"Do you believe when Rayan says he wasn't behind the kidnapping thing?" I ask Abir as we cook breakfast.

"Of course." He nods. "I didn't trust him blindly at first, it took time and maybe that is one of the reasons why I try to forgive him."

"He is still responsible for everything that happened," I mumble slowly.

"He sure is," He says slowly. "Wouldn't it be worst if he wasn't there that night?"

"Whatever!" I say boringly. "I cannot forgive him genuinely."

"Okay, forget him," Abir declares. "Do you remember having enemies back as a college student?"

"I rarely had any friends." I shrug. "Rest all were strangers to me."

"I'm still trying to figure this out. It's so strange." His voice sounds concerned.

"Okay, stop stressing over it." I tilt to look at him and I am distracted by seeing how hot he looks in a black t-shirt and apron over it.

I shake my head as I walk past him but he grabs my hand and I gasp as he pins me against the kitchen island.

"I wanted to say something." His eyes roam all over my face, I bite my lip at our proximity.

"I'm listening," I whispered out.

"Feel free to check me out." His lip twitches up in a smirk. "I'm your husband."

I raise my eyebrows amazed as I attempt to conceal my smile and dismiss the flush on my cheeks.

He chuckles slowly before tapping my cheek with his fingers and walks out taking the dishes.

I ain't usually this shy but sometimes the thought of him being so observant, careful, and my husband makes me feel unusual things.

It's been just a month together since I got to know everything and I'm still trying to accept everything. Sometimes it gets worst that I missed so many things but I reminisce myself Abir's pain is terrific than mine.

I can't keep getting disturbed over that and I should learn to accept this life with happiness. I need to be strong for him just like he stays strong for me, for us, for our kids.

I am just happy we found our way back to each other.

"Mishti." I quickly spread a smile on my lips when I hear Abir's voice but it turns genuine when I watch his smiling face.

"Yeah?"

"Uh..." He raises his eyebrows. "I... I forgot."

"Seriously?" I roll my eyes at him but I frown when his eyes move down my body.

I laugh twisting around and grabbing the juice jar. I hear him clear his throat as I walk past him.

"It's just..." I stop to hear him without turning around. "You look so sexy in these sarees."

I have started wearing sarees since last week because I am liking them. Especially because Abir helped me select these and few were gifted by my mother-in-law.

I look over my shoulder as I grip the juice jar. "Feel free to check me out." I try to conceal my smile as his eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"I am your wife." I wink and turn around to walk to the dining room as I laugh to myself.

"Woah!" I hear Sam and look up at her as I set the juice jar on the table. "May I know the reason behind this happy face?"

I shrug as I walk around Arya and Aryan and prepare their plate. I am not gonna say her the reason, she and Shreya get enough chances to tease me.

"I am a bit hurt that you weren't so happy around me." She comments dramatically.

"Sam, you better know the reason." Abir walks in. "You don't romance with her, do you?"

"Uh, right." She rolls her eyes making him chuckle. "I will always leave that stuff for you, feel free to do."

"Mishti, aren't we hearing feel free a lot today?" He looks at me and the side of his lips twitch up.

"Feel free to shut your mouth." I glare at him asking him to behave in front of my innocent kids and evil friend.

"But how's he going to eat if he shuts his mouth?" Arya frowns at me.

"Your Mumma is a bit senseless." Abir laughs settling on his chair.

"No!" Aryan screeches. "She's the smartest."

"Exactly!" Arya joins him and they share High-Five. My heart always fills with affection seeing the love they convey to me.

As children, it should have been tough for them to approve the changes but they lead it so well that I just get flabbergasted.

"You are having a hard time, I guess?" Sam laughs as Abir mumbles something under his breath.

"Yeah. All I hear is Mumma is so good, Mumma is awesome, Mumma is the best, Mumma is strong, Mumma is powerful, Mumma is this and that, Mumma is everything." He recites and Sam laughs.

I know Abir isn't jealous of me he just pretends.

"No one loves me." He puts on a sad face as he looks at his plate. I shake my head at his dramatic behavior, Arya surely gets this from him.

"No, Papa. We love." Aryan communicates.

"We just love Mumma more." Arya completes his sentence, I feel myself getting emotional but this is not the time to do it.

"You should," Abir whispers. "She deserves every bit of it."

I smile at him as I kiss Arya and Aryan. "I love you both."

"Okay, I cannot handle so much Sweetness every morning." Sam looks at us. "It just makes me believe in love and have kids."

I chuckle as I walk to my seat. "Love is filled with Sweetness, Sam," Abir explains quietly. "Only when it is with the right person."

My gaze softens as he gazes into my eyes. I don't even understand how I got so lucky.

