Radhika took long steps to her kids room, she was surprised by the continuous squealing and was bit worried her girls being sick.  When Arjun suddenly stepped next to her, she got more worried . Till now she thought, he was with them and that made girls squeal so much. 

As the duo entered the room, they found not but 3 squealing babies. One happened to be an adult by experience. Nandini competed with the two as they responded with a bigger squeal. She held the two in each arm and kept talking to them as babies went on with their love attack.

''Good Morning you two.'' Nandini greeted the couple. She cuddled the two again before turning to Radhika, ''They woke up very early so I decided to keep them engaged.'' Radhika smiled, she understood the void Nandini felt but never expressed. She knew her daughters were lucky to have Nandini as their aunt.

''I will massage and bathe them. Radhika extended her arms but they decided to refuse throwing their arms on Nandini. The latter took a deep breath placing a deep peck on their small bodies. 

''They love you Di.''

''And I love them, more than I love any of you.'' Radhika nodded as she took one from Nandini and they got busy in getting them ready. Arjun just stood in silence watching his perfect family. Only thing he missed was walking and be a part of the lovely cuddle.

''Arjun, please pull out a dress for each while we bathe this naughty duo.'' Arjun smiled nodding at his sister. he pulled open the wardrobe and recalled that he got few dress custom made for his little angels. Arjun ran to his room and bought the parcel to kids room. He pulled out a pink and another blue coloured dress smiling down at them. 

Nandini bought Anusha wrapped in a soft towel, she placed them on the bed allowing Arjun to dress her up as she walked back to get the other one. Arjun held his little angel tenderly as he wiped her and got her dressed in blue. 

Radhika watched the way he held his little girl to his chest, gently patting her dry as he kept placing soft pecks on her head. Radhika though had a deep urge to rile Arjun up but for now she decided have a father the most of his girls. She gently placed Anya too on the bed walking away.

***

Neil took hesitant steps up the stairs of Mishra house. "Come one Neil.'' Prerna urged

Neil gripped the strap of his bag hard, ''Mom, do you think its the good idea?''

''I don't care. I am not going back till they accept me back.'' Prerna made decision clear. Neil nodded as he followed her up to the first floor. He wasn't worried about the rejection but about his mother's emotions getting hurt. He wanted to save her from any kind of pain. He prayed that his extended family goes soft on Prerna.

The door was answered by Dilip, he stayed frozen staring at his sister. After a minute he whispered, ''Finally!'' Prerna  hugged Dilip sobbing hard. Dilip patted her head, ''You can cry buckets once you are in.'' Turning to Neil he smiled, ''Do you need a special invitation?'' Neil ginned wide. Moving inside they were  greeted by a commotion , a diaper clad boy ran from one end to the other, with his mother in tow. he would crawl under the furniture as she kept warning him.

''Riddhima and Sahil.'' Dilip made a quick introduction, taking them inside. Sahil ran past Neil and he picked the boy up.

''Thanks!'' Riddhima said breathing hard. Neil grinned wide as he pecked his nephew. Sahil's eyes spoke mischief.  ''Riddhi, you have another brother, Neil.''

Riddhima smiled, ''I hope I am elder to you.''

''You are!'' Dilip replied, he looked at Neil, ''Neil you take Ankush's room, Riddima make your brother feel at home.'' Riddhima nodded, she took Sahil from Neil reprimanding her naughty son.

Neil looked at Prerna not sure if she would get forgiveness of her father, Prerna gestured him to go ahead. He nodded , following Riddhima in. ''Don't worry, before Bua(aunt) you will meet Dadaji. He won't be able to ignore you.''

''Why are you so sure?''

Riddhima smiled, ''I just know.'' Sahil squirmed, ''Stay or I will lock you.'' The boy stilled. 

''Don't scold him.''

''2 days and you will request me to lock him in a room.'' After sharing some words Riddhima left the room scolding her son who kept whining in his broken language. Neil looked around, he had known everyone before as Radhika's family and now he had to learn to call them their own. He didn't knew how if he would be accepted completely, above all he feared that his grandfather might reject his mother, breaking her heart again.

He stood watching the scenic view from the window when his phone vibarations took hi attention. ''Where th hell are you?''

''What a way to greet your wife's cousin!'' Neil replied tongue in cheek

Arjun shut his eyes, ''Where are you Neil?''

''Hrishikesh! Trying to gel with my family.''

''Sam is getting engaged in a month and married in 2.'' Arjun's words bought a long silence. Neil's eyelids froze, his grip on phone turned menacing. The nerves of his arms started tensing as he clenched his jaw, ''She won't marry him.''

''Why wouldn't she? You are acting all stupid. Sorry, you both are acting stupid.'' Arjun reprimanded him

''Arjun calm down, Sam will marry Neil and no one else.''

''How?''

''Its still 2 months. Things change in seconds.''

''Neil, more than you I am tensed.'' Arjun said , he sounded crazy. Neil smiled, ''Don't be because its my turn to go crazy.'' Neil took a deep breath, ''Anyways, take care and chill. I will handle  it my own way.''

Before Arjun could say another word, Neil disconnected. He took a deep breath, there was no plan no words , it was time for action and he had his step clear in him mind. 

