Iyer House – one week later, Monday, September 17, 5 pm
A newborn's cry broke out amidst the silent flat. Muffled footsteps traveled from the living room to the bedroom, where the cries came from. The door creaked open and Vandu lifted her head from the bed, peeking at the figure walk in with a furrowed brow.
"Ishu? Tum yahan?" she asked groggily. [Ishu? You're here?]
Ishita nodded. "Amma market gayi hai," she whispered. "Isiliye main aayi hoon aapki madad karne. Aap so jao, Akka. Kshitija ko main sambhaalti hoon." [Amma's gone to the market. That's why I'm here to give you a hand. Go to sleep, Akka. I'll handle Kshitija.]
She tiptoed to the crying baby in the crib and lifted her into her arms.
"Thanks Ishu. I just fed her so she should be good for a couple hours," Vandu mentioned. "Tum bas iska diaper check kar lena." [Just check her diaper please.]
"Got it Akka. You go back to sleep. I'll take care of her."
Vandu sighed in relief and lied back down. She had barely gotten a wink of sleep last night, waking up at all hours to feed and soothe her baby. Even though Bala insisted on waking up with her, she had encouraged he get some sleep so he could get through his workday at college the next day.
The bedroom door clicked shut and Ishita softly walked to the living room. She rocked her wailing niece in her arms and gently sat down on the sofa.
"Kya hua Kshitija?" she cooed. "Kyun ro rahi ho baby?" She pulled at the elastic of her diaper and checked her behind. "Diaper to thik hai aapka... Toh phir kya hua?" [What happened Kshitija? Why are you crying baby? Your diaper is fine... Then what happened?]
Ishita held her niece against her chest and patted her back, murmuring endearments until she quieted down.
"Ole mera baby... Chitti ka accha baccha..." [Chitti's precious baby...]
She rocked the baby in her arms who in turn gazed back with wonder-filled eyes. Ishita's head snapped up when footsteps and chitchat grew louder outside. The front door burst open and Adi, Ruhi, and Shravu entered in their school uniforms.
"Hi Ishimaa!"
"Hi Chitti!"
"Aa gaye tum log?" she said. The litter of kids gathered round and set down their backpacks on the couch. "Kaisa raha school?" [You're back guys? How was school?]
"It was good," Adi replied.
"Hum baby ke saath khelne aaye hai!" Ruhi exclaimed. She extended her arm to pat the baby, but Shravu swatted her hand away. [We've come to play with the baby!]
"Ruhi chuhi! Pehle apne hand wash kar! Meri baby sister ko germs wale hands se touch karegi kya?!" Shravu cried. [Wash your hands first! Are you going to touch my baby sister with germs on your hands?!]
"Shravu!" Ruhi gasped. "Woh meri bhi baby sister hai!" [She's my baby sister too!]
"Shhh!" Ishita shushed them. "Bas karo dono. Yeh aap sab ki baby sister hai. Sab khelna iske saath. Lekin pehle uniform change karo aur fresh ho jao. Phir khelna." [Enough you two. She's all three of your baby sister. You can all play with her. But first go change your uniform and freshen up.]
Each of them ran to their rooms to change at record speed. By the time they came back to the Iyer house, their grandmother had returned from the market. While Madhu organized her groceries in the kitchen, Adi, Ruhi, and Shravu kept their baby sister busy under Ishita's watch. One snapped their fingers while another shook a rattle.
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Connected: A YHM Story ✔️
FanfictionFour separate souls -- Raman, Ishita, Ruhi, and Adi -- in four separate cities; but somehow CONNECTED. How? Read to find out.... Ishita Iyer has been dreaming of a life as a dentist, wife, and mother, but destiny plays a cruel joke on her, as her dr...
