A/N: Even if I don't respond to all comments, I promise I read them all, and it makes my day!

.....

"Haa Di, sounds great! I'll see you. Chalo bye." Shashank tossed his phone aside and cleaned up the hall so that it looked presentable.

"Tujhe kya hua hai? Chutti hai, chill kar!" Shiva said, plopping down on the sofa.

"Chill? Meri behen aur uski terror beti aa rahi hai! Kaise karu chill?!" Shashank exclaimed, removing all breakable items from hands reach.

"But she's the sweetest baby, aise kaise terror bula raha hai usse, Shashank?!" Raavi frowned, grabbing a bowl of chips at 11 AM.

"Woh aayegi, tab samjhega." He shook his head and plopped down next to Shiva.

"Ye Gaurav har baar escape kaise kar leta hai?! Kamina saala!" Shashank grumbled, while Raavi chuckled in the background.

"Girlfriend calls, my dear boy! Especially when her flat is empty for the weekend." Raavi raised her palm as if she were offering blessings, making Shashank raise his eyebrows at her.

"Unbelievable. Seriously."

"Accha, kab aa rahi hai?" Shiva asked, leaning in to grab some chips and earning a swat on his hand instead.

"Abhi. In about 3-"

Ding dong.

"-seconds. I was going for minutes, really." Shashank grumbled and opened the door, greeted by his sister and the cutest 3 year old to ever walk this planet.

At least that's what Shashank believed.

"Wassup, Moti! Hi, my love!" He hugged his sister, and carried his niece in his arms, smothering her with kisses, making her giggle.

"Shut up Shashank! Hey you guys! Sorry aise suddenly aa gayi, socha tha drop by kar lu, Jiya was constantly nagging me to come to 'Mamu house'"

The tiny baby in question, Jiya, was currently wearing a white t-shirt and denim overalls, a butterfly clip in her hair, with white socks and yellow strappy shoes on, her teeth like white pearls and dimple like a crevice on the moon when she smiled.

Shashank's sister, Maitreyi, sank down on the sofa, bunching her hair up into a bun, thanking Raavi for the glass and hugging them both.

"That is Ra-i Didi." Jiya pointed at Raavi, and she pulled her cheeks at the way the little girl just stated that, not even doubting her memory. Oh, how 3 year old minds work, she'll never know.

"I was just driving past here taking her to the mall, toh zidd karne lagi, ki she wants to go to-"

"SHAK MAMU HOUSE!" Jiya cooed, giggling and holding his face in her tiny hands.

"-Shak mamu house, yes baby!" Maitreyi chuckled, and kept her bag down. "Isliye I called and asked if we could stop by. Bohot ziddi ho gayi hai ye ladki, threw a whole bunch of tantrums."

"Woh suna maine phone pe. And why not," Shashank tickled his baby niece, making her squirm and laugh, "after all, I am her favourite-"

"SHIVA MAMU!" Jiya looked at Shiva, and tilted her whole body, reaching her arms out towards Shiva, as he carried her in his arms and spun around.

"-mamu, damn you, Shiva!"

"Hi darling!" Shiva chuckled, kissing her cheek as she poked his arm.

"So many-nee muscles!" Jiya poked his bare arms, courtesy of his sleeveless vests he had resorted to in the heat of the season.

"Yes, I do have many-nee muscles. Good job!" Shiva raised his palm, and she gave him a high-five, "You've become a big girl, Jiya!"

"Mamu, Jiya is chotu baby." Jiya pouted and Shiva ruffled her hair, keeping her down letting her run around the house.

"Chotu, it seems." He chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets, watching Raavi and Maitreyi have a conversation about something he had no clue about.

They all sat down together, catching up on work, college, family, with some munch-ables, and it felt really nice to have someone over who wasn't a face they saw everyday for almost the last 1 year, after a long time.

Just then, Maitreyi got a call and stepped aside, coming back a few minutes later with her eyebrows knitted in tension.

"Kya hua, Di?" Raavi asked, keeping Jiya from jumping on the glass table.

"Got a call from my office. Executives are travelling down today, and I have to receive them. Day Care bhi nahi bhej sakti Jiya ko, pata nahi kitna time lagega." Maitreyi shook her head in irritation.

