Baby Di back for you all. 💜

Bonne lecture!

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The flight landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport ; the aisles were filled with passengers taking out their things from the luggage compartment as they were to walk out towards the exit.

Standing up on the window seat, baby Diya was busy observing the chaotic class and tapped her hand against the chair, minding her own work.

Picking a spare pair of clothes from the hand luggage, Zoya looked down at her daughter with a sigh, tired from the early morning journey in the air, and took a seat beside the toddler. "Diya, come baby! Time to go home!" she held her arm pulling her down to change on her summer top when the naughty kid tried her best to move out of her mother's grip.

"Diya, we have to go now, baby. No more playtime, until reaching home, please jaanu? Mumma is tired," she tried the various terms of endearment to melt the innocent being while she was more interested in the view outside the plane.

"Diya, baby look what chachu got you. Isn't this cute, uh?" Arjun stood in front of the kid and showed up a little toy elephant, playfully hitting the trunk on her face and breaking her focus away from the employees taking out the luggages and containers.

But oh well! "Ba-ba-ba!" she aimlessly waved her hand at somebody, making the two adults turn to fall on the little children walking away with their parents, as they answered the toddler's greetings.

Chuckling at the adorable kids' sight, the young mother shifted her attention to her own little brat and pulled her on her lap. "That's enough of playing for now. We also ba-ba from here," saying so, she pushed down the white-and-blue-striped dress over her little head, the babyish whine of annoyance from underneath the piece of cloth resonating, before they could hear the angry cries.

"Oye, Ms. Nautanki! I already have one big child-man drama queen to take care of, I think that's enough for me. Don't follow his steps, please," she playfully narrowed her brows and poked her tiny nose when the little being threw her arms forward in anger, frowning at her mumma teary-eyed.

"Okay I am sorry, baba. Mumma is very sorry," she lifted her up and rocked the toddler, muffling her cries on her shoulder until whimpers came out of her mouth.

Tightening her small fists on her dress, she comfortably leaned her head on her shoulder and closed her eyes. The sick feeling still had her tired and grumpy, adding to the lack of a good sleep as they were traveling.

They were following the few people remaining in the plane to the exit when the cockpit door was pulled open, revealing the two pilots in duty lost in their conversation. A very interesting, and funny one, judging the smiling faces.

"Oh wow! Did you really try that? What did she say?" the lady co-pilot asked, her coat well pleated on her arm as she clapped her hands in excitement.

Is she the new intern he mentioned about? Why is she so pretty, though? And young too. Aren't these model-like air hostesses enough?

Wait—what are you even thinking of, Zoya?

Rubbing the back of the kid for comfort, she softly whispered in her ear, "Baby, papa there," stopping her annoyed whining as she looked up at her mother.

She discreetly raised her chin gesturing to look behind her and, eager to meet her father, she craned her neck looking around at the crowded exit area. "Pa..."

"Not getting into details, but amazing. I am sure you guys will like it," Aditya mischievously smiled at his junior who grinned in her thoughts.

Until someone recognized his voice among the few filling the air, breaking their talks as they heard the loud call. "Papa!"

They turned their sight to the little being who, seeking the mere attention of her papa on her, waved her hand gesturing for him to come. "Papa aa—a!" earning a smile from the man.

"Papa?" the crew members looked between the father and daughter duo as one of them asked Aditya back. "Oh, is this your little daughter, Adi sir? She is so adorable."

"Hi, baby!" the stewardesses rushed to have a look at the toddler and, the sudden crowd around her frightening, she turned back to hug her mother by her neck, hiding herself in her embrace. "Oh, oh! Got scared, baby?"

Aditya chuckled and sneaked in through, coming to her rescue, "Bas bas! Now don't you all put the evil eye on my little princess! Poor thing is already ill," saying so, he managed to reach his girls and picked the pretty being who immediately wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.

"Had a good flight?" he softly cupped his lady's cheek before pinching her baby-soft skin when he felt their little creature tightening her grip, expressing her possessive self and need of his undivided attention.

"Just feeling tired, let's reach home as soon as possible?" she responded, ignoring the pout her child was throwing at her as she held his hand with a smile.

Like mother like daughter.

