Extended Chapter 41.
Yuvaani
I could see it in his eyesâthe fear of losing me during the argument, and the concern for his kids. The way he conveyed his feelings with just a glanceâno one else could do that. I know he's a very responsible father. He cares about his children deeply. He's never been apart from them since they were born, and his concern was how I would manage them all by myself. I'm grateful that when I took them with me, they weren't cranky, otherwise, it would have been difficult for me to handle. But I did manage them on my own.
The parent in Aarush speaks volumes. He truly seemed like the ideal father. Now, I understand why he felt so protective. If I were in his placeâif I were a widow with a child and married someone else, even if my new husband was wonderful, I wouldn't easily let him take over the care of my child, especially outside the house. Indoors, maybe. But at least Aarush trusted me. He never once said, "Don't take my kids with you."
The realization hit like iron smashed on glass. I felt guilty to argue with him and doubt his intentions. Maybe he trusts me more than I do to him. I sighed and checked the time.
2:09 am.
I should sleep. I've been overthinking too much. I turned over to face him. He was sleeping peacefully, without a care in the world. Being close to him every day has shown me how good he is as a person. He takes care of his parents, looks after his kids, builds a business from scratch, and cares for me. He hugs me, kisses me, makes me feel loved and valued. A person who genuinely cares for me. My heart swelled with pride, knowing that I am his wife. I love himâperhaps even more than I realize.
Slowly, I reached out, my fingers grazing his face. I felt the light stubble on his skin, caressing his cheeks softly, trying not to wake him. He stirred a little, his eyes fluttering open.
"You haven't slept yet?" he asked in his sleepy voice with was soft and inviting.
"No" I whispered.
"I am sorry I woke you up" I added.
"Come here" he murmured.
I scooted closer, and he wrapped his arms around me. Our bodies pressed together, his warmth drawing me in like a magnet. I snuggled into his neck and kissed it lightly. He continued to caress my back, planting a soft kiss on my head. His touch lulled me into sleep, and soon, I drifted off.
Chapter 42
3 years later.
Yuvaani
"I'm warning you last time! Come here and finish this!!" I almost yelled losing my temper.
"No" this four year old son giggled, running off to another room.
It has been twenty minutes straight I've running all over the house with a cup of milk and a small plate with food. I sighed and followed him.
I saw him with his father both engrossed in the screen sitting on the bed. "Aarush! Ask him to finish this milk at least!" My temper was willing to explode still, I was trying hard to maintain it. My words came out harsher than I intended.
His glanced up at me and he sensed I'm annoyed. Before he could say anything, his dearest son stood on bed and caught his face between his little palms and uttered "Papa, no milkie! It's yuckie!" as if commanding his dad, not to go against him.
"With this same milk, you grew big, baby" Aarush said and gently pulled Ansh into his lap. I gave the cup to Aarush and he attached it to Ansh's lips. Ansh made faces and tried to ran off. But Aarush has caught him tight, so Ansh couldn't wiggle.
"NOW, Priyansh" Aarush's voice was stern. Ansh, a little scared, drank the milk in one go.
After completing his task he climbed up to me and muttered with a pout pointing towards his father "I hwte you"
"I still love you baby" Aarush stood up and kissed his cheeks. Ansh dramatically huffed and wiped his kiss and hid his face in the crook between my neck and left shoulder.
Finally the cup is emptied!
"You should be strictert with him" Aarush muttered in a serious note.
I felt my baby's face detaching from my skin and he looked into my eyes cupping my face with his little arms. And my anger was long gone.
The baby eyes widened in fear "Mumma no stwrict" he said in his baby voice making me giggle.
"Did you see Papa? No strictness allowed" I said playfully teasing Aarush.
Priyansh knew Papa is strict, and he has to obey his words. That's why dadu, dadi and mumma are the only ones he can go all his way through.
"You're spoiling him" Aarush said shaking his head because this was the infinitieth time this discussion coming over. I've made it clear that I'll be the one who'll not be strict because Aarush has all well defined boundaries made for them. He is a bit strict in order not to let them cross. I agree with him for that, kids need to have discipline. We both are making them disciplined but in different ways.
Babies know if matters goes in Papa's hands he'll give them a stern look they fear of. But he loves them more than all this.
"Maa no spoil" Ansh said and wiggled in my arms. I placed him down and he ran away. I chuckled softy at his babish antics.
"You're laughing baby? Seeing your husband losing from his own kids?" he asked me dramatically acting defeated, encircling his arms around my waist, pulling me closer and looked me in disbelief that I didn't took his side.
"Aww, you felt bad? You should know I love them more than you" I joined along the play.
"Is that so?" he asked nuzzling his nose on my neck. My arms involuntarily went to his shoulders to hold him, and stabilize us.
He trailed kisses on my jawline quite slowly, igniting a want for him. "Aarush we-"
"Shh, I know" he shushed me and closed the door, coming back to me. Holding me tighter, directly endeavoring us in a soft liplock. His pace smoothened and increased steadily, gripping my waist a little tighter, as if asking me to be more close to him, if possible. But trust me there was no space left between us.
I tilted my head and matched his pace, just a thought of involving the tongue was induced in my mind but it was cut with a loud THUD!
