Epilogue

– D I V Y A –

Walking inside, I saw the view in front of me which made my blood boil. "Ayaan Chauhan and Aanya Chauhan! I need you here in ten seconds!"

I saw him walking towards me while carrying Aanya on his back. "What happened? Is everything alright?"

"Alright? What's this?" I pointed towards the floor.

"Paint."

"Who the hell spills paint on floor?"

"Language." He said, directing at Aanya.

"Okay, my fault. But who decides to colour in the living room. Atleast clean your stuff after messing."

"Her hands were stained with paint. And I thought to clean her up before cleaning this mess. Never thought that Mrs cleanliness freak would come back this early."

"I understand your point. But if she wanted to paint, you could've taken her to her play room. Who told you to mess up with living room?"

"Actually-"

"Whose idea it was to paint here?" I asked but no one opened their mouth. "Tell me!" I shouted and Aanya jumped down from Ayaan's back, walking towards me.

"Dad." She said and Ayaan looked at her with shock. Her cute chubby cheeks always made her look innocent. I don't know why but I wanted to laugh!

"When did I? Wasn't it you who wanted to stay here-" Ayaan was saying something but Aanya interrupted him in between.

"Mumma! My stomach is paining!" Aanya cupped her head and shouted.

"It's your head." Ayaan said and her hands immediately went down to clutch her stomach. "You are a great actor."

It was good for him. He always supported her when she did anything wrong, saying that —‘she's just a two year old’. Being her parents it's our duty to teach her good and bad. But he just wants to act as a cool dad who never scolds his child.

Now when his own daughter, whom he always supported backfired him, he should think not to always make her right. But no, he would still never point out her mistakes, but instead make me look like an angry mother.

He's her cool dad, afterall!

"I know, my daughter never lies. It must be you." I pointed my finger towards Ayaan and he looked at me with shock.

"I heard some sounds. What happened Divya?" Mom came towards us and asked.

"Nothing mom. Your son created a mess."

"It wasn't me. Aanya wanted to use colours in the living room."

"Dadi, my stomach is paining!" Aanya shouted, grabbing the attention and walked towards mom.

"Let's go and leave them alone." Mom held her little hands and took her away. Even mom doesn't want to let Aanya hear her parents bickering like children.

"It wasn't my idea to use paints in the living room. I swear." He said and I couldn't help but laugh at him. "I'm serious. Why are you laughing?"

"I know my husband and my daughter very well. Do you think I don't know whose idea it was?"

"Then why did you-"

"Just playing cool mumma. Don't you like it?" I chuckled and he glared. "Between, you should really stop supporting her in her every single deed. I really don't want our daughter to become a spoilt princess."

"But she's just a child Divya."

"That's how you're spoiling her."

"Even if I stop fulfilling her every wish, do you think it would affect her? Our family got a daughter after so many generations. Do you think they would ever stop pampering her?"

"I know but-"

"She's our daughter Divya. How can I even not fulfill her wishes?"

"But we can't put her over our head. This will only spoil her. What about her future?" I snapped back and he lifted me off the floor. "What are you-"

"Okay, okay, relax. Cool down. Our daughter isn't going to grow up in a moment. And I swear we won't spoil her. She's good enough for a three year old. And playing isn't bad."

"Hmm... It's my fault to stretch this topic. I really can't help."

"You're alright?" He asked, with care dripping off his eyes.

"I'm alright."

"Sure?"

"Yes..... Now put me down. I need to wash up." I said and he instantly dropped me on the floor.

"Well, where were you all this evening? I tried your phone but it was off." He asked and I stopped in my tracks. Why did he have to ask this question?

"I was out with Maya. It's last day of the year right?" I lied and he nodded. Going back to our room, I went inside the bathroom and locked it from inside. Using the bathroom, I changed into something comfortable and walked out, only to find Aanya running towards me.

"Mumma, I'm hungry." She said and I nodded. Carrying her towards the dining table, I made her sit on the high level chair and saw our dinner.

Amazing!

Everything was so tasty!

"Let's eat!" I and Aanya said at the same time, causing everyone to laugh.

"We're going to eat that. It's not here for show." Mom chuckled and we lowered our faces down.

Aanya and I, both were same in appetite. We have a huge stomach and could eat for hours.

And same for sleep too. We both are a heavy sleeper!

Eating with all our mood, we sighed and sat comfortably on different sofas. Spending the New Year Eve while sitting cozily on the couch has a different feeling.

"Mumma, I'm hungry." I heard Aanya calling me while sitting on my lap.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Milk."

"Wait a minute. Let me bring a glass for you."

"Mumma, not that. Your milk." She whined.

