Conversations scaled up and down as the four of them sat chattering. Time was lost track of. Raunak was fast asleep. Shivaay lazily looked at the clock. It was twelve already. He quickly got up asking Anika to as well. "It's late Anika. Let them sleep. They must be tired after the flight."

"Bhai please. We will sit for some more time. "

"Prinku, sleep. See your eyes. Sleep!"

"Yeah Shivaay is right." Anika said standing up.

"Finally!" Shivaay said softly. Finally she was taking his side.

Priyanka grinned. Anika rolled her eyes. He put his hand around her shoulder. "Good night people! " he called as the two turned to leave."

"Good night Bhai, Bhabhs!" Came the voice from the other couple in unison. Nihaal laughed and Priyanka shushed him.

Anika leaned closer onto his shoulder. She realised she was so sleepy. 

"God. You women can talk at the cost of sleep!" He said looking at her and placing his hand around her waist.

She smiled. "It was such a nice time. "

"I agree. It's been ages we've spent time like that. "

"They make  a cute couple." Anika said as the walked up the stairs.

"Not better than us!" He gently moved his hand up and down her back.

She shook her head after looking at him. 

"What?"

"Nothing!" She stretched the word, sleepily entering the room. Not caring to change she crashed onto the bed. 

He shook his head placing his hand on his hips. "Won't you change?"

"No. Good ni-" her voice faded as her eyes closed.

He smiled commenting softly. "Mad Woman!"

* * *

The next morning Shivaay woke up to an empty bed. He hated this. He loved to wake up to find her beside him. He looked at the time, seven thirty already! Shoot he had a meeting at nine. He got up from bed and barged into the washroom. Quickly getting dressed he came down. He looked at his watch. Eight! 

He was greeted by his family already at the dinning table. "Good morning Bhai!" Priyanka smiled. "Think of the devil and devil appears!" She added to get her husband's disapproving look.

"Good morning! " he said quickly looking at everyone and back at his mobile screen.

"Shivaay, breakfast –" Anika barely began when he interrupted.

"No– I am running late. Thanks to someone!" He said looking at his sister. 

"You are late very time because you are a heavy sleeper. " Priyanka commented smiling wickedly.

"Shut up idiot!"

"Everybody knows the truth Bhai !"

"It's just the Indian air. In the US I rose before the sun!" Shivaay found yet another excuse.

"Whatever. This is your home. So you are still an always-late person here. Remember, even during school and college mom had to put water over your face to wake you up."

Shivaay looked up embarrassed and quickly covered his sister's mouth with his hand. "Someone's talking too much. How do you tolerate her Nihaal! "

Prinku struggled to get his hand off her mouth but couldn't. Nihaal laughed. Prinku threw daggers at him through her eyes. 

"Shivaay leave her. Remember you are late!" Anika smartly caught Shivaay's attention.

"Oh yes." hesaid quickly then turned back to his sister, " You are lucky today. Or I swear there would be tape on your mouth until you had resemblance to Egyptian mummies."

"Grow up Mr.Devil! " She said before sipping some water.

"Same to you Devil's Sister!" He playfully commented. 

"Donkey."

"Monkey! Nihaal your bad you got a monkey."

"Priyanka had had enough. She had to get back at her brother for what he did. She saw the glass of water and then smiled wickedly. Did he say he was running late? Well a little more late wouldn't matter. While Shivaay was telling Anika his plan for the day, Prinku waited for opportunity. The minute he turned to pick an apple from the fruit plate she picked up the jar instead of the glass and splash! The water was on Shivaay's face, shirt and coat. His jaw fell with shock. Anika covered her mouth gasping. 

Nihaal swallowed. His wife had gone too far.

" Did you just? " he exclaimed shocked.

"Yes I did!" Prinku smiled proud of herself.

"You are so dead." He said as he wiped his face.

Prinku panicked and ran. He ran behind her. 

The other two gaped. Those two were kids. 

"My bet is on Shivaay today! What do you think?" Nihaal asked Anika, taking a piece of apple into his mouth.

"Nihaal, shut up. Shivaay must be mad. I will see them!"

Anika ran up the stairs. She had barely reached the top when she saw Priyanka covered with paint. She gasped horrified. "Did Shivaay- just-?" She stared in disbelief. She had always heard about the fights the two had and everything from everyone. More from Pinky. But she was witnessing it for the first ever time. 

"Serves her well. " he shouted from the top. Priyanka glared at him. "I am going to get back at you with interest!"

"You wish !" He laughed evilly. 

"I am sorry!" Anika said on her husband's behalf looking at the paint dripping off Priyanka.

"Raunu how does yellow Mumma look?" Nihaal amusingly asked his son pointing at his wife. The little boy laughed and clapped. "Mumma color!" He clapped. Nihaal laughed. Anika stifled her giggles. 

"Shut up you two!"Prinku stomped her feet.

" Pri go clean yourself first." Anika sweetly suggested following Shivaay to their room.

"What's wrong with you Shivaay? Paint. Like seriously ? "

"What's wrong with her. She knew I am late. " he said unbuttoning his shirt while his wife was taking out a fresh shirt for him. 

"But you started it. "

"Really? Why are you taking side?" He frowned throwing his shirt aside. 

"It's not about sides. She is--"

"Oh she is a witch. You don't know her..she--"

"Enough. I know I know. " she said comically. " You are late!" She said helping him with the shirt.

He turned to her and as she started helping him with buttons. They did alternate ones, without saying anything. Occasionally, their hands brushed. He looked at her. Surprised, at sudden silence she looked up at him. She couldn't take her eyes off his. 