"Hum hai na!" Raavi said chirpingly, and Shashank nodded a big fat 'no' from being his sister's back, which Raavi completely ignored. "Hum 3 log hai, how difficult can it be?"

"Sure? I have to be there in 20 minutes, tum log se nahi hoga toh I'll figure something else out-"

"Theek hai na, she'll eat lunch, take a nap and go to play in the evening. We can handle that!" Raavi shrugged, and Shashank slapped his forehead.

"Thank you, Raavi! Kaam nipta ke aati hu, theek?" She hugged Raavi, waved at the boys and grabbed her purse, closing the door.

"Gadhi! Ek number ki gadhi!" Shashank gave Raavi a tapli at the back of her head.

"Kya hai?! Kabse dekh rahi hu, joker jaise harkat kiye jaa raha hai!" She frowned, rubbing her head.

"Kya kiya tune?! I love Jiya, lekin woh ek number ki shaitaan hai!" He stomped his foot, and Raavi found it hard to believe, the way Jiya was running around Shiva in circles, anyone would say she's nothing but an angel.

"She's a sweetheart, hum ladkiyan shaitaan nahi hoti, okay? Now, Mr. Shak Mamu. Humare saath milke baby sitting karo, samjhe?" Raavi kept a hand on his shoulder, walking towards Jiya.

"Jiya, baby. Aapko kya karna hai abhi?" She sat down at her level, as the little girl wondered what to answer.

"Colouring!" Jiya excitedly said, and Raavi's smile fell.

"Humare paas to crayons nahi hai-"

"Mere paas hai na!" Shiva ruffled Jiya's hair, and 2 minutes later, brought out a small box of 10 wax crayons, in pristine condition.

One look at the box, and Raavi and Shashank both new which crayons those were. "Shiva, ye sab karne ki koi-"

"Shashank, agar ye nahi use karegi toh kaun karega?" Shiva countered, shutting down what Shashank had to say, "Jiya, baccha, Shashank se papers leke aao, phir new crayons se drawing karenge, okay?"

Jiya happily got up and brought the stack of papers Shashank gave her, and sat down next to Shiva, scribbling away on the sheets of paper.

And when Shiva asked her the colours of the crayons, she answered them all correctly, to which Shiva showed her how to draw a heart and stick figures.

"Shiva Mamu," Jiya grabbed the yellow crayon and drew a sun, "Sun!"

"That's correct, good job!" Shiva exclaimed, keeping his palm on her head.

"Goru Mamu?" She asked, drawing small circles with the pink crayon.

"Goru Mamu has gone tata." Shashank plopped down next to them, observing his niece. "Bas, ye sirf apne Shiva Mamu ka naam barabar se leti hai. Baaki humare naam ka mutation ho chuka hai. Shark, Gora and Rai. Sahi hai!"

"Because, she's Shiva Mamu's favourite baby, hai na?" Shiva teased Shashank, to which he got a baby kiss on his cheek from Jiya.

They spent a good 1 hour and a half, colouring, watching Peppa Pig on the IPad and watching Raavi cook, with Jiya occasionally wanting to help Raavi out by stirring the dal.

"Ra-i didi pretty." Jiya pointed at Raavi, who was keeping the lunch on the table along with Shashank, and Shiva just smiled. "Mamu, tell Ra-i didi she pretty."

"You tell. Go."

Jiya nodded no, and insisted that he tell her only, so Shiva got up from the floor and stood behind Raavi, leaning over her shoulder and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Kya kar raha hai?" Raavi whispered, nodding towards Jiya, who was snickering silently.

"Jiya ne mujhse kaha, ki Raavi didi se kahe, ki she's pretty." Shiva smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"And what does Shiva Mamu think?" Raavi turned around in his arms and wiggled her eyebrows, keeping her hands on his biceps.

Shiva leaned in closer, and placed a kiss under her ear, dropping his voice to a low whisper, "Shiva Mamu thinks Raavi didi is beautiful."

Raavi smiled blushingly, giving him a quick peck on his lips and disentangling herself from his arms, just as Shashank emerged from the kitchen with the plates and spoons.

"What did I miss?" Shashank asked, as Jiya ran to him and hugged his legs.

"Shak Mamu," She said, tugging on his pant leg, "Shiva Mamu gave kissy."

