“What happened?” He asked seeing her grim face as she sat inside the car after writing the entrance exam.

“It was very hard. I didn't even know most of the questions” She told biting her lower lip.

“Really?” He asked holding her hand and she nodded.

“It's ok. We'll try next time” He told kissing her palm and she turned to look at him with tears.

“Shivaay——”

“It's ok. We'll try better next time. Now, don't you want ice cream?” He asked and she shook her head as she kept her head on his shoulder.

“Why did it happen like this?” She asked with tears.

“Just like you told, you work for an year and then join university. Your Shivji always gave more importance to your wishes right” He asked and she looked at him unable to say anything.

“I should have gone to university while I was pregnant itself. Simply wasted a placement” She told guiltily.

“We talked about it right? You were too tired then. Remember the days when you used to vomit six or seven times in a day?” He asked and she nodded.

“Now whatever had to happen, happened. We can't change it. Let it be” He told caressing the back of her palm.

After sometime, he looked at her.

“Do you hate me Anika?” He asked and she looked at him shocked.

Not knowing what to do, in both anger and sadness hearing that question, she raised her hand and gave a tight slap on his face making him close his eyes. He expected it seeing the anger in her eyes.

“Will you ask this question again?” She asked angrily while holding his collars.

“Anika——” before he could complete, she slapped his other face.

“Will you ask this question again?” She asked with tears of anger rolling down her eyes.

“I won't” He told and she sat back huffing.

“I'm hearing this from the time we got married. Isn't it time for you to stop this dialogue?” She asked angrily.

“Three months after marriage” He corrected and she turned to him with a glare. He kept both his palms on his cheeks quickly and she turned her face angrily.

“Anika” He told poking her arm and she shrugged her hand with a frown.

“Jaan” He called poking her arm and she turned to him with a glare.

“Sorry” He told holding both his ears and she frowned.

“Monkey” She told and he grinned.

“How much I scold you everyday Shivaay! When will you stop saying all these nonsense?” She asked and he smiled sheepishly.

“Now start the car. I want to see my kids. They might have missed me” She told frowning.

“They went out with OmRu and Prinku”

“Where?”

“Shopping I guess. Those three have no other job than buying all sorts of clothes and toys for the babies right” He told and she chuckled.

“Shivaay, we won't talk about this entrance again” She told sternly and he sighed.

“And ya, if you ask that question again, I'll strangle you to death” She held her hand near his neck “Don't make me a murderer and a widow. I want my kids to have their mother” She told and he laughed listening to that.

“Wait a second——If you kill me, they'll still have their mother”

“As if I'll live in this world alone without you. I'll come behind you itself. Don't worry” She told and he smiled.

He held her hand in his before starting the car.

“Sleep a little if you want. You haven't slept properly yesterday right”

“What was the use anyway? Everything got spoilt right” She told sadly and he sighed.

“Nothing got spoilt. There's still time. You can do it again next year” He told and she smiled.

“Just be with me like this always. I can do anything if you're with me”

“Anything?” He asked with a mischievous smile and she turned to look at him.

“Except become cheapda like you” She told hitting his shoulder making him chuckle.

*

“Where were you? How long since you all went with them?” Shivaay told with a frown while taking the sleeping babies from OmRu, waking them slightly in the process. Om shook his head seeing Shivaay's desperate face before walking back to the car to get the shopping bags.

“Bhaiyya we went just an hour back” Rudra told controlling his urge to laugh seeing Shivaay's frown.

Anika chuckled looking at him to which he shrugged while kissing their faces.

“What happened Prinku? Did you and Rudy fight again?” Anika asked seeing Priyanka's sad face.

“Bhabhi, you know there was this cute pink gown there but it was small for Anu. We searched a lot for bigger size” Priyanka told with a pout.

“Haan bhabhi! For the first time, me and Prinku liked a dress at the same time but size wasn't there” Rudra told.

“What's there in all these covers then?” Anika asked seeing some five covers in Priyanka's hand.

“Dresses” Priyanka told shrugging.

Anika's eyes widened seeing Om coming inside holding another bunch of covers.

“You guys! I'll kill you all today. There are already so many things for them. Why do you go and get things like these every week? There's no place in the room” Anika scolded and all three stood there with grins on their faces.

“Bhabhi, it's for our happiness” Om told and Anika couldn't bring up sentences to oppose that.

“Bhabhi don't say anything against that. Please?” Rudra asked with puppy face and Anika turned to look at Shivaay who shrugged.

“Fine! Shivaay you're going to stop buying things for them. All three of them buying more than necessary things” Anika told.

“Why are you telling me to stop? Tell them” Shivaay told frowning.

Anika was about to say something when Tej and Jhanvi came there holding another bunch of bags.

“You too?” Anika asked with hands on her forehead and ShivOmRuPri laughed looking at her face.

“How was the exam Anika?” Jhanvi asked with a smile and Anika's face changed.

“We forgot to ask too. How was it Bhabhi?” Priyanka asked.

“It was fine. Not too bad, not too good” She told expressionlessly.

“Was it bad bhabhi?” Rudra asked seeing her face.

“Uh——Anika, they might be hungry” Shivaay told while gesturing her to take the babies and she did quickly before walking to the room, avoiding everyone's gaze.

“It didn't go well, So you all better don't talk about it and hurt her more” Shivaay told and everyone nodded in understanding.

“Anyway she wanted to work for an year. Let her do that now” Om told and Shivaay nodded.

After the talk, Shivaay walked to the room to see Anika sitting in front of the babies on the bed watching them play.

“Did you tell them?”

“Hmm” He told while sitting beside her.

“Are you that sure you won't get placement this time?” He asked and she nodded.

“Unless all the answers I chose after doing inki pinki ponki turns out correct, there's no chance” She told and he chuckled.

That's when Rudra and Priyanka walked to the room holding all the shopping bags, as usual bickering something to each other.

“Oh God! When will they ever behave well with each other” Shivaay told with a facepalm and Anika chuckled.

“I'll show you now itself. I saw it” Priyanka told frowning before taking Ayana in her arms.

“Prinku, leave them alone for sometime” Shivaay told and Priyanka twisted her mouth looking at him.

“There's an important matter. See this” Priyanka told while showing Ayana's wrist where there was a small birthmark in the junction where the inside of palm joins with arm.

“What's special in that?” Anika asked confused.

“She's saying it's in the shape of a heart” Rudra told while looking at it carefully and Anika turned to look at Shivaay. They had found it out long back.

“Ya it's a small distorted heart”

“See! I told you” Priyanka told victoriously and Rudra nodded.

“Card” Priyanka demanded and Rudra have his ATM card to her slowly.

“My card is finally safe. Thank God!” Shivaay told happily and Priyanka raised her eyebrows at him.

“Your gold card is still with me” Priyanka told and Anika burst out laughing listening to that.

“Whatever!” Shivaay told shrugging while talking Ayansh in his arms.

“When you grow up, never give your card to Anu and create a mistake like I did ok. If she got your bua's habit, she'll never return it back” Shivaay told looking at Ayansh who was looking at him curiously not understanding what he was saying.

Everyone chuckled listening to his complains.

••|To Be Continued|••