"Shivaay," Anika whispered trying to wake her husband. She glanced at her two year old in the crib at a distance. The little one was fast asleep. "Shivaay!" She murmured gently caressing her hand over his chest. 

He finally moved partly opening his eyes. "What is it?" He asked.

"I can't sleep." Anika mumbled sitting up straight. Even though she was tried the sleep just wouldn't come. He threw ed his face to stare at his wife.  Her postnatal insomnia made he miserable. The doctor had said it was simply the result of feeling overwhelmed, tense, or anxious about the arrival of a new baby. She never really had trouble sleeping in the past, before their baby. Initially, it wa just once a week thing, but how it had become more frequent. 

She took great care to improve her condition. However, the battle seemed hard and left her vulnerable every night. Shivaay sat up his sleep slowly fading. He felt helpless. "Do you want to take the pill?" He asked. Anika tried not to get used to pills. But then there were days such as these she wouldn't be able to sleep until three in the night. 

Shivaay generally kept her sleeping pills in a secret place she didn't know about. It was so tahts he could naturally get back to sleeping on her own. But there were nights when she'd wake him up. 

"No. I don't want to take them." She mumbled shifting closer him, resting her head on his shoulder. He took a deep breath and let his fingers caress her hair. He placed a kiss on her temple. Luckily for her it was just onset insomnia, that is, she had difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night. But once she was asleep, she usually slept well for six hours.

Her meditation and therapy helped. She was very disciplined when it came to maintaining her sleep diary. Shivaay admired his wife's determination to overcome her insomnia. However, there were nights such as these when she'd wake him up. She didn't usually do it. She'd go out and read a book or do something or the other to fall asleep. There were mornings when he would find her asleep on the sofa or the carpet of he living hall. It didn't matter to him, as long as she got her sleep. 

But, the nights she woke him up meant she was struggling. Struggling against her resolve. The therapist she was seeing had warned Shivaay to not let Anika get depressed over not being able to fight her sleeplessness. That's when Shivaay took a promise from Anika. To immediately find him if she felt her mood dip below the threshold, when she felt helpless. 

He held her close. Periodically placing kisses on he forehead. He sort of felt guilty for her condition. Generally, she was the one who kept awake through the nights when their little boy would demand attention. If only he had participated equally maybe, she wouldn't have developed this insomnia.

"Shivaay, you sleep," she finally sighed moving her head away from his shoulder. 

He looked at her. "Let's have sex." He suggested tucking her hair behind her ear. 

She looked up at him bewildered with her eyes widened a wee bit. Lately, they barely had intimate moments. The coming of the baby had changed a lot. 

"It might help you sleep." He spoke softly kissing her cheek. 

"You don't have to do this for me, Shivaay. Sleep, I will read myself to sleep." Anika spoke placing a kiss on her husband's cheek while giving his hand a slight squeeze.

"Let's try it Anika. You always sleep well after we do it." He urged.

Anika stared at him as he tilted his head  claiming her lips. Oh, how she loved his closeness. She giggled when he struggled with her tshirt. He stared at her smiling, covering her mouth with his hand. "Shh, you don't want to wake him up too." He said glancing at their baby's crib.

She raked her fingers through his hair lying against the mattress with him over her. "I love you.."

"I know Mrs. Oberoi. How about you participate a little in what I am trying to get done." He smiled. 

Anika smirked pushing him off her. She rolled on top of him. Straddling him, she peeled her night tshirt off her revealing her naked body. 

"Damn." Shivaay muttered lying back enjoying the show.

She began rocking her hips to and fro dry humping over him. He stared at her lady lumps swaying. He finally decided to take thise things into his hand. He quickly switched their positions kissing her everywhere. 

Soon, they were slowly making love. It wasn't rushed or intense. It was soft and tender. His rhythm was like a lullaby. Initially, she was rocking her hips to match his moves. However, exhaustion fell and she simply let him do what he was. Shivaay leaned whispering in her ears, "close your eyes." She did. He kissed her forehead and slowly slipped out of her. Pulling the comforter over her he smiled admiring her peaceful face. 

Sleep was away for him. He got out of bed to help calm his unsatisfied lust. A little while later he slipped inside he comforter looking at her. He moved his hand to place it over her waist but the pulle back deciding against it. He didn't want yo wake her up. A sense of contentment calmed his heart as he saw his wife sleep peacefully. 

Hope you all liked it!

-Anami!♡