'You had to what?'
Rohit looked at her, his eyes wide.

'I needed this, needed you! You were bent on staying away. To mein kya karti?'
Sonakshi trailed the tip of her index finger over his cheek, down his stubble, to his lips.

Rohit caught it between his teeth, to stop her. Sonakshi tugged at it, but he didn't let go.

'Aray..chorro to..'

In answer, he sucked on it, causing her whole arm to tingle.
'Rohit...'
He caught her gaze, and she could see desire return.

He let go of her finger, and took her lips in a kiss, his hands cupping her buttocks, making her aware of his returning arousal.

'So, am I out of your system?'

'Tum ussi pe atkay ho?'

'Han! Mera dil toot raha hai yeh sun ke..' He made a pout with his lips.

'Ohhhh...janab ka dil toot raha hai..'
Sonakshi tweaked his chin.

Rohit pushed her down, and leaned over her, glancing down at her heavy, naked breasts, the nipples puckering by just his gaze.

'Tell your system, it ain't gonna function without me..ever!'

'Welll...you are fully ingrained there..so I don't see it happening anytime soon..'

Rohit's pupils dilated with desire, and he cupped her breasts, making her moan.

'Moqa bhi hai, dastoor bhi..to kyun na aazmaaya jaye..'
He rubbed his stubble over her sensitive flesh, and her muscles jerked.

'Kya?'
She breathed back.

'Itni mehnat ki hai tumne aaj yeh sab kar ke..to iss ka full use karna to banta hai na,  meri jaan.'

'Really now?'
Her eyes twinkled.
'Itne din se bhaagte phir rahe thay..ab poora faida uthaana hai?'

'Sona! Time waits for none..samjha karo..'
He lowered his head to her abdomen, and began planting kisses there.

He felt the baby kick. Smiling he looked up at her.
'See? Even baby Sippy approves..'

'Well..agar uss ne approve kar diya..to what are you waiting for?'
Sonakshi pulled him up towards her.

Rohit lowered his head, and soon, there were only the sounds of pleasure left.

                ***********

'Aray! Aray! Ruko!'
Sonakshi called after Arihaan, as he ran after a bird, in the park.

'It's okay, Sona! Bhaagne do! Kabhi kabhi to moqa milta hai isse!'
Rohit kept a watch on him, ready to run after him if needed.

Sonakshi had been feeling a bit restless since two days, her back aching, her energy low.
Although she wasn't complaining, Rohit hadn't missed her turning sides in bed all night, because she couldn't find a comfortable position. Her seventh month had started, and now it was very visible.
Rohit couldn't help but smile, as several people turned to notice him and his very pregnant wife, whispering amongst themselves.

'Tum kyun itna muskura rahe ho?'

Rohit looked at her, to see that she had been watching him.
'Aise hi! Kyun? Nahin muskura sakta?'
He took her arm in the crook of his, as they walked in the direction Arihaan had gone.

'Birdie! Birdie! Ihaan paas aao!'
Arihaan was cajoling a bird,  which was resting on the grass.
He approached it, and it flew away, causing him to run again.

Sonakshi and Rohit watched their little boy, who was now one and a half years old. Time had flown, and indeed been kind to them.

'Nahin! Muskurana mana to nahin hai..wajah to pata chalay..'
Rohit led Sonakshi to a bench nearby.

'Wajah to bas tumhara hona hi hai. Idhar betho thori der..paani peeyogi?'

Sonakshi nodded, and Rohit took out the water bottle from Arihaan's bag, which he had hung over his shoulder.
Gulping down the water, she kept her eye on Arihaan, as he jumped up and down.

'Sona! Ab tumhe thora zyada rest karna chahiye. Maine suna hai seventh month thora risky hota hai..you know..'

'Aray! I'm perfectly healthy! You heard Dr. Asha na? Jab hum pichlay baar gaye thay?'

