2 years later.

The park was filled with laughter of different kids. Running around in happiness, playing catch, throwing footballs. And one of them was Ria. Ria Pandya.

Who is Ria Pandya?

Dev and Rishita were eager to start a family. They discussed names, clothes, schools and so many things. But things don't always work out in favour.

They tried to have kids, but due to fertility issues, they couldn't conceive. After much thought, they decided to adopt a child.

Ria. 5 year old, beautiful, bubbly baby girl. Not many people gave their kids up for adoption in the area, so she was the oldest in the adoption centre and had been there for all her life.

As soon as Dev and Rishita entered the centre, she ran to them and hugged them. They both fell in love instantly, and decided that this would be their baby girl.

And that's how Ria came into their life, a year ago.

She was the cutest, happiest baby girl. The volunteers at the center used to say that she'd be sad and glum all the time, but she was the complete opposite after being welcomed into the family.

Dev and Rishita gave her everything she deserved, and were proper parents to her. They never made her feel like she wasn't theirs. That's how much they loved the light of their life.

Not too strict, but not too lenient either. Everyone showered so much love on her.

But the most? Shiva and Raavi. More than Raavi, Shiva.

Shiva loved small kids. That was something nobody knew. He adored kids. He was like a coconut. Firm on the outside, but soft inside.

Ria came running towards Shiva and Raavi, laughing. They both decided to give Dev and Rishita a day off, and babysit Ria. And frankly, they enjoyed spending time with their niece.

Raavi handed Ria the water bottle, and she innocently asked "Iske baad hum ice cream khaane jaaye?"

She knew that her chachu and chachi would give anything she asked for, so Shiva said "Agar tum promise karti ho ki dinner acche se khaaogi, toh hum sab ice cream khaane jaayenge iske baad."

"Promise!" Ria squealed and hugged him, and ran off to play some more.

"Kitni pyaari hai na ye, Raavi?" Shiva asked, not taking her eyes off Ria.

"Hmm." Raavi replied, deep in thought.

He turned towards her, "Kya soch rahi hai?"

"Hum ready hai kya Shiva?" Raavi asked. "I know humne ye discussion pehle nahi ki hai, par shaayad ab karna chahiye."

"Matlab, hum dono ki job lag gayi hai, shaadi ko 3 saal hone aa gaye hai. Humne khudko, family ko kitna time de diya. Tujhe apna koi baccha nahi chahiye?"

Shiva sat in silence for a long time, before replying, "Nahi."

Raavi sat closer to him and turned his face towards her. Of course, she didn't expect him to be ready instantly. Her eyes wanted an explanation, maybe they could sort this out together.

"Mujhe baccha nahi, bacchi chahiye, jaan chidak du uspe." He said, smiling at her.

Raavi broke out into a smile. "Par mujhe toh ladka chahiye. Tu uspe jaan nahi chidakega? Chotu sa, jo tujhe har waqt pareshaan kare." She teased him.

"Humara baccha ya bacchi ho, pyaar toh bohot karunga usse. Lekin hawe se toh nahi aayega na baccha." Shiva winked.

Raavi shook her head, and wrapped her arms around Shiva's arm, resting her head on his shoulder. Shiva placed a kiss on top of her head, before entwining their hands.

Maybe they would have a family someday.

~~~

Few months later

"Aaj movie dekhne ka bohot mann kar raha hai, theatre me jaake. Kaunsi dekhe? Family outing ho jaayega!" Shiva asked.

They ruffled through recently released movies, when Raavi came in to the living room.

"Dhara di, bohot bhook lagi hai. Kya hai khaane ko?" She eagerly asked.

"Maine roti sabzi banayi hai, jaa dekh le." Dhara motioned towards the covered food.

Suddenly, some plates fell from the kitchen with a clash. Everyone came running, only to find Raavi picking up the fallen steel plates.

"Sorry sorry, woh suddenly sar bhaari pad gaya, aur haath se plates gir gaye." She sheepishly said, serving herself the tamarind chutney.

"Raavi, itni chutney mat khaa, pet kharab ho jaayega." Rishita advised.
"Mujhe imli ki chutney kuch zyaada hi pasand hai, dikh gaya toh khaane ka bohot mann kiya. Tension mat le." Raavi beamed.

In the end, everyone decided to just go shopping, because none of the movies were good, or kid friendly.

"Raavi, tu nahi chalegi humare saath?" Gautam asked.

"Nahi gombi, aap log chale jaao, kuch dino se ajeeb lag raha hai, aur mujhe presentation bhi banani hai, kal due hai." Raavi apologised.

"Kaha tha maine mat khaa itni chutney." Rishita mumbled.

Raavi smiled at her, and they all left for their outing. She really wanted to go, but she felt quite uneasy since she's woken up.

She sat down to make her presentation, and suddenly Shiva entered the room.

"Tu nahi jaa raha?" She asked, not looking up from her laptop.

"Woh mera wallet bhul gaya. Idhar hi table pe rakha tha, pata nahi kaha gaya."

"Maine andar rakh diya, rukh, deti hu." She got up to give him his wallet.

Suddenly, everything was spinning and she lost balance. She almost fell, but Shiva caught her.

"Raavi, kya hua tujhe? Achanak chakkar? Sab theek hai?" He looked at her concerned.

"Haa theek hu. Woh shaayad bed se jaldi uth gayi na, toh chakkar aa gaya ho gaya." She replied, dazed.

"Tu rehene de, mai le lunga. Second drawer me na?" Shiva motioned for her to sit.

She nodded, waved him goodbye, and sat back down to finish the presentation, while he gave her a kiss on her forehead and left. He really didn't want to leave her alone, but Krish was at his hostel, and they would need someone to look after Riya, in case she made a fuss.

"Ye ho kya raha hai Raavi? Subah se nakhre chalu hai tere." She told herself.

Oh. Oh my god.

