Belated birthday wishes @lucky_lakshmi . This is for you! I wish the journey awaiting you be the most beautiful and filled with happiness and chocolates :P

~◍☆-✿-☆◍~

"You want something to eat? Ice cream? Jalebi? Gulab Jamun? Pickle? Biryani?" Sanskar put forward the menu for the night.

Ragini yawned and glanced the clock which showed 12.58 a.m.

"Nothing to eat! We should sleep." She said tired.

"But your cravings? You should be feeling to eat something, right? See, weather is so good, your patidev is so good and baby is also good. Come on!" Sanskar said cheerfully but Ragini shook her head.

Smiling, he pulled her gently to his embrace, letting her settle to his warmth. "You should have more food, Ragz. Look how tired you are!" He said worriedly.

"I have you with me, right?" Ragini mumbled, slowly drifting into sleep.

Sanskar sighed seeing Ragini sleeping, continued stroking her hair. His Ragz, was at the end of second month of her pregnancy and she was tired.

There was no morning sickness till a week before. Till then, she was the same. But, in a week, he felt as if his wife became half of what she was! Her appetite decreased, her mood became low and only thing she wanted was him!

Their doctor was positive about her condition, confirming the that tiredness is due to her body adjusting with the changes.

But it bothered him!

"I can't see you like this, Ragini!" He mumbled as he continued staring the soul of his life.

"Hmm..." She hummed in sleep, making him smile and peck her forehead.

•~•×✿ו~•

"Ragu, eat!" Swara said to Ragini who was playing with the food.

Everyone's attention fell on her making her pout her the stern gaze from her Pari Bhabhi.

"Mann nahi kar rahi hai, Bhabhi!" (Don't feel like, Bhabhi!) She said.

"Beta, you seems so tired. Eat a little and drink the juice now. After sometime, you can again have something." Ramprasad said with a smile.

Ragini nodded her head obediently, making others chuckle.

"Try this!" Chirped an excited Uttara as she and Durgaprasad joined the family from kitchen.

"Kheer!" Ragini's face bloomed involuntarily, as she smiled wide at the delicacy.

"Bade papa made it! Only for you, Bhabhi!" Uttara added making Ragini's eyes misty.

"It doesn't matter who made it, it matter for whom it was made." Durgaprasad said in his usual demeanor as he sat for his breakfast. "Ragini beta, you should have your meals properly. You should be strong to handle everything coming on the way, okay?" He patted her head affectionately, making everyone smile.

"Mhari pohe ki toh koi kadar nahi hai mhari bahurani ko!" Sujatha sighed dramatically after a while.
(My daughter-in-law doesn't value my Poha.)

"I'll eat that also, Maa!" Ragini said with a pout.

"And my healthy paratha!" Swara said strictly.

"A bit of halwa also.." Pari added with puppy eyes.

"It's made of ghee and it's good for you!" Annapurna said in support of Parineeta.

"And my special badaam aur kaaju ki doodh?" Sanskar added making Ragini huff in annoyance.

"Aur maashi maa ki daba!" Adi said with a little giggle earning a sweet kissie from his maasi.
(And maasi's medicine.)

"Am I some food storage to stuff everything at once?" She muttered under breath but it reached everyone making them chuckle.

"Everything is little little. You can manage to eat this much." Sujatha said sternly.

•~•×✿ו~•

"You want something?" Sanskar asked after freshening up.

Ragini hummed and gestured him to come closer to her. "You!" She whispered making him smile.

"I'm always with you!" He dropped a feathery kiss on her forehead as she got hold of his hand.

"But I'm not getting enough of you!" She said sighing.

"And why is that?" His voice deepened and Ragini glanced up to meet his deep orbs.

It held the love for her, passion for her, trust for her.

"Maybe... I don't know. Everything is going to change after baby comes. Our responsibilities will increase; time for us will decrease. Baby will be cranky, we will fight more, we might be frustrated at some point--"

Ragini's words were silenced by her sukoon himself. He captured her lips with his, to stop her nervous ranting with a soul-soothing kiss.

He assured her their togetherness, his support, his love for the umpteenth time.

"I love you the most, Ragini! I will always continue to love you more and more. We are entering a new phase; together! I'm with you!" Sanskar said, his voice held assurance, as Ragini found peace in his rhythmic heartbeat; which thrummed for her!

