Maybe you some of you will tell me what you thought about this book? I would be very helpful and I'll be very grateful. Thank you.ð
Mythili's POV ~
I woke up in the dead of night, a sudden and intense craving for noodles gnawing at my insides. My eyes fluttered open, and I glanced at the darkened room, only to see the faint glow of the laptop screen illuminating Shivaay's face. He was hunched over, absorbed in his work, like always.
I tried to be quiet as I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb him. My bare feet padded softly against the cool floor as I tiptoed towards the door. But just as I reached the handle, I heard his voiceâlow, almost a murmur, but unmistakably alert.
"Where do you think you're going, Mrs. Rathore?"
I froze mid-step, my heart skipping a beat. How did he know? I turned slowly, meeting his gaze. He hadn't even looked away from his screen, but I could feel his eyes on me, a silent, knowing presence.
"I'm hungry," I confessed, my voice a little more sheepish than I intended. "I've got this sudden craving for noodles. I thought I'd make some."
He finally looked up from his laptop, his eyes softening as they met mine. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and without saying a word, he closed his laptop with a gentle click.
"Then what," he said with a mock seriousness, "am I here for?
"Come here," he said, reaching out for my hand and I took it without a hesitation in the world, grinning.
As we made our way to the kitchen, he began pulling out pots, pans, and ingredients while I retrieved the tub of ice cream from the refrigerator and a spoon. I was just about to hop up onto the counter when Shivaay's quick reflexes stopped me in my tracks, pinning me between the counter and his shirtless self. What was he trying to do? Seduce me or what?
"You are pregnant, Mythili," he said, his voice laced with a mix of concern and affection. "Stop jumping around, please."
"Please, Shivaay," I protested with a playful pout, "I'm pregnant, not made of glass. Stop treating me like I'm going to break!"
With a sigh and a soft chuckle, he scooped me up effortlessly, his arms enveloping me in a warm embrace. He set me down gently on the counter before got back to chopping the garlic.
I perched on the counter, savouring the ice cream, my eyes never straying from him. Shivaay's shirtless, athletic frame his toned muscles flexing with every motion. My gaze traced the sculpted lines of his abs and the broad expanse of his shoulders. The way his body moved so effortlessly made my pulse quicken.
"Want some?" I asked, offering him a spoonful of ice cream. His eyes met mine, filled with amusement and affection. He leaned in, his lips about to touch the spoon, but just as he was about to taste the cold treat, I let it drop on his neck.
"Oops. Sorry." I said in the most unapologetic tone and his amusement turned to a smirk.
"You and I both know that you are not sorry at all," he teased, stepping closer. I leaned in, my breath warm against his skin, my tongue tracing a slow, teasing path to clean the ice cream from his neck. With each gentle touch of my tongue, his breath hitched slightly, a low, appreciative growl escaping him.
His hands slid around my waist, pulling me closer, his touch both firm and tender. The heat between us intensified as he whispered, "You've distracted me from cooking, beautiful."
I met his gaze, a playful glint in my eyes, "Is that so? Maybe I'm just trying to make sure you stay focused on me."
"When am I not?" He asked and was just about to bury his face in his neck when I stopped him, keeping my palm on his chest, shaking my head.
"Mr. Rathore do not forget that you are here to cook for me." I said leaning back and his eyes sparkled with mischief as he met my teasing gaze.
"You are going to be the death of me." She said getting back to cooking while I ate half a tub of ice cream, happily.
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Shivaay's POV ~
We were all enjoying Golmaal 3âthe room was filled with up laughter, everyone, Baba, Nupur, Anamika, Aarav, and Maa, was cracking up. I couldn't help but smile at them. But then, out of nowhere, Mythili started crying. And I mean cryingâtears streaming down her face, her shoulders shaking with each sob.
"Hey," I said, pulling her closer, my voice gentle and concerned amidst the chaos. "What's wrong, Mythili? Are you hurt? Are you in pain?" I began scanning her for any signs of distress.
She looked up at me, her face a mix of tears and frustration. "Aapka dil hai ya patthar Shivaay? Idhar Vasooli bhai ki poori patakon ki dukaan jal jayi hai aur aap mujhse pooch rahe hain ki mai kyun ro rahi hoon?"
( Translation - How heartless are you, Shivaay? Here Vasooli bhai's entire firecracker shop is burning down, and you're asking me why I'm crying? )
While the rest of the family, still laughing at the movie, was now chuckling at Mythili's dramatic outburst. I tried my hardest to keep a straight face.
"Shh shhh, It's okay Mythili, I am sure your Vasooli Bhai will manage." I laughed, pulling her into a hug but she hit my chest, tears still rolling down her cheeks.
