As the evening settled in, Aadhya's fever had finally subsided, and she was back to her cheerful self. The living room was filled with her laughter as she played a game of tag with Shubman, her energy fully restored. Meanwhile, Sara was sitting at the dining table with Aahan, helping him complete his schoolwork.

Aadhya ran around the couch, giggling as Shubman pretended to chase her slowly. Finally, he scooped her up into his arms and twirled her around before bringing her over to Sara and Aahan. "Alright, little missy," Shubman said, setting her down gently, "time to get serious and finish your homework."

Aadhya pouted and clung to Shubman's leg, looking up at him with big, pleading eyes. "But, Dada, I want you to teach me!"

Shubman glanced at his watch, knowing he had an online meeting with his teammates in just a few minutes. He hesitated, torn between his responsibilities as a cricketer and as a father. "Aadu, I have a meeting soon. Maybe Mumma can help you this time?"

Aadhya shook her head stubbornly, her lower lip trembling. "No, I want Dada to help me!"

Seeing her persistence, Shubman sighed and nodded. "Okay, okay, I'll help you, but you have to be quick, alright?"

Aadhya beamed and quickly grabbed her notebook and pencil, settling beside Shubman on the couch. Sara, sensing the impending chaos, shot Shubman a look of concern, but he just smiled reassuringly, determined to balance both his roles.

As the meeting started, Shubman had his laptop open in front of him while Aadhya presented her homework. Gautham Gambhir's voice filled the room as he discussed strategies for the upcoming matches, but Shubman's focus was split between the meeting and Aadhya's questions.

"Dada, how do you spell 'elephant'?" Aadhya asked, looking up at Shubman expectantly.

"Uh, E-L-E-P-H..." Shubman began, his attention still partially on the screen where Gautham was explaining field positions.

"But, Dada, what's next?" Aadhya pressed, her pencil hovering over the paper.

"Just give me a second, Aadu," Shubman muttered, trying to follow Gautham's instructions while spelling out the word.

"Shubman, your thoughts on the lineup?" Gautham's voice cut through his concentration.

"Uh, yeah, I think... wait, Aadu, no, it's P-H-A..." Shubman stumbled over his words, trying to keep up with both the meeting and Aadhya's spelling.

The minutes ticked by, and the demands from both ends started to overwhelm Shubman. Aadhya, full of questions, kept interrupting while Gautham, unaware of the situation, continued to ask for Shubman's input on various strategies. Shubman's patience began to wear thin as he struggled to manage both.

Finally, as Aadhya asked another question about her homework, Shubman's frustration boiled over. "Aadhya, I said wait!" he snapped, louder than he intended. The room fell silent, and Aadhya's eyes filled with tears, startled by his sudden outburst.

Sara, who had been observing the situation from the dining table, immediately came over. She gently took Aadhya's hand, her heart aching at the sight of her daughter's hurt expression. "Aadhya, why don't we let Dada finish his meeting? I'll help you with the rest of your homework, okay?"

Aadhya, still sniffling, nodded but didn't say anything. Sara led her back to the dining table and sat her down, her voice soft and soothing. "Sweetheart, I know you're upset, but Dada didn't mean to yell at you. Sometimes, being a cricketer is really hard work, and Dada has to juggle many things at once."

Aadhya wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "But why can't he just help me? I don't like it when he's so busy."

Sara sighed, pulling Aadhya onto her lap. "I understand, Aadu. It's hard to see Dada so busy, especially when you need him. But do you remember how we talk about Dada being a famous cricketer?"

Aadhya nodded slowly.

"Well, that means Dada has a lot of responsibilities. He has to practice, attend meetings, and sometimes even travel far away for matches. It's not because he doesn't want to be with us; it's just part of his job."

Aadhya looked up at Sara, her eyes still brimming with tears. "But why does it have to be so hard?"

Sara smiled gently, brushing Aadhya's hair back. "When I was little, I felt the same way about my Baba. You know who my Baba is, right?"

Aadhya nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mumma! He's Sachin Tendulkar! Everyone says he's the best cricketer ever!"

Sara chuckled softly. "That's right. But even though he was the best, he was also very busy, just like Dada. There were times when I wanted him to play with me, but he had to go for practice or meetings. I used to feel sad, just like you do now."

Aadhya's eyes widened. "Really, Mumma?"

Sara nodded. "Yes, really. I remember once when I was about your age, I wanted Baba to help me with my homework too. But he was so busy with his cricket that he couldn't. I felt bad, just like you do now. But over time, I realized that even though he couldn't always be there, he loved me very much. And he made up for it in so many other ways."

Aadhya listened intently, her small hands clutching Sara's. "But what did you do when you felt sad?"

Sara smiled softly. "I talked to my Baba about it, just like you should talk to Dada. I told him how I felt, and he explained how much he loved me, even when he couldn't always be there. And when he had time, he made sure to spend it with me, just like Dada does with you."

Aadhya sniffled but nodded, understanding a little more. "I guess I should talk to Dada too."

Sara hugged her daughter tightly. "That's right, Aadu. Dada loves you more than anything, and I know he feels bad for yelling. Why don't we go talk to him together?"

Aadhya nodded, wiping away the last of her tears. "Okay, Mumma."

Together, they walked back to the living room, where Shubman was now standing by the window, looking out with a troubled expression. He turned around as they approached, guilt evident on his face.

"Aadu, I'm really sorry," Shubman said immediately, kneeling down to her level. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I was just... I had too much going on, and I couldn't keep up."

Aadhya hesitated, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Shubman. "It's okay, Dada. Mumma told me about when she was little and how Nanu was busy too."

