'So, how do you like it now?'

Rohit turned at the sound of Sonakshi's voice, and was surprised to see her coming from outside the room, carrying a tray.

'Sona! Tum!'
He was surprised.

'Ssshh! Bachay uth jayenge!'
Sonakshi moved to the table by the sofas, and put down the tray.

'Sorry!'
He pursed his lips, and lowered his tone.
'Magar yeh kaise? Tum yahan? Bachay bhi? How?'
He stood there, unable to believe it.

Sonakshi moved back towards the door, and shut it quietly.
'Apne husband ke liye itna to kar hi sakti hun mein..kal tumne Ma Papa ko charm kar diya, aaj maine unhe mana liya..'

Rohit walked up to her and took her in a bear hug. Sonakshi sighed, as she went into his arms, feeling as if she was coming home.
'Thankyou, Sona! This really means a lot, lot, lot!'

Sonakshi looked up at him.
'My pleasure!'
Her eyes twinkled, and his lit up too.

'I love you, Sona!'
He took her face in his hands, and she smiled up at him.
'You can't even imagine how it's been..'

'I do, actually! Because I went through the same thing, too!'

'God! We wasted so much time..'

'Hmm..hmm..'

'And I don't want to waste even a minute more..'
His tone lowered, and so did his head, his intention clear.
Sonakshi raised her head, as he lowered his lips.
His lips had not even touched hers, when the sound of the baby's cry, broke them apart.
Rohit closed his eyes in frustration, and let her go, reluctantly, as she gestured to him.

'Rohit! Tum fresh hojao jab tak. Phir saath mein khaana khaate hain..'

'What?!? Tum ne khana nahin khaya ab tak? Why not?'
Rohit frowned, as Sonakshi went to the cot, and lifted Mishaye in her arms.

'I was waiting for you..'
Sonakshi hurried over to the bed, and settled to feed the baby.

'But aise mein to weakness hojayegi tumhe..you can't stay hungry for so long..'

'Aray, kuch nahin hua mujhe. Jao, fresh hojao. I'll just finish here till then.'

Rohit hurried to the bathroom with his clothes, concern for Sonakshi on his face.
By the time he came out, Sonakshi had fed Mishaye, and settled her back in her cot.
She was just walking to the table, when he came out in his pajamas, with a bare chest, towelling his hair dry.
Sonakshi gulped, her eyes transfixed on his body, having seen him like this after a long time.

'Hot!'

Rohit looked at her, and raised his eyebrows.
'Excuse me?!?'

'I meant the food is hot! Ajao..'
Rohit gave her a look, a secret smile on his lips, as he threw the towel and walked towards her.
'Tum a..a..aise khana khaoge?'
She gestured to his naked chest, the muscles of which were rippling.

'Kyun? Kon sa mere or tumhare ilava koi hai yahan? And its not like you haven't seen me like this before.'

'I have! Ofcourse..but..have you been working out?'
She blurted out, unable to move her eyes, as he came and sat on the sofa, next to her. Rohit chuckled.

'Yes! I have! My character required it for the current track, to maine thora try kiya..how does it look?'
He looked at Sonakshi who's gaze was still on his muscular chest.
'Forget it! I already know what you think.'
He winked at her, breaking her out of her trance.

'Stop it! Chalo, khana khao..'

'Something smells good! Kya bana hai?'
Rohit lifted the cover of the  plate and was surprised.
'Pasta? Or woh bhi just the way I like it! Ma ko kaise pata..'

'Ma ko nahin pata..'

'Phir? Woh to..tum? Tumne banaya?'
Rohit gave her an incredulous look. Sonakshi nodded.

'But aise? Iss haal mein? Matlab, you are already running after the kids..'

'Bas! Dil kiya to bana liya!'
Sonakshi shrugged her shoulders.
'Ab khaoge bhi, ya bas dekhte hi rahoge?'
She handed him a fork.
'Try it! What?'
As Rohit shook his head.

'Tum khilao na! Kitna time hogaya tumhare haath se kuch bhi khaye hue.'
He made a baby face, and jutted his face forwards.

Sonakshi smiled at him, as she took a forkful, and lifted it to his mouth.
Rohit closed his lips around the fork, his eyes just watching her.

'Delicious!'
The look he gave her on saying that, left her in no doubt, that he was not just talking about the food.

'Rohit!'
She lifted another bite for him, but he caught hold of her wrist, and turned it towards her mouth.
Sonakshi took the bite, and licked her lips.
Rohit's eyes lit up with desire.
'Stop it!'