"Of course he will, now will you please get me some popcorn?" He asked, wiping her tears away, her hormones getting the best of her and continuing the movie while I made way to the kitchen to fetch her the bowl of popcorn she wanted.
Later, as we drove home from the OBGYN appointment, Mythili was leaning back in her seat, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, a thoughtful expression on her face.
I reached over and took her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin against my own. "What are you thinking about, love?"
"Whether are are having a girl or a boy. I want a baby boy who is just like you." She said, looking at me with a smile.
"No, I know I am having a daughter." I told her.
"You bet?" She asked, raising her brows.
"I bet." I gave in to her antics.
"Okay so if I win and we have a boy, you are going to have to write that you lost to me and will do whatever I ask you to your entire life and get that framed in our bedroom." She proposed and I couldn't help but laugh.
"As you wish but I am not losing this." I replied and she huffed, muttering something about how overconfidence was going to get me murdered by her someday.
"What do you want if I lose?" She asked after a while.
"I have everything I already want." I told her and she hit my arm a little.
"Stop being so cocky." She warned me and I laughed again.
"This is called self-awareness, Mythili." I told her and then she refused to engage with me anymore.
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The next morning, I woke up to the familiar sound of Mythili shifting restlessly beside me. Her face was creased with discomfort, and I could see the telltale signs of morning sickness taking its toll. She had been struggling with it for a few weeks now.
She scrambling out of bed, her face contorted in discomfort. "Mythili?" I called out, my voice filled with concern as I watched her rush toward the bathroom.
I followed her quickly, reaching the door just as she stumbled inside. "Are you okay?" I asked, my hand on the doorknob.
"I'm fine," she replied, her voice shaky as she leaned against the sink. "Just... please, give me a moment."
She was not okay and I was not going to leave her alone.
Ignoring her request, I gently opened the door and stepped inside. The sight of her looking so unwell was almost unbearable. She was pale, her eyes squeezed shut, her breaths coming in shallow gasps.
"My love," I said softly, approaching her slowly. "Let me help you."
She shook her head weakly, her hands gripping the edge of the sink. "No, Shivaay, please... just let me handle this."
"I'm here for you, Mythili," I said, my voice firm. "Let me help you."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded weakly. "Okay," she replied, her voice barely audible.
IÂ grabbed a small towel from the nearby rack and soaked it in water before gently placing it on her forehead as we walked out and she sat on the couch. "Here, this might help a bit."
As she took a few deep breaths, I filled a glass with water and handed it to her. "Drink this slowly. It might help settle your stomach."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice still unsteady. "I didn't want you to see me like this."
I shook my head, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "There's nothing to apologise for."
After a few more minutes, as she began to feel a bit better. I helped her back to her feet, keeping a supportive arm around her. "Let's get you back to bed," I said softly, guiding her to the bed.
As she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, I gently stroked her hair till her breaths evened.
"Rest now," I said quietly. "I'm right here. If you need anything, just tell me."
She nodded, her eyes still closed as she relaxed into the bed and soon enough, fell asleep.
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Mythili's POV ~
The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, Maa stood at the stove, her hands moving she prepared laddoos. The rich aroma of ghee and cardamom filled the air, making my mouth water. I sat at the table, my hand resting on my round belly.
The third trimester had brought its own set of challenges. As I looked at my reflection in the kitchen window, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious about my appearance. The weight gain was unavoidable, but seeing myself in the mirror made me question if I still looked like myself.
Maa approached with a plate of warm laddoos, her eyes full of love and concern. "Here, Mythili beta," she said softly, placing a laddoo in my hand. "Eat, you need to keep your strength up."
She said and went behind Aarav who was about to put something in his mouth from the floor.
I accepted it with a smile, but as I took a bite, I couldn't shake off the feeling of insecurity that had been gnawing at me and could not finish eating it and went back to my room.
I stood in front of the mirror, my reflection showing the full impact of the third trimester. The roundness of my belly was undeniable, and the extra weight had settled around me in ways I hadn't anticipated. I felt a wave of self-consciousness and insecurity, which only grew as I stared at myself.
"I look so hideous." I spoke to walls of the room, my eyes welling up as I scanned myself in the mirror.
"What did you just say Mythili?" Shivaay's voice almost made me jump, he was supposed to be at work!!
"What are you doing here Shivaay? When did you come back?" I asked, turning around.
"Don't try to change the topic Mythili. You called yourself what?" He asked, taking slow steps near me, his eyes intently gazing into mine.
