When she was a child, she had to go through a rough childhood that she never thought of growing up into a woman who can have a happily ever after with a Prince of her own and have kids with him.

When he was a child, he had missed a lot of love from his mother, that he nearly believed he wouldn't be able to get love from anyone else and never thought that he would be having a family with his Angel one day.

And that's exactly what life could be called.

Unexpected!

Sometimes, unexpectedly awful.

And,

Sometimes, unexpectedly amazing.

India

In a Mansion

"Manik Malhotra, you're not going to support them. Ever." she shouted on top of her voice while staring at her man, who was running behind the boys.

"When did I even support them, Nandini?" Manik asked, dumbfounded. Nandini huffed in anger and pointed her finger at him.

Nandini: That.Was.The.48th.Call. from their school. Your sons are hitting each and every guy they see that those boys' parents have started to complaint against them. Unn theenon ko sabak sikhana hai tumko, not stating "That's like Manik Malhotra's sons."

Nandini retorted while throwing her hands in air, and Manik walked towards her to let her sit on the couch, while the boys stared at each other and then followed their Dad.

Nandini: Don't even touch me.

She removed her hands from his old.

Manik: Baby, listen to me please.

Nandini: You're not babying me. And you little Malhotras..

She turned towards the boys to scold them, when they knelt on the floor with their hands on their ears.

Boys: We are sorry, Mamma.

Karthik: We didn't hit anyone without their fault.

Manvik: We had hit..er..probably 20 or 25 boys in this year, and we had reasons.

Prathik: One guy addressed our Bhai a 'lambu'. So I hit him. Another one was hitting on Ashu, so Manvik hit him. Another one was fighting with Nilu, so Karthik hit him.

Nandini's heart melted, and she removed their hands from their ears. She bent to kiss all their heads.

Manik: Yeah right! Husband ko "don't even touch me" punishment, aur sons ko "forehead kisses". Mathlab, mein kya koi orphanage se aaya hun?!

Hearing him, the boys laughed, while Nandini just stared at him weirdly.

Nandini: Manik! I wouldn't have married you, if you were adopted by Dhawans. You would have been my brother.

Manik (huffed): Nandini.

Nandini: Chodo! Ab Little Malhotras, ye batha, your Mamus were telling me that you didn't hit a guy who was teasing you when they came to pick you up last Sunday for a day out.

On this statement, she saw them boiling in anger. Typical Manik Malhotra's trait.

Karthik: Its nothing, Mamma!

Manik: Aye, Malhotra! What are you hiding?

He got settled beside Nandini and stared at his sons with his eyebrows raised.

Manvik: Its really nothing important, Dad.

Nandini: Spill it! I know my sons won't spare anyone who tease them. Isiliye, mujhe laga tum log sudhar gaye, par ye 48 phone calls tho kuch aur hi keh rahe hain.

Like always, Prathik being the most sensitive opened his mouth.

Prathik: He teased us t..

Manvik/Karthik: Prathik!

Prathik: What? That stupid guy deserves it, after all.

Manvik: Of course, he does. But its a matter between us.

Nandini: Shouldn't it be known to your parents?

Karthik: No.

Manik: Really?

Hearing their father's stern voice, they looked down and then looked up with their faces ready to burst.

Prathik: That guy teased us for going to have another sibling when we're already 16.

At this statement, Nandini's face fell and that was noticed by the boys. They stared at her sad face making Manvik and Karthik to glare at Prathik, who was still staring at Nandini. Manik just rolled his eyes.

Manik: Seriously? My beewi is pregnant and my sons are going to have another sibling. How the hell is it their problem?!

Karthik: Wahi na, Dad. Why are people nowadays so jobless?!

Manvik: I'm telling you Dad, people over here needs to get their mentality checked immediately.

Prathik: Guys, shush!

He got settled towards Nandini's right and cupped her cheeks, making her to look at him.

Prathik: You know, having Ashu, I never wanted another sister, but since the moment I got to know about your pregnancy, I wished for nothing but to have another sister. Will you be always this sad when you're giving us a baby? Will you be still upset when you're fulfilling another wish of ours, Mamma?

