Naina opened her eyes and looked around. The view looked different from other days. She stirred a little and realised why... she was sleeping on the couch... over Sameer's chest. With a jerk, she lifted her head and glanced at the baby. Sana slept peacefully on the bed, with small pillows on her either side. Naina slowly shifted to get up, hoping that the movement wouldn't wake him up.

Sameer felt the loss of warmth over him, and opened his eyes instantly.

"Naina, kahan jaa rahi ho?" He held her wrist as she slipped away to the side.

Sitting on the edge of couch, she looked back at him. Even in the dim light of lamp, his half open eyes had the same magnetic pull that made her heart lurch.

"Sana uth jayegi, Sameer. Main uske paas jaa rahi hun." She whispered, looking back at the baby.

He craned his neck and glanced at the bed. Their daughter seemed to be in deep sleep, unlike other nights when she would be up almost every two hours.

"Aaj ek baar bhi uthi kyon nahi?" He frowned, coming up on his elbow.

A warm smile spread on her face at his concern, "Wohi dekhne jaa rahi hun."

He got up along with her, going to the bed. Naina checked the sheets. They were dry. Her brows furrowed for a moment till realisation hit her.

"Main bhi pagal hun. Yaad hi nahi raha." She slapped her forehead.

Sameer sat in front of her, holding her wrist, "Arre arre, meri Naina ko kyon maar rahi ho... kya yaad nahi raha?"

"Bhabhi diaper ka packet laayi thi, iske size ka. Unhone kaha raat ko lagane se Sana aaram se so payegi. Woh lagaya hai isliye iski neend nahi khuli. Aur kal shaam ko soyi nahi toh shayad thak bhi gayi hogi." She fondly curled her fingers over baby's fisted hand.

Sameer tilted his head to admire the serene, angelic face of his little princess. Then his eyes drifted up to the beautiful, captivating face of his wife. His heart surged with warm affection and intense passion at the same time.

Unaware of his quickening heartbeat, Naina uttered in a low voice without looking at him, "Tum so jao, Sameer. Tum bhi toh thak gaye hoge. Kal saara din itni bhaag daud ki."

He held her other hand, "Tumne saari thakaan raat ko hi utaar di."

Her eyes shot up at the tone of his husky voice. He could clearly see the colour on her face that matched her nighty. But he could also see the drowsiness in her eyes. And nothing mattered to him more than her comfort.

His hand cupped her face, "Tum bhi so jao. Tumhe aaram ki zaroorat hai."

Holding her shoulder, he made her lie down next to the sleeping baby. Her head had barely touched the pillow when she felt him slip in next to her.

"Sameer, yahan bohot kam jagah hai. Tum kaise so paoge?" She turned her head to look at him.

"Shhh. Tumhe baahon mein leke hi sabse sukoon ki neend aati hai." He whispered in her ear.

Naina had missed his warmth too. She shifted baby's sheets slightly towards the vacant side of the bed and made more space. Her hand on the baby, his arm around her waist, her back pressed into his chest... all three had the most restful night.

When Phulla bua came with her bowl of porridge in the morning, Naina had taken bath and freshened Sana already. Sameer was in the bathroom.

"Aaj toh hamari gudiya subah subah hi khel rahi hai." Phulla bua cooed to Sana, tapping her cheek with a finger.

Naina smiled, "Raat bhar aaram se soyi isliye aaj jaldi uth gayi. Kal bhabhi jo diaper leke aayi thi woh pehena diya tha isliye raat ko kapde geele nahi hue.'

"Tu bhi so paayi na aaram se?" Phulla bua looked at her with soft eyes.

She dipped her head to the side.

With a warm smile, Phulla bua looked at the baby, then looked back at her, "Beta, jab tak yeh kareeb do mahine ki nahi hoti, tab tak raat ko baar baar uthna hi padega. Diaper lagane se kapde geele na bhi ho par bhook lag jaati hai itne chote bachhon ko. Isliye raat ko teen chaar baar tujhe uthayegi. Uske baad dheere dheere sambhal jayegi. Bela keh rahi thi woh isko aadat daal degi raat bhar sone ki. Jaise woh kahe waisa hi karna."

Again, Naina dipped her head to the side.

Deepika was in their room the moment she was up and was thrilled to see the baby playing happily and not sleeping.

She folded her knees and bend down near the little one, "Sana, dekho apki bua aayi hai. Hello bolo."

Sameer bend down along with her, "Abhi choti hai woh, kuch bol nahi sakti."