"You're now a big girl, Aanya!"

"Please..." She pouted and I smiled before picking her up in my arms.

"Where are you going?" Ayaan held my shirt and asked.

"To our room." I said and walked to our room while carrying her inside. Helping her in toilet, I made her sit on the bed and lied beside her.

"Mumma?"

"Hmm..."

"Tomorrow is my birthday." She said and I smiled. Although she was about to be three, her speech was clear and fluent.

"I know."

"My gift?"

"Mumma has two gifts for you this time."

"Really?" She asked and I nodded.

"You'll get the first one tomorrow and the second one, day after tomorrow."

"Second gift is for dad?"

"For you both."

"Mumma tell me, please. I won't tell it to dad. I promise." She pouted and I shook my head in negative. Her pout trick won't work all the time. "Okay!" She shouted and closed her eyes.

Drama queen!

"Aren't you hungry now?" I asked and she opened her right eye.

"I am." She said and I fed her.

×× ××

– A Y A A N –

Time was twelve and I couldn't find Divya beside me. It was the first time I didn't have her beside me on New Year countdown.

Mom and dad were already asleep and I was alone, watching TV. Switching the TV off, I walked inside our room and saw them sleeping peacefully on bed.

It was good that Aanya was already asleep. She plays all the time and doesn't even want to sleep in daytime. But at night, she's a heavy sleeper who wouldn't even wake up in earthquake.

It's her mumma's genes, ofcourse!

During the day, she roams around the house and plays with everyone. But at night, she sticks to her mumma like a glue.

(Flashback)

It was Sunday and we all were sitting on the couch, watching TV. She was stuffing popcorn inside her mouth like a chimpanzee eating banana. "Nobody is going to snatch your popcorn. Eat it slowly." I said and she looked at me, just before narrowing her eyes.

"Idiot!" She said and gasped before touching her belly. "It kicked!"

"Really? Let me feel it." I kept my palm on her bump and asked. "Where is the kick?"

"What the hell Ayaan! I can't control the kicks. It's baby's choice." She said and I nodded. I sat back on the couch and averted my gaze towards the comedy show. "Ayaan!"

"What happened?"

"I... It's paining."

"What should I do?"

"Idiot! Call the... ambulance! Or take me there! Baby is going to... come out!" She shouted and shut her eyes tightly.

"Mom! Dad! Divya is in labor." I shouted and saw them coming out of their room. Picking her up carefully, I ran out and made her sit inside on the backseat. I started driving while mom sat with her.

"Mom! It's aching a lot!"

"Can't you drive faster?" Mom shouted and I increased the speed. We reached the hospital and everything was pre-arranged. All the way, she kept wincing in pain.

I never knew how much pain it would take to give birth.

And I could never know...

Accompanying her inside the labor room after changing my clothes, I saw her shutting her mouth tightly to suppress her cries. Hope it goes alright!

"It's near. Your cervix is dilated enough. You just need to push a little." Her obstetrician said and she tried doing the same before sighing in tiredness.

"I don't think I can do it. We can go through operation." Divya said and I rubbed her hands.

"Everything will be alright. Don't worry. Don't take stress. Just take a deep breathe and try to push."

"I've tried pushing. But I can't do it anymore." She cried.

"Relax. You can do this, for our baby! For our child." I said and she nodded. Holding my arms tightly, she tried applying pressure. Although her nails were digging inside arm, my pain was nothing compared to what she was going through.

Finally, after a long period, it seemed somewhat possible. Taking a deep breath, she shouted loudly before lying back on the bed.

"Divya, you're alright?" I asked and she nodded lightly. As soon as we heard a cry, she smiled and I turned towards the voice. I saw nurse cutting the cord attaching Divya and our baby.

"It's a girl."

"Divya, it's a girl! You were right, miracles do happen." I said and she smiled faintly. I knew she was tired enough to say anything. I kissed her forehead and smiled. "Thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for this precious gift! I love you."

After all the processes were done, I held our baby for the first time. Wrapped in a soft fabric, she was looking like a princess; our family's Princess.

Her tiny nose and thin lips made her look cute. Her chubby red cheeks were just like what Divya had in childhood. As her eyes opened, I saw myself in them. Those orbs were just like mine.

"Divya, isn't she too cute?" I gave our daughter to Divya and asked.

"She is. She's my daughter."

"Our daughter. Just look at her eye colour. It's same as mine."

"Excuse me, but we need to feed the child." One of the nurse said.

"Okay, so?"

"You need to go out."

"But I'm her husband."

"Rules are rules. You can't violate them. Please go out." The nurse said, sending me out while I heard Divya laughing inside.

Our daughter is really a blessing!