"Things are bound to change. We were convinced thoroughly before taking the step. Don't panic. You know that I'm with you, right?" He made look at him and she nodded positively. "Then, let's just go with the flow. Our baby will be the most beautiful thread of our life, which will continue making us stronger."

"Our life!" Ragini said with a smile as she glanced up to watch her husband's face.

"Our life!" He repeated as they slowly drifted to sleep, weaving new dreams about the beautiful future awaiting them.

•~•×✿ו~•

"Ready?" The gynecologist smiled at Ragini warmly as she laid down at the bed for the ultrasound scanning.

Ragini gulped in anticipation before nodding her head as she held on to Sanskar's hand tightly.

Both of theirs heartbeat fastened as the doctor asked them to look at the screen; the hold tightening.

The doctor smiled brightly and pointed while the parent duo felt their hearts skip a beat.

"Doctor?" Sanskar felt breathless as he called the doctor.

The doctor, Swapna, grinned widely at them as the two remained bewildered and teary at hearing the soft heartbeats.

"Surprised? Happy?" The doctor asked softly to which both nodded heads, while tears of happiness rolled down from their eyes.

•~•×✿ו~•

"Ragu, breathe!" Swara rubbed Ragini's back and chest as she struggled on catching breath. "It's nothing, bachha... Calm down.. Sanskar will come in sometime. See.. look at me, Ragu..." Swara made Ragini look at her, her face terrified, eyes widened in fear and  mouth wide catching for breath.

Ragini tried to calm herself down as she clutched on to Swara as her anchor. Tears rolled down from both of their eyes and one tried to calm herself while the other tried to aid the other.

"Ragu... Deep breath... see.. nothing is wrong, Ragu.." Swara repeated as Ragini visibly calmed down, her breathes slowly returning back to its normal condition.

"Ragini, beta.. Slowly, drink this water. Drink it sip by sip." Annapurna rushed to the room with water.

"Maasee..." Jaanu called out, her tiny palms reaching out to touch Ragini's face as Sujatha brought her near Ragini; to distract her.

"Ragini!" A panting Sanskar ran into the room, and stopped besides the bed as Ragini threw herself onto him.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief as they watched Ragini's breath returning to normal, her terrified cries decreased to sniffling; and left the couple in their privacy.

Ragini was having her afternoon nap amidst of which she woke screaming and struggling for breath. Swara, who was in the nearby room ran to her aid in the instant; Annapurna and Sujatha came and then went to grab and do whatever necessary. Sujatha informed Sanskar, who was at the office and he had rushed with his heart in his hand.

He had to! He will! He was her ultimate anchor!

Sanskar continued rubbing and patting Ragini as the sniffling subsided and she peacefully kept her ear to his chest, listening to his heart beat.

"What happened, Ragini?" Sanskar asked softly before settling her on the bed.

Ragini felt her eyes heavy as she shook her head. "A dream... A bad one. I was searching for you. We.. we will be fine. You were there... But our---" 

"We will be fine, Ragz! Always!" He said holding hear tightly, as she kissed her forehead. "Armaan (Ajit and Swarna's baby) is fine now. He's out of danger now."

Ragini was disturbed by Swarna's son's deteriorating health. 

"Don't be anxious, Ragz! There's no danger, okay?" Sanskar said softly as he caressed her.

"We--" Ragini's eyes drooped as tiredness caught up with her.

"Sleep..." He mumbled patting her to sleep as he mumbled sweet nothings soothing her troubled mind.

•~•×✿ו~•

"Ragini, don't be adamant. Drink this!" Annapurna said sternly forward the milk to which Ragini pouted helplessly.

Ragini was at her fifth month and was extremely tired. She had extreme cravings but her appetite died once she saw the food.

She was cranky, blame the mood swings, and broke into tears almost every now and then on getting disappointed on her own behaviour.

"Maa, Rasagulla!" Ragini asked with her eyes holding a child like expectation making Annapurna smile fondly at her.

"Haan bachha. We will give Rasagulla once you finish this."

Ragini smiled instantly and sipped the milk slowly; making sure not to gulp it down and later throw up everything.

Annapurna walked to the balcony and called out Sujatha to get Rasagulla for Ragini while Swara continued massaging Ragini's head; Jaanu and Adi sleeping beside her.

Swara slowly finished massaging and gathered Ragini's hair to a knot as the two laughed over memories.

"Ragini.." Sujatha walked in with a grin, her hand holding a bowl full of Rasagulla, her heart happy with the thought of feeding her daughter.