We hurriedly broke the kiss and looked towards the source of the sound. It was the door. That's not the point.
The point was Ansh pushed the door.
His face pained and chin wobbled, and tears brimmed in his eyes. He didn't used another second to cry, and cried loudly on the top of his lungs, in a high pitch. When we went to reach out to him, he ran away to his grandparents who were sitting peacefully in the living area.
We followed him and he sat on his grandma's lap, dislocating Pihu's toys on the way. Maa asked why was he crying and he answered "Papa was eating mumma's face!"
My eyes widened hearing ansh's words and I looked at Aarush. He too was embarrassed but tried to make a neutral face but failed miserably.
"I just- told Papa- not- mumma stwrict- Papa eating- mumma's face-" he reasoned out to his grandma, who was now grinning along with her husband.
I didn't know how to react to my baby's logic? Whether I should be smiling at his innocence or hide myself in embarrassment?
Why don't the earth open up and swallow me!?
This is so embarrassing! Parents knowing about our makeout!
I looked at Maa and Papa who were grinning at us. "That's how the process works, Ansh" Papa said to Ansh.
"WHat prowcess?" Pihu hopped in the conversation and it couldn't get more embarrassing.
"PAPA! Kya aap bhi!" Aarush winced! In return Papa just shook his head and smiled continuing reading his newspaper.
Pihu went and slapped Priyansh's arm. He cried more and Maa was busy pacing him. "Why he- walked on my toys?" Pihu asked being annoyed and came to me.
Nobody has answers to anything. "And why, you eating mumma?" Pihu asked Aarush slapping his arm softly, as if that baby slap would hurt.
"No one did anything okay? Maa papa, you didn't heard anything and Pihu, I didn't do anything to you mumma. Okay?"
"You lying! You eating" Priyansh cried out more.
We both took our kids in and pacified them. "See mumma is not hurt" I showed them my face after they were quiet. "Papa didn't hurt me" I added.
Aarush on the other hand distracted them and set them in for their afternoon nap. We took a sigh of relief as they slept.
"You could've at least locked the door" I muttered in the balcony as we were standing there.
"I didn't knew he will just barge and-"
"So you just shut the door without closing it completely, even though you know we live with two little devils"
"Sorry na! I didn't knew kids would barge in and create a fuss"
We knew it was our fault but I decided not to argue further and we were engulfed in a moment of silence. "That was embarrassing" I voiced out my thoughts after few minutes.
"It was. He loves you so much that he cried that I was hurting you"
I smiled "Yeah" I muttered slowly.
"You raised them so well. They're just four and quite mature than their own age" I muttered and I saw his smile.
"Because their dad is intelligent you know" he said turning to me and boasting himself in a playful manner while making his hair.
"Yeah yeah" I muttered sarcastically, yet playfully.
"We're blessed with best set of babies" I muttered and hugged him.
"Yeah, that's true" he agreed smiling, wrapping his arms around me protectively.
"Who don't let me love their mother" he added after a pause which made us chuckle.
This is what I was craving for all these years. A happy and healthy family. It took time and consistent effort to get into this. Finally, I could say I'm happy. I'm much much happier and i couldn't be more. God gave me these cute and sweet babies, a good husband, a good family and that's what I always asked for.
I couldn't ask for anything else, I had what I wanted. The gratitude swelled my heart and my hold on him became tighter and sincere. "You sure you don't wanna go there again?" he asked in a husky voice teasing me and I broke the hug and playfully slapped him.
As night approached, we were done with dinner and the kids were doing their homework. Pihu was busy in colouring and Priyansh was tracing the letters in his book. As he saw Pihu coloring, he left his pencil and took another crayon from her box and coloured her page randomly, spoiling her page and mood, both.
"MUMMAAA!" she shouted and hurriedly snatched her coloring book so he couldn't color. She brought the book right in front of my eyes to show what her twin did. I knew it already as I was obsering them doing their homework.
"Ansh why?" I asked.
"Her homebork is so pweety and mine so bowring" reasoned out.
I bet no one can ever match my baby's logic.
Listening to the reason she slapped him hard on his cheek. "Do your homebork! Not mine"
"MUMMAA! SHE SLAPPED ME" he cried coming in my arms.
"Sorry from his behalf, Pihu baby" I apologized and caressed her face.
"No sorry mumma" Priyansh said in between his cries, just to earn another slap from her.
"Pihu, bad manners" I schooled her and made them apologise to each other and made them do their homeworks.
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On account of Indian Independence day, here I am with a new update.
I know you'll ask about the next update, so here it is:
Chapter 43. Sanskar's Truth (glimpse)
As I opened my bedroom door, I saw her near the bed and her eyes in tears. I closed the door behind me and she herself wrapped her arms around me. "He- he loved me, you were right"
"Shh, I heard it" I said and she hid her face in our hug. "He's suffering because of me, Aarush. I can't unsee that. I saw you suffer too. I can't-"
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How does it go when Vaani learns her bestfriend Sanskar was in love with her along all these years?
This chapter is now fully available on Scrollstack. (link on profile)
Chapter 43 will be available on wattpad on August 23, 2024.
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Thank you.