As soon as Kabir entered the house, the baby girl turned her head, almost as if she had sensed his presence before he had even made a sound. Her tiny hands, which had been busy reaching for her toys moments earlier, fell still.

"Kya hua bachha? Aap khelte khelte ruk kyun gaye, haan?" Nitya asked, her voice soft and playful, as she continued to entertain the little one sitting in front of her. But Nishi, the eight-month-old in her lap, seemed suddenly distracted, her gaze fixed on something—or rather, someone—Nitya had yet to notice.

"Arre, kaha dekh rahe ho aap?" Nitya asked, her curiosity piqued by the baby's sudden stillness. She followed the direction of Nishi's wide-eyed stare, turning her head to see what had captured the infant's attention.

And then she saw him—Kabir, standing just a few steps away from the door, his eyes softening the moment they landed on Nishi. The connection between them was immediate, almost magnetic. Nitya froze, watching in quiet amazement as the baby's face lit up, a small giggle escaping her lips as if she had been waiting for him all along.

How had Nishi sensed him before even she had? Nitya wondered. It was as though the baby had felt his presence the moment he'd stepped into the house.

For a moment, Nitya simply watched, taken aback by the purity of what she had just witnessed. This was more than just a baby recognizing her father—it was something deeper, a love so pure and instinctual that it made Nitya's heart swell with emotions she couldn't quite explain. It was as if Nishi's entire world lit up just by knowing Kabir was near.

And in that quiet moment, Nitya realized—this was the kind of bond that could never be broken.

"Nishi, baby, Dadda aaye hain kya?" Nitya asked softly, watching as a smile began to spread across the baby's face. The little one's eyes sparkled with joy, as if she knew exactly what those words meant. And then, just as expected, came the voice.

"Hello, Princess!" Kabir's deep, familiar tone filled the room.

Nishi turned around immediately, her face lighting up as if someone had switched on a light inside her. She let out an excited coo, her chubby legs bouncing in a little dance as she tried to rise to her feet, thrilled by the mere sound of her father's voice.

"He...ahhh!" the baby squealed, her tiny arms stretching out towards him.

Kabir stepped toward her, his face soft with affection. He bent down to her level on the bed, placing a light kiss on her nose. Then, with a swift but gentle motion, he swept her into his arms, holding her close. Nitya, sitting just a few feet away, felt her heart swell as she watched the scene unfold—the pure, unfiltered love between father and daughter was almost overwhelming.

Kabir kissed Nishi's forehead tenderly, his lips lingering there as if he never wanted to let go. Then he rained playful kisses across her round little tummy, her giggles filling the room as he continued to kiss her everywhere he could. He had missed his darling girl so much during the two days he had been away, and it showed in every little kiss, every twirl he gave her.

"Haan, mera bachha, Dadda ne bhi aapko bahut miss kiya," he whispered as he spun her around in his arms, her tiny giggles mixing with his laughter.

Nitya couldn't help but smile, a warmth blooming in her chest. Kabir hadn't even changed out of his clothes from the day, his exhaustion clearly visible in the slight droop of his shoulders, but the moment he saw Nishi, any sign of tiredness disappeared. His excitement and happiness radiated through the room, making it impossible not to be drawn into their joyful little bubble.

"Kabir, at least change kar lo," Nitya gently reminded him, chuckling at the sight of him still in his work clothes, completely absorbed in playing with their daughter.

Kabir nodded, reluctantly handing Nishi back to Nitya with a playful grin. "Thik hai, bas ek minute," he said before heading to take a quick shower. Nitya cradled Nishi in her arms, her little one's eyes never leaving the door where Kabir had disappeared.

After a few minutes, Kabir returned, dressed in comfortable clothes, and Nishi's eyes lit up again. Without missing a beat, he scooped her up once more, and the father-daughter duo resumed their playful antics, filling the room with laughter and warmth.

Nitya smiled to herself as she quietly slipped away to the kitchen, leaving them to their special time. She set about preparing some light snacks for Kabir, the sounds of their giggles still echoing in her ears. The pure joy they shared was something she had never quite seen before—a love so simple, yet so profound.

Nishi, worn out from all the play, started to rest her head against Kabir's shoulder, her small fingers curling around his shirt. Kabir looked down at her sleepy face, her long lashes fluttering as she fought to stay awake. Smiling, he gently patted her head, the rhythmic motion soon lulling her into a peaceful slumber. Her tiny breaths deepened, and Kabir could feel the weight of her fully relax into him.

With Nishi asleep, Kabir noticed that Nitya wasn't in the living room. Quietly, he moved towards the kitchen, his steps careful not to disturb the baby in his arms. As he entered the room, he found Nitya busy at the counter, preparing some snacks. She seemed lost in her own world, unaware of his presence.

With a mischievous smile, Kabir crept up behind her and wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulling her into a gentle hug. Nitya jumped slightly, startled by the unexpected embrace, but before she could say anything, she felt his warm breath on her ear.

