Next day.

I woke up at 6AM in the morning to see my baby is sleeping peacefully. His tiny chest rose and fell rhythmically, his face peaceful, with a slight pout on his lips.

My heart swelled with love as I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his warm forehead, careful not to wake him and placed some pillows surrounding him as barrier ,ensuring he wouldn’t roll over and went to the bathroom to do my daily morning course.

With a last glance at his sleeping figure, I slipped into the bathroom for my morning routine.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I wrapped a towel around my damp hair, my body dressed only in a blouse and petticoat.

A quick scan of the room reassured me that he was still sound asleep.

Perfect.

Mornings like these gave me the rare opportunity to get some quiet work done.

I began tucking my saree pleats meticulously into my petticoat, smoothing down the fabric until it was neat. As I reached for my comb, my eyes caught on a photo frame on the dressing table—Aditya and I, frozen in time. It was taken on our wedding day.

Aditya had wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting comfortably on my shoulder, his smile wide and genuine.

I smiled, though a tinge of sadness lingered behind it. I traced a finger over his lips in the photo, a quiet whisper leaving my lips, I miss you, Aditya.

After getting ready, I made my way downstairs, the comforting routine of daily life settling around me.

I prepared tea for maa and baba, knowing Aryan preferred coffee in the mornings.

Once the tea was brewing, I walked over to them to take their blessings, bending down to touch their feet. Maa kissed my forehead tenderly, while baba patted my head.

Aryan’s POV:

I made my way downstairs, the familiar smell of tea and freshly prepared breakfast filling the air. Dad was engrossed in his morning paper, a crease of concentration on his forehead, while mumma was jotting down a grocery list, murmuring to herself about the things she needed to restock.

Through the kitchen doorway, I saw Ankita preparing tea, her movements graceful and efficient.

My gaze drifted upstairs, thinking of my little Jaan, who was likely still fast asleep. Without wasting any time, I headed up to check on him.

When I entered his room, there he was, sprawled across the bed, his little fists clutching the blanket. His lips were parted, and a faint smile danced on his face, probably dreaming of something sweet. Seeing him like this made my heart melt every time.

I scooped him up gently, holding him close to my chest as he nestled into me without stirring.

I carried him downstairs, typing something quickly on my laptop with one hand while balancing him securely in the other.

Multitasking had become second nature by now.

Ankita’s POV:

As I served the tea, I glanced over and saw Aryan had already brought Ansh downstairs.

There he was, balancing work and baby duty effortlessly —his laptop in one hand, my baby resting comfortably in his other arm.

The sight of them together drew an unconscious smile to my lips.

The way Aryan held him, protective and tender, always warmed my heart.

After Ansh woke up from his nap, I gave him a warm bath. His little body wiggled as I applied lotion, trying to keep him entertained.

To distract him, I squirted a bit of lotion into his tiny palms. His eyes widened, staring at the cream as though it was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.

While he was mesmerized by the cream, I quickly slipped his t-shirt over his head and dressed him in his little shorts.

“My baby is looking so handsome today,” I cooed, rubbing my nose gently against his.

He giggled in response, his tiny hands patting my cheeks with playful affection.

Afterward, I put a small dab of kajal behind his ear for protection, just as maa had taught me.

Aryan’s POV:

When I entered the room, freshly dressed in my black trousers and white shirt, Ansh’s eyes lit up.

He kicked his legs excitedly, his tiny feet waving in the air, silently asking to be picked up.

“Always excited to see me, aren’t you?” I chuckled as I scooped him up into my arms.

He responded with a giddy giggle, his chubby arms wrapping around my neck.

“You’re looking like a little movie star in these clothes, Jaan,” I murmured, brushing the soft hair off his forehead.

Ansh smiled, poking his tongue out mischievously, and I couldn’t help but kiss his head, overwhelmed by the love I felt for this little human.

Ankita’s POV:

I watched Aryan interact with Ansh, my heart swelling with warmth.

“Aryan, can you stay with him for a few minutes? I need to finish getting ready,” I asked, quickly tidying the bed.

“Of course, Ankita. Me and my Jaan will go for a little walk in the garden, right, baby?” Aryan said, gently shaking Ansh’s palm.

Ansh’s eyes sparkled at the mention of the word “walk,” and he kicked his legs in excitement.

He always loved the outdoors.I watched as they disappeared into the garden, Aryan carrying him in his arms.

I hurried to get ready, slipping into a baby blue saree and tying my hair up in a loose bun.

A few strands of hair fell across my face, but I let them be. I glanced in the mirror, feeling somewhat pleased with the way the saree accentuated my figure.

When I headed out to join them, I saw Aryan holding Ansh, walking slowly across the lawn.

Ansh was pointing at a dog that had wandered into the yard, his little fingers wiggling in excitement.

Aryan crouched down to show him the dog, and I smiled at the sight, my heart swelling with love for both of them.

Aryan’s POV:

We walked through the garden, the cool breeze ruffling Ansh’s hair. He was curious about everything, his eyes wide as he took in the world around him.

When he spotted the neighborhood dog lying in the grass, his whole body vibrated with excitement.

“See that, Jaan? That’s a doggy! Do you like it?” I asked, watching as Ansh’s tiny hands clapped together in delight.

He babbled excitedly, his eyes glued to the dog as it wagged its tail in response.

I chuckled, promising him, “When you get a bit bigger, I’ll get you a puppy. Then you can play with him all day long.”Ansh grinned, showing his toothless gums as if he understood every word.

Ankita emerged from the house, dressed in a stunning baby blue saree, her hair was tied in a loose bun.

The sight of her stopped me in my tracks. The way the saree hugged her curves, the few loose strands of hair framing her face…

I had to force myself to look away, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest.

What’s happening to me? I thought, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I gulped, trying to steady my breath, but I couldn’t stop my heart from racing.

Ankita’s POV:

I felt a little self-conscious in the blouse I had chosen. It didn’t fit quite right, tugging slightly at the seams, but it was too late to change now.

I adjusted it again, hoping it would stay in place for the rest of the day.

When I reached the car, Aryan was already there, holding Ansh in his arms.

“Aryan, did you pack the reports and files in the car?” I asked, wanting to be sure nothing was forgotten.

He nodded, but something seemed off. He was answering me, but his gaze was averted, staring off into the distance.

“Aryan?” I called again, confused.

“Ye-s, An-kita, everything’s packed. Let’s go before we’re late,” he replied, flashing me a small smile before gently handing Ansh to me.

I frowned slightly at his odd behavior but shrugged it off. Maybe I was just overthinking things.

Aryan’s POV:

As I started the car, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of disappointment when Ankita chose to sit in the back with Ansh.

I had hoped she would sit up front with me, but I didn’t let it show.

I adjusted the front mirror and caught her eyes briefly in the reflection.

Our gazes locked for a moment, her kajal-lined eyes meeting mine.

My heart skipped a beat, but before I could process the feeling, she turned away, focusing on Ansh.

Why does she have this effect on me? I wondered, my stomach fluttering with nervous energy.

Every time she looked at me with those deep, kohl-rimmed eyes, I felt like I was losing control of my emotions.

Shaking my head, I forced myself to focus on the road, though my thoughts were anything but calm.

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How is the chapter guys ???