★Epilogue★

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It was a peaceful afternoon at Mehra Manor, the golden sunlight streaming through the large bay windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Ananya sat on the sofa, listening attentively as Rihaan animatedly described something he had seen earlier that day. His childlike wonder had never faded, and Ananya found herself hanging onto every word, her lips curling into a soft smile.

"So, Anya, you should've seen it! There were these two birds, and they were talking to each other-just like us!" Rihaan exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. His hands moved as he mimicked the birds flapping their wings. "They were saying 'chirp chirp,' but I think it meant something else, like maybe they were friends too!"

Ananya chuckled, her heart swelling with affection as she watched him, amused by his endless enthusiasm. She had learned to appreciate these little moments with him, the simple conversations that always made her day brighter. Rihaan had a way of turning the ordinary into something magical, and for that, she adored him.

Just as Rihaan was about to launch into another story, their peaceful moment was interrupted by two little voices calling out, "Mumma!"

Ananya barely had time to react before two small figures jumped onto her lap-four-year-old Aarav and his two-year-old sister, Aanya. Their bright eyes sparkled with joy as they giggled and clung to their mother, their little arms wrapping tightly around her neck.

"Whoa, whoa! Careful, you two!" Ananya laughed, her heart melting at the sight of her children. She kissed both of them on the cheeks, showering them with affection. "What are you two little troublemakers up to?"

"Mumma, we wanna play!" Aarav declared, his face determined as he clung to Ananya, refusing to let go. Aanya, the quieter of the two, simply snuggled closer, her tiny hands fisting in Ananya's shirt as if she was her safe haven.

Rihaan, who had been watching the scene unfold, suddenly pouted, his lower lip jutting out in dramatic disappointment. "Hey! What about me?" he complained, folding his arms across his chest. "I was talking to Anya first!"

Ananya turned to look at Rihaan, unable to hide her grin. "Oh, come on, Rihaan. There's enough of me for everyone," she teased.

But Rihaan, in true Rihaan fashion, wasn't having any of it. With a huff, he playfully nudged the two children aside, wrapping his arms around Ananya. "Nope! She's mine!" he said stubbornly, squeezing her as if claiming her as his own.

"Mumma's ours!" Aarav shouted, immediately scrambling to pull Rihaan away from his mother. Aanya, seeing her brother in action, toddled over and tugged at Rihaan's arm with all her strength, her tiny voice yelling, "Dada! No!"

The three of them-Rihaan and the two children-were now playfully fighting over Ananya, each trying to claim her attention. Aarav and Aanya were giggling uncontrollably, their laughter echoing through the room, while Rihaan put on an exaggerated show of resistance, pretending to be overpowered by the kids.

Ananya watched them, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. She couldn't stop smiling, her eyes dancing with amusement as she watched her little family. It was moments like this that made everything worth it-all the struggles, all the uncertainty. She had built a home here, not just with bricks and mortar, but with love, laughter, and the people who mattered most to her.

"You're all so stubborn!" Ananya finally said, laughing as she pulled Rihaan, Aarav, and Aanya into her arms. "Looks like I'm surrounded by troublemakers."

"Not trouble!" Rihaan protested, still pouting. "I just want a hug too."

Ananya hugged him tighter, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Alright, alright, you win," she teased. "You get a hug too."

As the children climbed back onto her lap, Rihaan's playful pout turned into a wide grin. He wrapped his arms around both Ananya and the kids, pulling them all close in one big, warm embrace. Aarav, still full of energy, giggled and hugged Ananya's neck tightly, while Aanya snuggled against her mother's side, her tiny hand resting on Rihaan's shoulder.

Watching them, Ananya was reminded of a conversation they had years ago, not long after they had adopted Aarav and Aanya. It had been one of those late nights when the children were still infants, and Rihaan had sat beside Ananya, holding baby Aarav in his arms.

Flashback

Rihaan had been unusually quiet that night, a thoughtful expression on his face as he rocked Aarav to sleep. Ananya, noticing his silence, had asked, "What's on your mind, Rihaan?"

He had looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, as if deep in thought. "Anya... when Aarav and Aanya grow up, what will they call me?"

