had no option but to take both of them to my room or else mumma again would have lectured me on how a husband and wife should stay together in a room.

" You both can sleep on the bed." I said.

" No. You sleep on the bed with Sahil. I will manage." Abhimanyu said.

" Look Abhimanyu, I really have a lot of work to do and it may take all night so I'm going to the balcony to work so it's better that you sleep with Sahil." I told him honestly.

I did have a lot of work because I was on leave on Monday and Tuesday. Thank God I had carried my laptop with me.

He nodded, still looking unsure.

I immediately grabbed my laptop and went to the balcony of my room.

Finally, I was done with Raichand and Sons. case file. Now onto my dearest husband's case. I thought sarcastically.

" You should sleep now." I heard a voice say.

I looked, finding Abhimanyu casually leaning on the railing of the balcony.

" I need to complete my work." I said, casually.

" It's 2 already." He said.

" Then why are you up?" I asked, turning the tables.

" Couldn't sleep." He replied, shrugging.

" You should sleep or you'll fall sick." I told him.

" That rule doesn't seem to apply on you?" He said, raising an eyebrow.

" I am in habit of pulling all nighters." I replied.

" You working on our case?" He asked, taking a seat next to me.

" Yep." I replied.

" Do you want to ask anything?" He questioned.

" I am just starting with the file right now. I'll ask you when I am done reading." I replied.

He nodded.

I was half way through the files when I couldn't take it anymore.

" Sleep Shivanya, the files won't run away. It is 4. You can sleep for a few hours." Abhimanyu said.

I looked at him. He looked sleepy too.

" You go and sleep right now. I am going too." I said.

" Go to bed." He instructed.

" You go to bed. I am damn comfortable here. Just wake me up before leaving." I said.

" Shivanya, listen to me and come to bed. Sahil is sleeping in between." He said.

It was my turn to look unsure.

He held my hand and dragged me.

" Now sleep." He instructed.

I gave in and lied down on one side. He did on the other side and Sahil was snoring softly in the middle.

I fell asleep soon.

There was tickling on my feet that that is how I woke up.

Sahil had got a feather in his hands and was tracing patterns down my feet, giggling. Abhimanyu was trying to stop him.

How this moment could fool anyone and anyone who would see the scene would feel how happy we were as a family!

I pulled my feet up.

Sahil immediately stopped doing that.

" I am sorry." He said.

" Why champ? For being naughty?" I asked, pulling him up to my lap and started tickling him.

He started laughing with me.

" Let's go or I will be late for work." Abhimanyu the party pooper said.

I rolled my eyes because he was right. Sahil had already missed his school.

As I was getting up, my cell rang. It was Kritik.

" Yes Kritik?" I said.

" Mam, the hearing for Singhania Corporations is scheduled up for tomorrow. Do you want me to call him to the office to finally discuss everything and then proceed for tomorrow?" He asked.

" I'll have a talk to them. You fill in for me on the Raichand case. I have gone through it and we will approach it in an out of court matter. Offer them 2 million. If they take it, well and good but if not, we will pay them a visit personally tomorrow after the hearing." I told him and hung up.

" Abhimanyu, the hearing is tomorrow. You will have to come by my office later today to discuss what needs to be done next." I told him.

" Actually, will it be possible for you to drop by at my office today? I have back to back conferences." He asked.

" Fine. What time do you want me to come by?" I agreed.

" Around four?" He said.

" Okay. I'll be there at four." I replied.

" Let's go." He said.

" You both go. I am taking a cab to home. All my clothes are there." I said.

" I'll drop you." He persisted.

" Opposite direction." I said two words.

" Come Shivanya." He said, sighing.

" Yes maasi, I also wanna see your place." Sahil added.

Shit! How can I say no to him!

" Fine. Let's go." I replied.

We bid bye to everyone and was at my place in 15 minutes.

" Wow maasi. It is soo beautiful. Papa! Can we also live here?" Sahil asked enthusiastically.

" You'll have to ask maasi about it. But yes, the place is beautiful." Abhimanyu said and Sahil looked at me hopefully.

" Of course champ! We can live wherever we want to but this place has only one room, so how will dada ji and dadi maa adjust?" I asked him.

