Anika was sitting beside Raunak enjoying his childish play. He came after making a business call and sat beside her. "Busy huh?"

"Very!' She said smiling cheekily.

He shook his head toying the pull back car. "You know when I was young like a kid, I had a collection of these. Then when I was in eight mom threw them." He said disappointed.

"Aww.." Anika said pulling his cheeks. Raunu clapped while Shivaay frowned pushing her hand. 

"See Raunu likes it." Anika smiled. 

"Whatever." He said taking Raunak on his lap. He hugged the baby and Anika looked ta him in awe. Hoping Priyanka would talk it out to Nihaal.

Anika scooted closer wiping Raunak's mouth as his saliva came out as he laughed. Shivaay tickled the boy more and he eventually got out of his hold running to Anika. "He loves me more!" She winked. 

"I love you more!" Shivaay said leaning closer. She pushed his face grinning at his desperate attitude.

She settled Raunak back and he ran back to the big teddy bear analyzing its button eyes. 

"He is cute!" Shivaay grinned. 

"Very lovable!" She commented.

"You know I was just like him when I was young!" He commented flirtatiously.

She laughed. He began laughing too.

"What's up with you today!" She said kissing his cheek.

"I just want to feel you under me now! " he said his gaze growing pointed.

Anika began feeling uneasy. She could just feel the tension. She looked away unable to continue meeting his eyes. She heard him chuckle and blushed.

"Anika it's been a while we played!" He said getting up.

Anika gaped at him. What!

"Not what you think. Chess or Crossword choose. " he said smiling smugly.

"Chess!" She said giggling.

"Someone has got a kinky mind!" He commented disappearing to bring the board game. Before they used to often played chess and crossword. She usually won at chess and he at crossword! Occasionally, it was the other way round.

The two didn't know how time went. Raunak was so active. He would run off to the stairs and then one of them had to go behind him. They took turns. Both enjoyed playing with him while simultaneously keeping up their game. 

Raunak knocked off their game and Anika frowned. "Bad manners Raunu!" 

As Anika kept back the check pieces back Shivaay held Raunu making him sit on his lap. "You are in my team okay we will win. "

Anika looked up at him nodding her head. "Chances are slim!"

"Well, we both are enough yo give you checkmate Darling! Who needs the game. Right baby?" He said looking down at Raunu.

"Whatever!" She muttered. "Your chance."

Shivaay eyed the chess board. "Anika that knight was here not there."

"No Shivaay. It was right here."

"No Anika it was there." He said changing it's position

"Shivaay I remember very well, it was here." She said placing it back.

"Anika. No. It was there!" He changed it's position again. 

"Cheater!" Anika said folding her arms. 

"What? It was there. "

"No you are cheating!" Raunu looked at the two and began clapping.

"See he agrees!" Anika said happily.

"He doesn't understand. Now let's get back." 

"I am not playing with a cheater." Anika pouted narrowing her eyes at him.

"Me cheater? You cheater. You saw that I was winning."

"Mr SSO, I was winning. In fact I always do. " she said flicking her hair proudly.

"See that Raunu, she is hot isn't she!" 

Anika looked at him weirdly. Now where did that come from?

"Shut up Shivaay. You think I don't know what you are trying!" 

"What am I trying Anika?" He said gently putting the boy back on the carpet as Anika packed the game.

"Cheater. " she exclaimed. 

"Someone looks so hot when angry."

"Shivaay something is very wrong with you today!" She said rolling his eyes as he got beside her putting an arm around her shoulder as both sat their back against the sofa.

"That's your effect!" He said nuzzling her ears.

She smiled looking at him. 

"Is everything okay Anika?" He asked abruptly.

"Yes! Why do you ask?"

"No. Just felt.... Nothing." He said looking away.

"Shivaay-"

"Hmm.." He said looking at her.

Suddenly they were interrupted by cries. Panicked they looked at the boy rushing to his side. "Raunu.." Anika called his name softly. Shivaay patted his head.

"Why is he crying?" He asked her.

"How would I know! "

He continued crying clumsily moving his hands.

"Check if he's hurt. " Said Shivaay. 

Anika slowly looked all over the boy. He seemed perfect.

"Maybe he is hungry. " Shivaay suggested. 

"Baby are you hungry" Anika asked moving him to and fro..

Shivaay sniffed. "Oh I don't think he's hungry. He has just did his big job!"

Anika sniffed. "Oh yes. "

"It's your turn!" Anika said handing Raunak to Shivaay. 

"What! That was for bringing him back. Not this. Your are doing it. I know you can! Go for it."

Anika made. a dirty face. "No you are doing it. "

"Haha nice try. I am not you are."

"Ahh fine. Let's do it together." She said 

"Better! " He said walking with the boy in his arms. Prinku had left the diapers and necessary items. 

The two looked at each other putting Raunak on the bed. 

"Let's do this! " Shivaay said pulling down Raunak's pants. The stink got bad. "God what did Prinku feed him."

Anika rolled her eyes. She slowly began pulling the flaps of the diaper. "Anika careful!" He said covering his nose.

"I am not diffusing a bomb!" She said irked.

"Of course. "

"You are throwing it.."

"Don't you think we should carry him to the bathroom. He might need a wash!" Shivaay suggested. 

"Good idea." She said getting up.

"Carry him."she commanded.

He shot her a look. Then simply carried him. It was better than washing and taking off that diaper.

Anika slowly took it off her nose wrinkled. " take it Shivaay!" She shouted.