And I'm sure she's going to be pampered by everyone in our family. Pretty lucky she is!

(Flashback ends)

Lying down on the bed beside them, I was about to keep my hand on her waist but stopped after seeing Aanya's hand there. Wow! Now, I can't even hug my wife's waist while sleeping.

I sat back a little and leaned forward towards her, while not wanting to wake Aanya up. Pecking her lips lightly, I kissed her forehead and she woke up. "What are you doing?"

"Kissing my wife. Happy New Year!"

"You won't ever change?"

"Nope, never." I said and kissed her again. She pushed me and I landed on the bed. "What was that?" She seperated Aanya from her body and quietly crawled towards my side.

"We'll wake her up."

"I know. It's good that you're here." I said and pulled her upon me.

"What are you doing? You'll wake her up like this."

"You know, I always wanted a child. But one thing I never thought was her coming between our romance. Whenever we get some free time, you always think about her. ‘What if we wake Aanya up from her sleep?’, ‘What if she sees us while kissing?’ and things like that. You only think about your work, family and your daughter. What about this husband of yours?"

"I really never thought that you would think like this. I just never wanted our daughter to experience PDA in front of her eyes at such a young age."

"I know. And I have a really good idea to keep her distracted."

"What?"

"Let's get her a sibling to play with." I said and she blushed. "You're really shy in these matters."

"I? I am not shy."

"Really?" I asked and she nodded. She bent towards my neck and kissed there lightly.

"Do you really think I would be shy after giving birth to one life."

"I don't know. But few minutes back, you were blushing."

"I wasn't!" She whined and I nodded. Cupping her face, I neared my lips to her and kissed her senselessly. I wanted to forget everything and enjoy the moment.

But then, the villian of our romance shifted on her place and interrupted our kiss. We turned our head towards her and saw her sleeping with her mouth opened.

Divya chuckled seeing her state and I smiled. I closed her mouth with my finger and turned to Divya, "She looks like you."

"Really?"

"Hmm... You looked the same when you were small. The same cute and chubby. But yeah, she looks like me too. Her eyes, her nose, her lips, all looks like mine." I said and she slapped my chest.

"Then how come she looks like me?"

"She's cute, just like you were in childhood." I said and she smiled. "We need to leave this bed or she'll wake up." Picking her up in my arms, I walked towards the bathroom.

"Why are we going there?"

"There's a surprise waiting for you."

"In bathroom?" She asked and I nodded. I kicked the door and she gasped. "When did you prepare this?" She asked seeing the bathroom decorated with scented candles.

"Well, I did it before waking you up. We need a soothing break from our daily chores. Don't you think so?" I asked and she nodded.

"Are you going to walk inside?" She interrupted me from my thoughts and I nodded. Walking inside with her in my arms, I locked the gate from inside and made her stand up. I paced towards the shower to check it's temperature and by the time I returned to jacuzzi, she was already sitting inside it.

"Why did you go inside this early? I wanted to undress you." I whined.

"Really? You always say that but end up tearing them apart." She said and I shook my head in disbelief. Stripping myself, I stepped inside water and sat behind her. Pulling her close to me, I kept my chin on her shoulder and rubbed my hands with her's.

"Divya."

"Hmm..."

"It's Aanya's birthday today."

"I know."

"Have you decided a gift for her?"

"Yes, she's in love with painting. I decided to buy some organic paints and articles related to that."

"She'll become an artist in future."

"Who knows? What have you thought?" She asked and I chuckled. "Why are you laughing?"

"What about creating a sibling for her?" I teased and she elbowed me in stomach.

"Shameless!"

"We're living together since four and a half years. And still you don't know how shameless I am?" I slid my arms around her waist and nuzzled my face in her neck, inhaling her intoxicating smell. Turning around, she cupped my face and pecked my lips. "Someone is really eager. Isn't she?" I smirked.

"Well, if you're the one who made me eager, I can't help. It's not always husband's right to express his feelings first."

"Hmm?"

"Hmm." She said and glided her arms around my neck. "Have you locked the door?"

"Yes." I said and she smiled before leaning forward. Without wasting a second, she captured my lips and kissed them. Reciprocating her, I snaked my arms around her back and pulled her closer. I just never want to let her go. Not now, not ever; never.

××

Opening my eyes, I saw the mother-daughter duo sleeping peacefully while cuddling each other. Waking them up in early morning was not a good idea. Hugging them back for the last time, I woke up and went to use restroom.

Exercising for an hour, I went back to our room and saw them still in their sleep. "Divya and Aanya! Wake up. It's seven."

"Let me sleep." They both mumbled.

"Divya! Then you'll complain me for being late."

