Shots Pageant

Shot 13(iii)- A Second Chance?

Shivaay's life

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Anisha and Samarth. Happy Birthday to you".

It was Anisha and Samarth's birthday. As decided, we were having a joint party and had the friends of our kids over in.

Annika was happy and so was me. We had a short rite in the morning, a hawan perhaps, in the name of our ex-partners. It was their death anniversary too.

I looked at Annika. She was smiling widely, standing right next to Anisha. Both of the kids cut their respective cakes. Anisha chopped off a slice and fed it to Annika.

I saw Samarth's tiny little hand in front of my mouth. I smiled and too a bite and fed him too, "Happy Birthday, Champ"

"Happy Birthday Baby", Annika kissed Anisha's head.

Strange right? Who would say that Anisha is my daughter and Samarth is the son of Annika.

Anisha came to me and made me eat a slice of cake and so did Samarth did to Annika.

"Dad, I wanted to have a strawberry cake", Anisha told.

I laughed and poked her tiny nose, "No princess, both of us are allergic to it, right?"

"Really?", I heard Annika saying.

I nodded.

"Me and Samarth, both of us are allergic to strawberry too", she confessed.

I stared her. We had a lot of things in common. All four of us are allergic to strawberry. She smiled and walked towards me and kept a piece of cake near my lips. I ate it and made he do the same.

The kids got busy playing the games and enjoying the magic show. I dragged Annika along with me to the corner. She was giving me amusing looks.

"Thankyou for arranging it so well. Anisha loved it", I told remembering how fascinated Anisha was when she saw how beautifully the thing have been arranged which was suitable for girls as well as boys.

"I am glad she liked it", she gave an adoring smile.

"Dad!", I heard Anisha calling out.

"Coming Princess!"

I smiled and before going, I placed a soft kiss on Annika's cheek. I walked away and turned along to see her with her hand on the spot I just kissed, a rosy tinge making its place there. I joined the kids.

Anisha smiled and looked at, observing me closely, "Dad, we you by chance too close to Anni Aunty?"

Wait, what? Did she saw us? Did she saw what I did? What am I going to explain her, "No, Princess. What makes you think so?"

"I can smell her perfume on you", she told.

Dammit! She is such an observant, "Princess, any one can use a perfume like this"

"No, I mean we don't have adults around in here and no kid would use it", she spoke logically.

"Princess----"

"Dad, do you like her?", she asked with a lot of hopes in her eyes. What is my daughter asking me? Who taught her this? Is she for any real.

"Anisha, No!"

She smirked, "Dad, grow up! stop lying! You look at Anni Aunty like Charming looks at his Cinderella"

This Girl! , "Stop watching Disney movies, Anisha!"

"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dad", she laughed at she again mingled with her friends.

I was confused. I walked upto the corner and saw Annika and Samarth laughing together. I was going to join then but stopped when I heard my name from Samarth's mouth.

"Mom, did Shiv Uncle say anything?", he asked unaware of the fact that I was seeing them.

She was astonished, "No! What makes you think so?"

"You grin and turn red like this only when you are with Shiv Uncle", he told as he cupped her face.

She gulped, "No, Samarth!"

"Mom, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", he laughed.

Annika's jaw hung open, "Samarth, stop watching movies".

Samarth giggled, "Grow up Mom! You look at him like, like a beauty looks at his beast!"

Wait, am I a beast? Its okay if Annika is the beauty!

She slapped his butt lightly as he ran to join the kids again.

I walked towards Annika. She was still unaware of my presence. I bent forward to keep my lips near her ears, "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Annika", unknowingly, my lips brushed against her ears.

I could she her shivering as her already rosy cheeks turn more rosy. She was looking heavenly. I knew she liked me. It was confirmed after our second beach date when we kissed.

Yeah, we did. Our kids were with us. I was dropping Annika nd Samarth back to their home when Samarth took Anisha inside his house to show her something, me and Annika were left outside and we kissed. It was mutual. We both had walked towards each other. We didn't talked about it yet.

*****

As the guests left, all four of us were in the living room when Anisha popped a question, "Dad, Anni Aunty, you didn't gift us anything"

"Yeah, even I was going to ask the same", Samarth told.

"Kids, we have bought a lot of gifts. Just thought to give them later", I clarified.

The kids looked at each other and nodded, "can you both be out Mom and Dad?"

"Kids?", me and Annika stared each other before saying it. It was so unexpected but wanting.

"We are serious. I see my mom in Anni Aunty", Anisha spoke

"And I see my Dad in Shiv Uncle", Samarth told.

I was totally aww. It was a yes from my side but Annika, was she ready to move on?

"We'll, we'll think about it", Annika told.

The kids squealed in joy and left towards the garden after hugging us. I turned to look at Annika, she was already looking at me.

"Shivaay, I think I should say this now, I really admire you!", she closed her eyes tightly and confessed.

My heart literally skipped a beat. The feelings were mutual. She opened her eyes and saw me staring her.

"Is is a modern version of I love you?", I teased.

She giggled and kept her hands on mine, "Its been long. I never thought to say cause we barely talked about something other than kids. We since past few months, we have known each other, understanding each other----"

"Balancing our past, present and future together, sharing out griefs and sorrows together and what not", I completed for her, "I feel the same"

She smiled brightly, "So can we give our lives, A Second Chance?"

I smiled and nodded, "A Second Chance!", I took her in a hug.

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