AnSh Mini SS: HumSafar Thread #1 - Page 61

Originally posted by: fatema22

Its ok .

But try to update it today i cannot wait more :)

Yes updating

I had asked for 24 hours of extension so will update within the time limit of the extension

Originally posted by: devi117

take care of ur hands well👍🏼 and then update😊 but not take too much of time😉😆

Yeah I am looking after my hand first and foremost

Update is ready will update in some time

Originally posted by: HemaG

make it 10 45

Not at home at that time

Dinner outing

Chapter 4

Ananya returned from school. She was still katti with her mother. She knew that her papa was not very pleased with her katti with her mother but what was she supposed to do! Her mamma did not let her spend time with her papa but then papa also said that there was a reason. Ananya was in a dilemma. She did not want to speak with her mother but she also could not stay without her speaking to her mother. This was the first fight they had had. Anandi too was staying away from Ananya because she would not be able to handle the rejection. "Anandi, Ananya is a child. Why are you behaving like a child? Make the first move. Try to talk to her." Irawati was watching them avoid each other. It was Shiv and Anandi all over again for her. At times she felt like she was the only grown up in the house and Shiv, Anandi were also kids like Ananya. Ananya had to finish all her home work before her papa came from the office. She wanted uninterrupted time with him. As Ananya and Anandi avoided each other Irawati helped Ananya freshen up and change into her home clothes. She did her homework on her own. Irawati made her have her milk and her snack too. Ananya did not understand why her mamma was staying away from her. It should be her staying away from mamma. She had seen Anandi sneak a peek at her but she avoided Ananya! Ananya was expecting a sorry and efforts of being butty from her mamma. "Dadi I will eat only little I have tea date with papa." Irawati smiled. "Really, Ananya has a tea date with papa? What about mamma and dadi? We are not invited?" She gave a fake pout.

Anandi was standing at the door. Ananya looked away from her. "Dadi what should I wear for the tea date?" Anandi came inside the room and opened her cupboard. She wanted to pick out Ananya's dress but she knew Ananya would do the exact opposite of what she wanted. Anandi closed Ananya's cupboard as she asked her dadi to suggest a dress. "Oh Ananya see dadi is getting old I forgot I had to make a call. I will be back in some time." She left leaving Ananya and Anandi alone in the room. Ananya went to her cupboard and looked for the prettiest dress. She was confused but could not take help from her mamma. She looked at her bear family. She began playing with them. "Mamma bear I am having a tea party with papa bear. What should I wear?" She hid behind the baby bear and spoke to mamma bear. "Baby bear you should wear whatever papa bear likes. I will call up papa bear and ask what should baby bear wear." She replied from behind mamma bear. Ananya from the corner of her eyes looked at Anandi. She kept her bear family in their place and went near the cupboard. Anandi smiled as though Ananya was not speaking directly with her she told her what she wanted.

"What is your favorite color?" Anandi called up Shiv and asked him. He was in the middle of the meeting. Anandi repeated her question. "Black and white." Anandi shook her head. "Not for you for a girl. What color do you like on a girl?" Shiv was confused. "Why are you asking me before getting ready? Wear whatever you like. Don't bother me I am in a meeting." Anandi was pissed at his workaholic attitude. "Fine then I will tell Ananya that you don't have a favorite color." Anandi was about to disconnect the call. "Ek minute what did you say?" "You don't have a favorite color." "No before that." "I will tell Ananya..." Anandi smiled as she knew Shiv must be very happy that she said Ananya and not my daughter. She blushed and her smile reached her eyes. Shiv too was smiling in his office as finally Anandi on her own acknowledged him as Ananya's father. "Pink." "Kya?" Anandi came back to her senses. "Pink is my favorite color for girls. Baby pink, it is my favorite color for girls like the sari you were wearing on the first morning out our marriage." Shiv disconnected the call. Anandi was staring at her phone and smiling. "He remembers what I was wearing on the first morning of our marriage." Irawati saw her smiling at the phone. She was pleasantly surprised to see her smile. She was even pleasantly shocked when she saw a happy Anandi twirl around. This was the first time she had seen Anandi smiling in such a way and in this time when Ananya was miffed with her. Kuch khaas hai kuch toh baat hai.' Irawati smiled.