"Just a minute."

"I know what you mean by a minute. Now wake up." I said and pulled her out of Aanya's embrace. Carrying her inside the bathroom I switched the shower on, making all water fall over her.

"What the... Why did you do this?" She huffed.

"You were in no mood to wake up. That was the only possible option left." I said and pulled my t-shirt above my head.

"What?"

"What what?"

"I'm not going to share bathroom with you. Go out."

"But-"

"Go. Go." She said and I nodded before going out. Wearing my t-shirt again, I sat on a couch and picked my phone up to check messages. Hearing a groan, I turned my gaze towards Aanya and saw her sleeping on the edge.

Just a turn and she would fall on the floor.

Running towards her, I caught her on time and made her sleep in the middle of bed. Creating a boundary of cushions around her, I sighed and heard the door of bathroom opening.

"She's still sleeping?"

"Hmm..... She's a heavy sleeper, just like you."

"But I'm awake."

And it was true. After Aanya's birth, her sleep cycle lowered down.

I walked towards her and was about to hug her but she stopped me in between. "Go and take a shower first. I seriously don't want to hug all those germs on your body." She said and I hugged her tightly. "Ayaan!" She shouted and I laughed before walking to shower.

Coming out after shower, I saw everyone sitting in the lawn. But not Aanya.  She was running around. And that's what happen when these little kids learn how to run.

She came running towards me and tried climbing up the chair. Picking her up, I made her sit on my lap and kissed her cheeks. "Happy Birthday Princess!!"

"I know." She said arrogantly and huffed. I looked around, asking everyone what happened to her, but no-one said anything. "You're last."

"Oh... Sorry."

"My gift?" She asked and I picked her up, walking towards the garage.

"Ayaan, why are you going to garage?" Divya asked.

"You'll see." I said and walked inside. "So... Here you have your present." I pulled the cover over the car and heard Aanya shouting, before jumping down and running towards it.

"You bought a car for her?"

"Hmm...."

"Are you mad or what? She's just three!" Divya shouted and I sighed. "What would she do with a car?"

"Relax. It's not that she's driving it. It's just a present." I said and she shook her head.

"Your wish it is." She said and I chuckled.

"Dad. Mumma. You'll stay here with us." Aanya said and I looked at Divya. It was weekend, so there was no point in us leaving out. She winked and bent towards Aanya.

"But we need to go to work. I promise that we'll return early." She said.

"Please. Please. I'll give you a kiss."

"Okay, then. But only for our cutie-pie." Divya said and Aanya kissed her cheeks. Walking towards me, she pulled the fabric of my pants and I bent down. She kissed my cheeks and made a disgusted face.

"Shave it." She said and I chuckled. I cupped her face and rubbed my stubble on her cheeks. "Dad....." She shouted in her shrill voice and I laughed. "Mumma..."

"Leave my daughter, you idiot." Divya said and I stood up, walking towards her. Pulling her closer by her waist, I kissed her right cheek and she glared. "What are you doing? She's here!" She whispered and I kissed her lips lightly.

"Dad! Leave my mumma!" Aanya shouted, while slapping my leg.

"She's my wife."

"My mumma." She said and Divya moved out from my grip. Divya picked her up and Aanya kissed her lips. "She is my mumma!"

Even if Divya scolds her, at the end of day, she'll run behind her and sleep in her arms.

"I never said she's my mumma. Divya is my wife." I said and hugged Divya from back.

"Who is Divya?" Aanya asked and I chuckled.

"I'm Divya."

"You are mumma." Aanya pouted and we laughed. Such an innocent soul she is! Jumping down from her hold, she ran out while shouting —‘dad bought me a car’.

"So..."

"So?"

"We're here, alone; without any Aanya. So... do I have the permission to kiss you?"

"No." She said and I smiled before pulling her in a kiss. Sliding my tongue inside her mouth, I lifted her up and made her sit on one of the cars. Her fingers went inside my hairs and rubbed my scalp.

"I love you."

"Love you." She smiled before kissing me again.

Rest of the day went in playing with Aanya and preparing for her birthday party. As the evening arrived, whole house was filled with people bustling here and there.

"Aanya, listen to me. It's not good to make your grandma run like this!" Mom shouted as Aanya ran around the room, carrying mom's phone in her hand.

"Mom, mom, relax."

"How do you think I should relax? She's just like you, making me run around the house whole day!"

It was true!

During day, she's just like how I was in childhood, running around the house and chilling.

But at night, she stays like a lazy couch potato, just like her mother.

As the party went on, I saw Aanya playing with Shrey's boys. Moksh and Krish turned three, six months ago, just two days before our fourth wedding anniversary. They both didn't look similar at all, which made our work easier.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Krish asked my daughter.

