Shehnaaz was in a different state of mind today, a pretty happy one. She had made Nonu sit in front of TV and switched on the Cartoon Network for him and kissed him goodbye too before leaving. In school, she kept an eye on her watch and made a list of things she had to get for him, most importantly clothes, toys, biscuits and chocolates, the latter two to bribe him to eat, some colour pens too. She bought half a dozen underpants, 4 pairs of animated T-shirts and pants, a pair of baby slippers, Johnson's soaps and talcum powder for him. Whoa, never done this before right?  She chuckled at the thought. It was not as difficult as buying toys was, the fancy and bright toy store was confusing her over and over. She recalled how Nonu enjoyed watching Mowgli last night, so she bought a set of small animal figures and a big teddy. 

Phew, it was 11 already, she hurriedly took an auto rickshaw straight to home. At her apartment, she saw Tai cleaning the table and Nonu asleep on the sofa, nicely tucked in a quilt with the TV remote still in his hands. An awww escaped her lips. She sat tired on the couch after keeping the bags inside, after Tai left and texted Sidharth not wanting to get scolded like yesterday. 

Soon the kid woke up rubbing his eyes, "Uth gaya baby!" She pulled the quilt down and made him sit properly. 

"Hii.. Good afternoon ho gayi.. Teri ninni poori huyi ya nahi?" she asked, peppering him with kisses. He sniffed initially and soon began to cry when he found himself in a new place. 

"Oii..rote nahi.." she cooed, picking him up and taking him inside where she had kept toys for him. He did stop crying and touched those animals wondering if he could play with them. Post lunch, she sent a picture of Nonu playing, along with hers to Sidharth and waited for the blue tick to come over, while arranging the new clothes. It took him half an hour to check his phone and call her. 

"Hii.." she received happily. 

"Kya kar rahi hai?" he asked. 

"Kapde jama rahi hu.. Thodi si space banayi hai Nonu ke kapdo ke liye.." she said, while sticking the phone between her left shoulder and ear and hands continued to work. 

"Sahi hai.. Toh Academy nahi jayegi?" he asked. 

"Aaj nahi.. I'll talk to Ana about all this tonight.. Shayad jana bhi pade.." she doubtfully answered. He didn't ask further to let her decide it for herself and asked what all she did today. 

"School ka toh tujhe pata hai.. Marksheet bana rahi hu.. Bhagwaan ka shukar hai aur meri mehnat ke koi fail nahi hua hai.." she chuckled. 

"Ache marks se pass ho gaye sare.. Yeh final exam nahi tha Quarterly exam tha.. Aisa hi acha performance aage karte rahenge toh mujhe increment bhi mil sakti hai is session ke end me.." she said, making him laugh. 

"Tu pehli aisi teacher hai jisko bacho ke knowledge ki nahi aur apne salary ki padi hai.." he commented. 

"Poore man se padhati hu mai!! Vo toh ye bache itne badmash hai ke sara mood kharab kar dete hai.. Aur sare teachers paise leke padhate hai.. Zyada bol mat tu.." she answered, rolling her eyes at his words. 

"Right right.." he replied. Agreed that she wasn't very dedicated as a teacher, she just taught, because it was her job. Her main subject of interest has always been dance, she just took teaching as a profession because she found it a convenient job. If she'd have been a dance teacher, the dedication would have been next level. 

"Tune inspector se baat ki?" she asked. 

"Haa.. Meri maa I texted Singh.. Usne bola vo apne junior ko lagayega kaam pe.. Baki stations se baat karenge koi missing report aayegi toh.." he answered, she'd been constantly reminding him of this. 

"Dekha! Maine kal bola tha na.. Koi seriously nahi leta! Unlogo ko sirf bade cases se matlab hota hai.. Abhi kisi VIP ka bacha gum ho jata toh.. Their response wouldn't have been like this.. " she scoffed. It had been More than 24 hours of separation Nonu was facing from his parents, how come they didn't find a report being filed? 

"Not necessarily.. What if there's no missing report filed yet? Kya pata vo kaha rehta tha? He told me they'll look into it..Time toh lagega Shehnaaz.. We can only wait.." he explained. 

"Ha.." she agreed, understanding his point. 

"Toh phir kitna time lagega..?" she asked, making him groan. 

"Mujhe kya pata.. abhi chal ho gaya tera paka ke.. Mujhe jana hai.." he said. 

"Kaha jana hai? Tu last check up round 7 baje leta hai.. Abhi toh 5 baje hai.." she replied. 

"Tujhe bada yaad hai.." he smirked. 

"Umm.. Bas pata hai.." she said, biting her cheeks inside. She had noticed his pattern of receiving calls and guessed at what time he'd be free. 

"Actually.. One of my friend's father expired.. Tu Varsha se mili thi na.. Her father.. So I've to be there..antim sanskar me.." he revealed.

"Oh..ok" she replied and bid bye before hanging up. 

