Ishqbaaz - Two hearts, Two Souls.

Part 13 Home

The flight back to India was certainly anything but uneventful. It was the twins first airplane ride. At first they seemed curious especially when they were strapped in their special seats newly ordered by their father. But as the plane ascended the sky, chaos. Both boys started howling at the top of their lungs. Shivaay looked at Anika exasperatedly but she was like 'welcome to my world'. It took all of their wits to finally calm the twins down.
By now, the twins were willing to allow their father hold them. Holding each boy in each arm, Shivaay soon came to know that he doesn't have a chance to go through a file or place a decent phonecall once the twins were in active mood. He took them to see the pilots in the cockpit, supervised visits to the toilets, everything about them was a major task. It surprised him how Anika calmly watched over the twins. Their antics never surprised or disturbed her. She took everything in her stride. She was an amazing mother.
Their plane touched down late afternoon and were quickly whisked away from the noise of the busy airport. Anika was a bit apprehensive about how the family would receive her, especially the twins. In no time they were at the mansion. They boys were asleep, so they strapped them into their twin pushchairs converted from their car seats. Shivaay proceeded forward pushing the boys towards the house while Anika held back walking more slowly.
The Oberoi family were in the living room when Shivaay entered the room. Tej was the first to notice him.
"Are! Shivaay! We were just discussing about you!"
Then his smile turned to a frown when he took note of the pushchairs and the occupants in it.
Pinky rushed towards him. She was talking to Shivaay but her eyes were glued to the sleeping boys.
Dadi: "Billu? Where... Did these boys come from? Who are they?"
Omkara as usual was looking at Shivaay intently, waiting for him to answer. While Shakti, Rudra, Prinku and Soumya looked on with shocked expressions.
Pinky: " Yes Shivaay, who are these? And why are they here?"
Suddenly, one of the boys stretched and sleepily opened his very recognizable blue eyes.
Pinky:"Oh my mata!... Shivaay his... ours... my .. the other one...?"
Rudra:"Twins, right Bhaiyya?"
Shivaay cleared his throat which had suddenly become clogged.
SSO:" Yes.. they're twins and they're mine".
Dadi:" But how..? Who's their mother?"
Om looking at the boys intently, answered quietly " Anika!"
And that was when she walked into the mansion slowly. They all looked at her in a sort of awe. Pinky, Prinku and Soumya already had tears in their eyes. Pinky rushed forward to grab Anika, holding her tightly in her arms, just crying and kissing her. Soon all were around her talking to the dozen.
"Where have you been?.. Why did you leave?.. You should have told us about the twins!.."
Only Shivaay and Omkara stood apart from the rukus. Squatting to the twins level, Om smiled, using his hands to carefully caress their sleeping faces.
OM:" It means she was with child when she left. Thank goodness you were able to find her. Where on earth did you find her?"
SSO: "Istanbul. You remember the hotel I was working on?"
OM:"Oh my God! She was working there?"
SSO:" Yes, and luckily for me, I was able to get a hold of the employee profiles but she had left the hotel then and was running her company."
All at once, the twins became awake, Shivan first then Anish. Unfamiliar house. Unfamiliar people. It was enough. They both let out such a bellow, Om instinctively covered his ears. Tej and Shakti stared at them in disbelief, amazed that such noise was emanating from such tiny tots!
Pinky: Oh my mata! Look at them! Don't they just have the cutest cry!"
Rudra looked at her like ' are you for real? Cutest cry?'
Quickly, Anika rushed to unstrap them, Picking them up. Their cries soon reduced to hiccups, clinging to their mother.
Anika:" I'm sorry. They're really friendly. Just that everything is new to them."
Soumya moved closer to take one of the boys, Anish but he turned away, pushing his face into his mother's neck. Shivaan raising his head looked at Shivaay then Om before reaching out to his father to take him.
Dadi and Jhanvi coming closer to take a good look at the boys. First Anish then Shivaan. Then Dadi asked, "Who was born first?"
Anika smiled "Shivaan but only by four minutes"
Pinky: "You know what every body, Anika is going to freshen up and have a rest, then we're all going to comeback here so that she can tell us all about everything! Come my dear!' ushering the little family upstairs.
Tej: "I can't believe it! I'm a grandfather!
Shakti:"Me too! Twins! Boys!!"
Dadi: " Yes and I'm a great grandmother!"
An hour later, they were all settled in the living room with Anika, Pinky, Dadi and Jhanvi sharing the sofa while Prinyanka and Soumya hover near. The twins were settled on the floor after they've been washed and fed. Anika was showing them the pictures she had collected of the boys from their first ultrasound to the their first birthday party she had celebrated for them with their Mickey mouse cakes.
OM was on floor with the boys and Anika found it amazing how they quickly and easily they got used to him and how easily he could tell them apart. Rudra was perked because they refused to allow him pick them up. For Shakti they were an amazing continuation of his bloodline. Pinky and Jhanvi started to tell about Tia but Anika stopped them.
Anika:"Talking about the past will do nothing but turn up hurts, so it's best left where it is, in the past."
They all easily agreed with her.
Soon it was night time and the new cribs ordered were delivered and kept in the newly appointed nursery. Having settled the twins for the night, Shivaay and Anika retired to their room. Shivaay had been looking forward to this since when he found her. She had changed into her nightdress, a very sexy black piece she had bought in Istanbul on impulse but never got a chance to wear till now. Shivaay walked into the room after his shower and was wearing just his pyjama bottoms. Anika's eyes cover his expansive chest hungrily. She blushed turning her gaze away when she realized he had caught her looking. Shivaay smiled coming to stand very close to her so that she could feel the heat radiating from him and smell the musky scent of him. Gently, he turned her round and making sure his body was pressed to hers. Slowly he bent his head and kissed her gently at first then fiercely and passionately. Then.... They both jerked away as the twins terrified screech resonated round the building.
SSO: "Oh God!"
Anika:" I have to go!"
She rushed out to the nursery. She knew it was wishful thinking to think that today the boys will sleep without her. The rest of the family were already in the hallway, but she quickly walked past them to her babies. Picking them up she came out.
Om:" What's wrong with them?"
Pinky:"Are they sick?"
Anika:"No Ma ji, it's just that they are used to sleeping with me on my bed."
Soumya:"Oh oh! Poor Bhaiyya!"
Jhanvi gave her look and then realizing what she had said, gasped and covered her mouth with both hands blushing furiously.
Anika smiled apologically taking the twins to the room where Shivaay was laying on the bed. Upon seeing them he got up quickly.
SSO: "Fhat the Wuck!
Anika:" Mind your language Shivaay!" She said sternly. Placing the boys on the bed of which they quickly scrambled to get under the duvet.
SSO:" What are they doing here?" he said in disbelief
Anika rolling her eyes " what else but to sleep."
He watched as she took of her robe and laid next to the twins. He watched them for awhile as they snuggled close to their mama before resigning himself to the other side of the bed.
Next morning.
He had a terrible night. He hardly slept a wink. Getting up, the boys were sprawled all over the bed while Anika was no where in sight. As if on cue, she walked in from the bathroom drying her hair with a fluffy towel.  Catching sight of him, she stopped, then she gave him a dazzling smile. He forgot his grumpiness and returned the smile. Nodding her head towards the twins, she said "You better shower and get dressed before this two wake up."
"But we have to talk Anika because I refuse to have them in bed with us" he said grimly.
Nodding she said "We'll think of something".