I couldn't find my phone along with my son. I pretty much checked everywhere but I know that small rabbit can hide anywhere without the fear of getting caught.

"Reyansh?"

"Reyansh, for the last time come out now!"

"Reyansh, it's way past your sleeping time baby."

"Reyansh, mommy is getting angry now!"

No response. I swear he'll get a good scolding once I find him. I walked down the staircase and entered into our kitchen through living room, but he was not there.

"I bought pistachio flavoured ice cream but I guess I've to eat it alone now.", I said, or more like yelled idiotically so my voice can reach him even if he's curled up in some corner of house that I've no idea about.

I huffed when I got no reply or excited squeal in response. Pistachio is his favorite flavor.

He's still inside, right?

My heart raced as fear crawled up my mind. I stormed out of kitchen and decided to check out. But the hallway was empty and silent. Even the elevator wasn't busy.

Where can a four year kid go on his own?

"I love you too, Daddy.", I heard a soft sniffle and turned around.

I decided to check in the small storage room that I have. Initially I had concluded that he won't go there because he hates closed spaces. He likes huge spaces where air can pass freely.

When I opened the door, I breathed out in relief. He looked up shocked and hided my phone that was in his hand behind his back. His face was wet, eyes were slightly puffy and he continued to sniff.

"Oh okay. Also, I love you, Reyansh."

A recorded voice said.

I froze.

I know this voice. How can I forget the voice of the man who damaged me to no extent. How can I forget the man who betrayed and broke me until I lost my trust on everything that involves love and relationships. How can I forget the man who accused me of sleeping around with someone. How can I forget the man who might have doubted his own child if I had told him about my pregnancy. How can I forget him, when my son's first word was Daddy.

"Give me the phone.", I demanded forwarding my hand. He shakily stood up and wiped his tears away with his sleeves.

"Mo-Mommy, Daddy said I love you to me.", He whispered in awe.

I should have never told Reyansh about his father. I don't know how he has grown this weird obsession for his so called father who doesn't even know he exists. I hate the fact that, that man still manages to affect my life without even doing anything.

"Give me the phone and go upstairs.", I said instead and his face fell.

"Mo-Mommy, I want to listen mor-"

"Phone, Reyansh. And to the bedroom immediately.", I said sternly and he gulped before taking a scared step back.

"You'll delete it.", He mumbled and I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"From where did you got that?", I asked. I was afraid. Does he know about us? Did Aarav told everyone about Reyansh. Did he got his memory back?

"Ch-Chachu sent it.", He whispered as he shuffled awkwardly on his feet. His hands were clasped back, and so was the mobile in his hold.

Although my heart was stuttering with fear, I held onto my facial expressions to appear strict and gave him a glare. He ducked his head down guiltily.

"Give me the phone.", I tried once again. But he shook his head.

"I know you'll de-delete it.", He mumbled slowly.

"I won't. Now give me the phone. Please.", I tried a gentle approach and noticed his head raising up.

"Really?", He asked as he unclasped his hands and brought the phone to his front.

"Yeah.", I nodded. He smiled and took hesitant steps towards me before forwarding the phone. I immediately grabbed it and kissed his head.

"Go and sleep now.", I ruffled his hair and he smiled showing me his pearly white teeth before following my instruction.

I unlocked my phone and immediately called Aarav.

"Yes, Bhabhi?"

"How many times do I have to tell you to not call me Bhabhi, Aarav!?", I hissed. I was already pissed and his way of addressing me only added fuel to fire.

"What happened now?"

"Did you sent the videos? And how does he know about Reyansh? I swear Aarav if you told them or him anything about me and Reyansh then I'll personally skin you alive! I won't hes-"

"Bhabhi, calm down.", He chuckled. How the heck can he chuckle!? The audacity he has to take this topic so lightly!

"I'm. Not. Your. Bhabhi.", I gritted out each and every word firmly so that my message can go straight to his head.

"Okay. And yes, I sent those videos. But don't worry, Bhai knows nothing about Reyansh being his son. I just cooked up some silly story and made him do the video. I knew Reyansh will love it. And he did.", Aarav explained softly.

I sighed. "Please, Aarav, I don't want my son connecting with them in any way. By doing this, you're just giving the kid false hopes. What if Kabir gets married, has his own kids and lives happily ever after. Where does my son comes in that? No where. I told him about his father because I don't want to face that awkward and angry confrontation once he becomes a teen. It'll be difficult to explain him then. To avoid that day I had told him about his father now. Not to give him a illusion that we'll be a complete family once Kabir remembers everything. Don't make this too difficult for me. Please!", I said earnestly and heard him breath out from other side.

"I'm sorry, Bha- Di. I'll be careful from now on.", He said regretfully.

"Okay. See you. Good night."

"Yeah, bye."

Once the call ended, I immediately opened my phone gallery and deleted everything related to him. I don't want him to hurt my child without even realising that he's hurting him. He's extremely good at breaking hearts and my baby is already fragile and soft for his so called Daddy.

I walked upstairs and found him already sleeping. Smiling at my baby, I pulled the comforter until his chin and kissed his forehead. I'm blessed with such sweet and kind hearted child. How can he love that man even after knowing that he has forgotten us?

Even I couldn't forgive my mother for telling Kabir about me leaving to Dehradun. May be I was so broken that a slight betrayal too carried the strength of completely shattering me.