Deepika straightened, giving him an ingenious look, "Mujhe pata hai, bhaiya. Anjali ki baby sister aayi thi na, tab dekha tha maine. Sana one year tak nahi bolegi. Uske baad hi walk karegi aur baatein bhi."

Sameer was surprised... even he wasn't aware how much time a baby would take to start walking or speaking.

"Anjali kaun hai?" He asked.

Deepika rolled her eyes, "Meri best friend. Aapne kya socha Shah Rukh Khan ki Anjali ki baat kar rahi hun?"

Sameer widened his eyes. What was this fascination for actors among all girls, he wondered.

Naina stifled a smile, "Deepika, aapka favourite actor kaun hai?"

"Shah Rukh Khan." Deepika clapped her hands gleefully.

Before Sameer could ask anything, she excitedly turned to him, "Pata hai kyon? Woh sabse best papa the Anjali ke. Kitni masti karte the uske saath... bilkul friend jaise. Aur ek mere papa hain."

Naina and Sameer looked at her puffed cheeks, surprised at the revelation.

She peered at the door, them leaned closer to them, "Aap dono ko ek secret bataun? Kisi ko bologe toh nahi?"

They shook their heads in unison, lowering their heads to come down to her level.

Deepika cupped her hand around her mouth to whisper, "Mujhe papa se thoda thoda darr lagta hai."

They nodded in understanding.

She jumped off the bed, "Aapko dikhati hun kaise aate hain ghar mein."

She pushed her shoulders back, stiffened her arms, bending them a little at the elbow, held her chin up and walked around the room with her lips pressed together.

Though the discussion was about Mr Somani, Sameer couldn't keep his smile suppressed. Naina covered her mouth to stop any sound of the laughter that was bubbling inside her.

Vishakha's voice made all of them look at the door in alarm, "Mujhe pata tha yahi milogi tum, Deepika. Chalo pehle naha ke ready ho jao fir Sana ke saath khelna."

Deepika confidently walked out of the room, stopping at the door to look at her bhaiya and bhabhi... and placed a finger on her lips. They both quickly held up their fingers against their own lips.

Vishakha raised her brows, "Kuch badmashi karke gayi hai na yeh?"

Naina smiled brightly, "Nahi mummy, bas aise hi masti kar rahi thi. Aap aaiye na."

Vishakha came in and sat on the bed, picking up the baby, "Aaj toh hamari gudiya bohot jaldi uth gayi."

Hearing the reason, she explained that since these were winter months it was better that Naina made her sleep in diaper at night regularly. She then asked Sameer to see if breakfast was ready. Once he was gone, she laid the baby back on her sheets and looked at Naina.

"Naina, tumhe Sana ko feed karane mein koi problem toh nahi hoti na?" She asked softly.

Naina shook her head.

Vishakha smiled warmly, "Beta, tumhare liye yeh sab naya hai isliye pooch rahi hun. Agar tumhe koi takleef hai ya kuch samajh nahi aa raha toh tum jab chaho mujhse baat kar sakti ho."

Naina lowered her eyes for a moment before replying, "Hospital mein hi doctor ne bata diya tha. Aur yahan chachiji ne bhi samjhaya."

Vishakha nodded, "Yahan tumhare paas buaji aur tumhari Bela chachi dono hain. Khud ke liye ya baby ke liye kuch janna ho toh jhijhakna mat, unke experience se tumhe faayda hi hoga. Iss waqt pe agar apna theek se khyal nahi rakha toh aage jaake bohot pareshani ho sakti hai. Tum abhi kamzor ho, isliye achhe se khana, jo bhi yeh log tumhe bataein. Aur haan, roz doodh zaroor pina. Calcium ki tablets jo doctor ne di hain woh bhi time pe khana."

"Jee mummy. Main sab baaton ka khyal rakh rahi hun. Jis din hospital se ghar aayi thi ussi din chachiji aur bua dadi ne sab samjhaya tha. Aap bilkul fiqr mat kijiye. Main theek hun aur Sana ka bhi achhe se khyal rakhungi." Naina assured her.

Vishakha patted her cheek, "Jaanti hun. Sana ki fiqr nahi hai mujhe. Usse bohot achhi mummy mili hai jo uska har tarah se khyal rakhegi."

"Aur achhe papa bhi. Sameer bhi mera har kaam mein saath dete hain." Naina admitted proudly.