"Am I late?" We shift our gaze to Shreya as she runs into the dining hall.

"Where were you?" I shake my head at her as she sits beside Sam.

"I was..." She jerks her thumb behind her as she tries to catch her breath.

"Did you just kiss someone?" Sam arches an eyebrow at her.

Shreya clears her throat as she tilts to look at Sam. "Did I?" She looks at her then shakes her head. "No, I didn't."

"I swear I just saw her and Kunal kissing in the elevator!" Aayan rushes in. "Good morning, boss."

Abir just nods his head at him and he settles on a seat.

"I don't want to talk I'm hungry." Shreya fixes her gaze on her plate.

"Yeah, we are going to talk about it later." Sam pats her head slowly making me laugh.

"You are giving me a gift right because I said you something you weren't aware of?" Aayan looks at her hopefully.

"You sure are getting tasty breakfast as a gift." Sam rolls her eyes at him.

"Yes, Kunal," Abir answers his call. "Okay, sure."

"What did he say?" I ask him as everyone continues to talk.

"He says he is done with breakfast and will see us tonight," Abir replied. "I didn't expect him to be so secretive about his relationship." He chuckles.

"He did inform me few things." I shrug.

"He did?" Abir looks amused and I nod. "And what did he say?"

"Well, that's something which he shared with me so you gotta wait until he lets you know." I smile at him and he nods in agreement.

"Ary, you don't throw veggies." I look up when Aryan speaks.

"That's none of your concern," Arya replies to him as she grits her teeth. As I watch her face I know she was discreetly attempting to throw them and is now irritated that Aryan caught her.

"Arya, what have I instructed you about how to behave with your brother?" Abir looks at her remarkably, and I don't miss the strict tone behind his question.

I instantly feel bad as my baby girl's face turns sad and she lowers her gaze before mumbling. "I am sorry."

"It's okay." Aryan smiles at her as he puts vegetables on her plate. "You can just say if you don't want to eat. You don't have to throw it."

"Aryan, she should eat. Vegetables are important." Abir looks at them seriously.

I feel so angry at Abir for scolding them but I know this is not the time to intrude because this is where we teach our kids what's right and wrong.

"I wish the world was just filled with chocolates and ice creams," Arya says slowly to herself as she mixes a piece of chapati with vegetables and puts it in her mouth.

The table fills with laughter and silence shortly falls as Arya stares at everyone with an unhappy expression chewing her food.

My poor girl.

✧✧✧

"I am doing good, Neha." I talk to her on the phone as I close the laptop. "How's your work going?"

"It's just fine." She answers on the other side. "What are Arya and Arya  doing?"

I glance at Arya and Aryan sitting on the couch as they watch cartoons. "Watching TV."

"I don't know if I am stepping too much but I just wanted to ask you something." She hesitates.

"Just ask."

"Do you guys not plan to come here? In Delhi?" I bite my lip as I hear her. "I am not forcing you or asking you to come I just wanted to know if you are coming or you guys plan to stay there."

"We haven't thought about it yet," I answer honestly.

"Okay." She responds."Don't tell Abir I asked you okay? He might get a bit angry at me, he doesn't want to pressure you in any way."

"I won't." I smile to myself as I recall how much caring my husband is. Like he hasn't done anything yet and never asked me to do anything.

The development done in one month was all my decision. I and Neha talk on the phone sometimes, it was easy to mingle with her she is free and easygoing. I like that she treats me like a sister and shares whatever is on her mind.

Whenever Abir is at the office I made calls to my in-laws, it was awkward to talk with them just like that so I give Arya and Aryan to talk first then I talk for some time. In beginning, the conversation didn't last more than 5 minutes because I seriously didn't get what to speak but as weeks passed we have somehow managed to talk for 15 minutes which I think is great progress though we usually talk about ordinary things.

My bond with Kunal gets stronger every day. He is kinda shy sometimes but I like that he tries to share with me and takes my opinion. Shreya believes in love a lot so it was easy for me to tell him about her. I don't know how he managed to speak to her but I am glad at least they both have understood they like each other.

And, surprisingly, Shreya has kept her mouth shut until now but I am sure Sam is gonna take entire details soon.

Arya and Aryan give a lot of love and respect to which I'm so thankful and I know more than half of the credit should be given to my in-laws and Abir for giving them such good values. I try to be a good mother, sometimes I feel I am failing at it and that's the moment Abir makes me realize how good I am.

I am grateful to Abir always because he makes me feel I am worth it. I am worth the love, respect, and this relationship. He always gives me time to accept things and doesn't ask me to rush. He also encourages and supports me.

He has clearly said that he needs me to make the decisions and will constantly be there to cooperate with them. I know I can't make decisions just like that, I need to think about them carefully.

