Wearing the yellow salwar suits, with her hair open, Shehnaaz took out the boxes from the cabinet in the kitchen and filled a box with rice in a hurry. Other boxes were packed with chicken curry, vegetable salad and some achaar.

"Shehnaaz, we are getting late."

Sidharth shouted from the living room while tying the hair of Mishti, the 5 year old junior Sidharth.

" Dad, mera socks nhi milraha hai"

Ahaan, the twin of Mishti, whined standing near the door of their room.

"Ooho.. I'm coming"

Sidharth stood from the sofa and hurried towards his son.

" Dad, hum kab Kolkata pahuchenge??"

Mishti asked with a down mouth expression. She was already missing her grandparents. Lokesh and Janaky were in Kolkata for the last month. A grand wedding of Lokesh's brother's son was fixed on the next Sunday. As Sidharth had an important client meeting going on this time with the JK group, they couldn't leave earlier. With the JK group, it was going to be the greatest project ever the Creators have done. They were planning to have their resorts all over India, that too be created by the Creators. Sidharth and Shehnaaz were superb busy during these days.

" Aaaw beta. We will reach there by tomorrow."

Sidharth said making Ahaan wear his socks.

Shehnaaz came to the living room with a bag filled with their lunch boxes and placed that on the table. She gave a furious look at Sidharth and moved to their bedroom. Seeing the puppy face Sidharth gave, both Mishti and Ahaan laughed loudly. Sidharth placed his fore finger on his lips and pleaded them to be quiet. Both of them covered their mouths with their hands to suppress their laughter.

Shehnaaz was standing in front of the almirah, searching for her dress to wear, when two hands engrossed her from behind.

"Chodd Sidharth, bachche hai baahar."

Shehnaaz whispered while trying to remove his hands.

"Tho kya hua? Wo donon ne yeh bahut dekhe hai. Ab yeh batauo ki madam itne gusse mein kyun hei"

" Jaise apko nhi pata"

Shehnaaz mocked Sidharth while removing his hands. Sidhardh immediately caught her back in his arms and made her turn towards him.

" I don't know! That's why I am asking you"

He said looking into her eyes. Siddharth smiled, they were the same pearls that he was searching for his entire life. Now in his hands, they were shining brighter, like it had found its shell. This look of Sidharth was enough for Shehnaaz to forget everything running on her mind. She became quiet for a moment.

Tringg tringgg..

Shehnaaz sighed in disappointment as Sidharth's phone started ringing. Sidharth chuckled and cut the call immediately.

"So, problem kya hai"

Sidharth asked adjusting her hair behind her ears.

" Kal Tak tho flight ka plan dha na? Tho how did it got changed to train? Haa"

Sidhardh rolled his and loosened his hands around her.

"Bas itni si baat!"

Sidharth sat on the bed, tapping on the side of the bed next to him, he eyed her to sit. She sat there, looking away from him.

He smirked and pulled her close to him.

" Baby, our babies want to travel by train. They haven't got on the train till now. If you remember, you were the one who told them how we met each other to our children two days before. After that they were behind me all the day, saying that they too wanted to get on the train. "

Shehnaaz smiled with an apologizing face as she understood it was she herself led to this.

" Wo toh uss din donon itna zid kar rahe dhe to bata diya. Mein kya karti bhir, donon bilkul apne baap par gaye hai!"

Shehnaaz left a sign and stood up from the bed.

"Agar zid ki baat hai to donon apne maa pe gaye hai. Baap toh itna naram insaan hai ki kuch bhi bolo wo kar deta hai. "

Shehnaaz smiled and left the room without turning back. Sidharth stood there and laughed seeing how he had made her quiet.

...

"Dono chup chaapp bait kar apne books pe coloring karenge, samche?"

Shehnaaz pointed her forefinger to both their children, raising her eyes, standing in the train boggy. They had booked a sleeper coach for them. There were a number of people in their compartment. An old couple sitting opposite them smiled at the children. Ahaan and Mishti tried to control their laughter seeing the boss Shehnaaz in front of them. Sidharth rolled his eyes and sat next to their children.

" Baby, chill karna"

Sidharth pulled her to sit next to them and gave a shy smile.

" Your children are so cute"

Said the elderly woman searching for something from her black leather bag. She was older than Janaky aunty, but healthy. Her smile reflected the confidence in herself and the man sat next to her was too proud of having her next to him. He pointed his finger into the other compartment of her bag to which she nodded in agreement. She picked out two chocolates and forwarded it to the children. Grinning ear to ear, both looked at Shehnaaz for permission to get the chocolate from a stranger. Shehnaaz pulled the cheek of Mishti who was now on the lap of Sidharth and laughed.

"Lelo"

The journey seemed simpler than Shehnaaz thought. Children were happily mingling with the new found friends, the old couple. Sidharth hugged her from behind as they stood near the door and smiled.

" In 1 hour, we will reach there. You must have missed them a lot"

Shehnaaz grinned, looking away.

"Of course Sid! Don't you miss them? I am sure you too."

