Bound by Vows novel Chapter 7

Payal’s POV

I came to supermarket to purchase some grocery. Although I prefer local shops as coming here means additional expense coz extra items are tagged along with necessary items. But Amaya was adamant to come here.

I was roaming in the candies section when I saw one girl, hardly, four year old, was trying to jump for picking up chocolates from top row.

I chucked at her attempt but why is she alone. I saw left & right only to see pathway empty. Parents these days, how could they be irresponsible to leave little baby alone in this mall.

I turned my attention to her, slowly walking towards her.

She jumped again but this time higher only to unbalance herself & fall on ground. I immediately ran towards her to check.

"Baby, are you okay" I asked while trying to hold her in my arms from her back.

She started crying and screamed for her daddy...

I again tried to pick her up but she shrugged my hands off. I forcefully turned her towards me.

An innocent heart face with blue eyes were staring back at me with big tears falling out of her eyes.

I touched her cheeks to calm her.

"Baby, shh see aunty is here. Don't cry you are a big girl na" I tried to pacify her. I have zero idea in handling babies.

She nodded her head and thankfully stopped crying.

"Are you hurt somewhere" I asked politely checking if she got hurt or not.

"Noo" she said in a hoarse voice.

"Baby, what were you doing here alone" I asked to figure out about her family.

"Totlate" she said while pointing towards the chocolate.

I chuckled after hearing her words. She is soo sweet.

"Ohh, so you need chocolate" I asked standing back on my feet.

She nodded.

I picked up the chocolate from aisle & gave her.

She took it from my hands while calling me to come at her level.

I bend towards her while she closed the distance and kissed me on my cheek.

I smiled at her actions.

"Chankoo angell" she said in her baby tone. I chuckled again when said thanku as chankoo.

But me & angel!!! How??

I was about to ask her why she called me an angel. But one old man came in the section and she screamed after looking him.

"Dadduu"

Oh, so this man is her grandfather. Now she is in good hand, I turned to other side while looking for amaya. This girl made be laugh many times in just 5 minutes. I smiled at this thought.

I found amu in other section but instead of looking for items she was looking at some guy.

This girl, after seeing any guy, she starts staring them.

I moved towards her & hit on her head.

"Dii" she screamed while rubbing her head.

"What were you doing" I asked.

"See, that guy is too handsome" she said little louder while grabbing his attention.

I face-palmed myself and asked her to keep quite.

"Stop embarrassing and lets go" I declared.

After sometime, we left for home after purchasing the required items.

Whole day went into household chores.

In the night when I was going to sleep, my mind went towards that little girl.

I forgot to ask her name. She was soo cute but I felt that her eyes were void. Like she was asking something from me. I felt a connection with her.

But no use of this. I am not going to meet her again. With that thought I closed my eyes & drifted into sleep.

___________________________________________

Kabir’s POV

Khurana Mansion, At Night

"Daddy, I met angel today" doll said.

"Angel??? Who angel doll" I asked her in alerted voice. Dad didn't told meeting anyone in the mall.

"Angel who gave me totlate" she told me.

I am now confused. Who gave her chocolate???

"Doll, did you talked with stranger???" I asked.

She nodded her head.

" How many times I told you not to talk with stranger" I asked politely as I cannot scold her.

"But she was an angel daddy. She helped me when I was crying..." She told me.

"What!!! Why were u crying?" I asked in panic mode.

"Daduu was spering (speaking) on phn and i saw totlate so ran to collect it but fall down & angel helped me to get up & gave me the totlate" she narrated the whole story.

"Doll, next time don't talk to stranger baby. Okay???" I tried to understand her.

"Why daddy" she asked innocently.

"Doll, you see in your princess story na that witch come to pick up good princess" i told her while putting some sense in her.

She nodded her head.

"Doll, there are some witches here. They may come to pick you. So, next time don't talk to someone whom you don't know. Okay" i said.

"But daddy she was not a witch...she was an angel!!!! Looking like a fairy. So sweet and soft" she said innocently.

World is too cruel doll. But you are too small to understand. And who is this angel. Doll is taking her name continuously. Whereas doll never mingle with any new person easily. Looks like she was like a witch who trapped my daughter in her fake sweetness. Huhh!!!

"Daddy, will you come to my school on Tuesday?" she asked suddenly.

"Why baby, is there something on that day???" I inquired.

"Yes, I have my dance competition" she said excitedly.

"What!!! You didn't told me earlier" I asked surprising with the fact that she can dance in such a small age.

Kids these days!!!

"Will u come daddy" doll asked again

"Yes doll, of course I’ll come. Now you sleep" I said.

She closed her eyes & I also slept beside her.

Tuesday

I was working when my phone started ringing.

"Hello"

"Mr. Khurana???" Person on other side asked.

"Yes, who is this" I asked.

"I am Mrs. Singh calling from aashi's school" she introduced herself.

This brings my attention to her.

"Is aashi okay??" I asked the first question that came in my mind

"Can you please come to the school now" she requested.

"Is my daughter okay Mrs Singh" I asked again.

Why is she not telling me in a simple way.

"Yes, she is fine. You please come" she informed.

Relief came to my body.

"Okay, i am coming" I said & hung up the call. Why is she calling me at school.

Anyway, I called my secretary Lisa to hold my meeting for the day.

I reached doll's school within half an hour.

After reaching principal's office. I saw aashi sitting in a corner while having tears in her eyes. Her tears shook me from inside.

I ran towards her.

"Doll, what happened??? Why are you crying" i asked her

"I hateee youuu daddy" she said in a crying tone.

I was taken back with her confession. What happened suddenly. My gaze fall on the trophy lying beside her.

Shitt!!! I forgot her Dance competition.

"Everyone parents came & clicking photos. And I was standing in a corner while waiting for you. I hatee you daddy. I WANT MUMMY" she said while crying.

I am not a good father. How can I forget her important event. Fuck.

"Doll, I have a surprise for you. Don't you want to see??" I asked while controlling my emotions. I don't want to cry in front of Doll and Principal.

She thankfully stopped crying and said "where is my Surprise. I want MUMMA in surprise. Daddy, will u give me my MUMMA in surprise??" She asked me innocently

I nodded my head and picked her up in my arms. After thanking the principal, i left the school to go to home.

************

Its been a week since that day and I am still thinking about doll's demand.

She wants mother. And she really need a mother. I am not able to give her that much attention due to my work.

But am I ready to get married again. And even if I agree, will a step mother love doll as her own. Her own mother has deprived her from motherly care. Will an outsider give her that love which she deserves.

I was thinking & thinking a lot. After sometime I came to a conclusion.

I knocked on my mother’s room.

She opened the door & asked "Duggu, do you need something" i cringed at her words.

"I want to tell you something important" i said politely.

She asked to come inside. Dad is also present. Great!!!

"So, i want to tell you that, I am ready for marriage" i announced

Their face lit up instantly.

" Wow, that's great. I will immediately asked mediator for photos of good girls" she said excitedly.

"Wait mom, don't be so over excited. I have only condition" i announced

" What condition??" This time Dad asked me.

I ignored him & gave mom a letter.

"I will marry the girl only if she agrees to marry me after reading this letter" I said.

"What is written in this letter" mom asked while trying to open the paper.

"Don't, you have my swear, you will not open this letter. Not only you but whole family is not allowed to read this letter" I said

"But I am not understanding. Will you not come to meet your prospective wife" mom asked.

"No. First of all I don't need any wife but a mother to my daughter. And second I have a faith on you. And third and last thing I will only agree she agrees to marry after reading this letter" I repeated once again.