[ tiny steps into their lives ]

"Awww, she is so cute. Look at these little fingers.", Noor almost yelled as she admired the baby, comfortably sleeping in the cradle. "Ya Allah! I am so excited. Finally, I have become khala."

"Noor, be quieter! This is a hospital, beta.", said Roshnaq trying to calm her overjoyed cadette.

"Ammi, your little daughter has perhaps become an aunt, but you may not change the kid in her as easily. Right, kohinoor?", the younger woman nodded in yes in a quick pace, taking a seat near her sister. "I will always remain your naughty little Noor, it's a promise, appi.", and Zoya patted her cheek, chuckling at her childishness.

Their moment got interrupted when the door got opened. "Sorry to be disturbing the little family reunion. Coffee, anyone ?", asked Arjun, taking a quick glance at Noor who had her back facing the door.

Zoya noticed the latter not relaxing her posture hearing her brother-in-law's interaction, trying to ignore he was standing there as she was adoring the baby.

"It's okay, Arjun beta, we are fine.", replied Waseem with a smile. "Sure uncle.", he was about to close the door when Zoya stopped him. "Arjun, where is Aditya?", asked she.

"Here I am, wifey.", saying so, entered her man pushing his brother along with him in the room, followed by their mother. "I just talked to the doctor. They said they can discharge you day after tomorrow. Baby is all healthy and ready to go home, yet they will check if everything is fine once again in the morning. And I thought you both would be stuck here for longer time.", he sighed in relief.

"Well, as long as she's healthy and all fine, that's all that matters. My little baby.", she caressed her hair and smiled at her sleeping form. "Our baby, for your information.", he corrected her with a frown, as she held her earlobe, mouthing a 'sorry'.

"Alright, I think we need to head home to welcome our new little family member, then. There is so much to do before her arrival.", Anjana suddenly told, as she was by the cot to look at her grandchild. "Bye, little angel. Daadi will see you at home.", she whispered. "Shall we?"

"Mah, you guys go back. I will stay here with Zoya and the baby, tonight. I will be back in the morning.", Aditya told his mother, knowing Zoya would want him to stay with her.

"Fine, you can stay here, but don't disturb them much. Take care of the both of them.", she ordered as he reassured her, when Harshvardhan entered the room. "Let me just say bye to my little girl, and join you.", he said as he walked to the bed, the kids smiling at the new-born grandfather.

"Let us join you till the parking, Anjana ji.", Roshnaq suggested to what Hoodas nodded.

"We will take our leave, beta. Take care of both you and our little girl. We will come back to meet you all tomorrow.", she kissed on her daughter's hair and cherishing one last time the new-born, they all left the room as they bid bye to the young parents.

•••

Aditya was sitting across Zoya on the bed and looked at the little being, asleep in her arms, after breastfeeding her night meal while he went out to bring something for them to have.

"She looks like her mother.", said he before rolling his eyes up towards his woman. "Cute, beautiful, peaceful, joy-giving. But this cute nose is mine.", said he softly pinching the baby's nose.

"And I would say her eyes are chocolate brown mingled into some light shades, just like yours.", smiled she. "Are they? But I haven't even seen her awake, properly.", asked he surprised.

"She woke up a little while ago, when you were busy distributing sweets to the entire hospital. And now she is back to her deep slumber.", he pouted as he couldn't witness his daughter's awoken state yet. "Don't make this face, you will be able to look at her. Anyways, could you please hold her for a while? I need to go to the restroom. Or shall I leave her in the cot?"

Forwarding his arms towards the tiny bundle, he held her in his arms as Zoya got down from the bed, letting the father-daughter duo spend their first moments alone.

"Hi princess! It's me, your papa, Aditya Hooda. You might remember me, we have been in touch these last months, when you were still in your mumma's warm womb. And here we are. Finally seeing each other. You are finally among your big family, and you are now able to observe the world with your own eyes after these long nine months of waiting.", he started talking as he rocked the sleeping child. "Just wait and see, angel. Papa and princess together, we will have all the fun and joy being together, playing together, going on long drives, walks, and whatever you would wish to do.", he continued when he noticed a thin smile on her face.

