In their room at night, Sameer was still spellbound by the way Sana smiled at him. Now, as she slept peacefully, he gazed at her calm face, wondering how could such a tiny being have such strong feelings... she missed him... she was aware that he wasn't around... she wanted his presence near her. His heart swelled up in exhilaration.

Naina came out of the bathroom and sat on the bed, watching him adoring their sleeping baby.

He looked up, a smug smile on his face, "Mujhe miss kiya baby ne."

She nodded, pleased to see the glowing elation on his face.

He leaned and touched his lips softly to baby's forehead, "Papa ne bhi aapko bohot miss kiya, Sana."

"Haan, bas ek doosre ko miss karo... meri kise parwah hai... mujhe toh bhool hi gaye tum dono. Sana ko papa ki yaad aayi toh saara din roke bitaya... papa ko aate hi bas apni beti chahiye... meri kisi ko value hi nahi hai." Naina made a grumpy face, giving a side glance to Sameer.

He raised his eyes to her from across the baby. The way she sat... hugging her knees, lips twisted to the side, brows scrunched together... he didn't find any difference between the sleeping baby and the sulking baby. He got up and came around the bed.

"Tumhe toh sabse zyada miss kiya, jaan." He sat in front of her, looking at her rounded cheeks.

She threw him an angry glare, "Dikh raha hai. Ek baar bhi yaad nahi aayi hogi meri. Pehle toh aate hi gale lagaye bina tumhe chain nahi aata tha lekin aaj khyal hi nahi aaya. Hato, mujhe neend aa rahi hai."

She turned towards the baby and lied down, her back towards him. He tried to make her talk but she didn't react, keeping her eyes shut. Sameer slipped in beside her, though there was very less space. When he tried to wrap his arm around her, she shoved her elbow into his ribs.

"Naina, ek toh aaj main poora din office mein akela tha aur ab tum ghar mein bhi akela kar rahi ho. Jaan, suno na... woh... woh doctor ka naam sun ke main bohot ghabra gaya tha pehle... aur fir Sana ne itni pyari smile di toh main pagal hi ho gaya... isliye shayad... lekin tumhe pata hai na, tumhe apni baahon mein na lun toh mera din adhoora rehta hai... main kaise so paunga Naina, agar tum roothi rahogi... fir kal office kaise jaunga?" He rested his head lightly on her temple, speaking in a dejected voice.

Pressing her lips to stop the laughter ready to spurt out, she turned. The forlorn look on his face made her lose control and the giggles erupted. She held a hand to her mouth to muffle the sound, not to wake up Sana.

He was baffled, "Tum... tum toh gussa thi."

"Buddhu, main ched rahi thi tumhe. Apni beti se jalungi kya?" She smacked his chest.

The movement made him lose balance as he was on the edge of bed. She instantly wound her arm around him and pulled him back.

His lips curved into a mischievous smile as half his body rested on her, "Toh yeh sab mujhe kareeb bulane ke bahane the... matlab tumne bhi miss kiya mujhe."

"Bohot." She rubbed her nose onto his.

"Maine bhi... bohot." He leaned to capture her lips.

Her fingers were what his mouth landed upon.

He lifted his head, frowning.

Naina pointed at the sleeping baby. He swiftly got on his knees, and shifted the sheets carefully, taking the baby along towards the other side of bed.

Before lying down again, he winked, and pulled the t-shirt over his head before wrapping his arms around her. She snuggled into him, losing herself in his fragrance.

Next morning, he spent some time with the baby before leaving. For a few days, he came back home for lunch. Since she slept after her bath and feed in the morning, finding him around when she got up made her happy. In the evening also, he came back early. The pattern slowly made Sana comfortable. She did not trouble any more, when he wasn't around.

"Naina, ab Sana ek mahine ki ho gayi hai. Tu aur Sameer achhe se sambhal bhi lete ho. Mujhe lagta hai ab mujhe wapas jaana chahiye." Phulla bua said one morning at the breakfast table.

It was a Sunday so Sameer was home. He was upset at the suggestion.

"Aapko wapas kyon jaana hai, bua dadi? Aapko yahan achha nahi lagta?" His voice conveyed his dismay.

Phulla bua was expecting this reaction from him. She asked him to come and sit on the chair next to her.