"Hideous Shivaay, I look hideous. Just look at me." I said, sighing as I turned back to the mirror.
Shivaay's expression softened, but his eyes remained focused on me. He closed the distance between us, his hand reaching out to gently cup my face. "Mythili, look at me."
"You are the most beautiful woman in the world," he said, his voice steady and sincere. "Do you know that? You are glowing, and every change in your body only makes you more stunning to me."
I shook my head, unable to fully believe his words. "Shivaay, I'm so big now. I don't even recognize myself."
He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "You don't need to look like someone else. You look like a goddess carrying our child. This life growing inside you, the way your body nurtures itâit's miraculous and beautiful."
He took a deep breath and continued, as he sat down on his knees, kissing my belly and then looking up to meet my eyes. "Every time I see you, I see my beautiful, beautiful wife who has gone through so much and yet, you carry this love and kindness which half of the world has already forgone. You are extraordinary, Mythili. And to me, you will always be love, not despite these changes you are undergoing but because of them."
"Mr. Shivaay Singh Rathore, how do you do this? How do you make me fall with you a little everyday?" I asked as he got up and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest.
Eventually, he gently nudged me toward the mirror. "Look again," he said, his tone encouraging. "What do you see?"
"Our baby." I say, and turned my face around to kiss his cheek.
He brushed a strand of hair from my face and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Now, how about we go back to the kitchen and have those laddoos together? Maa made them especially for you."
I chuckled, feeling lighter than I had in days. "That sounds perfect."
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Shivaay's POV ~
I had just walked in from work, loosening my tie as I sank into the armchair. Mythili was resting on the couch, her feet propped up, eyes closed in exhaustion. Maa and Nupur were in the kitchen, and Baba was on the floor, playing with Aarav while Anamika watched. The house was peaceful, filled with the warmth of home, just the way I liked it after a long day.
As I scrolled through some work emails on my phone, I heard a sudden gasp.
"Shivaay!"
My head snapped up. Mythili was standing in the middle of the living room, her eyes wide with shock.
"What? What's wrong?" I stood up, my heart instantly racing.
"I think... I think my water just broke!" she shouted, glancing down. Sure enough, a puddle was forming beneath her feet.
For a moment, I just froze, my brain struggling to catch up. This was it. It was happening. The baby. Now.
Maa came running from the kitchen, her face immediately lighting up with excitement. "Oh, it's time! Nupur, grab the bag! Shivaay, what are you doing? Help Mythili!"
That snapped me out of my daze. "Right! Okay, right!" I rushed to Mythili's side, carefully guiding her toward the door. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"
"How do you think I feel?!" she shot back, her face scrunched up in both pain and irritation. "I feel like I'm about to have a baby, Shivaay!"
"Right, right," I muttered, trying to stay calm. "Don't worry. I'm here, we're going to the hospital now." I was talking more to myself than to her, but she glared at me like I was the dumbest person on the planet.
Maa grabbed my arm, shaking me slightly. "Shivaay! Focus! Car keys!"
"Oh! Yes, car keys!" I fumbled in my pocket, pulling them out and rushing toward the door.
Nupur came running with the hospital bag, and we hurriedly bundled Mythili into the car. I was driving like a man possessed while Maa sat in the back with Mythili, her arm wrapped protectively around her.
"Shivaay, slow down!" Mythili snapped at me, wincing from the contractions. "We're not trying to escape the cops!"
"Sorry! Just hang in there!" I replied, easing my foot off the accelerator.
By the time we reached the hospital, Mythili's contractions were getting stronger, and she was gripping my hand with a death-like intensity. The nurse rushed over with a wheelchair, and within minutes, we were in the labor room.
Mythili was panting, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as the contractions came faster. I was standing beside her, holding her hand, trying to be as supportive as possible. But nothing could have prepared me for this.
"Shivaay, I swear to God!" Mythili groaned, squeezing my hand so hard I thought she might break it. "If you ever touch me againâ"
"What?" I blinked, trying to process her words.
"Don't 'what' me Shivaay Singh Rathore." she growled, squeezing my hand with a strength that made me wince. "I swear, if you ever touch me againâ"
I glanced at the nurse, who was trying and failing to suppress a smile.
"Okay, okay!" I said quickly, trying to soothe her. "We'll talk about this later, just focus on breathing, okay?"
"I'm breathing!" she growled, gritting her teeth as another contraction hit. "I hate you so much right now!"
"You're doing amazing, love," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, even though I was pretty sure my hand was going to be crushed into dust. "You've got this."
"I have not got this! You got me into this mess!" she groaned, pushing again. "This is all your fault! Don't you dare ever touch me again, do you hear me?!"
