7 months post-delivery

Raavi ran around the room, searching for her folder, while Shiva sat on the floor entertaining Rudra.

"Shiva, file nahi mil rahi, late ho jaungi!" She ran around frantic, when Shiva got up, stepped into the room and handed her a folder.

"Le. Khud cupboard mein rakh ke, khud bhul jaati hai, bhullakad chudail."

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She sighed in relief, kissed his cheek and hurriedly wore her sandals.

"Maine uska khaana bana diya, usko please dopahar ko sula dena, aur uske bottles sterilise kar de-"

"Kar dunga, meri maa!" Shiva pushed her towards the door. "Jaa ab."

"Mai 2 ghante mein aa jaungi, Dean ke saath interview pata nahi kitna time lage. Okay bye, bye, bye! Bye, my baby!" She blew a flying kiss to Rudra and closed the door.

"All the best!" Shiva yelled, and he heard a muffled 'thank you' from behind the door.

"Oye champ," He looked at Rudra, who tilted his head as if asking 'bol baapu'

"Bhook lagi hai?"

Shiva got up and grabbed the tupperware tiffin in which Raavi had kept his mashed food, opening it , "Chal dekhte hai mumma ne kya banaya tere liye."

Mashed peas.

"CHEE!" Shiva frowned at the tiffin. "Matar kaun khilata hai ek bechare bacche ko? Teri mumma ko tere pe rehem nahi hai kya?" He asked Rudra, who looked clueless as he peered into the dabba.

"Hum ye nahi khaayenge. Chee. Chal, cerelac khaate hai. Lekin mumma ko mat batana, okay? Shhhh." Shiva put a finger on his lips, picking up Rudra, before looking at the mashed peas and going yuck.

When Raavi unlocked the door in a few hours, she excitedly began her ramble," You won't believe it, interview itna accha gaya, they said I'm a very bright student-" She looked around and found the cutest sight ever.

Shiva was asleep on the carpet, with Rudra snuggled into his side and head on Shiva's  arm. Rudra was holding onto Shiva's pinky finger of the hand that laid across Rudra, the other around and holding him closer to himself.

Toys scattered, lunch bowl on the sofa, and these two were peacefully asleep on the floor.

Raavi set her bags down, giggled to herself and brought out a blanket from the room, lying down near Rudra and putting a blanket over all three of them.

"Mamaaa" Rudra babbled in his sleep as if calling her and sensing her presence, she kissed his head, keeping her palm over him, as they all napped on the floor.

.....

Shiva came home from a very tiring day at work. All he wanted to do was curl up in bed, cuddle his little squish ball and go to sleep.

The moment he opened the house door, he was greeted by a sight that definitely knocked the winds out of him.

There she was, the loose end of her saree tucked at her waist, hair in a lose bun as she walked around the kitchen, mumbling something to herself.

Does she not realise how tempting she looked? No make up, no jewellery, no complex hair-do; just her in a saree, hair strands falling across her face.

Whatever tiredness he felt flew out the window. He wanted her. Right. Now.

Shiva walked up behind her and encircled his arms around her, slyly un-tucking her saree, his chin on her shoulder.

"Rudra kaha hai?"

"Abhi just sulaya maine usko."

As soon as his free hand undid the bin, letting her cascade down her neck and back completely, he scooped her up in his arms as she yelped from the sudden movement.

"Shiva, put me down! Bohot kaam hai mujhe!"

"Kal kar lena. Ab chal."

"Kaha?"

"Room mein. Ye saree pehenke tune galti kar di. Mere andar ka sher jaag gaya, ab kuch nahi ho sakta."

She just chuckled at her horny, needy husband, and she traced a finger down his face. She figured it wouldn't be such a bad idea, he was definitely turned on and her hormone radar was on max level right now.

Shiva smirked as he entered the room, closing it with his feet, the desire in his eyes burning.

He had a very long night ahead of him with his "apparently innocent" biwi.

....

"Raavi!" Shiva called out carrying Rudra in his arms, opening the bedroom door.

"Raavi sun-" He began, but he noticed she was fast asleep, napping peacefully.

"Mumma toh so rahi hai. Theek hai. Aaj papa karenge tel maalish. Let's go." Shiva told Rudra, who was repeatedly scratching his beard because it was interesting for a 7 month old baby.

Shiva kept Rudra on the bed, put out the rubber sheet, and got out the oil.

This little nangu pangu baby is definitely a laddoo.

