Bhargav's POV:

I couldn't just idle at home. It had been far too long since I saw Aradhya. I didn't give a fuck about customs anymore. Besides, there was a silk sari that I had bought for her. It was pink... Her favorite color.

Keshav tried to stop me a lot, but I gave him the keys to the house and drove off by myself. Maa and Bhaiya wouldn't have allowed me either if I were to ask permission. Besides, they were happily enjoying their time at Nainital

I deserved to enjoy myself beside my wife.

It was quite late in the evening when I reached Aradhya's home. Her entire family was already gathered on the verandah, and I saw my darling on the swing, she was smiling while talking about something. Her large belly made me swell with pride every time. I was going to be a Father soon.

"Damaad Ji?" It was my Father-in-law who got up in shock. Aradhya's parents, grandparents, and older brother were all quite surprised to see me.

(Son-in-law?)

"Namaste," I smiled politely, my eyes lingering on the startled angel watching me in surprise.

She stood up with a lot of difficulty, a hand on her stomach and the other clutched her veil, "Aap... Aap yaha kya kar rahe hai, Ji?" She asked the question for her family's sake.

(What are you doing here, Ji...?)

"Andar nahi bulaogi?" I smiled.

(Won't you invite me inside?)

My in-laws had never really liked me because of how I always showered Aradhya with affection. They believed I was overdoing it, while I felt like I was doing too little. Only my brother-in-law was somewhat better than the rest.

"Aiye, aiye Jija Ji. Tashreef lijiye," he smiled and invited me inside. My mother-in-law brought water for me while my father-in-law, Sandeep, sent Aradhya to her room. He didn't want us to meet. God, this was annoying.

(Welcome, Jija Ji. Come on in.)

"Bhaiya, ab ghar par nahi hai. Woh Maa aur parivar ke saath Nainital gaye hai, chuttiya bitane," I told them.

(My brother isn't home right now. He's gone to Nainital with Maa and family, to spend the holidays.)

"Haan... Beti ne batayi thi," Sandeep replied, not looking very pleased.

(Yes... our daughter told us.)

I grinned, "Aur gaon mei bhi khaas kaam nahi hai. Sab Keshav sambhal lega. Isliye socha ise aakar mil lu. Bulaiye na. Kaha hai woh?"

(And there isn't much work in the village either. Keshav will handle everything. So I thought of dropping by. Call her. Where is she?)

Her parents glanced at each other, and Anmol, my brother-in-law, coughed to mask his laugh. "Damaad Ji... Biwi ko aise haal mei milne se, use aur bache par nazar lag sakti hai," Her Dadi told me. And her Dada agreed quietly.

(Damaad Ji... It's not right to meet your wife in this state.)

"Aap aise purane reeti rivazo par phase kyu hai?" I scoffed. Sandeep's lips twitched, "Purane reeti rivaz...?"

(Why are you still stuck on these old customs?)

(Old customs...?)

He didn't say anything when I looked up to meet his furious gaze. Would he dare to defy his son-in-law? Moreover, would he dare to defy a Thakur?

I stood up at that time, "Mai uske kamre mei jaata hoon. Yaha tak aane mein dikkat hogi. Anmol, kya tum madad kar sakte ho?"

(I'll go to her room. It will be hard for her to come all the way here. Anmol, can you help me out?)

He pushed himself off the pillar and nodded happily. Even though he was two years younger than me, just 25, he was a little bit taller. "Galat mat samajhiye, Jija Ji..." He whispered while slipping his arm across my shoulder, "Mai aapke khilaaf isliye nahi hu kyunki aap mere behen ka achhe se khayal rakhte ho."

(Don't get me wrong, Jija Ji... I'm not against you only because you take care of my little sister well.)

I sighed, more focused on reaching Aradhya's bedroom. My heart fluttered like always when I saw my angel on the bed. I wondered why she always looked like a beautiful, frightened doe. "Kuch der baad inhe lekar neeche aa jaana," Anmol told her before closing the door behind him.

(Come downstairs with him after a while.)

The moment we were left alone, I hugged my darling tightly.

"Ji aap-" She tried to fight my hold weakly.

