Six years later

      Annika came out of the hospital with the widest smile on her face. Sitting in her car, she drove off to his office. Her smile didn't leave her face even for a second. She wanted to reach him as soon as possible. He would be so happy with the news.

      Reaching the office, she took the elevator to his floor. Everyone stood up seeing her and wished her. She smiled warmly at them asking for Shivaay. The receptionist informed her that he was in the meeting hall and it would take him two hours to get done with the meeting.

     Her face fell down. She can't wait for two hours. She didn't have this much patience. She instantly left towards the conference hall. The receptionist tried to stop her but she gave her deaf ears.

     She entered the room without knocking. Silence fell as everyone in the meeting looked at her worriedly.

      'I want to tell you something. It's important...' she said looking at shivaay ignoring everyone. He immediately got up from his seat.

     'Excuse me, gentlemen...' He said going from there with her towards his cabin.

     His staff wasn't surprised seeing this. They all knew the extent of love their boss had for his wife. He would leave his deals worth billion crores but one call from his wife, he would be there not caring about anything else.

      'What happened, jaana?' He asked sweetly.

     She smiled taking his hand in hers and placed it on her stomach. He was confused at first but soon realised what she was trying to say.

      He looked into her eyes for the confirmation. She nodded. He smiled widely hugging her. She hugged him back.

     This moment was precious. They couldn't be any happier. Facing the miscarriage three years back when she conceived their first child, this was extra special for them. They had been waiting for this moment. Only he knew how he brought Annika out of that mental trauma she suffered after losing their baby during the eighth month of her pregnancy. It literally took him a year to make her the old happy go lucky Annika. He too was broken but he had to stay strong for her.

      'We....we are pregnant, Shivaay.....' she sobbed against his chest. He nodded frantically kissing her forehead and hair.

       He felt like dancing. The mere news made him delightful. He wondered what would he do when he would hold his babygirl in his arms. He had this strong belief that it would be a girl.

     Even during last pregnancy, he used to fight with Annika when she used to say that it would be a boy. And it was indeed a babygirl whose deadbody he held in his arms. He still remember very clearly how his heart thumped inside the ribcage when that tiny cute bundle of joy was handled to him by the doctors. She was exact replica of her mother just like he wanted. How much he wished for her to say Papa once before going? How much he yearned for her to atleast show a little movement? How brutally he cried holding his piece of heart close to him? The loud wails of a failed father had echoed the whole hospital.

      They broke the hug. He cupped her face wiping her tears.

     'Iss baar kuch galat nhi hoga na, Shiv?' (There won't be anything wrong right, Shiv?') It wasn't a wife but a mother who had lost her baby even before her coming in this world. He could clearly feel the fear in her voice. He himself was scared but this time, he won't let anything happen to them. Last time, he wasn't there with her but now he won't leave her side for a minute. Ohh! How much he cursed himself for going on a business trip when she was in such a crucial stage?

      'No, jaana! This time, it would be just happiness. Our baby will be all fit and fine. That's my promise..' He spoke kissing her forehead tightly. She felt solace in his warmth.

       They both left for home together. Meeting was long forgotten. His PA himself postponed it knowing very well about his boss.

      The entire family rejoiced as they broke the news out. Annika was strictly banned to do any work. She was being given continuous instructions by everyone for dos and don'ts. They all made her sit in the centre while speaking one by one. She was tired of looking here and there to see who was speaking.

     She looked at him making a pout who was enjoying her state but her pleading eyes melted his heart. He got up from his seat and asked everyone to let Annika rest. She released a sigh of relief.

_________________________________________

      Annika was sitting on her bed holding her six months old baby bump with one hand as well as glaring her Mr. Husband who was working on his laptop.

    'Shivv!' She called him for the tenth time in last five minutes.

     'Two minutes, jaana....' He replied still lost in his work.
  
     'I'm listening it from one hour....' she said frustrated. She wanted to sleep but needed him to cuddle since she couldn't sleep without her customised pillow i.e his chest. But he had some important work which he needed to complete urgently. He was trying to complete it as fast as he could but one hour passed since she was calling him.

      'Shivaay, come na.' She whined but he didn't reply and thud! A pillow landed directly on his face.

    'Annika!' He groaned glaring her. She glared back with more intensity.

     'Why can't you just let me work? Just sleep on your own for one night atleast. Bachhi nahi ho tum.' ('You are not a child.') He vented out his frustration on her.