"Oh, I see. Already distancing mumma from your team?", he got interrupted as he heard his lady coming towards them, and she crossed her arms against her chest sitting next to him on the bed. "Not fair, Mr. Hooda."

"And you were listening to our secret talks, Mrs Zoya Aditya Hooda. Don't you have any manners?", he teasingly smirked at her, pulling on her red nose. "Secret talks with a day-old baby, yeah of course.", she mockingly chuckled as he continued rocking his child.

"Yes, our secret father-daughter conversations. Now don't be jealous, Ghalib.", she patted his arm. "Please! I am not jealous of you, Janaab."

"And I love this cute jealous girl of mine.", as he kissed on her cheek. "Yes, of course, you as well. I love you too, little one.", said he rubbing his nose on the little one's head when she whined unconscious in her sleep.

As he was busy cooing some sweet stuff to their daughter, she stared at the sight in admiration. How much he cherished his daughter, his smile widening at her sleeping form was the proof. The peace he was feeling holding her, the sparkles in his eyes were the reflection. 'I am also a father. I am her father.', he was excitedly shouting in his heart. She was the soul to their life, to their love. She fulfilled their wish of becoming parents, she had taken her place in their hearts since months.

He noticed her continuous staring, eyes glittering in love as he smiled. "Mrs Hooda! Don't throw bad eye on our daughter.", she heard him say as he walked to the cot letting their new-born sleep in peace. "But my eyes are on you only."

He turned to look at his glowed-up wife, although tiredness laying in her eyes, and smiled as she kept looking at his face, before leaning towards her.

"Wifey, I think you need to rest. You look so exhausted.", said he as he cupped her cheek and made her lie down on the bed.

"I love you! Good night.", wished he kissing on her forehead before stepping outside.

•••

"Victor, bring me some green tea.", ordered Anjana while taking a seat on the couch. "Arjun, did you check on the decorators? Aditya said they would be there by two, and nothing is still ready to welcome them."

"Yes mom, they will be here within 10 minutes. Don't worry, you just keep calm and wait for the arrival of our little member.", he sat on the armrest side hugging his mother.

"I still can't believe my little cheeku has now become a parent in turn, Arjun. It's like I was just holding him all tiny in my arms a few days before, and now I am getting to hold his own baby. As I had carried her for the first time, I saw the whole happiness in the world within her. Your mother has finally become a grandmother, can you imagine?", she talked feeling impatient to see her little girl.

"Exactly, mom! This mansion is finally enjoying happiness again, after years. All, since bhai brought Zoya bhaabhi here as his, forever. She brushed all the sorrows away from his life and made him happy all over again. And now they are bringing the missing piece of a complete family, home.", praised he about his best-friend-cum-sister, making Anjana cringe a little.

He tightened his embrace as he pulled her cheek trying to cool her thoughts. "Mom, at least accept bhaabhi now, heartedly. It might still be hard for you, but trust me she's the best partner we could have ever got for bhai."

"Arjun, I need to check if the preparations for tomorrow's party are going well. I will be back. You take care of the work here. And I want everything done, before one.", said she before walking to the kitchen department, as he looked at her retreating figure.

"It's not that she hates you, bhabhi, but yes, she is quite hard. I am sure mom will soon accept you as her daughter-in-law. Now that, someone special is coming home, to make everything right.", he sighed holding a smile.

•••

"Look there, angel. This is where princess is going to live, with everyone.", Aditya explained as he walked forward along the way to the main door, carrying their things. "Do you like it?"

"She said yes.", she smiled holding the little kid, walking besides him, when she saw the baby smiling in her sleep. "Now make it fast, they might be waiting. You made us reach late, stopping at that jalebi wale. Mahji will be angry.", she frowned looking at the little parcel in his hand.

