Bonus Chapter One

It's 23rd April 2021.

Exact one year to the day I published the first chapter.

Maybe a little emotional chapter.

Go ahead!

But don't kill me. 🙏🙇

Don't forget to do inline comments.

I just love reading them ❤️

– A Y A A N –

"Ayaan!"

"Hmm..."

"What hmm? Look at me." She said and I pulled my headphones up to hear her clearly. I wanted to play in some free time after dinner and she wants to me to do God knows what! "Ayaan!"

"Yes. Here I am." I said, gazing towards her. "What do you want?"

"I always want one thing or another? What do you think of me?" She yelled keeping one of her hand behind her back for support and I gulped hard.

No.

Not now.

I didn't want to go through her mood swings again. I'm just tired. "You're such a man! I'm still standing and you're sitting there without any shame!"

"I... I'm sorry Divya. Just come here." I called and she immediately walked towards me. I patted my lap, giving her sign to sit there and she raised her brow. "Sit down."

"Really? What if I crush you under my weight?"

"Okay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have teased you. And, you won't crush me."

"Sure?"

"Hmm. Have your seat." I said and she shook her head, sitting on my lap. As she sat over me, I sighed. She's going heavy indeed, but not that I can't manage. I kept my hand over her grown belly and slightly rubbed it.

Her bump was now three times bigger than the time she was carrying Aanya.

And why wouldn't it be, when she was carrying three lives inside her. We were having triplets!

The day we came to know about us having three children, I couldn't control my happiness.

I mean, it's not one.

Not two.

But three children.

I think we took the matter of getting a sibling for Aanya too seriously! Well, now she was going to have three siblings. And she was ecstatic after hearing the good news.

And as for our parents, they were over the top for getting a set of grandchildren together at a time. Also, they're hoping all the three children to be girls as we were the first couple in our family to have a girl after seven generations. They're too greedy!

"Divya?"

"Hmm..."

"How do you think we made three babies at a time?"

"What? Are you even thinking before saying?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Ofcourse. I mean it's not upon us to decide how many children we want at a time." She said and I nodded. "What do you think we'd have this time? Girls, boys or both?"

"I don't know. I just want them to be healthy."

"Healthy? Can you just take a look at my belly? They're already so grown and are causing a havoc inside me. I feel like I'm carrying this whole world's weight in me." She said and I chuckled.

I kissed her forehead and moved down to her nose and cheeks. In return she pulled my nose and I shouted. "What are you doing?"

"Just returning the favours-" She said and I shut her up by pecking her lips. My right hand went up to her cheek to hold her while my other hand was over our children.

I still remember the day we came to know about our pregnancy.

The first time, when she was pregnant with Aanya, it was me who sensed it first. And this time, it was her who disclosed the news.

Both the times were best in my life.

Feeling a movement beneath my palm, we pulled back and smiled. They were kicking, again! Her due date was near and kids are now in full movement. Whose genes are they carrying? My, ofcourse.

I slowly pulled her up in my arms and stood up, earning a questionable look from her. "What are you doing Ayaan? What if I fall down?"

"Did I ever let you fall? Don't you have trust over my muscles?"

"No." She said and I stopped in my tracks.

"That's the answer to my first or second question?"

"Second." She said and I glared. Don't she believe my muscle power now?

"We'll see." I said and walked to our room, carrying her in my arms. Making her lie, I too slipped inside the sheets.

"Ayaan, I can't sleep."

"Why?"

"What why?"

"I mean you're really Divya right? Because Divya can fall in sleep anytime and anywhere."

"I am Divya. Your one and only wife. And I don't feel like sleeping."

"But we can't do anything other than sleeping." I sighed and closed my eyes. As she's carrying multiple babies, we were restricted to go intimate for the time-being. Just foreplay was enough. It's been eight long months!

And more are waiting after the delivery!

"Ayaan!"

"Hmm..."

"Open your eyes and listen to me carefully." She instructed and I did as she said.

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

She was looking disturbed, as if something was constantly hitting her mind. Taking a deep breathe, she nodded. "Ayaan. I... Just take good care of our children."

"What? What are you saying Divya? We're not going back on that topic-"

"But we can't change the fact, right! Not all operations are successful. That too when we're having triplets. My blood pressure is going high and in addition I'm having diabetes. Just think about it deeply. What if something happens to me? I need to have an assurance that my children are safe." She hid her face in my chest and started sobbing.

Thinking about losing her made a lone tear escape my eyes. Just the thought makes shiver. What if it happens in reality? No, never.

"Nothing would happen to you and our children. Don't ever think about it." I whispered in her ears while patting her back at the same time. "Doctors told us that there's fifty percent chance the operation would go successful. And we should be optimistic. That fifty percent chance is enough for us."

Lingering a kiss over her forehead, I moved down and took the charge of her lips. They're always soft and I could never get enough of them!

"Ayaan..." She mumbled over my lips and I hummed in response. "It's paining." She said and I immediately understood what it was. Cupping her bosom, I gave it a firm squeeze and continued the process, earning a glare from her.

