Suffering. 

Suffering.

“I guess that's what you're trying to portray, doll. Is that a nod for me to hand over your brother to you?”

Was he jesting with me?

"Yes, S-sir."

"Do I really have to?" He inquired again. "Because he is way too warm," he completed, kissing his cheek. “Aren't you, big boy?”

"Please, sir," I pleaded with him, my tears of anxiety already blurring my vision.

"Alright! All right! But you have to promise me something. Would you do that for your beloved brother? And I could ask anything?" He asked icily, suddenly. All the humour was gone.

I nodded at him willingly, despite the tears..

"Hmm. . Good girl. Okay, take him.”

I went closer to get a hold of Shaurya.

But instead of giving Shaurya to me, he laid him down on the mattress of the bed, tugging him gently with a thin blanket over him.

Then I noticed a soundly sleeping baby on the bed with a bottle in his mouth.

Did he sleep? When did that happen? And how? He never sleeps like this—not before having heard the lulla