"No, she will marry me." His brother Moksh pushed him back and said. They're just three and know things like girlfriend and marriage?

"Hey boys! She's not your girlfriend. And she'll never marry you." I said to them and turned back to find their father. "Shrey!"

"What happened?"

"Your sons! They're proposing my daughter!"

"What's wrong in that? Oh wait! They both proposed her?" He asked and I nodded. "It would've caused a problem for her. How will she chose one?"

This man is an idiot too!

"You know, you should keep your sons away from my daughter. What impression would they leave on her?"

"What impression would they leave on her?" He mimicked me. "They're not going to woo your daughter away. And even if one of them marries her, I'll be more than happy to get a daughter."

"If you want a daughter so badly, just make one of your own." I said and he glared.

"I don't want Diya to go through the same pain twice." He said and I nodded.

"Tasha!" Aanya shouted, running towards Natasha, who was now three months pregnant. Wait! Three months or four months? I don't remember.

"My little Aanya! Whose birthday it is?"

"My..... How is my brother?" She asked touching Natasha's belly.

"How do you know it's a boy? What if it's your sister?" Natasha laughed while asking her.

"No, I want a brother."

"She's really adamant." Divya shook her head in disbelief and bent down towards Aanya. "Tasha doesn't know if it's a boy or girl."

"Really?" Aanya asked and she nodded, "When will I meet baby?"

"After six months."

"What is six months?"

"Near Moksh and Krish's birthday. Okay?"

"Can't we meet baby now?" Aanya asked and we laughed.

"No. Let's go and cut your cake."

As the celebrations came to it's end, everyone went to their respective places. Going back to our room, I opened the door and saw the room in dark, lit with candles. "Divya!"

"Hmm..." I heard her voice coming from the closet. "Do you like it?"

"I never knew that parents too get surprises on their child's birthday." I said and heard her chuckled, "Where is Aanya?"

"She wanted to sleep with mom and dad. Lock the door."

"Huh?"

"Lock the door." She said and I locked the door of our room. Just when I turned back, I saw her leaning on the wall, wearing a killer black negligee. Maybe a dream! Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and opened them again, only to see her in the same outfit. "What's the matter?"

Walking towards her, I slid my arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. "Stop being such a temptress, or I won't be able to stop myself."

"Nobody is stopping you." She said in the sexiest voice and I pulled her tightly towards me, making her collide with my chest.

"Then, it's time to ravish you now!" I cupped her face and bent down, placing my lips on hers. Lifting her off the floor, I kissed her tightly while pacing around the room in search of bed.

Hearing everything falling on floor, she pulled back and narrowed her eyes at me. "Can't you walk straight to the bed? Now I have to clean the room."

"I'll do that."

"But you never do it."

"I will clean the mess, don't worry." I said and kissed her again. Walking towards the bed, I threw her on the bed and crawled over her. She pulled my collar and touched her lips with mine.

Kissing Divya with her in my arms has the best feeling ever. As I shoved my tongue inside her mouth, her arms travelled around my back, hugging me tightly.

Moving down towards her neck, I sucked her skin, giving fresh hickeys to her. Just when I pulled the strap down her arm, she pulled me up and looked straight into my eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"I want to say something."

"Can't it wait?" I asked and she shook her head in negative. "What's more important than making love?"

"There is something..." She smiled and I wiggled my right brow. "Can you...."

"Can I?"

"Can you get ready to make some porridge for me, again?"

"Porridge? But you don't like it. You never ate it after giving birth to Aanya. You just ate it when you had Aanya inside you."

Wait a minute!

Is she...

Are we...

"Are we going to be parents, again?" I asked and she smiled. Kissing her forehead, I hugged her tightly. "We are having another child. I can't believe!"

"It's true."

"When did you find it?"

"New Year Eve's evening. I'm five weeks pregnant!"

"We..."

"Okay, we. We are five weeks pregnant. Happy?" She said and I smiled before pulling her in another kiss. "Wait!"

"What now?"

"Happy Birthday!"

I forgot it, this time too!

"Thank you. That was the best gift I could ever get. Thank you once again!" I smiled and pulled her into another kiss. I wanted to make love to her, again and again.

We're going to be parents again!

One more happiness!

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

So, this is the official ending.

Maybe, I would write bonus chapters after the book crosses 100k.

How was their daughter's name?

ayAAN + divYA → AANYA

I literally didn't have any other name in mind.

And, I was thinking of writing another book about Dhruv and Natasha's detailed story. But I am still not sure.

Till then, bye.

Let's meet again in Yours With Love.