Shubman glanced at Sara, who smiled reassuringly. He hugged Aadhya tightly. "I love you, Aadu. I promise I'll make more time for you, okay?"

Aadhya nodded, finally smiling again. "I love you too, Dada."

Sara joined the hug, wrapping her arms around both of them. "We're all in this together," she said softly.

At that moment, Aahan, who had been quietly watching from the side, piped up, "What about me? I want a hug too!"

The family broke into laughter as Aahan rushed over, and they all embraced, the tension from earlier fading away. As they held each other close, they knew that no matter how busy life got, their love for each other would always be the most important 

The house was buzzing with excitement as Sachin, Anjali, Keart, and Lakhwinder arrived. Aadhya and Aahan were the first to greet them, running to their grandparents with wide smiles and arms outstretched. The grandparents immediately swooped in, showering them with hugs, kisses, and affectionate laughter.

Shubman and Sara exchanged playful glances as they watched the scene unfold.

"Looks like we've been replaced," Shubman teased, nudging Sara.

"Clearly, we don't stand a chance," Sara replied with a smirk.

Shubman spoke up, "Hey, Mumma, Papa, aren't you going to ask how I've been?"

Keart and Lakhwinder, without missing a beat, waved him off with a chuckle. "We'll catch up later, Kaka. We're here to see our grandchildren today!"

Shubman's jaw dropped in mock disbelief, and he turned to Sara, who was already trying to get her parents' attention. "Maa, Baba, aren't you going to ask me about my work?"

Anjali and Sachin exchanged amused looks. "Sara, we'll talk about that later. Right now, we have to hear all about Aadhya and Aahan's school stories!"

Sara gasped in playful shock, exchanging a dramatic look with Shubman. "Did they just—?"

"They totally did," Shubman nodded, feigning hurt.

The grandparents continued to fawn over Aadhya and Aahan, completely engrossed in their tales. Shubman and Sara stood back, shaking their heads with exaggerated expressions of disbelief, sharing a silent laugh at the whole situation.

But beneath their playful banter, they both knew how much it meant to have their families together, showering love on the next generation.

The house was filled with warmth and laughter as everyone gathered in the living room. Keart and Lakhwinder sat on the couch, with Aadhya perched on her grandmother's lap, excitedly showing her a new drawing she had made. Sachin was on the floor with Aahan, who was enthusiastically explaining the rules of a new game he had learned at school. Anjali sat next to Sara, who was leaning comfortably against her mother, enjoying the rare moments of relaxation.

Shubman, always the playful one, decided to liven things up. "How about a game of charades?" he suggested, winking at Aahan, who immediately jumped at the idea.

"Yes, yes! Let's play!" Aahan shouted, clapping his hands in excitement.

The family quickly divided into two teams: Shubman, Sara, and Aadhya on one side, and Sachin, Anjali, and Aahan on the other. Keart and Lakhwinder decided to be the judges, enjoying the friendly competition from the sidelines.

The game began with a lot of laughter and exaggerated acting. Aadhya tried her best to mimic a butterfly, her tiny arms flapping energetically as she hopped around the room, much to the delight of everyone. Sara had to guess, and after a few missed attempts, she finally got it, making Aadhya giggle with glee.

On the other side, Sachin's attempt at acting out a cricket match was met with roars of laughter when Aahan shouted, "You're out!" before his father had even finished the mime. Anjali shook her head with a smile, patting her husband on the back. "Better luck next time, Sachin."

As the game continued, the room echoed with cheerful banter and playful teasing. Shubman, always competitive, made a big show of guessing correctly each time, high-fiving Aadhya and Sara with exaggerated enthusiasm. But when it was Sara's turn to act, she purposefully made it difficult for Shubman, who eventually gave up, throwing his hands in the air with a laugh.

"How was I supposed to guess that?" he exclaimed, feigning frustration.

"Maybe you need to work on your acting skills," Sara teased, sticking her tongue out at him.

By the end of the game, no one was really keeping score, but it didn't matter. The joy of being together, sharing these light-hearted moments, was enough.

As the evening wore on, they gathered around the dinner table, where the conversation flowed easily, interspersed with memories, jokes, and stories. Keart shared an old story from Shubman's childhood, making everyone laugh as Shubman blushed slightly, protesting that the tale had been exaggerated.

Aadhya and Aahan, though tired, were still full of energy, asking their grandparents questions and showing off their little achievements. The grandparents, in turn, listened intently, showering them with praise and affection.

After dinner, the family moved back to the living room, where they settled into comfortable positions, continuing their conversations. Aadhya eventually climbed onto Shubman's lap, leaning against him, her eyelids drooping. Aahan was curled up beside Sara, his head resting on her shoulder, listening sleepily to the soothing rhythm of her voice.

As the night grew late, the children eventually dozed off, their little faces peaceful and content. Shubman and Sara exchanged a look of contentment, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the love that surrounded them.

"This was nice," Sara whispered to Shubman, her hand finding his.

"Yeah, it was," Shubman agreed softly, squeezing her hand gently. "I'm glad we have these moments."

The grandparents eventually bid goodnight, with promises of more fun the next day. Shubman and Sara carried the sleeping children to their beds, tucking them in with tender care.

As they finally settled into bed themselves, Shubman wrapped his arms around Sara, pulling her close. "I love our crazy, wonderful family," he murmured.

Sara smiled, resting her head on his chest. "Me too, Shubman. Me too."

With the house now quiet and peaceful, they drifted off to sleep, their hearts full from a day well spent with those they loved most.