"Beta, yahan kaise achha nahi lagega? Bohot achha lagta hai. Itna waqt jo tum logo ke saath bitaya, aur Sana ke saath rehne ka jo mauka mila yeh sab main kabhi nahi bhool paungi. Lekin wapas toh jaana hai na... mera bhi ghar hai wahan. Saari zindagi maine ussi ghar mein bitayi hai. Har kone se bohot si yaadein judi hain. Ab iss umr mein mere liye kisi aur jagah jaake basna mushkil hai." She explained in a soft voice.

Sameer nodded sadly, "Aap fir ayengi na, bua dadi?"

She gave him an affectionate smile, "Zaroor aungi. Kai baar aaungi. Mera apna ghar hai... apne bachhon se milne ka jab bhi mann karega, bina bataye chali aungi. Lekin soch le, tere kaan zaroor khichungi agar teri ek bhi shikayat mili."

"Main Sameer ki shikayat kyon karungi, bua dadi." Naina fondly looked at him.

Phulla bua raised her brows, "Teri baat kaun kar raha hai... main toh Sana ki baat kar rahi hun."

Sameer gazed at the pram where Sana played cheerfully, "Apni beti ko kabhi koi shikayat nahi hone dunga."

Phulla bua felt the depth in his words... he was thinking of his own deprivation as a child. She patted his cheek, knowing that he would give the best childhood to his daughter.

The phone started to ring, halting their discussion. Sameer answered it.

"Huh... kab? Hum abhi aate hain... achha... theek hai... main bata deta hun." His broken sentences were strung with anxiety.

He turned to look at two worried faces staring at him.

"Swati ka phone tha." He revealed.

Naina stood up from the chair. She was expecting it to be Preeti's news. But Swati... what happened to her...

Sameer immediately went to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Daro nahi, sab theek hai. Preeti ko hospital leke gaye hain."

She furrowed her brows, "Preeti... phone toh Swati ka tha."

He nodded, "Swati gayi thi uske ghar, milne ke liye. Achanak Preeti ki tabiyat kharab ho gayi toh usse hospital le jaana pada. Swati wapas ghar chali gayi kyonki hospital mein zyada logon ko rehne nahi dete. Pandit aur uski mummy hain wahan. Swati ne humein batane ke liye phone kiya tha."

Phulla bua folded her hands and prayed with closed eyes. Naina shuddered, remembering the pain that she went through... Preeti would have to experience the same before she could hold the bliss in her arms... her baby.

She gulped, "Sam... Sameer, kya main jaa sakti hun Preeti ke paas?"

Phulla bua could understand her concern, "Naina, abhi jaana theek nahi hoga. Wahan Pandit ka rehna zyada zaroori hai. Aur uski mummy bhi saath hain. Beta, hum yahin rehke uske liye prarthana karte hain ki sab kuch jaldi aur achhe se ho jaaye."

Sameer held her hand, "Bua dadi theek keh rahi hain. Wahan do se zyada logon ko nahi rukne de rahe. Ek baar baby aa jayega toh hum sab jayenge."

They waited with bated breath.

Though they didn't have an appetite, it was essential for Naina to eat when it was lunch time. She forced Sameer and bua dadi to eat with her. The call came when they had just finished their lunch.

A baby boy had arrived.

They went to meet Preeti and the new family member. Bela and Anand had reached before them. The new baby slept in the crib, wrapped completely in a white sheet. Looking at him, Sameer and Naina realised how much Sana had grown. She looked so different from a new born.

When Naina met Preeti, she was exhausted, but happy.

"Ab koi darr nahi. Mera beta bhi Sana ke saath hi school jayega toh pakka paas ho jayega." Her voice was feeble but chirpy, as always.

Naina hugged her, "Sabse pehla khyal yehi aaya hoga tujhe, pagal."

"Nahi behen, sabse pehla khyal yeh aaya ki shukr hai ladki nahi hui warna Pandit pakka uska naam Papri rakh deta. Ab yeh khatra toh tal gaya." Preeti chuckled, speaking in a low voice.

Phulla bua held the new baby, "Achha hua mere jaane se pehle tera chehra bhi dekh liya. Warna pata nahi kab aana hota dubara."

Bela was surprised, "Aap jaa rahi hain? Abhi se kyon?"

She looked at Bela, "Jis kaam ke liye aayi thi woh achhe se ho gaya."

