Anshika couldn't utter a word after Shivaay narrated everything to her.

“She's scared of loosing you like Ansh. She won't say that but I know her” He told and she looked at him with tears rolling down her eyes.

“You didn't know about your brother because she didn't want you to know anything. Ansh was our past and he'll always be in our hearts. We cried enough for him and she didn't want you to know about all those torturous days. That is why Ansh's photo isn't there anywhere in the mansion. But seems like I broke that promise” He told with a sad chuckle.

“Mumma went through so much and what did I just say? What did I just tell her? How should I say sorry to her?” She asked crying.

“Go and give her a tight hug. You know your mumma more than me” He told and she nodded before rushing to the bedroom.

He smiled and took his mobile before looking at Ansh's photo.

*

“Mumma I'm sorry. I'm so sorry” Anshika cried hugging Anika.

“Arre what happened? Why are you crying?” Anika asked caressing her hair.

“Beat me mumma. Beat me with your big stick for saying that” She told and Anika chuckled before parting her from the hug and wiping her tears.

“See you look like a bhootni now”

“haww as if you're Aiswariya Rai” Anshika told twisting her mouth and Anika burst out laughing.

“I'm Aiswariya Rai or not, Shivaay loves me more” Anika told and Anshika frowned.

“Papa loves me more. He just told me”

“No! When did I say that? You little devil! Your mumma will make me sleep on couch” Shivaay told horrified and the duo chuckled looking at his face.

Anshika turned to look at Anika and hugged her sideways before kissing her cheek.

“I love you mumma. So much” She told giving numerous kisses on Anika's cheek.

“How much ever you butter me, I'll not allow you to go to that party” Anika told and she pouted.

“I don't want to go to any party-sharty. I don't want to go anywhere leaving my Mumma. I love you shooooo much” She told and Anika raised her eyebrows at Shivaay asking him what happened suddenly. He just shrugged.

“But I love you more” Anika told with a smile and she pouted.

“Ah! Ok agreed. We both love each other so much. World's best mumma and daughter” Anshika told making Anika chuckle.

“Oh hello! Who am I? A potato? Include me too” Shivaay told with a pout and both Anika and Anshika chuckled.

“Don't do so much drama. Now come!” Anika told and Shivaay pushed both of them to the opposite side before sitting in between them.

“Haww! See mumma. How jealous is Papa” Anshika told hitting Shivaay's arm and he smiled sheepishly looking at her.

“You both can fight for me but I need both of you. If I sit near either of you, you'll start fighting like cats and dogs saying I love either of you more. I'm seeing this drama daily. So please spare me at least today” He told and they chuckled.

“Ha papa. Mumma is so childish na?”

“Hawww!! I'm childish? Then what are you, you tadibaaz bagadbille ki aulad” Anika told with a frown and Anshika looked at Shivaay with a pout.

“I'm still a child right? I can be childish right? Still mumma is calling me bad words” Anshika told and Shivaay sighed before keeping his head in his palms.

Anika looked at Anshika and raised her eyebrows while the latter shrugged.

“Papa” Anshika told poking Shivaay's arm.

“No don't talk to me both of you” Shivaay told and Anshika pouted looking at Anika.

“Shivaay sorry na” Anika told softly.

“One kiss here and one kiss here. Quick!” He told keeping both his index fingers on either of his cheeks and both the mother daughter duo chuckled looking at his face.

“We love you so much” Both of them kissed Shivaay's either cheeks and he smiled.

He turned to look at Anika who smiled looking at him.

“Thank you” She mouthed to him and he smiled before squeezing her palms in his.

*

“You told everything to her?” She asked as they were going to bed that night.

“To whom”

“Anu” She told and he sighed.

“Why?” She asked and he made her sit on the bed before kneeling down in front of her.

“For how long can we hide everything from her? She has the right to know” He asked and she frowned.

“She's a little girl. She can't handle all these big things” She told and he chuckled.

“She's seventeen now. Soon to be eighteen”

“So? She's always my little baby” She told and he smiled.

“I know” He told kissing her palms.

“How did you understand?”

“I'm her mother. I can understand” She told proudly and he chuckled shaking his head.

“Remember what's the day tomorrow?”

“Their birthday. How can I forget?” He asked and she smiled as she remembered how shocked was everyone including her when she gave birth to Anshika on the very same day Ansh was born.

“I love you” She told softly and he smiled before standing up and kissing her forehead.

She made him sit beside her and kept her head on his chest before closing her eyes.

“Shivaay”

“Hmm”

“Every single time I look at you, I feel proud on myself” She told and he chuckled.

“Why so?”

“Because my decision of loving you and trusting you was right. It was probably the only right decision I took in my life” She told with a smile.

She raised her head to look at him before caressing his beard with her palm. Holding her palm towards his lips, he kissed her knuckles while still looking at her. She smiled with her eyes lowered as he tilted his face and kissed her cheek.

Tring! Tring!

They parted from each other startled on hearing the sudden ring that came from Anika's mobile. She quickly took it only to realise she had set an alarm half an hour before twelve so they could decorate the room.

“Alarm” She told showing him the screen and he nodded.

“Every time, my alarm goes off” He told with a dramatic sigh and she hit his chest.

“Come now” She told while walking out of the room and he followed her with a smile.

~The End~