Arjun's POV

I entered inside and I was taken aback to find Radhika sleeping with her head on Mariam's lap in the hall. It looked like she cried herself to sleep. God, I am such an asshole! What was I thinking?

I see Sam giving me cold stare and Mariam staring at me as if she wants to burn me with the fire in her eyes but both of them don't want to wake Radhika so they keep quiet.

"Did she eat something?"

Mariam glared at me,"I forced her to have some soup but that's it! Where were you? Do you have any idea how worried we were?! Radhika was miserable and only I know how I have put her to sleep."

"Can we do this later please? I don't want her to wake up." I pleaded.

Mariam nodded but I didn't miss her accusatory glare.

I groan in a low voice, cursing under my breath," I will take her to our room."

"You will wake her up, let her sleep here for a while."

"I won't, trust me." I say as I pull her up gently and scoop her up in my arms. Thankfully she didn't wake up, and I didn't wanted her to get a back ache later by sleeping here in the hall uncomfortably. I know she gets terrible back aches during pregnancy and I can't sleep in my room without her sleeping next to me.

I climbed the stairs and reached my room. I pushed open the door with my leg and entered inside. I laid her down on the bed and covered her with the comforter. I slept next to her, watching her sleep so peacefully. There were traces of dried tears on her cheeks and it looked like she had cried for hours.

"I am sorry, I am really really sorry...."

Words fail me as guilt hits me harder than ever and tears fill my eyes.

I place a hand on her baby bump, carressing it, I leaned in, kissing her forehead. My hunger was raw as I had not eaten anything for ten hours now but I didn't wanted her to wake up and not find me beside her. She cried herself to sleep because I wasn't there and she was worried about me so I should wait for her to wake up.

I tried to sleep but my stomach wasn't agreeing with me as I was starving. I sat carressing her belly and the baby didn't disappoint me as I could feel him move under my fingers. I pushed my face closer to her baby bump," Are you hungry like me, babyboy? Your mother didn't feed you?"

I chuckled lightly seeing the baby agreeing with me," You should blame me, it's not your mom's fault in fact everything is your Father's fault.....no you will not call me Father, you will call me Dad."

I smiled with delight forgetting my hunger as the baby responded to me.

"Your mother is good, she is the best thing that ever happened to me. I am stupid in fact I don't have words to describe how stupid and reckless I have been. I abused your mom physically and mentally, I know you won't understand a word I am saying but promise me, you will be a better person than your Dad, won't you babyboy?"

Tears welled in my eyes as I felt him kick against my hand," That's right, babyboy. Be a good son, love your mom the most, always protect your family, always understand that you can't just say things in anger and repent later. Always value relationships over your anger because I wish I did, babyboy."

"I am fuc...bad..word, can't say that in front you or your mom will kill me. I am extremely scared to have you because I am a not a good person and it never bothered me actually. I was fine being evil and doing the things I do but now you make me question my actions, baby boy."

"I love you with all my heart, with everything I have but I am so scared. Your mom is so younger than me yet she isn't scared like I am. She is so much in love with you and she is a kid herself yet she has never wavered in her love towards you but I don't know if I am cut out for this."

I kiss her baby bump and the baby responds to me with another kick as if he understands what I am saying.

"Always take care of your mom because she will never give up on you no matter what you do because if she didn't give up on me after everything I put her through then you are her own child, she'll always love you no matter what you do. Love her the most because she deserves it and don't hurt her like your stupid Dad always does without intending to do so."

My eyes watered,"I am not even sure about what kind of Dad I will be...."

"The one that loves unconditionally, the one that never gives up no matter how hard it gets, the one that tries to do his best, the one that is always there to save the day, the one that sacrifices everything even his own life with a smile....."

I lift my face up from her baby bump and my heart dropped to my stomach watching her cry as she says those heartwarming words.

I reach up,"You are awake? When did you wake up?"

"When you were talking to the baby."

"I am sorry I woke you up and I am so so sorry for what I said. I know sorry doesn't fix anything but what else can I say. I know you had to deal with some crazy shit because of me. I kidnapped you and married you forcefully to avenge my mum and then you got attacked because of me, you could have lost the baby because Veer was after my life, I have put you in danger and my past has been....."

"Will you shut up? Why is it always about you? About how you feel, about how you are, about how much of a terrible person you are, how you are this, how you are that....Why can't you for once listen to the other person? You are only guilty for the things you did and you should not feel responsible for the things that happened in fact you saved the day! You saved me twice sacrificing yourself and yes I was mad, I was so mad and you know why?!"

She looked at me with her fiery eyes as if she was having a delayed reaction and the next minute she slapped me! She started to hit me as hard as she could, and I let her take it out on me.