Anandi went to Ananya's room and removed all the baby pink colored party frocks. Ananya was in the garden with the gardener. She had to pick some flowers for the vase on her tea table. She came inside to see her baby pink frocks on the bed. "Papa likes baby pink color. So many dresses to choose from, what should Ananya do? Which dress should I wear?" She sat on the bed with a confused look. Her chin was resting on her hands. Anandi came to the room and saw that the choices had Ananya confused. "My baby bear is confused? I know what to do. I will ask papa bear what dress his baby bear should wear." Anandi hid behind mamma bear and spoke. Ananya's face lit up but she was still in no mood to do butty with her mamma. Anandi took the pictures of her dresses and sent them to Shiv. He selected one. Anandi kept the other dresses away. Shiv had selected a dress for Ananya and Anandi conveyed the message to Ananya without using words. This was the first family moment they had. Ananya got dressed. She could not reach the zipper. Anandi was standing inside her and Shiv's room outside the door connecting the two rooms. "Main help karoon?" She asked in a soft voice. Ananya thought for a moment. "Ok but..." "I know that does not mean we are butty again." Anandi fixed her zipper and also made her hair but they were still not butty. Ananya made arrangements for the tea party. She also made an invitation card for Shiv but she did not invite Anandi.

Shiv came home from the office and saw Anandi sitting on the steps in front of the house. He smiled as she was looking exactly like Ananya. She too was sitting with her chin resting on her hands and had a pout. He came and sat next to her. She did not even come to realize about him being there. He tapped her on the shoulder. "Aap? When did you come? I will go get you water and coffee." He caught her wrist and made her sit down. "I don't want your bitter black coffee. Don't you know I am going for a tea party?" Shiv teased her and Anandi frowned. "There is no need to rub salt on my wounds." "Tch I was not doing that. Anandi, why are you behaving like a child? Do I have to make you understand that she is a child? She was bound to react this way. All her life she wanted a papa and now that she has him you tried to keep them apart. I know there were reasons but she will not understand it till we don't talk to her. Chalo get dressed." Anandi looked at him. "Dressed for what?" "Tea party mein you will wear this salwar kameez? Please you are for the first time going to a party with Shiv Raj Shekhar. Dress nicely after all it's a question of my image." Anandi was confused. "I am not invited." She said with a pout. "Yes but I have been asked to get a plus one." "You haven't even seen her invite. How do you know she asked you to bring a plus one? Mujhe nahi banna kabaab mein haddi. I will not go uninvited." Anandi was being like a child. "Anandi, she had asked ma's permission to go to the study and take one of the invites. Ma told me. Now if you have heard the entire Ramayan can you leave the I am not invited Mahabhrat' and get ready. I don't want to be late. I am never late." Shiv got up and went to the bedroom to get ready.

Anandi and Shiv were getting ready for the tea party. Anandi in another room and Shiv was in his their bedroom. Shiv wanted it to be a surprise for Ananya that Anandi too had come for the tea party. "Tch." "What happened papa?" Ananya came to the room. Shiv looked at Ananya. "Oh my God, look at my Ananya. You are looking pretty like a princess. Ananya's dress is so pretty." Ananya blushed. "Thank you papa. Papa you have some problem?" "Yes see the button on papa's shirt is broken." She saw that a button on his shirt was broken. "Toh put it." Ananya went and got Anandi's sewing kit. "Papa does not know how to. So how can I put it? Kaash there was someone who could put it for papa." Ananya was roaming in the room thinking who could put the button or her papa. "Hmm toh who will put it?" Suddenly an idea came to her. "I know papa who can do it for you." "Who?" Shiv asked just for the sake of asking as he knew who she would suggest and that was the exact person he wanted to do it for him. "Mamma. Mammas do these things for babies. My mamma puts button on my dress. You can ask mamma to do it for you." "Yes but my mamma is not at home." Ananya palm smacked her forehead. "Not your mamma, my mamma. You ask my mamma to put the button for you." Shiv sat on the bed next to her. He had a sad look on his face. "But how can I? Your mamma is not my friend as yet. And you know what papa did?" "What?" "Papa told mamma that she should not do anything for papa and that papa can do anything. So I can't ask her. Izzat ka sawal hai." Ananya looked at her papa. "Why big people do like this? Why you told mamma not to do things for you? Now what will you do? How will you ask her?" Ananya spoke in a cute dramatic way kind of in a scolding tone. Shiv looked down then he looked up with a bright smile. "Haan we do have a common friend if she could ask..." "Then tell your common friend to ask na." "But you are not talking to your mamma. How will you ask her to put the button for me?" "I will go call mamma..." Ananya forgot all about her gussa with her mother to help her father. Shiv smiled.