~~~

Hours later everyone came home. They left at 12, and only came back by 9:30 . Poor Ria was so tired, she fell asleep on the ride back.

Why wouldn't she be? Shiva Chachu took her to the in-mall play area, and she tired herself out playing there. He had to carry her home, since everyone else helped with the bags.

"Aa gaye aap sab? Kya kya shopping ki hai?" She asked. "Don't worry, khaana bana diya hai. Toh aap log rest kar lo thoda, fir shopping bata dena. Yeh better hoga" She suggested.

Shiva carried Ria to her room, and places her on the bed, before Raavi dragged him to their room.

"Kya hua, meri chipkali?" Shiva asked, taking off his watch.

"Tujhse kuch baat karni hai. Kuch batana hai." Raavi said, seriously.

"Abhi karna hai? Mai sacchi bohot thak gaya hoon, pura time Ria ko godh me leke. Uski galti nahi hai, obviously."

"Par-"

"Raavi please. Kal?" Shiva requested.

"Uff ye ladka. Mera har kaam bigaad deta hai. Kaisi batau isko." Raavi murmured.

"Kya hai ye?" Shiva asked, noticing a small box on the table.

A light bulb went on in her head. She had made that box for her happiness, as a memory.

Accha hai isne khud notice kar liya.

"Pata nahi. Tere liye aaya tha. Dekh le." She said, trying to act all innocent.

Shiva opened the box, only to find two socks. Baby socks. And a thermometer?

He made a  -_-  face, turning towards her, "Kya mazaak hai ye?" He shook his head.

"Pasand nahi aaye?" She smirked.

"Ye tumne kiya hai? Socks dekhe hai tumne? Bacche ke socks hai. Mujhe kyu mila hai?" He looked at her confused.

"Kyu? Tujhe apne bacche ko nahi pehenane ye socks?" She asked, trying not to smile.

"Kiska baccha-" Shiva started, but looked at her in surprise.

She couldn't contain it anymore, and gave him the brightest smile she could.

"Ae dekh, sacchi bol, meri taang kheech rahi hai na?" Shiva asked, almost with tears in his eyes.

"Woh dabba ka dusra gift dekh." She said.

He looked into the box and removed what he thought was a thermometer.

Pregnancy test. Positive.

He kept looking between the test and Raavi, her cheeks could be hurting from how much she was smiling.

"Raavi, mai... Papa?" He finally said.

She nodded yes, and he ran to hug her. His joy new no bounds. All his happiness multiplied infinite times, that's how it felt.

He was going to be a father. He was going to have a little baby, with the love of his life.

Both of them teared up, and hugged each other. Shiva even twirled her in the air, and they were happily screaming, before he set her down, rubbing her belly and apologising profusely for hurting the baby.

"Tu toh meri khushi hai hi, aur kitna khush karegi mujhe." Shiva asked with happy tears.

Raavi sobbed as they both wiped each other's tears.

"Isliye tujhe chakkar aa rahe the subah?" He asked.

"Haa. Woh kuch dino se chakkar jaise lag raha tha, mujhe laga kaam ka stress hoga. Par nahi, andar toh chota sa baby hai." Raavi chuckled.

Suddenly, her face changed from a smile to to a frown.

"Kya hua?"

"Mai moti ho jaungi. Bilkul gol laddoo ki tarah." She cried.

"Arre meri jaan, mai tujhe kam pyaar thodi karne lagunga. Haa, par baby ke aane ke baad shaayad usse zyaada pyaar karu." He laughed.

She slapped his arm and buried her face in his chest, as he laughed and wrapped his arms around her, smothering her with kisses.

"Darr lag raha hai, Shiva. Hum kar lenge na ye?" She looked up at him, still his arms.

He softly kissed her lips. "Hum Shiva aur Raavi hai. Mai tere saath hi hoon hamesha. Darr kyu rahi hai? Sabka first time hota hai. Saath mein figure out kar lenge sab." He beamed at her.

Everyone heard their happy screams and came to their room, to find them hugging happily.

"Koi batayega itna kyu chilla rahe the tum dono?" Gautam asked, confused.

Little Ria woke up due to all their screaming and commotion. She walked over to them, rubbing her eyes.

Shiva knelt down in front of her, as she innocently asked, "Chachu, aap itne khush kyu ho? Aur ye baby socks aapke paas kyu hai?"

He smiled at her innocence. "Aapko chota bhai chahiye ya behen?" His eyes shifting between Riya and his family's mixed expressions.

"Mujhe..... sister chahiye! Lekin kyu?"

He patted her head gently, held Raavi's hand, and said, "Chachi ke paas ek chota baby hai, lekin aap abhi nahi mil paaoge usse. Aap wait karoge usse milne ka?" He smiled, as his family stood in shock.

Ria smiled at Raavi, and hugged her legs excitedly, "Sacchi Chachi? Meri bhi ek friend hogi?"

She then hugged her Shiva Chachu happily, "I promise, mai wait karungi, aur aapko chote baby ke saath help bhi karungi."

Everyone squealed in happiness, taking turns to congratulate the happy couple. They stood in a circle, as one happy family in a tight family hug.

Shiva placed a kiss on Raavi's temple, as they looked at each other, excited but also scared for the journey ahead.

Maybe life wasn't so bad after all.

- - - - -

Hope you liked this :) Join me for the last update of this story, in a few days. It will probably be the longest chapter ever. Stay tuned. Don't forget to vote!