"Naina, are you sure it is the right time?" A perplexed Aarav asked his beloved wife.

"Shona! Absolutely it is. Till when will you keep it hidden? Aaj na kal to batana hi hai" Naina said holding his hands in hers trying to build his confidence.

"Lekin... will he still see me as his" Aarav kept his hand on her mouth to shush her.

"Shhh.. Ofcourse he will.. See! Same ghabrahat mujhe bhi thi but you, maa and papa helped me. Ab tum aise doubt karogi to mujhe aur nervousness hogi"

Naina breathed a deep sigh and smiled hugging her dear husband tightly rubbing his back to help him stay positive "I am with you always, mata rani sambhal lengi shona. Afterall they are our kids, hum nahi samjhenge unke dil ki baat to kaun samjhega. Well I have a plan that will make it little easier"

Naina smiled and discussed what she had in mind. Aarav liked the idea and they both went on to take maa and papa's opinion. They both blessed them with smiles.

"Sab sahi hoga beta. Mata rani pe bharosa rakh. Naina ka idea achha hai. Aur fir main aur tere papa tum logo ke sath hamesha hain"

Naina and Aarav had put the entire plan in place. The arrangements were made. As parents they were excited to host their son's 16th birthday. All his friends and their close friends and their families were invited. Aarav and Naina had chosen a very special birthday gift for Agastya. The day had finally arrived and the day had begun early than usual for Aarav. He was just nervous and paced his balcony later settling with his cup of morning tea looking at the rising sun. Naina found him in his thoughts and hugged him from the back kissing on his right shoulder

"Shona...gummi gummi! Smile please. Aap aise soch me stress le ke naa ekdum khadoos budhhe lagne lagte hain. Na hasna na muskuraha, na mazak. Achha suniye, how about a morning bath together babyyyyy?"

This brought Aarav a smile as he kissed her hand that had held him through his torso "Jaan! Aaj subah subah.. Kya baat hai? Waise shower me pata chal jayega if i am khadoos and budhha or not"

He had picked up Naina in his arms taking her to the bathroom making love to their hearts content. Well, Naina knew how to keep him distracted and it was a way tried and tested earlier and she knew it will most probably work and it did. Aarav too had understood and appreciated her efforts that were definitely not subtle. He thought to not think and keep up with the flow. Well, that was all he could do. The dusk had fallen, invitees had started to arrive. They had asked wishes and blessings as gifts strictly.

The party came alive at their huge living room and adjoining dining space was buzzing with youngsters to grab something of their choice. The cake was cut and Agastya offered the first piece to his daddy making Naina emotional. She smiled kissing on his forehead and hugged him tightly while he reciprocated equally. They all enjoyed DJ. Aarav and Naina's friends too had a blast as they were meeting after long time.

The party had wound up and all the guests had gone. Aarna was tired and had slept. Agastya was opening his gifts that his family and Aarav and Naina's friends, who were the extended family, had given him. Aarav and Naina softly held hands as Agastya picked up their gift.

It was a five day boot camp that included trekking, paragliding and mountain and rock climbing activities based in the Himalayas. Aarav and Naina had gifted this boot camp to Agastya being conscious about this being his first. The Himalayan boot camp was in the beginning of the summer. It sounded perfect as Agastya always wanted to try few adventure sports and they thought it was time he could start to attempt them.

They ideally would have chosen the foreign trip that the organisers also offered in Queensland, New Zealand. But the travel organizer asked them to let him attempt a five day boot camp as Agastya was a beginner and this was low on difficulty level. Agastya looked super excited opening up the activity and camp brochure.

"Ohhh woww, just perfect daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much mumma daddy. It already looks super exciting and the timing is perfect too. Oops what's this?" Agastya exclaimed finding a note that had slipped out of the brochure and it read

"Happiest 16th Birthday our not-so-little champ. Can we request an exclusive appointment if your schedule permits Young Man? Waiting for you on our terrace. -Love and blessings from all of us"

By the time he had finished reading the note and looked up, Aarav and Naina had disappeared out of his site. Keeping everything aside, with that note in his hand and several questions in his mind he tip toed towards their terrace. It was beautifully decorated with balloons and his childhood pictures. Aarav and Naina stood watching him smiling recollecting few memories that he remembered. Aarav had got a cold feet and Naina understood his nervousness looking at his facial expressions. Softly holding his hand in her left, she held Agastya's hand in her right drawing his attention to them. She softly pulled both the men towards the table kept for them. There was yet another cake waiting for him to be cut.

