7. Developing Feelings

RAJVEER

Both of us turned towards my son standing behind us.

"Ved," I mumbled.

"Who is this, Papa?" He asked me, pointing towards Diya.

I knelt so that I can be at Ved's height and held my son. 

"She is like your nanny. She will be playing with you, teaching you, feed you lunch and dinner and everything else. She can be your best friend too, you can share everything with her," I softly spoke, hoping Ved to accept Diya.

"You mean she is my mummy now?" Ved straight asked.

"No, why she would be your mummy?"

I was taken aback by Ved's sudden question. His tone didn't feel good, which means he had his doubts regarding Diya and now, I have no idea how Ved would react. My optimism vanished in just a moment.

"Both of you were talking about my mummy, I heard that and now you're saying that she will be with me, play with me, take care of me and everything else that mummy used to do. So, you want to make her my mummy?" Ved questioned in a rude tone.

He had heard our conversation and he misunderstood us. I don't know what to do anymore. But I had to make him understand that it's nothing like what he thinks. 

But before I could say anything, Diya sat beside me, facing Ved and I don't know why, but I couldn't take my eyes out of her.

"Why would I be your mummy? I am a kid as well, I am not in the age to be a mother," she spoke in such a tone like she hated Ved calling her mummy.

"Then?" He turned towards her and looked at her.

"You have a mummy, so no one else can be your mother. I'm Diya, and I will be your Diya as well," she winked.

"But, why are you here?" He asked in a disappointed tone.

"See, your papa must have told you that your mummy is a star now. So stars can't come down and take care of you, Ved," she pouted, making a sad baby face.

I smiled looking at her expressions.

"And your papa remains busy in his work. So that's why I am here. Your mummy had sent me so that I can be with you, and you aren't left alone. I will be your friend. If your mummy is your best friend, I will be your close friend," she winked and I could notice Ved's expressions softening.

"You're saying the truth?" Ved asked with moistened eyes. 

"Yes," Diya nodded.

"Promise?" Ved asked, pinching the skin of his throat.

"Yes, promise," Diya responded with a smile and copying Ved's action.

I was left in awe after watching Diya dealing with Ved. The way she calmed him down and made him accept her was something that I have never seen. Ved was a guy who didn't talk to strangers, let alone letting them in his personal space, but the way Ved let Diya enter, it was something rare and I must say, it was because of the way Diya communicated with my son.

As both of them chattered, I kept on looking at them, but I don't know when, my eyes were fixated on Diya once more. Her smile, it was infectious. Her cheeks turning slight red while she smiled as her eyes shrunken and she looked full of life. A bubble of joy and I know, this bubble of joy will help my son to move on from the memories of his mother.

"Vedu, now go. Show Diya your toys and other stuff," I tell Ved with a smile.

"Okay, Papa," he chirped and turned towards Diya who stood up.

Bed held Diya's hand and pulled her. 

"Come with me," he told her and pulled her towards his room while Diya joyfully followed.

I kept on looking at them with a smile. Ved was smiling after so long, and it made me smile as well, and when I see the reason for his smile, I can't comprehend. Diya. I must thank her for helping me.

I saw them playing and nodded and then walked away towards my room.

DIYA

As I was talking to Ved and playing with him, I could feel a pair of eyes fixated on me. When I turn around to have a slight look at those eyes, I saw something that made my heart flutter.

Rajveer Raichand was smiling. I know, I met him a day ago, but from whatever I have comprehended through our meets, I have thought him to be a devilish guy, who is always serious and gives dangerous glares, with snarky devilish chuckles. But right now, he was smiling and that was a genuine smile. And I don't know why, my heart said to me that you're going to do anything for that smile.

I turned my gaze from Rajveer towards Ved, because Ved was insecure of me the moment he saw me and I do not want to feed on his insecurities. He is a mere kid. I played with him and made him laugh and smile as according to Rajveer, that was my job.

After playing for a couple of hours, Ved was feeling sleepy, so I made him have his dinner and he slept after eating. As he slept, I turned my gaze all around the room, looking at everything. I wanted to see observe how Ved's mother looked and that's when I saw a picture of her and Rajveer together.

I immediately picked up the picture and looked at it. She was beautiful, curly hairs, an infectious smile, fair skin, perfect figure. She looked like a supermodel even in her late thirties. 

