Chapter 7

Khanna Mention was filled with hustle bustle because it’s Prince Adarsh’s birthday. Anita was busy in making sure everything is prepared for the special prayer that they do on every kid's birthday. Amar was doing his work from home today and trying to finish everything before the evening's party.

"Amar, can you check if all the work is finished from this list? I have to make the kids ready for prayer" Anita asked, handing the list to Amar.

“But I’m doing…”

Anita left from there hurriedly towards the kids room without waiting for his reply. Amar stood up to check the list shaking his head. 

“I'll make Aditi ready. You take care of Adi and Meera" Radhika said.

Anita smiled gratefully and both went upstairs.

Opening her room's door Anita met with a beautiful site that can melt every heart. In the middle of bed Adi was securing his angel by placing pillows on her either sides and watching her as if she is the most precious thing in the world.

Adi turned his attention towards his mother and placed his finger on his lips motioning her to not make any sound.

Anita smiled and whispered "Happy birthday my lovely son. Stay blessed." 

She kissed his forehead first then gave a kiss to Meera also.

"Today's my birthday, Mom?" Adi asked, confused.

Anita looked at him shocked and started checking his forehead to check if he is having fever or something.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Adi asked annoyed by his Mom's weird behaviour.

"I'm just checking if you are alright or not because last I remembered my son always was the one to start announcing weeks before that his birthday is coming so everything should be according to his choices only but now you are asking as if you forgot your own birthday" Anita replied laughing.

Adi smiled sheepishly and said "Mom, I was so busy and excited to teach  my Angel new things everyday that I forgot about my birthday."

"You know she started walking with me and she can say Adi more clearly now and you know Mom my Angel…”

"Yeah I get it, your Angel is learning everything fast with you. Now stop your Angel rant and get out of bed you need to get ready for prayer" Anita said interrupting him.

Adi gave a kiss to his Angel on his forehead then got out of bed with a huff. After some time when Anita and Adi came out of the bathroom they heard a giggle and Adi ran towards his Angel. Meera was sitting on the bed and playing with her toes. 

Adi smiled and raised his hand towards her. Meera held his hand and started playing with his fingers.

“Adii” 

“My Angel”

Anita smiled watching them then said "Adi leave your angel for a minute first get dressed then I have to make her ready also." 

"Mom, please 5 minutes. Angel is playing with my fingers happily. Let her play 5 more minutes" Adi said with puppy eyes.

Anita shakes her head at his son and starts taking out clothes for him.

"Adi came here now. I have a lot of work to do. I don't have all day for this. Get up now" she said sternly.

"Mom, why don't you let me play with my Angel peacefully, always disturbing me" whined Adi.

"Oh now I'm disturbing him. Few months ago he was the one always walking around me. Going everywhere with me and now I'm disturbing him. Meera, my Angel please grow up quickly then I will make you join my team then we both will irritate him together" Anita whispered under her breath.

"Now what are you waiting for Mom? First you stop me from playing with my Angel and now you are standing like a statue. Come and help me wear my clothes fast then I need to make my Angel ready" Adi said annoyed.

She helped him wear his clothes then gave Meera a bath and clad her in Aranv's choice. 

"Ok now I will leave you both in your sister’s room. I will call you when prayer will start" Anita said, lifting Meera in her arms and starting walking.

But Adi stopped her by holding her saari's loose end. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. 

"Mom, my Angel can walk with me, you don't need to lift her. You can go downstairs I will take her" Adi said raising his hands towards Meera and Meera started squirming in her arms.

Anita shakes her head and lets Meera stand with Adi. Meera held Adi's finger squealing and started walking with him.

Anita looked at them shocked as both of them left form there without sparing her a glance. Shaking her head she went downstairs.

"Angel, you know today is my birthday. I want you to wish me. Can you say happy birthday to your Adi?" Adi asked.

"Adii," Meera replied nodding as if she understood.

"Okay Angel, repeat after me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Adi."

"Eppy Budday Adii" Meera repeated giggling. 

Adi squealed in happiness and kissed her both cheeks.

"Thank you, Angel. Thank you for wishing me. My Angel is the best."

Meera laughed seeing her Adi happy. Then both resumed walking. When they entered the room Rohan who came with his sister Shreya to wish Adi ran towards Meera to hug her but Adi came in front of Meera and glared at him. 

"Adi, I just wanted to hug Meera. Why would you never let me hug her?” Rohan complained.

"Because she is my Angel and you will hurt with your clumsy hands so I want my Angel away from you" Adi said walking towards Aditi with his Angel following behind him.

"Adi today is your birthday at least don't be rude to your friends today.”

Adi shrugged.

“Happy birthday Adi'' Aditi said and ruffled his hair.

"Don't touch my hair," Adi whined. 

"Happy budday Adi" Shreya said, extending her hand towards him.

“Thanks Shreya,” Adi said, shaking his hand with her.

"Happy birthday Adi" Rohanwished him.

"Thank you, Monkey" Adi replied laughing seeing Rohan’s annoyed face.

"ADIII" NK whined.

Adi laughed seeing his irritating face and started playing with his Angel.

Radhika came after sometime and said "okay kids it's time for prayer now. Let's go."

Holding Meera's hand, Adi followed his grandma.

Adi sat in the prayer with Meera. Amar and Anita sat on either side of them. Meera watched everything with utmost curiosity but after some time she fell asleep. 

After finishing prayer Anita picked Meera in her arms.

"Mohan, distribute prasad to everyone. I'll come after putting Meera to sleep."

