That night, Shalini seated herself at one side of the double bed in their bedroom while plaiting her hair.

"How long do I have to wait for you?" asked Shiva, hugging her from behind.

"Wait, I'll just check on our baby and come." Shalini gently pushed his hand away.

She walked over towards the single bed in the other side of the same bedroom to see Nila lying wide awake.

"You haven't slept yet?"

Nila shook her head from side-to-side in silence.

"Why not? Are you okay?" Shalini seated herself beside her daughter.

Nila shrugged her shoulders with a smile. She was obviously okay.

"Go to sleep. It's late." Shalini patted her daughter.

Again, Nila shook her head from side-to-side.

"What's wrong?" asked Shiva, who was lying on the double bed.

"Your daughter hasn't slept yet."

"It's funny how you call her your baby and our baby when she's sleeping or she isn't around. But when she's awake, it automatically becomes my daughter. Isn't she my daughter when she's sleeping like an angel?"

Shalini rolled her eyes.

"Even my mom is like that. I think you mothers have a tendency to call your children your baby lovingly only when they aren't awake or around to hear."

Nila giggled.

"Go to sleep, Nilu. You have to go to school tomorrow. Close your eyes now."

Instead of closing her eyes, Nila sat up in her bed with wide eyes.

"What's your problem? Why don't you want to sleep today?"

"I want Mama and Papa to be together with me like Mommy and Daddy."

Shalini frowned a bit.

"It's not something that will happen, darling!" alleged Shiva.

"We can make it happen. Mommy, please, please, pwease, Daddy!"

"Mommy and Daddy already tried, Nila," explained Shalini. "It didn't work. Your Mama and Papa won't agree again."

Nila was disappointed; her parents had no help to offer her. I have to think of something myself. In silence, Nila lay down to sleep. Her eyes closed on their own instantly as sleep overcame her.

Shalini smiled and kissed her baby's forehead before going to their double bed.

"My poor baby. She stayed up thinking about her Mama and Papa till now." Shalini sighed, before reclining into her husband's arms.

"There you go again. Calling her your baby as soon as she slept."

***

FEW WEEKS LATER

Anuradha arrived at her friend's apartment and entered through the open door to find Nila waiting for her with Narain.

Nila ran over and hugged her.

"Why did you call me to come here urgently, baby?"

"I have something to tell you and Papa, Mama."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell. Come and sit, Mama." Nila seated herself next to Narain on the couch.

Anuradha seated herself next to Nila so that she had Nila between her and Narain.

"Yesterday, Mommy and Daddy were talking about something." Nila paused until they asked, "What is it?"

Nila lowered her voice to a whisper before uttering, "Divorce."

"Divorce?" gasped Anuradha while Narain stared at the child, shocked.

Nila nodded dismally.

"What are you saying? What were they talking about divorce?" inquired Narain.

"If they didn't have me, maybe they divorce." Nila sighed.

"Are you serious? No way. Why suddenly a change like this? I thought they were happy," voiced Anuradha.

They heard the sound of footsteps and Shalini entered the apartment through the open door.

"Shalini, is everything okay? Is it true you and Shiva are not happy and thinking of divorce?" asked Narain hastily.

"Who said that to you?" Shalini turned and glanced at the door where Shiva had just entered behind her. "Your friend is worrying if we're planning divorce. Are you the one who told him such things?"

"Nope. What to do? He can already see the torture I'm bearing with you. Perhaps that's why he asked," responded Shiva.

Torture? Shiv, you have no idea what torture is! Shalini would never torture you the way Swetha did to me, not even a little. Narain frowned.

Shalini folded her arms. "I will torture you as much as I like. But I won't let you divorce me until you take me on our honeymoon. So, forget it."

Honeymoon? Is this even a topic to argue about? Shalu, what in the world has got into you? There are so many serious reasons for divorce. And you seem to be picking up fights with him over such a trivial issue. Anuradha stared agape at her friend.

"Yeah, right. You're talking like I'm the one who said no need to go for honeymoon till now," stated Shiva.

"Well, technically yes. You are the reason we haven't gone on our honeymoon yet."

"I may be the reason for it but we discussed about it together and decided no need to go for honeymoon then, remember?"

"That was because we wanted to be financially independent and settled in life before we go on a honeymoon."

"Yeah, but we did kinda have a honeymoon here and get a daughter." Shiva smirked.

Shalini narrowed her eyes at him. "Honeymoon at Switzerland. I'm still waiting for that. And you can't expect me to keep quiet with anything else."

"All my fate. Having to deal with you and your honeymoon at Switzerland. Poor me."

"Self pity won't work here, Mr. Husband."

"Oh yes, it will, Mrs. Wife." Shiva glanced at Narain and Anuradha.

"Whatever. Don't you dare mention the word divorce until you take me for our honeymoon," warned Shalini, walking off to the kitchen.

Shiva sighed and disappeared into the kitchen as well.

Anuradha and Narain remained silent in confusion. Shiva and Shalini were talking about divorce like it was on their minds. But the reasons were such silly reasons. Were they seriously thinking of it for such reasons?

Nila tried to suppress her giggles. Mommy and Daddy fight but still happy and will never divorce. Mommy and Daddy want to go for honeymoon. But they think I'm still small so they cannot leave me and go. But I am big girl already.

I will miss Mommy and Daddy. But Mommy and Daddy will come back quickly and Mama and Papa will look after me like Mommy and Daddy when they go for honeymoon. Then I can make my Mama and Papa stay with me together and I will make Mama like Papa and Papa like Mama. Then Papa and Mama will be lovey and happy like Daddy and Mommy.

As soon as Narain and Anuradha glanced at her, Nila pouted again. "See, Mama, Papa, Mommy and Daddy are always fighting like this."

"Wait, baby, don't feel sad. Mama will talk to Mommy later. I don't think they were seriously fighting."

"No, Mama, Mommy and Daddy were fighting. Mommy and Daddy are always fighting."

"Don't worry, baby. Papa will talk to Daddy, okay?"

"Tell Mommy and Daddy to go for honeymoon, Papa, Mama."

"Hmm, Mama will talk to Mommy, baby. You don't feel sad."

***

Meanwhile, Shiva who had followed his wife into the kitchen, grabbed her waist, pulling her towards him.

"Don't touch me! What were you saying about me to our friends? Do I torture you so much?" Shalini tried to push him away, pretending to be angry.

"Yes, Lini, you torture me by loving and caring for me and our baby too much." Shiva held her hands in his and drew her closer to him.

"So you don't want me to? Fine." Shalini turned her face away.

"Don't get angry like that, Lini. You know I was just kidding when I said that. If your love and care is the way you torture me, then I love your torture and I would surrender myself to your torture all my life. How can I say that I don't want your torture?" Shiva held her chin and turned her face back towards him. "I don't know how I became so lucky to have such a loving and understanding wife like you."

Shalini raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

"Actually you're the one who started it by talking so seriously about divorce. I thought you don't like the topic."

"What to do? My husband is always teasing me about divorce. Don't you dare to give me one ever."

"I would never be able to give you one even in my dreams. But when are we gonna have a second child?"

"In your dreams." Shalini slapped his arm playfully.

"And my dreams means you." Shiva pulled her closer, pressing her against him, where she fit perfectly.

"Your daughter will come now saying romance romance." Shalini leaned against him, feeling secure in his embrace.

"Nope, she won't come to disturb us now because she's with our friends. We should call them over more often to keep her busy."

Shalini giggled before the couple shared a loving kiss.

To be continued...

A/N: Hey peeps, hope you liked the chapter.
Nila has started her planning. What do you think of her and her parents?
Please vote and comment. :)