Pinching his nose with one hand, he took it in another from her hand. "Careful!" She commented on the way he held it. He quickly dropped it in the bin. "Yuck that was bad!" He said releasing his nose and washing his hands. While Anika used the water jet to wash Raunak. He laughed.

"Look at this devil laughing!" Shivaay said.

They finally dressed him again with a new diaper. While the little boy kept murmuring random words. Once ready he was carried down in Anika's arms. 

The next task was feeding him. He was so cranky. Shivaay held and kept him busy while Anika fed him. Both were tired taking care of him. Priyanka had called a few minutes ago to check and was happy to know he was behaving.

After finally feeding him, they carried him to their bed. He was playing around. Anika switched on the TV and put cartoon network. That did it. He sat silently engrossed into the Tom and Jerry. Shivaay noticed that Raunak wasn't the only one into the famous cartoon show. His wife was equally engrossed.

Soon he slept and Shivaay has to nudge Anika to make her realise. She was the real kid! They put pillows all around him and proceeded down to have their dinner. 

"I never thought babysitting could be this hard!" Shivaay said taking a morsel into his mouth.

"I agree!" Anika said serving herself with some more dal.

After dinner they both went back to the room to find him sleeping peacefully. 

"He must be tired!" Anika smiled kissing the sleeping boy's forehead. He looked at his wife fondly.

She looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing." 

"There is something." She said walking up to him.

He slipped his hand into hers and walked her to the pool. Both sat down dipping their feet into the water.

"I am waiting Shivaay."

"I think you would make an excellent mother." He said softly wondering how she'd react.

"Oh!" She said looking back at the water. Thoughtfully she turned back at him, "Do you, --I mean do you want us to have kids, now?" She asked bafflement evident in her manner.

"No!" He replied quickly without thinking. She simply stared at him.

"Uhh I mean, I don't-" he paused suddenly changing his words. "Do you?"

"Umm.." She stared at him. Did he? "I...I don't think I am...ready..."

"Yeah. Same. I think the same. I mean, I don't think I am ready for the responsibility yet." He said clarifying.

She nodded. Her thoughts going back to Priyanka' s words. "Shivaay-"

"Hmm."

"What if I - umm- unexpectedly become -" she asked voicing her doubts.

He pulled her closer, giving her a side hug. "If 'we' become pregnant then we will take up the responsibility together happily. "

She smiled hugging him. "Thank you!" She was so relieved. 

"But yeah, I really don't think I would want that anytime soon. I will make sure I am extra careful okay!" He grinned. 

She rested her head on his shoulders. 

"I still want all your attention." He spoke kissing her ear. 

"You made it evident throughout the day Mr. Oberoi!" She giggled kissing his cheek. 

"Someone's fallen for my stubble!" He said playing with her hands.

"Shivaay." She said playing with his hand. 

* * *

Half an hour later, Nihaal and Priyanka came home. Anika could say from looks, Priyanka seemed happier. She suggested that Raunak sleep with them. Shivaay was blown by her suggestion but just kept mum. Priyanka smiled looking at Anika thankfully and agreed.

"It's fine with me, if it's fine with you both. "Nihaal said.

" Just that he might wake up in the middle of the night."

"Oh I will take care." Anika added quickly. Shivaay stared at her. What made her so mummy type suddenly? His compliment? Maybe he shouldn't have said that aloud.

As both the woman went to the kitchen Shivaay smiled at Nihaal."Had a nice time?" 

"Very much. " he smiled back

"What about you guys? Did Raunak cause trouble?"

"No." He said, thinking of whatever Raunak did the entire time with them. "Quite a learning experience!"

Nihaal laughed. "I get that!"

Shivaay laughed.

* * *

"How was your time?" Anika asked once they were in the kitchen.

"Lovely!" Priyanka said hugging her suddenly. Both siblings were very much expressive and loved hugging.

"You told him?"

"Yes. We drove to the beach after the party and I spoke to him. He was so understanding. I should have done this before."

"Things are always better that way."

"They sure are. Did Raunak trouble much?"

"No. He is a Darling. Except the changing of diapers everything was tolerable."

Priyanka chuckled." Well the experience will help you someday! " 

Anika shook her head pouring the milk. 

"You seriously okay with Raunak sleeping in your room."

"Yes Pri. " she smiled.

"I am jealous of Bhai. You are so wonderful. He gets so much time to spend with you!" She said hugging her. "Love you Bhabs!"

Anika giggled. "Love you too Pri, Good night."

"Okay. Yeah if Raunak causes trouble call me!" 

"Yeah."

Happily Prinku left the kitchen. Anika smiled walking to her room. She saw Shivaay sitting on the couch swiping through his phone's gallery. She peeked at the pictures they'd taken with Raunak. Pretty pics they were!

"What's up with you?" He asked irritated.

"Now what?" She asked keeping the bottle on the table.

"Why this sleeping arrangement?"

"Oh so you have problem with that!" She said smiling and sitting on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. 

"Such a mood spoiler Anika!"

"Calm down! They all will be gone in a day. Then its only you and me!" She said kissing his forehead.

"Interest will be charged. " he said moving his hands to her waist, and kissing her neck.

She chuckled. 

That night they both slept with Raunak between them. Luckily enough for them Raunak did not put up a midnight crying show that night. With hands intertwined they slept. One thing they realised that day- they'd make good parents when the time came, until then they were nothing different from a newly wed couple.

-Anami!