       Though he did it unintentionally but it brought tears in her eyes. He was actually tired of all the office work and her tantrums. The work load increased than usual having him on steroids. He did understand that it wasn't her fault but just her pregnancy hormones but he too was a human being. Being angry was natural in such tiring circumstances.

      She laid down on the bed back facing him trying to hide her tears. But he knew she was crying which he couldn't see. He went and laid beside her hugging her from back. She buried her face more in the pillow.

     'Look at me, baby....' He whispered pecking her earlobe. She shook her head sniffing.

     'Okayyy! Don't look but stop crying atleast...' He said holding her hand which was on her baby bump.

      'Oye! Meri jaana. Mera baby...my cutie pie...my sweetie pie...' He tried buttering but she ended up crying more.

     'Jaan! I'm sorry na...' He spoke calmly kissing her cheek. She turned towards him.

     'Why did you scold me?' She hiccuped. Her nose was red due to crying. She looked so adorable to him.

     'I'm sorry...' He said pinching her nose.

     'Promise you won't do it again. I will...i will not talk to you....' she spoke pouting.

     'Pinki promise...' He nodded cutely. She smiled.

      He pecked her lips. She frowned seeing him turning into a cheapda again.

     'Atleast stop your cheapdapanti in front of the baby....' she spoke lightly slapping his cheek.

     'Areyy! Let baby also know how she came in your womb....' He said casually with a teasing smile.

     'Chiiiiii....Such a dirty talker you are...' she said scrunching her nose.
 
     'Baby, you don't really know what dirty talks are.....' his voice husky as he nuzzled in her neck.

    'I don't want to know either....' she said frowning.

      'By the way, i can be a dirty doer also.....' He winked at her kissing her neck.

     'Shut uppp, you pervert....'

     'Romantic is the word, jaana...' He spoke kissing her. She kissed back with more fervour.

     She placed her head on his chest breathing heavily. He hugged her keeping his one hand over her belly feeling the movements of her baby girl inside the safest place in the world, her mumma's womb!

_________________________________________

      Shivaay paced back and forth in front of the operation theatre. His forehead was sweaty. His throat felt dry. His heart thumped crazily. Her cries made him vulnerable. Whole family tried to calm him but how could he when his jaana was in so much pain. He could clearly hear her painful screams. He literally shuddered when she told him that her water broke. He just prayed for his both babies' safety.

      After two hours, he heard the cries of the baby. Finally, his munchkin arrived. He smiled placing his hand on his heart. His wait finished.

      The doctor came out taking the tiny soul wrapped in a cute towel.

      'Congratulations, Mr. Oberoi! It's a baby girl.' The doctor spoke smiling. His smile widened hearing the doctor.

      He took the babygirl from the doctor with shivering arms fearing that he might hurt her. His tears escaped seeing her face, exact replica of her mother. A sense of responsibility and protective-ness he felt as soon as he held her.

      'Meri choti jaana..' He whispered lightly kissing her forehead. The baby opened her eyes giving a light toothless smile as if acknowledging what her father said. He was awed seeing her eyes which were exactly like his.

      Pinky took the baby from him which he did pouting since he didn't want to leave his daughter. He asked the doctor about Annika to which she replied that Annika was fine but a little weak because of the pain and exhaustion.

      Two hours later, he went to see Annika who was sleeping peacefully. Her face looked tired and pale. He caressed her hair. The baby was in the cot near Annika's bed.

      Annika opened her eyes slowly to see him smiling looking at something. She followed his gaze to see their baby. She smiled with tears seeing her little one. How impatiently they waited for this moment?

     'Our baby....' she whispered in a meek voice.

     'Our babygirl.' He said proudly.

     She smiled feeling the happiness and proud in his voice. He always wanted a baby girl. Not that he would have loved baby boy any less but his fondness for fathering a daughter wasn't hidden from anyone.

     Everyone barged in the room congratulating Annika. She thanked everyone. Rudra picked the baby girl slowly while Annay immediately took her from him making Rudra whine.

     'Hey! Guys, careful...' Shivaay scolded them lightly. Annika chuckled seeing his possessiveness.

      The baby started crying suddenly. Shivaay was quick enough to go to her and hold her in his arms. He held her close to his chest softly caressing her back and to everyone's surprise, she stopped crying. Seems like her father's warmth was her solace just like her mumma's.