I don't know why, but her picture made me look at myself in the mirror. Pair of baggy clothes, hair tied neatly in a braid, chubby body with belly rolls, dull face and a look that I wasn't given proper nutrition. She looked special while I looked, ordinary. And that's why she had everything that I just can dream of.

As I was going through more pictures, someone entered the room. I looked at him, maybe he was a worker.

"Sir is calling you," he informed me.

"Oh okay," I nodded and kept the photo frame in its place.

Rajveer is calling me? But why?

I followed the man, who took me to Rajveer's room and knocked on the door. 

"Come in," he shouted from the room and the worker gestured me to enter.

I gave him a slight smile and entered the room while hesitating.

"Sir," I called Rajveer and his gaze abruptly turned towards me. 

"Yeah, Diya. Come here," he told me and I obeyed him.

I walked and stood in front of him. I don't know what happens to me, whenever I see him, or could sense him near me, I couldn't move my gaze from him. I just keep on staring at his black orbs like it's pulling me towards him. I felt like drowning in those black orbs and I don't know why?

Why do I feel like that? He is a man who is 22 years older than me. I should look at him as a father figure, but I just can't. I can't imagine him like that, he feels so special and so intimate to me, even if it's just two days since I have met him.

"So, when are you going to take your admission?" He asked me, as he kept his focus on some paperwork.

"Tomorrow, it's my dream college," I immediately replied to him. 

"Nice," he responded, keeping the papers aside and looking at me.

The moment he looked at me, I felt like my heart skipped a beat. I bit my lower lip as I tried to calm down my increased breathing.

"I will be accompanying you to your college for your admission," he informed me.

"Wha... What?" I was surprised by his words.

"Yeah, since I am sponsoring your studies, I should go with you." 

"Okay. Okay," I nodded.

And the next thing I know, I was granted admission to one of the best colleges in Kolkata under my favourite subject. My grades gave me an easy passage to secure my admission and now, from the next week, I will be starting my classes.

Bhaiya was too happy about my admission and he was relieved that I didn't have to work in that nightclub anymore. He felt good that Rajveer took care of my safety, but didn't like the fact that I returned home after nine at night, but there was no other way.

Ved seemed to mix up with me really well. He opened up to me about how he misses his mother and how he feels when he is alone. But with that, he started to smile, play with me and focus on his studies as well. The loss is too big for him, but he has to overcome it.

On the other hand, I don't think that Rajveer's mother likes me. It's been a week that I have started working at his house, but she doesn't even look at me. And I have no idea about her behaviour.

Well, the other thing, the Raichand family seemed a bit odd to me. Certain factors weren't sitting well with me when I thought about these. One of them was the fact that when I went to Raichand Mansion for the first time, Rajveer's mother wanted Rajveer to marry when it hadn't been 3 days since her late wife's departure. That was something weird in my sense.

And, after one week, I do admit one thing and that's I do have a crush on Rajveer Raichand. I know, this sounds wrong, but the way I get lost when I look at him, the way my heart beats rapidly when he is near me, it's not something usual. I do feel a certain kind of attraction when he is near me, but I know certain things. First, he is twenty-two years older than me who has an eight-year old kid, and for me, developing feelings for a man like him isn't ethical. And secondly, my mother would kill me if I let any guy enter my life, she will be choosing a guy for me, and I don't have the right to do that.

While thinking all this, I was getting ready for work. I looked myself at the mirror before stepping out of the house.

After half an hour, I reached Raichand Mansion.

As soon as I entered the house, Ved came running to me.

"Diya, thank God you're here," he sobbed.

"Vedu, what happened?" I asked.

He looked worried and was on the verge to cry.

"Papa... Papa... He isn't waking up," he cried.

"What?" I was shocked. 

"Yes," he cried.

I immediately ran towards Rajveer's room while Ved followed me. I was so worried about him that I barged into the room without even knocking.

The moment I entered the room, I saw Rajveer, lying on the bed and panting.

"Rajveer," his name escaped through my mouth as I saw him in that condition. 

I immediately rushed to his bead and touched his forehead. His head was burning due to the high temperature.

"Diya, Papa won't leave me like maa, na?" Ved cried as I was about to panic.