"Mmh..."

Tired noises escaped her lips.

Priyanka had slept for more than nine hours, yet she felt as if she could sleep even longer.

Such was the consequence of staying awake for over three days in utter exhaustion.

Her bones seemed to plead for more rest, her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and all she wanted was to bask in the comforting warmth in her arms, shutting out the world entirely.

Her hands moved unconsciously toward the soothing sensation. Soft skin pressed against her chest as she inhaled fresh air, her lungs grateful for the relief.

Silky threads entwined around her fingers, and she found herself absentmindedly massaging them.

But just as she was about to drift back into the embrace of sleep, a soft yet insistent poking tortured her cheeks.

She felt caught between heaven and hell.

The comfort drew her deeper into relaxation, but the pokes grew more persistent, snapping her back before she could fall completely.

By the sixth time this cycle repeated, Priyanka reluctantly opened her heavy eyes, her expression groggy and troubled.

"...?"

Two green eyes peered up at her from below.

A cute, expressionless face stared innocently from her chest, its small white hand resting on her face while the blankets lay haphazardly across the floor.

The child's gaze never wavered, even as her eyes blinked slowly and her hand continued to explore Priyanka’s face.

She felt a delicate finger tracing her ears, lips, cheeks, and forehead.

Asha moved her fingers experimentally, as if determined to contort Priyanka’s face into as many expressions as possible.

For a moment, Priyanka considered opening her eyes fully to reveal she was already awake. But watching Asha amuse herself so thoroughly was too entertaining.

She stayed still, letting the little girl prod her face. Whenever Priyanka refused to react, Asha would pause, then shift her fingers in search of more sensitive spots.

Eventually, Priyanka ceased all reactions entirely.

Asha, undeterred, poked and prodded even faster, though no expression came from Priyanka’s face.

When Priyanka remained unresponsive, Asha’s hands stopped, hovering in apparent disappointment.

Priyanka thought this might be her chance to finally "wake up," but before she could act, two small hands grabbed her cheeks and stretched them in frustration.

When Priyanka glanced down, she saw the little girl’s expressionless face, though her trembling hands betrayed her annoyance.

"Pft..."

A laugh slipped out, soft and raspy from sleep.

Asha froze, her hands still holding Priyanka’s cheeks as though caught in the act.

Priyanka didn’t let the moment pass. She reached up and mirrored Asha’s gesture, playfully stretching the younger girl’s cheeks in return.

Asha’s face puffed up like a marshmallow, a stark contrast to her normally reserved demeanor.

"Good morning, little troublemaker." Priyanka greeted her with a hoarse yet teasing tone, a smile spreading across her lips.

Just as Asha had done moments before, Priyanka played with her face, lightly pinching and tugging at her soft cheeks.

But Asha didn’t resist, like a doll whose strings had been cut.

Despite having just woken up, Asha’s pink pajamas and smooth hair gave her an immaculate appearance.

Her flawless skin, untouched by any care routine, hinted at an almost unnatural genetic perfection.

At only eight years old, her features leaned more toward the cute than the elegant, but Priyanka knew this wouldn’t last.

In just a few years, those youthful traces would fade, replaced by a maturity that would undoubtedly draw countless admiring glances.

This made her want to treasure her as her own, but it was inevitable the child would join society soon.

Priyanka looked at her face contemplatively.

Asha was a special child with many necessities.

It was the first time Priyanka needed to deal with a child with so many conditions.

Her hands caressed Asha’s cheeks as if touching a precious and delicate gem.

When she raised Connie, her growth had been peaceful. She had always been a quiet and reserved child with few demands.

Her health had been well cared for, and her food was strictly controlled.

Her grades were good, and even without much supervision, she would complete her tasks properly.

Asha, however, had several mental issues stemming from abuse and even apparent "amnesia."

She showed caution around strangers, and when she was found, her body had been covered in wounds.

A psychologist was an urgent necessity for her.

Yesterday she had come to Priyanka’s room on her own and asked to sleep together.

For a child so composed and independent as Asha, something like that suggested she had experienced a nightmare.

Priyanka remembered the drawings she had made in the hospital.

Grotesque and weird images that seemed to come from some kind of science fiction.

There were so many details in the art, made purely with crayons, that Priyanka doubted if it was the work of a child.

Imagine how intense the dreams of this child must have been if even her drawings were filled with such intricacies.

Her hands caressed Asha’s hair slowly. Worries couldn’t help but invade her mind.

The smile Asha had given her last time had been so pitiful.

It was as if someone was trying to smile while holding back intense fear.

That’s why Priyanka had quickly reacted and slept with the child.

Two unfocused eyes were still gazing at her face, and Asha accepted her touches without a trace of fear.

Those small gestures showed the immense trust the child had placed in her.

In this moment, Priyanka was the only support Asha had ever known.

In the hospital, Priyanka had been so full of worries, thinking about Asha’s future. But having her in her arms and being able to touch her felt like a dream.

She still had worries, but just knowing the child was a touch away made her feel relieved.

Now the future depended entirely on her actions.

Determination fired in her eyes as she looked at her daughter.

Asha still wasn’t comfortable in their home, and Priyanka knew that.

On the first day, Asha had fainted right after interacting with Connie.

Priyanka still couldn’t understand why she had reacted so strongly to a child of her age.

Maybe Asha had bad experiences with children, such as bullying or abuse.

That wasn’t surprising, given her background.

But this added a new layer of worries.

Soon Asha would need to go to school and interact with other children.

That would be impossible while carrying such traumas.

Connie, being peaceful and well-behaved, would be a good influence on Asha.

If they could attend the same class, their friendship would be the first step in reintegrating Asha into society.

But for that, Connie and Asha needed to become friends.

And Priyanka was the only one who could connect the two.

Priyanka’s hands stopped at the top of Asha’s head.

Every time Priyanka looked at Asha, she couldn’t understand why anyone would treat her badly.

She was the kind of child anyone would want to raise.

But instead of being nurtured in the environment she deserved, she had only experienced the worst the world had to offer.

But no more.

Priyanka was determined. While this child was hers, she wouldn’t tolerate any kind of injustice.

Asha was probably very stressed in a place so different from the hospital.

Priyanka needed to show her that this home was a place where she could feel secure.

Priyanka washed away her sleepiness and got out of bed.

She looked at Asha, still in her pink pajamas, and lifted her, placing her hands under Asha’s arms.

The two looked at each other, face to face.

"Let’s start by buying some pretty clothes."

Priyanka could only think of the many ways she would spoil this child.