She finally stopped and as if her anger wasn't enough, her tears pierced my newly born heart," Why don't you understand that I love you, I love you so much and when I don't see you, I feel so lost and hopeless."

She cried, "When I didn't hear any news about you, I thought about killing myself several times but then this baby, your baby, our baby kept me going. I felt that if not you then at least I will have your last memory with me. I know you were cruel to me, you were perhaps far more heartless to others but despite everything I can't forget that you sacrificed your life for me, that a selfish and heartless person such as yourself is  capable of....."

I cut her off,"Because I love you the most and what's worth is life and power if I can't protect that one thing I love the most in this entire world. Nothing is worth more than you, nothing not even my own life! If I would have lost you, I would have burned the whole world down."

"You make me so mad at times."

"So do you."

She glared at me,"Hey! What did I do? Take that back....."

I kissed her hard, and her words dissolved in the deep ocean of our passion.

I broke the kiss," You have made me mad from the time I met you. You have driven me crazy and I don't even recognize the person I have become when I look into the mirror."

She looked down, red seared through her cheeks as she looked like a ripe red apple.

"I was never scared after my mom's death, as if I had immuned myself to any emotion especially fear but from the time I met you, I was scared of being nice to you then I was scared of loving you and then I was death scared of losing you. I know I am difficult and complicated but this is so new to me, I have never loved any girl....."

She gave me a dirty look,"Yeah right! As if I had several boyfriends before you."

"Thank God you didn't or I will be fucking pissed but the point is that you are different, you are the very definition of good, pure and honest. In simple words you are far more humane than I am and I had turned off my humanity all these years so its difficult for me to understand these things. I didn't mean to hurt Sam or Mathew or you for that matter but this was something I never expected. You see Sam as your sister, your friend but what I see is that little baby wrapped in pink, who held my finger tight when she was just an hour old. That little baby who I promised that I will always look after her and I will always protect her, make sure she is happy and smiling for the rest of her life."

She stared at me, wide-eyed"You are scared of losing her! You think something bad is going to happen to her or she is going to do something stupid but none of that is going to happen. She is a smart girl, impulsive maybe but still thoughtful and rational. You need to stop assuming the worst and focus on the good part....."

I moved my hand on her back," That's what I am doing right now, focusing on the good part."

She blushed but pushed me away gently," Stop! You know what I meant....."

I cut her off," I know and I promise to talk to both of them....."

"Without thrashing that poor guy...."

I stared at her with pure disbelief, "Poor guy? He is as strong as an ox, don't let that pretty face fool you. Fuck! My knuckles are hurting, look..."

I raised my fist to her face to make her look at it and she smiled, kissing my bruised knuckles," You are a strong man, this is nothing....."

I made a face," I guess I am rubbing off on you because that was so heartless of you."

She blew her warm breath on my bruised knuckles,"Better? You are a such a drama King!" She kissed my knuckles again and kept staring at them.

I lifted her chin up," I was kidding, it isn't even hurting that much."

She kissed my forehead and pulled me closer wrapping her arms around me and I hugged her back.

"You can give him a hard time, test him as much as you want but you know it in your heart that he is going to pass all of them. He is a nice guy,  and don't forget he was the one combing the streets looking for you with your men."

"Enough about them let's talk about us."

She smiled, carressing my jawline," What about us?"

"I never told you this but I think you are the strongest woman I have ever met and you didn't give up on me or the idea of us. You loved me, fought with me, rebuked me and you made me feel things I didn't think I was capable of. I love you, baby I love you so much more than I have ever loved anyone."

She smiled with tears streaming down her cheeks and I pulled her face up to make her look into my eyes," Forgive me, please." I stared into her eyes pleading her.

"Okay." She replied in a small voice.

I captured her lips, kissing her passionately with hunger. I don't know what will I do without this girl.

I pulled her closer making her sit on my lap with her legs on either side of me. I sucked on her jawline trailing kisses down to her neck, collarbone and her cleavage but she resisted my advances," No, stop not now."

I looked up at her giving her a sad look.

"Why? I am hungry....." I sucked on her delicious breast through her dress. She moaned loudly carressing my hair as I kept trying to seduce her.

"I am hungry too but for food then we can do that." She said looking down shyly.

I pulled her face up," That? What are you referring to baby? Radhika, we are having a baby together and you are still so shy but I like it."

She shrugged blushing furiously as she tried to get off my lap but I held her tight in place not letting her move.

"I am really sorry for today, I know I hurt you and our family but please understand this is too difficult for me. This is my baby sister who I love like my own child....."

She cuts me off," I know, I know and I have forgiven you because I understand."

I smiled and placed a decent kiss on her lips thanking her silently.

"Where were you this whole time?"

