Rolli smiled watching her son curled up in Neelambari's lap. ''He is not going to leave your room.'' Rolli said sitting next Neelambari. ''I am overwhelmed with his love.'' Neelambari replied caressing Ani's head. Her eyes went to the floor and she huffed. ''Its not just Ani, but his friends love him too.'' Rolli chuckled looking at her hounds and the cats sleeping all around Neelamabri's bed. The hounds who were trained to hear just the Rathore Princess, fell in love with gentle Dev, and when Ani arrived, they immediately became his guard and friends.

''I will shoo them out.''

''No, its fine. Anirudh is just like Dev, I want to give him what Dev never had.'' Rolli smiled, pecked her son and then Neelmabari before walking back to her room. 

''This one is the enemy of my romance.'' Rolli said narrowing her eyes at whiskey. The kitty never left Dev's side. Though, it had obliged the queen with some affection, Dev was her favorite. ''Go to your bed, this is mine.'' And it obliged after scaring the queen.

''This one is trying to steal you away from me.'' Rolli complained moving to Dev's arms. He gave her a flat stare. ''Seriously? You both can't live with or without each other.'' He was right. Though, he had been whiskey's favorite , the little kitty understood the authority of the Queen. The pets were a part of them and the couple loved them as family. ''Let's plan a second baby. Ani needs a company.''

Dev sat up watching his wife. ''No, Ani needs to be five not before that and what's up with this second child thing.''

''I was trying to seduce you.'' She replied with a smile and then added. ''The moment my eyes fall on you, I wish to have a cricket team.'' Dev blushed, his wife never had a filter when it came to him. Rolli threw her arms around his neck, saddling him. ''You look cute when you blush.'' Dev threw her on the bed. ''We should sleep.''

''No, we need some love.'' She replied pulling him back in her arms.

***

''Veer, Dipika! Ananya was little surpised to find the couple at her suite door past midnight. Veer stepped in. ''We couldn't sleep. Thought of checking if you guys were awake.''

''Strange, even we couldn't. Ranvijay is in his study.'' Veer decided to see his brother while Dipika followed Ananya in. ''You are worried!''

''We all are. I just hope all goes without pain for Sona. And for a strange reason, its raining crazy. It never rains this way in Jaigarh.'' Dipika had just spoken her mind when the alarm on their phones went off. Ranvijay had configured the Alarm on four phones in case Sona needed them. Dipika nodded once hurrying out while  Ananya called Balwant. ''I need you to drive Sonakshi to hospital. You are the best one.'' 

Sona wailed louder as Vikram helped her to the vehicle. ''Its all your fault.'' She scolded. He gulped but decided to be quite. As they drove to hospital, Dipika Ananya offered their support to Sonakshi who wailed in pain. ''Damn the rain.'' Ananya cursed. Ranvijay and Veer drove along with their parents worried about the rain and Sona.

They wheeled her in carefully, making sure she was not uncomfortable but to the surprise of the family, Sona was wheeling her own chair faster than them. ''Sona, calm down.''

''Don't talk to me. This is all because of you. I will tell you how I am feeling, just wait.'' Vikram jumped as his aunt and mother pressed their lips. Ananya rubbed his arm and decided to wheel Sona in. The doctors took Sona in leaving the family behind. 

''Would you like to join your wife?'' The doctor asked and Vikram wondered if it was a good idea. ''Can we?'' Ananya asked. The doctor nodded as Ananya and Dipika followed her in. ''Relax!'' Ranvijay rubbed Vikram's back. The younger man just nodded, he never felt this weak all his living years. He took the nearby chair as his grand-mother offered her support. 

''I will die mom.'' Sona cried clutching on to Dipika's hand. Dipika rubbed her forehead, ''Nothing is going to happen. You will be in sometime, just listen to the doctor.'' Ananya on the other hand couldn't handle Sona's cries; tears came down her eyes as she kept caressing Sona's head. Dipika was now started sweating as Sona's labor was turning painful.  

Doctor instructed Sona to breathe and push, she did collapsing next moment. There was baby wail as doctor handed the baby to the nurse. ''Its a girl.'' 

''Please check her.'' Dipika pleaded. The doctor informed that Sona had fainted being tired and will take sometime to be conscious .  The nurse handed the new born Rathore Princess after checking all the vitals. Wrapped in a cloth, the little girl kept squirming as if trying to be free. ''She is 2.75 Kgs.''

Ananya smiled. ''What Ladoo? First you trouble your mom, then you chose a stormy night and then you come out so small. Do you have any idea how will Rathores react?''

''Ananya, she is thin and small. They are going to grill Sona's doc because our Ladoo decided to be tiny. I hope, this hospital stays intact.'' Dipika voiced her thoughts. 

Ananya thought. ''I will handle, let's go.'' The doctor informed that they will be shifting SOna to a room and they will able to see her in sometime. 

Ranvikay paced the corridor worried about Sonakshi. All her pregnancy, her health had been a concern and the long wait made him impatient. His feet halted when he heard Ananya talking in a loving voice. The Rathore family stood up anxious, waiting for the new member. They couldn't hear the rain outside but now it felt calm. Ananya smiled while Dipika fidgeted, the baby was lighter than the normal weight. 

''How is Sona?'' Veer asked

''Resting, we can see her in 10 mins.'' Dipika responded. 

''Behold people, I present to you Princess  Ladoo Stormy Rathore.'' Ananya declared. Ranvijay stared down at the small bundle, she wasn't sleeping. Instead, she moved her limbs even being wrapped in a cloth. ''Now I know why granny loved us so much.'' Ananya walked to Vikram, ''Hold her.''