Looking at it he knew Naina had baked it just like she would every year. He smiled and cut his cake offering a piece to both his parents and being fed back too. It was still little surprising for him as it were just the three of them. Taking the initiative, Naina pulled a chair for him "Come baby.. sit!", she said smiling rubbing his back softly. Aarav and Naina took chairs on his either side. Aarav looked at Naina and she smiled trying to shoo away his nervousness. In the next minute Aarav brought a gift wrapped for Agastya.

"Happy birthday my big boy! Your most special gift!" he said passing it to Agastya. Naina gestured him to open it. He opened it and found a photo frame. One of the two faces were familiar and he knew it as 'star mumma'. And he immediately even said the same. Now was the time for the truth to be told. Taking a deep sigh Aarav took Agastya's right hand in his while Naina held his left hand in hers and he was little confused.

"Not just star mumma champ but star papa too" and they revealed the truth to him. As the story progressed, Aarav and Naina's hold on his hand got tighter and he too held them tightly. By the end all three had their eyes watery as Aarav wiped his corners

"I am sorry champ. We didn't hide we just wanted a young innocent heart from this judgemental society and tell you when the time was right. We still love you as we did before you got to know this truth and we will always love you as we had. Just wanted you to be aware that we aren't your real parents, that we haven't given you birth"

Before Aarav could say anything more, Agastya hugged him in haste resting his face in the crook of his neck. Aarav's shirt was damp soon and Agastya's embrace got tighter that made Aarav tear up being emotional.

"Never ever say you are not my parents. Never ever! Since the day I had started speaking, I have called you daddy and you are my daddy. Since I have understood what parents are, it was you and later mumma came into our lives and loved me equally as you both love Aarna. Even though you haven't given me birth, you have given me life. You are bigger than star mumma and papa. I have known parents love and care through you both and a family because of you.

I absolutely understand why you haven't revealed this and thank you for not revealing and protecting me by all means. Aap dono hi mere mumma daddy ho kyuki jab se aankh khuli aap hi daddy mumma the. It doesn't matter who had brought me on the earth as I don't remember having seen them and have no memories but I'm so grateful to God that you were papa's best buddy. Thank you daddy for being my daddy and thank you mumma for coming into our lives to let me experience a mother's love that I couldn't have, had you not been in our lives. I am ever so grateful for you both and I am so proud to call you my parents. I hope I make you proud one day"

Naina and Aarav had broken down listening to their grown up little boy. They had been in constant dilemma about how to break this truth to him. He was a young boy and feared if he would accept them knowing the truth. But Agastya's words worked as a soothing balm on their dilemma wounds. He was matured they always had known but were skeptical about him being this open and accepting. They both hugged him tightly kissing his cheeks and showering their love and blessings. Yes! he was still as their baby as he was some time ago. It was so peaceful to know that he loved them equally even still.

"Dekha shona! Kaha tha naa maine mera baby bahot samajhdar hai"

An emotional Aarav hugged Naina kissing her briefly as gratitude for being with him always and being the wind beneath his wings "Thank you meri jaan. Thank you for always being there for our family.. I love you baby"

Aarav in the stride of emotions had forgotten for a minute that his grown up young son was standing just there when he groaned.

"Ughh daddy mumma! Too much of your baby and shona thing. Gunni gunni"

Naina held his hand pulling him towards her hugging him one more time "I love you baby" while Aarav poked some fun at him "Champ tera time aayega to tujhe bhi aisa sab karna padega apni biwi ko khush rakhne. Seekh le"

He was suddenly brought back to the present moment with the touch of Naina's hand that rested over Agastya's shoulder. All three of them laughed as Agastya found his eyes little hazy amidst the ear deafening music of the pub. This particular memory was itched in his heart forever. He was thankful to the God every single day. Looking at his parents dancing hand in hand cozied up in love he murmured his daddy's words.

"Tu bhi seekh le champ. Tujhe bhi biwi ko khush rakhne ye sab karna padega when it is your time"

He smiled scratching his nape as he murmured "Biwi to hurt hai daddy. Other guys are swooning over her and she giggles on their antics. Is it really my time? Has it come? Ughhh God! I would just go mad. Jaanu I miss you baby"

And while in her thoughts, he typed a message "I miss you deadly my sweetest heart". He had to backspace, instead he clicked on the sent button but he was smiling wondering if his Jaanu too would smile reading his heart felt message. Did she? He wanted to find out if she would react. He waited patiently but hoped she did as "Hope was all he had"

_______________________________

Surprize!!!

So our "not-so-little" Agastya has grown up and is matured. Who had thought a 16 yr old would be that matured?

But he is - Agastya Aarav Sehgal.
We hope this chapter makes you all smile amidst the emotions filled eyes.

We and the Sehgals wish you all love peace hope and happiness because "HOPE IS ALL WE HAVE". Don't we?

Love ❤️