"You must be grateful towards your husband for being so sweet, but no, you just love lecturing me anytime, don't you?", he turned to look at her and asked with a sarcastic smile. "I know you love jalebis, especially those from that particular roadside food stall. I just thought to make it up for the two-days torturous food you had to have at the hospital. You are so rude towards your caring husband, Mrs Hooda.", he huffed.

"Okay, I am sorry, shauhar jaan. But, what about others? What if they don't li—", she was about to ask when he interrupted her. "I haven't brought only for us but for everyone. Now, be quiet and let's go! They might be waiting.", he slowly pushed his ladies to the front of the door, before knocking for someone.

As the door got open, they stood still and looked at the background, falling on the fully-decorated living room, with pink and white balloons hanging everywhere around, a huge banner reading 'WELCOME HOME, BABY GIRL', pale pink garlands trailing down the handrail and some other parts of the room, and colorful confettis falling on them as they stepped in the house. They turned to Anjana who was holding the aarti plate to welcome the three of them together, while Arjun came from behind with a huge smile.

"Our sweet little family has finally arrived home. You made us wait long time, bhai. Especially mom.", Anjana poked her younger son for the teasing, and the elder smiled at his mother as she applied tikka on their foreheads.

"Sorry mah, traffic was a headache as always. Or we would have come sooner.", Aditya reasoned when the mother shook her head in no. "It's alright, Adi. As long as you are all back home safe, nothing else matters.", she cupped his cheek smiling.

"Hmm, smelling samosas. Am I dreaming, bhai?", exclaimed Arjun all by sudden, as Zoya looked on confused;, whispering to her husband who chuckled. "I thought you brought jalebis only."

"But I know Arjun rather eat samosas. So I got some for him. And more jalebis for mah and pa.", he replied to Zoya who smiled appreciatively.

"Marcus, take these parcels to the kitchen, and serve in a while.", Anjana ordered. "You and Victor can also have some.", Zoya smiled as he passed the shopping bags.

"Adi, take Zoya and the baby to the room. She must be tired, she needs to rest.", the mother quickly sent them inside, and smiling at her, the young parents walked to their bedroom with their baby.

The young mother's smile widened seeing the new white cot standing next to their bed, a little pre-birth gift to the little bundle of joy from her father, which was finally going to be useful. The tiny bed area was already filled with little teddies and dolls all around the mattress, seated by the headboard ; a white safety sheet that was tied hiding the slats from the inside not for them to hurt the child while sleeping.

"Give her to me, and go freshen up. You should have something and rest. I will take care of her until then.", he held the kid and sat on the bed, excited to hold her.

"Are you sure?", he reassured her and sent her away to the bathroom, as the little one was laid comfortably in his arms.

He looked down at the little one and smiled. "You see, princess, this is papa and mumma's room. And until you will get your own one, you will be sharing this room with us. How is it? Do you like it? Huh?", he said

He kissed on her cheek and giggled adorably as she reacted stirring in her sleep. "I see, papa's stubble pricked my baby's face. Don't you like it? Papa will take it off, then."

As he was admiring and talking with her, he suddenly heard her soft cries.

"Oh no, baby! Why are you crying?", he held her close to his body rocking her to sleep. "What happened to my angel?"

As she continuously cried, he started feeling anxious. "What happened to her? Maybe she is not feeling well being held for too long.", saying so, he stood on his feet and carefully made her lie down in her cot, yet the baby screams didn't seem to stop.

"Oh God, what should I do now?", he bit his lip in frustration and holding her back in his arms, walked to the door, the screams getting louder.

"Mah! Mah, please come here.", said he before walking back and sitting on the bed. "No, no, baby. Please, don't cry."

"What happened, Adi?", Anjana reached him and looked towards the child. "Why is she crying?"

"Mah, she started crying all by sudden, Zoya is inside taking a shower and I am so clueless at what to do.", he panicked as he felt horrible hearing his little one crying. "Mah, why is she crying like this?"