He looked on thoughtfully.

" Okay....but can I have my birthday party here??" He asked, sounding excited.

This was one thing common between Sahil and me, our birthday.

He was born on 27 March and so was I.

" Yes baby, we can." I told him and he was very happy.

" You guys should get going or you'll be late for work." I said.

He nodded and they both went away.

I quickly got ready and let for work.

I was so busy that I missed breakfast and lunch. It was time to go to his Abhimanyu's office. I was surprised to see Singhania Corporation ridiculously near my firm. Just a kilometer away!

I got in.

" Good evening mam. How may I help you?" The receptionist asked politely.

" I am actually here to see Mr. Abhimanyu Singhania." I told her.

" Do you have an appointment?" She questioned.

" Just tell him that Shivanya Sharma is here." I told her.

She nodded and talked over on the intercom.

" Mr. Singhania is waiting for you in his cabin on the 25th floor." She informed. I nodded and took the elevator.

I knocked. The credentials read, Abhimanyu Singhania, CEO.

" Shivanya, please sit." He said, looking at me as I entered the cabin.

I took in his office. It was huge with all dark brown and grey furniture. The usual, desk, chair, coffee table, couch, Sahil, stools.....just a minute, what is Sahil doing here!

" Hi Sahil." I said. He looked at me and then ignored me.

This child seriously has multiple personality disorder. He had no problem with me till morning!

I sat down.

" Just give me 5 minutes." Abhimanyu said. He was busy with something.

I nodded and walked over to Sahil who was doing his homework.

" You don't write G like that champ! Let me show you how." I said and held his hand. This time he did not throw any tantrum and let me help him. Soon he was done with homework.

" Shivanya." I heard Abhimanyu say and I walked to him.

Within an our into the discussion, papa was here too.

The terms and conditions were discussed and I took Abhimanyu's signature on the contract with made his attorney.

" I am going to subpoena the chief of the labour cooperation. The man won't know what hit him. They will never expect us to do that. They want us to look in the immediate and I am just about to do opposite of that." I told them.

" We are sure if you are." Papa said.

I nodded positively.

" I'll leave now. See you tomorrow in the court. Please don't be late. The judge will not appreciate it. He would already have this pre conceived notion in his mind that you are the arrogant bullies and the labour assosiation is the petty victim." I told then.

Abhimanyu nodded. I touched papa's feet.

" Thank you beta." He said.

" Also, here is your cheque." Abhimanyu said, offering it to me.

" It's on me." I said, refusing it politely.

" Well, your firm will ask for it." He said, raising his eyebrow.

" I got it." I replied, waved to Sahil and walked out.

As I was just out of the elevator, my head started spinning badly and I slipped into the world of darkness.

.

.

.

I slowly opened my eyes.

" Beta are you okay? How did you faint?" Papa asked.

I was on Abhimanyu's cabin's couch.

" I don't know papa." I lied because I knew if I tell him that I forgot to have my breakfast and lunch, I'll be lectured again!

" I should leave." I said, getting up.

" You are coming home with us. No argument." Papa said, sternly.

" But papa, I need to prepare for tomorrow." I said.

" You can do that from home." Abhimanyu said.

Not in a mood to argue, I nodded.

We were home in about an hour. Maa had already done the dinner and Diya was studying.

" Shivanya, you go to your room. I'll send dinner for you there." Maa said.

It was like a one hundred and eighty degree change in maa.

" No maa. I don't like to eat alone. I'll eat with all of you." I said.

She nodded, smiling.

We all had dinner, I took meds and then went to my room. It had no belonging of mine! I did not take everything with me so where is my stuff!

" Bhabhi, we are starting over and starting right this time." Diya said, entering the room.

" What do you mean Diya?" I asked, confused.

" I mean that you are now married to bhai. Aditi bhabhi would have never wanted you both to stay like that. Married yet strangers so I took the liberty to move your things and bhai's things to one of the other rooms. This way, your request to leave Aditi bhabhi's room untouched remained and her wish to get both of you together remains too. Sorted." She informed me.

" Diya, you are in the wrong profession. You would have made a brilliant lawyer." I said, sighing.

