Laksh was exhausted, he reached home and wanted to sleep on the bed, but he couldn't.

A smile formed on his face, when he sat on the bed edge and took it into his hands.

Inhaling the most beautiful fragrance in the world, I still remember the day, 3 years back.

"Baba Show me." Raheel was insisting to see the newborn. I bend down on my knee, and presented him, "Jaanan."

Raheel's eyes were shining, he caressed her head and placed a simple kiss on her forehead, "my Jaan."

I pouted, "no, our Jaan."

Raheel was thinking for a little time and nodded to me, "okay, our Jaan. But my sister."

I couldn't disagree on this, "of course yours and Zarin's sister and my Daughter."

There it was, he placed his little hand on my mouth and made me shut, "wrong Baba. Not your, yours baby Ammi too."

Gosh he learned to speak, no, he learned to correct me. I smiled a bit, "right, Jaanan is the daughter of your Ammi and me. Happy?"

Damn he nodded with strength and I was sure, if he could remember he still would tease me. "I corrected you!" He turned 4 years old and Jaanan 3 years now. I love them both.

Ragini was looking at him. Always so calm and happy, I don't know why and how I could get him. He always said he just wanted to save me, but this is much more. He has accepted me and Jaanan. He has given her the name of a father and has made me a part of his life and family. His son calls me Mother full heartily. I don't know how I will ever return this much of love and understanding which we have received.

*knock knock*

Laksh turns to the door, "Where were you?"

"These aren't all clothes, I just got the rest of them." Ragini made her way to the bed, she placed the cloth basket near the bed and stared to collect them all, "just 2 minutes then you can rest."

Laksh shook his head, "let me help you, these are a lot, we both are faster than you or me alone."

Ragini was always amazed by his selfless behaviour, "but you need rest."

"I wouldn't have felt peace knowing that you have to work alone." Both were folding the clothes and then the kids entered the silent room.

They always share a silent moment of happiness, small yet innocent gaze exchanges. Smiles and accidental touches, made their own way to the heart of the other one.

"Abbu!!!!" The little angel rushed to him, she rested her head on his knee, "Abbu you missed me?"

Laksh put the dress away, "of course," he lifts her and she was sitting on his lap, "a lot."

"Baba don't pretend it, we all know you missed me the most."

Raheel comes on the bed and hugs him from the back.

"No, my Abbu." She was trying to push her brother away and get her father out of his clutches.

"Abbu bhaiyu ko bolo no touch." She hides her face behind her hands to cover her tears, "I'm strong girl."

Raheel didn't liked it to see his sister upset, "fine, your Abbu. But you are my Jaanu!"

Jaanan removed her hands and hugged Laksh tightly, "okay, Bhaiyu."

Laksh was happy, "okay, who needs a nap?"

Both kids lifted their hands, "excuse us." Laksh said to Ragini, who simply nods and he left with them into the study room.

"Abbu why bed here?"

"Because, when Baba comes late from hospital he could wake us."

"Oh haan." She understood it very well, that his working hours were unpredictable.

Both cuddled with Laksh, who felt good and bad at the same time. Ragini is alone, doing the work...

But Ragini was done soon, as most of the work was done by them together. She just placed the clothes into the right closets and went down to the hall, "Bhabhi I will make the dinner."

Neelam looked at her, "but Laksh just returned don't you want to spend some time with him?"

"He is tired and slept with the kids."

Neelam nodded, "okay as you wish."

It was dinner time, when Laksh woke up he won't the room empty. Looks like they left without making a noise, mmh. He stood up and washed his face first, changing the clothes he went down and sat on his regular chair. Next to him Raheel and Jaanan next to Ragini.

So the order is Laksh, Raheel, Jaanan and Ragini.

Raheel gave Laksh the bread, "you better eat."

Laksh frowns at him, "what is this?"

"Roti!" Jaanan stood up from her chair and was standing on it.

"Hey!!!" All looked at her in concern and anger.

"Sorry," she sat back on her place and Laksh nodded, "I can see it's a Roti, I meant to say, what is this that Raheel is willingly giving me the bread, which our Jaan made. Otherwise he doesn't share."

"I made for everyone," Jaanan said proudly, "so many look!" She points of a plate with breads made by her.

"Wow my girl is growing."

She was blushing and hide her face again behind her hands.

They ate, but Jaanan was fed by Ragini, "one more, then you can go."

"Okay Ammi." She took the last morsel and left upstairs to her room, which is her parents room.

Raheel was long back in the room, as he had to get ready for bed.

Jaanan was looking at him, he was having his own room, but it was connected to RagLak's room.

"Bhaiyu I will sleep here too?"

Raheel shook his head, "no, why, do you want to sleep here?"

Jaanan nodded, "then Abbu don't need to sleep alone in the study room."

Raheel agreed, "right. Okay let me handle this with care, cause I don't think Baba will agree to it as he can't sleep without you. You remember it took a month to let me sleep alone."

