OS: A Night at the Khandelwals: Sorry: P24 10/09

Shaantanu is cosied on the floor...one leg stretched out and the other folded up...laughing and nodding at the conversations going on...chipping in when he has something to say...wearing his green tee and black tracksuit bottoms...he had ran up to change a while after he got back...she wasn't in the room when he entered...but her sari was off and sprawled on the bed...he smiled...she tended to get out of whatever clothes she wore during the day as soon as she could at night ever since a few months into her pregnancy...it didn't bother him though...what she would get into after that he much rather preferred...there was talcum powder on the bed and a baby mat poking out from under it...a milk bottle on the table...tiny clothing of various colours lining the edge of the couch...put there to dry...squeaky toys on the floor...he had now become a professional at avoiding stepping on them after the first few steps had resulted in sleepless nights...he went over to the cupboard and pulled out his clothes...in the process out fell her night clothes...he picked them up and favoured a confused look...'What was she wearing if not this ?'...he shrugged and shoved them back in its place...he walked over to the bathroom and made his way to the sink...he was not at all surprised to see around a dozen bibs soaking in it...he had to admit - his girl did drool ALOT, his boy was not so bad...he shook his head slightly smiling as he did so and decided to take a quick shower instead...

Khushboo had picked her something to wear when out on her own shopping spree...Khanak had asked her to look out for something comfortable she could slide into during nights but yet decent enough to roam around the house if she wanted to...she had chosen a 3 piece set...it consisted of legging type pajamas that had drawstrings that could be pulled to make them seem shorter, a sleeveless vest top and and a thin open cardigan which had 3/4 lacy sleeves...all in white...she liked it...the cardigan was a good cover up for if she wanted to roam...she slipped them on after whisking off her sari...she had become a pro at it during pregnancy when she had developed the need of wanting to get into easy clothes that she didn't have to bother looking after whilst they were on...she let the packet fall onto the floor and pulled out her thin bobble from her wrist and tied back her hair...a few locks escaping in the front...looking in the mirror she huffed...she had gotten her to sleep now it was time to get him to sleep too...

Khushboo cooed from where she was sitting on the arm chair at the 11 month old boy livening the room...he was busy crawling his way around it stopping wherever he desired...only dressed in his vest with the buttons open at the bottom revealing his nappy underneath...right at that moment he was playing a game with their 'Boo'...he was sat on his spot...smiling as he saw 'Boo' look away from him and towards the TV...and then breaking into a squeal of laughter as she would turn back to look at him as he attempted to move forward...his hands flying to his mouth...his feet kicking...portraying his excitement...'I said NO !' Khushboo said jokingly, waggling her finger...he smiled cheekily at her...'STAY at your spot !'...he chuckled throwing his hands up...'Do NOT move !'...his gummy grin was too cute...and so the game kept on going...Khushboo would get tired but baby him never would...

His eyes wondered to his Dadi...she had something in her hand which she was popping into her mouth...'Da !' he let out as he put his arms up in the air...his attention switched from Khushboo and he crawled towards where his Dadi was...she was on the couch...he reached it and held the top of the arm rest and lifted himself up...

Madhavi smiled at her grandson...'Da !' he exclaimed again hitting his hand against the couch...she giggled and fed some into his mouth...he gurgled happily as she kept on obeying him...smiling cheekily...

He stopped in the middle of taking the bite from Madhavi and turned towards the door...where the sound was coming from...it was Mummy...

He gurgled happily and showed a gummy grin...still looking at Mummy he took the bite from Madhavi...

She strolled over to where the little tyke was...he began to quickly move along the couch as he saw her draw closer...he knew what the time was...he didn't want to go to sleep...Khanak made a face as she saw the beginning of his antics...Khushboo giggled...Madhavi kept check he wouldn't fall...