'Stop what?'
He was now unashamedly staring at her lips.

'Aise dekhna band karo..'
Sonakshi bent her head, more to look away from his intense gaze, than to take another bite on the fork.

'Itne din baad to hum aise bethe hain, Sona! Or mein tumhe dekhun bhi nahin?'

'Dekho..but...don't..'

'Eat you up? I really want to..but I know I can't..'
He sighed, as if with deep regret.
Sonakshi chuckled, as she fed him another bite.

They fed each other the pasta, the eye exchanging, and the lips gazing continuing throughout.
As Sonakshi was feeding him the last bite, Rohit put a hand on her thigh. Sonakshi wasn't expecting it, and jerked with his touch. The fork in her hand, slipped and the bite landed..on Rohit's bare chest.

'Oh, God! I'm sorry! Was it still hot? Lagi kya? Mein tissue laati hun..'
Sonakshi was concerned, and she made to get up. But Rohit caught her hand to stop her.

'It's okay, Sona! Nahin lagi! I'm fine!'
Rohit looked down his chest, and raised his hand to remove the sauce and the penne pasta from his skin, but Sonakshi beat him to it. She lifted most of it with her hand, and put it in the plate.
Then, as he watched in amazement, Sonakshi bent her head, and looked up at him.
Before he could decipher the look in her eyes, her tongue flickered out to lick the sauce off his pectoral area.
Rohit groaned loudly, and Sonakshi stopped and looked up at him, questioning with her eyes.

'Don't stop!'
He whispered.

Sonakshi's confidence built up at his reaction, and she bent to lick up the rest of the sauce, the sensation of her tongue, playing havoc with his senses. He almost jumped, as her tongue touched his male nipple.
He grabbed her head with both hands, and lifted it to his level.

'Sona..'
His eyes had darkened to black, his pupils dilated, as he lowered his head, and took her lips with his.

They both moaned, as their mouths found each others'. The feeling was the same old, yet somehow new, as Rohit entangled his tongue with hers. Sonakshi leaned into him, as he held her close, raiding her mouth, as if thirsty for the longest time.

They kissed, and kissed, till they simply couldn't any longer.
Sonakshi sighed, as Rohit touched his forehead to hers.

'God, Sona! I feel like as if I had been starving for that! I missed you like anything!'

An instant regret filled her, and he felt her body stiffen. It was ever so slight, but he felt it. He shifted, and looked at her face. She suddenly avoided eye contact and began to clear up the plates and cutlery.
'Chalo, ab sonay ki karo. Subah shoot hai, or Mishaye bhi abhi uth jaye gi..'
She stopped, as Rohit caught her hand, her eyes closing, as sudden tears pricked her eyes.

'Sona! Dekho meri taraf! Sona!'
She resisted, but Rohit caught her chin, and turned it towards him.
'No! No!'
He quickly used his thumbs to wipe the tears that had started to flow down her cheeks.
'Please! Aise mat karo! I thought we had decided to move on..'

'We have..'
She said through her tears.

'Yeah, right! I can see that!'
His tone was sardonic.

'Rohit, I'm sorry..'

'Enough with the sorries!'
His tone was slightly harsh, and Sonaskhi became quiet.
'Sona! Look here! Dekho meri taraf..jab sab baat clear hogayi hai, to baar baar aise khud ko takleef kyun deti ho?'

'Kyunke maine tumhe hurt kiya itna! Khud to mein bardaasht kar bhi lun, magar tum..'

'Mein kya? I always understood where you were coming from! Tumhari jagah shayad mein bhi..no, yaqeenan! Mein bhi yehi karta or sochta! Magar ab to hum theek hain na? To kyun baar baar wahi baat dohraana hai?'
Rohit was frowning, and Sonakshi shook her head.

'You are right..bas woh..'

'Bas! Ab se hum iss topic pe koi discussion nahin karenge! Promise me?'
Rohit put out his hand, palm side up.

Sonakshi looked at him, as he gestured towards his hand, with his eyes. She brought her palm over it, and he turned their hands, and brought them to his lips, kissing her hand.
'I love you, Rohit! You don't know how much!'

'I know! And I love you more, never less!'

Mishaye woke up then, and Sonakshi got up.
Rohit picked up the tray, and made to go outside.

'Kahan ja rahe ho?'
Sonakshi called from the bed, where she was feeding the baby.

'Yeh kitchen mein rakh ke aata hun.'

'Aise jaoge? Nangay?'
She gestured towards his bare chest.

Rohit rolled his eyes.
'Tum to aise bol rahi ho jaise maine pajamas bhi nahin pehne ho!'