(Ji, you-)

"Aru tum ghar wapas aa jao. Tumhare bina neend hi nahi aati. Khaana bhi acha nahi lagta... Kab wapas aaogi...? Mujhe hamesha tumhare paas rehna hai."

(Aru come back home. I can't sleep without you. Even the food tastes awful... When will you come back...? I want to stay with you forever.)

She sighed, "Aap aise bacho ki tarah kyu baate kar rahe ho Ji?"

(Why are you talking like children?)

I pulled away and cupped her face in my hands. Fuck, I forgot whatever I was going to say. How could a mortal be this beautiful? It had always been like this. My wife was so pretty that one look at her face made me forget everything around me. Her beautiful light grey eyes... I had been lost in them since day one.

"Kya dekh rahe hai?" She smiled, blushing a little as she held my hand.

(What are you looking at?)

"Samay guzarta rehta hai aur tumse pyaar badta rehta hai."

(As time passes, I can only love you more.)

My wife chuckled and squeezed my cheek like I was a baby. "Mere shayar Ji kitne pyaare hai."

(My poet is so charming.)

The baby kicked at that time. Aradhya couldn't stand anymore, and I fixed her pillows so she could sit comfortably. "Yaha aakar tumhe koi dikkat toh nahi hai na?" I asked while squeezing her feet. She didn't stop me anymore, even though it made her blush.

(You have no difficulties after coming here right?)

"Koi dikkat nahi hai Ji... Aap abhi abhi aaye hai na. Aaram kijiye. Neeche Maa aapke liye khaana bhi paros degi."

(I'm comfortable here, Ji... You reached just now, you should rest. Maa will set the table for you downstairs as well.)

"Baad mein kha lunga..." I sighed and lay down beside her. When she was back home with me, I would hug her and talk to the baby for a long time. "Aap kab baahar aaoge?" I kissed her bump.

(I'll eat later... When will you come outside?)

She chuckled and ran a hand through my hair, "Maine aapki bahut yaad ki thi..."

(I missed you a lot...)

My heart fluttered at her words. My beautiful goddess had thought of me. What could make me happier?

"Nainital jaane se behtar hai... tumhare paas rehna," I whispered while hugging her tighter.

(It's better to stay beside you... Than go to Nainital.)

She hummed, "Par agar Jeth Ji ko pata chale ki aap yaha aa gaye toh-?"

(But what if Jeth Ji finds out that you came here?)

I frowned, "Woh kitne swaarthi nikle... Maa aur bachchon ko le gaye, theek hai... aakhir apna khoon hain unka. Lekin Sanjana ko bhi saath le jaana zaroori tha kya? Agar le hi jaa rahe the, toh mujhe aur Keshav ko bhi saath le jaate..."

(He's so selfish... He took Maa and the kids, I'm fine with that... They're his blood after all. But why did he take Sanjana with him as well? If he could take her with him, then he could take us as well...)

She smiled, "Aap aakhir Sanjana se itna jalte kyu ho?"

(Why are you so jealous of Sanjana?)

"Jalta hu?" I scoffed.

(Jealous?)

Why the hell would I be jealous of that... That annoying brat?

Ever since we were kids, she had been the most annoying thing in my life. And I couldn't get back at her for her sharp tongue because, of course, Bhaiya wouldn't let anything happen to her. It was absurd to think he cherished her, given that they argued almost all the time.

But the most annoying part was that he chose her over his own brothers.

"Mai usse nahi jalta. Agar woh biwi aur bachon ke saath mauj kar sakte hain toh main tumhe milne kyun nahi aa sakta?"

(I'm not jealous. If he can enjoy himself with his wife and kids, then why can't I come meet you?)

"Haan... Maan gayi, Ji." She sighed.

(Okay... I accept.)

At that time, I felt a sharp something against my ear. I jerked back, startled as Aradhya clutched her stomach, "Ah!" The baby had just kicked again.

"T-tum theek ho...?" I gulped, caressing her hair.

(A-are you fine...?)

She winced again and squeezed my shoulder this time. Only then did I realise that the bed had gotten wet. What was happening?