The silence followed was the answer.He was too content with the life he was having now. He held on to her more strongly. Now he had something that he never thought he could ever have, a family. From the train journey from Jaipur till here, it was really a dream for him. How years flew. Like a soft feather moving slowly to the sky. It is not ready to fall to the ground, the wind is taking it to the heights, where the clouds are hugging it and pushing it carefully without hurting it to its destination. Where is the destination? He doubted for a moment. He turned back listening to the laughter from behind and he twinkled. That was it, his happy family. The feather was never looking for a destination, it was always flying with its happiness. The destination never mattered, it was the journey, the companionships of the clouds, wind, everything that supported it mattered.

....

Standing in front of the exit of the railway station, Sidharth took his phone out and turned around looking for range. SIdharth looked down as Mishti pulled his jacket continuously. She pointed her little finger towards the man standing in front of them. The middle aged man was smiling broadly at them as he continued chewing the paan in his mouth. The short bubbly man had half of his left eye covered with his hair, which he slowly pulled aside.

" Nomoskar Sidharth babu. I am Manoj. Lokesh dada sent me here to pick you up."

"Ooh, Manoj kaka! Sorry, I didn't recognise you. You are much smarter than in photos."

Sidharth grinned as he hugged Manoj.

" Chalo, My car is over there. Let's walk walk a little, my little cuties"

Manoj held the hands of the children and walked first, followed by Sidharth and Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz had only heard about Kolkata from Lokesh and Janaki, but never been there. It was her first time. Kolkata was truly different from where she lived. It was a blend of old wine with fresh cakes.

" Everyone is eagerly waiting for you all there. Janaki bhabhi is chanting about you non stop to all the relatives over there. Now everyone knows what are the favourite foods, games, movies all about the kids and you too Shehnaaz"

Manoj spoke as he drove the car and took a glimpse of Shehnaaz through the rear view mirror.

"So, not mine?"

Sidharth asked, making a puppy face, which made all others giggle.

" The bottles are already ready for you Sidharth. Lokesh dada has set it all by himself. The men are eagerly waiting for your arrival to start the party."

"So, aaj bacho se syaada papa ko laad pyaar sab karna padega"

Shehnaaz whispered coming close to Sidharth, to which Sidharth chuckled.

.......

Sidharth came out from the men's room wearing a white dhoti and golden kurta. Hair set backwards, but a little pushed towards the front.He walked through the corridor in search of Shehnaaz. The house was completely set for the marriage. All sides of the wall were filled with colorful flower garlands. The giggles of children were flowing in the air.Aai Budo Bhaat, similar to a bachelor party of Karan was arranged the day they had arrived by Lokesh. It was much different from the loud parties of Mumbai city, more filled with love and happiness. They drank, ate and danced like never before. It was followed by several other rituals including an early morning ceremony which went over the head of Sidharth. He had never attended such grand weddings.

As he reached the front yard, he saw a group of ladies giggling, looking at the groom who was all set to move to the wedding destination. Among them, there stood the mother and daughter, twinning in the golden and cream saree. Janaki was hugging Shehnaaz more closer proudly and introducing her to the newly arrived guests.

"You look handsome, but lesser than me"

. Lokesh teased Sidharth, standing beside him.

"Always"

Sidharth winked at him in joy. They both moved towards the ladies. The long talks of the relatives were never ending, and here Shehnaaz was poking Sidharth from his left side as if to escape from there. Finally, the made way out of there to a peaceful corner of the garden from where the people were clearly visible. Lokesh and Janaki were among the guests. Mishti and Ahaan were playing with other kids near them.

"Sidharth, I think we need to change our plan"

Shehnaaz said playing with the end of her saree.

"What? We are here to attend the wedding, that can't be changed. Your papa and mamma will feel bad na"

Sidharth spoke narrowing his eyes at Shehnaaz. Shehnaaz turned her head towards with her mouth half opened, in doubt.

"When did I said about the wedding. I said about OUR PLAN. OUR LIFE. "

Sidharth noticed the stress she gave o those words. Something was going to happen soon and he was sure about that now. And thats going to bring a major change in their life.

"Don't make me nervous. Say it na"

Sidharth spoke holding her hand on her lap. She blushed and looked down.

"Haven't you noticed that I haven't had my periods for the last two months."

Sidharth was blank for a moment. He needed a little time to process that, because it was never planned. Soon, the blank face was replaced with a wide grin.

"So??"

He lifted her face towards him and locked their eyes. Let it be the first or third, the joy of parenthood is always special. Shehnaaz hugged him instantly. That was her love language. She never needed to say more after a hug. It had everything she needed to say and he understood her language clearly. He hugged her back. Both of their eyes were filled with joy.

"I think this is called happily ever after"

Shehnaaz said looking at their world, their children and parents in content. The smile on her face was irreplaceable.

"Me too"

Sidharth kissed on her forehead and closed his eyes.

"Happily ever after"

He repeated after her.

==================

The story ends here. I don't think this chapter was that interesting because it was written at different time. I hope you guys like the entire story. Thank you for everyone for giving me confidence to write. Especially @SonalRao4,whenever I stopped writing, you were the one who always asked me to write and it inspired me a lot. Thank you everyone. And good bye for a while. And happy new year everyone