Chapter 1

"Riddhima?" Armaan said peeping into her cabin,"Hmm.." she responded without looking up from the files she was so deeply engrossed in. Armaan smiled at his perfectionist wife and walked over to where she was sitting. As she drowned herself in her work Armaan sat down on the arm rest of her chair and leaned towards her. He massaged her shoulder tenderly wanting to distress and relax her. They had been busy around the clock the last few days and they had little time to rest as they would be on their toes even when they got back home. Their three year old Kaira demanded all their attention when she was around and they were obviously happy to do anything that bought the dazzling smile on her face. Riddhima leaned back feeling his fingers working on her neck moaning a little when she felt relief. She held his right hand and motioned it downwards on her upper back demanding to be massaged there too making Armaan chuckle. Riddhima smiled hearing him laugh and looked up at him tilting her head a little, squeezing her eyes and scrunching her face cutely making him peck her nose.

"Tired?" Armaan inquired looking at her sleepy eyes.

"Very!" Riddhima responded resting her head on his thigh which was placed on the arm rest.

"Did you have anything for lunch?" Armaan asked concerned.

"Hmm." Riddhima whispered as she shut her eyes out of exhaustion.

"Riddhima you seem really tired, why don't you go home and take rest, you have been working around the clock." Armaan suggested as he drew circles behind her back.

"Even you've been working the same Armaan, plus I have a lot of work to finish, can't really afford an off." Riddhima explained.

Armaan leaned his head on hers that rested on his thigh. They sat in that position in silence, not wanting to move apart, certainly not in the mood to get back to work either. But luck didn't seem to be on their side as the phone's shrill ring thwarted the silence.

"What happened? Is she okay? Okay I'll be there in a while, thank you for informing." Armaan spoke haphazardly on the call.

"Kya hua Armaan, whose call was it?" Riddhima inquired seeing him worried.

"It was from Kaira's school, she isn't well, they want us to get her back from school." Armaan informed Riddhima as she shared the same worried expression as he had.

"Let's leave Armaan, let me go inform Dr Keeti." Riddhima said while she cleared her table.

They were going to leave the cabin when Armaan suddenly got paged for an emergency. He looked back at Riddhima in despair, "Armaan don't worry I'll get Kaira, you finish your work and get back home later hmm?" Armaan nodded doubtfully.

Riddhima leaned forward to peck his cheek and caressed it," Don't worry Armaan she'll be fine, stop worrying daddy," she teased him making him smile.

"You go quickly and call me when you get her, I'll inform Dr Keerti for you.." Armaan said as he walked her to the reception.

Riddhima reached Kaira's school a while later and saw her sitting with the head mistress at the entrance. She saw her mother entering the school and walked up to her weakly putting up her hands motioning for her to pick her up. Riddhima cuddled her closer to herself and kissed her head, "What happened baby?"

"I feel shick mama.." Kaira mumbled nestling closer in the crook of her mothers' neck. Riddhima walked over to the head mistress to enquire about Kaira.

"She was complaining about a tummy ache earlier in the day and threw up whatever little she had for her recess Mrs Mallik, she needs rest, thankfully tomorrow is a weekend, so Ms Kaira should be fine before next week." Riddhima thanked her and holding her baby on the hip walked over to the car.

" Dada?" she asked softly as she rubbed her swollen eyes."

"Dada will be there soon baby, let's get you home first?" Riddhima cajoled her as she strapped her in the seat.

"No Dada now.."Kaira whined as little tears ran down her cheeks. Riddhima got into the seat next to her and wiped the tears off kissing her cheek.

"Be a good girl now, let's get you home first, Dada will be there in no time.." Riddhima tried convincing her but Kaira's whines only got louder now becoming full-fledged wails as she cried for her father. Riddhima sighed knowing very well that she wouldn't calm down till she had her Dada with her. Kaira was a daddy's girl, though she loved both her parents equally, both father and daughter shared a relation of friendship. Armaan had all her secrets safe with him and she had his. They were partners in crime and each other's best confidants. Sometimes Riddhima felt like she was handling two babies and not one. And when she was ill, she needed her father around without an argument.

Riddhima finally decided to take her to the hospital where she would have her father around when he wasn't working and she could get her checked as well.

Riddhima entered Armaan's cabin with Kaira in her arms, who was sniffing repeatedly after all the crying. She sat with her on the couch as she clung closer not wanting to part from her mother. She looked around and realised she was in familiar surroundings, in her father's cabin and stopped crying. She looked up blinking at her mother,"Dada?"