"Accha?" Shashank said, carrying her and placing her on the chair next to his, mixing rice, dal and the potato curry together with a spoon to feed her. "Kisko?"

"Mamu gave Didi kissy. Here." Jiya innocently pointed at her lips, "Shak Mamu, Jiya also want kissy of Shiva Mamu."

Shiva widened his eyes in horror, a similar expression on Raavi's face, as they tilted their heads slowly to look at Shashank, who was giving them the most stern look ever.

"You two can't keep it in your pants or what? SHE'S THREE!" Shashank threw his hands in the air, muttering unbelievable under his breath, as Jiya chanted behind him, throwing tantrums for her 'kissy'

"Jiya, darling," Shiva sat down next to her, and kissed her head. "Aap small baby ho na, aur small babies ko only small baby kisses milte hai. Okay?"

"I big baby! Jiya want big baby kissy, like Ra-i didi!"

Shiva somehow convinced her to settle for a kiss on her palms, mentally noting never to kiss Raavi in front of Jiya again.

He had seen her grow up, holding her for the first time as a 6 month old baby, and ever since she started recognising people, Shiva had been her favourite. Whenever they would come over to visit, Jiya would always run into Shiva's arms first, with her bright toothy smile and red cheeks, always fascinated by his beard, muscles and cuddly arms.

Needless to say, she was very possessive of Shiva.

And for Shiva? She was his favourite baby. He didn't have any sisters or nieces, so when Jiya was born, he was instantly attached, her chubby cheeks and fat baby arms and legs melting him on the spot, swearing to protect her like his own.

Shashank was never the type to like babies, but when Jiya was born, all 3 boys treated her like the most fragile feather of the lot, spoiling her to no end, Shashank the most, just to see her smile. And when her mother taught her to say 'Shashank Mamu' she started calling Gaurav and Shiva 'Mamu' as well.

Jiya was very possessive of her Mamu's, refusing to share them with anyone. When she had just learned to talk, she would bother her mother the entire day, wanting to call Shashank Mamu. She'd call to show them all her new toys and the things she learned, and would get even more excited after they praised her.

Her Shiva Mamu showered her with all his love, and all his kisses were reserved for her only. So when she saw Shiva giving Raavi kisses, she pouted and demanded her share of kisses too.

"Shiva," Raavi said, "tere fan club ke members toh badhte jaa rahe hai."

"Kaunsa fan club?"

"Aise dikha raha hai, jaise tujhe pata hi nahi, ki college ki saari ladkiya tujhpe marti hai." Raavi chuckled, serving herself some more curry. "Youngest member of the fan club, right here!" She said, nodding her head towards Jiya.

"3 saal ki bacchi se jalan? I see." Shiva teased her, and Raavi just made mocking faces at him, "Par tu toh iss club ki President hai, chipkali."

Shiva winked at her, and her mouth formed an 'O', lightly punching his arm, "Excuse me, iska kya matlab hai?!"

"Oldest and first member of the club? Chipkali." Shiva started counting on his fingers, "Ek insaan jo mujhse zindagi bhar chipki hui hai? Chipkali. Mere raaton ki neend churaane waali? Chipkali. Toh uss hisaab se President banne ka pura haq tera hai." Shiva gave her a side eye, stifling a laugh as Raavi muttered under her breath iska kuch nahi ho sakta.

After lunch, they cleared up the table, while Shashank let Jiya tear up some newspapers for fun, because she wanted to make 'birthday party papers fly in the air'

"Chalo, Jiya. Nap time now, okay?" Raavi said, making Jiya sit on her lap.

"No. No sleepy for Jiya." Jiya said, wiggling in her arms.

"If Jiya does nap time like a good girl, toh Raavi didi shaam ko ghumi ghumi le jaayegi. You want to go ghumi ghumi?" Raavi asked gently, to which Jiya excitedly nodded yes.

"Excuse ME," Shashank asked, "what ghumi ghumi? Aaj Sunday hai mujhe ghar pe baithna hai, no ghumi ghumi!"

"Excuse YOU," Raavi pointed, knowing these boys forgot, "maine pichle hafte kaha tha ki next Sunday is cemetery visit day. Kyunki next month hum sab college ki taraf se alag trips pe jaa rahe hai. So, visit for us, and ghumi ghumi for Jiya. Okay?"

