Sana was so engrossed with her cousins that she didn't notice immediately when Naina and Sameer reached Anand's house. Preeti had left both Harsh and Bhavya, her one and half  year old daughter with them for a while. The elder brother and sister took it upon themselves to teach the little one everything. Bhavya had recently learnt to walk and explored the house on unsteady steps. Her siblings followed her everywhere, stopping her whenever she touched something that could hurt her.

Bela smiled proudly after she stood watching them with Naina and Sameer, still at the door, "Sana aur Harsh itne samajhdar hain, kitne achhe se khyal rakh rahe hain Bhavya ka."

Hearing her voice, Sana looked up and noticed her parents.

"Papaaaa. Mummaaaa." She ran towards them.

Sameer bent down and lifted her. Sana bent a little sideways and threw one arm around Naina's neck while holding one around Sameer. They remained locked in a close family hug for a while. Then Sana gave a kiss to both of them, accepting theirs on a beaming face.

"Pata hai, Preeti maasi ne kaha main Bhavya ka dhyan rakhu, kyonki main big hun na?" She spread her arms wide to emphasise the difference in size between her and Bhavya.

Naina laughed and went inside, picking up little Bhavya in her arms. Sameer lifted Harsh after putting Sana down, kissing his cheek and asking him how he was.

"Chachu, muje bhi aishe wala chiye." He wasn't as fluent as Sana in speaking but conveyed his demand for a hug by gestures.

The hug this time consisted of four.

Sana excitedly narrated to them what all Bhavya had learnt since they last met.

"Nainaaaa." Preeti screeched from the door itself the moment she entered the house with Pandit.

They had gone for some work after dropping the kids an hour back.

Bela waved her head affectionately at them, "Aise chillane mein Sana apni maasi pe gayi hai."

Preeti looked at her mother, her arms still around Naina, "Haan toh maasi pe jayegi hi... aakhir itna pyar jo karti hun main usse... aur Naina se."

She squeezed Naina tighter, winking at Sameer, who was tapping his foot while rubbing his hands. Naina had once told Preeti about his jealousy. Since then, Preeti never missed a chance to make him envious by showing more love towards her sister. To Sameer's relief, Bhavya tugged at her mom's saree, asking for her share of attention.

"Pichle hafte hi toh mili thi Preeti tumse... fir aisa kya jaise saalon baad mili ho." Sameer muttered to Naina.

Though he wasn't loud, Preeti's sharp ears caught his words.

She leaned a little from her standing position and said in a lower voice, "Aap toh ek ghante baad bhi Naina se milte honge toh isse kahin zyada hota hoga na, jijaji."

Sameer looked up sheepishly while Naina gave her an angry glare, her cheeks instantly colouring up.

Bela and Anand were elated at having spent the weekend with their grandchildren.

When Naina went to the kitchen to put back the tea cups, Bela stopped her, "Naina, tune dekha na kitni khush hai Sana Harsh aur Bhavya ke saath. Bhavya ka toh aise khyal rakhti hai jaise usse sab samajh hai bachhe sambhalne ki."

Naina chuckled, "Chachiji, woh office ke playroom mein dekhti hai na Tara aunty ko. Sana bohot jaldi seekh leti hai. Ghar pe bhi apni dolls ka aise hi khyal rakhti hai."

Bela placed a hand on her shoulder, "Toh beta tune kya socha hai... Sana ka bhi toh koi chota bhai behen hona chahiye na."

Naina pressed her lips lowering her eyes, "Uske baare mein abhi socha nahi, chachiji."

"Waise toh yeh tumhari marzi hai par mere hisaab se bachhe ke liye ghar pe bhai ya behen hona bohot zaroori hai. Dekh na, Harsh aur Bhavya saath mein kaise khelte rehte hain. Aur woh Swati ke judwa bachhe... Arnav aur Avni... dono ek doosre ke bina kahin jaana nahi chahte. Sana ko bhi toh koi saathi chahiye na. Tu khud ka hi soch... Preeti ke saath kaisa gehra rishta hai tera." Bela said in a motherly voice.