I was impressed with her but I was uncomfortable more.

I really did not want to share a room with Abhimanyu.

" Bhabhi, please stop over thinking and come with me." She said.

I nodded, collected my work stuff and walked with her to my supposedly new room.

She left me to it. I went out to put Sahil to bed and then came back to see Abhimanyu standing in the blacony.

I cleared my throat to gain his attention.

" Look, we don't have to make this awkward for ourselves. We can be friends and live like roomies." I suggested.

He nodded and I went to shower. After I was done, I finally sat down to prepare for tomorrow.

" Shivanya, you cannot survive on two hours sleep for 48 hours. Go to bed right now." Abhimanyu said, sternly.

I looked at him, pressing my lips into a thin line, seconds away from snapping at him.

" You cannot order me like that." I countered.

" You just suggested to be friends and friends do take care of each other. You just fainted." He said, arrogantly.

" I will sleep in half an hour. I am almost done." I told him.

My phone rang at the very exact moment. It was Reyansh.

" Reyansh, what happened? It is almost 11." I said.

" It's Lavanya, she is pregnant!" He exclaimed.

" Seriously! That's great. Congratulations!!" I shouted over the phone.

I heard Abhimanyu wince a little. I rolled my eyes.

" She wants to meet you and talk to you tomorrow. Come over?" He asked.

" Anyway I was coming after hearing this news Rey, you did not have to invite." I taunted.

" I'll see you tomorrow." He said.

" Tomorrow it is!!" I exclaimed before hanging up.

Then I further engrossed myself into work and was done by 1.

Abhimanyu had already fallen asleep on the bed and there was no couch. I decided to build a pillow wall in the between and slept at the other side of the bed.

The next morning, the pillow wall was intact but his hand was placed on my waist with was doing something strange to me.

He was still asleep so I quietly pulled his arm away, got up and went to the kitchen to get breakfast ready but to my amazement, maa was already making it.

" Good morning maa." I acknowledged her.

" Good morning beta. You feeling fine?" She asked.

I nodded.

I got Sahil's tiffin ready and went to wake him up.

" Sahil, baby please wake up." I said, shaking him gently.

" Five minutes mumma." He said and I froze.

He called me mumma. He called me mumma.

I was on cloud nine but as soon as I realized that he was still asleep, I couldn't help being sad.

I quickly overcame the sadness and tried waking him up again. This time he did.

" Good morning champ." I said.

" Good morning maasi." he said.

I immediately got him ready into his uniform and we went out. Abhimanyu and dad were up. He said them bye and I drove him to school.

As I was about to leave, I saw Sahil being cornered by a group of seniors and being bullied. I went near them and heard the elder boys making fun of him for not having a mother and scaring him that step mothers are evil and will hit him.

That was it. I lost my patience.

" Hello boys. I said sweetly. They must all be in forth or fifth standard.

They looked on, scared and Sahil looked like he was about to cry.

" Let's go to your principal, shall we? You are scaring a boy who is a lot younger to you and having a laugh about it?" I threatened them.

" We were just playing with him." One boy lied confidently.

" I heard you kid. Now you will leave Sahil alone or you may end up being separated from your parents for bullying. It is a crime." I told them.

" We are sorry aunty. It will never happen again but please don't tell our parents about it." One of the kids said.

" If I catch anyone of you bullying any kid. You will be talking to your principal then." I told them.

" Also, yes Sahil does not have a mumma but he has a family who loves him alot." I said.

" I have mumma. It is you." Sahil said, crying and hugged my leg.

I picked him up and twirled him in the air.

" You don't have to call me mumma if you don't want to champ. I am okay with you calling me maasi." I told his honestly but sadly.

" But I want to call you mumma and you are my mumma. I love you mumma." He said, kissing my cheek.

" I love you too baby." I said, kissing him.

I did not want to let him go but his class was about to begin.

" I'll see you in the afternoon baby. Bye." I said, putting him down and encouraging him to go.

" Bye mumma." He replied, running off.

This is officially the best day of my life. I had never been so happy before.

" Thank you Aditi di for giving me a son, our Sahil." I said, looking up.