Pallavi was laughing breathlessly as she desperately tried to escape the arms of the tall, dark and handsome man who had made it his mission to tickle the life out of her.

"Ah..ha haan.. where do you think you are going beautiful? I am not leaving you this easy..."

She tried to swat away his arms but in vain as he caught her back immediately and started poking her.

"....leave me! Oh my God!!! What has gotten into you.... "

She laughed chirpily and he smiled seeing her. He loved seeing her laugh so freely. And that was precisely why he was doing what he was doing.

Uhh.. okay.. so not exactly that was the reason.. another reason was that this was the most effective way of extracting information from her.

"Oh come one beautiful...tell me! Tell meeeeee... tell me, tell me... then I'll let you go...."

Pallavi finally rested her hands on his upper hands to steady herself and looked up at him eyes raised and face hurting from laughing so hard. There wasn't a single soul in vicinity as the members of Rao Mansion had gone to a party leaving both of them alone temporarily for the evening.

A perfect chance to torture the information out of her...

"Hon.. I don't think you are up to that level where I can disclose classified information to you."

"Ooooo.. so its classified uh..? Great! All the more fun to take it out of you..."

He grinned and she widened her eyes and tried coming out of his embrace but for nought. He was at least a foot taller than her and just as strong as him.

"No... don't you start tickling me again.. I swear to God.."

"Tell meeeeeeeee then..."

He started poking her again and she ran squealing but he caught up to her in a minute.

She slapped his arm mock glaring but couldn't let the smile off her beautiful face. Just then they heard another voice filtering into the hall. They were standing in the gym area of the living room, as the stars looked at them from above in barely contained glee.

"Hands off boy! She is mine."

Pallavi giggled when the man encasing her in his arms grumbled.

"Damn! The husband's back.. you told me he'll be late beautiful. Now show me the backdoor."

She burst out laughing and a pillow came flying and hit her son on his face. He squeaked and took a few steps back grumbling as Raghav walked towards them smirking. Pallavi shook her head and went to her husband helping him, take off his coat.

Arjun had seated himself on the steps by then and saw his mother and father and smiled softly seeing his father take off his mother's hair stick making her gorgeous hair tumbling from the knot, as was his routine.

It was such a homely thing to see. This mere action which kind of housed an entire cosmos of affection which he seemed to have remembered witnessing since he had gained consciousness in this world.

Pallavi gave him her usual fondly exasperated look which was feigned as they both knew. She loved it when he opened her hair making it fall till her waist in flowing stream of cascading raven. It was an open secret.

"Uff! Amma... aap mere time pe kyun born nhi hui.. phir main hi aapse shaadi kar leta definitely!"

Raghav hugged his chuckling wife from behind and she put her head back on his chest by default, her eyes stuck on his dark maroon jacket as she folded it neatly.

"In your dreams beta... jo aukaat mein haich nhi uske piche bhaagne ka nhi.."

Raghav said chuckling seeing his son make a face at him and Pallavi hit him lightly on his bicep.

"Kuch bhi.. tum dono naa.. ab makhan lagana band karo mujhe.. charbi chadh jaegi! Aur ye bolo Raghav.. meri beti kahan hain? Tumhaare saath hi toh gyi thi naa..?"

They went and sat on the settee.

Raghav dropped his head on his wife's shoulder tired.

"Ye ladki ek din sabko pagal karke chodega! Board ko bhi aur mereko bhi..."

Arjun guffawed and his wife just grinned knowingly. Oh he knew that look from miles away. She was gearing up for a tease.

"Well, looks like you are getting a taste of your own medicine... hain na?"

"Kuch bhi Saree ka Dukaan..."

"Arre sach keh rhi hoon.. tum jo itne saalon se sabko pagal kar rhe ho, accha hi hain koi tumhe bhi pagal kar rhi hain... you deserve it."

Raghav scowled and muttered grumpily in her shoulder realising he has no proper comeback to that and that made both mother and son chuckle louder.

"Arre par tumhaari ladli hain kahaan ye toh batao?"

"Mereko ko kya malum.. kisi bechare investor ya employee ka sar chaba rha hoga.. ya media walon se panga le raha hoga. Time ka toh koi hosh nhi rehta, upar se aisa workaholic life mein nhi dekha isse pehle..... Insaan toh nhi machine hain pura. Aur kuch bolne jata hain toh ulta mereko hi daant deta hain."

Arjun came and sat on the ground leaning against Pallavi's legs and she ran her hands through his hair softly, smiling thinking about her daughter who was such a unique yet heart warming combination of her husband and her.

"Haan seems about right. That is Aisha Rao for you. That makes me wonder she seems have acquired both of your traits more than me. Bilkul cut copy paste!"

Arjun said, pantomiming the last part with his hands and suppressed a sigh feeling his mother's hands press his neck joints relieving him of the stress accumulated there. Raghav ran his hand through his thick dark curls and gave a sarcastic chuckle.

"Haanji! Aap kahaan kam jaata hain.. woh toh accha hua Ragini ne nikaal diyaan warna tereko toh camping karne ka adat ho gya hain office mein. Last raat ko ghar wapas kab aaye the aap, janab?"