Ananya came back with Anandi. Shiv signed that the button was broken. Anandi took her sewing kit. She looked at the place from where the button had been... It had been broken on purpose. She looked at him. "I had to do something so that she would come to you. We need to put things in motion before the tea party." Anandi fixed the button on Shiv's shirt. "Thank you." She looked at him. "What are you thanking me for? I should be the one thanking you." "OK let's call it even." They smiled at each other and were lost in each others' eyes. Ananya was sitting on the bed waiting for the button to be fixed. She then noticed that her mamma was also dressed nicely. Shiv looked at Ananya. "Ananya everything is ready for our tea party?" "Yes everything is ready." She went to her room and waited for her date to arrive.

Shiv went to the door of Ananya's room and knocked on it. She opened the door but saw that Shiv was not alone. Her mamma was with him too. "Ananya you will not ask us to come in? You should not make your guests to wait. It is bad manners." Shiv spoke in a tone. Ananya too spoke in the same tone. "But I invited only you. What is your wife doing here?" Anandi was going away. Shiv held her wrist. "Ananya, she is not only my wife. She is your mamma too and I will not have you or anyone else speak to her like that." He got on one knee. "Baby, you invited papa and asked him to bring a plus one. See here you have written Mr. Shiv Raj Shekhar, + 1. Now mamma will always be papa's plus one. If papa is invited to a party then mamma will go with him. You know na papa said that we will talk about something very important baby that talk is incomplete without mamma." Shiv and Anandi both waited for Ananya's answer. "But I have only two cups of tea." "It's ok I will manage without tea." Shiv looked at Anandi. She too needs to be given a talk.' he thought.

Ananya invited them for tea. She had set up the tea set on the rug and had throw cushions for comfortable seating. Anandi and Shiv smiled. She was a smart girl. Her tea table play set was too small for Shiv. She served pretend tea to Shiv. She also took a cup but Anandi did not have tea. Shiv pretended to pour half of his tea in another cup and gave it to Anandi. She looked at him and was amazed at his sharing caring attitude. She smiled and took it. They pretended to have the tasty tea and also the make belief cake, coin pizzas and mini burgers.

Shiv looked at Anandi. "Ananya come here beta sit in between of mamma and papa. Papa had said na he wants to talk with you." Ananya came and sat in between. She was looking at Shiv and not Anandi. "Ananya why are you katti with mamma? You should be butty with her beta." "But papa..." "Beta mamma and papa both are with you because mamma married papa. Socho if mamma would have said no to marry papa would you have a papa? You would have only Uncle Shiv and not papa Shiv." "But why she took me away from you?" "Beta mamma and papa are big na so we are scared of big things. Do you know what is the biggest fear big people have?" "NO." When this thing here breaks of the people we love the most." Shiv put his hand on her heart. "Do you remember you came to the office and papa did not meet you and you were there all alone?" "Yes." "Mamma got scared that papa did not meet you so he broke your heart and it broke hers. She thought papa could hurt you more so she took you away from papa so that your heart does not break more. Beta mamma loves you the most and she did not want you to hurt. Now can you understand why mamma did it?"

Ananya looked at her mamma. She understood what Shiv told her but she did not understand why it had come to that. Anandi was feeling sorry and had tears in her eyes. Ananya cupped her mamma's face in her tiny hands. "Mamma thank you for getting me papa but where did you get the silly pooh idea from that papa can hurt Ananya? Why did you think papa could hurt Ananya? Papa loves Ananya very much. Papa is very busy at office na so he did not meet me." Shiv caressed her cheeks. "Beta that is not the reason papa did not meet you. Papa did not recognize it was you." Ananya was shocked. "Papa you did not know it was me? How come?" Shiv smiled at her. "Because Ananya said that she was Ms Singh. Papa was in a hurry to meet his little Ms Shekhar toh papa did not think ki Ms Singh can be his Ms Shekhar because ab Ms Ananya Singh is Ms Ananya Shiv Raj Shekhar. You now have to use your new name." Ananya palm smacked herself. "Ananya is such a silly pooh." Anandi and Shiv both smiled on seeing their daughter's cute actions. They both came forwards to kiss her but Ananya moved just turned away at the wrong moment. Anandi and Shiv's lips were inches away. Their eyes locked with the others. Sweet juices forming in their throats which both gulped. They came to their senses and looked away.

