When he'd first heard the news, words had simply not been enough for Abir to express how much joy he'd felt.

To think that he was going to be a father....That soon, a tiny child-his and Mishti's tiny child-was going to enter this world...It filled him with a warmth so fulfilling he felt like he would burst.

"Oh, meri Angry Chorni!" Abir exclaimed as he took her hands in his and twirled her around-gently, of course.

"I can't believe we're going to be parents!" he trilled, pulling her into his embrace after one final twirl.

He heard her sigh contentedly in his arms.

"Ye feeling kitni amazing hain na, Abir?" she said, "Hum parents banne wale hain. I...."

"I know, Mishti, I know," Abir replied, his smile not leaving his face.

"Hum hamare bachche ko Sab kuch denge, Abir," Mishti said, pulling back to look up at him. "Sab kuch. Jo kuch hamain nahi mila, wo bhi."

Abir knew Mishti wasn't talking about materialistic things. She was talking about the love and the parental care that they both hadn't received from their biological parents, from their fathers. Something that had haunted them both well into their adulthood.

Bit they wouldn't let anything like that happen to their child.

"Of course, Mishti," Abir said softly. "Hum kabhi bhi apne bachche ko apne parents ke pyaar ki kami mehsoos hone nahi denge. We'll always be there for our child."

Mishti smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. Abir pulled her into his arms again.

****

"Mishti, sambhal ke!"

Abir's shout made Mishti step back reflexively, wondering what was wrong. She turned, and watched as he hurriedly made his way over to her.

"Careful, Mishti," Abir said, one hand of his coming to rest on her arm. "Tumhe itni bhaag-dour nahi karni chahiye."

"Bhaag-dour?" Mishti asked, "Main kya-"

"You shouldn't do this," Abir admonished, leading her to the side, to sit on a lounger. "Tumhe upar neeche nahi karna chahiye. In fact, main soch raha tha ki hum roim neeche shift karlete hain. Baadme to karna hi hoga na? And also, I've hired a house help, tumhare saath 24/7 rehne ke liye. Main to rahoonga hi, lekin wo bhi rahegi, aur....Tum aise Kyu muskura rahi ho?"

Mishti shook her head as she shifted on the lounger, and pulled down Abir slightly to make him sit beside her.

"Tum bohot cute ho, you know?" she told him, continuing to smile.

Abir titled his head to one side. "I know that, but abhi kya aise-"

"And, I love you."

Abir smiled now, the blindingly charismatic smile of his that made Mishti's own smile widen.

"Why, I love you, too, Miss," he said, and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Anyway, main yeh keh raha tha ki, ab NGO ka work main hi sambhaal looonga, for a year or two. Tum kuch bhi kaam nahi karongi, okay? Na ghar ka, na baahar ka. Aur tumhe jo kuch bhi chahiya na, anything, let me know, okay?"

"Hmm," Mishti said. "Anything else, Sir?"

"Yes," he replied. "Our monthly doctor's appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. 7 P.M. Then hum Bade Papa aur Badi Maa se milne chalte hain, it you want." He cocked his head. "Actually, I'll ask them to come here. I don't think you should-"

"Abir," Mishti cut him off, placing her hands on his arms. "Relax. I'm fine. Itni tension mat lo. Itna mat socho. Take it easy."

"Easy?" Abor asked, incredulous. "Mishti, I can't take this easy. This is about you and-"he stopped, his eyes falling on to Mishti's stomach. "And our baby," he completed, his voice turning soft.

Mishti smiled as he looked back up at her. "Main aur hamara baby will be perfectly fine, Abir," she said. "Tum jo ho? I know you will take perfect care of us."

Abir smiled back, then kissed her forehead. "Yeah, I will."

****

Mishti took a deep breath as she finished washing her face. Morning sickness was becoming very early morning sickness for her these days. She was sure it wasn't even 5 A.M. yet.

"Mishti?" she heard Abir call from outside their bathroom. She turned as the door opened and he entered.

He smiled at her as he came up and placed an arm around her waist. "You okay?" he asked.

Mishti smiled and nodded, before leaning forward to rest her head against his chest.

"Chalo," he said, and led her out of the bathroom and into their bedroom.

"Here," he said, holding up a glass of water to her lips after she'd sat down on their bed. She took a few sips.

"Kuch khaogi?" he asked, kneeling down in front of her.

"Nahi, Abir, I'm okay," Mishti replied. The thought of food right now wasn't very appealing. "I'm sorry main ne tumhe utha Diya."

