Morning arrived quietly at Vanshika’s home.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the soft bedding and the scattered toys near the foot of the bed.
Beyond the open balcony doors, the pond reflected the pale blue sky, while lotus flowers floated peacefully among their broad green leaves.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers into the room, making the curtains sway.
Vanshika was still asleep.
She lay on her side beneath a light blanket, her long midnight-blue hair spread across the pillow.
One arm rested protectively around the little boy sleeping beside her, who had somehow managed to move considerably closer during the night.
Vivaan’s cheek rested against her, and one of his tiny hands had caught the fabric of her sleeping clothes.
He appeared perfectly satisfied with his arrangement.
Unfortunately for Vanshika, he was beginning to wake up.
Vivaan opened his Cosmic Azure eyes and stared at the unfamiliar brightness filtering through the curtains.
He blinked several times, then turned his attention toward the woman beside him.
His gaze lingered on her face before his little hand began exploring the nearest strand of hair.
He caught it.
Then he tugged.
Vanshika’s eyebrows moved slightly, but she remained asleep.
Vivaan tried again, this time moving his hand toward her cheek.
His fingers touched her face, patted it once, and then rested against it.
Nothing happened.
Apparently dissatisfied with the lack of response, he made a small sound.
“Mm!”
Vanshika shifted beneath the blanket.
Vivaan immediately became more interested.
He leaned forward and patted her cheek again, his expression full of innocent determination.
This time, Vanshika opened one eye.
For several seconds, she looked at him without speaking.
Vivaan looked back, his bright eyes fixed on hers, and then his face broke into a cheerful little smile.
Vanshika stared at him in disbelief.
“Oh, so you’ve decided that Mom has slept long enough?”
Vivaan answered with a happy sound.
She closed her eye again and pretended to return to sleep.
The baby froze.
He looked at her face, waited a moment, and then patted her cheek with renewed enthusiasm.
Vanshika had to fight a smile.
“Goodness, what an impatient little gentleman.
Does Mom not deserve five more minutes?”
Vivaan reached toward her hair.
“No?
Not even three?”
He caught a strand between his fingers.
“Two?”
Another little sound.
Vanshika opened both eyes and burst into laughter.
She rolled onto her back, carefully gathered him into her arms, and pressed a kiss against his lips.
“All right, all right!
Mom is awake.
You’ve won.”
Vivaan looked thoroughly pleased with the result.
She lifted him above her slightly, supporting him securely beneath his arms, and brought him back against her chest.
His little hands immediately found her cheeks again.
“You’re becoming very demanding, aren’t you?” she asked, rubbing his back.
“First, you wake Mom up.
Then you inspect her face.
Next, you’ll probably demand breakfast.”
He looked at her.
Vanshika gasped.
“You already want breakfast?
I haven’t even washed my face!”
Vivaan responded with a cheerful babble.
“Such a cruel little boy.
You have no sympathy for your poor mother.”
She kissed one cheek, then the other.
Vivaan reached for her face, apparently determined to return the affection in his own way.
His palm landed against her cheek, and he gently moved his fingers over it.
Vanshika’s teasing expression softened.
“There you are,” she murmured.
“Good morning, my little sweetheart.”
She held him close for another few moments, enjoying the warmth of his small body and the peacefulness of the morning.
There were no urgent matters waiting for her in this room, no documents to review, and no meetings she needed to attend.
Mahaveer and the Grand Elder Council could manage the territory’s routine affairs without her hovering over every decision.
For now, she had a much more important appointment.
Breakfast with Vivaan.
Getting out of bed proved more difficult than Vanshika had expected.
Every time she tried to sit up, Vivaan leaned toward her, apparently believing that the movement meant she was about to leave him behind.
When she finally placed him on the bed beside a soft cushion, he immediately crawled toward her. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Vanshika turned to retrieve her feets.
A little hand caught the hem of her clothing.
She looked down.
Vivaan was watching her intently.
“What’s wrong?”
He made a small sound and reached for her again.
Vanshika crouched in front of him.
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.
Mom is just getting ready.”
He reached toward her face.
She smiled and offered him her finger.
His hand closed around it, and she allowed him to hold on while she sat beside him.
“Would you like to help Mom get ready?”
Vivaan looked at her.
“Wonderful.
Then your first task is to remain here while I brush my hair.”
She reached for her brush.
Vivaan immediately became fascinated by it.
Vanshika slowly lowered the brush and gave him a suspicious look.
“I see.
You want to take over the entire operation.”
He stretched toward it.
“Absolutely not.
You’re far too small to manage this important responsibility.”
He continued reaching.
She moved the brush just out of reach, and Vivaan leaned forward with such determination that she had to steady him with her free hand.
Vanshika laughed and kissed his cheek.
“Fine.
You may hold it for a moment, but Mom will be doing the actual work.”
She let him grip the handle while she guided it carefully through a section of her hair.
Vivaan watched the movement with complete concentration, as though he were learning a complicated technique.
“There.
Beautiful hair, properly brushed.”
He shook the brush slightly.
Vanshika nodded gravely.
“Excellent work.
I shall recommend you for a promotion.”
After she finished getting ready, she carried him into the kitchen.
Breakfast was simple: warm porridge, soft fruit, and a few things she had prepared for herself.
She settled Vivaan comfortably in his seat and remained beside him, helping him eat while he explored the unfamiliar textures and occasionally became more interested in her than in the food.
