Abhira gasped, shooting up in bed, and looked at her side instinctively. Her little angel was whimpering softly, her lips wet with drool and face scrunched up. She sighed, taking the baby in her arms and cooing at her. The little one was wrapped in a baby blanket, looking at her mother with her eyes widened.

"Kya hua meri choti shaitan ko?" Abhira asked the little one in a baby voice. "Roi roi aa rahi hai meri jaan?"

Even though the baby was way too young to understand her mother, she looked at her like she understood everything. "Tu na apne Baba ki hi beti hai.. woh bhi aisa hi hai.. over-smart!" Abhira said to her daughter playfully and rocked the little one in her arms for a few minutes till she felt the little one relax in her embrace.

Abhira closed her eyes for a second before she opened them again, looking at the table clock.

9:30

"Armaan ka client meeting hai aaj.." She mumbled to herself before stepping out of the bed with her daughter safely cradled in her arms.

Barely seconds later, Armaan entered the room as quietly as possible and looked at Abhira with a smile. Their daughter's arrival in their lives turned two of the loudest people into the quietest couple. Armaan and Abhira were almost overly cautious of never speaking in a raised voice when their baby was around or sleeping.

"Paanch minute bhi nahi soyi hai tu.." Armaan said softly, "Thodi der laet jaa meri jaan."

Abhira sighed, "Uth jaayegi.." She responded by gesturing to the baby in her arms. She was still uneasy and fidgety in her mother's arms. "Bukhaar bhi nahi utar raha, irritated hai mera bacha."

Armaan caressed the baby's head gently and kissed her affectionately. He then wrapped his arm around his wife and had her lean slightly against him. He was entirely wrapped around the little one's little finger and Armaan knew that. Every second of being a first-time parent was a new adventure but he also knew that he wouldn't trade a second of this experience for anything in this world.

"Mai nahi jaata aaj kahin. I'll watch over Maahi. Tum raat ko bhi nahi soyi ho Ira." Armaan suggested gently as he rubbed Abhira's shoulder soothingly.

Their little one had just gotten her third vaccine shot and had developed a slight fever as an immune reaction.

Their pediatrician as well as the Gynecologist had assured them that it was completely normal for babies to have a fever and become uneasy and irritable after vaccination.

Maahi had slept fitfully for the whole of yesterday and as a result, Abhira had barely gotten any sleep at all. She had asked Armaan to go to the other room to sleep because he had to wake up for the interview the next morning and he couldn't afford to look or feel sleepy.

She was exhausted and Armaan's offer did look tempting but the interview was important. The clients were important for both Armaan and the firm. They couldn't just cancel at the last moment. She couldn't ask him to stay and miss out on work.

"Thodi der ki baat hai baby.. mai sambhal lungi." She assured him. "Tu ja, ready ho."

Armaan huffed. "Haalat dekh apni.."

Abhira chuckled softly, "Mummy-on ke paas superpower hoti hai. Bacchon ko sambhaalne ke time thakaan gayab ho jaati hai." She said proudly.

"Vaise bhi.. mai zyaada der nahi so paungi.. woh abhi doodh ke liye halla macha degi.. kitni bhi daddy's girl ho.. doodh ke time meri god nahi chod sakti tumhaari beti" She added with a fond smile.

Armaan chuckled in agreement. Ever since her birth 8 months ago, this was their one and only topic of amusement as well as bickering related to her. Maahi had literally chosen people to satisfy her different needs.

She slept with her father, got comforted only by him

She fed with her mother (even though they have now started to limit her breast-feeding and started on mashed veggies and bottled milk she still needed Abhira's cooes and her warmth while feeding)

She played with her Chachi Maa and Dadi (occasionally, that became a matter of annoyance with Armaan who'd complain that the ladies always exhausted his baby so much that she immediately fell asleep once she found herself in his arms. Although watching her fall peacefully asleep in his arms was a sight he wouldn't trade for the whole world)

"Accha theek hai.. maanogi toh tum ho nahi." Armaan said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "If something happens, call me immediately."

Abhira nodded. She was sure Maahi would give her enough reason to do it sooner rather than later.

Armaan pressed his lips on her forehead. "Take care of yourself for me."

***

Five hours. It had only been four hours since Armaan had left for his interview after having his fill of his daughter, playing and everything. At first, Abhira was able to handle her. Probably because she was sleepy and hungry but then, she woke up and didn't find her father anywhere near her. Abhira had tried to calm her down, but her sick little angel was soon wailing and hiccupping asking for her daddy non-stop.

It was times like these that Abhira found herself helpless. She hated to see her that way but Maahi had without fail behaved exactly the same way after every one of her shots and there was little Abhira was able to do to help his baby other than rubbing her back, singing and cooing to her and carrying her around the house.

Usually, Armaan was the one with the duty of calming Maahi down on her sick days but today, that was not an option. Abhira missed him.

After seeing her little baby struggling and restless for hours, she was finding it difficult to maintain her work ethic for she knew Armaan was the only savior left.

Finally, after much internal debate Abhira called him.