She smiled on hearing him. Turning towards Manvik and Karthik, she saw them smiling at Prathik. They turned towards her.

Karthik: What? Oh come on Mrs. Malhotra, don't expect such mature and genuine words from us. Don't you know us?

Manvik: Exactly, we've got some image to keep up.

She rolled her eyes at them and slapped their arms playfully. They chuckled before hugging her baby bump and stared at her while staying in the same position.

Karthik: You really don't need to hear from us to know how important he or she is to us. Do you?

Nandini nodded in negative at them.

Manvik: Talking about the teasing remarks we get, you just need to shrug it off, because we're doing the same. They don't know the depth of happiness that we're getting even when they're teasing us.

Nandini ruffled their heads before kissing their cheeks. Manik watched them smilingly.

Karthik: Dad!

Manik stared at Karthik, who was smiling at him.

Karthik: We love you for this gift.

And Manik pulled his boys to himself for a hug. Patting their heads, Manik left them, who walked away after kissing Nandini's baby bump.

Nandini (sighed): They really don't mind, Manik.

Manik: Ye baath tho mein pichle 6 mahinon se keh raha hun aapse, beewi sahiba.

He kissed her head while taking her in his embrace. She pouted at him.

Nandini: Par mujhe yakeen nahi aa rahi hain. Don't you feel the same? I mean, they're 16 Manik. Kaise ignore kar sakthe hai ye baath hum?

Manik: Nandu, if they're 16, then I am 42 and you're 40, but we ignored that fact too.

She slapped his arms and then hid her face in his chest, making him chuckle.

Manik: Listen, all I'm worried about, is your health because I got you pregnant when you're slipping in your old age.

Nandini: I'm not an oldy, Mr. Malhotra!

Manik: Well, I doubt that too.

He bent to her ears to whisper.

Manik: You still look like the way you looked like the first time I saw you. You know..what I mean, right?

She bit her inner cheeks and then glared at him, though he could see the blush on her cheeks, he decided to tease her more by taking her for a kiss, when they were sitting in the Living Room.

"Offo! Adult movie chal raha hain." they broke the kiss on hearing the voice, and Nandini immediately hid herself in her husband's chest.

Manik (groaned): Cabir yaaarrr!

Cabir took his palm off his eyes, and then gave a teasing smirk to Manik and Nandini.

Cabir: Buddy, maana ki you love my sister so much that you don't mind kissing her in public too, but we've got kids at home, yar. Samjha kar, bache ab bade ho chuke hain. They know what they're watching.

Manik (groaned): Well, ladkon ka nahi patha, they're still behind me to snatch their Mamma from me, but ladkiyan bohath hi helpful hain. They let me romance with my wife whenever I want.

Nandini detached herself away from his hold and slapped his arms again.

Manik: Yar, bohath violent ho chuki hai madam. Pregnancy side effects hain.

Nandini: Poori zindagi aap violent hain, kam se kam zindagi mein 9 mahine violent hone dho mujhe.

Navya: Aaha! Correction, Mrs. Malhotra, its 18 months. You were violent when you were pregnant for the first time too.

Navya, who walked inside with some grocery bags teased Nandini. Cabir and Navya had gone for a small grocery shopping.

Nandini (pouted): Jao! Mujhse bath math karo tum log.

She try to stand when Manik stood up and took her in his arms.

Nandini (shrieked): Manik! Neeche uthro mujhe.

Manik: Jahan jaana hai, wahan mein uthake le jaunga madam.

Cabir and Navya smiled at them, while Manik started to walk ahead with them following behind.

Outside the Mansion

Manik placed Nandini on the bench, which was placed in the foyer.

Nandini: Good morning, Abhi Bhai.

Abhimanyu, who was washing his car, smiled and walked towards where Nandini was sitting. He bent to kiss her head.

Abhimanyu: Hogaya apka gussa shant?

Nandini: Its never going to happen. After all, I have 4 naughty kids in my life.

She gave a sarcastic smile to Manik, who shrugged it off.

Abhimanyu: You should have thought about it long ago. Like, even before falling in love with this Giraffe, that you will have to give birth to his calves who will be his xerox copies. Ab bhuktho behena.

