Janani looked at the dress Ava is wearing in stark disbelief .
Last night the child was only wearing an under pants.
Today she is wearing a frock made in brocade cloth.
Who dresses a three year old in such clothes?
Maybe in the eighteenth century, the royal family might have made their royal babies dress
up like this.
This is the 21st century for crying out loud.
She turned towards Mrs Seth, now Shaanima, for her name is Shanthi Seth.
"Shaanima, aren't there any other dresses for Ava in here?" Janani asked.
"There is a cupboard full of clothes for her, but all like this" Shanthi pointed at the dress Ava
is wearing.
Ava and Advi were now sitting on the rug on the floor and playing.
Ava is being the momma and Advi her little baby.
Janani opened the drawers one by one and checked what all Ava had got in here.
They were full of new and exquisite baby clothes which made her catch her breath.
Not in admiration.
In dismay!
Lovely though they were, these were what she privately called 'dress up clothes'
The type that in a traditional aristocratic family a baby would be dressed in to be passed
around from one elderly relative to another.
There was nothing remotely practical in here.
Nothing a child could wear to stretch or play or grow up in.
It seemed plain to Janani that whoever had chosen these clothes did not really have an
informed idea about what a child needs.
Beautiful hand embroidered clothes and traditional long dresses were fine for a high end
party.
But where were the dungarees, the tee shirts and the robust clothes that an active child
would need?
It all brought her back to the same conclusion.
Armaan Verma loves his children a great deal, but he doesn't know the basics when it comes
to what they need.
As a committed mother, wasn't it her duty to bring the family together.
Because, whether she wants to accept it or not, she will have to give up Advi one day soon.
And before she goes she will make sure Advi is in a happy home.
She looked down at the children and Ava looked up and smiled shyly at her.
Ava too!!
Because Ava was already gripping her heart in her small baby fist and Janani knew there
was no way she was going to prise those small, dependent but oh-so-strong little fingers
free.
Even if she wanted to!!
Oh!! Losing Advi would be painful enough, and now losing Ava too.
No, she isn't going to think about the future.
She is going to live the day as it comes.
She would make the best of the days she has with these two little munchkins!!
*****
At noon, Armaan decided it would be nice to go home and check on his children.
He hadn't had time this morning as they left earlier than usual because of the monthly board
meeting.
He walked out of his cabin only to see Aadesh getting out of his l.
"Going somewhere??" Armaan asked
"Well, I didn't get a chance to see my nephew's face yet" Aadesh said s