I shoved every other unnecessary thought to the back of my mind and crawled under duvet beside my son. He immediately scooted closer to me and nuzzled himself in my chest. I kissed his head before switching the lights off and falling into deep slumber along with my son in my arms.

The next day we followed our daily routine and I dropped him off to his preschool.

"Morning, Rivaah.", Sasha greeted me the moment I walked into lobby.

"Morning, Sasha.", I smiled before scanning my ID and walking past turnstile towards elevator.

The other employees greeted me and I responded them politely.

I work for a reputable advertisement firm in London. Overall the globe we've 5000 clients connected to us. After I completed my degree in Dehradun, I immediately applied in low reputed firms in London and was hired. I packed my bags and along with Reyansh I fled to London three years ago. After I worked in that cramped office for one year, I applied here and after cracking three interview rounds I was hired. The house we live in, is not mine. It belongs to Aarav. He used to stay here when he was completing his business degree. When he found out that I'm in London, he forced me to use that apartment complex. After slight hesitance, I agreed. Because who I was kidding to, affording an apartment like that on my initial days here in London would have been impossible. So I'm very grateful to him. Throughout these five years, Aarav was a great help to me. And also an amazing friend.

But I'm not the one to take advantage of someones kindness. So when I received my first payment, I made a deal with Aarav that I'll pay to him for this house. He was adamant on not taking any money from me first, but when I threatened him that I'll leave the house, he agreed.

"Hey, babe.", Andrew greeted me with a soft pat on my shoulder.

"Hi.", I whispered softly.

Andrew is a great guy. A sorted guy. He's polite, down to earth and understanding. We met in office of course. I wanted to make a coffee for myself but the coffee machine was kind of complicated and that's when Andrew jumped in to help me. We bonded great over the coming coffee breaks and one day he asked me out. I wanted to try dating again, so I said yes. And that's how our relationship began. It's been a year since we got into relationship.

I know he wants to marry me even after knowing that I'm a single mother. Even his parents have already accepted me and Reyansh. But after my last experience, I'm just being a little too cautious. Also not to forget Reyansh's denial to our relationship. He distastes Andrew with passion.

I can understand his infatuation with his father, but he needs to understand that we'll never get back together even if his father gets his memory back. I'm not ready to go through that hell ever again. I'll be never ready to face that man again.

"The meeting will start soon.", Andrew reminded me and I nodded before placing my belongings on my desk.

"How's Reyansh?", He asked when I sat down on my chair.

"Goo-"

My phone's ring stopped me midway. I glanced at the screen and noticed that Reyansh's preschool teacher was calling me. Without wasting another second, I immediately answered it.

"Hello?", She sounded panicked and that made me nervous.

"What happened, Miss. Natalie? Is Reyansh okay?", I asked as I stood up.

"No. He fell unconscious and we-we had to call ambulance for him. You need to come here-"

"I'll be there immediately!", I exclaimed as I grabbed my car keys and dashed out. Andrew was high on my tail. When I got into my car, Andrew followed me in his own Escalade.

"Where is my son!?", I asked when I spotted the blonde teacher at the school gates.

"The ambulance came before you, Ma'am. He's been taken to hospital now.", She answered immediately.

"How did this happen?"

"I saw him crying at one corner. He was down since you left him here. And when I approached him to ask what was the problem, he fell unconscious.", She replied. I nodded and got back into my car after taking the address of hospital.

He must be crying because I deleted the videos. I saw him with my phone this morning. Oh God I shouldn't have deleted those videos. My baby was upset because it!

When I reached hospital, Andrew asked for me at the reception as I was still wrapping my head around the fact that my child is in hospital.

"Room 203.", He said as he ushered me to come.

When I reached the room, I saw my precious ball of happiness lying on the bed connected to fluids. His chubby cheeks were still red and tear stains were dried. I cursed myself for being so inconsiderate.

I walked up to him and smothered his face with kisses. He laid still, fast asleep.

"When will he wake up?", I asked the nurse that was in room.

"He's unconscious right now. But don't worry, he'll wake up soon.", She said with an assuring smile.

Me and Andrew waited for three hours but he was still unconscious.

"Ma'am?", I looked at the intruder and found the same nurse who told me about his condition peeking through the door.

"Yes?"

"Doctor needs to talk to you. Please come.", She said and I nodded.

I looked at Andrew expectantly and he nodded. "I'll stay here with him.", He nodded and I breathed out in relief.

"Thank you.", I mumbled before walking out.

"Doctor?", I knocked after opening the door slightly.

"Please come in.", He called me.

I sighed and entered in before closing the door after me. "Is everything alright?", I asked as I walked to his desk.

"You might need to sit, Ma'am.", He said and my heart raced in fear. Millions of questions flooded in my mind and I suddenly felt breathless.

"Wh-Why? What ha-happened?", I asked in broken whisper as I took a seat in front of him.

"I ran some tests on your son. Just to make sure that everything's fine. When I saw the results, I repeated the tests but the result was same. You son is suffering from AML, Ma'am.", He said in his posh British accent.

"Wh-What's that?", I asked with a frown.

"Acute myeloid leukemia. In simple words, it's a type of cancer."

I felt my whole world turn upside down in that small fraction of second.

_____