He smiled when he heard Riddhima screaming on her son. Neil knew it was important to deal with Sam, but for now it was important to feel the relationships he missed.

***

Sam turned phone off, she didn't wanted any more suggestions about going on a date with her would be spouse. She wanted to move forward but now all of it appeared to be a huge mistake. She wasn't going back to Neil but moving forward right now appeared wrong.

Her mind and emotions were at a mess, and in a way she was playing with the emotions of the guy she was getting engaged to. 

''I thought you wanted to move forward!'' Radhika interrupted her thoughts. She had been watching Sam staring at her ringing phone and then turning it off. 

''I want to but all this now seems wrong.'' Sam answered agitated

Radhika rubbed Sam's back, ''Sam, you can't give it up before trying. Go and meet the guy, try to know him. WHo knows it might work out.''

''Radhika ...I can't express my condition right now. All..this...its...so..so disturbing.'' Radhika pitted Sam's condition. She was mad at Neil too for drawing Sam so close to this stste. She had made up her mind to speak to Prerna but her sudden plan to visit Hrishkesh squashed everything.

Radhika thought for a minute, ''Sam, will you do something I tell you. ''

''Don't know, it depends on what you are asking.''

''Call Neil, tell him that you don't want him or anyone related to him to attend your engagement.''

Sam looked confused, ''Prerna aunty is a friend of my parents, I can't do that.''

''You can and you will. If they can ask to keep the distance blaming you for everything, you can to. Trust me, it will sooth your burning nerves.'' Sam thought over the past harsh words uttered by Neil and Prerna. She wanted to answer but never did. May be Radhika was right, making Neil feel her plight might bring some peace to her heart.

Radhika smiled, she knew when angry , all human have the tendency to vent it out on the source. The main reason for Neil-Sam's misery was the silence between them . She decided to end it instigating Sam about having her revenge by hurting Neil the same way.    ' I know you are mad at him for hurting you and not standing by your side. I know you wanted to hurt him by pushing him away but you instead turned miserable.You two are kids, Ready to jump on each others neck for small thing. If I am right, Neil will take a drastic step but it needed a little motivation too. You two need to fight , and everything will fall in place.'

Sam picked her phone and messaged Neil asking him to refuse the invitation in case her dad invites him. She took a deep breath immediately feeling better.

***

Radhika went straight to her girls after returning from work. She felt all her fatigue being washed off the moment her daughters welcomed her with giggles and squeals. She hugged them, spoke random stuff and then her eyes squared on the dresses, her girls wore same dresses of different colour with a caption on them, it said, 'My Daddy is the best.'  Radhika knew those were custom made as she too had made a few. Huffing like a wounded solider, she marched to the baby dresser and pulled out the ones she got done.  After she changed them , she grinned wide at her work waiting for Arjun's response. She had intentionally done few with captions tailor made to irritate the Papa Mehra

Arjun ran to his kids the moment he freshened up, he was forced to work from office as Nandini had refused to fill in for him. He lifted each in his arm and just then his smile vanished, the dresses girls wore had caption in bold, 'Mommy is the boss.'   He rolled  his eyes. His wife got some kind of satisfaction in riling him up. He wanted to ignore but then it gave him a hope about having some kind of conversation with her. He pecked his girls, ''You two have to be my postman. Will you help daddy?'' he received the reply in form of squeals.

Next day, Arjun made sure he bathed and changed before Radhika could. he smiled reading the caption, he wished he could see Radhika's fuming ears but that might turn dangerous for him too.  Just then the door clicked open and she walked in with her chin high, Arjun hid his smiled, placed the girls in the crib and walked out. He moved out but stayed on the other side. After a minute he peeped in, Radhika stood with a deep frown as she read the caption, 'Daddy is bravest.'

''Bravest! My foot. He withers like a dry leaf in my presence. Do yo guys know he fears that I might smash him like a bug.'' the babies giggled as if mocking their mother

Arjun stifled his laughed, she was back to her playful self. He leaned to hear the next part, ''Fine, now the war beings. I will show you guys who is the boss here.'' With she marched out and found Arjun to be halted by a very amused Arjun. Anyone could make out that it took him lot of effort to control his laughter. She locked him with her palms on the wall, ''Don't be so happy about little victory. I will win the final war.'' he said nothing but stood frozen, his lips pressed to control his amusement.

''You think irritating me is funny. Well for you it has always been as you enjoyed hurting me.'' Her demure changed. the theory she had applied on Sam came alive for her as well. Arjun froze, she looked angry. Radhika looked at him with anger and disgust, she moved away but couldn't move further as he pulled her back, locking her front to his, his arm around her waist, ''I know I Have hurt you bad and nothing can change that but you also know that there is nothing I have loved more than you.''

She smirked, ''How can I forget! You tried throttling me and then asked me to get lost. what a love!''

''Forgive me! for our kids.''

She pushed him hard, freeing herself from his grip, ''Its for them I am here or I wouldn't have seen your face.'' Radhika walked away leaving a dejected Arjun behind, he was hurt but hopeful about winning her back. They had taken mini steps with a real conversation. He huffed, ''Need to place order for baby t-shirts with better caption.

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Happy sunday