"Sure, let me just complete the formalities. I will join you guys at the cab stand," he kissed the chubby face of his baby once again as Zoya had her hands up to lift her back when the cries of rejection silenced the surroundings. "Baby, papa will get back to you soon, you now go to mumma, okay?"

However that attempt went in vain and, knowing better than irritating the stubborn girl when unwell, he suggested taking care of her while nodding to an annoyed mother who ordered the both to reach a hospital before anything, no more able to bear her tantrums.

✺

"It just feels so good to be home, though we had an amazing trip, right Arjun?" Zoya exclaimed as they loaded the last couple of luggages on the trolley before walking out the airport.

"Home remains your sweet home, no matter what," he agreed with a smile. "Although thinking we are back to work again—"

He looked down at his phone screen as the device pinged an incoming message. "Lo! Talking of it, here comes the devil," he said, making her chuckle. "Bhabhi you stay here, I will take this call quickly and be back."

"No issues, Arjun!" she smiled as he moved away answering to the caller while she held the trolley's handle.

"Zoya ma'am?" she was stopped on her way when she heard the soft voice calling for her, and turned to fall on the pilot, running to catch her.

Eyeing the young lady once, she smiled, hiding her unharmful annoyance at the unnecessary memories of their sweet chatting with her husband, ignoring her presence. "Hi! I am sorry, you are?"

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Vaishnavi, junior pilot, currently doing my training under Adi sir's guidance," she introduced herself.

"Oh, that's nice! Aditya indeed told me about it," she politely smiled back. "Hope everything is going on fine for you here."

"With Adi sir as your senior and trainer, we trainees are sure doing amazing," she chuckled.

"By the way, I don't know about me, but Adi sir has told us so many things about you and family. Especially your love story, struggles, compassion for each other," she deepened the conversation. "I truly admire the both of you and always wished to meet you."

Amused at the piece of news, she asked, "Has he?"

"Actually, my boyfriend is from a Bengali family while I am from Bangalore. My father is a strict religious person who cannot imagine his daughter being in a relationship with a guy before marriage, let alone accept it. So we are going through some tough times with our families ; even his grandmother is quite skeptical, he said.

"Whenever Adi sir tells us your story, I kind of feel more confident and stronger about my decision to stand up for our love. He would give me so many pieces of advice, quoting you most of the time," she explained as Zoya was carefully listening to her, feeling in awe. "He truly loves you so much, ma'am. Each time, his eyes would just sparkle as he talks about you and your daughter."

"Thank you!" feeling a little shy at the sudden praises, she tucked her hair strands behind her ear. "I hope you get the happiness you pray for very soon, as well. Don't worry about your families, at the end of the day, the love for their kids will help them change their mind. But do not oppose your parents at any cost. Losing the people who raised you and showered you with love throughout your life wouldn't be worth one with your loved one filled with the guilt and sorrow of not being able to see your family nor having their blessing. Experience talking, here."

"I will surely keep this in mind, ma'am," the younger genuinely smiled at the wise words.

"Oh, come on! Don't call me 'ma'am'! I am not that old now, am I?" she chuckled.

"Um—yeah, sorry!" she rubbed the back of her neck. "Then I shall call you 'di'. I mean, if that's okay with you," she hesitantly asked her to earn another laugh. "Don't be shy, that's all right."

"Zoya, shall we?" they were interrupted when they saw Aditya standing closer, a calm Diya in his arms as she was holding a chocolate bar in her hand.

Why did I leave her alone with her father, ya Allah!

"Aw, she is so cute, my goodness," she praised the toddler, briefly pinching her cheek, as she prayed to take off all the evil eyes. "Get well soon, okay? Then I will come and meet you, one day, and we will play a lot."

"Oh, she would be very glad to have a playtime companion for sure. Wouldn't you, my little warrior?" Aditya cooed in her ear and pecked on her hair as she agitated her arms in response before leaning down on his shoulder. "How are you going back, by the way? We can drop you in our cab," he asked, portraying a concerned-elder-brother figure Zoya recognized whenever he was with Noor.

"That's kind of you, sir, but I am meeting a friend straight from here, it would make you take a u-turn. I have my own cab booking, I am fine no worries," she smiled reassuringly as they nodded their heads.

"Alright! Take care of yourself, and don't worry much about your issues. There will be a perfect time for everything," Zoya kept a hand on her shoulder and consoled her like the elder sister she was, while Aditya looked back and forth between the two.

