After having a peaceful dinner with the family, filled with laughter and giggles, Shashi now felt happy—truly happy. For the first time in a long while, she felt complete with her own family. When everyone treated her like a princess, she was overwhelmed by the special attention and love.
Later that night, everyone had gone to their respective rooms. Shashi and Aakash were in theirs. Aakash was doing his favorite thing—admiring his wife. She was calmly sipping milk from her cup while reading a book, spectacles perched on her nose.
“Aakash,” she called out after finishing her milk and placing the cup aside. He turned to look at her.
"Kya main rote waqt acchi nahi dikhti?"
(Don’t I look good when I cry?)
"Aisa nahi hai... sundar toh aap hamesha hi dikhti ho, par rote hue aapke aansu mujhe takleef dete hai," he replied gently.
(That's not true... you're always beautiful, but your tears hurt me.)
She looked down, trying to hide her blush.
"Aapke laal gaal hi ache lagte hai, laal aankhen nahi," he added.
(I love your rosy cheeks, not your red teary eyes.)
"Tum mujhse itni izzat se kyun baat karte ho?" she asked.
(Why do you speak to me with so much respect?)
"Kyuki aap meri Laxmi ho, aur Devi se izzat se hi pesh aana chahiye," he replied with a smile.
(Because you're my Laxmi, and one must treat a goddess with respect.)
“Wah Mr. Rajput,” she complimented him, visibly touched by his thoughts and words.
“So, are you going to sleep now or... something else?” he teased.
"Mujhe neend toh aa rahi hai par sone ka mann nahi kar raha," she replied.
(I am feeling sleepy but I don’t feel like sleeping yet.)
He leaned closer to her ear and whispered,
"Toh mujhse baatein kijiye na,"
(Then talk to me.)
"Tumhe sunna hai?" she asked.
(You want to listen?)
He nodded with a smile.
"Kya sunna chahte ho?"
(What do you want to hear?)
"Agar main kuch puchun toh aap uska jawab dengi?"
(If I ask something, will you answer?)
She nodded again.
"Toh batayiye ki aapko kya pasand hai?"
(Then tell me what you like.)
"Mujhe khana banana aur khana dono pasand hai, aur mujhe kisi se baatein karna bhi bohot pasand hai," she replied.
(I love cooking and eating, and I also really enjoy talking to someone.)
"Par maine aapko zyada chup dekha hai," he observed.
(But I’ve mostly seen you quiet.)
"Baat karne ka kya fayda jab sunne wale ko dilchaspi na ho," she said softly.
(What’s the point of talking when the listener isn’t interested?)
"Toh phir mujhse baat kariye na, mujhe interest hai," he replied.
(Then talk to me. I’m interested.)
And just like that, they started talking about their likes, dislikes, and much more—opening up their hearts to each other.
Meanwhile, in Sarthak and Aakriti’s room:
They were sitting on the balcony couch, gazing at the stars while Aarav was sleeping peacefully in his room.
"Aapne Aakash ko dekha tha jab woh ro rahi thi? Tab woh bhi roya," Aakriti said.
(Did you see Aakash when she was crying? Even he cried.)
"Maine use kabhi emotional nahi dekha," she added.
(I’ve never seen him so emotional.)
"Woh bohot pyaar karta hai Ritu, uske bagair jee bhi nahi payega woh," Sarthak replied.
(He truly loves her, Ritu. He wouldn’t be able to live without her.)
"Main un dono ko hamesha aise hi khush dekhna chahti hoon," Aakriti sighed.
(I want to always see both of them this happy.)
"Jaise tum chahti ho sab waise hi hoga jaan. Aur agar usne meri beti ko tang karne ki koshish ki na toh bohot pitega woh," Sarthak said with a smirk.
(Everything will happen just the way you wish, love. And if anyone tries to hurt my daughter, he’ll get thrashed.)
They chuckled together.
"Shashi ke andar kitna gussa bhara hua hai Sarthak ji, par woh dikhti kitni choti hai aur uski harkatein," she giggled.
(There’s so much anger inside Shashi, Sarthak ji, yet she looks so small and her actions...)
"Haan, bilkul bacchi hai, par apne emotions kitna chhupa ke rakhti hai. Main nahi chahta woh aisi rahe," he said.
