chapter 73
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With just one chapter left, our journey is finally coming to an end.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Before he could even react-
"I'm back-" Ishni's voice came from the entrance.
Both of them snapped their heads toward the door. Ishni walked in casually... and froze mid-step.
Her eyes scanned the kitchen.
"What's happening here?" Ishni asked, trying to sound serious-but her lips were already twitching.
Aaradhya immediately stepped forward, still covered in flour like a tiny criminal ready with her defense.
"Mama... it was daddy," she said, pointing straight at Rudra with full confidence. "He was... cooking... and then this... happened."
She even moved her hands while explaining, like a full professional storyteller.
Rudra blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Completely shocked.
"What-no!" he said instantly, pointing back at her. "I was cooking noodles!"
Ishni slowly turned her head toward him.
"Noodles?" she repeated, raising a brow. "And who told you to feed her that?"
Rudra froze.
"Jaan... I..." he started, already knowing he had lost this case.
Behind him, Aaradhya quietly nodded like she was agreeing with Ishni.
"Yes mama... I told him no... but daddy didn't listen," she added, shaking her head sadly.
Rudra's eyes widened. "Excuse me?! You were the one begging-"
Aaradhya gasped dramatically. "Daddy is lying!"
"I am not lying!" Rudra shot back, completely offended.
Ishni crossed her arms, trying very hard not to smile. "Oh really?"
Rudra pointed at Aaradhya again. "She opened the flour box!"
Aaradhya immediately hid behind Ishni, peeking out with big innocent eyes. "Mama... daddy is blaming me..."
Rudra looked at her like he had just been betrayed by his own blood.
"Unbelievable," he muttered.
Ishni finally gave up.
She laughed.
Seeing her laugh, Aaradhya also started giggling, clutching Ishni's leg.
Rudra stood there in the middle of the kitchen, covered in flour, falsely accused, and completely defeated.
"Great," he said dryly. "Both of you against me."
Aaradhya looked up at Ishni and whispered loudly, "Mama... daddy is scared."
"I am not scared," Rudra replied instantly.
"Then why you quiet?" she challenged.
Rudra opened his mouth then closed it.
Ishni shook her head, still laughing, walking toward them.
She gently wiped some flour off Aaradhya's cheek. "Both of you... look at this mess."
Aaradhya smiled proudly. "Pretty, no?"
Rudra sighed, looking around at the disaster. "Yes... very artistic."
Ishni looked at him, still smiling softly now. "You were supposed to feed her lunch."
Rudra pointed at the stove. "I was doing that! Then she decided to open a bakery."
Aaradhya giggled loudly.
Ishni shook her head again.
"aap dono na ek dum pagal hai," she said, but her voice was full of love.
And in that chaotic kitchen with flour everywhere, accusations flying, and laughter refusing to stop it didn't feel like a mess it felt like home.
After what felt like a full battle the kitchen was finally clean.
The flour was gone, the counters wiped, the "ghost attack" erased from every corner. Aaradhya had been thoroughly cleaned by Ishni, though not without giggles, tiny protests, and a lot of splashing water.
Now she sat comfortably on the bed, all fresh, wearing her little night clothes, her hair slightly damp and neatly combed. She was playing with her toy, humming something to herself like nothing had ever happened.
The room felt calm again
The bathroom door opened.
Rudra stepped out, his hair still wet, droplets sliding down his forehead as he wiped it with a towel. He looked relaxed now, changed into comfortable clothes, but a few strands of hair still falling over his eyes.
Aaradhya looked up instantly.
"Papaaa..." she called happily.
Rudra looked at her and smiled softly, walking toward the bed. "Hmm... my clean princess," he said, sitting beside her.
She grinned. "Mama cleaned me."
"I saw," he replied, glancing at Ishni for a second.
Ishni, who was adjusting things nearby, looked at him with a small smile.
Rudra leaned back slightly, still drying his hair, his eyes moving between both of them.
His world.
Right here.
Aaradhya suddenly crawled toward him and climbed into on him without asking, settling comfortably like it was her rightful place.
He wrapped one arm around her instinctively.
"Papa..." she whispered softly.
"Hm?"
She leaned closer and whispered like a secret, "Don't tell mama... I will again eat noddles tomorrow."
Rudra paused.
Then slowly looked at Ishni.
Then back at her.
"...We'll discuss that later," he said in a low voice.
Aaradhya nodded seriously.
"Secret," she said.
Rudra sighed softly, trying not to smile. "Very dangerous secret."
Ishni looked at them both suspiciously. "What are you two whispering?"
"Nothing," Rudra replied instantly.
Aaradhya nodded quickly. "Nothing!"
Ishni raised a brow.
Rudra just looked away, pretending to be busy with the towel.
Aaradhya buried her face in his chest, giggling softly.
Ishni sighed softly and walked toward the nearby couch, finally sitting down, her body relaxing after the long, chaotic day.
Rudra's eyes followed her instantly.
Without saying anything, he got up and walked toward her, sitting right beside her.
Aaradhya, completely busy in her little world with the phone, didn't even notice.
Rudra didn't waste a second.
He slipped his arm around Ishni's waist, pulling her gently closer to him.
"Rudra..." she whispered, slightly startled, her eyes flicking toward Aaradhya for a second. "What are you doing?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled her even closer, until she was almost leaning into him, and then buried his face into the crook of her neck.
A soft breath escaped him.
"Nothing..." he murmured against her skin, his voice low and warm. "Just cuddling my wife."
Ishni's breath hitched slightly at the sudden closeness, her fingers instinctively gripping his shirt.
"Rudra... Aaradhya is right there," she whispered, trying to sound firm but her voice already softening.
He hummed lightly, not moving at all.