"What happened?"

"My legs are paining, you idiot!" She said and immediately pulled my hand from over her body.

"Apka hukm sarakhon par." I said and she chuckled. I moved towards her legs and started massaging her swollen legs. As per what I've known from my experience of being a father and a pregnant Divya's husband, it's hard to carry so much weight together. That too when it's three together!  (Your Wish Is My Command.)

They're already so notorious!

I don't know what they'll do after stepping in this world.

"Dad! Mumma!" We heard the voice of crying Aanya and turned our face towards her. She was slowly walking inside, sorry, stomping would be the perfect word, carrying her favourite cushion on her side like a baby.

What happened to her?

Doesn't she loves to sleep with her dada and dadi?

"What happened princess?" I asked her and made her sit on my lap.

"What's the matter Aanya? Why are you crying?" Divya asking, resting her back on the bedrest.

"Dadi was kissing dada!" She said while wiping her tears.

Our daughter doesn't have a bit of affection for PDA!

If she sees someone kissing, cuddling or even holding hands, she starts shouting and crying.

And that's the reason we can't do anything in front of her. Not even a kiss is allowed when she's awake.

I wonder if she would join Anti-Lovers Squad in future!

"Aanya..." We heard mom and dad calling her name, maybe searching for her. "Aanya, what are you doing here? Let your parents sleep." Mom said and looked towards us. "I swear, I swear that she was sleeping at that time. I don't know when she woke up and saw us like that."

"Mom, dad, you should go back and sleep. It's late."

"You're sure? What about Aanya?"

"She'll stay with us tonight. Will you, princess?" I asked and she immediately nodded. Clearly, she was in no mood to experience their affection again.

As mom and dad went back to their room, I continued my work while Aanya sat beside her mumma, touching her baby bump. "Dad, when will baby whales come out?" She asked and I immediately kept my hand over her mouth, stopping her to speak further. But the fuel was already added.

"What whale? Who's whale?" Divya yelled.

"No one. Nothing. She's watching animal channels a lot these days."

"Dad!" Aanya narrowed her eyes and said.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm sleeping." She said and closed her eyes as soon as her head hit the mattress. I continued massaging Divya's legs as I was in no mood to disclose the truth.

"So....."

"Hmm."

"Who's whale?"

"No one, I told you."

"I know, it's me. Do I look like a whale?" She asked as tears cascaded down her eyes, wetting her cheeks.

"No, baby-"

"I'm not your baby." She shouted and I patted Aanya's back. She could've woken her up!

"Okay. I'm sorry. I was just joking."

"Yup, you were joking. And one day you'd say you don't like me. And then, it'll change to hate and you would find another woman for yourself-"

Balancing my weight on my knees and elbows, I shut her up by a kiss and all she could do was hitting my chest. Even she knows that no-one else could take her place. And still she utters rubbish!

I pulled back and rested my forehead against hers. "Dare you say that again." I said and traced her lips with my thumb.

"I'm just stating facts. Or maybe, truth-" She said and I again kissed her.

"Shoo your insecurities away because that's never gonna happen. I just can't get enough of you."

"Of this whale?"

"I was joking. Besides, it was Aanya who started it. She thought that you have baby whales inside you just because of the fast rate they're growing." I said and she chuckled.

And I'm happy that the mood is lightened.

"Do you want to use the bathroom?" I asked and she nodded. Helping her in the toilet, we too lied on our bed. On my one side was Aanya who was soundly sleeping and on the other side was Divya who was still wide awake.

"What happened Divya? Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I don't know. I just don't feel like sleeping." She said and I nodded. Lifting her head, I slid my arm beneath and pulled her closer. Keeping my other arm over her baby bump, I smiled.

"How are my babies doing?"

"They're playing tabla."

"What a joke!" I narrowed my eyes and focused myself towards our babies, "My little kids, just stop giving too much stress to you mumma. She's becoming violent. I wonder what would happen to me if it goes like this." I said and she hit my arms. "Again! Violence!"

"Ayaan, I'm..."

"Divya, you're alright? Should we go to hospital? Is it the time?" I stood up and asked in a single breath, and she shook her head in negative.

"No. I think this is false labor, just like two weeks ago."

Just two weeks ago, she experienced labor pain, when I was busy in a meeting. When I got the news of her being admitted in hospital, I left my meeting and rushed to meet her. Divya and our children are more important to me than a meeting!

But then, they still didn't want to come out. What she experienced was false labor, or Braxton-Hicks Contractions to be precise.

"You're sure?"

"Hmm... Well, Ayaan....."

And now I know, she wants something.

Better it not be her chips!

"What do you want to eat?"

"Chocolate cake." She said and I sighed. Wearing my slippers, I walked out and she followed me too. "Wait for me!" Pulling the extra stock of cake out from the refrigerator, I pulled two slices out in a plate and gave it to her. "Just two slices? I need to feed four lives and you want me to be hungry."

I rolled my eyes and gave whole cake to her. This was the best option left rather than facing her wrath.