"Ananya papa wants to talk to you about something else too." Anandi knew what Shiv wanted to tell her but she was too young for it. On an impulse she placed her hand on his and squeezed it. "Nahi." He pressed her hand with his. "Now is the right time Anandi. I need to tell her the whole truth. She needs to know. "She deserves to know. What if someone else says something to her about having a step papa? We need to tell her. We need to tell her the truth and our pure version of the truth." Shiv blinked at her saying that everything will be alright.

Shiv made Ananya sit on his lap. They were both facing Anandi. "Ananya you asked mamma that why did she think papa could hurt you? Hai na?" Ananya nodded her head. "Look at us beta." Ananya now sat facing Anandi and Shiv. "Ananya, mamma and papa meet and then the baby comes." Ananya looked at Anandi and Shiv. "But I came before mamma and papa met. I made mamma and papa meet." Shiv caressed her cheeks. "Yes because you are a special baby." Anandi smiled at her. "Now Ananya when a baby is with mamma and gets a new papa or a baby is with papa and gets a new mamma, the new mamma or papa are the baby's step mamma or papa." Ananya got up and put her hand on Shiv's mouth. "Papa you should not say like this. Step papa and step mamma are not good words. You know when I told my friends that I will get new papa they had said not new papa step papa. When I asked Nani about it she told me it is bad and you should not say like this." Shiv took her hands and kissed them. "Nani was right. Mamma and papa are bas mamma and papa there is nothing like step mamma or step papa. But you know sab aisa nahi sochte. There are people in the world who think that new mamma and papa are bad. You know how in your fairy tales Snow white and Cinderella have a step mother who was very bad and did not love them. Mamma bhi na had read the same fairy tales. Now papa was busy with office so mamma thought that papa does not love her baby. Mamma got scared that if papa does not love Ananya her heart will break so mamma was keeping you away. Papa too was scared for this same reason beta. Papa thought that Ananya liked him so much as uncle but if someone tells her something about her papa being her step papa and Ananya will grow up and not like papa toh? So papa used to be at office. Mamma and papa were both scared. So they were like that." Ananya looked at her mamma and papa. She never knew that mamma and papa could be scared too. She hugged them and kissed them. "But now mamma knows how much papa loves Ananya and papa knows how much Ananya love him. So everything is well now." She asked them like she was their dadi amma. "Yes now everything is fine." Both Anandi and Shiv said together. "Except for one thing." Anandi and Ananya looked at Shiv. They then looked at his tummy as it growled. "Papa bear is very hungry and he could eat baby bear." Ananya began running in the room and Shiv ran after her. Anandi had a huge smile on her face. Her one yes had not only given Ananya her papa but had also given Shiv a child.

Anandi, Shiv and Ananya had a successful tea party. Ananya got time to spend with her papa. Shiv was able to tell her everything about what had been going on in her mamma and papa's silly pooh minds. Anandi and Ananya were once again butty. Something was still troubling Ananya. The next evening she was playing in her room. Shiv was at the office and Anandi was in the kitchen. Irawati was passing by Ananya's room and heard her voice. She peeped in her room. Ananya was hiding behind the baby bear. "Mamma bear this is papa bear. Papa bear this is mamma bear. Mamma bear and papa bear chalo shake hands and become friends." Irawati smiled. "What is baby bear doing?" "Dadi I am making mamma bear and papa bear friends but dekho na they are not becoming friends. How do I make them friends?" Irawati sat near her. "Ananya you want mamma bear and papa bear to become friends?" "Dadi I want mamma and papa to become friends." She told Irawati about Shiv saying that he and Anandi not being friends. "Ananya, how do you make friends? On the first day of school can you make a best friend?" "No dadi on the first day toh I did not know anyone. Every day we met in school. Then we played in playtime and had lunch saath mein in break time. We talked then slowly I made friends and then I became best friend with Sonya." Irawati smiled as Ananya herself said how she could make mamma and papa friends. "So we have to make mamma and papa go out to play? What will they play?" "Ananya we can send them out to see a movie and dinner ke liye. How's this idea." "Nice. But..." Yes the big but was that how would they get Anandi and Shiv to go out alone.