Manik smacked his head, who smacked him back.

Mukti: Yeah, right. As if Chimpanzee is any better.

Abhimanyu: Aye, you don't appreciate even if you have diamond, so a gold like me is nothing for you.

Cabir: You and Gold? Par tu tho fair dikh raha hai mujhe. Golden color nahi.

Manik laughed and they both hi-fied. While Abhimanyu smacked their heads this time. The ladies just ignored them. Mukti and Navya settled beside Nandini.

Mukti: Ab tujhe bhukar tho nahi na?

She checked Nandini's temperature.

Men: Bhukar?

The three were on the floor, kneeling in front of the ladies immediately.

Nandini: Offo, pareshan hone ke zarurath nahi hain. I had mild fever in the morning, Mukti se medicine liya, and now I'm fine.

Manik: What the hell, Nandini! Ab batha rahi ho tum ye sab.

Cabir: Doll, you shouldn't be immune to fever in this condition.

Abhimanyu/Mukti: Shut up!

Abhimanyu: Don't scold her, okay. Nandu, mujhe check karne dho.

He checked her pulse rate and then her eyes and her heartbeat.

Mukti: Morning mein, bas mild fever the. There were no complications. Sab normal tha. Isiliye, I just gave her a paracetamol. Evening mein, let's take her to her Gynecologist.

Abhimanyu: That's better. Ab bhukar bhi nahi hai. How did you catch cold?

Nandini just grinned and stared at Manik nervously. He narrowed his eyes at her.

Manik: You had ice cream when all of us were sleeping last night. Didn't you, beewi sahiba?

Nandini (pouting): Mujhe cravings aaye the.

And she looked down. Mukti and Abhimanyu assured Manik through their eyes. He let out a breathe before embracing her, and she didn't take another second to hug him back.

Nandini: I'm sorry.

Manik: Its okay, aage aise kabhi math karna okay. Never go anywhere alone, even if I'm sleeping.

They broke the hug.

Nandini: But you were so tired last night, due to your new project. I didn't want to disturb you.

Cabir: Agar aisa hai tho, usse sone dho. You could have come to our room, you shouldn't roam around alone, especially in dark, Doll.

Abhimanyu: Aye! Why only your room? Nandu, hamare room mein bhi aa sakthe ho. Bas darwaze pe ek knock kar, Bhai bahar aunga and I can even take you for an ice-cream date.

Nandini hid her smile and nodded at him, after seeing Cabir and Manik glaring at him.

Manik: Wo iss haalath mein raath ko ice-cream date keliye jayegi? Dude, my beewi is 6 months pregnant.

Cabir: Tu kaise doctor bann gaya? Ye batha dho.

Abhimanyu: Exams diya, and they accepted it wholeheartedly and graded me the highest marks.

Mukti: I wonder how I got a position that is below yours. Mathlab, lady bheem is better than chimpanzee for sure.

Abhimanyu: Shut up! Jealousy is an illness. Get yourself cured.

"Mom, Dad. We are leaving." the kids came out, ready in their uniform to leave to school. They moved to their mothers who kissed their heads.

Nandini: Nilu aur Ashu, tum dhono teek se pani nahi pee rahe hai.

Naila: Take a chill pill, Mami. We'll drink lots of water, par aap bhi apne juice peena. Deal, Mrs. Malhotra?

Nandini kissed her head and nodded in positive.

Alishka: Aur baby se kehdho, uske Di will miss him.

She bent to kiss Nandini's baby bump, while Nandini kissed her head.

Nandini: Ashu, don't talk to any boys. Nilu tho punch marthi hai, par tum tho verbal fight mein interested ho. Boys just hate when someone abuses them. So don't do any sort of things. Karti, Manu aur Prati, take care of them.

Karthik: Of course, Mamma. They'll be safe.

He assured before kissing her head and walked towards their car holding Alishka's hand. Manik stood before their car instructing them and the duo nodded at him.

Naila: Bhai, I'm not holding his hand.

She clung to Manvik, and Prathik glared at her.

Abhimanyu: Ab kya hua?

Naila: Daddy, he punched in a guy's face.

Abhimanyu: That guy was hitting on you, simple.

