It was about fifteen days later that they went to Preeti's house, for her baby's naamkaran ceremony. Preeti was delighted when her mother in law named the boy Harsh.

Phulla bua finally left for Mumbai after another two days. It was a tearful farewell, for all of them. She always loved Naina, started adoring Sameer from the day she met him and now Sana had made a special place in her heart. She had grown fond of Ramdhari too, whose dedication and loyalty made him a part of the family. Going away wasn't easy, but she could not stay with them forever.

As if Sana could sense that someone was missing, she looked at the door at every sound. A few times, she began to cry, not finding the familiar, doting face around. Thankfully, Sameer was at home during the day. To soothe his baby girl, he took her on the terrace. Sana was excited at the change of view. He held her close, talking in soft tones as he showed her the few structures visible from their terrace. With her head pressed to his cheek, Sana quietly listened, blinking rapidly. Sameer wasn't sure how much she could make out, because he had come to know that infants couldn't see much far, but she seemed to be enjoying.

Bu the time he took her down, she had slept in his arms.

"Oh, yeh abhi so gayi. Ab raat ko fir se nahi soyegi. Sameer, chachiji ne bataya tha isko din mein kab kab sulana hai, isliye ab thodi thodi aadat lagne lagi thi raat ko jaldi sone ki." Naina gave him a weary look as she entered from balcony, where she was putting Sana's clothes for drying.

After placing the sleeping baby carefully on the bed, he came to her, "Tum fiqr mat karo. Main sambhal lunga."

She held his wrists, her eyes turning soft, "Tumhe lagta hai yeh sirf Sana ki fiqr hai? Raat ko uske jaagne se tum bhi nahi so paate, aur din bhar office mein rehna hota hai. Sameer, main nahi chahti tum office mein thake hue raho."

He lifted his hand, and kissed the fingers clasped around his wrist. She pursed her lips, moving her hands away. His firm grip around her waist did not let her create any distance between them.

"Raat ko jaagne ki aadat toh tumne saalon pehle hi daal di thi. School mein tumhari yaad mein jaagta tha, college mein tumhare liye bekaraar hoke, aur shaadi ke baad... tumhare pyar mein. Mujhe raaton ko jaagne ki aapne bohot achhi training de rakhi hai, madam." The glint in his eyes matched his smirk.

"Tum aisi baatein karna kabhi nahi chodoge na." Her face turned pink at his remark.

He grazed the back of his fingers on her cheek, "Nahi... jaise tum yun sharmana nahi chodogi."

She lowered her eyes, "Sana badi hogi tab tak meri yeh aadat bhi khatam ho hi jayegi."

He hooked a finger under her chin to turn her face up, "Nahi hogi. Maine dekha tha apne sapne mein. Tum dadi aur nani banke bhi issi tarah sharmate hue mujhe dekh rahi thi."

She coloured some more, "Dhatt. Kuch bhi bolte ho. Tab tak hum aise hi thodi rahenge."

He gazed at her face, admiring the new glow that adorned her post motherhood, "Hum aise hi rahenge, Naina... hamesha. Tum pehle se bhi zyada sundar ho jaogi aur main pehle se zyada pyar karunga tumse."

His eyes held the promise of a tomorrow that was even more beautiful than today... if it was even possible. But with Sameer, she had no doubt that it would be.

Sana did not stay up till very late in the night, as Naina had feared. The habits that Bela had started inculcating in her had started changing her routine. With the regular use of diaper, Naina wasn't worried about wet clothes at night but she still had to get up to feed the baby a few times. She didn't even need an alarm anymore... her body clock was attuned to Sana's requirement. In return, Sana almost instantly fell back to sleep after Naina fed her and burped her. Bela had told her that in a couple of months, she need not feed at night. Once Sana started to have bottle feed, she would easily sleep through the night, and so could her parents.

Mornings, however, were different. Sana was an early riser. And the moment she got up, she wanted attention.

Same happened next morning. Her constant squealing made Naina open her eyes to find her playing with her mom's hand. Since she couldn't turn or move from her place, she was trying to hold Naina's hand that was on her.

Sameer was sleeping with his arm around Naina's waist, his head resting behind her neck. She nudged him, earning a sleepy sound from him as he tightened his hold on her.

"Dekho zara tumhari beti kya badmaashi kar rahi hai." She whispered, dispelling the ideas that his nuzzle conveyed.

His lifted himself on one elbow, and sleep flew out of his eyes instantly. Naina had lifted her fingers and baby was excited to see the movement, thinking that she had brought this change in the position of hand. She was trying to grasp the fingers with both her hands, kicking wildly. Her excited sound made both her parents smile as they watched her. Finally, when Naina felt that the baby might be tired, she sat up. Before she could pick up Sana, Sameer placed his head in her lap, digging his nose into her belly.

"Sameer, hato na. Mujhe Sana ko lena hai." She weaved her fingers through his hair.

"Agar hamare twins hote toh bhi dono ko sambhalti na... samajh lo tumhe abhi bhi do baby sambhalne hai." He mumbled against her.

"Do hote toh bhi ek ko hi dekhti. Doosre ko tum dekhte na." She said in an amused voice.

He jumped up, sitting on folded knees and bent down to pick up his daughter, "Main dono ko sambhal sakta hun. Try karke dekh lo."

He held Sana close to him with one arm and opened up other one, inviting her.

She shifted ahead and snuggled into his chest, his arm draped around her. Sana smiled brightly at them.

It was a perfect morning.

Half an hour later, Sameer was still lazing around in bed when Naina came out of the bathroom after setting up things for Sana's bath.