Shashank groaned, but he knew she was right, so he carried Jiya to his room, to put her to sleep, and Raavi turned to Shiva. " Your duty to remind Gaurav, okay? Woh 2 ghante ke liye aa hi sakta hai, itna bhi sex ka bhooka-nanga nahi hai woh."

"Ghar pe baby hai!" Shiva exclaimed, and Raavi spelled out the word instead, so that she wouldn't catch it.

"Kar dunga call." He said, picking up all the crayons and papers with Raavi, that they forgot to clean up before lunch.

"We have to go, okay?"

"We will, chipkali. I promise."

.......

Raavi held Jiya's hand as they all walked into the cemetery, a few chrysanthemums bunched into a small bouquet held by Shashank, as they sat down in front of Mrs. Fernandes' grave.

She placed the flowers on the tombstone, as they all sat down on the grass around it, Jiya standing and looking around.

"Jiya, come and sit na, baccha." Shashank said, patting at the space beside him.

"Please Jiya also put flower?" Jiya asked and ran on her baby feet to a bush nearby, plucking some periwinkles and bringing them in both her palms, placing a few on the tombstone and going back to grab some more, tucking one flower each behind Shashank, Gaurav, Shiva, Raavi and Mahi's ear.

"Everyone pretty now!" Jiya smiled and sat down next to Shashank, as they all reminisced memories of Mrs. Fernandes.

"I miss the mutton curry she used to make. Damn, waisa mutton curry aaj tak nahi khaaya kahi maine." Gaurav said, mentally imagining the dish he vividly explained.

"Ye humare vegetarian bhaisahab nahi khaate na," Shashank pointed at Shiva, who chuckled at his complaint, "isliye hume 3 hafte mein ek hi baar milta tha mutton curry. Aur jo chatt kar jaate the khaane ko, mai aur Gaurav akele. Uff!"

"Bartan dhone laayak nahi chodte the ye dono. Itna saaf hota tha." Shiva chuckled, picking at the grass below his feet.

"Mujhe chote chote origami  karna sikhaaya unhone." Mahi said, showing a tiny horse-shaped paper attached to her bag. "I forgot how to do it now, but I remember everything we spoke about during classes."

"Mujhe toh unhone crochet sikhaya." Raavi smiled, picking at the strands of the flower keychain she crocheted. "Aur ye bhi, ki sorry time se bol dena chahiye. Apni galti maan lene se koi chota nahi ho jaata."

Raavi glanced at Shiva, who was sitting next to her, as she slipped her tiny palms into his, and Shiva nodded his head in 'no', knowing she remembered that conversation of theirs months ago.

"I wish she was still here." Shiva said, looping his hands around Raavi's. "It would have been so different."

"And by different," Mahi chirped in, giving him a side glance, "you mean tum teeno mein se koi khaana banana nahi seekhta. Theek hai?"

"Hello, excuse me?!"

"Mahi, yaar!"

"I cook just fine, okay?!"

All three boys argued in protest, and Mahi just rolled her eyes, showing a thumbs up, and then turning it into a thumbs down, blowing a raspberry at their feeble attempts to change her mind.

While they all argued about their cooking skills, Jiya got up from her spot and walked away from the gang.

Shiva looked away and noticed Jiya wasn't with them, and panic rose in his chest, as they all got up to search for her.

Only to find her picking out flowers and putting a flower each on all tombstones.

Shashank ran over to her and hugged her, "Jiya, aise bina bataaye kyu chale gaye aap!"

"Putting flower everywhere." Jiya pointed at the tombstones, and Shashank smiled, holding her hand to go buy some flowers to put on all tombstones instead of plucking out all bushes, which she happily did, because "so many-nee colours"

It was a very beautiful evening indeed.

.....

Raavi, Shiva and Shashank returned home, with Jiya happily eating her cotton candy, and Raavi immediately took her to give her a quick shower, on request of Shashank.

They had all decided to visit the park since Jiya insisted they go play on the "slippy slide". Jiya ran around the park, immediately making friends with 2 other 3-year old quadruples, 2 boys and 2 girls.