"I missed you too," he whispered softly, his voice low and filled with affection.

"Kabir! Shut up!" she said, her voice hushed but playful, as she nudged him away. "Tumhari beti so rahi hai," she added, her tone a mix of scolding and amusement.

Kabir chuckled, tightening his hold on her for just a moment longer. "Haan toh kya hua? Apni beti ke saath-saath, kya main tumhein miss nahi kar sakta?" he teased, his tone light, though his words held a deeper meaning.

Nitya blushed, turning her face away to hide the smile creeping across her lips. Her heart fluttered in that familiar way it always did when Kabir was close. But then her eyes shifted to Nishi, still nestled in his arms, her tiny fist gripping Kabir's shirt.

"Kabir, Nishi jaag jaegi," she whispered, her gaze softening as she took in the sight of them.

Kabir sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping as if he had lost a playful battle. "Thik hai, thik hai," he murmured, planting a quick kiss on Nitya's shoulder before stepping back.

As he left the kitchen with Nishi still cradled in his arms, Nitya watched him go, her heart swelling with emotions she couldn't quite put into words. In the span of just a couple of months, Kabir had become more than just a man she'd met by chance—he was someone she was falling for, deeply and completely.

And in moments like these, with his love for Nishi and his tender care for her, Nitya realized she might be helpless to stop it.

Kabir stepped into Nishi's room, moving like a whisper through the stillness of the night. His heart swelled at the sight of his daughter, blissfully cradled in the soft cocoon of her cot. The gentle rise and fall of her tiny chest was a mesmerizing rhythm that brought a smile to his lips. He smoothed the blanket around her, feeling the warmth of her presence suffuse the room like a mother's hug. As he turned on his heel, the air felt brimming with unspoken affection.

As he returned to the kitchen, a breathtaking scene unfolded before him. A feast for his eyes, and his palate. The table was laden with his favourite snacks, a meticulously curated array of delights. At its centre, Nitya, her hair cascading around her shoulders, was the finishing touch – her hands gracefully adding the last swirls to a tempting chocolate pudding. His heart softened at the sight of her, her complete focus on this sweet gesture, a testament to the depth of her affection.

Unable to contain the surge of longing that coursed through him, Kabir silently approached her, his steps as silent as a whisper. In one fluid motion, he encircled her waist, his embrace a warm, enveloping cocoon. The sudden touch startled her, a gasp escaping her lips, but before she could react, he buried his face in the curve of her neck, showering her skin with gentle, adoring kisses.

"Kabir!" Nitya breathed, her protest a soft murmur rather than a command. "Kya kar rahe ho? Leave me!"

But Kabir remained rooted, his grip tightening ever so slightly, refusing to relinquish her. His lips trailed up to her ear, his voice husky with suppressed emotions, "I missed you... so much."

A shiver ran down Nitya's spine at the warmth of his breath against her skin. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the tempest brewing within her. In a playful gesture, his eyes landed on the chocolate pudding, and with a mischievous glint, he scooped a spoonful. Before she could even voice her surprise, he gently brought it to her lips, a tender offering of sweetness.

As the decadent chocolate melted on her tongue, Kabir's fingers tangled in her hair, drawing her closer. Their eyes met, and Nitya felt herself sinking into the fathomless depths of his gaze, a swirling vortex of unspoken desires. The air thickened, charged with a potent energy, a silent symphony of emotions played out between them.

Without a conscious thought, Kabir leaned in, his lips brushing against hers – a soft, tentative touch. But the kiss quickly escalated, becoming urgent, desperate, as if he couldn't bear to be apart from her for another second. His hands held her firmly, as though afraid she might slip away.

Nitya's head spun, a dizzying mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through her. Her fingers instinctively sought refuge in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer. His lips moved to her shoulder, leaving a trail of heated kisses that made her breath catch in her throat. She felt the raw hunger in his touch, the desperation in every kiss, every movement. He was consuming her, driving her to the edge of sanity with his intensity.

Their mouths met once more, this time with a ferocity that set their souls ablaze. Passion exploded between them, a wildfire ignited in the quiet kitchen, a heat that neither could deny, nor resist.

But it was Nitya who broke the spell, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she gazed at him, her heart still pounding a frantic rhythm.

"Kabir, what took over you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, still caught in the whirlwind of their shared moment.

Kabir's eyes, dark and filled with a yearning that mirrored the depths of his love, held hers captive. Leaning close, his voice a low, soulful murmur against her ear, he confessed, "This was my way to show you... how much I missed you," his hands cupping her face, desperate to bridge the infinitesimal distance that separated them.

The sheer intensity of his gaze left no doubt in her mind. Kabir had missed her in ways she hadn't even imagined. And as she stood there, her body still echoing with the reverberations of their shared passion, she knew she was falling even deeper into the bottomless pit of his love.