Riddhima smiled at her and picking her higher in her arms kissed her rosy cheeks. "He'll be here, but before that Mama needs you to have medicine, and then get into your favourite blanket and sleep okay?" Riddhima said motioning towards her Barbie pink blanket which Kaira snuggled to while sleeping, and was obviously bought by her Dada.

She bobbed her head sideways refusing to relent unless she had her father tending to her," Baby think of how bad Dada will feel when he comes and sees his baby so sick and not listening to her mama, he won't like it well he?" Riddhima explained.

Kaira thought over what her mother said intently and nodded absent- mindedly making Riddhima smile. She got up from the couch after making Kaira comfortable on the couch. She got Kaira some warm water, syrup and called up the reception for some sugar.

Having fed her the bitter syrup after a lot of cajoling, she made her some water mixed with sugar to change the bitter taste in her mouth.

"Stay here baby, Mama's just coming in a minute okay." Riddhima said smoothing her hair, before leaving to get her to eat something.

As she got out of the cabin she paged Armaan to come over as fast as he could,'Your brat is finally under control, make it fast.'

Hey don't call her that, is she good?' Armaan replied.

Riddhima just giggled rolling her eyes,' Yeah just a bad tummy, don't worry daddy' Riddhima replied.

Poor baby, I'll be there in 5'

Armaan entered his cabin a few minutes later not finding Riddhima there. When he looked over at the couch Kaira wasn't there either. He grew worried and looked around only to find her sitting on his chair with the blanket huddled around her. He smiled at his innocent baby and walked up to her,"Dada?" She squealed and immediately jumped into his arms.

"How's my sweetie doing?" Armaan cooed.

"I feel shick," Kaira said pouting and leaning her head on his chest.

"My Supergirl's going to be okay." Armaan said animatedly as he sat on the couch with her tucking her in the blanket warmly.

Armaan patted her hair lovingly dropping a kiss on her head as he rocked her in his arms. Riddhima walked into the cabin witnessing the adorable sight and non-surprisingly a calmer Kaira and smiled to herself.

"Finally Brat one is here, so the Brat two calmed down." Riddhima teased him.

"Hey stop calling us that okay." Armaan exclaimed pulling his baby closer, frowning at Riddhima.

"Well it's the truth, you both just need each other, does it matter if I am even around?" Riddhima complained pouting making Armaan smile at the pretence of jealousy from Riddhima.

He held her hand and pulled her with a jerk making her land on his lap. "Armaan kya kar rahe ho?" she said flushed.

"Oh common I haven't done that for the first time have I?" Armaan commented making Riddhima whack him. Nevertheless she adjusted herself comfortably on his lap as they both looked at their baby girl now peacefully asleep in her Daddy's arms. They both bend down to kiss her head together and smiled when they heard her burble in her sleep.

"Did she eat something?" Armaan asked.

"No I went to fetch something for her, I'll feed her when she's awake." Riddhima assured.

"You have more work?" Riddhima asked as he nodded looking at his baby worried for her.

"Don't worry she'll be okay, it's just a bad tummy." Riddhima said.

"But I still don't like it when she's like that." Armaan whispered as he rested his cheek on her head.

Riddhima just smiled at his love and kissed his cheek.

"Take her home now, she's asleep. The medicine will keep her rested for a while. I'll be back before she's awake." Armaan said.

"You better be, she aint going to listen to me." Riddhima sulked as Armaan snickered handing over Kaira to Riddhima who fidgeted a little as she felt the warmth from her father's arms being taken away.

Kaira's eyes fluttered open a few hours later, only to shut them when the light from the window pierced her eyes. She blinked her eyes a few times before she opened them and looked around. She was in her room at home, snuggled on the bed. She remembered having slept off on her father's shoulder in the hospital and wondered where he and Mama were.

"Dada? Mama?" She called out and minutes later Riddhima walked into the room. She saw Kaira sitting up rubbing her eyes and took a soft napkin and wiped her face and nose which was wet.

"I am here sweetie.." Riddhima cooed hugging her baby closer.

"Is my baby hungry?" She inquired and felt her nod in the positive.

"Okay let me get you something to eat." Riddhima said placing her back on the bed.

"Dada?" Kaira inquired again making Riddhima stop in her trail Uh ho'

"Baby he's still at work, he'll be here in a while. Let's eat something till then?" Riddhima coaxed her sweetly. But she knew it was hopeless. Kaira needed her father when she was sick and the fact that she had come home and her father was yet not around was not going to go down well with her.