"I went to see my mamma."

"You were inside a graveyard this whole time?"

I shrugged," Not the first time, Radhika. Sometimes I use to just sleep there, I know it sounds stupid to you but I feel my Mamma's presence around me when I am there."

"I don't think it's stupid, I was just shocked. I think what is between you and your mom is really precious."

She assured me as she carressed my cheek.

"Sometimes I go there to clear my head."

She nodded and I kissed her forehead feeling grateful towards her for everything she does for me and my family.

At the dinner table I was pleasantly surprised to see my wife hogging on food. Usually she doesn't have a big appetite but today she was eating well and I was so happy to see that. She is such a tiny little thing and she thinks that she will put on weight if she doesn't watch what and how much she is eating.

Frankly she should put on some weight given the fact she is pregnant and she should be putting on weight but I am not a fool to comment on her weight again because it is such a sensitive topic. I wonder if all women are like that but I wouldn't know of course because I have never known any woman on a deeper emotional level.

No one but my sweet Radhika who is the most perfect wife ever. I never thought that watching my beloved wife eat will make me smile so much with all my heart. I didn't fail to notice how she tried to ease the tension between me and the family. I requested Mathew to have dinner with us before leaving as I believe that after my ruggish behavior with my best friend, I needed to do some damage control. Sam wasn't jumping up and down yet but she was happy seeing me and Mathew talking to each other.

I decided to take some time with him when he took to his heel.

"Bro, thanks for looking for me and I am sorry for what I said." I apologized.

"You don't need to thank me, Arjun. We are way above that now and about Sam then I understand your position, trust me I do and I will stay away if that's the price I have to pay to show my loyalty to you."

"I wasn't going to ask you to do that or my wife and my sister will kill me. Look it's been a long day and I need to think about it, give me some time okay?"

He nodded but he looked disappointed so I placed my hand on his shoulder, as we walked together towards his car.

"Sam is like my daughter, you know Mariam's dickheaded husband left her for another woman when she was five months pregnant with Sam. I have only been the man in her life, her big brother and her Father too. All these years I protected her not just physically but emotionally. It's hard for me to relinquish that right and responsibility so easily."

"You are not going to relinquish her ever, all I am asking for is acceptance. I never had a family of my own after I lost my parents, you are the only family I have ever had. I love Sam and I will never ever intentionally hurt her."

"I have to talk to her tomorrow about all these and then let's see from there."

I know we have our issues but at the end of everything, I know that we are a family and in family, you fight and make up so we will be fine. Its not like I have accepted Mathew for Sam but I need to lend my ear to them and listen to what they have to say. I can give him a chance if he convinces me but we will have to see about that of course there will be rules that both of them will have to follow.

"Everything went well, don't you think? Sam looked happy and did you know, Mariam aunty wants to go on a solo trip to Europe?" Radhika's chirped as she combed her hair sitting in front of the mirror.

"Mariam goes somewhere every year when she gets tired of dealing with the family bullshit. Let's talk about Sam." I replied unbuttoning my shirt.

"Arjun, I know you see her as a kid but she is an adult and that means she has full right to decide for herself. Mathew is a good guy, I mean good for her and this family."

"I am not doubting him, I have known him whole my life. It's just that I am having a hard time accepting the fact that she is a grown up now."

She stared at me, wide-eyed,"My God, what will you do when we have a daughter one day!"

"Don't jinx it, Radhika. This is the reason I don't want a daughter."

She glared at me,"But I want one and if you are getting your wish then even I will have mine."

I wrapped my arms around her,"Fine let's not fight, I love you." I kissed her ears that I find so adorable.

"I thought we were going to talk."

I rolled my eyes at her,"Is there something we need to talk about, baby?"

"Well we can chit chat, I am not sleepy yet." She replied, smiling mischievously.

I smirked," I have a better solution, let's fuck till you are sleepy."

"How romantic!" She gave me a dirty look as she commented sarcastically.

I scooped her up in my arms and took her to bathroom, "Shower time! Time for Arjun's favorite."

"Stand and slam?" She asked, amused.

"Oh baby, you are getting so good at this!" I gave her a smug look.

She blushed fifty shades of red, burying her face inside the crook of my neck making feel like the luckiest man born on this planet. I remember doing some intense stand and slam with my lovely wife who is sleeping peacefully in my arms right now unwary of the fact that I am still awake and watching her sleep.
I turned over on my back as I locked my eyes with the chandelier above. As if she sensed me turning away from her in her sleep, she snuggled closer to me wrapping her hand around my midriff tightly holding me prisoner. I leaned in, kissing her forehead," Goodnight baby."
She purred in her sleep and went back to sleep making me chuckle.

To be continued......