In the past month the first week, we spend entirely with Arya and Aryan. From the next week, I got busy with work and we just closed a case two days ago.

When Abir said he wants me to make decisions I knew it was going to be hectic. Eventually, we should leave for Delhi because Abir said we have our home there. He would have never said me the whole details of the home if he didn't want us to go back there.

I have no problem going back to Delhi, I just worry about Shreya and Sam. I don't want them to feel like they are optional to me and I am leaving them when I got family. They will understand I know but I still have to find a better way to take this decision. We are a team, we work together, we are habitual to each other.

If there is someone I can ask for help that is going to be Badi maa.

For as long as I recall this is the first decision I am making that can change many things. And I am determined that I should do the right thing.

Over everything I know, I should snatch some time individually for Abir. With kids roaming around the house and my friends coming whenever they want we don't get privacy and when the night comes Arya and Aryan start arguing they'll sleep beside me so I end up sleeping between them and Abir takes the corner.

I don't have the heart to separate them from me and I am glad Abir understands that.

Though we end up romancing here and there whenever we get time. A few days ago Abir had mentioned, I would like to take you for one night out with me if you don't mind.

That time I couldn't comprehend what to say because I was a little surprised but I couldn't give him a negative answer when I also want to spend a night out with him.

So I had just mentioned, I would go anywhere with you.

We have these conversations when Arya and Aryan are asleep and I love that time a lot.

"Good evening." Abir walked in as he greeted. I look up and smile at him as he loses his tie and sets his laptop on the table.

"How was work today?" I ask as he sits beside me and pours a glass of water for him.

"It was good." He shrugs. I hum as I admire his handsome face for a while feeling free to check him out because he is my husband.

"Papa, what did you get for me?" Arya ran towards him, he laughs picking her up in his arms as he hands her something.

I look at Aryan as he throws the wrappers of chocolates in the dustbin before walking to us. I love how he takes responsibility for simple things which mean so much.

"Did you get me the paintings?" He asks looking at Abir.

"Uh, I didn't find the one you asked so you'll have to wait for it until the stock arrives," Abir explains to him. "But here are some paintings for you use them till I get the one you asked."

Aryan loves painting and Arya loves coloring.

I gaze as they talk with Abir, it feels so good that Abir gives them his attention whenever they ask.

"So, who troubled Mumma today?" He gazes at them and I roll my eyes.

"You should stop asking it to them, my kids are so good." I slap his arm.

"I didn't." Aryan answers quickly.

"And Princess?" He arches an eyebrow at her.

"No." She shakes her head.

"Very good." Abir nods. "I'll go get fresh." He looks at me and his eyes trail down from my face to body before he leads the way to our room. I try not to overthink it but the look in his eyes was distinct right now.

"These are so cool." Aryan looks at his paintings. I stand up slowly as they both argue over paintings are better or colors.

"I'll be in the room," I inform as I walk past them, and after making sure the front door is locked I walk up to our room.

"Abir?" I call out as I enter the room and walk to the bathroom.

"I am here." I turn around as I hear him, he grabs his clothes and walks to me. "You need something?"

"Yeah." I nod. "Actually no." I shake my head.

"Okay." He nods as removes his shirt and walks past me.

"Wait," I utter out as I frown in confusion. "I thought you wanted to say something..." I mumble as he looks at me.

"Oh, I thought to let it go but since you are here..." I look at him suspiciously as he throws his clothes to the side and walks closer to me. "Let us talk it."

I gulp as I stare into his deep eyes and he wraps his arm around my waist. The feel of his bare arm on my bare waist is enough to turn on unusual desires in me.

His breath falls on my face as our chests collide, he traces my jaw with his finger as he leans in to kiss me. I kiss him back with the same passion and desire, I set my hands on his chest as we kiss and he grips my waist.

We halt the kiss to catch a breath and he drags his lips to my neck. I shut my eyes as he kisses the side of my neck, lifting my hand I grip his arm.

My breathtaking hitches as he kisses his way up to my ear. He sure knows how to do it.

"I just wanted to let you know." He beings in an intense voice. "You turn sexier each passing day." I bite my lip as I hear his voice turning husky.

"So, the longer I wait, the longer the night."

━━━━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━━━━

So, here we go with the present!

I have decided to go on with the present after seeing responses from both Avneil and Mishbir books.

I was kinda nervous while writing this chapter I don't know why.

Let me know, how was it?

And here we go on with Sweetness Of Love happy lives.

As much as I enjoy writing present I also enjoyed writing past.

Thanks to all the readers for cooperating with me, means a lot.

Do vote, comment, and share your views.

Thank y'all.