"Ayaan, you want it?" She asked showing me the spoon filled with cake and I shook my head in negative. "Trust me, you're losing the best thing of this world."

"I know. But I don't like it."

"Don't regret later."

"Don't regret later." I copied her dialogue and she narrowed her eyes at me. If she was a cartoon character, her face would've been red by now, fuming with smoke out of her ears. Her being still for five minutes wasn't easily digested by me. "What's the matter Divya? Why are you still quiet?"

"If I'm quiet, it doesn't mean that you could say whatever you want." She said in her coldest voice. Angry pregnant Divya isn't good!

"Baby I... I was just-"

"Wait!" She yelled and I stopped in my tracks. Suddenly, she started laughing, leaving me dumbfounded. "I never knew that you were so scared of me."

"You were playing with me? You were teasing me?" I asked and she smiled while shaking her head in positive. Taking quick strands towards her, I caged her between the slab who was happily sitting on a high-levelled stool.

As she saw me extremely close to her, the spoon inside her mouth slid down and was about to fall on her belly. Quickly catching the spoon on time, I kept it back on the plate settled on her hand.

"Careful. What if it fell on you?"

"It's your fault. You shocked me."

"You started the game. You shouldn't prank on your husband."

"You shouldn't prank on your husband!" She mimicked me and I couldn't help but smile at her tactics. Keeping my hands on her thighs, I caressed them softly and spread them wide apart, which were by the time stuck to each other.

I stood between her legs, taking care of her protruding belly and she widened her eyes. "What's the matter Divya? Is my proximity affecting you?" I asked and she rolled her eyes.

"You know that I can't control my hormones. Still, you give me these mixed signals."

"Mixed signals? These are open signals. Ravish me all you want."

"As if I can. Even if I want to, these babies of yours won't let me." She said and I chuckled.

"Eat your cake. I'll have some water till them." I pressed my lips on her forehead and stepped back.

Pouring water in glass, I was about to drink it when I heard a plate falling down. I turned back and saw Divya gripping the edge of slab. "Ayaan! No, wait! I think it's real this time. Children are really eager to come out."

Leaving the glass on the slab, I ran towards her and tried to pick her up, but all in vain.

"Are you serious or what? How will you pick me like this?" She yelled and I heard mom and dad walking out.

"What's the matter-"

"Divya is in labor. We need to hurry!" I shouted and in a second, everyone was in work.

Reaching the hospital, she was immediately shifted in the labor room while we waited outside. Her due date was after a week but our children were really eager to come out.

And one thing I was scared of was that, she's going through cesarean section. There are high risks!

"Mom, where is Aanya?"

"She's at home and safe. She would be waking up by morning, so don't worry." Mom answered and I nodded. Everyone arrived in the hospital but the only one I could think about was Divya.

Hope, she's safe.

I paced around the corridor, thinking about all the scenarios happening inside.

"Ayaan, just sit down. Roaming around won't make the situation any better."

"Mom-"

"She's right. Just sit down. Divya is strong, nothing would happen to her and babies." Mumma interrupted me in between and said.

"Ayaan? Why are you nervous as if it's your first time here? Aanya-" Dad said and I stopped him in between.

"Dad, how many times have you experienced mom going through labor?"

"Once."

"That's what I am saying. My wife is there, inside, the second time, that too carrying three lives. How can you expect me to stay calm?" I asked and he nodded.

As the time went by, my mind started thinking about the negative consequences. What if...

No.

I need to stay positive.

Nothing bad would happen!

Operation was successfully over after an hour and we were blessed with three boys. But Divya was still unconscious. And they still weren't sure of her condition.

I knew I had to stay with our children but how could I leave my wife in that condition?

Sanitizing myself, I sat beside her and held her hands in mine. "Divya! Why don't you wake up?"

Has she really decided to leave me?

To leave us?

Our children?

"Divya, don't you know that we're waiting for you. Our children are waiting for you. Our newborns need you. This is not a joke. If you're trying to prank on me like I did years ago, just stop because it won't work. This prank of yours isn't good." I kissed her hands and couldn't control my tears.

How could she plan to stay quiet all the time when I'm crying for her?

"Divya! You can't stay like this. Say something. I'm waiting for you baby. No, you don't like it when I call you baby. I promise I won't ever call you baby. But please don't leave me. I can't live without you." I sniffed and rested my head beside her hand.

"Ayaan, beta, she'll wake up. She won't ever leave us, never." Mom said and caressed my hairs. I hugged her tightly, crying all my heart out.

"She won't leave me. Right?"

"Hmm... How can she even think about it? No mother would ever leave her children alone." She said while patting my back. "Have you seen the triplets? They look so like you. Just like your younger version."

I gazed our newborns and saw them sleeping. As one of them opened his eyes, I smiled. They seriously looked like me but eyes were totally resembling to Divya's.

Picking him up carefully, I held him close to my chest and kissed his head. I walked towards Divya and kept him beside her.

"Divya, just look at him, our eldest son. He's too adorable. He needs you Divya. Our children need you. Don't stay quiet. Please... wake up."

Won't she wake after her son calls her?

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