Samar didn't show his fear for his future child in front of us. Nor did I spoke about the real reason about my visit. We just spoke about random things.

It wasn't until Trisha Di retired to her room to sleep, he spoke. "Sorry dear and thank you so much. I know it must have been so hard for you. Yet you came for me."

"You...knew?" To say I was mortified was an understatement. I was thinking of helping him through some tactics without letting him know but here he...

"Were you the one who asked Tanya to call me?" I asked curiously as I thought that this was just between me and Tanya.

Samar smiled before shaking his head. "So Tanya was the one who called you."

I slapped my forehead. I blurted out the secret with my own mouth.

"I...I...," I stuttered. I didn't know how to explain and what to explain.

Samar Bhaiya chuckled, not looking angry at the slightest.

"I didn't say it out loud directly but I was really hoping that you would be here with me. To support me and to help me through the fear. I guess Tanya got the gist of it."

"Bhaiya, everything is going to be okay. You are going to be okay," I said, while hesitantly moving to hold his hand.

The fear coursed through my being, but it settled down faster as I saw his sweet, caring face. He was my favourite person since childhood. My go-to person, the one who always cared for me better than the most.

And I told him just that. Informed him about all the positive things I knew about him and how he cared.

"Let's not forget about the kids you teach in your camp. You have the experience buddy," I said at last with a laugh, while leaving his hand.

"Thanks," Samar said with gratitude, before adding, "but those are kids and this would be a tiny baby who cannot even talk."

"And cannot move," I reminded him. "Less scary if I am honest. It would be more terrifying when the kid starts crawling."

"Sia!" Rudra whisper-yelled as I scared Samar more than pacifying him.

"He needs to be prepared of all facts before his fear dies down or else the fear will relapse with double speed as the kid grows," I said, explaining my point of view.

"What am I going to do?" Samar groaned, hiding his face between his palms.

"Practice," I blurted out.

"Huh?" He looked up towards where my voice was.

"Just like I am trying to get rid of my fear, you can try too. Let's practice together and get rid of our individual fears.

"I think they are classes for how to handle a kid. They give real-like experiences. Practice as hard as you can with a fake baby, so you are ready for the real one. Even if it won't be completely same, you will at least have the gist of what you are supposed to do and where you are supposed to take help."

"You...you think this would work," Samar asked hopefully.

"Of course," I said confidently.

I was really sure. Because the Samar I knew had never backed down from learning, no matter how hard it got.

The efforts he had taken to become independent were a great reminder that he could do anything if he put his heart to it. And this was his child we were talking about. No matter how scared he was, I knew he was going to give his 200% before he even thought of giving up.

~~~•~~~

Rudra and I were almost near my home when I saw two silhouettes near the gate.

"Wow, Trisha wasn't joking. You are really back," Tanya said as we came near, before taunting, "Forget coming to meet us, Madam must be too busy to even inform us that she is here."

"Gosh, Trisha Di, you are such a snitch," I mumbled under my breath.

"She is my bestfriend first, then your Di. Obviously she is gonna choose me between us," Tanya said in a matter-of-fact tone, while sticking out her tongue at me.

"I thought you weren't talking to me," I retorted in a snarky tone, before answering her previous question, "About me not coming to meet you- please tell me why should I waste my time to go and meet someone who's gonna ignore me?"

'The actual truth was that I was afraid. But there was no way I was going to admit it loud.'

Raghav chuckled hearing my words. "Someone's angry at the fact that we are angry at her." He shook his head, before muttering, "cute," under his breath.

"You...you are talking to me?" I asked in shock.

Out of all the people, Raghav was the strictest. He cared the most and eventually got hurt the most as well. I thought he would be the last person to forgive me. So him talking normally to me really came as a shock.

"Only until you are here," Tanya answered instead, "He will be back to his brooding self when you return to your comfort zone."

Meaning- He wouldn't leave you alone to face danger when you are scared shitless.

"How about forgiving me altogether this once," I asked in a cute tone, "Hmm? Please...just this once."

Raghav laughed, before saying, "We will see."

I pouted, but let it go, knowing he would come around soon. It was easier to stay angry when I was a town away. But now, me being constantly in their presence was going to make their heart melt sooner or later.

"By the way, why were you guys standing here? You could have waited inside," I asked, before urging them to come inside.

"Nah!" Tanya refused the offer. "We are going now anyways. Just came to see your face."

"Fought with mom?" I asked in a knowing tone.

"When do we not fight?" Tanya rolled her eyes. "It would be a miracle if we didn't."

"Anyways," Raghav clasped his hand, changing the topic. "Come home for breakfast tomorrow. I will call Rishi and Nikhil too. Let's get back together like old times."

"Umm...," I trailed off, knowing it would be hard to reach their home in the morning. My anxiety would be reaching skies with those neighbours around.

"Just us then?" Raghav rectified, thinking I was uncomfortable because of Rishi and Nikhil.

"No, no," I hurried to explain the real issue before they misunderstood more.

"I will come to pick you up then," Raghav said instantly upon understanding my reason.

"Yeah, one deadly glare from him and no one would dare to speak anything," Tanya said, making all of us laugh.

Raghav's deadpan look and hard stare were infamous since his teenage days.

Raghav rolled his eyes at us. Once the laughter died down Raghav extended his invitation to Rudra and Ganga Tai as well.

"No Sir, we wouldn't want to intrude in your family moment," Rudra rejected politely.

Raghav frowned, before saying,
"First of all, you guys are part of our family now. You aren't here as my employee but as Sia's friend. And secondly, please stop calling me Sir. Just how many times I have told you this?"

"Sorry Sir...Oops sorry Bhaiya," Rudra apologized sheepishly, scratching his head.

"So it's final you guys are coming okay. No excuses are allowed," Tanya said firmly, before bidding us bye.

"Good night," I yelled at their moving figures, before going inside the home with Rudra.