Naila: No. He was just asking for my notes.

Abhimanyu raised his eyebrows at Prathik.

Prathik: Oh, why don't you tell him how he held your hand?

Abhimanyu stared back at Naila. Prathik and Manvik walked to the ladies and kissed their heads before walking towards the car.

Naila: It was a friendly gesture.

Prathik: Have you ever seen me holding any of my friend's hands?

Naila: No!

Prathik: Then why should I see you holding some other guy's hands?

Abhimanyu shook his head and took his daughter to Prathik.

Abhimanyu: I gave your hand to him, to protect you and he's doing it more than anyone else could, so I'm not supporting you baby. You're getting late.

Prathik gave his hand to Naila, without looking at her. She stared in his eyes too see them angry. Sighing heavily, she held onto his hand.

Cabir: Sunn Prathik, her father gave her to protect you. Bhool na math.

He teased Abhimanyu and then stared at Prathik.

Prathik: Meri girlfriend hai, tho mein hi protect karunga usko, Mamu.

Naila smiled on hearing him, though they were fighting, they can't tolerate each other's ignorance.

Soon, they got in the car, which zoomed off to roads, with the kids constantly giving flying kisses to them.

Ladies: I'll miss them.

They stared at each other.

Mukti: Why don't we cook something?

Nandini and Navya bobbed their heads at her.

Nandini (excitedly): I'm cooking chicken. My sons love it.

And she stood up with Navya's help.

Manik: Your husband too loves it.

Nandini hid her smile and then gave him a whatever look. He picked her up in his arms to walk her till kitchen.

Nandini (whispered): Between, apko chicken mein kya pasand hai?

Manik: Nahi chahiye mujhe aapke chicken.

He glared at her while she was giggling.

Nandini: Okay.

He placed her on a chair, placed in the kitchen and turned to leave when his eyes caught something on the table. It was butter chicken. He stared at her, who was staring at him.

Nandini: I cooked in the early morning. Kal koi complain kar raha tha that I love my sons more. Ab iss bache ko samjhane keliye chicken ke zaroorath padi.

Manik grinned before kissing her cheeks.

Nandini: You know I can't love my sons if I don't love you, right.

Manik: I do. I was just joking.

Nandini: Phir bhi, mujhe acha nahi laga. You should know I love you so much.

She spoke before kissing him, making him chuckle. That's how she clears his complaints.

Manik/Nandini: I love you!

They laughed before taking each other in a hug.

After 3 months

Mukti: Manik, shant hoja.

And they heard Nandini screaming again. Nandini got admitted in the hospital in the morning, and its evening, but she hasn't reached the peak where she can give birth to her baby.

Manik: She's in pain, Mukti. Kaise shant hojaun mein, huh?

He walked closer to her and held her hand, she was shaking in pain, but the doctors said the baby's head is not even nearing to the edge.

Nandini: Man..Manik, please..ask the..m to operate. Pl..ease.

She spoke while clutching onto her baby bump.

Manik's eyes went teary on seeing her crying. Mukti and Navya sighed helplessly while watching the couple.

Navya: Nandu, operation might sound good now, but after delivery, you'll never be able to be like how you were. You will start to have complications.

Nandini: I don't care, Navya. I don't. Ahhh!

She screamed at the end, which angered Manik.

Manik: That's it, they're not letting her to scream again.

He bent to her face and wiped the sweat on her face.

Manik: Relax, okay. I'm asking them to get you fine, soon.

He kissed her head and walked out of the room, to see Cabir pacing around and the kids looked scared. He looked over at the right to see the same sight that he'd seen 7 years ago, but this time Manvik was also tagged along.

Cabir: Manik!

He held onto Manik's arm, who started to wipe his face.

Manik: I'm asking the doctor to start doing everything they can. She..She's just screaming, dude.

Cabir: Lekin..Abhi ne kaha tha operation isn't a good option. She is..she is always late when it comes to delivery. God, ab kya kare!

Manik: I don't know. But I'm getting the doctor. Tu bachon ke sath raho.

Cabir nodded, while Manik walked towards his sons and knelt down.

Manik: She's going to be fine. Like, super fine. Apni Mamma supper Mamma jo hain!