"Busy hai?" She asked him the moment he took her call. Armaan could hear Maahi's screaming in the background and it made him worried.

"Princess theek hai?" He asked worriedly. "Tu theek hai?"

Abhira was still hopping the little one on her arm, trying to distract her as she responded to him.

"Tu aa sakta hai kya wahan se. Yeh tik nahi rahi.. 2 ghante se aise hi kar rahi hai.. 5 minute se zyada rona band nahi ho raha iska.."

Armaan sighed. "Mene bola tha ruk jaata hoon mai." He said quietly. "Pacifier bhi nahi le rahi?"

Abhira responded negatively. "Armaan mujhe darr lag raha hai. Maa ya chachi Saa bhi nahi hai yahan. Maahi ki tabiyat kharab nahi hogi na?" She asked worriedly, biting back a sob.

Armaan felt a stab of worry in his own heart at her words, not only for the Maahi but also for Abhira. Her fears, irrational and rational, tended to multiply tenfold sometimes, especially after the pregnancy but she had no control or power over her mind and that was neither unusual nor her fault. He wished he could take a part of both their pains but of course that was not possible so he had to comfort them with what he had, words.

"Nahi hogi tabiyat kharab meri jaan.. tu hai na wahan. Princess ki super-mumma hai na. Mai abhi nikal raha hoon. Bas 20 minute aur sambhal le.." Armaan said softly. "Tu bhi paani pi aur princess ko bhi pila. Tum dono to meri strong ladies ho na."

Abhira hummed.

"Mai aa raha hoon dono ke paas.." He assured her again.

***

Nineteen minutes later, Abhira heard the front doorbell and she walked towards the door to admit Armaan in.

Maahi had stopped crying barely five minutes ago, but she was still grumbling and squirming in her mother's arms, still asking for her father.

As soon as Armaan entered the room, Maahi let out a small whine, that they had learnt to interpret as her way of asking for her father, leaning over to his side.

"Haan Baba ki jaan.. aa gaye Baba." He said, taking Maahi from Abhira. "Aap mumma ko trouble kar rahe the?"

Now, the little one was smart. She knew sad and angry when she heard it and she hated to make her father sad, angry or both. Maahi snuggled into his shoulder, hiding her face in his jacket and let out a small sob.

Armaan cooed at her.

"Mera baccha.. aise thodi rote hai— see baba aa gaye na princess ke liye?" He asked her gently, pressing soft kisses on her face. "Gussa hai meri princess apne baba se?"

He walked in, talking to Maahi in a baby voice and rubbing her back gently. "Fever hai ab bhi?"

Abhira shook her head. Armaan smiled. Thank god.

"Chai banau?" She asked. "Abhi ghar aaye ho.."

Armaan shook his head, "Idhar aa, hug kar aake mujhe." He pulled her closer to himself with his free hand. "Rang uda hua hai tere chehre ka.."

Abhira buried her face in his chest making Armaan kiss her head. "Wash your face, bhoot lag rahi hai aur uske baad seedha bed pe."

Abhira head-butted his shoulder. "Kutte tujhe mai bhoot lagti hoon?" She asked cutely.

Armaan frowned, "Uss logic se princess bhi bhoot hogi na? Nahi baba nahi.. tu toh meri queen hai. Meri princess ki mumma" He said playfully. "Haina meri choti Ira.. (Ira also means Queen I think)"

Maahi grumbled, trying to bite his shoulder, leaving drool all over his jacket sleeve.

"Baby.. tu bukhu kyon hai itni.. abhi to mumma ne tujhe 'nana dia tha.. jacket nahi khate Maahi.." Abhira chuckled, wiping her mouth with a cotton napkin. "Baba ko change karne dete hain phir aap unke saath khelna.."

Abhira was taking Maahi from Armaan but Maahi screamed in protest, making her step back with an eye-roll. "Betuuu.. teri maa hoon mai. Terko kidnap nahi kar rahi jo itna cheekh rahi hai." She said mock annoyed.

Armaan chuckled. "Koi nahi.. this is comfortable enough. Usko settle hone de." He said softly as Maahi shoved her face into his neck, grabbing his hair in a feeble grip.

***

Maahi found her energy renewed after Armaan had returned. The father and daughter sat on the bed. Armaan was telling his love a little story, complete with all the actions and voices. Maahi giggled and flailed her hands excitedly, cuddled in her father's arms happily.

Abhira smiled watching the two of them happy in their own world with each-other. Armaan saw Abhira enter the room with a tray of food.

"Ander aao mumma.." Armaan called her in a baby voice, beckoning her "Maahi aur baba ke saath kheli kheli karo."

Abhira smiled, climbing on the bed next to Armaan and kissed Maahi's cheek. "Mera baccha.."

Maahi looked up from her father's chest, peering curiously at her mother and let out a happy giggle patting Abhira's cheek excitedly.

"Tu na jaadugar hi hai Armaan. Tere paas aake mera cranky baccha ek dum khush baby bann jaata hai." She said fondly.

"Issi baat pe, ab mujhe bhi kissie chahiye." Armaan demanded cutely.

Abhira frowned, "Kis khushi me?"