"Adi, please don't panic. Babies do cry often like this, that's the only way for them to communicate. She might just be hungry, let's wait for Zoya to come."

"But why? We can give her food, as well. Why should we wait and let her cry until she is back?", he wondered as he couldn't see his little girl suffer more, and curiously frowned seeing his mother chuckle at him.

"Beta, new-born babies do have milk only, and that too breastfed milk, until they are a little grown up. Don't tell me you don't know.", she asked smiling at her innocent son who looked embarrassed.

What an idiot I am, he thought slapping his head.

"It happens in the first days, don't worry you will get used to it.", she rubbed his back reassuringly. "Zoya will be back and take care of her. Until then, let's make her stop crying somehow."

He nodded at his mother's words and looked back at his hungry baby. Meanwhile, the bathroom door got unlocked and Zoya came out drying her face with a towel. Hearing the cries, she rushed outside and looked at the two people.

"W—what happened? Ya Allah, how long has she been crying?", she asked keeping the towel on her shoulder and holding up their little girl in her arms."About five minutes..."

"Next time, take precautions before leaving her, Zoya. You could have given her milk before going in for a shower. How will you feed her, after a shower?", Anjana talked louder at Zoya as she rocked her kid.

"Mah, don't say anything to her, I...", as Aditya was to tell something, he was cut off in between. "Mah, i—it's just that I... I wanted to get freshened up b—before... I didn't have a head shower, mah. I will feed her now."

"Anyways, let's not waste time talking, and just give her milk. She will get tired crying, and she's very fragile.", she nodded at Anjana and the latter walked out of the room, letting them have their little privacy.

"Zoya, I pushed you out of here assuring I will take care of her. I am so sorry. You had to get unnecessary screams from mah because of me. Why didn't you let me tell her the truth?", he started as she sat on the bed comfortably, smiling at him.

"Aditya, why making it a huge fuss? And I didn't mind anything that mah told. She was right. Just leave the matter.", she calmed him down as she started unhooking the top part of her loose kurti. "Now go take a shower, and let me feed her. Before mah comes back and scolds the both of us."

He frowned. "Why? Feeling shy to do it in front of me? I am your husband, right?", he teased her getting closer while she blushed unknowingly at his intentions. "Not like I haven't seen you fully before. Otherwise, she wouldn't have hap—"

"Stop teasing me, will you? Go take a shower fast. I am hungry, and I am waiting for you to come back.", she pushed him on the bed shyly as he stood on his feet muttering. "Even I am starving, since months.", he sighed loudly as he entered the bathroom, making her gasp.

"Besharam!", she whispered, blushing shyly, and looked down at her little one who was calming down slowly rocked, as she got to fill her little tummy.

She wiped off the tear stains on her tiny face and slowly relished the feeling of motherhood, while her baby sucked the milk out of her mother, her soft groans as she was tired of crying.

"Welcome home, little princess.", she whispered into her daughter's ear before dropping a soft peck on her forehead, as the little one was enjoying her mother's warmth.

~•~•~•~

End of "Our Little Bliss - Chapter One"

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© a shrucreationsx' pen work

~•~•~•~

Hey guys!

First of all, thank you SO MUCH for the sweet response you have been giving to the prologue of this short story.

Writing something about Aditya & Zoya and their little daughter have always been a pleasure, since my first ever idea on them. And to think I am going to pen down in detail their family life, I am feeling even more excited.

I don't know how I will be able to take up with the chapters, but I promise I will always do my best to bring something interesting, entertaining, readable.

And yes, since I am used to write OS of 4,000+ words, some (or everyone) might be happier to read shorter parts.

Do tell me your reviews on this first step. And yes "suggestions section" is always open for those who want to see some particular moments of their life.

(Okay now shut your mouth up and let them breathe.
- conscience)

PS : I have writing something, and I literally changed the idea, so as I rushed into something, grammatical/language mistakes could be numerous. So don't mind correcting!

Until I come with the next part...

With love,
Shruthy