The boys looked up at him and nodded in positive, but their eyes were red, and they just wanted to cry.

Manik: You can cry, if you want? Don't keep it inside.

They nodded in negative.

Manvik: Mamma has been asking us not to cry on her delivery day, since the moment we got to know about baby.

Karthik: Unhe acha nahi lagega, if she gets to know we cried.

Prathik: We'll be fine, Dad. Just, get that doctor.

Manik smiled at his son. Kissing their heads, he was about to walk away to get the doctor, when he saw Abhimanyu walking towards them with Nandini's doctor.

Manik: Listen, you're taking her inside the delivery room.

Cabir: She's always late, pichle baar bhi yahi hua tha, so its common in her case, maybe you can do something to stop the pain.

Doctor: Hold on, gentlemen! I can understand your feelings, but try to cooperate with us. She's crossed 40, so its even more better if she goes for normal delivery rather than operation, because, ye bas aaj ke pain hain par operation ke baadh, around 75% of ladies find glitches in uterus afterwards. Jiske wajah se pain aaega. Do you want a lifetime pain or just a single day pain? Decide it by yourselves.

And the doctor left to Nandini's room with a nurse along, to check on her.

Abhimanyu: Manik, Cabir. She's right. There can be complication in uterus after delivery, not everyone, but some ladies do. Like, frequent uterus infections and so on. Aur Nandu ki pichle delivery ke wajah se uska uterus weak bhi hogaya tha, that shouldn't happen this time. Had Nandu been young, operation shouldn't matter, because she can bear the pain of infections, but now she's growing old.

Manik heaved a helpless sigh, while Cabir tried to calm himself and stared at Manik, then at Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu assured him through his eyes.

Cabir: Manik! She's going to be fine.

He hugged Manik, who hugged him back tight. Cabir pulled Abhimanyu too, and they comforted each other through that single hug, that Nandini will be fine.

"Bring her along, soon." they broke the hug when they saw the doctor walking out of Nandini's room, with the same nurse, while instructing her something.

Doctor: She's reached the peak.

The doctor informed the men, and the next they knew pushing Nandini's stretcher towards the delivery room.

Nandini: Ahhh! Goddamn it! Manikkkk!

Manik: Nandini, shush. Don't cry. Look, they can see our baby's head nearing to the edge. Bas hogaya ab.

Nandini: I can't bear it anymore, Manik. Aahhhh! Waitttt..where are my kids? Karti, Manu, Prati..

Manvik: Mamma, we're here.

Nandini: Don't cry! Aur, Ashu and Nilu..

She cried while looking at the kids, and they nodded in positive. They've never seen her this vulnerable, and she never wanted this to happen. Them being vulnerable is the last thing she would ever want.

Karthik: Be safe, and come back with our baby.

Prathik: Just don't think about us.

They kissed her palm, and the next thing happened was Nandini taken inside the delivery room along with Manik, while others stayed outside.

Abhimanyu: I hope, she'll be fine.

Mukti: Why didn't I opt for Gynecology, at least I could have known her case well.

They clung to each other praying for Nandini.

Navya: She's going to be fine, Cabir.

Cabir: She needs to be.

He stared at the boys, who looked anything but fine. Naila sat near to Prathik, while Alishka sat near to Karthik. Maybe, they have a beautiful bonding altogether, but when the boys are at the peak of their emotions, they need only themselves, and that's why the boys are together in the middle, holding onto each other's hands.

Inside the Delivery room

Nandini: Ahh!

Doctor: One last push, Nandini.

Nandini: Manik, I can't.

Manik: One last push, and then we can see our baby.

She whimpered while looking at him.

Manik: She's going to be our last baby, Nandu. Don't you want to enjoy her childhood along with me? Our baby's childhood which I'd lost the first time you gave birth to.

And his lost was the only reason she found to gather herself before giving one last push,

Nandini: Ah!

"Wah..wah..." they heard a cry, and Nandini exhaled a breath of relief, while Manik was numb. This was his first time, and he didn't know how he was controlling himself from crying out loud.

Doctor: Its a girl, Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra! Congratulations!