Ananya had blinked, surprised by the question. "Well, they'll call you Dada," she had said with a smile, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

Rihaan had furrowed his brow, still looking uncertain. "But... am I really a Dada?" he had asked, his voice soft, almost unsure. "I mean... I'm just Rihaan."

Ananya's heart had swelled with affection as she placed her hand on his. "You're more than just Rihaan," she had said softly. "You're their Dada. You love them, you take care of them, and you make them laugh. That's all that matters."

Rihaan had smiled then, a soft, warm smile that had melted her heart. "I want to be the best Dada ever," he had whispered, his eyes shining with determination.

"You already are," Ananya had whispered back, leaning her head against his shoulder.

Flashback ends~

Now, as Rihaan and the kids continued their playful tug-of-war over Ananya, she couldn't help but smile at the memory. He truly had become the best father she could have ever asked for. His love for Aarav and Aanya was boundless, and they adored him just as much. The way they looked up to him, the way they followed him around the house, and the way they giggled every time he made a silly face-it was heartwarming.

"Mumma! Dada's squishing me!" Aarav suddenly shouted, giggling as Rihaan hugged him tightly.

"Squishing? No way!" Rihaan laughed, releasing Aarav just enough to give him room to breathe, but still holding onto him. "This is a Dada hug. The best kind of hug."

Aanya, feeling left out, quickly climbed into Rihaan's lap, snuggling against him as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. "Dada hug!" she echoed, her voice soft but full of happiness.

Ananya chuckled, watching the three of them with a heart full of love. "Alright, you three," she said, finally breaking up the hug-fest. "How about we all go outside for some fresh air? Maybe play in the garden?"

"Yes!" Aarav cheered, jumping up and down with excitement. "Let's play!"

Aanya nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with joy. "Play, play!"

Rihaan grinned, standing up and stretching. "Alright, let's go!"

Together, they all headed outside into the sunlit garden, where Aarav and Aanya immediately began chasing each other around the flower beds, their laughter filling the air. Rihaan, of course, joined in, pretending to be a monster as he playfully chased them, his arms outstretched as if he were about to catch them.

Ananya stood back, watching them with a smile that wouldn't fade. This was her life now-a life filled with love, laughter, and the most precious people in the world. She had never imagined she would find this kind of happiness, but now that she had, she knew she would do everything to protect it.

As Rihaan finally caught Aarav and swung him around in the air, both of them laughing uncontrollably, Ananya felt a deep sense of gratitude wash over her. She had come so far, overcome so much, and yet here she was-surrounded by the family she had always dreamed of, even if it had come to her in the most unexpected way.

*****

It was snacks time for Ananya. Rihaan decided he wanted to bake cookies for Ananya as a surprise. He had seen her making cookies with the kids before and thought it looked easy. So, while Ananya was busy working in the study, Rihaan sneaked into the kitchen to get started.

He found a recipe online, but being Rihaan, he didn't quite follow it step by step. Instead of measuring ingredients, he simply poured everything into the bowl, thinking, "The more, the better, right?"

A few minutes later, flour covered the countertops, sugar was everywhere, and there were egg shells in the batter. Rihaan proudly looked at his mixture, confident that it was perfect. He shaped the dough into odd-shaped cookies, placed them in the oven, and waited excitedly.

When the cookies were finally done, they looked...a little burnt, but Rihaan was still proud of his creation. He carefully arranged them on a plate and rushed to find Ananya.

"Anya! Anya! I made something for you!" Rihaan called, bursting into the study with the plate of cookies in hand.

Ananya looked up, surprised. "You did? What is it?"

"Cookies! I made cookies!" Rihaan said proudly, holding the plate out to her.

Ananya stared at the slightly charred cookies, a mix of emotions crossing her face. But then she saw the hopeful look in Rihaan's eyes, and her heart softened. She picked up one of the misshapen cookies, took a small bite, and did her best to keep her expression neutral.

"Mmm, they're...unique," she said, trying not to laugh.

"Unique?" Rihaan tilted his head. "Is that good?"

"Yes, very good," Ananya said, nodding and smiling. "Thank you, Rihaan. It's sweet of you to make these for me."

Rihaan's grin widened, pleased with himself. "I'm glad you like them!"