After dinner Irawati called Shiv to her room. When Shiv went there he saw that Ananya was present too. "Has the kitchen shifted to your room ma? What are the two of you cooking? I know your specialty some or the other plan. " Irawati and Ananya gave him the look. "Shiv it has been a week since your marriage and you haven't taken Anandi anywhere out." Shiv was shocked. He spoke in an as possible as low voice so that Ananya would not hear neither would she understand. "Ma you are speaking of honeymoon in front of Ananya." "Shiv I did not say anything about honeymoon. Are you thinking about it? Nahi I mean since you jumped to the conclusion that we wanted you to go on a honeymoon." Irawati teased her son. Shiv rolled his eyes. Would he ever want to go on a honeymoon with Anandi? Ananya's ears were very sharp. She heard everything Shiv and Irawati spoke about. "Honeymoon? What's that papa? Dadi and I thought you should take mamma for movie and dinner." Shiv did not know what to tell Ananya. Shiv picked her up. "You want papa to go for movie and dinner with mamma wo bhi alone?" Ananya cupped his face. "Don't worry papa mamma is veggie she will not eat you if you go alone with her." Shiv put her down and gave her a look. "Ok anything for Ananya. Ask mamma which movie she wants to see and where she wants to have dinner I will take her." Irawati and Ananya both palm smacked their foreheads. "We will not ask her you have to ask her." Shiv was like why do I have to?

At the dining table Anandi, Shiv, Ananya and Irawati were having dinner. Ananya and Irawati were constantly signaling Shiv to ask Anandi out. Anandi got suspicious but before she could ask them about it Ananya and her dadi both finished their dinner and excused themselves. Now only Anandi and Shiv remained at the dinner table. Irawati and Ananya were sitting on top of the stairs to see papa bear ask mamma bear out. Shiv was playing with his food. "Koi tension?" Anandi was concerned about him. "You have no idea!" Shiv looked at her. He had to do it. He had to ask her out. "Have you seen movies?" Shiv closed his eyes on hearing his own stupid question. Of course she would have seen movies she did not live in some far off village where no one knew what a movie was. "Yes I have seen movies in various genres and also color schemes like black and white, east man colored, digital colored and also movies made before and after the dolby digital surround sound system." Shiv was irritated as she taunted him. "Can't you say a simple yes? Dinner bhi you eat na?" Anandi smiled. "Wo kya hai na right up till our wedding I used to feed on human blood but then I thought that since I am marrying a human I should eat the kind of food they eat." Shiv was irritated. "Why can't you give a simple straightforward answer?" "Why can't you ask a simple straightforward question?" "Fine we will go for a movie and dinner on Sunday." "Everyone will go?" She asked with a smile. "No just you and I." Shiv saw that her smile faded.

Shiv had asked Anandi out. He knew that they were not the typical couple but he did not think that she would become sad at the prospect of going out with him alone. He wanted to forget her sad look and working was the only way he could stop having flashes of her. Shiv was in his study. It must have been half past two. He picked up his mug but there was no coffee in it. The servant before going to bed had filled a flask for him but that was over. He needed coffee badly. Shiv went towards the kitchen. The lights were on and he saw a tiny figure trying to climb up on the kitchen counter. "Ananya!" He rushed to his daughter and got her of the kitchen counter. "Ananya what are you doing here alone at this time? Baby you know na ki small babies do not come to the kitchen alone. What if you would get hurt? What do you want? Cookie khana hai mamma se chup chupkar?" Ananya started to cry. Shiv wiped her tears. "Nahi beta papa is not scolding you. There is no need to cry." Ananya spoke between sobs. "Papa mamma is crying kabse so Ananya is crying." Shiv turned away from Ananya. Anandi is crying because she has to go for a movie and dinner with me? I know that I can't be the reason of her happiness and I certainly will not be the reason of her unhappiness. If she does not want to go out with me I will tell her that she does not need to. Not even for Ananya's sake.' Ananya touched Shiv on his lower back. "Mamma ko here pain happening." Shiv turned to look at her. "Papa mamma is in pain that is why she is crying." A sudden joy came to Shiv's heart which he had forgotten from the past 2 and a half year.

