Shubman had been thinking about it for weeks. Every time he looked at Aditi, his heart swelled with more love than he thought possible. He'd always been sure of his feelings for her, but now he was certain—he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

One afternoon, as he sat in the quiet of the shelter, watching Aditi interact with the children, an idea began to form. He noticed how effortlessly she connected with each child, how they ran to her for comfort, how they laughed and played in her presence. It was clear to him that Aditi was their light, just as much as she was his.

He smiled softly to himself. The plan was coming together.

Later that night, he called his sister Shaneel, a few of his closest friends, and even Anika, for advice. He wanted this to be something truly special—not just for Aditi, but for the kids too. They were, in many ways, a part of her heart. His heart had grown fond of them, too, especially after seeing how much she loved them.

The next day, Shubman showed up at the shelter, his mind buzzing with excitement. He found Aditi sitting on the floor with the children, her legs crossed as she read a storybook to them. She looked up as he walked in, a soft smile lighting up her face.

"Hey, Shubman," she greeted him warmly, her voice like a soothing melody to his ears.

"Hey, beautiful," he replied with a wink, walking over to sit beside her. As he did, he noticed the kids whispering excitedly and giving him sly grins. He knew they were fully aware of what was going on between them, and he loved how playful they were about it.

"So, I've been thinking," he said, leaning in close as if sharing a secret with her.

Aditi raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "Uh-oh, that's dangerous," she laughed, nudging him playfully. "What's on your mind, Shubman?"

Shubman grinned, looking at the kids who were all glancing at them with wide eyes. He spoke with quiet enthusiasm, "I have an idea. A little plan... for you and me, and of course, for the babies."

Aditi tilted her head, intrigued. "What kind of plan?" she asked, still half-focused on the kids who were now whispering behind their hands.

"You'll see," he teased. "I want to do something really special. Something they'll remember."

Aditi was instantly curious. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "What are you planning, Shubman?"

He shrugged dramatically. "Well, it's a surprise. But I'm going to need your help..."

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrows. "Help? What kind of help?"

He grinned. "Just... be you," he said with a wink. "That's all. You'll see when the time comes."

The kids, who had clearly overheard the conversation, started giggling. One of the toddlers, a little girl named Priya, walked over to Shubman, tugging at his shirt sleeve.

"Didi has a crushie on you," Priya said in a soft, matter-of-fact voice, making Shubman laugh.

Aditi flushed, rolling her eyes as she tried to hide her grin. "Alright, alright, you're all full of surprises today," she said, her face slightly flushed from the sudden attention.

Shubman laughed, leaning down to give Priya a playful hug. "Thanks for that, Priya," he said, looking at Aditi with a teasing smile. "It seems like everyone's in on the secret."

Aditi shook her head, trying to stay composed but failing miserably as she smiled. "I swear, these kids are the biggest gossips."

Shubman stood up, giving Aditi a gentle nudge. "I'm gonna head out for a bit, but I'll be back soon," he said. "And when I do, I think you'll like the surprise I have in mind."

With a mischievous smile, he turned to walk out, his thoughts already on the plan he had in motion.

Aditi couldn't help but feel excited. She had no idea what he was planning, but she trusted him completely. And if it involved the kids, it was bound to be something meaningful.

As the days passed, Shubman worked quietly behind the scenes, getting everything ready. He reached out to a few of the older boys at the shelter, asking them to help him prepare something for Aditi—a surprise she'd never forget.

Finally, the day arrived. Aditi had no idea that it was coming. She walked into the shelter that afternoon to find the children already gathered in the small community area, all of them whispering excitedly. Shubman was waiting for her, standing near the front, a huge grin on his face.

"Hey, gorgeous," he greeted her, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Aditi shot him a confused look. "What's going on? Why is everyone so... excited?"

"Just wait," he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the front. The children were sitting quietly now, watching her with wide, eager eyes.

Shubman turned to one of the older boys and nodded. The boy stood up and handed Aditi a small bouquet of flowers, made up of wildflowers that the children had picked earlier in the day.

Aditi's heart skipped a beat. "This is beautiful, thank you!" she said, smiling at the children, her voice filled with appreciation.

But it wasn't the flowers that caught her attention. It was what came next.

The kids began singing a sweet, simple song. Some of the toddlers babbled along, while others clapped and cheered. They were all smiling, clearly proud to be a part of something so special.

Aditi's eyes filled with tears as she realized what was happening. This wasn't just a surprise. This was Shubman's way of involving her world—her kids—into the biggest moment of her life.

And as she turned to Shubman, who was standing beside her with a soft, proud smile on his face, she knew that this was only the beginning of a life filled with love, laughter, and the joy of family.

Shubman took a deep breath and, in that quiet, beautiful moment, he got down on one knee.

"Aditi," he began, his voice soft but full of emotion, "you've already made my life so much better. I want to make yours better, too. Will you marry me? Will you make all of us—me, the kids—your forever?"

Aditi's eyes were wide with surprise, her heart racing. She didn't have to think twice.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling with happiness. "Yes, Shubman, I will."

The shelter erupted in cheers and applause. The kids ran to hug them both, and Aditi pulled Shubman into a tight embrace, laughing through her tears.

It was everything she'd ever dreamed of—and more.

As the excitement of the proposal settled, Aditi felt like she was on top of the world. She was engaged to the man she loved, surrounded by the children she adored. But just as the joy bubbled up inside her, a sudden wave of sadness hit her unexpectedly.

In the middle of the celebration, as everyone was hugging them, and the kids were running around with excitement, Aditi found herself stepping away for a moment. Her heart felt heavy, and her mind wandered.

She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the contacts list. She'd had moments like this before, moments where she longed to share her happiness with the people who should've been there—her parents. But as she scrolled through her phone, it hit her again, like a punch to the gut.

She had no one.

No parents to call, no family to share this with. The thought of it made her chest tighten, and her throat felt like it was closing up. The reality of her situation, the one she kept buried beneath her endless love for the kids and her relationship with Shubman, crept in and stole her breath for a moment.

She stood there in silence, staring at her phone, as the sound of laughter and excitement from the other room felt so distant. It was as if she had been pulled into another world. A world where the one person she wished would've been there to witness her happiness—her parents—could never be.

She closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath, trying to push the emotions back down. She wasn't going to let this moment of sadness ruin everything. She quickly shoved her phone back into her pocket, forcing a smile on her face as she returned to the group.

Shubman caught sight of her, and his face softened when he saw the flicker of sadness in her eyes. But before he could ask, she pulled herself together, smiling brightly as if nothing had happened.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern, though he didn't push her. He could see the slight change in her expression, but he knew better than to ask her when she wasn't ready.

"Yeah, just... needed a second," she said, her voice a little more strained than usual. But she quickly pushed past it, not wanting to burden him with her hidden pain.

Shubman smiled and pulled her in for a quick kiss on her cheek, not knowing the internal battle she was fighting. "I love you," he whispered against her skin, making her heart flutter even though the ache still lingered in her chest.

Aditi smiled back at him, her heart full, even though she couldn't shake the sorrow that had briefly consumed her. She was engaged. She had Shubman, and she had her kids. It was enough... it had to be enough.

For now, she would keep her feelings hidden, not wanting to take away from the happiness of the moment. But deep down, she knew it would take more than just a smile to heal the wound that never fully closed—the loss of her parents, and the deep longing for them to be there for her.