Later, when Ananya told the family about Rihaan's cookie experiment, they all burst out laughing, especially when Priya commented, "I'm glad you survived eating them!"

Rihaan, not understanding the joke, simply smiled, still proud of his efforts.

*****

Every night, Rihaan insisted on telling the kids bedtime stories. But instead of reading from a book, he preferred making up his own stories-which, more often than not, involved fantastical adventures that made very little sense.

"Once upon a time, there was a superhero named Super-Rihaan!" Rihaan began one night as Aarav and Aanya snuggled under their blankets.

Ananya, sitting in a chair by the bed, couldn't help but smile as she listened.

"Super-Rihaan could fly and eat as many cookies as he wanted without getting full! One day, he saved a whole village of animals from a big, scary monster," Rihaan continued, his hands waving dramatically in the air.

"What kind of monster?" Aarav asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Rihaan thought for a moment. "It was a giant... um... broccoli monster!" he declared, his face serious.

Aanya giggled. "Broccoli's not scary!"

"Well, this one was!" Rihaan insisted. "It had big, sharp teeth made of carrots, and it chased everyone around. But Super-Rihaan was brave and strong, and he defeated the broccoli monster by... um... eating all of it!"

Ananya burst out laughing, and even Aarav and Aanya were giggling uncontrollably.

"Super-Rihaan ate the monster?" Aarav asked, still laughing.

"Yep! And then he burped so loudly that it scared away all the other bad guys!" Rihaan finished, grinning proudly.

As the kids continued to laugh, Ananya walked over to the bed and kissed them goodnight. "Alright, time for sleep now," she said gently.

As they drifted off, Ananya turned to Rihaan, still smiling. "You're quite the storyteller," she teased.

Rihaan puffed out his chest. "Of course! I tell the best stories."

Ananya leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Yes, you do."

*****

Later that evening, after the kids had gone to bed, Rihaan and Ananya sat together on the couch, wrapped up in a cozy blanket. The house was quiet, and the soft glow of the lamps created a peaceful atmosphere.

Rihaan, as usual, was full of energy despite the long day. He turned to Ananya with a playful grin. "Anya, do you think our kids are cuter than me?"

Ananya chuckled at his question. "Hmm... I don't know, Rihaan. They're pretty cute."

Rihaan pouted, crossing his arms. "But I'm the original cute one, right? They got it from me!"

Ananya smiled, amused by his childishness. "Of course, Rihaan. You're the original, no one can beat your cuteness," she teased, ruffling his hair.

He grinned widely, clearly pleased with himself. "Good! I was worried you'd forget. You know, sometimes I think you're too busy with the kids. But don't worry-I'll always be your favorite, right?"

Ananya raised an eyebrow, playing along. "Well, you're one of my favorites."

Rihaan's eyes widened dramatically. "Just one of them?! I should be the only one! From now on, I'll be cuter than ever. You'll see!"

Ananya laughed softly, shaking her head. "Oh really? How exactly are you going to do that?"

Without missing a beat, Rihaan stood up and struck a superhero pose. "I, Rihaan, the cutest husband in the world, will make you laugh every day with my super-cute powers!"

Ananya couldn't contain her laughter at his antics. "Super-cute powers, huh?"

He nodded earnestly, his face lighting up. "Yes! My powers include... super-hugs, extra-silly jokes, and... oh, making cookies that don't burn this time!"

Ananya burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the quiet house. Rihaan, proud of himself, pulled her into a tight hug and whispered, "See? It's already working."

Ananya smiled against his chest, feeling warmth and love radiate from him. "You really are one of a kind, Rihaan."

"And don't you forget it," he said, grinning. "Now, do I get a cookie for being so cute, or do I have to make those too?"

Ananya playfully swatted his arm. "No more cookie disasters for tonight! But maybe tomorrow, if you're extra cute again."

Rihaan's face lit up with joy. "Deal! Tomorrow, I'll be the cutest husband and the best dad. Watch out, world!"

And with that, they both burst into laughter, the warmth of their love and Rihaan's endless enthusiasm filling the room with joy.

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Hey gorgeous ~

I hope you love the epilogue.

I wanted to write this because...

Why not? :)

Comment if you liked our cuties,

Aarav and Aanya:)

Take care~