"Mamma is having pain? That is why she is crying and not because she has to go out with papa." Ananya looked at Shiv confusedly as the latter had a slight smile on his face. "Papa mamma has pain and she is crying. I heard and got up. I asked her balm laga doon? She said no. I asked her papa ko boloon? She said no bola don't tell any boy. I went to dadi but dadi is sleeping." "Ananya where is mamma having pain?" Ananya pressed on his lower back. "Mamma has pain every month. She had pain there at Nani's house also." Shiv cupped her face. "Ok Ananya now carefully listen to what papa has to say. Whenever mamma or you have any problem you can tell papa. Ok? I know mamma said not to tell any boy about her pain but jo boys papa hote hain and the boys who are husbands you can tell them anything. Papa and husbands have to take care of their baby and wife. OK?" "OK. But papa how will you help mamma?" Shiv took a pan and heated water in it. Ananya saw him pour the hot water into a bag. She did not understand as she had never seen it. "Chalo come down." Shiv took her down from the table and they went to Ananya's room.

Shiv saw that Anandi was in pain. Annaya was crying on seeing her mamma in pain. "Ananya baby go to papa's room. Tonight you will sleep in papa's room. Mamma needs rest na? If you are here mamma will take care of you and not rest." "Papa if mamma is in pain who will take care of mamma at night?" Shiv took her papa bear and baby bear and put them on Anandi's either side. He looked at Ananya. She went to his room. He had seen Ashima have menstrual pain so it was nothing new for him. "Anandi, get up." Shiv put his hand on her shoulder to wake her up. The moment he touched her she began pleading. "Please no. Please no. Please no. It is paining. Please not tonight. I promise after my cycle gets over I will not stop you. Please not when I am on my cycle. I will do whatever you want how many ever times you want but please let me rest. Please." Shiv realized what she was saying but he did not know why she was saying it to him. He had no clue about her past till this moment. She was in pain and he felt it not the physical but her emotional hurt. He could not cry. He held back his tears. "Anandi just a minute let me put the hot water bag for you. You can rest as much as you want." "Promise?" "Pakka promise." Shiv knew that she wasn't speaking to him. She was in her past. She was reliving those dreadful days. His promise made her smile a little. Shiv put the hot water bag under her lower back. He covered her with the blanket and caressed her hair. He picked up Ananya's mamma bear and came to his and Anandi's room leaving the door open.

Ananya slept in the middle with Shiv and mamma bear on her either side. She was looking at Shiv. He closed her eyes. She opened them. He again closed her eyes. She again opened them and giggled. "Go to sleep." "Story." "Mamma must have told one na." "Yes and I went to sleep but then I woke up. Now again for me to go to sleep story time." Shiv looked around. He picked on of her story books. "Not this papa I know this story. New story." She smiled at Shiv. "New story? You want papa to tell a new story?" Ananya nodded her head. "Papa koi problem? You don't know story?" Shiv cleared his throat. "Of course I know. Ek minute haan let me think." Ananya made herself comfortable and Shiv looked around in discomfort. He did not know any story now what would he do. A smile came to his face. He looked at Ananya. "Long long ago in The Economic Times..." "Papa what is economic times?" "Like in your story books all stories begin with once upon a time... This story is set in The Economic Times. Should I continue?" Ananya nodded. "Long long ago in the economic times there was a village called Stock Village. In that stock village there was a very big palace. The name of the palace was National Stock Exchange Palace." "Papa who lived in the big palace, did a princess like me live there?" "No in that big palace the Stock Family lived. There were 6 brothers in the family."

Ananya's eyes popped, "Six brothers in one family? Meaning 1 mamma and 1 papa had 6 babies?" "Yes." Ananya began to think. "Papa but I am your and mamma's 1 baby. Will you have more babies? Will I have a bother or a sister? I want a brother or a sister. It is so alone alone at home. I have no one my age to play with. My friends can come but then they would have to go away at night. Papa can you and mamma give me bhai or sister? But abhi nahi abhi I am small and I just got you. I want all your love only for me. If new baby comes I will have to share it with the new baby na? Mm you and mamma bring the baby when I am 1,2,3,4 yes bring baby when Ananya is 5." Shiv knew that it was not possible for Anandi and him to give Ananya a baby brother or a sister but he could not say no to her. "OK Godji brought you papa na? Toh tell God ji to send you a brother but the wish has to be secret you can't tell mamma or dadi. Promise?" "Promise. Now story time. Papa what were the names of the brothers?"