She reached out for him...he held onto his Dadi's legs...he loved his mum but he didn't like being put to bed...he had to avoid her...even though he wanted to be in her arms...'Nah !'he squealed as he pulled on to his Dadi's sari...Madhavi giggled and lifted him up into her arms...she gave Khanak a sympathetic smile as he clutched onto her...Khanak moved back...she was hoping she didn't have to wait like usual but it appeared it wasn't going to be any different today...she sighed and moved away to sit next to Khushboo on the floor...she looked at her son...he stared back at her as his grandma kissed him on the cheek...she pouted at him...he giggled...he knew she gave up...he kicked his legs and demanded to be let down..she watched her son celebrate his victory...atleast she got Sia to sleep today...otherwise she thought it would be difficult since she always wanted Shaantanu...she was a Daddy's girl...when she was with her she would scream and fuss when being put to bed but as soon as their Daddy would enter the room she would glow...giggle as he swept her up into his arms...squeal as he shook her in the air...and laugh out loud as he would blow raspberries on her belly...it was even sometimes difficult for Anay to spend long with him...but he was a careless boy...got happy with whoever he was with...full of energy all the time...laughing...kept Mummy company when the sister ditched her...she shook the milk bottle in her hand...it would get cold if he didn't give in soon...he was sat on the floor playing with his games...banging them together and against each other...yelling gibberish out aloud...throwing his hands up and down...squealing as his toys made sounds...she smiled and turned towards the TV...

He opened the door and entered his children's room...he wanted to see them before joining the rest downstairs...he hadn't seen them since morning...or her...the light was still on...which meant one of them was not yet in bed...he chuckled as he saw his guess was true...his son's cot was empty...he sure was a trouble maker...he looked around...no one was in...he guessed she must have taken him elsewhere as if left here he would have definitely woke his sister up...and getting her back to sleep was no simple task...for Khanak that is...he smiled as he walked towards her cot...he looked down at the sight infront of him...his daughter...she was so beautiful...she was his...she was theirs...and only one one of them...there was another that was just as beautiful...he reached down to take her in his arms...she was laying on her side...her hands up near her face...he paused as he remembered what his wife would say 'Shaantanu ! Maine abhi abhi ussay solayah hain ! Jaag jai ghi !'...he thought about it for a moment...his eyes wandering...'Heck ! Shes not here !' he thought and proceeded to pick her...

He finally gave in...he crawled over to their Mummy who had now rested herself on the floor against the bed as she wanted some support for her back...she had her head back on the bed...her eyes closed...the movie wasn't much of her liking...she felt tiny hands on her folded legs and lifted her head up and looked down...he smiled at her as she did to him...

She lifted him up into her arms...he giggled as he held their Mummy's face in between his small chubby hands...squashing it...putting his lips near her cheek...babbling...he clapped loudly and squealed...she grinned as she laid him down onto her lap...she felt for the bottle near herself and took it to his mouth...he took it in...he put one of his hands out to her...opening and closing it...demanding something...she immediately looked around for her odhani...the one that both tykes had habituated themselves to whilst drinking milk...it was under her...she lifted herself up abit and tucked an edge into his hand...he stopped and gurgled before continuing again...he moved the odhani to wrap it around his thumb and took it to his face...rubbing it on his cheek...

He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him slowly...making sure he did not make any noise...she had indeed woken up whilst in his arms...she had opened her big eyes...blinked several times...and shut them again...she had moved abit and whimpered...he had cradled her...swaying her...she opened her eyes again as she realised she was in their Daddy's arms after quite a long time...she looked at him...he grinned at her...she moved her hand and took it to his face...moving it over his lips...'Hellooo !'he whispered and kissed her hand...she smiled and made a happy noise...he felt her kick herself up...'How is Daddy's little Angel ?' she gurgled as she turned her body towards him...her hand moving away from his face...and falling down to clutch on to his tee tightly...Tired it seems !'....he placed a kiss on her forehead before making a move to leave...

He stood at the doorway of the room and smiled...there were the other two people of his perfect family...he could see his wife's head from over the bed...his son was resting his head on their Mummy's shoulder facing away from her face...one arm around her neck and the other near his mouth...babblingrhythmicallyas their Mummy gently tapped him on his back...the odhani draped around the two...

This was so cute!!!

Pls! I expect a sequel to this update!

Wud love to read more, this was jus amazin! 😊

I love how you brought the "odhani" part and its significance in the kids lives...they hold it when they are drinking milk...

Very well written !!

What a wonderful little gift you have given all of us...simply superb and it brought tears to my eyes when I visualised Shan and Khanak taking care of their little ones and each other...

What a story it cud have been ...please continue...and thanks again!!!:D

Love, Simi