Their son was quick to make a face which was clearly a trait he had gathered from his father.

"Come on dad! I told you about the stock market disaster which happened last week. Maine board ko kahaan tha ki aisa hi kuch hoga, Government ki new policy apply kar lete hain toh hum safe rahenge but nhi.. ek chabbis saal ka baccha kya janta hoga business ka! Ab bhukto! Investment gyi paani mein aur damage control kaun karega? CEO sahaab!"

"Toh tu toh bacha hi hain Arjun! Kisne kahaan tha itna bada responsibility abhi ke abhi utha lene ko? Kuch saal baad nhi ho sakta tha CEO?"

Pallavi put her head in the croon of Raghav's neck now, mirroring his previous position and sighed feeling her husband's hand snake around her waist to pull her closer while his other hand was threading through their son's hair still.

"Nana! Kuch bhi mat bolo.. main bacha nhi hun! Aur kaun keh raha hain..? Aap? Jisne baayis saal ke umar mein company shuru kii thi? I know all the details dad. Farhad chachu se saari baatein ugalwa liya hain. You should have known better than to reveal all your secrets to him. He can't resist me puppy dog eyes."

Raghav rolled his eyes and Pallavi giggled. Farhad was wrapped around their children's pinky finger like a bloody elastic band. He realy should have known better.

" Woh toh aap keliye toh saari zindagi baccha hi rahunga ye pata hain.. but usi mess ke chalte mera schedule hectic ho gaya thoda."

Arjun continued, grumbling, mirroring his father's expressions from some time before and Pallavi smiled lightly seeing the familiarity between the two. Raghav cracked a half smile, hearing the ever present kiddish crankiness in his baby's voice as it was from when he was a kid.

What he said though was true, he was not a kid anymore... he was the CEO of the largest and the most happening tech company in India at present.

Suddenly they heard the familiar click clacks of the heels falling on the marble floor like the shots of a loaded barrel and recognized the voice filtering in before the person came in herself.

".... haan nhi! Dekhiye Mr. Sinha.. maine aapko pehle hi kahaan tha ye case critical ho jaega agar aap itni deri karenge toh.. do baar Income tax raids aa chuka tha unko... upar se abhi stroke hona.. yes. Of course! Mr. Sinha aap mujhe bulayein aur main nhi aayi, aisa hua hain kabhi kya? Yes I'll be on standby, aap procedure shuru kar dijiye.. yes kal milte hain..ok bye!"

Aisha Rao was a busy woman. She had had come out of a press conference tired after a long an complicated debate about their new collections and recent partnerships and had to immediately go for a meeting regarding the newest technology she was planning to implement in the Jewellery fashion design field. So she had missed catching her father while on his way back home. She had to stay behind for another two meetings for the same.

She was the Chairman and MD of Jayati Jewels, India division for now while leaving Raghav to manage the overall business of the massive chain of their showrooms across the globe whenever required.

But here she was now, drained out of her mind after the twentieth phone call she had attended since coming out of the office.

Phew! Being the best was demanding!

She saw her parents cuddled on the couch and her brother at the foot and increased her pace to reach them briskly. Maybe she could catch a shut eye before the next mayhem hits her.

"There you are.. Ms. I-am-always-super-busy! Kahaan thi itne waqt?"

Arjun said as she kicked her Louboutin's off her aching feet and literally dropped on the floor beside her brother and leant back on Raghav's legs tiredly, mirroring her brother's position to boot who was still leant against Pallavi's legs, one leg sprawled in front while the other drawn to his chest.

".. unlike you Mr. Showoff! Some people have serious stuff to do okay..."

Arjun rolled his eyes and his sister almost moaned in relief feeling her father's long fingers thread through her raven hair in a rhythmic fashion.

"Lo! Shuru hogaya tum dono ka phirse..? Aisha kitni baar bola hain.. at least waqt se ghar to pahauch jaana.. kitna kaam karti hain ladki pagaal kahiki.."

Pallavi bent down and kissed on her head.

The youngest Rao giggled at her mother unabashed.

"Arre Aai samjha karo.. I am Aisha Rao after all. There are queues outside my office waiting to get a glimpse of yours truly for once in their lifetime. How can I disappoint my ardent admirers. It would be so rude."

She winked at Pallavi who chuckled mirthfully predicting her husband's reaction from a mile away. Arjun groaned.

'phirse nahi'.

Aisha was quite a looker. She had her father's height and complexion and her mother's beautiful eyes. Her smile resembled Raghav more but her eyes always sparkled like Pallavi. Her frame was built like Raghav too, lean and strong with the right amount of curve. She was less voluptuous and more athletic but that just gave her a powerful look. Add to that her obviously acquired Devilish charm and silver tongued rakish appeal.

Raghav had had quite a handful to manage with her.

It seemed men swarmed around his baby girl like bees around a flower and he had nearly hired a battalion to keep their grubby hands to themselves.

Though Raghav Rao needed less than a glare to keep the boys at bay.

He frowned and gave his daughter a light flick on her head with the back of his hand.

"Oww! Nana.."