"Ah... Ah..." Aradhya panted, "Daima ko bulao... Jaldi... Jaldi bulao..."

(Ah... Ah... Call the midwife... Quickly... Call her...)

"Tumhe kya ho gaya hai?!" I was terrified now.

(What happened to you?!)

"Jaldi kijiye!" She hissed in pain, "Bacha aane wala hai! Bahut dard ho raha hai!"

(Hurry up! The child is about to come! It hurts a lot!)

I scrambled off the bed immediately and nearly sprinted out the door. The little bastard was coming now, of all times?! He or she couldn't wait a day longer for me to get all comfortable or what?!

Her entire family grew alert when I informed them of the situation. Anmol was sent immediately to fetch the Daima. I was compelled to stay outside on the verandah while her mother and grandmother stayed with her. Every time she screamed, I felt my heart break.

There was no way that I could withstand her screaming like this again.

I wouldn't get her pregnant again. Definitely not. One baby was more than enough.

I loved her far too much to watch her go through nine months of suffering once more.

Every time I glanced inside the house, women were rushing back and forth from the kitchen with cloth and a bowl of warm water. Her screams only got worse as the hours passed.

"Aap kaafi sahi samay par yaha aaye hain..." Anmol smiled to himself while staring up at the night sky. I was getting increasingly frustrated. Bhaiya had told me long back that it would be wiser to take her to the hospital during delivery, but I couldn't say no when Aradhya begged me to let her go to her parents' place.

(You came at quite the right time...)

"Aspataal jaane se kya ho jayega?" I muttered, taking out a cigarette. My father-in-law was watching me quietly while swatting mosquitoes. God, I felt so useless. My wife was screaming her lungs out inside, and I couldn't do anything to ease her pain.

(What's the issue with taking her to a hospital?)

The groans softened a bit until it was suddenly quiet. My heart was racing. Was it done? Was she alright?

Her grandmother came outside. But why the hell did she look sad?

"Damaad Ji... Aapki beti hui hai."

(Damaad Ji... You've had a daughter.)

Everyone around me dulled in an instant, "Beti?"

(A daughter?)

"Aur Aradhya kaisi hai?" I gulped.

(And how is Aradhya?)

"Bahut beemar hai. Aadhe ghante ke baad aap andar jaakar bache ko dekh sakte hai."

(She's very sick. You can go inside after half an hour and see the baby.)

"Shukriya..." I whispered.

(Thank you...)

Sandeep squeezed my shoulder, "Koi baat nahi."

(It's fine. Don't worry.)

What did he mean by that?

Did he think I was disappointed like him that I had a daughter?

"Ladka ho ya ladki... Dono shaitan hi rahenge. Unme utna antar nahi hai."

(Even if it's a boy or girl... Both will remain devils. There's not much difference between them.)

Those were the words of Bhaiya. And considering the time I had spent with my niece and nephew, I believed him. There was no gender when it came to children. They were always adorable.

Half an hour later, I was led to Aradhya's room. Her clothes had been changed, and the child was wrapped in a cotton shawl as she fed her.

My wife's eyes were downcast as soon as she saw me. We were left alone at that time. "Beti hui hai..." She whispered, hurt in her voice.

(It's a girl...)

I sat beside her, "Toh kya farak padti hai? Badi hokar Maa ke jitna khubsurat banegi..." I caressed her hair with a smile.

(What difference does it make? She'll grow up to be as beautiful as her mother...)

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at me in disbelief. They were happy tears. I realised that she was expecting a disappointed reaction from me, but I was raised better than that.

My daughter looked so tiny. Barely the size of my arm. I got butterflies just staring at how fragile and precious she looked.

But when she opened her eyes to stare at me, I felt unable to breathe.

"A-Aru...? Iske aankh..."

(A-Aru...? Her eyes...)

My wife blushed without saying anything.

"Tumhare aankh mile hai!"

(She's got your eyes!)

"Itna chillaiye mat..." My wife sighed, but I was the happiest man on the planet.

(Don't scream like this...)

My daughter had gotten her mother's light grey eyes. Oh, I loved my darlings so much.