TWO WEEKS LATER

Narain and Anuradha were waiting in the living room of the apartment while their friends were about to leave.

"I showed you the cupboard where I keep Nila's dresses, right? Every day, just take and give her one. She will get ready on her own. You don't have to worry. Then, you both know what time she has to reach school and what time to pick her up. So no need to say that again.

Then, make sure she gets proper sleep at night no matter how excited she is, otherwise she'll be very cranky throughout the next day. What else do I have to tell you?" Shalini told generally to her friends, as she ticked off things in her mind that she had already told them.

"Her homework," prompted Shiva. "She usually does all her work correctly without us having to tell her to and she'll ask if she isn't sure how to do it. But she can be lazy at times so every evening, just check if she has done it and make her pack her bag and keep. In the mornings, she'll be in snail pace. You won't be able to get her to do anything. I don't know how you'll handle her then." Shiva chuckled.

"Don't worry, Shiva, I'll be able to manage." Anuradha smiled at Nila.

"You don't have to bother. I'll be looking after her; I can manage," responded Narain, glancing at Anuradha with a frown.

"Wait, I'm the one who's going to look after her; I already told Shalini and Shiva that. You go wherever you want and do whatever you like. Nila will be fine here with me."

"Too late, even I promised my friends that I'll look after her so you can go. Nila will be more than fine here with me."

"Nila will be better off with me here. So please go."

"If you two are gonna argue like this, how can we go?" Shalini glanced at Shiva, who nodded with a frown before adding, "We can't go anywhere then. How will we leave Nila with you and go for our honeymoon peacefully? You two won't be able to look after her or keep her happy if you'll be arguing like this."

Anuradha and Narain frowned a bit, lowering their gaze to the floor. They glared at each other again before glancing back at their friends.

"Don't worry, we'll manage," alleged Narain.

Shiva raised his eyebrow while Shalini narrowed her eyes at them.

"I'll look after Nila very well and keep her happy. Believe me." Anuradha looked at her friends beseechingly.

Narain frowned. She won't leave my baby. What is her problem? Whatever, I'm not gonna argue with her about it. At least for now.

"Are you sure? There won't be any problem, will there?" asked Shalini.

"No problem, Shalini. Trust me. I will take care of Nila."

Anuradha frowned a bit at Narain. This guy also won't give up. Fine, I'll keep quiet for now.

"Okay." Shiva and Shalini glanced at Nila, who grinned widely.

"It's time to go to the airport. All set to go, Lini?"asked Shiva, turning to his wife.

"Yes, I think we are."

"I'll drop you at the airport," suggested Narain.

"No need, we've called for a taxi already as it will be a long drive to the airport. It should be here by now," explained Shiva. "And Nila just got back from school so take her to the common playground outside or you can take her to any park if it isn't too late. If she doesn't use up her energy in the evening, she'll be hyper at night and won't sleep."

"Alright."

Shiva headed towards the front door as he received a phone call.

Shalini turned to her daughter and enveloped her in a hug and kissed her. "You're Mommy's good girl, right? Be a good girl. Don't trouble Mama or Papa too much. If you want to talk to Mommy or Daddy, just ask Mama or Papa for their phone and call anytime. Mommy and Daddy will come back quickly, okay Nila?"

"Okay, Mommy." Nila's smile faded as she hugged her mother and buried her face in her mother's shoulder, refusing to let go.

"The taxi's already here, Lini. It's getting late." Shiva approached them.

Shalini carried Nila in her arms and turned to face Shiva, signalling to him with her eyes that Nila was a little upset and clingy.

"Come to Daddy, baby." Shiva tried to take his daughter.

Nila finally let go of her mother and jumped into her father's arms, clinging onto him now as she spoke in a low serious tone. "I'm not baby, Daddy; how many time I tell you? I am Mommy Daddy's big girl."

"Okay, big girl. Big girls don't cry. So you're gonna be a very good girl and be happy, right?"

Silence.

"You always say you like going out jolly with your Papa and Mama, no? Now, Papa and Mama will be with you all the time. So enjoy as much as you want, darling! Time will fly and Daddy and Mommy will be back before you know it, okay?" Shiva snapped his fingers to show her how soon they would be back.

Nila grinned at last, nodding in agreement.

Shalini caressed her daughter's head with a smile before Shiva kissed Nila's forehead and lowered her to her feet on the floor.

"Okay, so we'll get going. We'll call when we reach the boarding gate in the airport. And we'll be calling daily to check on Nila. We have never been away from our Nilu before. So if there's any problem, just tell us; we'll take the next flight back." Shiva glanced at Shalini, who nodded in agreement.

"Nothing to worry. She will be fine here." Anuradha smiled.

Narain, Anuradha and Nila followed the couple out of the apartment to the ground floor where the taxi was waiting outside. They shared their goodbyes and hugs before the couple left in the taxi, heading to the airport.

As soon as the taxi drove out of sight, Nila spoke, "I want Mommy and Daddy."

Anuradha and Narain turned to face Nila anxiously as the child watched sadly in the direction the car with her parents had gone.

"I want Mommy and Daddy. Tell Daddy and Mommy to come back now." Nila glanced from Narain to Anuradha and back, adding, "Please."

"Baby, they just left. They didn't even reach the airport or go to Switzerland yet. Don't you want them to have their honeymoon and come?" asked Narain.

"I want. But enough honeymoony. Nila want Nila Mommy and Daddy." Nila pouted.

"Daddy told you Daddy and Mommy will come back just like this, right?" asked Anuradha, snapping her fingers. "So, let's enjoy before they come. Where do you want to go today?"

Nila tried to snap her fingers and turned to Anuradha. "I did this but Daddy and Mommy didn't come."

This was getting difficult. Narain scratched his forehead a bit. "We planned to do many things after Daddy and Mommy goes, right baby? Don't you want to do all that? Where shall we go today? Beach?"

"I don't wanna go anywhere. I want my Mommy and my Daddy." Tears started to appear from Nila's eyes.

"Nila baby, you're a good girl, right? Come, we'll call your Mommy and Daddy after a little while and talk before they board the plane-" Narain was speaking when Nila interrupted him, "No no no, I'm not good girl. I am naughty girl. I want my Daddy and Mommy now now now!"

Anuradha and Narain glanced at each other for a moment, realizing that they were in a fix.

"You said she'll be fine with you. Why don't you try to make her feel better?" Narain muttered, turning his face away.

"I am trying. I thought you promised to your friends that you'll look after her well on your own. But even you can't seem to help her feel better." Anuradha grumbled, turning her face away as well.

"I want my Daddy Mommy! Call my Mommy Daddy and tell to come now!" wailed Nila.

Narain and Anuradha glanced at the child worriedly. If we call them, Shiva and Shalini would forget their honeymoon and return immediately because they wouldn't be able to bear it if they knew that their beloved daughter was feeling miserable without them. We have to do something. What will we do now?

To be continued...

A/N: Hey peeps, hope you liked the chapter.
Shiva and Shalini have left home for their honeymoon. Would Narain and Anuradha be able to look after Nila together?
Please vote and comment. :)