Vishakha blinked rapidly to not let the tears fall, "Tumhara kaise dhanyavad karun, Naina? Tumne Sameer ko woh saari khushiyaan de di jo usse kabhi nahi mili thi... ek ghar, ek parivar, apnon ka pyar. Main jaanti hun uski sabse badi gunahgaar main hun... kuch bhi kar lun lekin pehle ke ghaav mita nahi sakti. Bas ab itna hi chahti hun ki tumhari iss pyar bhari duniya ko kisi ki nazar na lage."

"Mummy." Both women looked at the door, hearing Sameer's voice.

He walked in and kneeled besides his mom, a calm smile on his face, "Pehle ke koi ghaav nahi bache ab. Woh dard, woh ghutan... sab khatm ho gaya. Pehle Naina, aur ab Sana ke aane se meri zindagi ki har kami poori ho gayi. Aap mera yakeen kijiye, kuch nishaan ho sakte hain unn zakhmon ke lekin usse zyada kuch nahi. Jo hua woh shayad kismat ka tareeka tha, mujhe aazmaane ka. Agar mera exam mushkil tha toh bhi mujhe shikayat nahi hai... kyonki uska result mujhe aisa mila hai."

His eyes moved to Naina, filled with love and gratitude. She placed her hand on his.

Vishakha dabbed a finger to the corner of her eye and put the kajal mark on their joint hands. She did the same again and touched it on baby's forehead. Her throat was too constricted to speak... she stood up and opened her arms to both of them. Sana squealed as she looked in their direction. Her eyes were still not able to focus but her tiny arms and legs kicked in air, as if she could understand the immense love spread around her.

"Mummy, aapne mujhe aur Nidhi ko toh kabhi aise saath mein gale nahi lagaya." Rohan grumbled, standing at the door.

Naina and Sameer straightened. Vishakha wiped her eyes and turned to look at him.

"Jab tum dono mujhe ek aisi hi doll doge tab dono ko gale laga lungi... ek saath." She pinched Rohan's cheek as he came and stood in front of her.

Sameer chuckled, "Tumhara intezar toh lamba hoga, Rohan. Abhi tak sagai bhi nahi hui."

Vishakha exclaimed with tongue in cheek, "Isko ab sirf Nidhi ko gale lagane ka intezar hai... aur koi intezar kitna bhi lamba ho jaaye, chalega."

Rohan lowered his head, pursing his lips as all three laughed aloud. To hide his embarrassment, he pulled Sameer's hand and dragged him out, muttering that everyone was waiting for them on breakfast table.

Later, during the day, Rakesh and Arjun came over to meet them before leaving for the station. Rakesh did not leave his granddaughter even for a second for the entire time he was there, except for a few minutes when Arjun begged him to let him hold his niece.

He put the baby in Arjun's arms, a frown on his face quite evident, "Kab se keh raha hun ab tu bhi shaadi kar le. Lekin meri toh koi sunta hi nahi hai."

Naina looked up at her brother, "Papa theek keh rahe hain, Arjun bhaiya. Mujhe bhi ek bhabhi chahiye."

Sameer nodded, "Haan Arjun. Ab tumhara national team mein selection ho gaya hai. Ab toh tumhe shaadi ke baare mein sochna chahiye."

Arjun looked at the eager faces around him, "Sameer, abhi abhi naya ghar liya hai. Abhi se kaise shaadi ka kharcha utha sakta hun. Ek do saal baad sochenge."

Rakesh placed his hands on waist and huffed, "Shaadi ka kharcha kaunsa lakhon ka hoga. Humein karna hi kya hai... bas kuch kapde zevar hi toh banwane hain."

Arjun looked at the baby in his lap and smiled, "Apne nanaji ko bolo, jaise unki beti gayi thi shaadi hoke, waise hi doosri beti aayegi. Aapke mama kisi ladki ke ghar walon pe koi bhojh nahi dalenge aapki mami ko laane ke liye."

Rakesh lowered his arms, looking ruefully at his son, then his daughter, "Achha hua jo mere bachhe mujh pe nahi gaye. Tum dono pe garv hai mujhe."

Arjun raised his eyes to Sameer, "Maine yeh sab Sameer se seekha hai, papa. Naina ki shaadi mein Sameer ne jo bhi kiya, usse dekh ke maine tabhi tay kar liya tha ki agar main kabhi shaadi karunga toh issi tarah karunga."

Rakesh glanced at Sameer, "Ispe toh mujhe sabse zyada garv hai."

Naina's eyes shone triumphantly.

By evening, everyone had left, leaving only Phulla bua with them. But the house didn't feel empty to Sameer.

His family was with him.

Next update tomorrow evening