It had been a joyful few months since Shubman and Aditi had settled into their little bubble of happiness with their two kids, Lalitha and Shashank. Their house was constantly filled with laughter and noise, with toys scattered all over the floor and the faint hum of lullabies in the background. But nothing was more heartwarming than watching their babies grow, each little milestone making Shubman and Aditi smile a little wider, their hearts swelling with pride.

Lalitha, their curious and energetic toddler, was now at the exciting stage where she was learning how to walk. It was the most adorable thing to watch—her tiny, wobbly steps, her little arms reaching out for balance, and the joy on her face every time she managed to take another step forward. It was as though every new movement was a victory, and both Shubman and Aditi were her biggest cheerleaders.

"Come on, Lalli, you can do it!" Aditi would encourage her, kneeling down with her arms wide open, ready to catch her if she tumbled.

Lalitha would giggle, her little hands stretched out toward her mother, before she'd stumble and giggle even harder at the funny feeling of her legs wobbling beneath her.

"Almost there, baby!" Shubman would say, crouching beside her, his voice filled with excitement. Every time she took a step, he'd cheer her on like she had just won a race.

Shashank, who was a bit younger at one year old, would watch his sister with wide eyes, his hands reaching out toward her, eager to join in the action. Though he was still mastering the art of crawling and standing, he would try to shuffle toward her, his little body shaking with effort.

"Shashank, baby, you're next!" Aditi would tease him, her voice playful as she encouraged her son, her heart full of love for both of them.

One afternoon, as the sun streamed through the window and the sound of the kids' giggles filled the air, Lalitha finally took a few steady steps and then... plopped into her mother's waiting arms, her face lighting up with pure joy.

"Mommy! Mommy!" she babbled, her voice high-pitched and full of excitement. "Walk! Walk!"

Shubman, who had been sitting on the couch watching, jumped to his feet. "She did it! She did it!" His eyes were shining with pride as he rushed over to them, lifting Lalitha up and spinning her around, his laughter echoing through the room.

"I knew you could do it, baby!" Aditi laughed, her heart swelling as she looked at the two of them, both so full of joy.

Shashank, who had been sitting on the floor, clapped his hands together and let out a delighted squeal as he watched his sister's victory. "Da-da! Ba-ba!" he babbled, his voice barely understandable but full of affection.

"Yeah, buddy, that's right. We're all so proud of her, huh?" Shubman said, picking up Shashank as well, kissing his chubby cheeks.

The room was filled with love and laughter as the little ones continued their babbling and play, their lives filled with innocence and happiness. Aditi watched them, her heart full, thinking about how far they had come since the early days. In her arms were the two greatest blessings of her life—her children—and beside her was Shubman, the man who had made all of this possible. He looked at her with a smile, his eyes soft with affection, his heart as full as hers.

As they sat together, with Lalitha trying to walk again and Shashank babbling his first words, everything felt right. They had built a life together—one full of love, joy, and laughter. And in this moment, as the kids continued their playful chatter, Shubman and Aditi knew that this was just the beginning of their beautiful journey as a family.

On match days, Shubman would usually be focused, preparing for the game with intensity and determination. But when it came to his family, there was always time to make them feel special. Aditi, Lalitha, and Shashank were his biggest fans, and he made sure to carve out time for them, even on the busiest days leading up to his matches.

Aditi would gather the kids in front of the TV, setting up a cozy little spot in their living room with pillows and blankets. Lalitha would jump up and down, already chanting her own version of "Shubman!" while Shashank would babble and clap his tiny hands, excited without fully understanding the game yet.

"Okay, little champs, we're going to cheer for Daddy!" Aditi would say with a big smile, ruffling Lalitha's hair and picking up Shashank. "Look, that's Daddy out there! The one in the blue jersey!"

Lalitha, now starting to understand the game a little more, would point at the screen with a giggle, saying, "Daddy! Go Daddy!"

Aditi couldn't help but laugh at the cuteness of it all, watching Lalitha's excitement. Shubman, on the field, would occasionally glance up at the stands, a soft smile appearing on his face whenever he caught sight of them.

During breaks, he'd send a quick text to Aditi. "Did you see me hit that shot? Lalitha's cheers must've helped!"

Aditi would laugh and type back, "You were amazing, Shubs. Lalitha's already telling everyone at home that you're the best!"

When the match resumed, the energy in their home would ramp up. Lalitha would stand and start jumping, "Go, Daddy! Go!" as if she was cheering from the stands. Shashank, too, would start mimicking her excitement, even if it was just clapping and shouting "Da-da!"

Aditi couldn't stop grinning. She loved seeing Shubman so focused on his game but also seeing how much it meant to him that they were there, cheering for him. She'd often look over at Shashank, her little boy, who still didn't quite understand the concept of cricket but still managed to make the moment special with his infectious joy.

After the match, whether Shubman won or lost, he'd always make his way to the phone to FaceTime them. He'd be sweaty and tired, but seeing his family's smiling faces always lifted his spirits. Lalitha would tell him all about her cheering moments, while Shashank would babble away, trying to get his attention.

"Did you see me, Daddy? I cheered for you!" Lalitha would say, her voice full of pride.

"I saw, baby girl. You did great!" Shubman would reply, his face lighting up. "I can't wait to hug you guys when I get home."

It was these little moments—watching him play, cheering for him, and feeling like part of the journey—that made their family feel whole. No matter how many matches Shubman played, the real victory was always coming home to Aditi and the kids, knowing they were his biggest supporters.

And as the family watched him play, one thing was for sure: it wasn't just the game that mattered—it was the love and joy they shared as a family.

Aditi was casually going through her bookshelf, searching for a book to read, her attention caught on the spine of a novel she'd been meaning to revisit. As she reached up, she heard Shubman sneak up behind her, his footsteps light but unmistakable. Before she could react, he grabbed her waist from behind, pulling her close with a quick but firm grip.

"Hey, what—" Aditi started to say, but the moment she felt his body press against hers, she froze, her heart racing.

Shubman's lips were dangerously close to her ear as he whispered, "Gotcha."

Aditi smirked, her face flushing as she tried to pretend she wasn't as affected as she was. "Shubs, what are you doing?"

He chuckled, his arms snaking around her waist, tightening the hold slightly as he nuzzled his face into her neck. "What do you think I'm doing?" he teased, his breath warm against her skin.

Aditi's body felt like it was on fire from the sudden closeness. She could practically feel the mischievous grin on his face without even turning to look. "We've got kids, you know. You'd think we'd grown up by now."

He pressed his chest against her back, his lips trailing down to her shoulder. "Who says we can't be chaotic and still be good parents?" he muttered, his hands never leaving her waist, his touch possessive yet tender.

She couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head. "We are literally about to have our second round of chaos, Shubman."

"I'm just making sure the first round gets enough attention," he quipped, before suddenly turning her around in his arms, locking her in a playful embrace. "What book were you looking for, huh?"

Aditi smiled, rolling her eyes, but her heart fluttered, both from the intensity of his touch and how familiar and comfortable it felt. "You are impossible," she teased, but there was no hiding the smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah, but you love me anyway," he said with a wink, his lips finding hers in a quick, mischievous kiss.

As chaotic as they were, Aditi couldn't help but feel lucky to have someone like Shubman who kept their relationship as fun and unpredictable as the day they first met—still full of love, mischief, and way too much passion for their own good.

"Let's go before the kids destroy the house," she said, pulling away slightly but still unable to stop smiling.

"Sure, sure," he agreed, but his hands lingered on her waist, a promise of more chaos to come.