She was confused for a solid 4 minutes, as she turned to Shashank, "Two-two? Why no two-two Jiya? Why only one Jiya?"

Shashank laughed at her baby brains and explained to her that they were twins, and she had a hard time contemplating that, but she simply shrugged her shoulders and went to play with them on the swings.

As they prepared to leave, Shashank gave stone cold glares as the small boys hugged Jiya good-bye before going home, as Raavi and Shiva snickered at his "too much suraksha", like Shashank's great-grandmother would say.

Raavi put on Jiya's pink pajamas after shower, as she asked her why water is wet, why soap is slippery and why does water wash soap away. To which Raavi had no explanation that would be simple enough for a 3 year old, and she diverted her mind by showing her all the cool shampoo bottles in the shower cubicle.

While Raavi cleared the bed, Jiya decided that switches were interesting. So she stood on the bed and reached for the plug point over the headboard.

"Jiya," Raavi called out, sitting next to her, "Jiya, no baby, aapko shock lag jaayega."

Raavi put her arm around Jiya, and pulled her away from the switchboard. But Jiya simply stood up again and started to put her finger in the plug point.

"Jiya, darling, I said no, na!" She pulled her back, and made her sit on the bed in front of her.

But she wasn't having any of it, as she got up for the third time and tried to poke the switchboard. Raavi simply kept her hand in front of the switchboard, scrolling through her phone with the other.

Jiya looked at the switchboard, and bacj at Raavi, an angry frown forming on her face.

Shiva sat down after cutting up the vegetables for dinner, along with Shashank who had turned on the TV to watch the match, when they heard a shrill cry coming from Shiva's room.

They rushed to the room, just to see Raavi nudge and push Jiya on the bed, clutching at her own shoulder in pain.

"Don't talk to me, Jiya! I don't want to talk to you." Raavi said angrily, rubbing her shoulder.

"Chipkali, kya hua, chillayi kyu aise? Aur dhakka kyu maara isse?" Shiva moved towards her, keeping his hands on her shoulder as Shashank carried Jiya off the bed.

"She bit me!" Raavi winced, water trickling down her eyes. "Usne kaata mujhe!"

Shiva looked at Jiya, who had an angry frown on her face, her arms crossed across her chest as Shashank asked her what happened, and he knew she had done something she wasn't supposed to.

"Haath hata. Show me." He moved her hand away from her shoulder, rolling up the sleeves of her t-shirt and tucking it under the strap.

The red mark of 8 tiny teeth were imprinted on Raavi's skin, a proper bluish bruise starting to form, very evident against her pale skin.

"Achaanak kaat liya usne, aur kaat ke chod bhi nahi rahi thi, isliye I had to push her-" Raavi blinked her tears away, looking at her arm.

"Shhh. Kuch nahi hua hai, okay?" Shiva said, grabbing the first aid box from his tableside drawer. "Rona band kar, chipkali."

"Mai nahi ro rahi! Mere aankh se sirf paani aa raha hai because it's paining!"

"Same thing." Shiva said, dabbing the cotton and antiseptic onto her bruise

"It is not- DHEERE!" She winced, as Shiva grabbed the aloe vera gel from her table and applied it over her bruise.

"Better?"

"No." She frowned, glancing at her bruise that looked more purple than blue now.

"Jiya, what kind of behaviour is this?!" Shashank shouted, making Jiya look at him with an angrier expression than before. "Say sorry. Now!"

"No!" Jiya crossed her arms and turned away, stamping her feet.

"Jiya, go say sorry, now." Shashank turned her around and pointed at Raavi.

"No!"

"Shashank! Chilla mat. Bacchi hai-" Shiva said, but was interrupted by Shashank.

"No, Shiva. Don't give me that. Kisiko kaat nahi sakti, that's unacceptable. Kaha se seekha hai ye isne, I don't know!" He exclaimed, running his hands through his hair. "Jiya, last time, I will complain to Mumma if you don't say sorry."

"No!" Jiya said, turning around again.

Shiva motioned for Shashank to wait, and he sat down on his knees, turning Jiya around.

"Jiya, this is not good behaviour." Shiva said gently, but sternly. "Aap kisiko bite nahi kar sakte. We don't like this, this is bad behaviour. Raavi didi ko chot lag gayi na, it's hurting her, baccha."