(Yes, she’s like a child, but she hides her emotions so deeply. I don’t want her to remain like that.)
"Woh abhi abhi hum sabse mili hai, uske liye apne emotions dikhana mushkil hai. Par hum har ek koshish karenge ki woh un sab cheezon ko peeche chhod ke aage badhe," Aakriti assured him.
(She just recently joined us. It’s hard for her to show emotions. But we’ll try our best to help her move on from the past.)
"Zaroor karenge Ritu. Bhai kaha hai, usne mujhe kaha tha ki use kabhi bhi nirash nahi hone dunga main,"
(Of course, Ritu. Brother told me once that he would never let her be disappointed.)
"Aap humesha se ek beti chahte the na, ab hume mil gayi," Aakriti smiled, resting her head on his arm.
(You always wanted a daughter, right? Now we have one.)
Holding his bicep, she added, "Tum mere emotions kitne ache se samajhte ho jaan."
(You understand my emotions so well, love.)
"Isiliye toh aapki biwi aur aapke bacchon ki maa hoon," she teased.
(That’s why I’m your wife and mother of your children.)
“Accha ji?”
(Oh really?)
“Haan ji,”
(Yes indeed.)
They both laughed and embraced each other warmly.
"Main aapse bohot pyaar karti hoon," she whispered.
(I love you so much.)
"Kaho toh ek aur pyaar ki nishani bana le?" he asked, planting a soft kiss on the corner of her lips.
(Shall we create another symbol of our love?)
She blushed, smiling shyly.
"Haye, tumhe sharmate hue dekh ke main pighal jata hoon," he teased her.
(Ah, seeing you blush melts my heart.)
"Sone chaliye, mujhe ab neend aa rahi hai," she said, walking toward the balcony door.
(Let’s sleep, I’m feeling sleepy now.)
But before she could leave, he pulled her back. Her body collided with his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist, caressing her skin. A shiver ran down her spine.
"Kahan jaa rahi ho aap? Mera dessert kaun dega?"
(Where are you going? Who will give me my dessert?)
"Aapko zyada nahi ho raha aajkal?"
(Aren’t you getting a little too much these days?)
"Parso bhi hoga," he winked.
(It’ll happen the day after too.)
Next Morning:
The sun peeked through the windows of Aakash and Shashi’s room, falling softly on their faces. The warm rays fluttered Aakash’s eyelids open. As he adjusted to the light, he noticed his hand resting gently on Shashi’s stomach, while she lay sleeping peacefully, her face tilted slightly toward his chest.
Carefully, he removed his hand and shifted aside, watching her eyes flutter as if she was about to wake. He got up from the bed and pulled the curtains to block the sunlight. Seeing her relaxed expression return, he smiled and tucked the duvet around her properly. She smiled in her sleep and turned over, now lying on her stomach.
He chuckled softly, ran his hand through his hair, and made his way toward the washroom to get ready for the gym.
Aakash’s POV:
I walked out of the washroom, ready to head to the gym—but the moment I glanced at my baby, I forgot everything else. She looked like an innocent child in her sleep.
Yesterday, when she cried in my arms, my heart broke. I tried to console her, but the pain inside her ran deep. My baby is so petite, so fragile, delicate… yet she’s Durga from within—fighting battles since childhood but still managing to smile in front of the world.
I just want to give her joy, peace, and unconditional love. I wish that letter had never reached her. She didn’t deserve that trauma.
She likes to speak, but no one ever listened.
Last night, when we spoke for hours, I felt like time should freeze. I could spend my entire life listening to her.
After returning home yesterday, I even asked Dadi Saa to talk to her, because I could see it in her eyes—she wanted to say something, to complain, to express, but didn’t know how. She has been carrying this weight since she didn’t even understand what the world is.
Mr. Oberoi is the reason she doesn’t trust men—not me, not anyone else.
I remember, during our talk, she said, “You don’t owe me,” which clearly meant she doesn’t want to be controlled by anyone—and I love that about her. She’s independent. Self-sufficient.
At such a young age, she already realized that men are full of ego.
But baby… I am not like those men
.
I just want to love you.
________________________________________
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