"Zyadaa nautanki karne ka zaroorat nhi hain... kisko terese milne keliye itna taqleef uthane ka zaroorat pad raha hain. Mere se bol zara, phir jab heart attack aayega usko main hi muft mein kardega uski surgery.. woh bhi bina anaesthesia ke!"

"Come one dad. Aapki wajah se ek bhi boyfriend nhi hua hain mera aajtak... sab darr ke maare 'hi' tak nhi boltein.. Inka kuch karo Aai!!!"

Pallavi and Arjun laughed and Raghav gave a proud grin.

"Raghav.. Aisha badi ho gyi hain.... tumhaari woh chotisi bangaram nhi rhi.... tum naa itne overprotective aur possessive ho ki kya bolun! Ab shaadi kaise karaoge iski.."

"Oh hello! Abhi shaadi ka baat kahan se aa gya... abhi usmein bht waqt hain.. she is just twenty six.... and she will always be my chotisi bangaram.. artham aiyndaa?"

"I was twenty four when I got married Rao.."

"You were twenty four!!!? Seriously? "

He looked at her amazed. Pallavi preened at him, happily.

"Yes! Kyun tumhe kya laga tha?"

She asked thinking he might have thought her to be younger.

"Mereko toh laga tha tum mera umar ka hain.."

Arjun and Aisha facepalmed. Pallavi glared at him sitting straight back up.

"Really!!! Main tumhe... tumhe twenty seven ki lagi thi!!! You.. you just wait!"

Raghav laughed and Pallavi hit him with the cushion making the kids laugh hysterically.

"Arre baapre Amma.. shaant shaant! Abhi baad mein Nana ko peetna acche se.. abhi meri baat sunlo! Bht important sawal hain mera ek.."

Arjun said and Pallavi stopped her barraging blows reluctantly as her husband grinned, hugging her close forcefully as she tried to wriggle out.

"Haan kya sawal..?"

He asked and the junior Rao poked his sister who understood what he was hinting at.

"Hum soch rahe the ki ye aap dono jo ek dusre k ye nicknames se pukaar te ho... Saree ka Dukaan and Ghamandi Rao.. ye aaya kaha se? Tab Nikhil mama ne humein bataya ki aap dono kabhi dushman hua karte the..? Ye sach hain kya..?"

"Yaa.. mujhe toh bohot filmy laga sunke. Matlab socho.. Nana aur Amma.. dushman? Ye dono toh ek dusre ke bina ek din tak seedha nhi reh sakte.. upar se Nikhil mama aur Amrutha chachi humein bata rahe hain ki aap dono ek dusre se nafrat karte the.. matlab kuch bhi!"

Arjun said making his sister scoff nodding in approval oblivious to the changing expressions on their parents face. This was what the Arjun had been trying to tickle out of Pallavi for the past half an hour.

Raghav and Pallavi looked at each other as their eyes seem to fade out in a trance, their minds travelled back to what felt like lifetimes ago when standing in this hall itself they had fought so viciously to outmatch the other person.

How desperate had they been in an insane drive to outwit the other, getting dragged into an unending maze of misunderstandings and evil machinations of family, friends and enemies alike. It seemed like a fever dream now. All the hate spilled, the venomous words exchanged, the false promises and the entire ruse of dislike they had forced upon themselves. In this present scenario all of that seemed like an inconsequential blip in their existence. Mistakes made in transience which had resulted in a union so strong that they themselves couldn't break out of it from years hence.

The past was a colourful bag of pain and happiness. A reminder of how naive they had been and a revelation of how they had struggled not to fall for the other.

"Ahh.. earth to Mr and Mrs. Rao! Were are both of you lost?"

They snapped out of their shared trip down the memory lane and looked at their kids who had turned half around to stare at their parents in confusion. Raghav smiled and Pallavi was quick to follow. All trace of the previous thoughts wiped out from their faces.

"What were you saying love? Sorry got a bit distracted."

Raghav said curling a strayed tendril of his daughter's hair which had fallen on her face. She cocked a eyebrow at him sceptically which seemed like looking into the mirror and Raghav cursed himself for being so perspective. The trait which he had given Aisha it seemed.

"We were saying what a ridiculous notion of both of you being enemies...?"

Arjun filled in for his sister. He saw his parents blink at them for some seconds before breaking out in simultaneous laughter. It was like a gush of warm honey spreading through his chest. Those beloved voices ringing in harmony which reminds him of winter afternoons and summer nights, of late night lullabies and mid week outings, of disapproving reprimands and gentle soothings, of afterschool ice creams and weekend picnics. How he saw his entire childhood pass in his parent's laughter. Such a blissful feeling.

How can a couple so much in love and capable to spread so much love around ever have even felt the strains of loathing for anybody let alone each other. The notion itself was blasphemous. Their uncle and aunt might have tried to fool them.

Seeing his sister with a sideways glance he could swear she felt the same. Soon, they stopped laughing feeling breathless yet seemed to cuddle closer to each other, hands held like first time lovers. Pallavi had her head on Raghav's shoulder and he had his cheek pressed on the top of her head as they both gazed into Arjun and Aisha's glittering eyes.

"What a ridiculous notion indeed..."

They spoke out softly.