Preeti crossed her arms, brooding, "Haan, haan, aapko bas Naina ke liye hi aana tha. Aakhir wohi aapki pyari beti hai na. Mere liye kyon rukengi aap."

Phulla bua smiled at her antics, "Ab yeh bachpana karna chod de, warna tera beta kahega yeh meri mummy hai ya meri choti behen.'

"Bua dadi, aap mazaak mat kariye. Mere bete ke naamkaran tak aap kahin nahi jayengi bas." Preeti frowned, declaring with finality.

Phulla bua sat next to her, showing the baby to her, "Tujhe lagta hai itne pyare se pote ko chod ke main jaungi? Naamkaran tak toh hilne wali bhi nahi hun. Aur mere liye tum dono meri gudiya ho... tu aur Naina. Samjhi?"

Preeti excitedly nodded at her.

Entire family was ecstatic at the little bundles of joy who had arrived to give a new designation to each member. Pandit's parents were grandparents for the first time and their happiness was quite evident from their bright smiles. Swati and Munna also came to visit the new baby.

Munna hugged Pandit, "Bhai, badhai ho. Tera samose ka ban khatam ho gaya."

Pandit glanced at Preeti. She chuckled, dipping her head to the side.

Pandit looked at his little son, and turned to Munna, "Yaar, samose khane ka mann hi nahi hota. Ab toh mujhe bhi wohi sab achha lagta hai jo Preeti khati hai... achar, chaat, imli."

Munna gave him a shocked look, then whispered in his ear, "Abhi toh hospital mein hi hai, check kara le... kahin tu bhi toh..."

Pandit gave him a confused, questioning look. Munna folded his arms, and swayed them as if he held a baby. Pandit's eyes widened, and he smacked Munna.

Sameer looped an arm around Munna's shoulder, "Mera aur Pandit ka result aa gaya. Ab tu kar apne exam ki taiyari. Kya hamare bachhon ke school jaane ke baad tak baitha rahega?"

Munna gave them a bewildered look, "Aaj hi toh paida hua hai, kal jaa raha hai kya school? Aur Sana bhi abhi sirf ek mahine ki hui hai... baat aise kar rahe ho jaise dono ke bachhon ka admission ho gaya school mein."

Pandit leaned towards him, "Bhai, jaisi tu speed dikhata hai na har baat mein, hamare bachhon ka admission bhi ho jayega aur tu yahin ka yahin hoga."

Their banters continued till Swati nudged Munna that they should leave, as Preeti had to rest. Sameer and Naina also came back home, with Phulla bua.

Sana had been sleeping all the while. The moment Naina laid her on the bed at home, she opened her eyes.

"Offo Sana, ab mumma ko aaram karna hai toh tumhara uthne ka time ho gaya. Thodi der aur so jao na baby." Naina pleaded, exhausted as she didn't rest the whole day.

"Main Sana ko sambhal lunga, tum rest kar lo." Sameer pulled baby bedding towards himself, smiling at the energetic cries of his daughter.

After freshening up, Naina lied down. She didn't want to sleep but badly needed to relax for some time. She watched the father daughter duo, happy with each other.

Being Sunday, Sameer had not shaved in the morning. It was also because Naina had been pointing out the same for last few days. Since the day had been a busy one, she hadn't yet got a chance to admire the dark shadow that covered his face. Now, as she saw the sharp jawline highlighted by the prickly growth she loved so much, her hand moved on its own accord.

Sameer was surprised when she shifted closer to them, and grazed his jaw with the back of her fingers.

His eyes glittered as he flicked up his brows.

"Bohot handsome lag rahe ho." She continued to feel the stubble, moving her hand to the other side of his face.

He held her wrist when he felt she would withdraw her hand, and pressed his face against her fingers.

"Dekha baby, tumhari mumma ko kitni pasand hai papa ki stubble." He smiled at Sana.

"Mumma kya kare, baby. Tumhare papa itne handsome lagte hain iske saath ki dil aa jaata hai." Naina leaned more and placed a kiss on his jaw.

Sana gurgled louder. They looked at her. She waved her tiny arms in air. Sameer bent down towards her. A tiny palm landed on his face. He stilled, watching the excited face of his daughter. She kept bringing her hand to his face repeatedly, and each time she touched him, she smiled.

He was dumbfounded. Just like his wife, his daughter was also fascinated by his stubble.

Next update tomorrow evening