Chapter 61: The First "Mumma"

Aadhya stood quietly for a moment.

Then she looked at Poornima with a shy smile.

Aadhya: "Thanks... Mumma."

Poornima froze.

For a second, she wondered if she had heard correctly.

She looked at Aadhya gently.

Poornima: "Are you sure, beta?"

Aadhya nodded without hesitation.

Aadhya: "Yes."

She smiled warmly.

Aadhya: "Yash Bhaiya and Aarav Bhaiya have told me a lot about you."

Poornima listened quietly.

Aadhya: "They said you're kind."

She giggled.

Aadhya: "And that you make really good food."

Poornima laughed softly.

Poornima: "Thank you, beta."

She lovingly kissed Aadhya's forehead.

Aadhya folded her arms dramatically.

Aadhya: "But I'm angry with you."

Poornima blinked in surprise.

Poornima: "Angry? Why?"

Aadhya pouted.

Aadhya: "You made vegetable biryani yesterday."

Poornima nodded.

Poornima: "Yes..."

Aadhya sighed dramatically.

Aadhya: "Yash Bhaiya said it was awesome."

She looked disappointed.

Aadhya: "And I missed it."

Poornima couldn't help but smile.

She gently held Aadhya's hands.

Poornima: "Then I'll make it again."

Aadhya's eyes lit up.

Poornima: "Only for you."

Aadhya beamed.

Aadhya: "Really?"

Poornima: "Really."

Aadhya hugged her tightly.

Aadhya: "Thanks, Mumma."

Poornima closed her eyes for a moment as she returned the hug.

A warmth spread through her heart.

She had never expected it.

She had never asked for it.

Yet hearing that one word...

"Mumma."

...filled a place in her heart she hadn't realized was empty.

She smiled through moist eyes and hugged Aadhya a little tighter.

At that moment, Poornima wasn't trying to replace anyone.

She was simply becoming another person Aadhya felt safe enough to love.

And for Poornima, that trust was one of the greatest gifts she could have received.