As soon as Jiya heard Shiva speak, her frown dissolved, lips trembling as her eyes welled up with tears, crying softly with her arms clasped in front of her, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Sorry Mamu. No shout at Jiya." Jiya whimpered, and Shiva pulled her into a gentle hug, her tears making him melt like he knew it would.

"Don't cry, baby. I'm not shouting at you." Shiva rubbed his hand on her back, trying to calm her down, as her tiny arms went around his neck. "But kisiko bite karna galat hai na, darling. Mistake hui hai toh Mamu aapko aapki mistake batayenge, right?"

She nodded against his neck, sniffling, and Shiva pulled her back from the hug, wiping her cheeks. "Accha okay, chalo, stop crying, and give Mamu ek pyaari si smile. Nahi toh aapki nose ekdum tomato jaisi red ho jaayegi. Then you'll look like motu Santa ki Rudolph."

Jiya giggled at 'Motu Santa', wiping her nose and smiling her marble-like teeth at Shiva.

"Now, chalo, go tell Raavi didi sorry." Shiva nudged, but Jiya looked at her and ran out of the room, nodding her head.

"It's fine, rehne de, Shiva." Raavi said, getting up, taking a look at her bruise from time to time.

"I'm sorry about that yaar, Raavi-" Shashank checked her arm and apologised, but Raavi just brushed it off.

"Rehne de, Shashank. It's okay." She smiled at him, as Shiva dragged her by her hand.

"Zor se kaata hai. Chal doctor ke paas, tetanus ka injection leke aate hai."

"Shiva, zaroorat nahi hai, I'm sure it will be fine in a few hours. Abhi dard bhi nahi ho raha zyaada-"

"Few hours baad nahi theek hua toh?" Shiva raised an eyebrow at her, and she gave up, allowing herself to be dragged by Shiva to the doctor.

"Injection? Doctor?" Jiya looked up at Shashank, who nodded his head.

"Aapne bite kiya na, toh Raavi didi ko injection lene jaana hai." Shashank said gently, scattering her colours and paper in front of her, as Jiya looked at Shiva and Raavi leaving the door for quite a while.

When Raavi and Shiva returned a while later, Jiya went and stood in front of them, her hands behind her back.

"Kya hua, darling? Hungry?" Raavi asked, keeping her hand under her chin.

Jiya nodded and placed a paper in Raavi's hands. It was a roughly scribbled drawing with hearts of all sizes and colours, and 2 stick figures, one big and one small, just like Shiva had taught her earlier that day.

With the letters S - O - R - I scribbled above the stick figures.

"What's this, Jiya?" Raavi asked with a confused smile, not understanding what was written or drawn.

"Jiya, Ra-i didi," She pointed at the stick figures, and then held her ears with both her hands, "Sorry. Not bite again."

Raavi chuckled and gave her a hug, kissing her cheek. "It's okay. Koi baat nahi."

Jiya touched the sleeve of her shirt, seeing the cotton swab taped to her arm where she had gotten the shot, and kissed Raavi's arm. "Paining?"

"Not anymore." Raavi smiled, and kissed her hair, still in awe of how baby brains work.

.....

After dinner, Jiya did her ABC's as Shashank taught her, and almost dozed off while sitting against the sofa, the clock barely striking 9.

"Shiva," Shashank asked, getting up, "Tu usse 15-20 minute apne room mein sula sakta hai? Mai room saaf karke aaya, I'll change the bedsheets for Jiya, in case Di gets late."

Shiva nodded, carrying Jiya in his arms, who fell asleep immediately and rested her head on his shoulder, her palms trying to grasp his biceps as her teddy.

Just as he laid her down in the centre, she frowned in her sleep, mumbling something very close to "Sleep in Shiva Mamu arm."

"Jiya," Shiva said gently, caressing her head, "Mamu is here only. So jaao, darling."

"Mamu," Jiya whimpered, turning in her sleep, "Sleep in Shiva Mamu arm."

"Godhi mein lele na usse." Raavi sat down at the end of the bed, putting her hair up into a loose bun.

Shiva carried Jiya in his arms, shifting to sit next to Raavi, placing Jiya sideways on his lap, so that her head rested on his shoulder, her tiny palms finding his biceps again.