     Everyone asked for the name while shivaay looked at the tiny bundle of joy who was yawning in her papa's embrace.

      'Anayka Shivaay Annika Singh Oberoi.' Shivaay spoke with a proud voice. Annika looked at him lovingly. He had already promised her that their daughter would have both their names. Everyone went aww over the name.

      Since then, Anayka became the life of whole house. Everyone in the home wanted her attention but the little cutie always wanted her papa who would pamper her uncontrollably. She became his princess, doll, munchkin, niku, nika and so on......

Two years later

       Shivaay entered the mansion only to see his little one running towards him on her little feet. He was sure she must have heard his car's horn as usual. He bent down on the floor opening his arms for her while she jumped on him showering his face with her kisses. He squeezed her in his arms.

     'Kaisha hai mera munchkin?' (How's my munchkin?') He asked in babyish voice.

    'No ood, pa' ('Not good, Pa.') She spoke cutely pouting.

     'Arey why not good?' He exclaimed looking at her with big eyes.

      'Mumma olding olding...' (Mumma scolding scolding...') She made a puppy face.

     'Ohhh! Mumma scolded my Niku. Very bad. Let's go and take mumma's class then....' He said trying to cheer her up. She clapped excitedly.

      They went to their room. Annika was cleaning the room.

     'Hnji madam! Why did you scold my Niku?' He asked in a fake stern tone. Anayka giggled seeing her father scolding her mother.

     'Kindly ask you Niku what she did?' Annika replied sarcastically.

     She shook her head making a puppy face.

     'She threw the milk over the couch just because she didn't want to drink.' Annika said glaring the little girl.

      'Very bad, Nika...' He said glaring her fake-ly.

      'Sholly, papa..' she looked down instantly making a pout.

      Her eyes threatened to shed tears. She was like this only. Annika would scold her to no extent but she wouldn't care. But one fake glare from Shivaay, she would burst out crying. He had pampered her way too much. He would never scold her. Neither let anyone else do. She was very close to him.

      She started crying keeping her head on his shoulder.

      'Ayeeee! Mera baby, don't cry. Pa is sorry baby. Please don't cry munchkin...' He wiped her tears while he himself started crying. Annika sighed seeing the sight. It happened always. He would always cry seeing Anayka crying who would wipe his tears after hers.

      Annika admired the duo as their daughter wiped his eyes with her tiny hands.

     'No cly, pa. Niku kishy..' ('Don't cry, pa. Niku will give kissy.') She spoke pecking his eyes. He smiled widely.

      'She loves you so much..' Annika said linking her arms with Shivaay which were soon pushed by Anayka.

     'My pa...' she said hugging shivaay from his neck. Her possessiveness came from Shivaay only. She would never let Annika touch him or anything.

     'Oh hello, he's my husband first.' Annika said frowning. Shivaay chuckled at the duo. She tried again to hug him but his possessive daughter was full in action. Huffing, Annika left from there.........

       Sometime later, she came back to see her sleeping while Shivaay was admiring her.

     'So gyi aafat...' she said sitting beside him.

     'Hey! Dare you say that....' He sulked.

      'Beti ke pyaar mein wife ko toh bhool hi gye ho...' she pouted getting up. He immediately hugged her from back.

     'Jealous much....' He muttered kissing her neck.

     'Why would i be? I don't show but meri bhi jaan hai woh' She said cutely. He smiled.

     'I love you yaar. You are the best..' He said swaying their bodies together.

      'I love you too...' she said as they both looked at the little soul who was sleeping.

      This was their life, which they made beautiful with their love. Bearing all the pain in the past, there they were living happily seeing their daughter growing so fast. They would often wonder how far they have come. Their life was moving smoothly. Though they were fully occupied with Anayka's responsibilities but not even once they stopped spending time with each other. Their love only grew with time.

      But last few days were hectic for both of them because of the work. So they compensated for those days spending the night in each other's arms loving each other as they both whispered together

  'I MISSED YOU, SWEETHEART.'

       THE END

Here comes the end to the story. I would love if you guys give an overall view of the story even if it's negative 😁

I thank each and every one of you who read, voted and commented. This journey couldn't have been this beautiful without you guys being there with me. I really really appreciate all your love and support for me and my works. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING MY STRENGTH IN THIS JOURNEY. LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL❤❤❤❤❤❤