Soon she spotted her allotted taxi and sending a last wave towards the young family, she dragged her luggage towards the vehicle and, before they could realize, disappeared into thin air.

"What was that about, though? Fifteen minutes earlier, you were literally burning her alive. And now, all this 'sister-sister' talking?" he nudged her shoulder while keeping a safe hand on the little girl's back, the latter feeling all drowsy on his shoulder.

"Leave that aside, what is that?" she eyed down at the sweet wrapper held in the tiny grip. Having his eyes wide as saucers.

Okay, that was a nice comeback.

"Aditya, you know that she is still sick. Eating such things is not going to help her recover sooner. And you—you always do that. She just does the puppy eyes, sad face—she is just fifteen months old—and you get melted by her stubborn demands. If you keep doing so, one day you will be raising a totally spoiled daughter," she lectured in the middle of the parking lot.

"Zoya, she is not even going to eat it. Look at her, at least!" he rubbed his warm hand on the sleepy form. "She was feeling hungry and upset while moving throughout the crowd. I didn't get anything to calm her but this. Or maybe I should have just let cry her whole energy ou—"

He huffed in discretion when Arjun came back, a frown on his face as he looked at his brother then his sister-in-law. "Again got into an argument, didn't you? We just landed in Mumbai, guys."

"The cab is there, let's move from here, shall we?" saying so, she pushed the trolley towards the vehicle, and started instructing the driver a few things while putting the bags inside.

"Listen, chote," hearing his brother's whisper by his ear, Arjun who was to help his sister-in-law turned his attention to him as he continued, "this must seem so confusing and ridiculous for now. Soon, you will know. After all, you also have chosen the Siddiqui sister, right?"

The words certainly had him worried of the consequences, "Bhai! Please, my marriage dream hasn't even started, don't scare me already."

"I am not scaring you, chote, I am just—" he was about to explain when they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat, clearly not willing for him to continue.

"Before the baby wakes up from her nap, let's go back home!" she smoothly lifted the toddler in her arms and walked back to the cab to get settled, leaving the men to load the trunk with the remaining luggages.

✺

"Aw, look at you, my poor thing! My little baby looks so frail," Anjana was caressing her grandchild's arm, now awake as she was smiling at the old woman, recognizing the same old warmth of her granny. "Is Diya baby feeling better now, um?" while cradling her in her arms.

"Thankfully we were able to get an appointment for this afternoon," Zoya said as she was staring at her daughter calmly playing with her daadi. "I have never seen her this much restless before, it got us scared."

"Hey! Although she didn't get to sleep much last night, she is calmer now," Aditya added as they were all around the coffee table, sipping the soothing hot beverage. "Don't worry, Zoya, she will get much better very fast. She is already responding to us happily and being more active."

"She is," the aging mother playfully pulled on her tiny nose, making the infant scrunch her eyes, before emitting a sound of resistance. "She must have been the center of attention among everyone, we should first ward off all the evil eyes my baby might have got. You both go and rest a little in your room, I will take her with me."

"That's alright, mahji, we don't want to bother you. We will take her for a rest, she must get cranky otherwi—" Zoya was to reassure her mother-in-law when her smile interrupted her thinking.

"Don't worry, Zoya! I will have her take a nap in our room if so. Until then, you both can rest as well. You have been working for the whole week, added to the traveling you must need some extra sleep," she smoothly ordered.

The younger pair smiled in gratitude and their eyes followed the retreating figure as Anjana climbed the stairs to their floor, the toddler in her arms mumbling stories of her adventures making her laugh.

Entering their room, Zoya walked to the dressing table and looked back at her tired reflection. She released a sigh and started removing her pieces of jewelry before changing herself into comfortable clothes. She did need a good and tight nap to function.

She bent down a little so as to drop the set of earrings when she felt the familiar arms pulling her back by the waist, tightening their hold around her.

"You still angry?" he tilted his head leaning against hers while she managed to remove her extra bangles, although struggling to keep her arms over his.

"Why should I be?" she craned her neck to get a quick glance of his before she focused back on her left wrist accessories. "If it's about the exchange at the airport, just forget it! I am just used to you being an ahmek insaan, don't bother!" she grimaced a thin-lipped smile looking at his reflection in the mirror.