"Eat beta!" Annapurna said, with a smile.

Ragini smiled brightly at her mothers, took the bowl and stared down into it, lost in thoughts.

Swara, Sujatha and Annapurna sighed seeing her as they knew, somehow, it was going to happen.

"What happened, Ragu? Shall I feed you?" Swara asked softly.

Ragini sighed in despair. "No. I'll eat." She said with a smile.

"But?" Sujatha prompted to get the remaining.

"I feel to eat something spicy now." Ragini pouted making others laugh.

"I knew it!" Sujatha said in confidence, with a gleam on her face. She walked out hurriedly and came inside with another bowl.

"Noodles khaayegi thodi?" Suji asked teasingly making Ragini grin.
(Will you eat some noodles?)

Merrily, she savoured the noodles while Swara, Sujatha and Annapurna watched her in content.

They now knew how her moods worked, almost!

•~•×✿ו~•

"Sanskar..." Ragini called softly making Sanskar look at her. "Enough.. come here." She pouted.

Sanskar laughed loudly seeing his adorable wife's antics as he slowed down massaging her swollen feet. Ragini smiled as happy tears pooled in her eyes, seeing Sanskar's care.

"Come.." Sanskar opened her arms as Ragini happily slipped into them. "What today?" He asked as he swayed  sideways with Ragini.

"Gita.." Ragini said softly, her face shining with happiness from his comfort.

"Hmm.." Sanskar hummed as he slowed down the act and grabbed The Bhagwat Gita in his hands. As he read out the verses, Ragini glanced at him; the admiration never-ending in her eyes. 

As the time passed by, Ragini yawned smiling,, her eyes started drooping. Sanskar carefully kept the book at its place and returned to bed, scooping his wife again in his arms. 

"Sanskar..." Ragini called out softly as he continued raking his fingers through her hair.

He hummed and waiting for her to turn around, facing him.

"What happened, Ragini?" He asked softly, wiping the tears that spilled from her eyes. 

"I feel so happy. I... I'm the most lucky woman in this world to get a husband like you,a family like ours." Ragini said sniffling. "I love you so much."

Sanskar smiled, and kissed her forehead; his lips lingering there a little longer. "I know! And I love you the most!"

"And don't you dare to stop doing that ever!" She sniffling again, her nose reddened cutely making Sanskar laugh, throwing her head back.

"Never!" He promised.

"You're mine!" She said again, her voice deep with possessiveness and passion.

"I'm yours!" Sanskar said with a grin before kissing her reddened nose. "Always!"

"Better!" Ragini huffed before pulling him into a kiss; their slow, soft and patient one long replaced by the passionate, wild one.

•~•×✿ו~•

"Maa, I look like a mini-whale!" Ragini pouted as she looked herself in the mirror, all ready for her Godh-bharai, with her 8 month baby bump!

"No Ragu.. You look the most beautiful among us!" Sharmishta said, as she placed a kala-tika behind her ears.

"Ragu..." Pari called with teary eyes as she hugged her sideways. "You're glowing."

Parineeta and Adarsh had been away for a month in connection with a foreign deal of Sindhoora.

"Bhabhi.. I missed you!" Ragini grinned in happiness, but her eyes welled up. 

"Chalo... Are our babies ready for blessings?" Swara ran to the room along with an excited Uttara, to take Ragini to the celebration spot.

"Oh yes! Our tiny and big babies are ready." Sharmishta said taking Ragini's hand in her  hand.

"Bhabhi, did you think of names? Boy or girl? What is bhaiyya saying?" Uttara asked in hush as she sat beside Ragini. 

"We will see." Ragini said lowering her eyes as a blush crept as others teased her profusely.

As the function ended, Sanskar came and sat beside her making her smile widely. He held her placing one hand across her shoulder and place another on her baby bump.

As if little one recognised his touch, Ragini shrieked feeling a kick and pouted while Sanskar grinned in happiness. 

Well ! It wasn't new!

•~•×✿ו~•

"Sanskar..." A heavily pregnant Ragini nudged Sanskar as a pain hit her. He woke up immediately and Ragini shook her as the pain subsided on it's own.

The family always stayed in alert as Ragini was due in a week. They kept the essentials packed, Adarsh and Laksh had car keys with them always.

"False alarm!" Ragini smiled breathing as the pain slowly vanished.

