Chapter 15: Everyone Is Baba Now

Morning broke soft over the mountaintop, light spilling into the cave like golden honey.

Bhima was humming as he stirred lentils in the pot.

Draupadi rocked Agnika gently on her hip, bouncing her as the child rubbed her eyes and yawned dramatically.

Nakula was carving a wooden elephant for her. Sahadeva, beside him, was muttering how elephants weren't even native to this region.

And in the far corner, Krishna sipped his tea with a smirk, quietly watching the chaos unfold.

---

“Say ‘Krishnaa,’” Draupadi encouraged as she tickled Agnika’s belly. “Krii-shnaa. Come on.”

Agnika blinked.

Then opened her mouth.

> “Baba!”

Draupadi blinked. “No, no, not Baba—Krishnaa. Try again?”

Agnika grinned.

> “Baaa-baaa.”

Bhima snorted from the cooking fire. “She knows what matters.”

Draupadi sighed. “You’ve corrupted her.”

---

Later, Yudhishthir tried.

He knelt, offering Agnika a date. “Say ‘Yud-dhi-shthir.’ Long but elegant.”

Agnika tilted her head.

Took the date.

> “Baba.”

“…Right.”

---

Arjuna tried during his meditation.

He opened his arms gently. “Parth. Try Parth. Or Arju. Or—”

> “Baba!” she declared with pride, patting his cheek.

---

Sahadeva rolled his eyes. “She’s clearly trying to mess with us.”

“She’s a baby,” Nakula muttered.

“A baby with an agenda,” Sahadeva argued.

---

Even Krishna wasn’t spared.

He leaned in close, smirking.

“Come now, little one. Surely you know my name.”

Agnika squinted.

Reached toward his nose.

And with perfect mischief—

> “Baba.”

Krishna blinked.

Then smiled, shaking his head. “I suppose I deserve that.”

---

That night, as they all sat together, Bhima held her on his lap as she chewed on his braid.

Draupadi looked across the fire. “She’s not confused. She chooses to say it.”

Arjuna nodded slowly. “It’s not a word for her anymore. It’s a meaning.”

Yudhishthir’s voice was soft. “To her, ‘Baba’ is the name for anyone who… makes her feel safe.”

Sahadeva muttered, “Still think she likes Bhima more.”

Nakula agreed bitterly. “At least let her call me ‘Babu’ or something.”

Bhima said nothing.

He just held Agnika tighter as she rested against his chest.

A moment later, in a sleepy voice, she whispered one last time—

> “Baba…”

And every sorrow they had ever known

felt just a little lighter.

---

🍼 End of Chapter 15