31 YEARS BACK.

She walked to him with a goofy grin on her face as he was removing his blazer. She held the lapel while looking at him making him confused. He raised his eyebrows seeing the strange happiness on her face.

“Shivaay, I saw two lines”

“Seeing two simple lines made you so happy? Let me see it too” He told and she smiled widely before taking something from the drawer and showing it to him.

“Two lines” She told showing him the pregnancy testing stick and he looked at it for two minutes without even blinking his eyes.

“Shivaay” She shook him and he looked at her with wide eyes.

“Baby” he called and she nodded.

“Ha! Baby” She told with a wide smile.

“Baby this is——”

“Ya ya baby” She told nodding excited.

“There's a baby? Here? Right here?” He asked like a kid pointing at he stomach and she nodded.

“Our baby. Our” He told pointing him and her simultaneously as his eyes brimmed up with tears and she nodded again.

“I——Anika I don't know what to say” He told as he stuttered and she hugged him tightly with a wide smile.

“Thank you” He whispered and she parted from the hug with a frown.

“Shouldn't I say that Shivaay? For making me experience this beautiful feeling” She told and he kissed her forehead before holding her close to his heart.

“Did you see a doctor?” He asked and she nodded.

“I confirmed it before telling you and see this——” She told before rushing to take her bag and fished out something.

Taking an photo, she showed it to him.

“This is our baby” She told with a wide smile while pointing at the small round figure in the sonogram.

“This one?” He asked turning the photo left and right and she chuckled.

“If you're searching for hands and legs, it's not developed yet. I'm just six weeks pregnant” She told and he smiled before kneeling down in front of her.

“Hey!” He told waving at her stomach and she chuckled.

“This is your papa”

“He knows that” She told and he raised his eyebrows.

“How?”

“I told him that we're going to surprise his papa, so he knows” She told and he chuckled.

“Acha” He told before kissing her tummy and she smiled.

* * * *

“Anika careful” He told rushing towards her and holding her hand making her sigh.

“I'm careful only” She told while carefully getting down the stairs, holding her nine month old stomach.

“Shivaay, date is getting near” She told and he nodded.

“What if I'm not able to handle it?” She asked looking at him with brimmed up eyes.

“My Anika is very strong. She can handle everything” He told kissing her temple.

“Shivaay I feel like seeing mumma. I feel like talking to her” She told in a whisper and he looked at her helplessly.

“Do you think your papa will allow that?” He asked and she let out a heavy sigh as tears gushed out of her eyes.

“I just wish I could do it but it's not possible Anika. I know how much it hurts. I know how much you'll be wishing to have your mom beside you but I'm——I'm sorry” He told holding both her hands and she shook her head.

“It's ok. I just need you by my side always. When I walked out holding your hand, I had only one belief, that you'll be by my side always. That's all I want. I miss Papa and mumma but you're here for me, to love me like Papa and scold me like mumma” She told kissing his chest.

“Don't you miss aunty and uncle?” She asked softly and he smiled.

“I do, may be a lot but your smile is enough for me to forget everything else” He told caressing her hair.

Shivaay and Anika knew each other from school but never really interacted with each other. Despite getting admission in the same university, there was nothing more than casual hi-bye between them but a project during their final year brought them together. Sparks flew and they were dating before they knew. It started with like and ended up in deep love. The problem arose while the families started looking for alliances. Both Shivaay's and Anika's families were conservative. Love marriage was a taboo and the only way was to run away seeing their families standing with guns in front of their love.

They ran away one midnight with enough money to live for a month. Both of them didn't know what to do after that as they just had a few bundles of cash, their clothings, and their education.

Shivaay trusted Anika and Anika trusted Shivaay. They boarded train to Delhi to escape the prying eyes of their parents. First few months were difficult as they both barely slept properly. Things started to get better and by their first wedding anniversary, they were living a better life. By the second year, they started enjoying life a little as they both were earning enough for a two membered family. Of course, they missed their families but tried to find happiness in the small world they created for themselves.

The ring of calling bell disturbed their peaceful breakfast.

“I'll go and check” He told and went to check who it was.

Terror, it stood right before his eyes as he saw both his parents along with Anika's parents in their door step. He had imagined and even had nightmares about such encounters during the first few months but never expected it after three years of their running away.

“G-good——Nam——Namaste——Hello” He stammered not knowing what to say.

“Shivaay who is it?” Anika asked from inside as she slowly walked to the door and he felt fear building up in him. He was not going to give his Anika to them let whatever come. He won't let them snatch their happiness.

He slowly moved way for Anika to see while holding her hand and trying to cover her as much as possible from their eyes.

“Mumma... Papa” She told surprised and the daughter in her was about to rush to them to hug them but Shivaay held her back making her confused.

“Anika” Her mother called as she engulfed Anika in a hug before anyone could react. She smiled as tears rolled down her eyes feeling her mother's warmth after long.

“Aunty araam se. She's pregnant” Shivaay told and her mother quickly parted from the hug.

“Did I hurt you beta?” She asked and Anika shook her head with tears.

“Come inside everyone” Anika invited everyone in while Shivaay moved way for them to walk in.

Awkwardness first, tears second, hugs third, stories fourth and finally a teary eyed reunion of both of them with their families. Both the families were long acquaintances as they joined in the search for their children.

“Our baby is indeed our lucky charm Anika” He told her when they were in the privacy of their room that night. She just smiled and hugged him with the smile not leaving her lips.

••|To Be Continued|••