He raised a brow at her attempt of being the sarcastic one, breathing out through his nose as if angry. "Did you just taunt your husband, Urdu queen? Abhi batata hoon—"

She, all of a sudden, felt lighter as he loosened his grip and, before she could even think of anything, his fingers started playing the invisible keys around her waist, evoking a shriek not expecting the attack.

"Ah—Aditya, p—please! Stop—stop the ti—tickles—" she tried pushing his hands away while her attempts only got her closer to his clutch. "Ugh! Adi—Aditya, please stoppp..."

"Um, who is the ahmek, now?" whispering the same by her ear, he continued his sweet assault

Until, in her bid to get off, she unknowingly hit her elbow against his nose, taking her man by surprise. "Ouch, Zoya!" he whined like a child.

"Oh, shoot! Aditya, I... I am so sorry," she couldn't help the laugh seeing his embarrassed face turning redder as she walked to him and held on to his wrist. "Are you... are you ok? Let me see!"

Silently, he stood straight, brows narrowed like a five-year-old, as he replied, "Bobo, need a kiss!"

She chuckled at his terrible try and pulled on his cheeks, "Someone is being very—" he hissed at the pain while she continued, "naughty, right now. You and Diya are no way different, you know that?"

Despite the teasing, she still turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Does it hurt a lot?"

"Well..." his arms now holding onto her waist, "I know it's definitely hurting my male ego to say that—" she punched his shoulder making him smile, and he continued, "but yes, it does hurt a lot, baby. If only I was warned I was getting married to Mary Kom's daughter..."

Giggling, she stood on her toes and pecked his nose before moving to his cheek, dropping a longer kiss. Feeling a little satisfaction inside her desiring heart, she landed back on her feet and discreetly leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes to explore a peaceful moment.

Before she could realize, she was lifted off the ground and up in his arms, having her wake up from her dreamworld. "Wha—"

"Shhhh! I can see your tired eyes, you need a good sleep right now. Let me take care of you!" saying so, he jerked her closer to his body to fit her in his arms, while she kept her grip around his neck tight although she had no doubt he would not let her fall. Would he?

Leaving a peck on her forehead, he was about to move when she held his wrist. "Where are you going?"

"I will be back, bae, I will just change this uniform," he tried to leave once again when he suddenly felt a tight grip around his neck.

"Why? Do only your pretty colleagues have the right to fangirl on you dressed up like this? I want to admire my husband too, Captain sahab," saying so, she again pulled on his tie, this time managing to make him fall on the bed. "Um, better!"

"Uh? And who is being the naughty spoiled one now?" he asked before he pulled her closer, wrapping his muscled arm around her frame making her timid. "This is much better."

She sighed in contentment and laid on his chest. "Finally home... with my home," he mindlessly played with her hair as he was listening to her. "I feel so less worried with you by my side."

Dropping his right arm on her waist, he drew random patterns on her bare hip through her top slit as he said, "This room missed your presence too, love. I guess I could never get used to sleeping without you by my side, let alone cuddling you."

"Don't worry, I won't leave you that soon without boring you enough with my presence. Until then, you are unfortunately stuck with me," she replied while pulling on his nose.

"I am not stuck, remember? I chose you for a lifetime and the after-life. Don't you talk nonsense like a baby!" and he pulled on hers harder as she pinched his sensitive waist making him squeal in a high pitch.

Her eyes widened at the weird sound he made. "Wait, what was that?" she chuckled amused before pinching that exact spot, causing him to repeat that awkward reaction.

"Zoya, sto—stop it yaar! I am sensitive there, you know that," he pouted in annoyance, holding onto her wrist.

"Oh, aren't you?" she giggled while she laid back. "I hope Diya recovers very soon, though. It hurts to see our baby so weak and sad. I was thinking of staying home and telework for a week, let alone an off, since our next event is in three weeks only. I didn't have the heart to leave her at this time."

"Do you want me to stay back with you?" he asked.

"You have already taken enough leave last week. Don't worry, I will handle her. I am not alone after all, mah is here," she softly patted on his chest in reassurance.

✺

Arjun entered the café and walked to the counter to place his order, when he remembered some painfully pleasant memories.

Noor was sitting at a table, waiting for her drink while checking her phone for any particular messages when she heard a voice. "And... here goes your order, madam!"

