Chapter 28: A Small Beginning

Poornima had just entered her room with Ayat and Aarhan.

The children sat beside her on the bed, looking unusually thoughtful.

After a moment, Ayat spoke softly.

Ayat: "Ammi..."

Poornima looked at her.

Poornima: "Yes, beta?"

Ayat hesitated.

Ayat: "Can we... call him Abbu?"

Poornima looked at both her children.

Before she could answer, the bedroom door, which was slightly open, moved gently.

Veeresh had come inside after knocking lightly.

He had unintentionally heard the question.

He looked at the children with a warm smile.

Veeresh: "Yes... of course you can."

Ayat and Aarhan looked at him.

Veeresh walked closer and knelt so he was at their eye level.

Veeresh: "You don't need to ask your mother's permission."

He smiled gently.

Veeresh: "If, from your heart, you feel comfortable calling me 'Abbu,' then you can."

He added softly,

Veeresh: "And if someday you don't feel comfortable, that's okay too. Take your time."

The children looked at each other.

A wide smile spread across Aarhan's face.

Aarhan: "Okay... Abbu!"

Ayat smiled shyly.

Ayat: "Abbu..."

For a moment, Veeresh's eyes became moist.

He hadn't expected to hear that word so soon.

He gently placed a kiss on Ayat's forehead.

Then he kissed Aarhan's forehead as well.

Veeresh: "Thank you."

Both children hugged him happily.

Poornima quietly watched the scene.

A smile appeared on her face without her even realizing it.

After a few moments, Aarhan looked excitedly at his mother.

Aarhan: "Ammi!"

Poornima: "Yes?"

Aarhan: "Do you know something?"

She smiled.

Poornima: "What is it?"

Aarhan grinned.

Aarhan: "This morning, Aarav bhaiya told us..."

He looked proudly at Veeresh before continuing.

Aarhan: "...to call him 'Bhaiya.'"

Poornima looked surprised.

Ayat: "He didn't talk much... but he smiled a little and said, 'You can call me Aarav Bhaiya.'"

Poornima's eyes instinctively turned towards Veeresh.

Veeresh smiled quietly.

It wasn't a big change.

But it was a beginning.

Sometimes, the first bridge between two families wasn't built through grand gestures...

It began with a simple word—

"Bhaiya."