Author's POV

It was almost midnight, but sleep was nowhere to be found in Advika's eyes. She was lying close to her Mumma, her small body tucked against Anjali's side.

 Anjali was softly stroking her hair, humming a gentle tune while watching her daughter with eyes full of love.

"Mumma?" Advika whispered.

"Hmm, mera baccha?"

"Agar main aankh band kar lungi... toh aap chale toh nahi jaoge na?"

Anjali felt a sharp pang in her heart at the innocent fear in her daughter's voice. She leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss on Advika's forehead. 

"Ab Mumma apni Adu ko chhod kar kabhi nahi jayegi. Kabhi nahi. Chalo, ab so jao. Kal school bhi toh jana hai, aur Mumma se apne friends ko bhi toh milwana hai na? So jao, meri jaan."

Advika looked up and smiled. She sat up briefly to plant a messy kiss on Anjali's cheeks before hugging her tight. 

"I love you, Mumma."

"I love you too, mera baccha."

Advika chuckled softly and lay back down, but she didn't let go. She held Anjali's hand firmly, as if she were afraid that sleep might steal her mother away again.

 Slowly, her breathing evened out as Anjali began humming a lullaby.

What Anjali didn't know was that Aryan was standing by the door, watching them. 

His eyes were wet with tears. He quietly pulled out his phone and took a photo-a silent, precious memory of the two most important people in his life finally together.

When Anjali felt his presence, she turned her head and whispered, 

"Aa jao."

Aryan walked in quietly, careful not to wake the child.

 He lay down on the other side of the bed, so Advika was safely tucked in between her Mumma and Papa.

 He reached out, his large hand covering Anjali's hand, which was resting on Advika's stomach.

They stayed like that for a while, just looking at each other in the dim light of the room.

"Mujhe darr lag raha hai," Anjali whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Kis baat ka, meri jaan?" Aryan asked softly.

"Tum mujhse itna pyaar karte ho... kahin mera pyaar kam pad gaya toh?"

Aryan chuckled, a deep, warm sound that vibrated in the quiet room.

 He used his thumb to gently stroke the back of her hand, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip.

"Pyaar kabhi kam ya zyada nahi hota, Anjali. Woh sirf hota hai," Aryan whispered, his voice sounding like something out of a beautiful story.

 "Tumhe lagta hai tumhara pyaar kam hai? par mere liye ye bharpoor hai"

He leaned in closer, his forehead almost touching hers across their sleeping daughter.

"Aur rahi baat mere pyaar ki... toh yaad rakhna, Aryan Taneja ne tumhe tab bhi chaha tha jab tum uske saamne thi, aur tab bhi chaha jab poori duniya ne keh diya tha ki tum nahi rahi. Mera pyaar koi hisaab-kitaab nahi hai jo khatam ho jaye. Yeh toh ek samandar hai... tum jitna isme doobogi, yeh utna hi gehra hota jayega."

Anjali felt a tear slip down her cheek, but this time, it was a tear of pure relief.

"Ab bas itna karna," Aryan continued, his voice velvety and firm.

"Ki jab bhi tumhe darr lage, mera hath thaam lena. Main tumhe kabhi girne nahi dunga. Kal subah jab tum uthogi, main yahin hunga. Aur uske agle din bhi. Aur uske agle din bhi. Jab tak meri aakhri saans hai, Mrs. Taneja, tum is ghar ki aur is dil ki rani rahogi."

Anjali smiled, moving her hand so her fingers could intertwine with his over Advika's sleeping form. 

"Vaise... kal school sach mein jana hai? Main thoda nervous hoon."

Aryan laughed softly, kissing the back of her hand.

"jaan tumhe school padhne nhi apni beti ko chordne jana hai hmm aur mai toh hoon hi..so fikar not"

Slowly, they both drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep. 

The house was quiet, and for a few hours, it felt like the world had finally stopped spinning.

But around 4:00 AM, the silence was broken. Aryan felt a restless movement beside him.

 He groaned softly, blinking his eyes open, and checked on Advika first. 

She was fast asleep, her little thumb tucked near her chin. Then, he turned to Anjali.

His heart sank. She wasn't peaceful anymore. Her face was pale, covered in a thin layer of sweat, and her eyebrows were pulled together in a tight, painful frown.

 She was shaking her head from side to side, her voice coming out in a broken, terrified whisper.

"Please... mujhe jaane do... please, Dev..."

Hearing that name made Aryan's blood run cold. 

His fists clenched instinctively under the sheets, the anger for that monster rising in his throat. But he forced himself to breathe. 

Right now, he didn't need to be an angry husband; he needed to be her peace.

He carefully lifted a sleeping Advika and shifted her to the other side of the bed so she wouldn't wake up. Then, he moved close to Anjali. 

He slid his arms under her and pulled her into his lap, tucking her head right against his chest, right over his heart.