"Maahi ko bhi mili thi.. baba ko bhi chahiye." Armaan pouted making her smile at him fondly. "Maahi.. mumma ko bolo papa ko meethi waali kissie chahiye."

Maahi, to her credit, turned to her mother immediately and began to speak in babyish babbles. Abhira's eyes lit up at the baby's antics and she chuckled.

"Baba ki wakeel hai puri." Abhira mumbled to herself before she kissed her husband on his forehead.

Now she couldn't say no to her princess, could she?

An hour later Maahi finally fell asleep on Armaan's chest, exhausted from all the playing and still a little sick as she was Armaan himself was the most crucial factor that led the little one to find comfort.

Once she was asleep, Abhira gently detached her from her father's chest. "Jacket utaar.. synthetic stuff hai. Cotton ki shirt daal, vaapis deti hoon warna uth jaayegi yeh." She said in a hushed whisper and Armaan nodded at once, changing his clothes in record time to take his princess back in his arms.

He held the little one to his chest, patting her back softly as she slept and pushed his wife to lie down next to him and with his free hand started to caress her hair. "Aankh band kar.. so ja thodi der."

"Mujhe na kabhi kabhi darr lagta hai.. mai isko chup bhi nahi karwa paati." Abhira's eyes pooled with tears. "Tu nahi hota toh mai kya karti?" She asked innocently.

"Mai hoon na, baby?" He mumbled, leaning over to kiss her head. "Aur woh teri beti hai.. tu usse sabse acche se sambhaal sakti hai."

"Aaj nahi ho raha tha.." She sighed. Armaan rubbed the back of her hand softly.

"Aaj woh bimaar thi baby.. it was a bad day for all of us. Mujhe bhi to time laga na usko sulaane me? Aur tu do raat se soyi bhi nahi hai. Tu phir bhi sab kar rahi thi na? Try kia na? Woh hi matter karta hai." He told her firmly.

Abhira sniffed softly, running her hands across her face. Armaan shifted Maahi slightly to his left and nodded at Abhira. "Paas aa mere.."

Abhira frowned, causing Armaan to pull her frail form closer to himself on his own. Abhira rested her head on his chest and Armaan bagan to pat her gently to help her fall asleep. "Tu mujhe Maahi jaise treat kar raha hai?" She asked surprised.

"You'll always be my first baby.. aur aaj toh tu Maahi jaise nakhra bhi kar rahi hai sone me.." Armaan said, faking annoyance. Abhira smiled.

"Phir acche se kar.."

"Kya chahiye meri jaan?" He asked softly. Abhira grabbed his T-Shirt and sighed, as if in relief when Armaan began to press his fingers gently through her hair, rhythmically placing soft kisses on her face.

He could see how exhausted she was and he knew, sometimes it's the exhaustion that doesn't let you sleep. Armaan kept pressing her head, trying to ease her into taking a much needed nap.

"Tujhe uncomfortable nahi ho raha?" Abhira asked in a muffled voice, looking at him with a soft curiosity.

Armaan shrugged. "I'm fine aur aaj ki baat thodi hai, pehle dinn se tujhe mujhse chipak ke sone ki aadat hai. Tab uncomfortable nahi hua toh ab kyon hoga?"

"Ab woh aa gayi na." She pointed out. "Ek aur chipku."

Armaan chuckled. "Ek secret batau? Jabse tu mere saath aise— mere upad charh ke.. seene pe sar rakh ke so rahi hai, mene ek bhi bura sapna nahi dekha.. jaise tera wazan mere dil ke liye koi taaveez ho.. Maahi ke aane ke baad tune apni powers usko bhi dedi.. apni aadat ke saath."

Abhira giggled softly, feeling so loved in that moment that she could hardly put it into words. "I love you, Armaan."

"I love you too, Abhira." He responded.

Abhira sighed, closing her eyes, at first to feel the full extent of his words seeping in, but then she couldn't open her eyes even if she tried.

"Good night, Maan." She mumbled, with the last of her fading consciousness and felt him respond although she didn't really hear the words that were being said.

Once Abhira fell asleep, Armaan kissed both the girls' heads before finally closing his own eyes, falling asleep in a sitting position with both of his girls holding him on either side. This was what peace looked like and he knew it.

He had been living in it for more than four years and in the last year, the peace had somehow doubled through all the chaos that being a new parent inadvertently brought to his and Abhira's life. It was his duty, his privilege and his honor to raise a queen alongside his queen.

He knew Abhira would still end up doing more to make their life better in every way imaginable, like the rest of the women in his life had done, but it was hardly a competition when they were two parts of a whole. He knew he'll always do his absolute best to aid them and strengthen them like they would do on a daily basis for him.

The journey of parenthood was with its bumps, but it was still a journey worth taking, for all the good parts and all the bad ones. With the right people by your side, it just is worth it.

Obviously, they're gonna have kids eventually. What DKP is doing right now is utter bullshit so I came up with this. I hope this is how it turns out to be. 

This is not related to the Teaser I posted a couple days back, that one is still shaping. 

I hope you like this one

Love
Vinny