"Isko mere biceps se itni obsession kyu hai?" Shiva chuckled, holding her closer to that she slept comfortably.

"I know the answer!" Raavi raised her palm in the air, "Woh kya hai na, mai bhi ladki hu, toh answer mere paas nahi hoga toh kiske paas-"

"Haa theek hai, theek hai! Zyaada bolti hai tu, phoolkumari." Shiva shook his head.

"Shiva," Raavi asked, turning towards him, "tune Jiya ko woh wax crayons kyu diye?"

"Kyu diye matlab?" He asked, well aware of what she was asking. "Woh nahi use karegi toh kaun karega, mai? Pade rahenge aise andar, kharab ho jaayenge kisi din, fir fekna padega. Usse accha bacche use kar le na."

"But tune aaj tak mujhe bhi chune nahi diye woh crayons." Raavi slipped her hand into his, entwining their fingers. "Woh Darshan Kaka ka last gift tha tere liye."

Shiva glanced at Raavi, giving her a small smile. It was indeed the last gift he had got from his Dad, like she said. And no one was allowed to touch it, let alone mess with it.

It was the summer before 3rd grade. Shiva had insisted to his dad, that he was a big boy now, he was a whole 8 years old, and since his birthday always fell in place before schools reopened, he never really had the chance to celebrate his birthday. Neither would he get to, this time. So Shiva asked Darshan to get him something different this time.

And so, Darshan Pandya searched the streets of Somnath, for something that his rowdy baby boy, no, now big boy, would love and be surprised about.

He never told anyone, but Shiva was the apple of his eye. Yes, he loved his 3 other sons, even his naughty little Krish who ran around tearing up random papers in the house. But, he always had a soft corner for his third son, Shiva.

Because, when Shiva was born, he was a frail child. Delicate, frail child.

Born 8 weeks before time, in the 8th month of pregnancy due to premature labour, his third son had trouble breathing, worrying the living daylights out of Darshan and Suman Pandya, as they spent almost all their nights and days at the hospital, praying to the Lord above to protect their son.

And after a month of rounds in the hospital, countless health scares and sleepless nights, Shiva Darshan Pandya was fit as a fiddle, opening his eyes just the slightest bit to see his mother and father, smiling in his sleep as Darshan carried him in his arms.

That's why he wanted to buy the best for his boy. His boy, his understanding baby boy, who never threw tantrums for anything, never stubbornly demanded anything, always finding something good in everything that he got. The one time that he asked for a gift, Darshan decided he will get whatever he wanted. But his son never specified what he wanted for a gift.

As he wondered what Shiva would like, he stopped in front of a shop, took one look at the item and instantly knew that Shiva would love this, it would make him the happiest.

When Darshan came home with a small wrapped rectangle box, Shiva hugged his father and thanked him for the gift, eagerly opening it in the middle of the aangan.

Before Shiva, was a box of 12 wax crayons. The newest, best brand in the market, the kind of the crayons only kids of people with a lot more money owned.

Shiva looked at his crayons, and immediately pulled them out of Krish's reach, not even allowing Dev to use them. He got up and hugged his father, claiming him as the 'Sabse Best Papa', happily thanking him and promising to make the first drawing of his school semester with these crayons and show it to him, as a gift.

Darshan kept his hand on Shiva's head, happy to see his son so happy.

"Haa. Unka aakhri gift tha mere liye, ussi saal unko heart attack aa gaya aur-" Shiva sighed, looking away, remembering all the events that happened after that.

Raavi raised her palm, tenderly placing it under his chin, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Maine unko promise kiya tha, ki pehla drawing unko gift karunga usse. Par unke jaane ke baad, maine woh crayons ko haath nahi lagaye. Na kisiko lagane diye. Kyunki mai apna promise nahi rakh paaya."

"Teri galti nahi thi, bhoothnath." She disentangled their hands and placed a palm on his back, in an attempt to comfort him. "Tu kitna chota sa tha."

"Pata hai," Shiva let out a watery chuckle, holding Jiya properly so that she didn't get a neck sprain, "Mujhe humesha se ek feeling aati thi, ki Papa mujhse zyaada pyaar karte hai. Aaj tak nahi pata kar paaya kyu, par unke chaaro baccho mein se, woh mujhse thoda zyaada pyaar karte the. Aur unke jaane ke baad, woh feeling mai kabhi waapas mehsoos nahi kar paaya."