"Shh... mera baccha, shant," he whispered into her hair, his voice as soft as a lullaby. 

"Kuch nahi hua... main hoon na. Dekho, main yahin hoon."

Anjali was still gasping, her fingers digging into his shirt.

"Woh... woh aa jayega... Aryan, woh le jayega mujhe..." she whimpered, her eyes still closed, stuck in the nightmare.

Aryan didn't try to lecture her or tell her to "listen to him" logically. 

He just held her tighter, swaying his body slightly to soothe her like she was the most fragile thing in the world.

He took her hand and pressed it flat against his chest so she could feel his steady, rhythmic heartbeat.

"Sun rahi ho? Yeh meri dhadkan hai, jaan. Jab tak yeh chal rahi hai, koi tumhe chhoo bhi nahi sakta," he cooed, his voice velvety and calm.

"Woh sirf ek bura sapna tha, Jaan. Ab tum apne ghar mein ho. Bahar guards hain, niche Aahan hai, aur tumhare paas main hoon.Hmm theek hai? Koi nahi aayega."

He began to hum that same low tune he used to put Advika to sleep, his hand gently stroking her back in long, slow motions.

 He kissed the top of her damp forehead, breathing in the scent of her hair.

"Mera darr-pok baccha... itni si baat pe darr jata hai?" he teased in a whisper, trying to bring her back to reality with a bit of warmth. 

"Main itna bada khadus pati hoon tera, mujhse daro, us Dev se kyun darti ho? Chalo, gehri saans lo. Mere saath... breathe with me."

Slowly, the tension began to leave Anjali's body. Her breathing, which had been jagged and fast, started to sync with his.

 She let out a long, shaky sigh and finally opened her eyes, looking up at him in the dim blue light of the room.

"Aryan?" she whispered, her voice tiny.

"Haan, meri jaan," he smiled, wiping the sweat from her temple with his thumb.

 "Sapna dekh rahi thi?"

Anjali nodded, burying her face back into his chest, hiding from the world. 

"Bohot ganda sapna tha."

"Jo beet gaya, woh sapna hi hota hai, jaan" he said, resting his chin on her head.

"Ab aankhein band karo. Main kahin nahi ja raha. Main poori raat yahin baith ke tumhe dekhunga. Agar woh sapne mein phir se aaye, toh mujhe bata dena, main sapne mein jaakar uski haddiya tod dunga. Theek hai?"

Anjali let out a small, weak chuckle, her grip on his shirt loosening. 

"Tum sach mein pagal ho."

"Sirf tumhare liye," he whispered back. 

"Ab so jao."

He kept holding her, refusing to let her go back to her pillow. 

He stayed awake, watching the door and watching her, being the guard she needed until the sun finally started to peek through the curtains.

Next Morning;

Anjali slowly fluttered her eyes open as the soft morning light filtered through the curtains. 

The first thing she saw was Aryan, propped up on his elbow, staring at her and Advika with a goofy, lopsided smile.

"Hmm... aise kyun dekh rahe ho?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

Aryan chuckled, his eyes shifting down to Advika, who was fast asleep between them, sprawled out like a starfish.

"Puri tum pe gayi hai... dekho toh kaise drool kar rahi hai sote samay. Tum bhi bilkul aise hi karti ho."

Anjali sat up straight, instantly defensive. 

She glanced down at her own pillow and, to her horror, saw a small, damp patch right where her cheek had been. 

She quickly swiped her hand over it and looked at Aryan with a straight face.

"Ye toh... ye toh paani gir gaya tha glass se," she lied badly.

Aryan burst out laughing, leaning in closer.

"Achha? Paani gir gaya tha? jaan, glass toh side table pe hai aur tumhara pillow beech mein. Maan lo na, Mrs. Taneja, ki tum dono sote waqt nadiya baha dete ho."

Anjali grabbed a cushion and playfully whacked his arm.

"Shut up, Aryan! Main bilkul drool nahi karti. Main toh ekdam elegant dikhti hoon sote waqt."

"Elegant? Haan, bilkul," Aryan teased, dodging her hit.

"Baal bikhre hue, mooh khula hua... bohot hi 'divine' lagti ho."

As they were bickering like teenagers, a small, annoyed groan came from the middle of the bed.

Advika rubbed her eyes with her tiny fists and finally sat up, looking back and forth between her parents with a sleepy pout.

"Mumma... Papa... chup karo na," Advika whined, her voice raspy.

"Aap dono kitne ladaaku ho. Mujhe sone do."

Anjali and Aryan both froze, looking at their four-year-old daughter who was scolding them like a principal.

"Dekha? Tumhare chakkar mein meri bachi ki neend kharab ho gayi," Anjali whispered, trying to point the finger at Aryan.