I stifled a laugh, realizing she was far beyond reasoning with at this point. "Got it, love," I muttered, glancing over at her.
The nurse stepped in. "Okay, Mythili, just one more big push. You're almost there!"
"I'm so done with this," Mythili muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth as she bore down with everything she had. "Shivaay, I swearâahhhh!"
And then, suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of a cry. Everything stopped. All the chaos, all the shoutingâeverything just paused.
I stood there, frozen, watching in awe as the nurse lifted our baby.
"It's a girl!" the doctor announced, smiling warmly.
My breath caught in my throat. A girl. My girl.
They placed her gently in Mythili's arms for a moment, and then she turned to me, her eyes soft, her earlier anger forgotten. "Shivaay... look."
She handed me our daughter, and I, I have never felt anything like it in my life.
The moment my hands cradled her tiny body, something shifted inside me. She was so small, wrapped in the softest blanket, her skin pink and wrinkled. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she let out little cries, her tiny fists waving in the air.
I blinked, my vision blurring as tears filled my eyes. I didn't even care. "You're so beautiful," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her soft forehead. My heart felt like it was going to explode. "You're perfect, my little princess."
"She's beautiful," I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead again. "So, so beautiful."
Mythili smiled, her exhaustion forgotten for a moment as she watched me. "We did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead, my heart full. "You did it. You were amazing."
She shook her head, her hand resting on our daughter's tiny back. "No, we did it together. We made her."
And just like that, she smiledâa tired, soft smile, full of love. "I've been thinking of a name," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
"Eeshitha," she said softly, her eyes meeting mine. "It means 'daughter of Shiva,' and since you're my Shivaay... I thought it was perfect for her."
I stared at her, speechless. Eeshitha. The name was beautiful, and the meaning behind it was even more so. I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked down at our daughter, her tiny body resting in my arms.
"Eeshitha," I repeated softly, tasting the name on my lips. "It's perfect. She's perfect."
The next day, we brought Eeshitha home. The moment we stepped through the door, the house felt differentâwarmer, fuller, like it was brimming with life.
Baba was waiting in the living room, Aarav on his lap, while Anamika practically flew to the door to greet us. The moment she saw Eeshitha in my arms, her eyes lit up.
"She's so tiny!" Anamika gasped, her hands covering her mouth in awe.
"Meet your great-granddaughter," I said proudly, cradling Eeshitha carefully as I lowered her down for them to see.
He stood up, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he stepped closer. "She's beautiful," he whispered, reaching out to gently touch her cheek. "Absolutely beautiful."
Maa and Nupur were right behind us.
My princess stirred in my arms, her little eyes fluttering open for a brief moment, as if to acknowledge the family surrounding her.
As I stood there, holding her close, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. This was it. This was the life I had always wantedâa home filled with love, a family that meant everything to me, and now, a daughter who had completed it all.
I glanced over at Mythili, who was leaning against the doorway, watching the scene with a soft, tired smile. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. She had given me everythingâour love, our family, and now, our little girl.
I walked over to her, gently placing Eeshitha in her arms. "Thank you," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with love and exhaustion. "For what?"
"For giving me everything," I said quietly, wrapping my arms around her and our daughter. "For giving me Eeshitha."
Snowflake walked to us, with her tail held high, giving me a side eye for almost ignoring her so I handed Eeshitha to Mythili and picked her up. "And for giving me Snowflake." I added and she purred, looking at our daughter.
Mythili smiled softly, resting her head against my chest. "You've given me everything too, Shivaay and this is us, together, always."
And as we stood there, surrounded by our family, holding our daughter, I knew that this was it, my world as I call it. This was our life, our love, and our future.
The End.
Author's Note
As I reach the end of this journey, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. Writing Shivaay and Mythili's story has been such a special experience for me. Every chapter, every moment of their lives, has meant so much, and I hope their love and their struggles have touched your heart as deeply as they have touched mine.
These characters have become a part of me, and I feel so lucky to have shared their world with you. Shivaay's strength, Mythili's spirit, their laughter, tears, and the love they built togetherâit's all been a story close to my heart. Watching them grow, fall, and rise again has been an emotional and beautiful ride.
And to you, dear readersâthank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for staying with me through this story, for caring about these characters, and for allowing them into your world. Your support means everything.
This is more than just a story about two peopleâit's a story about love, family, and all the moments that make life special. I hope you've felt that, and I hope it stays with you.
Thank you again for being a part of this journey with me. It has truly been a gift.
With love and gratitude,
thegirlnexdoor7781 ð