Whenever she offered him a spoonful, he would sometimes open his mouth immediately.
At other times, he would turn his head toward her earrings or try to catch her fingers.
“Vivaan, sweetheart, the food is here.”
He looked toward her.
“Yes, right here.
Not on Mom’s sleeve.”
She caught his wandering hand gently before it reached the bowl.
He babbled.
Vanshika raised an eyebrow.
“Are you arguing with me?”
Another cheerful sound followed.
“That’s a very convincing argument.
Unfortunately, the kitchen rules remain unchanged.”
She continued feeding him patiently, talking throughout the meal.
She told him about the birds outside, the flowers growing beside the pond, and the little fish that always seemed to gather near the edge whenever she visited the water.
Vivaan listened in his own way, watching her face and occasionally interrupting with a sound of his own.
By the time breakfast ended, a little food had found its way onto his clothes.
Vanshika examined the evidence.
Then she looked at him.
“How did you manage that?”
Vivaan smiled.
She covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Oh, you think this is funny?
Mom has been preparing food for years, and somehow you’re already better at making a mess than anyone in this house.”
She cleaned his face with a soft cloth, kissed his cheek, and lifted him from his seat.
“Come along.
We need to change your clothes before you decide to decorate the rest of the kitchen.”
The garden became their next destination.
Vanshika carried Vivaan through the rear doors and onto the stone path that circled the pond.
The morning had warmed considerably, and sunlight danced across the water.
A few butterflies moved between the flowering bushes, while birds hopped along the wooden railing near the pavilion.
She settled onto a cushioned bench beneath a flowering tree, holding Vivaan against her as she looked out over the pond.
“This is one of Mom’s favorite places,” she told him.
“It’s quiet here, isn’t it?”
Vivaan watched a butterfly pass overhead.
“That little fellow is very busy today. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Perhaps he has somewhere important to go.”
The butterfly disappeared behind a bush.
Vanshika leaned closer to Vivaan.
“Do you think he has an appointment?
Maybe he’s meeting his friends for breakfast.”
Vivaan made a little sound.
“Exactly.
I knew you’d understand.”
She laughed softly and kissed his cheek.
“Oh, why are you so cute, I cannot hold back myself.”
After a while, she placed him on the soft blanket she had brought outside.
She sat close beside him, keeping a hand near his waist as he explored a few safe toys.
He repeatedly looked back at her, apparently checking that she was still there.
Every time he did, she smiled.
“Mom is right here.”
He returned to his toys.
A few moments later, he looked again.
“Still here.”
Another moment passed.
“Yes, sweetheart.
Mom hasn’t disappeared.”
Vivaan crawled toward her, then leaned against her knee.
Vanshika opened her arms, and he moved straight into them.
She lifted him onto her lap, hugged him close, and gently rocked him while the breeze moved through the trees.
“Do you know something?” she asked.
“I used to think this home was beautiful because of the pond, the gardens, and the mountains.
But I think I’ve discovered that my favorite view is actually this one.”
She touched his nose lightly.
Vivaan tried to catch her finger.
“Yes, you.
Who else could it be?”
He gave a delighted little sound.
She played with him until he began rubbing his eyes.
His movements slowed, and he rested his head against her chest.
Vanshika recognized the signs immediately.
“Oh, someone is getting sleepy.”
She gathered him into her arms and carried him inside.
The garden could wait.
The pond would still be there when he woke up, and she had no intention of rushing him through the small pleasures of his day.
She settled onto the bed with him, drew a light blanket over them, and gently stroked his hair.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart.
Mom is here.”
Vivaan curled closer.
Vanshika kissed his forehead and continued humming until his breathing became slow and peaceful.
She remained beside him, one hand resting protectively against his back, watching the sunlight move gradually across the bedroom floor.
The rest of the world could wait a little longer.
Her little boy was asleep, and for Vanshika, that was a perfectly wonderful way to spend the morning.
By evening, the pond had turned golden beneath the setting sun.
Vanshika sat on the balcony with Vivaan in her lap, pointing out the changing colors in the sky.
He had woken from his nap in a cheerful mood and had spent much of the afternoon exploring his toys and crawling around the living room under her watchful eye.
Now, he was more interested in her than in the view.
He touched her cheek.
Vanshika turned toward him.
“Yes?”
He patted it again.
“Is there something on my face?”
He reached toward her hair.
She laughed.
“Ah, of course.
The hair inspection.”
He caught a loose strand and held it carefully.
Vanshika let him play with it for a while before gathering him into a warm embrace.
He rested his head beneath her chin, and she wrapped both arms around him.
“My little Vivaan,” she murmured.
“You make even the quietest day feel special.”
He shifted in her arms.
She kissed his cheek once more, then settled back against the cushions and watched the last light fade over the pond.
Tomorrow would bring another morning, another breakfast, and another collection of little adventures.
Perhaps Vivaan would discover a new toy, find a new way to surprise her, or decide that waking Mom was his favorite activity.
Whatever happened, Vanshika knew she would welcome it.
Because in this peaceful home, surrounded by flowers, water, and the mountains beyond, her happiest moments were often the simplest ones.
A little hand holding hers.
A cheek pressed against her own.
A sleepy baby curling into her arms.
And the soft, comforting knowledge that when Vivaan needed her, Mom would always be there.
To Be Continued…