"Meri wajah se? Tumne pehle pillow mara tha!" Aryan argued back, but in a lower voice.Advika sighed dramatically, a sound way too big for her tiny body. 

She looked at Anjali's pillow, then at her own, and then at her Dad.

"Dadda, Mumma sach mein drool karti hai. Maine dekha hai. Ab please, lets go get breakfast. I'm hungry."

Aryan lost it. He fell back against the headboard, howling with laughter.

 "Point, Advika! One point to Dadda!"

Anjali looked at her daughter in betrayal. 

"Adu! Tum meri team mein ho ya papa ki?"

Advika didn't even hesitate. she giggled and wrapped her tiny arms around Aryan's neck. 

"Papa ki!"

"Yes! " Aryan cheered, letting out a triumphant laugh. 

He scooped her up effortlessly and started sprinting toward the door.

"Bhago Adu! Isse pehle Mumma hamein pakad le!"

"Aryan! Ruko tum dono!" Anjali yelled chasing after them.

"Gaddari kar rahe ho? Advika, wait till I get my hands on you!"

They reached the dining area in a whirlwind of laughter. 

Aahan was already there, face-first into a plate of aloo parathas, while Arushi was trying to convince a messy 3-year-old Veer to eat his fruit.

"Subhe-subhe se koi bhoot dekh liya kya?" Aahan said his mouth  filled with parathas.

"haan na teri bhabhi"Aahan choked on his paratha and saw anjali rushing downstairs hair messy in night suit as soon as she spootted aryan and advika she rushed towards them.

"Adu, main last baar puch rahi hoon, tum Mumma ki team mein ho ki Papa ki?"

"Adu, gaddari mat karna," Aryan whispered to the little girl as he set her down on a chair.

 "Remember, maine tumhe extra ice cream ka vada kiya hai."

Advika looked at Anjali, who was standing there with her hands on her hips, trying to look stern but failing because she was breathless.

"Mumma..." Advika started, looking very serious.

"Papa ki team mein rehne se chocolate milti hai... par aapki team mein rehne se hugs milte hain."

"Toh?" Anjali asked, raising an eyebrow.

Advika looked at the Nutella jar on the table and then at Anjali. 

"Toh... breakfast tak main Papa ki team mein hoon. Uske baad we will see!"

Aahan burst out laughing, nearly choking on his juice. 

"Bhai, aapki beti toh aapse bhi badi businesswoman nikli! Deals pehle hi finalize kar rahi hai."

"Aur nahi toh kya!" Arushi added, passing a plate of hot parathas to Anjali.

 "Anjali, baith ja. In baap-beti se jeetna mushkil hai. Ye dono ek hi khet ki mooli hain."

Anjali sat down next to Advika, giving her a playful nudge. 

"Achha? Chocolate ke liye Mumma ko dhoka? Fine. Aaj school ke baad jab hum shopping jayenge, tab mat bolna ki 'Mumma wo wali doll dila do'."

Advika's eyes widened. She immediately shifted her chair closer to Anjali and looked at Aryan.

 "Sorry Papa. Hamari deal cancel. Doll is more expensive than ice cream. Main Mumma ki team mein hoon!"

Aryan gasped, clutching his heart dramatically. 

"Dhoka! Mere hi ghar mein mere saath politics ho rahi hai. Aahan, dekh raha hai? Kal ki aayi hui ladki ne meri beti ko brainwash kar diya."

"Kal ki aayi hui ladki?" Anjali narrowed her eyes, picking up a spoon. 

"Zyada nhi bol rahe hai aap mr.taneja belan kahna hai?"

"Bari-Mumma! Meri team mein aajo!" Veer shouted, banging his spoon on the table.

"Adu Didi gandi hai, woh share nahi karti."

Aahan leaned over to Veer. "Beta, tu rehne de. Badi-Mumma ne abhi bade-Papa ko belan ki dhamki di hai,jabki voh itne bade se hai tu toh chotu sa hai ek baar mai hi khel khatam kar dengi voh"

"Aahan, tum chup chaap paratha khao warna agli baari tumhari hai," Anjali warned, but she couldn't hide her smile.

"Haye, mera darr-pok pati," Arushi teased, nudging Aahan. 

"Vaise Aryan, aaj drop karne kaun ja raha hai? Kyunki agar Anjali nightsuit mein gayi toh school waale sochenge Taneja Mansion mein kapdon ki kami ho gayi hai."

"Oye! Main 5 minute mein taiyaar ho sakti hoon," Anjali defended herself, pointing a finger at Arushi.

"Rehne de, Jaan," Aryan smirked, stealing a bite from her plate.

 "Tum 5 minute bolti ho, par lagte 50 hain. Tab tak toh Adu ki graduation ho jayegi."

"Aryan!" Anjali shouted, throwing a napkin at him as the whole table erupted in laughter.

 For the first time in years, the Taneja breakfast table didn't just have food—it had life.