"She's busy," he replied calmly, his hold tightening just a little, like he had no intention of letting her go.
His nose brushed lightly against her neck, his breath warm, familiar... comforting.
"I missed you today," he added quietly.
That made her pause.
Her expression softened instantly.
"Rudra..." she whispered again, but this time there was no resistance.
Her hand slowly moved up, resting against his shoulder.
He shifted slightly, pulling her more comfortably against him, his cheek still resting near her neck like that was where he belonged.
"Now give your husband a kiss," Rudra said casually, like he was asking for water.
Ishni's head snapped toward him. "RUDRA!!" she whisper-yelled, instantly checking if Aaradhya was looking.
He didn't even flinch.
"Noo... give me," he said again, pulling her even closer, completely shameless.
"Rudra, stop being shameless," she muttered, trying to push him away, but he just tightened his hold like a stubborn child.
He smirked. "What? I'm just showing my child how much daddy loves her mama."
She tried not to smile. Failed.
"Rudra... leave me," she whispered, half-laughing now.
"No," he said calmly.
"Rudra-"
"Kiss first."
"Are you serious right now?"
"Very."
She looked at him... then at Aaradhya... then back at him.
"Fine!" she whispered angrily. "Bas one second."
She quickly leaned in and kissed his cheek-fast, like she was completing a task.
"There. Done."
Rudra blinked.
Then slowly turned his face toward her.
"That was cheating," he said.
Before she could react he leaned in and stole a quick kiss from her lips.
Ishni froze like her soul left her body.
"RUDRA!!!" she whisper-screamed, covering her mouth.
He sat back like nothing happened.
And then from the other side a tiny voice came.
"Ewwww."
Both of them turned.
Aaradhya was staring at them with full judgment.
"Papa... why you eating mama?" she asked seriously.
Rudra choked.
"I am NOT eating-"
"That was not eating," Ishni muttered, hiding her face in embarrassment.
Aaradhya shook her head like she had seen too much. "chiiiiiii."
Rudra looked offended. "Excuse me?!"
She pointed at them. "You both doing weird things."
Ishni burst out laughing.
Rudra leaned forward. "It's called love."
Aaradhya made a face. "I don't like this love."
Rudra gasped dramatically. "You will, when you grow up."
She crossed her arms. "Never."
"Okay," he nodded. "We'll remind you later."
Aaradhya looked at Ishni and whispered loudly, "Mama... papa is very strange."
Ishni laughed harder.
Rudra sighed, shaking his head. "Great. My own daughter insulting me."
Aaradhya grinned. "I'm mama's baby."
Rudra pulled Ishni closer again. "Mama is mine." Aaradhya gasped. "No! Mama is mine also!"
Now both of them stared at each other.
"Sharing," Ishni said in between laughs.
Both nodded slowly.
"Okay..." Aaradhya said.
"Okay," Rudra agreed.
Two seconds of peace.
Then Aaradhya pointed at them again-
"But no more eating mama."
Ishni lost it. Rudra just leaned back.
"...I quit parenting today," he muttered...
Time skip
Their little Aaradhya had grown up even more.
Now she had a tiny school bag, neatly tied hair, little shoes that made soft sounds on the floor-and endless stories to tell.
---
Rudra sat in the hall beside Ishni, both of them enjoying a rare moment of calm. Ishni was leaning slightly back, while Rudra sat close, one arm resting lazily behind her.
The house was quiet until suddenly-
thud thud thud
Tiny rushed footsteps.
The door burst open.
"PAPAAAAAA!"
Aaradhya came running in, her bag almost slipping off her shoulder, her face glowing with excitement.
Rudra immediately straightened. "Arre-my princess," he said, opening his arms just in time.
She crashed into him, hugging him tightly. "Papa! Mama!" she said, almost out of breath.
Ishni smiled warmly. "Aara... slowly, Aaradhya beta. What happened?"
Aaradhya pulled back, her eyes sparkling. "Mama! Today in school-" she started, talking super fast, words mixing together.
Rudra gently took her bag off her shoulder. "First... breathe," he said, smiling.
She took a dramatic breath.
Then started again.
"Today I answered question! Teacher said 'very good Aaradhya' and then I got star also!" she said proudly, showing her tiny hand like the star was still there.
Rudra's face softened instantly.
"Oh?" he said, lifting her slightly onto his lap. "My daughter got a star?"
She nodded proudly. "Yes!"
Ishni leaned closer, kissing her forehead. "I'm so proud of you."
Aaradhya beamed.
Then suddenly she leaned toward Rudra and whispered loudly, "Papa... I'm smartest in class."
Rudra nodded seriously. "Of course. That's my daughter."
Ishni raised a brow. "Excuse me? Our daughter."
Aaradhya looked between them.
Then said very seriously "I got brain from mama... and attitude from papa."
There was a pause.
Rudra blinked, Ishni tried not to laugh.
"...Attitude?" Rudra repeated.
Aaradhya nodded proudly. "Yes. Teacher said I talk a lot."
Ishni burst out laughing.
Rudra looked at her. "This is your upbringing."
"My upbringing?!" Ishni laughed. "She's literally your copy."
Aaradhya looked confused... then happily hugged both of them.
"I'm both!" she declared.
Rudra sighed softly but smiled, kissing her hair. "Yes... unfortunately."
"Papa!" she gasped.
Ishni laughed again, resting her head lightly against Rudra's shoulder.
The moment shifted the second Ishni's phone rang. She answered it casually, but within a few seconds, her expression changed-her eyes sharpening, her tone turning firm.
"Okay... we'll make sure it doesn't happen again," she said before hanging up. A strange silence followed. Rudra noticed it immediately. "What happened?" he asked, his voice calm but alert.
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