"The names of the brothers were Tata Power Stock, Reliance Energy Stock, ITC Stock, HDFC Bank Stock, Wipro Stock, Maruti Suzuki Stock. They were all very good at everything. They lived in Stock Village. In stock village the roads were not straight like we have they were up and down up and down like the mountains you make in your drawings. Since the roads were like that they used to be very difficult to go by their car to their office. At the office their papa would give a chocolate to the person who came first. They used to race everyday and compete with each other. Their father said the son who would come first to the office more will win the race and get a star." "Who got star papa?" "No one." "No one? How come?" "Papa told you na that all the boys were very good at everything. So every day one brother would win the race. On Sunday they told their papa that they will race one more time but their papa said no. Every day their papa had given a chocolate to one son. On Sunday their papa called them and gave a star to all six of them. He told them they were all good and they did not need to compete on Sunday. He told them that he knew why they used to race." "Why they raced?" "To reach office fast and spend more time with papa. Then their papa told them that he liked spending time with them equally and all sons were same to him. He loved them all. He told them that they could compete every day but not on Sunday." "Why?" "Because Sunday is Funday. The brothers and their mamma and papa had lots of fun on Sunday." Papa and they lived happily ever after?" "Yes they lived happily ever after because mamma and papa loved their sons, their sons loved them and the brothers loved each other." Shiv looked at Ananya. She had gone to sleep. He kissed her on the forehead. "Papa loves you." "I love you too papa. Papa we too will have Funday on every Sunday?" "Yes now go to sleep." Shiv too went to sleep after checking up on Anandi. At regular intervals Shiv freshened the hot water bag.

The sunlight streamed in through the curtains and fell on Anandi's face. She woke up having faint memories of the previous night. She was not having any pains in her abdomen or in her lower back. "Ma..." She rubbed her eyes and realized that she was not at ma's home he was at her own home. She felt that there was weight on her lower abdomen. She smiled thinking it was Ananya's head. She touched it and it was a hot water bag. She got up. "Ma must have put it for me. But ma did not know then... She tried to remember." She had flashed of hearing and man's voice and then the things she had said. Oh no I said those things to Mr. Shekhar. What must he think of me?' The door opened and she thought it was Ananya but it was not Ananya it was her papa. "Chai." Anandi looked at the tea tray in Shiv's hand. "You made it?" Shiv smiled. "No Sanjeev Kapoor had come to make it for you. I am just serving it."

"Why do you do this? Why do you put on a mask in front of me? The whole night you took care of me and now you are being so so so ..." "Yaad aa jaaye tab bol dena." "Kadwa karela." Shiv looked at her strictly but then he remembered what she said the previous night. Anandi saw his expressions change. "Wo thank you for taking care of me last night." "I did not do it for you I did it for Ananya." "Jiske liye bhi kiya ho, thank you. Umm did I say something? I was in pain and I might have said something to offend you or..." Shiv knew that she was asking about the thing related to her past. She was not ready to talk about it so he too should not tell her that she had said those things. "Na you just said that it was paining." He sat next to her and put his hand on his. "The rest if you want you can talk to me whenever you want if you want." Anandi's eyes moistened. "Drink your tea if it gets cold I am not going to re heat it for you." Shiv walked off to wake up Annaya. "He is such a kadwa karela but thoda sweet like the karela sabzi but gud wali." She smiled and sipped her tea.

"Ananya uth jao beta wakey wakey." Shiv woke up Ananya. She looked so cute even when groggy, hair messy up, side of face covered in dried drool, boogers in eyes. Shiv kissed her. "Wakey wakey beta. It is 7 am. Papa has to get you ready for school." Ananya looked at Shiv. She was going to lie back down but Shiv picked her up in his arms and took her to her room. "Mamma paas." Anandi put her arms out and Shiv put Ananya in her arms. He got her things ready for the day. Shiv also removed her school uniform, socks and shoes. He did not have to do much as Ananya's school uniform for Monday to Friday hung in an orderly fashion. Shiv also checked her calendar and packed her school bag. "Ananya chalo papa will make you do brushy and then nai nai." Ananya and Anandi both looked at him in shock.