Rohit had joined her for the last ultrasound, and had been mesmerised on seeing the baby's full form on the screen...the face, the hands, the legs.
Dr. Asha had been giving instructions, and Rohit had been just awestruck by the image.
Sonakshi had nudged him several times, before he had come out of his daze.
Dr. Asha had assured them that everything was going smoothly.

'Han, woh to aise bolengi hi..'
Rohit said now.

'Han! Or tum to jaise sab se baray doctor ho yahan..tumhe unse bhi zyada pata hai..'

'Well..I am very intelligent..'
He gave her a look, as she giggled.

'Arihaan! No beta!'
She called out, as he lay down on the grass, and looked up to the sky.

'Let him enjoy ya...in fact, I like what he's doing!'

Rohit went up to Arihaan, and laid down next to him, to do the exact same thing.

'Aray!'
Sonakshi looked at the two very important males in her life, a big smile on her face.

'Baba! Birdie Ihaan ghar jaaye!'
Arihaan looked at the flock of birds that made patterns across the sky.

'Birds Arihaan ke nahin, apne ghar ja rahi hain! Birdie fly! Jaise abhi Arihaan jayega..'
Rohit pointed to more birds across the sky.

He looked in surprise, as he felt Sonakshi come and lie down beside him.
'Sona! Tum kya kar rahi ho?'

'Wahi, jo baap beta kar rahe hain? Why should I miss out on the fun?'
Arihaan looked excited to see his parents on the ground with him.

'Magar tum..'

'Rohit! Just enjoy the moment..itna mat socho..'
She held his hand, and smiled at him.

'Mama! Baba! Birdie!! Ghar jaaye! Fly! Fly!'
He clapped his hands.

Several people glanced at the beautiful family, lying there on the grass, just living in the moment.

                ***********

'Sona! Rohit! Bari der lagaa di aaj!'

Ever since Sonakshi's seventh month had started, Rohit had taken it upon himself to pick up Sonakshi from the hospital at the end of the day.
He liked bringing her home with him, safe and sound.

'Woh, Mom, Sona kisi patient mein phans gayi thi..so I just waited there..'

'Sorry, Rohit..'
Sonakshi kissed Arihaan, as he came running up to her for a hug.

'Kitni baar sorry bolo gi? Rastay mein bhi do teen baar hogaya na..I didn't have a problem. Kon sa roz roz aisa hota hai?'

Rohit picked up Arihaan and threw him in the air, sending him in a fit of giggles and shouts.

'Acha hua aagaye..yahan mein or Naren ek important discussion kar rahe thay, or tum logon ka hi wait kar rahe thay..'

'Kya discussion, Mom?'
Sonakshi sat on the sofa, holding the back of it for support.

'Hamari bari bahu ki goad bharai!'
Veena's eyes twinkled in excitement.

'Oh, wow! Woh time aagaya?'
Rohit sat down next to Sonakshi.

'Tum kyun itne excited ho rahe ho? Tumhari goad bharai thori na hai!'
Veena rolled her eyes, and Sonakshi chuckled.

'Meri biwi ki to hai na! Tanya ke function mein to Rohan ko kuch karne nahin diya. Magar Sona ke function mein to mein zaroor..'

'Yeh sab suhaane khwaab hotay hain, Rohit! Useless!'
Naren shook his head at him.

'Kyun, Papa?'

'Kyunke yehi hota chala aaya hai zamaano se..goad bharai mein no men allowed!'

'Meri biwi ka function, mere baby ke aane ki khushi mein, or mein na aaun?'

At the same time, Rohan came down from the stairs, and heard everything.
'Bhai! Bohot jaldi bhool gaye aap! Yaad hai humain Papa ki study mein band kar diya gaya tha? Agar Ajit ko idea na aaya hota to to hum bas woh boring sa match hi dekhte rehte!'

'Kis ne Ajit ko yaad kiya?'
Ajit entered the house, with Pari in tow.

'Aao, aao, Ajit! Dekho na, Bhai kya planning kar rahe hain..'

