Aditi's POV
The ride home felt longer than usual.
Maybe because everything had changed.
Or maybe because the tiny baby sleeping in my arms suddenly made the world feel much bigger than it had before.
My baby stirred softly against my chest.
I immediately adjusted the blanket around her.
My mother's eyes softened as she watched me from the front seat.
"You've checked that blanket at least ten times."
I looked down.
The blanket was perfectly fine.
Still, I checked it again.
My mother laughed quietly.
"Welcome to motherhood."
I smiled faintly.
Motherhood.
The word still felt unreal.
Three days ago, my princess had only existed as tiny kicks inside my stomach.
Now she was here.
Real.
Breathing.
Depending on me for everything.
The thought was both beautiful and terrifying.
The car finally stopped outside our apartment building.
I stared at it through the window.
Home.
A place that suddenly felt unfamiliar.
Not because the apartment had changed.
Because I had.
The old Aditi had left this building months ago.
She had been someone's wife.
Someone who believed in forever.
Someone who trusted promises.
That woman no longer existed.
"Come, beta."
My mother's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I carefully stepped out of the car.
My Baby remained asleep.
The elevator ride was silent.
My heart beat faster with every passing floor.
When we finally reached the apartment, my mother opened the door.
The familiar scent of home greeted me.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then my eyes landed on the small crib near the bedroom window.
The tiny clothes folded neatly on a shelf.
The stuffed toys.
The baby blankets.
Everything I had prepared during pregnancy.
Back when I still believed I wouldn't be doing this alone.
My throat tightened.
I quickly looked away.
Not today.
I wouldn't cry today.
My princess deserved better than that.
Carefully, I placed her inside the crib.
She looked impossibly small.
Her tiny fingers curled beside her face.
A peaceful smile rested on her lips.
My heart melted instantly.
"She's beautiful."
I turned toward my mother.
Tears filled her eyes.
"She looks just like you."
I walked back to the crib.
Maybe she did.
Maybe she didn't.
Right now, all I cared about was keeping her safe.
Hours passed quickly.
Relatives called.
Messages arrived.
Everyone wanted pictures.
Everyone wanted updates.
By evening, the apartment finally became quiet.
My mother had fallen asleep on the sofa.
The television remained off.
Outside, rain tapped gently against the windows.
For the first time all day, it was just me and my princess.
I sat beside her crib.
Watching her sleep.
Listening to her tiny breaths.
And suddenly...
The silence felt overwhelming.
Because there was someone missing.
Someone who should have been here.
Someone who should have been standing beside me, arguing over baby names and taking hundreds of photographs.
My baby shifted in her sleep.
A small sound escaped her lips.
Instantly, my attention returned to her.
No.
I wasn't doing this.
I wasn't wasting another second thinking about a man who had walked away.
My daughter deserved better.
And so did I.
I reached into the crib and gently touched her tiny hand.
Her fingers wrapped around mine immediately.
My breath caught.
Such a small hand.
Yet somehow it gave me more strength than anything else ever had.
A tear slipped down my cheek.
This time, I didn't wipe it away.
"I don't know what I'm doing, princess," I whispered.
My Baby continued sleeping peacefully.
A small smile appeared on my lips.
"But I promise..."
My voice shook.
"I'll spend the rest of my life figuring it out."
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
Inside, a new chapter of our lives quietly began.
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Thank you for reading!
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