"You are so different Anika!"

She blinked "what do you mean?" She asked, a smile getting ready to be formed at the edge of her lips. 

" Normally a  wife help's husband to unbutton." He spoke , nuzzling her ear. Her breath got caught at that. "Here you are helping me get dressed. " his one hand moved to her waist. "Normally a wife asks husband to stay and you are telling me I am late. " his other moved to caress her neck. 

She smiled shyly, looking down. 

"I missed you in the morning!" He said. 

She smiled kissing his cheeks. "Good morning!" 

He grinned. Late but accepted. "Anika, I thought we'd complete in the shower today morning, what we left off in the kitchen yesterday."

She blushed profusely. Slowly her flickering lashes curved upwards and she looked at him. 

"Aye. You can't be shy like that after whatever we've done together " he said, knowing it'd only make her blush more.

"Shivaay. You are already very very late."

"I can spare a few more minutes. " he said his fingers drawing patterns on her neck. She wanted to so badly arch her neck and let him have his way. But right now her mind was fortunately in the right working state and knew it the timing was very wrong.

She slowly got her fingers on his. She pulled his hand away from her neck and kissed his fingers. "Have a nice day!"

"Mood spoiler!"

She laughed, moving away. 

"Now go quickly and come back soon, before Priyanka comes back to drench you again. "She laughed.

" Very funny."

"I thought you were the only impulsive one in the family. She is tough competition."

He grinned. "Impulsive. Huh. In what way?"

"Shivaay." she tried holding back her smile from flashing on her face.

"Tell me Anika." he gave a lopsided grin

"Go and come back. "

"Kiss.?"he drew his lower lip between his teeth loving the slow blush creeping up her cheeks.

"I just gave!" She said shaking her head. He could be such a kid at times.

He pouted his lips, "here!" He knew she'd only push him away. But he wasn't the one to give up.

 He was lucky.

She pecked his lips. 

"That was short, but--Love you." He kissed her forehead.

"Love you too." 

"Oh!" He said turning back to her. "I forgot. Viren uncle had called on your phone when I came out from bath. He said he wanted to meet you. I told him you weren't working today. He wants you to organize his niece's baby shower. "

"Oh okay. I will coordinate with him." 

"Okay. Take care!" He said walking down the stairs of the mansion. Anika looked at him as he wore his shades and buttoned his coat. That look of business on his face. Such a hot man for the world. But she knew the warm husband who was that perfect guy any girl wished for. She felt glad at times he had that side for the world. For her it was an exclusive version of the sweetest man in the world. Alright – Sweetest Stubbled Irresistibly Sexy Man With Cute Expressions. Loving him wasn't an option. It was inevitable. She was so lucky to have him. She returned inside and made quick calls to her office. She was surely going to give Vishal a bonus this time . He had been doing all her work as well. He never complained about the extra work except in humor. Nice guy!

The rest of the day was spent shopping at busy Mumbai markets, lunch at Priyanak's favorite restaurant and the sunset-evening at the Juhu beach. At the beach Anika took the little boy with him to buy him balloons allowing the two have some couple time. Priyanka had told her about his the beach used to be Nihaal and hers hangout spot during their courtship. They did deserve some time alone. Anika was very happy to be in the company of little Raunak. He was such a sweet cute adorable boy. 

Anika wondered how it would be to have a son like that of her own. She blushed thinking of it. But, better saved for later. She did not think this was the best phase of her life this conceive. She was  so insure of herself. At times she would get so depressed thinking about whatever happened. She still feared Shivaay's ambition. She could clearly see how much Shivaay was enjoying his profession and that air of importance. No, she did not have a problem, but just didn't want him to put his professional life before her. She could clearly see the new confidence he had got, that air of dominance, like he was the king of some place. He indeed was, for he ruled the hearts of the entire family, hers more. She just hoped his profession, ambition and success did not come between them. That was all. 

She turned back and saw the two having a close moment from a distance. She sat with Raunak a little away, playing with him. She missed him. It would be so nice if he was here to. She carefully held Raunak, and took her phone out to call him. Then thinking otherwise she decided not to disturb him and continued to play with Raunak. She was surprised how she loved spending time with the boy. She never thought she could be so good with kids. Or maybe, Raunak just liked her. 

Dinner was spent chattering about the day. Anika and Priyanka showed their purchases to Shivaay while Nihaal excused himself to attend business calls. Anika was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She saw Vishal's name flash and a smiled curved up. Poor man was working late in office today. He had called in evening to update her and had ended the call jokingly saying he'd report Anika for torturing him with extra work. Anika quickly excused herself. Shivaay looked at her slightly bewildered wondering why she was smiling – maybe her parents or one of her cousins he thought.

When she came back he asked her what took her long. She explained about the work in office and how everyone in office were declaring her the cruelest boss. He had laughed, at how she had put it. His wife was the sweetest soul on earth funny how she was titled cruel. If it had been him, it was a different thing. But her!?

The night was spent watching Priyanka's wedding videos. Anika was so excited, she had never seen it before. Shivaay looked so funny she thought. He had no stubble, and had the cute guy next door kinda look. She thanked the Gods for giving him that stubble. Shivaay's look became the topic and then the laugh. He shook his head. Nihaal patted his shoulder laughing . Raunak was the only one who didn't laugh. For he simply did not understand the joke. Shivaay assumed he was on his side.

I haven't really written family scenes before or kids for that matter. So I hope that went right. Feedback is welcome! :)

Anami!