Vikram stood frozen staring down at the little bundle. He wiped his eyes once. ''She is too small.'' Dipika slapped her forehead, Ananya, to divert the attention  intentionally chose to address the baby with a nick name Rathores won't like, and her son just opened his mouth ''Just wow.'' And in a minute all Rathores were hovering over the little Princess. ''Call the Doctor.'' That came from Giriraj Singh

''She is fine. We checked'' Dipika tried to intervene. 

''We chose a wrong doctor. Sona had to take so much pain and even the baby is not healthy.'' Veer interjected

''She is just smaller. Not all babies are Sumo like Rolli.'' Ananya tried to calm the family down. Their discussion halted when the doctor stepped in. ''You can meet Mrs Sonakshi Rathore.'' The doctor's eyes went to the baby and she added. ''for her size, she is a loud baby.'' With that she walked out, not noticing the glaring eyes.

''She called our girl loud. How dare she? Our girl is a Rathore, she can never be meek. Ranvijay, I need all details on this doctor. I bet she is fake.'' Giriraj Singh ordered his son. Dipika Ananya shared a look tired of the madness. The all Rathores looked crazy and childish to them. 

''Do something.'' Dipika whispered. Ananya nodded taking a step. ''Ladoo is bored, give her to me.'' After a minute of silence Ranvijay replied. ''Now you cannot call her Ladoo, she is a Princess.''

''Ladoo is Unisex. I can call her that and she likes it.'' 

''How do you know.''

''Ladoo squealed hearing the name. By the way, her full name is Ladoo Stormy Rathore.'' 

''Where did Stormy come from?''

''She chose to come on a stormy night.''  Ranvijay gave up.  He bought the little one to his face level. She was so tiny that she fitted completely in his two palms but she was a sight. He couldn't give words to the feeling of holding the first born of the Rathore clan.

Sona smiled at her family, leaning against the elevated bed. She got a loving hug from Shivangi Rathore, who looked too worried. ''SOna, are feeling okay? Don't hide a thing.''

''I am fine grandma. Don't worry.'' Sona assured. Her eyes moved to Veer, who seemed completely lost in the small bundle. He spoke animatedly her making a million plans of future. The family sat till early hours and left after Ananya Dipika pushed them out. Ananya patted Sona's head lovingly while Dipika rocked the baby. Ananya moved next to Dipika, ''Now what are you thinking.''

''During those dark days, I had given up on the hope to see such a day. And today, I am so happy that I am going to grow old with my husband and my best friend beside me.'' Ananya smiled

''We are not growing old that soon. I have decided to hire a trainer, Ladoo deserves sexy grannys.'' After a moment they giggled recalling the Rathore faces hearing the name Ladoo. ''She is so active.'' Dipika said watching the baby squirming 

''Has to be.'' The two friends decided to take a nap. Vikram was to arrive around 8 to be with Sona. Ananya gave the little baby a small peck before settling her in the crib. ''The first born.'' Dipika lost her smile hearing Ananya's words. ''She is a girl.''

''Doesn't matter to me.'' Dipika decided to let it be for now. 

Vikram lay on his bed wide awake, the feeling of being a new father started sinking in slowly. His lips stretched and then he laughed.  He could still feel the little fingers around his big one. She was cute, very cute. Though her thin structure and small size worried him them, but he found all too beautiful about her. Vikram knew he wasn't going to sleep that night, he didn't wanted to. All he wanted was to hold his baby in his arms . He grinned wide dancing around like a maniac.

***

Raina squealed when her mother informed her about the birth of new Princess. She quickly informed her assistant and started packing when footsteps in her cabin halted her movements. ''What are you doing here Siddhant?'' She asked without turning

''WOW! You recognized me just by footsteps, am I that hard to forget?''

The Princess took a deep breath and stood facing him. ''No, your deeds are.'' She relied his taunt with hers. ''What are you doing here?''

''I said we will talk.''

''You have 5 mins.'' She replied and went about pushing her files into the drawers. 

''Drop the act Raina. I know this ignoring is all to get my attention. I have heard about all of it.''

''3 mins.'' She responded, clicking shut down on her laptop. Siddhant grabbed her arm pulling her close. ''You don't leave my mind my dreams and my reality. Accept its, you wanted me this way.'' Siddhant accused the princess. Raina stared at him and then smirked. ''You aren't that important and I don't play petty games. I am a Ranawat,  and I have a class.'' Raina moved her hand , freeing it from his grip. Siddhant was stunned, the girl wasn't trained like Rolli but she had gained some skills. ''Your five mins are over, leave.''

Siddhant walked out determined to come back and she smiled, recalling Anika.It was one of the nights when she narrated Anika about Siddhant.

''You want to change because he hurt you.'' Raina nodded. ''Sorry, you can never change then.''

''what should I do? It will always be just him.''

''Block him and we change your number and phone. You will not use your social media till I ask you to. Can you.''

''I will.'' And she did. Anika made Raina realized that Siddhant was just a part of her world and not her whole world. After a few months Anika asked again, ''Do you still love him.''

''I do, but it doesn't seem impossible to be without him.''

''Listen to me, come what may don't pay any attention to that guy. Don't bend to his demands. Face him with you head held high. Prove it to him that you are as worthy as him.''

''And!''

''And he will come behind you wagging his tail.''

''So this is the way to get him.''

''No! This is the path of you proving your worth to the world and him. You loved him, if he couldn't respond, he should have respected it. Its brave to fall and confess your feelings. You are brave Princess, you just have to realize that.''

''Ma'am, your car is waiting.'' Raina came out of her thoughts when her assistant informed her about the waiting vehicle. Anika was right, Raina needed to be proud of self to make others proud of her. She had always been a brat but never proud about herself. She had been Jealous of Rolli, not realizing  that her cousin had worked hard to be what she was. That's when she decided to bring honor to her own name.

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