Done with her work, she texted Ana that she wanted to talk to her, so that she'd call back after she's free. She lazily scrolled through her phone then and smiled widely looking at their selfie again, it was simple yet cute, she just couldn't control her blush when he had turned his head to her which could be evidently seen in the picture. What are you? A teenager? She mocked herself for getting jitters inside. Well, when the other person is this hot, it's not your fault, she sighed. Sidharth was a great looking guy, but more than that his nature, his behavior, his knowledge, his attitude were even more attractive. His protectiveness was visible, even the possessiveness after the party night but she was a little confused if it was just for her. She had seen his complimentary gaze on her though. She used to irritate him in the beginning by unnecessarily texting him but soon they had become her habit and when he used to go through each of them and still say 'Ho gaya tera paka ke?' was laugh worthy. Keeping her phone aside, she engrossed herself with Nonu. 

Sidharth on the other hand, took a quick round check on his patients before wrapping up. He had received the unfortunate news in the morning when Varsha had herself called him, to invite him to the cremation ceremony that would be taking place in the evening. He engulfed Varsha in a warm hug, knowing what it feels at the loss of one's father. He stayed with her family for a while before taking his leave.

"Take care okay.. Apna bhi aur aunty ka bhi.. Call me anytime if you need anything.." he said. She nodded half- heartedly. While driving back, he was in his own set of thoughts, recalling how his life changed after his father had left them fighting his prolonged disease. It's truly said that time certainly helps. And it does get easier eventually, but only because you learn to adjust and live within your new normal. He sighed and lit a couple of cigarettes before going to sleep. 

The next day, Sidharth just wanted to see the kid again, after Shehnaaz used to talk about him so much that he wanted to play with him too, so he made his way towards her building after parking his car, after they came back from the ground. When he entered her room, Nonu was laying wide awake playing with an elephant, he stepped closer to talk to him and become friends. Shehnaaz was in the washroom by that time, done with bathing. She had turned off the shower and wrapped in a towel around after wiping herself and stepped out. 

"What the fuck!" she shrieked when she saw Sidharth over there. 

"Shit! I'm sorry.." he muttered before leaving but stopped near the door, ran inside again and carried Nonu with him. 

"Isko kaha leke ja raha hai?'' she asked. 

"Bahar! What is he gonna do here? Watch you change?" he mocked and left the room, closing the door behind him. She was so embarrassed by both, with his statement and being caught in a towel. 

"Siyappa!" She always walked out of her bathroom like that, she'd even walk into the kitchen just in a towel to check the boiling milk. She had been living alone for years, never did she face such a situation. She looked at her flushed face in the mirror and dressed up quickly. He sat in the living room with the kid, embarrassed to the core with what just happened. He wished the earth swallowed him before she marches out and slaps him. 

"I'm really sorry.. Mai bas isse milne aaya tha.. I was about to leave.." he apologized as soon as she appeared again, dressed this time in a pretty pink kurti. No offense but this same girl in a towel looked so tempting, she had the smoothest skin, freshly washed face and those plump wet lips. He anticipated her at least to accuse him of carelessness or anything. On the contrary she waved him off with an it's okay but she couldn't help with the redness creeping over her face. 

"So..uh.. You bought him these?" He asked for a topic change and pointed at the stuffed bear. 

She nodded, "Ha aur yeh animal set.." she showed some more animals lying on the couch. 

"Teddy Shehnaaz?" he asked, pressing his lips into a thin line. 

"Kyu? Ache nahi hai? But he plays with them!" she replied, what was wrong? 

"Boys like cars, action figures, power rangers more.. Adventurous things you know.." he shrugged, stuffed and soft toys were mostly played by girls. 

"Oh.. But he likes elephants.." she repeated. 

"It's good.. It's good that he likes elephants and animals.." he nodded and ruffled Nonu's hair, indeed these toys were good but boys were fascinated about cars and bikes, he mentally kept a note to get him a toy car and action figures to play with him.

[2 days later] 

It was 6.30 in the evening when Shehnaaz and Nonu were in the living room when the doorbell rang. It was Arohi, who entered a room sprawled with colour pens all over. 

"Yeh mera ghar hai ya play school? Sana!" she shouted. 

Shehnaaz, who was helping him in colouring, rolled her eyes, "Mai kar dungi saaf..tu ja.." They together coloured an elephant. 

"Wow.." she gasped at the disoriented elephant's beauty, praising the kid. 

"Meda Gadhu! Sona! Nona baby! Kinni achi drawing karta hai tu.." she said and the kid turned back to her. 

"Ye naam rakh du tere?" she giggled, asking him while l he just kept wondering what she meant. During the course of dinner, Arohi asked her if there was any progress in the search hunt for the kid's parents. 

"Dekh.. Mai bhi chahti hu iske parents mil jaye.. Lekin nahi mile toh? Kisi NGO type ke jagah ya orphanage me bhej de isko.. Kaise manage karegi tu? I don't know what would happen if Tiwari gets to know about all this.." she worriedly expressed. 

"Kya matlab parents nahi mile toh? Ha?" Shehnaaz asked. 

"Kyuki kitne din ho gaye hai usko apne ghar se bahar.. Yadi police ke paas jate uske maa-baap toh abhi tak tujhe call aa jata.. Kya pata tere Nonu ke parents hai bhi ya nahi? Aur aas paas vale Tiwari ko jante hai.. Koi bhi bata sakta hai.." Arohi shrugged. What if Nonu was an orphan? Possible. She pulled out her phone and googled the procedures to adopt a child. Was it necessary to be married to adopt? Was it necessary to know the child's background? How much money did she need to have to adopt someone? 