"Sameer, please sona mat. Agar mujhe kuch chahiye hoga toh bathroom se awaaz lagaungi. Aaj pehli baar Sana ko akele nehla rahi hun, lag raha hai pakka kuch toh bhool gayi hun." She told him nervously, picking up the baby.

"Main bhi chalta hun tumhare saath." He sprang up before she moved away from the bed.

Naina said she would manage but he insisted. She sighed and agreed, knowing that she was up for a long session of queries.

"Isko tub mein kyon rakh rahi ho?" He was astonished when she eased Sana into a tub of warm water.

"Toh kya shower ke neeche khada kar dun?" She chuckled.

He bit his tongue, realising that Sana could not even sit. Holding her with one hand, Naina asked him to pour some baby shampoo on her palm. He watched as she delicately rubbed it over Sana's head. With his help, she washed it off, taking care not to let the shampoo come over baby's face. Next, she asked him to pass baby soap.

"Naina, isse sabun kyon lagana hai? Yeh thodi bahar jaati hai." Sameer was hesitant to let anything touch the soft skin of baby.

Naina snatched the soap from him, applying it around Sana's neck and folds of arms and legs, "Zaroori hai, chachiji ne kaha tha skin infection ho jayega agar achhe se sabun nahi lagaya aur saaf nahi kiya toh."

He panicked, asking her to apply it everywhere carefully.

When it was time to pour water, she wasn't sure if he could put it properly.

"Sameer, dekho, itne paas se paani daalna warna uski aankhon mein chala jayega." She showed him the way.

"Lekin tumne iske chehre pe sabun toh lagaya hi nahi. Wahan infection ho jayega toh?" He was perplexed about baby's dry face.

"Bachhon ko chehre pe paani dalwana achha nahi lagta. Isliye aakhir mein wahan sabun lagate hain. Warna yeh rone lagegi aur haath pair maaregi toh sambhalna mushkil ho jayega. Ab tum jaldi se paani daalo nahi toh thanda ho jayega." She explained hurriedly.

Sameer did as directed, watching with fascination as she lightly cleared the skin of all residue of soap.

"Main karu?" He raised his brows hopefully, holding baby's tiny hand.

Naina nodded. He rubbed his fingertips in circular motion on her arm, amazed at the buttery feel. Slowly pouring water, he washed one arm.

"Sameer, itni der paani mein nahi rakh sakte isse. Ab main karti hu." Naina took some soap and applied on her face.

Sana cried out aloud.

He was alarmed, "Shayad uski aankhon mein chala gaya. Naina, jaldi se saaf karo, usse jal raha hoga."

She raised a hand to calm him, "Roz aise hi chillati hai chehre pe paani aur sabun lagane se. Kuch nahi hua."

He shifted uncomfortably when Sana continued to squall, while Naina cleaned her face by taking handfuls of water. She then lifted the baby up and asked him to pour some water over her. When it was done, she asked him to hold the open towel in his hands. Carefully placing the baby in it, she wrapped her properly around her and held her close to her chest.

"Shhh baby. Bas ho gaya na. Ab rona nahi. Chalo hum papa se pehle ready ho jayenge." Softly cooing to her, she walked out of the bathroom.

Sameer followed them. The whole process had intrigued him. He had no idea so much planning was needed for a baby to have a bath. When he saw Naina putting her down on the bed and softly patting her dry, he realised the process wasn't over yet. After drying her, she applied a baby lotion all over while Sana fiercely kicked with her chubby legs. She then patted some powder over her before dressing her up in fresh clothes. Finally, with a small comb, she smoothed her hair. Once she was ready, Sana gurgled louder, looking at Naina.

"Ab main iske saath khel lun?" Sameer moved closer to his daughter, the fresh baby smell making him want to hold her.

"Nahi, ab isko sulana hai." Naina picked up the damp towel and put it on the chair.

Sameer looked up, disappointed, "Abhi toh nahayi hai, abhi kyon soyegi?"

She picked up the baby in her lap, "Thak gayi hai naha ke. Ab aaram se kaafi der soyegi. Tum jaake naha lo. Warna office ke liye late ho jayega."

He leaned back in the bed, narrowing his eyes, "Kuch aur kaam baaki hai abhi. Baad mein naha lunga. Office ke liye bohot time hai."

Naina could see something playing in his mind, but she remained quiet. Sana drifted off to sleep immediately after being fed. Laying her in the bed, she got up and tied her hair in a loose bun at the nape. Picking up the damp towel, she went out to the balcony to put it for drying.

His arms came around her from behind the moment she entered the room.

"Tumhe toh kuch kaam karna tha." She tilted her head, holding his hands that were around her waist.

"Wohi karne wala hun abhi." He rubbed his nose behind her ear.

Her nerves coiled up, the fluttering in her stomach turning louder.

"Aaj maine baby ko nehlane mein madad ki hai toh socha uski mumma ko bhi kar dun." He whispered against her ear, his lips brushing the sensitive skin.

"Sam.... Sameer, Sana uth jayegi." Her protest was as weak as her resolve to stop him.

"Tumne hi kaha tha naha ke der tak soti hai. Ab bahane mat banao." He turned her towards himself.

A complacent smile spread on his face when he saw her eyes... the brown orbs were gleaming with flecks of same passion that had darkened his eyes. His hand moved up to tug at the loose bun, bringing her hair cascading down. Her lips parted when his hand threaded through her hair, holding the head firmly. He readily accepted the invitation, claiming her mouth in a deep, demanding kiss. She melted in his arms, clutching his tshirt to support her weakening legs. Without breaking the kiss, he scooped her up, and walked into the bathroom, closing the door with his foot.

lover_of_yudkbh iss baar hum door ke bahar hain 😂

Next update on Sunday evening