9| Dilkash

✨ Naa hoga ke kitaabon mein chhupegi teri meri kahaani,

Haan kishton mein suna denge yeh qissa teri meri zubaani ✨

"Isi ke saath pooja sampan hui." The Panditji announced.

The Pooja is done now.

It was Armaan and Aashi's one-year anniversary today. The mansion was decorated with lots of flowers and lights all around. It was bustling with family, friends and guests. Everyone from far and wide was an attendee.

For Aashi and Armaan, time flew by in the blink of an eye. It seemed like yesterday when they met at that restaurant for the first time. All the ups and downs from the past year of their life flashed in front of their eyes.

Their flirtatious comments, their first kiss, their playful banter, their stolen kisses, the wedding, the honeymoon. All their first and all the firsts to come in the future.

Both hearts wished and prayed for nothing but love, peace and happiness. Both of them being simple and grounded people at heart, didn't care for all the money, fame and the status. For them, they were just a man and a woman who were utterly in love with their spouse.

Aashi was having such a difficult time hiding the news of her pregnancy from Armaan. She couldn't wait to tell him the news and what better day than today.

The happy couple did the veneration and made offerings to God. Thanking Him for all that He's given them till date and for all that He'll continue giving them.

After the veneration, Armaan took the prasad, which were Aashi's favourite laddoos, and gave her a bite. She took the same ladoo from his hand and fed him some.

"Happy Anniversary, Darling." Armaan said in a low voice, only for her to hear him.

"Happy Anniversary, Husband." Aashi said with a big smile, earning a smile for Armaan himself.

Once the prasad was distributed among everyone, Aashi and Armaan took blessings from both their parents.

"Here's a small gift from my side." Aditi said handing them a handmade photo album. It had all the pictures of their little moments from the past year. Aditi had filled it with all the funny things they've said and also wrote small paragraphs for each moment.

"You've completed our family, bhabhi. Couldn't have asked for a better partner-in-crime. I love you." Aditi said hugging Aashi. She returned the hug and kissed her head.

"I love you too, Adi." She replied.

"Ok ok, now our turn." Vedika said as she pointed towards herself and Khushi.

"Here." Khushi said handing the couple an envelope.

"Cash deke, kaam khatam." Armaan said teasing Vedika, on which she mock laughed.

Must be cash, for formality.

"Envelope khol karto dekhein bhai." Vedika said and Aashi did.

At least see what's inside.

"It has tickets, for your second honeymoon." Khushi said with teasing eyes.

"Enjoy Greece, my friend." Ranbir said as he gave a playful slap to Armaan's shoulder.

"You're in on this?" Armaan asked his best friend.

"Haan, of course. Tu jaa k aa aur review de. Mere pehle honeymoon k liye kaisa rahega." He said and looked towards Khushi, who widened her eyes as a layer of blush quoted her cheeks.

Yes, of course. Give me a review once you're back. How's it for my first honeymoon.

"Wait what?" Aashi said as she looked at her best friend, surprised.

"He proposed last week." Khushi said in a small voice.

"Aur tu mujhe ab bata rahi hai." Aashi said still surprised.

And you're tell me now?

"Kya karti. Armaan was missing aur tu itni tensed thi. Mujhe theek nahi laga us waqt ye batana." Khushi explained.

What could've I done? Armaan was missing and you were so tensed, I didn't think it was the right time to tell you.

"Maine mana kiya tha bhabhi, socha k Armaan ajaye to saath mei celebrate karenge." Ranbir further added.

I asked her not to, bhabhi. I thought once Armaan returns, we'll celebrate together.

"Khushi, kahan fass gayi tu iski jaal mai." Armaan said as he kept a hand on Khushi's shoulder, giving her a sympathetic look.

Khushi, you got trapped in his pretences.

Ranbir slapped his hand off his fiancée shoulder.

"Bakwaas mat kar. Bhabhi hai teri." Ranbir said and Armaan laughed keeping his hands in the air.

Don't talk shit. She's your sister-in-law now.

"Welcome to the family, bhabhi." Armaan said and all of them laughed.

"Congratulations." Everyone congratulated Khushi and Ranbir.

"Ab hamari baari." Mrs. Malhotra said.

Now it's our turn.

Both their parents handed them a bunch of papers.

"What's this?" Armaan asked after they thanked them.

"Dekh khud." Mr. Oberoi said.

See for yourself.

"Dad, this is..." Aashi said but didn't complete her sentence.

"Yes. Congratulations." Mrs. Malhotra said.

"What is it? Hume bhi batao." Aditi asked out of curiosity.

Tell us too.

"We've gifted them a house in Portofino, Italy."

"WHAT?!" Aditi literally screamed.

"Armaan was always fascinated with the idea of living in a small city, somewhere in Italy. We know it's too early, but it can be their retirement home." Mr. Malhotra said.

"Yaar, meri bhi shaadi karwa do koi." Aditi said to her parents and everyone laughed at her.

Man, get me married as well.

"This is too much. Thank you so much. Aap hai to hamari zindagi mei barkat hai." Aashi said with grateful tears in her eyes.

You guys are the prosperity of our life.

"Seriously, thank you so much mom, dad. Thank you so much, mummy papa." Armaan said to both their parents.

The couple touched their feet and seemed blessing once again. They hugged each other, parents showering blessing upon them.