"I'll adopt him.." she announced. 

"Come again?" Arohi asked. 

"I'll adopt him.. Tab toh kisi ko koi problem nahi hogi na.." Shehnaaz shrugged. 

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?" Arohi shrieked in amazement. And it led to a huge round of arguments. 

 "Sirf 3 mahine huye hai tujhe Mumbai aaye! Tu apna career banane aayi hai ya is ko palne..? I won't let you do this okay! Zyada mat beh emotions me.." Arohi repeated herself. 

"Mujhe yaad hai mera career! He doesn't even speak.. orphanage me kitna mushkil hoga yaar isko! Mai nahi chahti Nonu vaha jaye!" Shehnaaz retorted and dialed Sidharth's number to call him over to the terrace to avoid her roommate. 

"Kya zid hai ye? Tu aise toh kisi ko bhi ghar me utha ke le aayegi?" Arohi asked, nonchalantly. Her words hit Shehnaaz somewhere deep, a pang in her heart almost made her cry. 

"Ye jo tune bola na kisi ko bhi utha kar ke le aayi mai.. Koi saman nahi hai! You'd never know Arohi! Tere paas parents hai.. Khudke! You'd never know what it is to be an orphan!" Shehnaaz replied dejectedly. She couldn't help with her tears flowing out and ran outside the apartment, slamming the door behind her. Your heart aches every time life shows you what you've had or will have to miss out on, and a little bit of your soul dies with every rejection. Painful. Empty. Meaningless. 

"Shit.. Are you? Mujhe nahi pata tha.. I'm sorry.. didn't mean it..shit!" Arohi cursed herself for hurting her. She didn't know Shehnaaz was an orphan. She ran after her but the elevator doors had closed already. Taking the stairs to climb two more floors, she readily strode upwards. 

"Please babe.. I'm sorry.. Mujhe nahi pata tha!" She apologized again. 

"Just get lost Arohi.. I really don't want to see you now!" Shehnaaz shouted and didn't even look back. 

"What's happening?" Sidharth entered the terrace, at the very right time according to Arohi. She shortly narrated the entire scene to him.

"WHAT?" he couldn't believe his ears for a moment, adopt a child? A freaking child she met 2 days ago? What's got into her? He looked at her totally taken aback. 

"Mai..umm.. Kar sakti hu na aisa.. I googled everything about adoption last night.. That I need to be 21+ i.e. an adult, that I am.. Financially stable, that I am.. No criminal records, I have none and.." she began blabbering about all the stuff she read. 

"Ye sab kaha se aaya tere dimag me?" was his first question. 

"Mai.. Maine khud ne aisa socha ke usko adopt kar lungi to kisi ko problem nahi hogi.. Arohi ne bola yadi uska koi nahi hoga toh.. usko kisi NGO ya orphanage me bhejna padega kyu ki building me se kisi ne TiwariJi ko bata diya toh problem ho jayegi.." she blurted out. 

He glared Arohi, to smack her stupid roommate to shut her mouth at least if she could be of no help. 

She apologetically looked at him, "I'm sorry.." she mouthed.

"Leave.. I'll talk to her.." he replied, so that he could talk to Shehnaaz properly. 

"Police are already looking into the missing reports.. hume wait karna chahiye.. Aisa kyu soch rahi hai ki Nonu ke parents nahi hai.. Honge na.. Think positive yaar!" he said, snaking his right arm around her. Adoption?! Seriously? it's way fucking difficult and lengthy than it sounds. 

"Kyu? Mai usko adopt karu usme kuch negative hai? Sidharth vo mere hath se khana khane laga hai.. colouring bhi kar rahe the hum dono.. Tu samajh raha hai? He'd accept me if I adopt him.." she said, adamant about her new decision. 

"It's not a child's play! Tu abhi ready ek bacha palne ke liye? You're over thinking! What if his parents are looking for him..?" he held her shoulders and tried to explain. 

"3 din ho gaye.. Abhi tak toh aaye nahi!" she retorted. She had so fallen in love with that kid, well not just her. He too liked that kid a lot, the push back car he gifted yesterday had become Nonu's favourite toy. 

"Try to understand sweetheart.. Adopt karna ek bahut badi responsibility hai.. Not just financially there are so many things.. You look after him now, that too with the help of a maid.. Teri job.. Dance.. You're at the beginning of your career.." he tried to convince. Much to her dismay, the only person she thought would support her, was not helping her. 

"Tu bhi usi ki tarah bol raha hai.. Ek baar toh mere nazariye se dekh!" she whined, making him lose his mind. She was so freaking stubborn! 

"You know what? You still cannot adopt him! Firstly, adoption is very lengthy.. Legal stuff.. Authorities come to check you.. Na toh tumhare paas khud ka ghar hai.. Na bache ke liye time.. And not to forget you have a drinking problem! The court will never risk a child in such a case! You understand!" he shouted. 

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