so long so that you could tell me what exactly happened to my Mother..!!" He smiled sadly at her Mother's mention. Only if he could tell her what happened to her Mother. But no, he was not a person who could break a promise that he had made to his Bestfriend..?? He broke the hug and moved back a bit to give her his most famous confident smile which always has been an energy booster for Nidhi. "Nunu, Do you now remember my full name, or you still tend to forget my name.??" She chuckled at his question and nodded her head in negation. "No Mr. Vardhman Suryanshi, I'm not that same 12-year-old girl who you had left behind while going away. I'm more mature now" she faked a frown but smiled still. "I can see that..!!!" he said looking her up and down and smiling approvingly. She let out a laugh in an attempt to hide her tears from Vardhman but he knew better. "Let's go. I think someone wants to meet You." he ushered her to the passenger seat while she sat and looked at him confused "ME..??" Vardhman smirked and accelerated the car towards their desired destination. --------------------------- After a good 20 minutes ride, they stopped in front of a big bungalow who she thought to be Vardhman's House "Is it your House Uncle..?" She asked looking here and there wondering why they were at a hill station  "First of all come inside and meet her. Niharika..!!!" Vardhman shouted for someone from inside the house. Quickly a chubby lady holding her baby bump emerged in front of them. Nidhi turned towards him and raised her eyebrow at him. "Ahh, don't look so shocked Nunu she's my Wife, Niharika. And Nihi She's Nunu, ohh I mean Nidhi" He motioned Niharika that Nidhi was the one whom he had mentioned about. "Ahhh, I see. Nidhi...Welcome, Welcome to our small House" Niharika smiled and climbed down the steps slowly. Nidhi made a weird face and looked at Vardhman with an awkward face. Vardhman instantly knew what was the case and till the time Niharika walked towards them and finished the apple she had munching upon. "Nidhi, why are you making such weird faces ?? Ahh don't mind my accent, blame these mood swings I face because of this little Vardhman inside my body." Nidhi looked shocked at Vardhman because she believed that when she had last seen Vardhman he was Unmarried. And now after meeting him after 8 long years, he is giving her shocks one after the other. But what the poor girl didn't know that there was another shock waiting for her. And the Shock arrived at the right time. "Nidhi Didi!!" an overly excited voice of a boy of around 4 was swiftly making his way towards her and before she could register anything the boy just jumped over her in his overexcitement making her land straight on her a**. The Boy rubbed his nose over her shoulder and instantly felt a warmth of his 'supposedly long lost Sister'. Nidhi's head hurt as she couldn't register anything. And without her notice, she slipped into unconsciousness. (Didi: Abbreviation used for Elder Sister) ------------------------ "Nidhi? Baby are you awake..??" It was Niharika's voice that reached her eardrums first and slowly she opened her eyes. She was taken aback to find all of them hovering above her and looking at her with their worried expressions. She got up with a start and looked at everyone bewildered at the increase in the number of people she had seen. And she scrunched her eyebrows together as she saw a supposedly new face looking at her with keen interest. A boy who looked almost of her age was eagerly running his eyes all over her face as if scrutinizing her. She decided to ignore the Boy and searched for Vardhman who entered the room and bit his tongue at her questioning gaze. "Before I faint again from all the things that you've kept from me, Uncle can you please explain to me what exactly is going on..??" she finally voiced out her dilemma and looked at all of them turn by turn and returned her gaze on Vardhman. Vardhman smiled nervously and looked at Niharika who smiled at him, silently motivating him to continue. "Actually Nunu, after I shifted to Mumbai, I met Niharika who had her own NGO and she helped all the children who were facing some kind of diseases. Upon meeting her, I instantly felt an attraction towards her and I gathered some courage to propose to her. And 6 years ago I married her. Rest you can predict. That's Shaurya (the small boy who had jumped on her earlier) and that's Parth, Niharika's brother and he's the same age as yours (Pointing at the same boy who looked new) and we are pregnant with our second child (he walked up to Niharika and caressed her baby bump while she removed his hand shyly and looked at her) Nidhi felt awkward being surrounded by new people. She didn't know how to start a conversation with them. Vardhman sensed her hesitation and sat beside her and signaled Shaurya to come forward. He quickly stood beside his father, looking at Nidhi with his big innocent yet mischievous eyes. "Nunu you know, Shaurya was the most eager person who wanted to meet You. He always complained to me about how he felt lonely and wanted some company. Then I decided to tell him about You. He eagerly listened about You and wanted to meet You the moment I told him that he was a complete replica of You." Nidhi looked at Shaurya and gave him a bright smile. He smiled back and jumped on Nidhi. This time she giggled as he was hanging between Vardhman and her. She patted his back and breaking the hug, she kissed his cheek. "Shaurya you have the same initials as me. That means we will definitely gel well.!! Right..??" she expectantly raised her hand for a high-five to which he eagerly nodded his head and returned the high-five. She chuckled and her gaze landed on Niharika. She got down from the bed and walked towards her. "Will it be okay to call you Aunty ??? Because you don't look like one. I wonder how come you got stuck with this Oldy" she made a fuss about Vardhman only to make her laugh which she surely did. Niharika slowly moved closer to her and hugged her warmly and stroked the back of her head, just like Vardhman had done. Nidhi closed her eyes and felt a Mother's warmth is Niharika. Niharika broke the hug and kissed Nidhi's forehead. "You can call me whatever you want to baby. After all, we are a FAMILY" she winked completing her sentence. This line brought tears to her eyes and she realized that she didn't lose her family. True that she was orphaned, but these people were her new family now. This is the Family she already has..!! "Now Nidhi, freshen up quickly. I have prepared a very delicious Lunch for you. Nihi can you please help her arrange her clothes??" Vardhaman asked. "Of course Vardhaman. You go and serve the dining table. The food better be edible or I'm going to make you prepare everything all over again. Got it??" Vardhaman visibly gulped." Oh, come on Nihi. Of course, the Lunch is going to be edible enough that you will not be able to stop yourself from licking your fingers." "We'll see," Niharika warned. Nidhi chuckled as she saw Vardhaman's scared expression as he escaped the room quickly. "I don't know how to say this Nidhi, but I can understand the sudden change that you might be facing. I also didn't get my mother's love, in fact I never got to know how my mother was. So I can understand how you must be feeling because I've been through that kind of pain, that kind of loss. It feels like your heart is wailing for your mother's love, but there's no one who understands you. That kind of feeling when you don't feel safe around your own people, because your mother is not one of them, or they can never take your mother's place. But let me assure you one thing. Those who get past this tough phase are the ones who are capable of all kinds of pain. Any pain compared to this feels so small that you stop feeling bad for that pain. You stop feeling hurt by that pain. I just want to say this to you. Once you get over the loss of your father, you'll start feeling all the happiness that people around will provide you. So please help us be that people who will be able to take away that pain, and help you feel all the happiness in the world." Nidhi stared at her for the longest time. She had always wondered how her mother was. Spending only 5 years of her life with her wasn't enough for her to know how her mother was, or who her mother was. But she surely knew, Niharika was the mother she had been waiting for. She moved forward and wrapped her arms yet again around her, careful not to hurt the baby and let out the tears she had kept locked within herself. Niharika's own eyes were filled with tears as she caressed the girl's hair lovingly. "We'll get past this Nidhi. I promise." She nodded as she cried some more. At that moment, only those words gave her hope that she was going to get past this. Because she had another family around her, who was ready to help her through all the thick and thin. And that was enough to have her pushing the pain away from her. The pain that her parents had indirectly caused to her. The pain which she was going to overcome. Come what may.