Armaan walked into his house after a week being away on a business trip.
He had been to business trips many times in his life.
Sometimes to other states, sometimes to other countries, but he had never been homesick
before.
He took in a deep breath and the aroma of food from the kitchen hit him hard.
Coming home to Janani's cooking is something he could get used to.
It was past lunch time, but he could still have something to eat.
Once done with eating a little bit of the food left in the kitchen, he sighed.
He missed having this while in Delhi.
He looked around and couldn't see either Janani or the kids.
Along with that came the realisation that it's not coming home to Janani's cooking that
matters.
It's coming home to Janani and the kids that brings this warmth in his heart.
The heart which he had locked away long ago.
He is stepping into dangerous territory, he knew.
He is not sure what it is he feels, but he is liking that feeling.
One week away had been hell.
Maybe he is feeling these things for the wrong person.
She might not be the right person for him if he thought with his clear brain.
But then his heart sways the other way.
"Looking for someone??" Aadesh asked, coming inside the kitchen, pocketing the phone in
his hands with a cheeky smile.
"Uh yeah!! I was looking for you" he replied after a momentary pause.
"Sure sure" Aadesh said airily
"Aadesh! Aadesh!" they heard the loud panicked screams of Janani from the backyard and
without wasting a second they rushed out.
Fear gripped his gut tight.
"What happened to her??" Armaan asked frantically as soon as he spotted Janani and Ava.
He saw his daughter going limp in Janani's arms.
And she is not breathing properly.
"Ava, baby wake up" Janani tried waking her by patting Ava's cheeks.
"What is wrong?? What happened??" He asked again
His daughter is unconscious.
There are rashes on her skin.
And she is not breathing properly.
Never in his life had he felt so helplessly.
"Call the paramedics. Immediately" she said and with shivering hands he did that before
kneeling down beside his child.
Janani laid Ava down on the ground on her side and Armaan was thankful that atleast
someone here has their head clear.
"Armaan, please get Ava's medical reports ready!!" Janani asked in between
"Why?? What happened??"
"Do as I say Armaan, please"
"She doesn't have one. She was perfectly alright until now" he said helplessly
He felt like a failure.
He should have made necessary check ups.
The first time she came with him, he had done a regular check up, but nothing untowards
was found.
"Was Ava's mother allergic to anything??" Janani asked him as she elevated Ava's legs a bit.
Ishana??
Was she allergic to something??
He had no idea!!
He felt ashamed of the man he was and vowed never to be so careless in his life again.
They heard the sound of the ambula