Riddhima expected her to cry but she was surprised when Kaira just picked up her favourite teddy bear and sat down on the ledge of the window scowling in anger.

Riddhima smiled to herself at her baby's tantrum and at the state Armaan was going to be in when he got home.

"Hey how's she doing?" Armaan asked after greeting Riddhima with a kiss on her forehead as she opened the door for him.

"Well she's angry with someone, refused to eat anything ever since we got back and is sitting in her room frowning. " Riddhima explained chuckling while she said it.

"Why does all that make you happy?" Armaan scowled.

"Because Kaira is upset with YOU, how often does that happen?" Riddhima said smugly making Armaan roll his eyes in disgust.

"Where is her food?" Armaan asked as he placed his bag on the dinner table.

"Here," Riddhima said removing the bowl of soup from the microwave and handed it over to him, "It's no point by the way she isn't going to listen to you today."

"Watch me," Armaan challenged her walking over to his baby's room, leaving Riddhima behind to prepare their dinner.

Armaan entered Kaira's room to find her sitting on the window ledge talking to her teddy, probably complaining about her father. He smiled to himself feeling elated at being needed so dearly by his family.

He walked over and sat down opposite to her on the ledge. Kaira looked up to see her father and was about to smile and jump up to him but suddenly remembered she was supposed to be angry at him and looked away making Armaan smile at her cute gestures and moved closer to her.

"Did Kaira eat anything?" Armaan asked as he picked her up and placed her in his lap even as she tried to struggle out of his hold.

"You know Daddy hasn't had anything either.." Armaan said pouting making Kaira look up. He expected her to melt but she just blinked at him twice and looked away again hardening her resolve.

Armaan sighed and picked her tiny little palm and placed it on his tummy. His stomach churned out of hunger again and Kaira felt the rumble below her hand.

"Dada! There ish a monshter in your tummy.." She exclaimed her tiny eyes gaping at him almost making him laugh at her innocence.

But he restrained himself and nodded at her grimly trying to imitate her expression," You see if I don't have my food baby, the monster in my tummy will be left hungry.."

"And then will he obble you up.." Kaira asked surprised at knowing that a monster resided in her father's stomach.

"Yes it'll gobble' me up," Armaan said pretending to be scared.

"Then quickly have food Dada.." She said concerned.

"Not before my baby does." Armaan said sternly. Kaira fell for his story and immediately opened her mouth wide open ready to eat her food.

Armaan smiled to himself and picked up the soup bowl, stirred it to cool it off and offered her a spoonful of it. She got up and sat on his folded knee leaning on his shoulder and placed her palm on his tummy curious to know what the monsters were up to. As he offered her another spoonful she felt his stomach rumble again and immediately she pushed the spoon to him.

"Have it fasht, the monshters are shcreaming.." Kaira exclaimed her doe eyes welling up, scared for her father.

Armaan immediately sobered up realising how seriously she had taken the story and how extremely concerned she was. But before he could say anything Riddhima walked in with a tray of food for herself and Armaan.

"Don't worry baby, the monsters won't do anything, I got their food." Riddhima comforted her as she sat down with them. She fed herself and Armaan while he continued to feed Kaira who continued to keep her hand on her father's tummy. Armaan smiled to himself and looked at Riddhima silently with a look of air, making her twitch her mouth in defeat.

Armaan lay on the bed that night with Riddhima nestled on his right shoulder and Kaira on his chest. Armaan's hand was entwined with Riddhima's as they patted Kaira to sleep. She was better now and having rested through the day she wasn't easily sleeping. She dragged herself lower and placed her ear on her Daddy's tummy.

"What are you doing baby?" Riddhima asked Kaira.

"Dada the monshters are quiet now!" She said looking up and grinning widely, relieved that they were not going to attack his father anymore.

"Of course they would, they're asleep." Armaan explained seriously.

"They are? Will they trouble you again?"

"No not until you're with me." Armaan said smiling at her lovingly.

"Really? Are they shcared of me?" She said eyeing him widely.

"Yes so come on now, sleep hugging Dada tight, and they won't do a thing." Armaan said making her clamber on his chest and place her head near his heart. Armaan and Riddhima shared a smile and patted her again.

Armaan turned to look at Riddhima and raised her eyebrows at her, she rolled her eyes making him laugh at her and kiss her nose.

"Dada's girl," she grumbled earning another bout of laughter from him which she loved to hear.

OS 2 - Nothing without you

OS 2 (B) - Nothing without you