Page 152 of The Circle of Exile
Iram observed her husband, sleepless, in last night’s T-shirt and jeans, walking in front of their son, waving at him and beginning a sprint to the staircase. This time Yathaarth scrolled after him, making him roll his eyes.
“I get it, you put on a good show for us so I’ll let it go,” Atharva swooped him up and around, perching him in his favourite Buddha pose on his arm. Both father and son stared at her. Two pairs of grey eyes — one light and one dark.
“Myani zuv?”
Iram smiled — “Hi.”
“Bababaaa…”
“Yes, Baba is home,” Atharva kissed the top of his hair, eyes on her. The lines around his eyes were deep and tensed. His forehead looked wrinkled. This was the first time she was noticing those lines. His mouth though, smiled for her benefit.
“Breakfast or shower first?” She asked.
He opened his mouth to say shower. But Yathaarth yawned on his arm. Atharva glanced down — “He had his breakfast?”
“Just finished.”
“We need to stop this post-breakfast nap thing,” he kissed his son’s hair again. “Let’s eat first. I’ll get to hold him some before he dozes off.”
As Atharva settled on the dining table and played with Yathaarth, Iram scrambled to get his breakfast together.
“Nothing is ready yet.” Shiva droned.
“It’s ok. You do lunch. I’ll do this.”
She didn’t even pay attention to half the things she did. Not even what she put together for him. Not even what she set in front of him or what he ate. Iram only sat beside him as he ate and played with Yathaarth. The morning sun streamed into their house, making the day feel airy and happy, hopeful. Atharva was a master manipulator. She wouldn’t put it past him to bring in happier sunshine with him.
“Iram?”
She blinked.
“Iram!”
“Hmm?” She widened her eyes, feeling the lack of sleep suddenly in the burning of her eyelids. His looked no different. His lids dropped though. And she followed his gaze, gaping at their son who had dozed off on his chest. Curled like a koala.
“I’ll take him to his cot…”
“Let him be,” Atharva sat back, making his chest Yathaarth’s reclining bed. She couldn't even appreciate this lovely sight in front of her, the loveliest of all.
“Myani zuv.”
“Ok,” she sat up straight. “I had my panic moment last night, did my thing and cycled over it. Now tell me what is going on, whatever you can tell me. Just give me information so that I stop overthinking and be the person you want me to be.”
He held Yathaarth steady with one arm on his back and extended the other to her on the table. His palm opened.
She took it.
“You are exactly the person I need, Iram.”
She smiled — “Buttering is over. Now debrief, Janab.”
“There is nothing I have hidden from you, and there is nothing I will hide from you. This looks bad.”
“Go on,” She slid to the edge of her seat, tightening her hand in his.
“Zorji says legally I am in a grey area.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong!”
