Hriday's POV

The baby was soft, warm, fragile in a way that made my arms feel clumsy, unworthy. I had expected him to cry, to push me away like most children did with strangers. But instead, he clung tighter, little fists curling into my shirt, a giggle breaking the silence like I was someone he trusted.

It unsettled me.

A child that young doesn't lie. They don't flatter or pretend. They choose. And this boy... Vihaan, had chosen me.

But it wasn't his trust that shook me the most.

It was hers.

Across the room, she stood frozen, files trembling in her hands like they were the only thing holding her together. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, the noise of the room faded. She looked at me as though I had crossed a line she never wanted crossed. Accusation, fear, and something dangerously close to longing swirled in her gaze.

I saw her then. Not just the volunteer, not the tired smile she gave the children. I saw the woman who had been carrying a weight far too heavy for her shoulders, yet refused to crumble beneath it. And for one fleeting second, I wanted to look longer.

But I didn't.

I smoothed my face back into neutrality, the same mask I had worn in a hundred boardrooms and political halls. Whatever she thought she saw in me- it wasn't hers to know, Because no one needed to know what unsettled me.

"Vihu, come to mumma." She tried to take him in her arms again, this time he happily went into her arms and giggled when he looked at me from her arms.

Vihaan wriggled slightly in her arms, letting out another tiny giggle as he reached toward me.

I stayed a few steps back, careful not to startle either of them. "How old is he?" I asked quietly, genuinely curious.

She glanced down at him, smiling softly, but her eyes flicked up to mine warily. "Six months."

I nodded, watching the baby study me with wide, dark eyes, unafraid. "He seems... unusually calm for his age," I said, my tone casual, but my gaze never left him.

She gave a faint shrug, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "He has his moments," she said lightly, her voice calm but guarded.

Vihaan let out another gurgle and kicked his tiny legs, reaching for the little stuffed toy she held. His attention shifted from her to me for a moment, his chubby fingers curling around the edge of my sleeve. I held still, letting him explore, fascinated by how quickly he seemed to trust someone new.

She tensed slightly, noticing the interaction. "He usually doesn't..." Her words trailed off, a subtle warning in them. But he didn't cry, didn't pull away. Instead, he looked up at me and giggled again, as if he'd made a choice without anyone asking.

I allowed a faint smile to touch my lips, keeping my expression neutral, letting her control the space. "He's... special," I murmured, more to myself than to her, watching how his tiny body relaxed in her arms.

She adjusted him gently against her chest, eyes darting to mine for the briefest moment.

I let my attention drift back to the baby. Something about him- the way he could choose comfort so confidently, the way he laughed with a complete stranger...was... unsettling. Not in a bad way, just... unfamiliar.

And yet, I couldn't look away.

I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in, and tilted my head slightly, watching him. "Seems like he's already made a choice today," I murmured.

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, then she looked back down at him, adjusting his tiny arms around her neck. "I suppose... maybe," she said softly, a trace of wonder in her voice.

Vihaan let out another giggle, reaching for my sleeve again. I didn't move, didn't pull away. I simply held my ground, letting him explore, curious how someone so small could make such an impression on even the most guarded person.

Her breath caught lightly, a small, almost inaudible exhale. She hadn't expected him to react this way to anyone but her. And yet... he was smiling up at me like he'd known me all his life.

I kept my expression neutral, but the corner of my lips twitched, barely noticeable, but enough to catch her eye. She blinked, just once, as though questioning what she'd just seen.

"Do... do you like him?" she asked cautiously, her voice softer now.

I looked down at the baby in her arms, letting the faintest pause stretch between us. "I... like him," I said simply, choosing my words carefully. No more, no less.

Vihaan responded with another tiny giggle, as if affirming my words. He wiggled closer to her chest, then reached one chubby hand toward me again. I held still, letting him touch, letting him choose.

Her gaze lingered on me longer this time, her eyes searching mine. For a brief moment, I saw everything she had tried to hide- the sleepless nights, the fierce protectiveness, the quiet pride.

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A short chapter for today. I will update the next chapter soon.

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Lots of love,

Shay 💗