The doctor held the baby in her hand, and Manik and Nandini watched their baby with eyes glistened.

Soon, the nurse got the baby cleaned and took her to Manik. He looked at his baby's innocent face, and then at Nandini, who looked sleepy. She nodded at him, with a small smile playing on her lips.

Nurse: Yes, gently. You can hold her easily, sir.

Manik took her from the nurse's hold gently, like she was made of glass and he wanted to protect her all his life.

Manik: Daddy's little angel.

He kissed her finger, and that was the moment tears rolled out of his eyes. He took her to Nandini and kept their baby's little finger closer to Nandini's cheeks. Soon, her cheeks too were wet. She got to see the sight which she wanted to see from the moment she was pregnant for the first time. Her Manik showing their baby's face to her.

Manik: Thank you!

He spoke his gratitude out to the doctors and nurses, who nodded at him in positive.

Doctor: She might need a day of rest.

She pointed at Nandini, who was dozing off. Manik nodded and walked out of the delivery room, so that the nurses can clean Nandini.

Outside.

"Manik" the couples rushed towards Manik, the moment he walked out of the room. Their eyes glistened. One by one, they kissed the baby's fingers.

Manik: Like I said!

He smiled and they knew it was a girl. Another Princess!

Manik walked towards the kids, who were just looking at the baby in Manik's hands. Bending down, Manik kept the baby in Karthik's lap.

Manik: Your elder Bhai.

Manik made Manvik to hold baby's right hand.

Manik: The second eldest Bhai.

He took Prathik's hand to hold baby's left hand.

Manik: And this is your third eldest Bhai.

That did it. A tear escaped their eyes. They stared at the little bundle of joy in their hands and then stared at their father with a smile, though tears were flowing out of their eyes.

Boys: Thank you, Dad!

Manik smiled warmly at them, though his eyes were teary too. He made the girls to hold the baby's little feet.

Manik: And they are your Didis.

Alishka and Naila grinned widely before planting kiss on the baby's feet. Finally, they're having a younger sibling. So what if their sibling's parents aren't their own. Manik and Nandini are just like their parents, and their newborn baby is obviously a sibling for them.

Boys: Mamma?!

They questioned, and Manik assured them with a smile.

Manik: She's sleeping, she's a lot tired.

They nodded at him before staring at the sleeping figure of their sister.

Boys: She's beautiful.

Manik: Indeed!

"Click" They turned to see Cabir taking a picture of this beautiful moment.

Cabir: You'll get the full Album of pictures soon, Malhotras!

They smiled at him and then at each other.

After 3 months

In the Mansion

Jisko duaaon mein maanga
Tu hai wahi rehnuma
Tere bina mushqil hai
Ek bhi kadam chalna (x2)

Bin tere kahaan hai manzil pyar ki
Aye mere humsafar ik zara intezaar
Sunn sadaayein de rahi hai manzil pyaar ki

Manik, Cabir and Abhimanyu tuned their guitars and violin, while the boys sang soulfully, and that's how she slept again. Their Aradhya. Aradhya Manik Malhotra!

Aradhya has a meaning of "first one" and Manik wanted her to be named that, as she is his first one whose childhood he'll witness. She's also the first one who's gonna get pampered by the kids. Indeed, she's a Princess.

Nandini: They're happy.

Manik: They are!

They stood at the boys' room's door where they could see their sons sleeping cuddling with Aradhya in the middle. It was a routine of their little sister to sleep with her brothers until her parents come to take her away once they all are asleep.

Manik: Good night, Malhotras!

Manik and Nandini kissed their son's heads before walking out of the room with Aradhya.

Nandini: Good night, Aru!

She kissed Aradhya's palm while feeding her, and Manik hugged her from behind.

Manik: Good night, Miss Malhotra!

He too kissed Aradhya's little palm, and the little girl smiled in her sleep. Maybe, she was dreaming something beautiful.

Nandini: I feel so complete, Manik.

Manik: So do I!

They kissed before falling asleep in each other's arms, with Aradhya close to their hearts. Life is indeed complete and beautiful for them.

Have faith in God and destiny, you'll reach your dream destination, even though your beginning was anything but good.

~End~