Morning light slipped through the curtains, brushing across my face. I blinked, slowly waking to the quiet hum of the fan above me. For a second, I didn't realize where I was—until the familiar scent of Vaishank's cologne lingered in the air.
I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and glanced at the clock. 11 a.m. A small yawn escaped me. He must've already gone to the office.
Still half-drowsy, I wandered out of the bedroom. The moment I stepped into the living room, something warm and savory drifted to my nose. The smell tugged me straight to the dining table. When I opened the steel container, I couldn't help but smile.
Soft chapatis and a bowl of mutton curry—my favorite.
He'd made sure I wouldn't skip breakfast. I sat down, took a bite, and let the taste linger—a mix of spice, tenderness, and love.
---
After breakfast, the house felt too quiet. I flipped through TV channels one after another, nothing interesting enough to hold my attention. The room felt heavy with silence, the ticking clock growing louder by the minute.
"Fine," I muttered. "Since there's nothing to watch, I'll sweep the floor."
I pushed myself up, grabbed the broom, and began cleaning. The steady swish of the broom almost soothed me—until I heard the click of the door and a deep, calm voice say,
"I'm home."
Before I could even turn around, the ground disappeared beneath me. A surprised gasp escaped my lips as I realized I was no longer standing—Vaishank had swept me off my feet, quite literally.
"Vaishank!" I blinked at him in disbelief, still caught in his arms.
He looked down at me with a slight frown. "Who asked you to do all this?"
Setting me carefully on the dining table, he took the broom from my hands and leaned it aside. His brows drew together. "Listen. You don't need to do housework anymore."
I tilted my head, half teasing. "Till the baby's delivery?"
He crossed his arms, still serious. "No. Forever. We can hire a maid for that."
I lifted one finger, pretending to think. "Ah, but cooking is my job. Only I can cook for you."
That made him smile, the stern look softening instantly. He placed his warm hand on my shoulder, his touch gentle and grounding. I mirrored his gesture, resting my hand over his.
"I'm too impatient for our baby," he murmured softly.
"Me too," I said, smiling. "Do you hear that, baby? Your mama and papa are waiting for you."
---
He exhaled, eyes flickering with warmth. "What name should we give?"
I thought for a second, smiling to myself. "If it's a girl, let's name her Vidya. And if it's a boy—"
"Raj. Your dad's name," he finished, his voice tender.
My breath caught. I looked at him, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. He gave me that quiet, steady smile—the kind that said everything without words.
"Are you okay with that?" he asked softly.
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion, and hugged him—tight and full, as if I never wanted to let go.
He hugged me back, arms sliding around my waist before suddenly gripping my thighs and lifting me again. I let out a small laugh as he carried me around the house like a five-year-old in her father's arms.
"This reminds me of when my dad used to carry me like this," I said, resting my head on his shoulder.
He chuckled. "Then it's your husband's duty now."
He sat down on the sofa, keeping me on his lap, facing him. My fingers traced the line of his jaw, then down to his chest. How lucky was I—to have someone this caring, this gentle, this impossibly handsome?
"Thank you for coming into my life," I whispered.
He smiled, brushing his thumb against my cheek. "Actually, I should be the one thanking you—for accepting my love."
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin, and pressed his lips to my collarbone. My heartbeat stumbled. His lips moved softly, lingering with a sweetness that made my fingers tighten around his collar.
My sleeveless shirt left my shoulders bare, and when his lips trailed upward, I closed my eyes, my body trembling under the heat of his touch.
"Are you comfortable?" he murmured, voice low enough to send a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed hard. "Ye-yes."
He smiled, brushing one last kiss under my chin before pulling away. "Fine," he said lightly, "I have to go soon… Let's bathe together before that."
I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me toward the bathroom. "You and your excuses."
He only grinned.
---
I never imagined life could be this beautiful—this close to a fairytale. I didn't know what I'd done to deserve a man like him, but I was grateful. Truly grateful.
And as I rested my head against his chest, one thought filled my heart—our story wouldn't end here.
Our love would keep growing, even after our baby was born.
Maybe not with just one child… but four. Or six.
Because with him, even forever didn't seem long enough.