'To kya woh bhi utaar ke khana khaate?'
Sonakshi shook her head, shifting Mishaye on her breast.

'Tumhare saath? Hmm..I can manage that. And after what you did when the food fell on me, I plan to do this often.'
He teased, and Sonakshi flushed a bit.

'Shut uppp! Or jao! Roam around naked! See if I care!'
Sonakshi shrugged.

'Oh, you will! Care! A lot!'
He winked, and left before she could retort back, his stance fully confident.

Sonakshi chuckled to herself, a feeling of contentment taking over every doubt she had.

***************************

'Yeh Mishaye itna kyun ro rahi hai?'
Rohit entered the house, wondering, and stopped.

Arihaan was busy playing with his toys in a corner, while the nanny was trying to calm down the baby.

'Oh, you are here! Mishaye itna kyun ro rahi hai? Sonakshi madam kahan hain? Or Ma or Anil Papa?'

'Sir, woh madam ke parents kahin gaye hue hain. Or Sonakshi madam to nahaane gayin hai. Abhi to baby theek thi. Pata nahin kya hua.'

'Lao, isse mujhe de do..'

'Baba! Ihaan saath khelo!'
Arihaan had come running on seeing Rohit, and had wrapped himself around Rohit's legs.

'Arihaan! Baby ro rahi hai na!'
Rohit bent and lifted him up in his arms, as the nanny rocked the baby.
'Aap thori der khelo, baby chup hojayegi, to Baba aap ke saath bhi khelenge, okay?'

'Baby khele? Ihaan saath?'

'Abhi baby choti hai na..big ho ke khelegi aap ke saath.'

'Ihaan big! Baby small!'
Arihaan gestured with his arms, opening them wide for 'big', and putting them together for 'small'.

'Yes! Arihaan kitna smart hai! Now, be a good boy..'

'Ihaan good boy! Big boy! Didi saath khele..'

'Didi?'
Rohit frowned.

'Sir, woh mujhe bulaata hai Didi..'
The nanny spoke, from where she was still trying to get Mishaye to stop crying.

Rohit quickly put Arihaan back down, and took Mishaye in his arms.
The baby looked up, forgetting to cry for a minute, and in that instant, Rohit felt as if he had fallen in love. Again.
Her crying resumed.
'Hello, my precious! Baba here! Pehchaana mujhe?'
Rohit rocked her lightly, talking softly.
The crying decreased, turning into sniffles. Rohit smiled down at her, and continued speaking.
'I know Baba ko aap ke aane ke baad itna time nahin mila hai, ke aap ke saath waqt guzaaren, and I'm sorry. But abhi aap thori choti ho to understand that. I just wanted to be clear, and explain..'

A snicker had him look up. Sonakshi stood there, her wet hair about her face,  watching them, a big smile on her lips.
'Ab itni si baby ko bhi explanation dena parr rahi hai! Rohit Sippy! You are totally done for!'

Rohit grinned at that, and turned back to his daughter, who it seemed had heard Sonakshi's voice, and started crying again.
'Aray! Not fair! Mama aayi nahin ke Baba se mun pher liya..'

Sonakshi laughed at that.
'Abhi isse pata nahin hai ke uss ke Baba kitne dramatic hain! Mishaye, aap to inki baaton mein mat hi aana, Mama to phass hi gayi hai, ab aap pe try kar rahe hain..'
Sonakshi made to take her daughter, but Rohit held her away, and she continued to cry.

'Haww! Phass gayi ho? Acha!'
Rohit made a face.

'Aray! Do na isse! Roti rahegi aise hi.'
Sonakshi tried to take the baby, but he shifted her again.

'Pehle apne words wapas lo..phasaane wale..I wooed you, koi phasaya wasaya nahin tha maine..'
He sounded proud, and Sonakshi rolled her eyes.

'Woh to maine rehem kha liya tha tum pe..warna abhi tak aagay peechay hi ghoom rahe hotay..'
Sonakshi's eyes widened, as he caught her by the waist with his free hand.
'Rohit! Kya kar rahe ho?'

'Pehle, take your words back! Or mein itni der tak aagay peechay nahin ghoomta. I would have buried myself in you long back.'
His tone turned husky, leaving her in no doubt as to what he meant. She blushed.

'Besharam! Chorro mujhe! Madhu yahin dekh rahi hai!'

'Dekhne do!'
He kept his arm firmly about her waist, while rocking the baby on his other shoulder.

'Kya hum bhi dekh sakte hain?'
Suman's voice came from behind, and they both froze.

To be continued..