"Don't trouble, mumma!" Sanskar said patting her baby bump.

"After coming out, won't stop troubling papa, haina!" Ragini showed her tongue as he looked surprised.

"What? We talked on this!"

"Of course, yes Ma'am!" Sanskar bowed her head accepting.

"Ragini...." Pari called, knocking at the door.

"Yoga time!" Ragini said pouting.

"Come..." Sanskar held out her hands, helping Ragini to walk out.

"Chalo...." Parineeta said lovingly as she made Ragini sit on a chair. "Breathe in!..... Breathe out..."

Pari, Uttara and Swara alternatively accompanied Ragini for Yoga from the time the pregnancy was known. As it became difficult for her to sit on ground, they made her sit on chair and do breathing exercises.

"Devarji..." Pari called out to Sanskar teasingly who was waiting the entire time. "Take her for a slow walk."

Sanskar nodded with a smile as he walked to Ragini and held her hands. As they started to turn for the walk, an excited Uttara hopped towards them.

"Bhabhi, Papa and Swara bhabhi made gulab jamun for you!" Uttara chirped in making Ragini smile widely.

Ragini put one jamun in her mouth, giggling, and closed her eyes to savour the sweetness as others watched her with happiness. As moments passed by, the sweetness in her mouth lost the effect as pain started hitting her hard. A gasp escaped her mouth as she clutched Sanskar for support.

"Adarsh! Take the car!" Parineeta said through the phone.

"Laksh bhaiyya!" Uttara ran to the garage.

•~•×✿ו~•

"Breathe... Ragini...!" Dr. Swapna and the nurses stayed around Ragini giving her instructions time to time.

Sanskar stood beside her, holding her hand, her grip turning tighter as the intensity of pain increased. Sanskar felt her heart piercing seeing his love in pain, the most extreme he saw till the moment.

It had been two hours since Ragini entered labour.

"Push Ragini...!" The doctor encouraged. "Come on! you can do it! Push!"

"Sanskar!" Ragini screamed as she pushed.

"Ragz...I'm here. I'm sorry... You're strong, jaan.. So strong! Push a bit more... We're there! Come on!" Sanskar whispered as tears rolled down. 

Ragini screamed as she pushed with all her might and everything went silent as she laid down with a thud; her breathing slowing down.

"Come on... Ragini! Once more.... !" The doctor encouraged her as she took the call and pushed again, the hold tightening on Sanskar's hand and he continued mumbling taking her ahead. 

The cries of newborn filled the room as Sanskar broke into tears as he held onto a tired Ragini.

•~•×✿ו~•

Ragini stirred, slowing waking from her sleep as she smiled feeling the familiar hands soothing her by running softly on her scalp.

Sanskar waited with glistening eyes as he saw her eyes fluttering. He smiled contently as Ragini smiled at him, the gaze locked with love.

Sanskar kissed her forehead letting it linger on her, as she closed her eyes. "Thank you!" he mumbled. "And sorry!" She frowned at him not getting what he is saying. "For not being able to share the pain." He said caressing her cheeks softly. 

"You were there;sharing everything!" She said softly and looked the other side as her eyes welled up in happiness.

"Our world!" Sanskar said as he gathered Ragini in a hug.

"Our world!" Ragini glanced up at him, the silent conversation made him smile.

The family rushed in the next moment, everyone caressing and congratulating her.

Sanskar came beside her, with a tiny bundle, his eyes filled with unexplainable joy as she took the baby from his hand.

Swara came to the other side, with a content smile, and Ragini and Sanskar's eyes glistened due to the uncontainable joy as she slipped the baby to Ragini's hand supported by Sanskar.

They glanced each other as the family gushed about the new addition, Sanskar pecked Ragini's forehead again as he held his family close. 

Their family! Their world!

"Saatvika Maheswari!" Ragini whispered, followed by Sanskar, "Sanyukta Maheswari!" as they held their twins closer for the picture perfect moment.

Their family was complete; in every senses as the Maheswaris and Gadodhias rejoiced and planned the homecoming of the diyas of Maheswari family; the gudiyas of Jaanu and Adi; the world of RagSan!

•~•×✿ו~•

THE END!

I don't know if anyone missed this story! But I did :D. And here is the result!

Our tiny Saatvi and Saanvi is here to complete RagSan's life; to make their journey more beautiful. 

I don't know how logical this part was! But hope it didn't disappoint you.

Thank you!

Stay safe and happy!