Sameer was worried to see Naina lost while they were driving back. Sana chatted nonstop about how Bhavya came to her for everything and how she taught Harsh to take better care of her.

Later in the night, after Sana had been put to sleep, Sameer pulled Naina in his arms.

"Kya hua, jaan? Jabse chachiji ke ghar se nikle hain tum kuch pareshan ho?" He smoothed her hair, asking in a soft voice.

Naina took a deep breath, and looked into his eyes, "Sameer, kya Sana ke paas bhi bhai ya behen nahi hona chahiye?"

He smiled, "Tum Harsh aur Bhavya ko laana chahti thi toh laayi kyon nahi? Woh dono aaj reh lete Sana ke saath."

She placed a hand on his cheek, "Ek din ke liye nahi, hamesha ke liye. Main Sana ke apne bhai behen ki baat kar rahi hun... hamare doosre..."

Sameer sat up with a jerk, "Nahi Naina. Aisa nahi hoga."

She got up to sit in front of him, taking his hand within her palms, "Kyon nahi, Sameer? Preeti ke do bachhe hain, Swati ke hain, fir hamare kyon nahi ho sakte?"

He held her shoulders, his eyes filling up with pain, "Main tumhe itne dard mein nahi dekh sakta, Naina."

"Agar tumhe iss dard ka pehle se pata hota toh kya Sana ke liye bhi naa bolte?" She stared into his eyes.

He was taken aback. Looking at his sleeping daughter, he realised how incomplete he would have been had she not been in their life. But the memory of Naina's painful cries made his heart wrench.

"Mujhe nahi pata tab main kya karta. Lekin ab nahi... tum jaanti ho agar tumhe koi dard hota hai toh takleef mujhe hoti hai. Main nahi dekh paunga." He shook his head adamantly.

"Main aur Preeti sagi behene nahi thi, par saath rehte the. Uska paas hona mujhe hamesha himmat deta tha... main apni har pareshani har uljhan uske saath bant leti thi, aur sukoon mil jaata tha.a" She fondly remembered the days she had spent with her sister.

"Hum hain na Sana ke liye. Humne socha toh tha ki hum uske dost banke rahenge jab woh thodi badi ho jayegi. Fir usse kisi aur ki kya zaroorat hai?" Sameer was not convinced.

Naina smiled, "Dost banke toh chachaji bhi rehte the. Lekin main unhe kahan bata paayi tumhare baare mein... school mein sirf Preeti aur Swati ko bataya tha. Mera deewanapan, meri khushi se lekar mere dil tootne tak aur Mumbai jaane ke faisle mein bhi Preeti ne mera haath thaame rakha. Tum bhi toh nahi bata paaye the nanu ko apne dil ki baat. Shayad koi saga bhai hota toh uske saath baant lete."

Sameer's eyes widened, "Sana kya boyfriend banayegi?"

Naina furrowed her brows, then realised why he said that, "Arre baba, woh bas ek example tha. Sana agar mujpe bhi gayi toh boyfriend banane mein usse abhi terah saal hain."

His face contorted, "Sirf terah saal? Uske baad Sana ka boyfriend hoga?"

Naina slapped her forehead, "Tum kahan le jaa rahe ho baat ko. Koi rule thodi hai ki solah saal mein usse boyfriend banana hi hai... usse bade toh hone do. Aur haan, uss umr mein maine sirf tumhe pasand kiya tha, boyfriend bane tab main atharah ki hone wali thi."

His mind seemed to be muddled with other thoughts to react to her words, "Lekin boyfriend banana hi kyon hai? Main apni beti ke paas kisi ladke ko phatakne bhi nahi dunga. Koi bhi ho... usko itna marunga, itna marunga ki..."

Naina held his arm that was raised, with fingers balled into a tight fist, "Offo Sameer. Kya bole jaa rahe ho? Sana abhi bohot choti hai, tum abhi se yeh sab planning mat karo. Main jo keh rahi hun woh batao. Kya hum Sana ke liye ek saathi le aayein? Dekho, tumhi pehle kabhi saat kabhi che ki baat karte the aur ab doosre ke liye bhi itna soch rahe ho."