'Mein planning..'

'Kis baat ki planning?'
Ajit came and sat down.

'Bhabi ke goad bharai mein aane ki!'

'Ohhhh..kya plan hai, Bhai?'
Ajit leaned over to listen, as if a secret was being shared.

'Yeh kya plan banayenge?'
Rohan chuckled.

'What do you mean, kya plan banayenge?'

'Koi bhi, kuch bhi plan nahin banayega!'
Veena intervened.
'Rohit! Apne ideas na apne paas hi rakho..'

'Mom! Aap hi bolti hain, ke yeh function sab se important hota hai ek honay wali maa ke liye. To honay wala baap, jis ne itni mehnat ki hoti hai, usse kyun kaatna hai?'

'Rohit!'
Sonakshi elbowed him, when everyone laughed at him.
'Kya bol rahe ho sab ke saamne?'
She said, flushing, so only he could hear.

'Aray! Sab ko hi pata hai yahan how babies are made! Tum tension na lo!'
He nudged her back.

'Paagal! Kuch bhi!'

'Wahan kya khusur phusur chal rahi hai? Hum bhi sunain!'
Pari looked up from where she was on the floor with Arihaan.

'Nothing! Kuch bhi to nahin..'
Sonakshi replied quickly, and Rohit chuckled.

'So, Mom! Kab karna hai function?'

And soon everyone was engrossed in making plans and arrangements.

            ************

'Rohit! Jaldi bahar aao! I need to go..'
Sonakshi banged on the bathroom door.

'I'm in the shower, tum ajao!'
Rohit called out from inside.

'WHAT? Chee..ab yehi reh gaya hai..'

The door opened, and Rohit came out with a towel wrapped around his waist, and another which he was drying his hair with.

'Socha chance le lun..'
He teased, and sprayed water from his head onto her.

'Unless you want me to embarrass myself right here, right now, get out of the way, you dirty man!'
Sonakshi pushed him out of the way, and rushed inside.

'Dirty man? I just took a shower ya..'
Rohit called through the door.

'You think you are so funny? Hai na?'
Sonakshi rolled her eyes at him, as soon as she came back out, and walked away from him, head held high.

'Oh ho..'
Rohit stopped her by twisting the towel he held in his hand and throwing it over her, so that she couldn't move, and  was stuck between the two edges he held.
He pulled her towards him, by pulling on the towel.

'Teri naraazgi mein bhi kuch alag hi baat hai
Har adaa teri ab pehle se bhi khaas hai
Jo chaati hai laali kamaal ki in haseen rukhsaar pe
Hum to pehle se hi ghaayal hain
Tere har andaaz pe'

Sonakshi couldn't help but smile. She loved his spontaneous poetry, and especially when he said it for her.

'Rohit..'

'Sona...kahan bhaagi ja rahi ho?'
He pulled her closer, so that her palms came against his bare chest.

'Aray..neechay dinner karne..sab plans bhi to final honay hain goad bharai ke..'

'Hmm..mere plans bhi final hogaye hain..'

'Kon se?'

'Aray! To be a part of your function.'

'Rohit! Aisa kuch nahin karo ge tum..sab ne mana kiya na..'

'So?'
He put his arms around her to hold her against him.
'Rohit Sippy hardly does what everyone expects..itna to jaan hi gayi hogi ab tak.'

'Magar mein sab ke saath agree karti hun iss mein..tumhara wahan kya kaam?'

'Iss ka faisla mujh pe chorr do..'

'Tum nahin aaogay..'
Sonakshi struggled to move back.

'Or kon rokay ga mujhe? Tum?'
He pulled her closer, not letting her go.

'Han, mein!'

'Oh ho ho..to phir get ready to lose!'

'Lose what?'
Sonakshi frowned.

'The challenge!'

'There is no challenge wallenge here..'

'There is now! On how your husband, the baby's father, will be a part of the goad bharai!'

To be continued...