Abir was waving off her apology before she'd even finished. "It's nothing, Mishti. Meri tension mat love tum. Just tell me if you need anything."

Mishti shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine, Abir. Sachchi."

"Okay. Do you want to go back to sleep?"

Mishti considered it, but she didn't really want to. "Main bas kuch der baith na chahti hoon," she said finally.

Abir nodded, then climbed into the bed beside her, and they settled themselves comfortably against the pillows.

****

"Abir."

He didn't stir.

"Abir!"

"Huh?" He bolted up suddenly, looking around blindly for a moment, before his eyes focused on his wife, who was sitting up beside him.

"Mishti, Kya hua?" Abir asked, scrambling around a bit, before coming to settle in front of her. "Kya hua? Are you okay? Tumhe kuch chahiye? Washroom jaana hain? Kya-"

Mishti clamped a hand on his mouth, silencing him. "Main theek hoon," she said. She took back her hand. "Bas wo....er-mujhe-bhook lagi hain."

"Main abhi kuch tumhare liye lata hoon," Abir said, making to get up. Mishti grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Mujhe ghar ka kuch nahi chahiye," she said, then bit her lip, hesitating.

"Phir kya chahiye, mujhe bolo?" Abir said, titling his head down to look up into her face.

"Mujhe masala poori chahiye," Mishti said finally, not quite able to stop herself from pouting as she did so.

"Masala poori?" Abir asked, a little confused. "Masala..." He glanced at the clock in their room, and Mishti knew what he was seeing. It was 2 A.M.

"I know abhi nahi milenga, but..."

"I'll find it," Abir cut her off, turning back to her. He smiled. "Don't worry, main leke aata hoon."

"Main bhi tumhare saath chalti hoon," Mishti said, scrambling out of the bed to stand with Abir.

He frowned. "Mishti, bohot raat ho gayi hain, it may not be safe-"

"Kuch nahi hoga," she rushed to reassure him. "Tum honge na mere saath? Please?"

"I-" Abir looked reluctant, but Mishti knew he would give in to her plea. "I-okay," he said finally. "Chalo. But stay with me, okay?"

And so, they spent the next half an hour wandering around the city, looking for an open chat shop. At last, they found one roadside chat, with it's owner asleep on a makeshift bed beside his thela.

Abir woke him up, and after promising to pay him extra hundred rupees, the cranky chat maker agreed to make them two plates of Masala Puri.

"This is so good!" Mishti exclaimed as she happily finished her chat. "Thanks Abir, I really wanted this."

Abir laughed at her childish joy. "Do you need anything else?"

"Nahi, this is enough," Mishti said, putting her plate in a dust-bin, then drinking the water Abir had offered.

"Okay, then," Abir said, flashing her a smile. "Ab chale?"

Mishti smiled back radiantly. "Chalo."

****

"Abir?"

"Hmm?"

"....Main ek achchi Maa to banoogi na?"

There was a moment of silence. Then Mishti felt something shift by her, and saw Abir rise up to rest on one elbow as he looked down at her.

"Of course banogi," he said. There was a slight frown on his face. "Lekin tum achanak aise....?

Mishti bit her lip for a moment. "Bas aise hi....I mean....what if it doesn't....like me? What if I....mess up somehow?"

"Mishti-"

"Abir, seriously, I don't want mera bachcha soche ki main achchi Maa nahi hoon-"

"Mishti, stop," Abir's voice finally managed to cut through her tirade. Mishti looked up at him.

"Mishti, let me tell you something," Abir said. "You, Mishti, are one of the best people I know. Tum hamesha sab ko pyaar dene ki koshish karti ho, and hamesha sahi rehne ki. Tum ek achchi insaan ho." He smiled. "You're an amazing and loving person, Mishti. Who wants to be the best mother for her child. And trust me, you will be." He lay down down beside her again, and turned her face to face him. "I know, you will love your child with everything, and do everything right by him, or her. You will be a great parent, Mishti. And our child will love you immensely."

Mishti smiled at his words, as tears began to slip out of her eyes. "Thanks, Abir," she said softly.

"No need to thank me," he replied with a soft smile. "Go to sleep."

****

Abir placed his hand on Mishti's stomach, slowly. A few moments later, he looked up at Mishti, and seeing the love filled look in his eyes, Mishti's heart melted.

Today, Mishti had noticed her baby bump, for the first time. And needless to say, she'd been as awed as Abir was now.

Sighing contentedly, Abir gently gathered up Mishti into his arms and rested his chin on her head. Mishti smiled, and closed her eyes as she hugged him back.