"What you two think I can't do it?" Anandi was getting up. "So you think I can't do it? What if I will get her ready perfectly?" "I will do whatever you say the whole day." "Deal." They shook on it. Shiv took Ananya to his bathroom leaving hers free for Anandi to use. Ananya was brushing her teeth. She saw him fill a bucket with hot water. "Papa why bucket se nai nai?" She saw that Shiv did not have a shower in his washroom. "Papa why you have no shower in here? Shower mein when you do nai nai it feels like rain mein nai nai. I love shower mein nai nai. This time ok but next tie shower mein nai nai dena." Shiv did not say anything. He left to get her bathing things to the washroom while she took care of the nature's call. Shiv was giving her a bath and he understood that he might lose the bet. She was like the little puppy that did not want to take a bath and created a mess. When Shiv came out of the washroom he was completely drenched and had foam on most parts of his body. Anandi controlled her laugh. Shiv quickly dried himself and came after changing. He got Ananya ready for school. He smiled with pride.

"Papa, I can't go to school like this!" Ananya had a shocked expression on her face. "Why can't you?" Shiv was confused. "Papa, I can't go to school like this." Shiv did not understand why she was stressing on each word. "Ananya papa has checked today you have to wear this school dress. Papa checked your calendar and he has put all the books you will need. He had put your pencil box and sharpened all the pencils and color pencils. You are dressed right. He has put your school badge and handkerchief. Shoes and socks are also the ones you have to wear with this dress. Your water bottle and snack pack is in the car. Papa had done everything right beta." Shiv scanned her from top to bottom and could not find any mistakes. "Papa, I can't go to school like this." Ananya was now feeling a little ashamed. Shiv looked at her. "I know beta papa has made pony tails but it is allowed in school. Papa has written a note for teacher she will understand why you have made pony tails." "Papa, I can't go to school like this." Ananya was now almost in tears. Shiv hugged her. He was now at knee level. Ananya quickly went near his ear and whispered. "Papa I am shame shame puppy shame." Shiv had a shocked look on his face. He apologized to her. "Sorry baby. Papa ka first time hai na? Sorry. Papa will get it abhi." He got her under pants from her cupboard and made her wear it.

They were leaving for school. "Ananya papa had forgotten something but aren't you too?" Ananya was now confused. She suddenly remembered. She rushed to her room. "Bye bye mamma I am going to school. You take rest and no running here and there. OK? Papa will come back in some time. Listen to what papa tells you to do. Nahi toh I will be gussa when I come from school." Anandi was not feeling well and Ananya thought of bringing a smile to her face. She went close to her mother's ear and told her what papa had done. Anandi burst out laughing. Ananya too began to laugh. Shiv entered the room and saw the two of them laughing. Anandi laughed on seeing his face. He was so embarrassed. "You are laughing at me. It is ok as it was my first time. You are making fun of me as if you have never made a mistake of this kind." "Never." Anandi laughed once more. The Shiv Raj Shekhar who never made a mistake did such a big blooper. Anandi continuously laughed as she remembered what Ananya told her. "Oh don't make me laugh more my stomach is hurting." Shiv took Ananya to school and Anandi could not stop laughing thinking about Shiv's blooper and the cute embarrassed look he had.

It had been an hour since Shiv had dropped Ananya at school. She had called up Anandi and told her one more time to listen to her papa as she had lost the bet. Shiv was supposed to be home half an hour ago but there was no sign of him. Anandi stood at the window waiting for him to return. It was raining heavily. She must have tried calling him at least 50 times but he did not answer the call. Tears were flowing down Anandi's cheeks as she was worried about Shiv. She once again called him up but he did not answer. "Kaka." She called the driver and asked him to get the car ready. Anandi went out in search of Shiv. She looked at both sides of the roads looking out for him but he was not there and there was no sign of his car. The car entered the school compound and Anandi smiled on seeing Shiv's car there. He had been worried sick for him and also angry at him for not answering his calls but then she realized that he must have sat outside Ananya's school like she had on her first day. She got out of the car and went to Shiv's car. She opened the door and sat inside. What she saw shocked her...

A/N: Dear readers, First of all sorry for the delay. Secondly, kindly do hit like and leave back your precious comments. Silent readers come on out and please comment. Promise I will not complain for you being silent up till now.

Originally posted by: HemaG

i wanna sleep early today...so atleast by 11 pls

Updated

I know I am 19 minutes late

Originally posted by: HemaG

oh..u updated...wow

Of course I did

I hope you enjoy the bed time story and have a good nights sleep. 😆

Originally posted by: PreetiSJ

Res

Unres by morning

The first thing I see coming on line is a long comment from you which will make me 😃