Rudra blew raspberries, fascinated by the discovery that he has a tongue, while Shiva did full tel maalish for his laddoo. Shiva made funny faces at Rudra, who in turn made grabby hands at Shiva and giggled.

By the end of the spa service by Shiva Pandya, Rudra Pandya looked like the cutest, golu molu, champu baby he had ever seen.

Nazar utaarna padega mere bete ka. Kuch zyaada hi cute hai.

He closed the bottle of oil and got up to keep it back in its place, constantly keeping an eye on Rudra, because he was one hyper active baby.

Rudra rolled over and crawled towards a sleeping Raavi. He tilted his head, as if he was trying to recognise who it was. And when he did, he crawled closer, smiled and kissed her cheek, keeping his tiny little chubby palms on her face and sitting near her.

Raavi's eyes fluttered open sleepily at the sudden intrudence, when she noticed who it was and smiled. "Hi baby!" She cooed at him, before falling asleep again, as Shiva sat down and noticed everything.

Rudra gave her another kiss, and then another, and another, until she giggled and gave him attention, because her mini human was attention ka bhooka nanga.

Very literally.

Her mini human then proceeded to try and pat her head, like she does when she puts him to sleep, but didn't understand the concept of strength, as he patted her head a little too harshly.

Shiva smiled and picked up Rudra, "Bohot pyaar kar liya mumma ko, chalo, bathy-bathy time."

Well. Their son was a cutie indeed.

....

8 months post-delivery

Raavi connected her phone to the Bluetooth speakers, and put her playlist on shuffle as she walked around the room, tidying it up, while Rudra was behind the bars of his crib, begging at his mom to get him out so that he can do masti.

Every man who ever sees me wants to hold my hand
And be the one who gets me to say "Oh, I do"

She smiled and swayed to the music, turning around and dancing lightly, enjoying the music.

They swear eternal undying devotion
Yes, they swear that they will love me forever love me true

Raavi grabbed the comb on the dressing table and held it like a microphone.

"But I don't need a shining star" She sang into her make-shift mic, " And I don't want to be rescued, no neither front nor charming prince , nor my summers barbecued"

She tossed the comb on the bed, swayed her hips to the tunes.

I want to chiggy-wiggy with you, boy
I want to chiggy-wiggy with you, boy
I want to chiggy-wiggy with you, fella
Just chiggy-wiggy with you, baby

She danced around the room, one pair of eyes watched her in confusion while the other watched her amusingly.

Shiva leaned against the door frame, hands crossed across his chest, watching Raavi dance around the room in nothing but shorts and his t-shirt which almost completely hid her shorts, a smile threatening to break across his face.

He stood there observing her, expecting her to look back now and see him standing at the entrance of their room, but no, she was lost in enjoying the music.

So he decided to jump in on the fun.

"Yeh khatoon ki khidmat mein khiladi ki hai khwahish! Qaatil yeh adaayein qaatilana yeh numaish." He jumped and sang loudly, startling Raavi as she realised he was here the whole time.

Kar le chiggy wiggy mere sang soniye
Kar chiggy wiggy mere sang jaaaniye
Kar le chiggy wiggy sang sang heeriye
Chiggy wiggy,chiggy wiggy, chiggy wiggy

He shimmied towards her, making her laugh as she danced with her back towards him. (imagine the haveli scene where she played songs and danced in the room)

Kar le chiggy wiggy mere sang soniye
Kar chiggy wiggy mere sang jaaaniye
Kar le chiggy wiggy sang sang heeriye

"Ma-ma" Rudra pouted, standing in his crib, and dancing along to the music.

By dancing, he means holding the crib and doing squats.

Raavi looked back and chuckled at Rudra, dancing near his crib and eventually carrying him and putting him near the bed post.

Rudra started to dance to the music, and Raavi and Shiva sat down to his level and danced with him, grooving to the song and copying him because sometimes being a baby was fun.

Halfway through the third song, Rudra fell asleep tired in Raavi's arms, and Shiva just crashed on the bed.

Kumbhkaran, dono ke dono.

....

"Raavi utar na! Paani thanda nahi hai!" Shiva called out, standing next to Rudra in the water, who had his floaters on his arms and swimming like a frog in water.

"No."

"Vacation pe aaye hai, maze kar na!"

"OKAY FINE! Par hasna mat mere pe!" She huffed, taking off the bathrobe and stood at the edge of the pool.

His heart was at the edge of his ribcage.

So that's why she wouldn't show him what she shopped last week. It was a surprise.

