Dressed in royal finery and most precious jewels, Akansha was looking at the tree from her bedroom window. She was looking ethereal in her peach and pastel mix up lehenga with matching but light jewellery. Her dewy make up was giving an extra pop to her beautiful face.

(Akansha look)

She was particularly watching the sparrow nest which was on one of the trees. She remembered how the mother sparrow cared for its little ones, feeding them, nurturing them and protecting them from all dangers.

"How's my daughter doing"- His voice didn't startled her. She has been habitual to this voice now which has essence of indefinite love for her.

She slowly got up from her sitting position and turned her back to face him

"How many times I have told you that it's not going to be your daughter. It's going to be my son"- Akansha said and looked at his tired appearance.

"How about twins. Our both wishes will get fulfilled in this manner "- he teased her and gently pulled her towards him.

He wrapped his strong hands around her in protective manner and She threw her arms around his neck but her 7 month pregnant belly was acting as a barrier between them in not coming them too close.

"It still feels like a dream  I am having and I am afraid that this beautiful dream might get break"- she said looking at Veer with tears lurking behind her eyes. The beautiful dream of becoming a mother. The past 3 years felt like a blessing  to Akansha. Getting a mother- in- law and father- in- law who loved her like their own daughter was indeed a true blessing.  A husband like Veer who makes her feel beautiful, protected , loved and taken care of. And Now her child who wil make her dream world complete.

"I won't let this beautiful dream  get ever broken. It's my promise to you"- he said kissing her forehead.

Flashback

Veer and Akansha returned from a party quite late in the evening. Veer removed his blazer and plopped down on the bed. Akansha was removing her earrings when she felt some sensation in her stomach. She took deep breaths and tried to control it  but it wasn't working.

She rushed inside the washroom and threw up her dinner. Her straight long black hair was disturbing her eyes.

She looked in the mirror. Tears escaped her eyes when she realised what it could mean. She was feeling nauseated from last few days.  She mentally calculated her last period date and her heartbeat accelerated when all the indications aligned in a proper manner of what she was thinking.

Veer too followed her inside the washroom and felt tension forming in his heart seeing her condition. She was sitting on the floor shedding big fatty tears. He went to her and bend down to her level.

"Akansha, what happened?? Why are you crying??"- He remove the hair from her face and wiped the tears.

She didn't reply anything  and took  his hand and put it on her flat stomach.

"What does this mean"-he asked her in a questioning way .

"itne budhu kaise ho sakte ho tum (How can you be so stupid)"- She got irritated that he didn't understand her signal while he was still blankly looking at her.

"I think we are going to be parents"- she said in low voice  and closed her eyes.

He too was left speechless at her revelation.

"That's wonderful"-He spoke after what it felt like an eternity passed. He cupped her cheeks and she opened her eyes .

"I am scared"- she said looking deeply in his eyes. She wouldn't deny that she sometimes still felt guilty of not protecting her child.

People may call it a matter of destiny but how would a mother accept that it wasn't her fault. 7 years have passed from that incident but the memory , pain and agony haven't completely vanished but with Veer love and companionship , it has little bit receded.

"you don't have to. This time we are with each other.  I will not let anything bad happen to both of you"- He understood her fear of history repeating itself and  tried to calm her. She was not afraid of becoming mother but of going through the same pain of losing her baby if something like that happens again.

"Really"- she looked at him with expectating eyes which wanted an affirmative answer.

"hmm"- He replied and engulfed her in his arms. She clutched his forearms and cried her heart out.

Next day they went to the doctor and finally their suspicions were cleared. Akansha was really pregnant. The grieving mother was set to become an expectant mother who was now filled with love for her child and prayed for his safety.

Flashback ends.

"oh tota maine ki jodi"- someone interrupted their remembering session. Veer and Akansha looked up to find Shivani standing at the entrance of their bedroom. She was not alone. She was carrying a cute little baby in her arms.

"Sorry to disturb your romance midway but everyone is calling  bhabhi for the godh bharai ritual(indian version of baby shower ceremony)."- she continued. Today was Akansha godh bharai. She was in her 7th month of pregnancy. All her family and friends came together to celebrate this special occasion.

"dekho toh kaun aaya hai!!!  Asmu aayi hai bhua ke ghar. Bhua se milne"- Akansha cooed the little baby girl in Shivani's hands.  The little girl was none other than one and half year old daughter of Akansha brother Arpit and kavya. Her name is Asmita which means pride and self respect but everyone loves to call her with her nickname that is Asmu.

Veer took Asmu in his hands from Shivani and started playing with her. Akansha and shivani looked  at him  in an adoring manner. They knew that just like a good husband , he would prove to be a loving and caring father.

All the married ladies bless the mom-to-be by putting a tikka on  Akansha forehead, and then aartis are performed to pray for the health and happiness of the baby and the mother. Then, the women shower Akansha with gifts, fruits and sweets.

After the main ritual was over, Akansha sat comfortably and started observing her surroundings. She particularly looked at her mother who was with her at every hurdle of her life.

She still remembers the day when Veer told her that her mother knew about them. She felt ashamed of herself. She went to her mother and apologised for keeping secrets from her. Her mother made her understand that her love for Akansha hasn't been less even when she came to know the truth. Akansha felt blessed to have a mother who loved her without any conditions.

Veer and Akansha mutually decided not to reveal their past to any other member of their respective families.  Their family relation was filled with positivity and hope.  It would get severally affected if the past truth comes out. How their son and daughter betrayed them by keeping their relation secret.
So it was better that some bygones be bygones.

"So finally the college lovebirds are set to become mother and father"-  Sugandha said while sitting besides Akansha.

"Thank god you came"- Akansha said looking at her friend.

"I would have killed you with my bare hands if you had missed my baby shower ceremony"- she said in angry manner remembering her wedding which sugandha missed.

"I wouldn't dare to mess with an expectant mother"-Sugandha took a sweet from the plates and stuffed in  Akansha mouth.

"How's your job going??"-  Akansha asked her.

"Job is going good but mera boss na yaar  Bahut Akdu hai yaar. Gussa toh hamesh naak par chadha rehta hai uske
but his wife is a sweet lady named Niharika and he has cute little son Saksham"- Sugandha replied.

" I don't know how she manages with him"- she continued and flared up her nose.

"May be she really loves him. Aur pyar mein toh kya kuch nahi karna padta"-  Akansha said and both girls smiled at their imagination.

Later that night

A smiled curved up her lips when she noticed that Veer was again reading her diary.

"How many times will you read my diary"- She saw that his eyes still hasn't left the pages of her diary.

She sat in front of him and took the diary from his hands and kept aside.

"Its because I love to read your thoughts".

"I am sitting in front of you. You can love me instead of my thoughts"-  His eyes gleamed at the prospects. Her hormones were getting better of her and that made her embarrassed. She blushed furiously when she realised what she said  right now.

"I am again feeling hungry"- she tried to change the topic  and save herself from embarrassment.

"me too"-she  felt shyness when he leaned for a kiss. She narrowed her eyes when she saw devilish grin on his face.

She closed her eyes for the impending kiss ................

*****************************

Thanks for reading.