She looked up at the said person and took the mug over, a smile of relief on her face. She sipped on her drink as the chair next to hers was pulled back. "Uff, I really needed this coffee break. Thank you so much, Arjun!"

"Always at your service, my dear Noorjahan!" he playfully bowed his head down making her shake her head at his antics.

She casually turned her head to look at her drink when she noticed something scribbled in black-inked marker.

"Chocomati? Allah, Arjun! Are you still remembering this ridiculous joke?" she chuckled at the self-embarrassment. "You are such a senti person, for real."

"It might sound stupid for you, but this," he pointed to the name before gesturing around the café, "this place, and you have a strong place in my memories book. And don't act as if you don't know how I have your name still stored in my contacts' list."

"Oh, oh! My Coffee Nawaz!" he smiled to himself at the old days. "Okay, Chocomati is sorry, fine?"

"What would you like along with your drink, sir?" the employee behind the counter asking him brought him out his thoughts as he focused back.

"That would be all, thank you. Um, can I just... ask you for a small request, though?"

"Gosh, I can't wait for the end of this semester, and hopefully this course," Noor and her friends turned their heads, hearing their classmate, Rukhsar, sit with a thud on the next desk. "Just looking at these notes makes my head thump so hard. Ugh!" saying so, she dropped her head on the arms before they hit the desk.

"Come on, Rukku! Only a month and a half, and then you can officially say bye to these books," Gauri, another of Noor's batchmates and friends, consoled their pal as she sat beside her, caressing her back.

"She is right, Rukhsar. Just a few weeks to go, and we all will come out rewarded for all the hardwork," Noor joined her girls and side hugged the panicked woman. "At least, think of your family planning for your marriage, and see how energetic you would feel."

True to her words, the mere reminiscence of the main reason behind her following this special course had her stand straight and she looked back at the curly-haired girl. "Yaar, Noor! Why would you remind me of that old baldie? Brrrr!" she felt the goosebumps all over her body.

"Well, it worked so..." Noor shrugged her shoulders before the three shared a laughter riot.

"Thank God I even got to move to another town for these two years. Although I miss ammi and her handmade cooking, I was able to stop crossing that old guy for a while," she sighed before continuing her ranting. "What is even with these parents getting their kids married at a young age? I am just twenty-three, Allah!"

Noor fell silent as she reminisced about what was to happen to herself at her cousin's wedding, but she quickly hid it behind a smile as she caressed her classmate's back. "Don't worry, Allah will always keep us happy and safe. He knows what, and when to do it."

They carried on with other topics as they were enjoying their free period when Noor noticed her phone chiming with a new message.

"Arj—" she was about to read the name out loud but, before anyone could hear the whole name, she stopped herself and just picked her phone up.

Opening the chat, a picture was loading on her screen and she was waiting to see what it was, wondering what he could have sent to her all of a sudden.

—Her Highness Chocomati is kindly awaited to honor an eager Coffee Nawaz with a warm date around lunch one day!' was the message pinned to the media below.

Rukhsar and Gauri frowned in confusion as their friend fell silent all of a sudden, while staring at her phone screen. "Noor, you okay?"

"Uh? Y—yeah, yeah, I am good..." she smiled convincingly ; meanwhile her mind kept rummaging the various thoughts and interpretations possible.

On one hand her father, who had been asking her opinions about that prospective alliance ; on the other Arjun, whom she believed to be her potential man.

On one side, her devotion to her father's words ; on the other, her feelings for her chashmish.

Her mind, or her heart?

~•~•~

End of Chapter Nineteen

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© a shrucreationsx' pen work

~•~•~

Hello, my dear Wattpad family!

Hope you are doing great!

Since it has been very looooooong I haven't updated this story, here I am. Although it was almost a filler chapter, I hope it turned out to be okay-ish and not too bad. I am willing to introduce the drama but I am confused how to, and I guess I am suffering of a writer's block for this story. I might take time to post the next update, but until that you can enjoy reading my one-shots book of AdiYa where I will keep publishing more shots-long stories on our favourite. And yes, if you have any particular ideas, you can of course send them to me so that I get more inspired as well.

I don't know when I will again update since I have so much to do work and studies wise, so I hope you will be good kids and wait patiently.

Until next time,

With love,

Shuruthy. 🫰🏼💜