Raavi wore a halter neck blue and green bikini, over which she wore a simple, translucent black swimming skirt for the sake of modesty.

"Modesty? In a private pool? Nice joke, chipkali." Shiva thought, as she stepped into the surprisingly warm water.

The moment she stepped in, Shiva splashed water on her face and swam behind Rudra, leaving Raavi in a state of confusion.

"TERI TOH!" She ran behind him, more like failed at swimming behind him, while Rudra just floated between them like a lazy lad.

When they both tired themselves out, because water has resistance, they focused on teaching Rudra to splash his hands in a swimming pool, even putting some of his 'bathy time' toys so that he'd kick and splash.

He even swallowed a lot of water and coughed, which resulted in Raavi going berserk, but he was okay in 2 mins, giggling and laughing like always.

When their tubby human was floating near them, Raavi felt someone pull her back and pin her against the pool walls.

"Tu kya karne ki koshish kar rahi hai?" Shiva asked, in a voice so husky, she would have melted right there.

"Mai kya kar rahi hu?" She innocently asked, batting her eyelashes, looping her arms around his neck.

"Ye," He traced his finger against the single string that held the top together, "jaan buchke kiya hai na tune?"

"I'm on vacation. Mai kuch bhi karu, tujhe kya? Aur waise bhi, ye jo tu sirf apne trunks mein, hero waali body aur chehra leke utra hai pool mein, complain toh mujhe karna chahiye." She replied, winking at him.

"Teri toh..." He muttered, before dipping his head and peppering kissed along her neck and shoulders.

"Stop it!" She giggled, but making no move to push him away. "Teri daadhi gudgudi kar rahi hai mujhe, bas na!"

Raavi nudged him away, while she carried Rudra out of the water.

"Tujhe mai room mein dekhunga." Shiva smirked, stepping out with them.

"Dekhlenge, bhootnath. Dekh lenge."

.....

"Shiva, HOW COULD YOU?! Aise KAISE kar sakta hai tu mere saath?!" Raavi slammed the door behind her and yelled, as Shiva made Rudra sit on the bed.

"HO GAYI GALTI. Jaan legi kya meri ab?!" Shiva shouted. She had been pestering him on and on for the last 15 minutes since they came back from that party.

"Galti? GALTI?!" She pushed him suddenly  causing him to stumble backwards a little, "Maine tujhe mana kiya tha, PHIR BHI TU GAYA USKE PAAS?!"

"Oh come on, it's not a big deal! Tu ghar pe nahi thi!" He argued back, which only flared her temper.

"Ye accha hai! Biwi ghar pe nahi hai, toh mai chupke se chala jaata hooan, meri dobi biwi ko kya hi pata lagega, HAI NA?!"

"ZYAADA HO GAYA AB. BAS!"

As they both argued back and forth, little Rudra sat on the bed, watching between them like he was watching a tennis match.

The loud noises in the room made his lips quiver, scaring him, as he burst out crying, tears falling from his eyes.

Shiva and Raavi immediately stopped arguing, and sat down on the floor to pacify him.

"Kuch nahi hua, laddoo. Sorry, bacche. Aaja, papa ke paas aaja!" Shiva beckoned, but Rudra turned away and made grabby hands at Raavi, crying and calling out to his "Ma-ma".

Raavi carried Rudra and patted his back, continously apologising and walking around the room, "Sorry, betu. Mumma and papa are both sorry. Bas, bas, it's okay. See, koi nahi shout kar raha hai, okay? Bas. Shhhh."

Rudra sniffled, tears glistening his eyes, and he eventually fell asleep, while still in Raavi's arms, so she sat down on the bed, back resting against the head rest while Rudra cuddled against her chest.

"Aage se iske saamne nahi ladenge. Darr gaya ye bechara." Shiva said, ruffling Rudra's hair and sitting next to Raavi.

"Promise." She kissed Rudra's head, "Lekin tu gaddar hai, Shiva!" Raavi whisper-yelled.

Followed by Rudra muttering "Shi-ba" in his sleep.

Which made both of them chuckle.

"Mai koi gaddar nahi hoon, bas Vinay ke ghar gaya tha chill karne."

"Oye Mr. Bandar, I know what you did. Agli baar kisi show ka season finale mere bina dekha, toh tere shakal ka history geography badal dungi, samjha?" Raavi narrowed her eyes at him.

"Okay, boss. Next time se nahi hoga." Shiva chuckled and raised his hands in defeat.

....