Raavi reached up to to wrap her free hand around his arm, drawing circles on his upper arm.

"Gaumbi ne mere Papa ki jagah zaroor li. Par woh mere Papa toh nahi bann sakte na?" Shiva looked at Raavi and asked earnestly, a tear escaping the corner of his eye, as her nimble fingers reached up to brush it away.

Raavi kissed his shoulder, probing him to open up to her, because he had something that was bothering him and she just wanted him to take that burden off of himself.

"Papa ke jaane ke baad, Maa ko paralytic attack aaya, aur phir Gaumbi ne ghar apne sar le liya. Aur unhe Dev aur Krish toh yaad rehte the, par woh jaise mujhe bhool hi gaye. School mein, Dev ke award function mein aur Krish ke annual day ke liye Gaumbi aur Bhabhi dono gaye the. Par-" Shiva cleared his throat, not wanting to cry, or worse, wake up Jiya.

"Par mere sports day ke din koi nahi aaya ghar se. Koi bhi nahi." He said, a flicker of sadness passing over his face. "Sab mujhe bhul gaye. Aur mai humesha sochta tha ki kaash, kaash Papa zinda hote, kaash unhe jaana nahi padta."

Shiva wiped his hands on his tracks, getting up abruptly to put Jiya on the bed, who was now fast asleep, pulling the covers upto her waist.

He bit his lip, sitting back down next to Raavi and took a deep breath in, as her arms looped around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug. He let himself stay like that in her arms, wrapping his arms around her waist, tucking his chin into the crook of her neck.

"Tu kuch bol nahi rahi?" Shiva mumbled, as she broke the hug and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Aaj sirf sunungi." Raavi swiped her thumb across his damp eyes, looking at him softly. "Sun rahi hoon."

"Uske baad maine decide kar liya, ki mere hote hue, mere ird gird koi bhi baccha ho, usse aisa na lage, ki sab usse bhul gaye. Aur Jiya toh mere aankhon ka taara hai, uske liya toh zameen asmaan ek kar du!" He said, chuckling, glancing over at the sleeping baby.

"Isliye she got special rights to the crayons?" Raavi smiled, and Shiva wriggled his nose.

"Ye sirf one time special offer tha uske liye. Woh crayons se abhi bhi mujhe lagaav hai, theek hai?"

She shook her head impossibly, cupping his face. "You are loved, Shiva. By so many people. Darshan Kaka ka toh tu favourite tha, unhe garv tha tujhpe. Suman Kaki, unke aankhon mein dikhta hai, ki tu unka sabse ladla hai. Gaurav aur Shashank? Woh toh tera utna khayaal rakhte hai, jitna tu unka. Mrs. Fernandes? Woh toh tere liye teri maa jaisi thi, tune khud kaha tha. Mahi? Tujhe bilkul apne chote bhai jaisa treat karti hai. Jiya? 'Shiva Mamu' ki jaap karte nahi thakti."

Shiva chuckled, resting his forehead against hers, eyes closed, just basking in their moment.

"Aur mai, Shiva?" Raavi whispered against his lips. "I love you for who you are. Tu jo hai, jaisa hai, mujhe manzoor hai. Humesha se, bachpan se. Toh aainda kabhi mat kehna ki hum tujhe bhool gaye, okay bhoothnath?"

Of everything that he was feeling right now, the most prominent emotion was content. Content of having wonderful people around him, his home away from home, his chosen family, and in this moment; his Chipkali, his phoolkumari, his Raavi in his arms, like they were always meant to be.

"Okay." Shiva whispered, kissing her softly, pouring his emotions into the kiss, her fingers entangled in his hair as she pressed kisses to his lips several times. "Okay."

A knock on the door broke them apart, as Maitreyi walked in slowly, apologising for disturbing them and thanking them profusely for watching over Jiya the entire day, carrying Jiya to her car and bidding them goodnight.

His safe bubble, his own world that he'd protect, always. Shiva couldn't have asked for any more, as his arms tightened around Raavi's waist, her soft snores being the only sounds in the room as he snuggled against her.