Her earnest voice made him come back to present. He recalled the promise he made to himself when Naina was in hospital. No, he wouldn't let her go through the same pain again.

She could see his face changing with each passing thought, and cupped his face, "Sirf uss dard ko mat yaad karo. Usse pehle ke woh din jab hum Sana ko mehsoos karte the." She put his one hand on her belly, "Aur woh saari khushiyan jo Sana ke paida hone ke baad mili... woh sab fir se nahi jeena chahoge kya?"

He glanced at his hand on her belly which was flat now. But his thoughts raced to the time when it wasn't... he had loved that time. Her mood swings, her untimely cravings, taking care of her, feeling the movement of baby in her belly... all was immensely gratifying. And then, with arrival of his little angel, his beautiful life had turned more blissful. No doubt, Sana had made his life... and family... complete.

"Jaise Sana ke aane se hum ek parivaar ban gaye, waise hi ek aur ke aane se hamara parivaar poora ho jayega." She read his thoughts again.

"Lekin Naina, tumhari takleef ka kya?" He gripped her hands.

"Sameer, jab isse bade bade dard humne itni choti umr mein seh liye toh yeh kuch bhi nahi hai. Iss khushi ke liye ek din ka dard koi mayne nahi rakhta. Aur main akeli thodi hun jise yeh takleef hogi... Preeti bhi Bhavya ko leke aayi hai na." She tried to convince him.

He pondered over her words for a few seconds, then pulled her into his arms, "Nahi Naina, ek din kya main ek pal ka bhi dard tumhe jhelne nahi dunga."

She sighed, leaning on him. It won't be easy to get him to agree.

It took Naina more than a month of convincing to make him relent... but finally she persuaded him.

The news of her pregnancy two months later brought much cheer amongst their families. Sana was thrilled to know that like Harsh, she would also have a sibling.

"Mumma, kab laoge new baby? Jaldi le aao na. Mujhe khelna hai uske saath." Sana snuggled in her mother's lap in bed.

Sameer picked her up, making her sit on his stomach as he laid down on his back, "Tum mumma ki nahi meri baby ho, samjhi? Jo kehna hai jo karwana hai mujhse bolo. Mumma thak jaati hain na... isliye unko tang nahi karna."

Sana dipped her head to the side, "Okay, fir aap laa do new baby."

Naina burst into laughter, seeing the expression on his face.

Flushed, he rubbed his forehead, "Umm, uske alava jo chahiye woh laa dunga."

Seeing this as an opportunity, Sana started to narrate a list of things she wanted. Sameer gave a relieved look to Naina, nodding at everything his daughter said.

Naina's cravings this time were totally different. Unlike her first time, when she liked sweets, this time she wanted spicy food.

"Sameer, chalo na chaat khane chalte hain." She insisted one evening.

She was in the sixth month of her pregnancy and not once did she face the problem of acidity which was constant previous time. Dr Shaila had told Sameer that she could eat whatever she wanted, as long as she wasn't overeating.

At the chaat stall, she kept on asking for more 'teekha' till the chaatwala himself commented, "Madamji, isse bhi teekha chahiye toh chane ki jagah sirf mirchi wali poori hi khila deta hun."

Back home, after Sana had been put to sleep, Sameer wrapped his arms around her while she brushed her hair, "Sana ke time tumhe har waqt meetha khane ka mann karta tha isliye Sana itni sweet hai. Iss baar itna teekha kha ke kya karne wali ho? Hamara baby zyada gusse wala ban gaya toh?"

She looked at his reflection in the mirror, leaning back on him, "Tum bhi gusse wale the... jaise tumhare gusse ko kam kiya uska bhi kar dungi. Aur teekha... woh toh tumhare meethe se balance ho jaata hai... hai na?"

He turned her around, looking into her eyes that shone with mischief, "Jitna teekha khaati ho uske balance ke liye toh bohot meetha lagega."

"Roka kisne hai." Her arms went behind his neck, threading into his hair.

Without losing a moment, his lips claimed hers... and one kiss wasn't sufficient to balance the amount of spice she had in the evening.

Extremely sorry but this time the break would be of two days... Saturday and Sunday... as I've a busy schedule.

Next update on Monday evening.