"Bhaiyu I will not sleep alone."

Raheel shook his head, "if needed you can come into my bed, but only if needed. You will get your own bed here."

Jaanan pouts, "fine. I might need to come often. Get use to it."

Raheel was left open mouth, "yeah cause you can't sleep without him."

RagLak came back to the room, "Jaanan you brushed your teeth?"

"Yes," she shows them.

Laksh bend down, "breath."

And she did, "mint." He said, "Raheel you?"

He did the same and Laksh let him go, Ragini gave him a goodnight kiss like Jaanan and Laksh.

Jaanan was cuddling with Laksh, who was holding her close to his chest.

Ragini was a bit jealous. When will my time come, none of them is cuddling with me. Well he never does, but Raheel used to do. Why I have to sleep alone?

Jaanan always kicked around, both had to bear her kicks.

I hope she will become a football player, only then it will be forgiven. RagLak had the same thought.

The next morning

Raheel was ready for his preschool, Jaanan doesn't liked it, she was alone as Zarin too was at school.

"Jaanu just a year then you will go also to the preschool."

"So what? You will go to school na!" She lowers her head with a pout.

"Uff, Ammi I have an idea to make her feel more comfortable with the situation."

Ragini was just looking at him, even Laksh was shocked and amazed by his mature way.

"Which is?"

"I'm Ammi why don't we try it?"

"Try what?" Laksh asked.

"Jaanu will have her own bed in my room."

Jaanan was happy. Bhaiyu is so smart.

"No!" Both said and the kids felt bad, "why?" Raheel asked and came closer to her, "because I'm her stepbrother?" He whispered and Ragini shocked her head.

"Never think that, but it's too early. She won't sleep alone on her bed and will come to you. Disturbing your sleep, we will wait another year like you have become four and got a room, she has to be four too."

"No, I will sleep alone. Promise I will not disturb him." She crossed her fingers behind her back. At least not loudly, you won't get to know.

Both were looking at them with a puppy face.

"Please!"

Laksh took a deep breath, "fine. But not now. Let me think about the room and the bed, it will take time. At least a month."

"Fine."

Laksh dropped Raheel, "have fun and don't fight with anyone."

"Why would I fight?"

"I don't know, but your Ammi said to me to warn you. Don't do anything wrong!"

Raheel rolls his eyes, "same to you."

Jaanan was playing with her dolls, no one disturbed her, she was in her element of playing in her own created dream world.

Ragini was busy with the household thinking of the kids wish. Why he agreed? Ugh and moreover how could Raheel thinking like this? I have to talk to him, how could he even think this? I have never difference between them, they are both mine.

Laksh picked Raheel from the preschool, "how was it?"

"Good Baba," he plugged the belt into the holder and Laksh drove him home.

At home

Both were looking at Jaanan, "she doesn't need us."

"You mean to say, she doesn't miss us? Baba think before you speak nonsense."

Ragini glares at him, "Raheel we need to talk."

Laksh smiles while Raheel felt a cold shudder.

Ragini took his hand and both were upstairs, she helped him in changing and did the homework with him. She explained him how much she loves him without any difference, "it doesn't matter that I didn't give you birth, cause I raised you. You are my child only mine and bit of your Baba. Just a bit because I raised you mostly." She pouted like Jaanan and Raheel kissed her cheek.

"My Jaan now you are big and can speak perfectly, why Abbu and Bhaiyu?"

Jaanan lifted an eyebrow, "why Jaanu and not Jaanan?"

"But I call you Jaan."

"So I call you Abbu instead of Abba, what is the problem. Isn't it cuter?" She pinched his cheek.

"Hay!" He smiles fake. Wasn't he enough that I got another one like him. Faultfinder.

How fast a month can pass...

Jaanan was laying on her new bed, "Bhaiyu I'm big girl now!"

Raheel was sleeping, well pretending to sleep, "Bhaiyu I know you are awake."

He opens an eyelid and smiles at her.

"Jaanu, Baba is coming he will make you sleep, don't worry."

Jaanan nodded, "I know, you weren't wrong, he can't sleep without me."

As if you can.

"But he has to grow."

Says the one, who is still scared of 'monsters'.

"He has to learn to sleep alone."

What about you huh? Crawls under my duvet to sleep next to me.

The door opens, "it's cuddle time."

"No Abbu, I'm big girl." She refused and Laksh looked at Raheel, "only Ammi!"

Whaaaat!

"Okay, goodnight you both." He checked the cupboards and under the bed for monsters, and left the room.

Ragini just had changed her clothes and was in her nightgown.

"She doesn't wanted to cuddle with me." He back hugged her, "I can't sleep without cuddle."

Ragini was shocked and frozen at the moment, she didn't spoke or act, while he placed a kiss on her cheek.

Laksh didn't know if he had crossed his line or not, "sorry, I didn't wanted to attack or misbehave with you." He broke the hug and went to change...

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Really long chapter here and next might be the last ☺️