After everyone presented the couple with their gifts, they all went to have dinner and look after the guests.

Once everyone started leaving, Aashi bid everyone farewell and went upstairs. She was tired from all the preparations she's been doing since last couple of days, for today's pooja. She has also been hiding her morning sickness from the family, especially Armaan which wasn't an easy task at all.

She was standing on the balcony with her hands on the parapet wall. Cool winds were touching her face and she was feeling so at peace in that moment.

She felt a familiar pair of strong arms wrap around her waist from behind.

Her back touched his chest and she felt him nuzzling his nose in the hallow of her neck. He placed a wet kiss on her skin and she felt butterflies in her stomach. He kept kissing her neck and moved up towards her ear. He took her earlobe in his mouth and bit it. He placed another kiss just below her ear and kissed her there.

"Maan." She said in a slow voice as his teeth sinked in her skin.

"Ji? Maan ki Jaan." He whispered in response and kissed the same spot again.

"I haven't given you your gift yet, biwi." He said and turned her in his arms. Her back rested against the parapet wall.

Wifey.

"Wo to hai." She said in a playful voice.

That's true.

"Wait a minute." He said and walked towards their room. He returned with a box in his hand. Handing it to Aashi, he asked her to open it.

It contained a jewellery set, Diamond necklace, with matching earrings and bangles.

"You liked it?" He asked after a moment.

"Very much. Thank you so much Maan." She said, and hugged him, keeping the box aside on a nearby chair.

"Aur meri gift kahan hai?" Armaan asked with mischievous eyes.

And where's my gift?

"Hmm. Aapke liye thoda alag gift hai mere paas." Aashi said as she folded her arms across her chest with a smile.

Hmm. I've got a different kind of gift for you.

"Aur who kya hai, Mrs. Oberoi?" He asked keeping his hands on the parapet wall, on either side of her, trapping her.

And what's that, Mrs. Oberoi?

"Apako kuch banana hai." Aashi replied.

I'm gonna make you something.

"Deewane to hum pehle sehi hai aapke."

You've already made me mad about you.

"Nahi. Kuch bahot khoobsurat." She said and Armaan raised his eyebrows at his wife.

No. Something way more beautiful.

"Papa." She said and gave him the biggest smile ever.

Father.

"I'm pregnant, Armaan. We're gonna be parents." She said in a soft voice and cupped his cheeks.

"Yes!" Armaan said and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so happy, Aashi." He said once they broke their hug, still in each other's arms.

"Why aren't you surprised?" Aashi said as she scrunched her eyes.

"Because my dear wife, you left this, in my bedside drawer, by accident, I assume." He said as he pulled out a pregnancy test stick from his pocket.

"Oh God." Aashi said with a smile and both of them broke down in a laughter.

"I ruined the surprise." Aashi said.

"Absolutely not. It's the highlight of my life to hear my wife say she's carrying our child." Armaan said and placed a kiss on Aashi's lips.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Oberoi." He said after pulling away.

"Thank you and same to you." Aashi said hugging him.

~ Aashi's Outfit ~

~ Armaan's Outfit ~

✨ 5 years later ✨

"Stop running around, Aakash." Aashi called after her 4 year-old son. He was running from her to avoid taking his medicines.

"Aakash, stop troubling your mother." Armaan said as he followed his wife and son in the garden of their house.

"Eww." Aakash said, scrunching his nose as he ran towards his father.

Armaan is Aakash's best friend. His partner-in-crime.

"Maan, ab aap hi ise dawai denge. Ice cream bhi aap hine khilai thi na kal raat, movie dekhte." Aashi said as she put her hands on her waist in exasperation.

Maan, you have to feed him his medicine now seeing as it was you who fed him ice cream last night while watching movies.

"Tumhe kaise pata chala?" Armaan asked in surprise.

How did you came to know?

"Aur kon hoga? Mom, Dad ghar par hai nahi. Aur Aditi kale aayi nahi." Aashi said with a smug smile.

Who else could it be? Mom and Dad aren't home and Aditi didn't visit yesterday.

Armaan's parents were out of town on a vacation and Aditi is now married.

"Aakash, dawai khaa l0. Please." Armaan requested in a soft voice to his dear son and he immediately accepted.

Aakash, have your medicine. Please.

Aashi handed the medicine to him. Armaan kept a spoonful of the liquid in his mouth and then made him drink some water. Aashi saw her son taking them without a single tantrum.

"Aakash loves you more than me. It's proven now." Aashi said as she huffed and crossed her hands against her chest.

"That's not true." Armaan said.

"No it's true. But it's fine. Our second child will definitely love me more." She said and kept a hand on her still flat stomach. She was 2 months pregnant currently.

"Yeah but I love you the most." Armaan said and placed a small kiss on Aashi's lips.

"Kya kar rahein hain, Aakash dekh raha hai." Aashi said as she widened her eyes.

What are you doing, Aakash is watching.

On hearing this, Armaan picked his son up and bought him near Aashi. He pointed at Aashi's cheeks and Aakash placed a cute kiss there.

"We both love you so much." Armaan said and side hugged Aashi.

"And I love you both even more." Aashi said and kissed both her boys' cheeks.

- x -

So, that's all for Dilkash. How did you guys like the story? Please let me know. Thank you so much for taking out the time to read it. I'm grateful for all of you. Much love. ❤️