Mohan nodded and left to do his work.

Adi followed her mother holding her saari's loose end. Anita raised her eyebrows seeing that. Adi smiled sheepishly and gestured towards sleeping beauty in his mother's arms. Anita shakes her head and continues walking towards her room. 

"Mom, I'm also feeling sleepy, so I'll sleep with my Angel'' Adi said lying beside sleeping Meera.

"Yeah yeah I know how sleepy you are...just sleep. I'll wake both of you to get ready for the party after some time" Anita replied sarcastically and left from there.

"I know my Angel can't sleep alone. Don't worry Angel I'll be here beside you, sleep well" Adi said kissing her forehead. 

Adi then started doing his school homework which he didn't complete last night because his Angel needed him.

Evening, 

Anita came inside the room and saw his son sleeping in a sitting position holding Meera's hand, a book lying beside him and a pencil in his other hand. Anita smiled seeing and softly patted Adi's head.

"My Adi just turned 5 today but he already became this responsible. He will be so kind and caring when he grows up" Anita whispered under her breath.

Then she softly shaked him to wake him up. Adi opened his eyes and he reflexively turned to see his Angel and seeing her sleeping peacefully he smiled. 

"Mom, let Angel sleep some more. First you make me ready then we will wake her" he said to his mother. Anita nodded.

After sometime, Anita left downstairs making both of them ready. 

"Where is Adi, Anita? Birthday boy is missing from his own party" asked a guest at the party.

Anita opened her mouth to reply but Amar spoke first.

"Here they are. Birthday boy with his Angel."

All eyes turned towards the stairs where Anrav stood holding Meera's hand and Radhika beside him. Adi smiled towards Meera and Meera beamed with excitement. They both came downstairs with Radhika.

"Now the birthday boy is here, let's cut the cake and then the children can play freely," Radhika said. 

All moved towards the cake and Adi looked at Aditi. Aditi blinked her eyes and gestured towards Mohan who was coming with a small chair in his hand. Putting the chair in front of cake Adi made Meera stand on it.

"What are you doing, champ? Why are you making Meera stand on it?" asked Amar.

"Dad, my Angel is so small, she can't reach the cake on her own and I want to make wishes and blow out the candles with my Angel so…" Adi said, grinning.

“It’s your birthday, do as you wish, son” Radhika said.

Adi made a wish closing his eyes and then turned towards Meera. 

"Angel I made a wish on behalf of both of us. Now blow the candles with me okay." 

Meera stared at his face clapping her hands. Adi gestured to her to follow him and both blew the candles. Then Adi cut the cake and picked a small piece. He fed it to Meera then moved towards his family to feed them. 

"Adi, where is my cake? Feed me also" Shreya pleaded cutely.

"No cake for you," Adi replied, sticking his tongue out and laughing. 

"Aunty" Shreya whined.

"Here here, take your cake. Come" Adi said seriously. 

Shreya came towards him and Adi took a piece to feed her but instead of feeding her he applied the cake on her face laughing. 

"Meanie, I won't leave you now” Shreya shouted and started chasing him. 

Other kids also joined them and started chasing each other.

“Lets leave the kids to play and enjoy themselves" Anita said to the guests.

After chasing Adi for a few minutes Shreya sat on the sofa for rest. 

Aditi came to her with a piece of cake on a plate and handed it to her.

“Don’t waste your energy in chasing him. Eat this” Aditi said.

Shreya grinned and started eating the cake. 

"You don’t even know how to eat properly" Adi mocked watching her dirtying her dress while eating the cake.

"Your Angel also doesn't know how to eat. Look she is spreading the cake all over her face" Rohan said laughing.

Adi turned towards Meera who was trying to eat the cake but in the process spread the cake all over her face. Adi moved towards her and held her hands to stop her from making the mess.

"My Angel is still learning and also she is still cute with the mess but Shreya is not. There's a difference," Adi said, wiping Meera's face with his handkerchief.

Adi's school friends came towards him.

"Aww this baby is so cute. Her cheeks are so squishy I want to touch them" one of them said.

He raised his hands towards Meera. Meera becomes afraid of seeing him moving towards her and hides behind Adi. Adi held her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Rahul, stop , you are making my Angel afraid. She doesn't like strangers so stay away from her" Adi said sternly to his friend.

"But Adi, I'm your friend, don't worry I'll not scare her. I just want to befriend Angel" Rahul replied.

Meera frowned towards Rahul.

"Adii"

Adi caressed her cheek and said angrily "Rahul, go away from here, you are not my friend from today. I don't want to have any connection with a person with whom my Angel is scared and one more thing don't ever call her Angel again. She doesn’t like it. Understood."

Rahul nodded and went from there hurriedly with his other friends. 

Adi kneeled in front of Meera and said "don't worry Angel he is gone now and he’ll never call you Angel again. I know you don’t like it when others call you that." 

Meera smiled and patted his cheeks with her hands. 

"Adii"

"Lets go, Angel we will play in our room."

“Everything went well. All the kids who came today were so happy and played all evening. But I didn't see Adi and Meera where they were?" Amar asked after the party. 

"Dad, one of Adi’s friends scared Meera so he left with her to play in his room," Aditi said.

“He got so angry at his friend for scaring his Angel.”

"I can say this for sure our Adi cares for his Angel much more than we can think of" Radhika said and everyone nodded. 

Amar and Anita enter their room and see Meera sleeping in the middle of the bed with one side of a pillow securing her and the other side Adi sleeping holding her hand.

Amar and Anita smiled and after changing slept on either side of them.