47)

ARMAAN

Mausam and I sat down on the golden sand of beach , Aarav and Aruhi excitedly started playing in the sand , full of energies.

" ARMAAN if we tell them , I think we should tell them to never say it in front of others." She worried her lip , and watched them anxiously.

i agreed with her , it was something just between our family.

" aarav , aaruhi , come here ." i beckoned them playfully , showing the chocolate i bought for them , dangling it in front og them.

" papa! papa!" they squealed with joy and literally jumped on me , for chocolate .

their laughter quitened as their mouth filled with chocolate.

" you remember what i told you last night?" i asked them as aarav crawled between mausam and me.

" hmm" they nodded their head looking at mausam.

" sorry , papa said i should not ask others about kids and baby stuff, he said it was rude and personal." Aarav mumbled , glancing at mausam.

" me too , sorry mama." ruhi said.

mausam nodded , she looked at me , i nodded at her assuringly , encouraging her , she smiled and said," do you know why it was rude ? and why i cried?"

ruhi and aarav exchanged glances , shurgging they both looked at me.

smiling i said ," because when you talked about a baby , your mom remembered your sister."

" why me?" ruhi asked , staring at evveryone.

" not you , your other sister." mausam brushed ruhi's hair.

" i ahve other sister!" aarav shouted .

" yes , you did. she was younger than you and older than ruhi." i whispered , hugging aarav.

" wher is she?" aarav asked?

" yesterday we told you that god decides who goes to whose house as a baby, right? so we had her for a very little time , but then god decided she would go somewhere else where she would be happier , somewhere she would like way better." mausam said , her voice dampened by her unbroken sob.

" can i not meet her? " aarav lunged at masuam , hugging her, masuam smiled , shaking her head .

" we don't know where she went" she breathed against aarav's forhead.

"is that why you cried ? you wanted to meet her too mom? " ruhi asked , chewing in her fingers.

i gently tugged her hand , engulfing her tiny fist in mine i said," yes , your mom missed her when we talked about babies."

" but now you both know about her , so we can miss her together." mausam said.

" no , i don't want ot miss her ." ruhi said , as fat tear dropped from her eyes.

" me eirher."