The boy was still fast asleep beside Lia when his sister's hysterical crying snapped him out of his dreamland. He slowly opened his eyes only to see his sister crying uncontrolably in a woman's embrace!
Woman, but not just any woman.
It was the sleeping woman a.k.a. His mother!!
His mother, who he was sure until last night was still deep in her sleep, was somehow now compassionately consoling his sister!
At first his reaction was the same as that of his sister ; complete shock. However, once he recovered from his initial state of shock, he felt envious. ' Why's mommy only caring for her? '
His eyebrows creased, his lips formed a thin line and big fat tears rolled down his cheeks.
For the first time in six years of his life, the looked at his sister with jealousy.
" Mommy... " The boy called out in a most heartbreakingly pained whisper, tugging Lia's dress ever so lightly, unable to stand the lack of his mother's attention anymore.
His call and tug snapped the crying mother-daugther back to their senses and little girl immediately removed herself from Lia's embrace to allow the boy his chance.
As both the ladies turned their attention to the boy, their emotions were at a complete contrast.
The little girl was overjoyed to see her brother finally awake. Now he too would be able to enjoy mommy's hugs and kisses ; Lia on the other hand was shell-shocked.
Even though Lia had burnt her son's image in her mind, what stood out to her now was his pair of deep quartz blue eyes which were terrifyingly familiar to Lia. Lia's smile faded as an unfamiliar emotions began stir inside her upon seeing her reflection in them. They were the same yet, Lia couldn't recall where else had she seen those eyes and more importantly why?
There were too many questions piling up inside her again with apparently no answers whatsoever. Nevertheless, this wasn't imtimediated by them. This time Lia knew exactly how to be in control.
Meanwhile, Lia's fading smile utterly devastated the little boy. He couldn't make out why but, understood that his mother wasn't happy to see him.
' Doesn't mommy like me?? Does she not want me?? '
With such cruel questions piercing his tiny heart, fresh tears streamed from his down cast eyes and he decided to leave. He was about to jump out of the bed to leave when he was suddenly pulled in and wrapped in a blanket of warmth and was showered with loving kisses.
He was startled for a moment and blankly looked at Lia in confusion, then blushed feverishly. Forgetting his previous insecurities, he immediately turned to his mother and hugged her back with all the might he could muster.
Lia embraced her son with equal compassion and love as she had for her daughter and kissed away his tears of grief. " Mommy is sorry... Really sorry... Please forgive me...." Her voice trembled still, she forced herself. She had been silent for seven years but, not anymore.
The boy didn't reply just hugged her even more tightly.
Surbhi stood by the window as she watched the beautiful exchange which reminded her of her own motherhood.
Clap!! Clap!!! Clap!!!
" Okay guys! That's enough! Looks like you guys would rather cry all day then give your mommy an introduction? " Surbhi reprimanded the kids jokingly.
At her beckoning, the little boy pulled away from Lia only to find himself back in her arms along with his sister.
Lia didn't wanted to be away from them now that she was awake, not even for a second. That's why when the little boy pulled away she couldn't stand it so she pulled him back and opened her arms for the little girl.
They were little, soft and very, very cuddly.
" Wish you both a very, very happy birthday.... May all your wishes come true..." Lia wished them in her hoarsely inaudible voice but, each and every word came from the bottom of her heart as she placed chasty little kisses on their foreheads.
The twins broke into a spellbindingly innocent smile that was too pure to be real.
" Thank you mommy... This is the best birthday present ever!! " Said the little girl happily snuggling in Lia's embrace. She was overjoyed to the point that she didn't knew what to do with herself.
" No! Not just the best! It's the world's best birthday present ever...." the little boy corrected his sister happily enjoying an even better spot in Lia's lap.
Lia was truly touched by their words.
She thanked her mother as well as Lutfa and Carlos for how blessed she was. She never thought that her children would accept her with open arms even though they never truly meet each other.
" But wait!! Mommy, how did you know that today is our birthday? " The little boy couldn't help but ask, he was overly curious for his own good. He desperately wanted to know how his mommy knew about their birthday when she had just woken up and wondered if his mommy possessed any super powers like them that helped her to know everything.
" She heard my prayer silly... " The little girl answered in a disinterested tone. " Which reminds me you haven't said your prayer yet... Come on! " she added throwing a pointed look at him then lifted him up in the air.
" Hold on! Hold on! We forgot the most important thing! " The boy yelled helplessly when air lifted by his sister. He hated it when his sister used her powers on him.
" And what did we forget exactly? " she interrogated rolling her eyes. She knew exactly where this conversation of theirs was going.
" We forgot to introduce ourselves to mommy! Aunt Surbhi just told us to do so didn't you hear that? " The boy replied proudly puffing up his tiny chest at his overly bossy sister.
" Really? Since when did you learn to be so obedient? " Since this was related to her Surbhi just had to butt in.
Lia tried her best to control her laughter unfortunately failed miserably. She was practically shaking from laughter at the bickering siblings while Surbhi lost her count on how many times did she rolled her eyes at the over attention she was getting from the trio which was zero.
After a few more minutes of bickering Lia was finally able to calm them down by reminding them of the introduction. " Alright! alright! Now hurry up! Mommy is dying to know your cute little names or would you rather prefer mommy didn't know your names? " she spoke in her cracking voice with a pout pretending to be full of grievance.
Seeing their mother upset they immediately stopped fighting and the girl put down her brother back on the bed, then turned towards Lia with an apologetic look and gently replied.
" Mommy, my name is Nitiya and I am six years old. " The little girl introduced herself followed by the boy. " Mommy, my name is Nakash and I am also six years..."
Aaaahhhhh! BANG!
It seemed Nakash had some more to say but was abruptly interrupted when something entered the room at an extremely high speed then banged itself at the edge of the table and landed striaght on the bed right in front of Lia after a neck breaking somersault.
Two small boxes wrapped with gift wrapping paper scattered on the ground just before landing. The table that collided also turned upside down destroying all the contents on it.
Everything happened so fast that it took everyone a few seconds to realise exactly what happened. Everyone except Nakash.
" That was so cool Brother Saaransh ! " Nakash exclaimed dreamly. He was the only one who saw the whole stunt without missing a beat. His eyes glittered in excitement as he drooled just imagining. He couldn't wait to try the stunt himself.