Epilogue 4
I stir when I feel something soft hitting my face.
Not once.
Again.
And again.
My eyes slowly open, only to find two tiny humans sitting on my chest like they own me.
Lucas is patting my cheek with full concentration, while Laksh is trying to grab my nose like it’s some kind of achievement.
I stare at them for a moment.
They stare back.
Then both of them break into wide, toothless smiles.
I let out a slow breath.
“So this is how I die,” I mutter.
Lucas lets out an excited sound, clearly proud of himself, while Laksh leans forward and slaps my face again—harder this time.
I grab his tiny hand mid-air.
“Violence is not allowed in this house,” I tell him seriously.
He blinks at me.
Then immediately tries again.
I push myself up slowly, adjusting them carefully in my arms.
From the bathroom, I can hear the sound of running water.
Ruhi.
“She left you two alone with me?” I murmur.
Big mistake.
Lucas grabs my collar and pulls himself closer, while Laksh starts chewing on my shoulder like it’s perfectly normal.
I close my eyes for a second.
“Unbelievable.”
Just then, the bathroom door opens.
Ruhi walks out, her hair slightly damp, draped in a simple saree, looking completely calm… like she didn’t just abandon me to chaos.
She stops when she sees us.
A soft smile forms on her lips.
“Well,” she says casually, “looks like they woke up.”
I look at her, unimpressed.
“You think?”
She walks closer, clearly enjoying this.
Lucas immediately reaches out toward her.
Traitor.
Ruhi takes him gently, pressing a kiss to his cheek, while Laksh remains in my arms, still playing with my shirt.
“You’re doing great,” she says sweetly.
“I’m being attacked.”
“You’re being loved.”
Laksh suddenly squeals loudly, clearly disagreeing with my statement.
I look down at him.
He looks extremely proud of himself.
I shake my head slowly.
“They’re dangerous.”
Ruhi laughs softly before turning toward the wardrobe.
“I’ll get them ready.”
“No,” I say immediately.
She pauses and looks at me.
“I’ll do it.”
Her eyebrow lifts slightly.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You can barely handle them sitting on you.”
I stand up, adjusting Laksh carefully.
“Watch me.”
A few minutes later…
I regret everything.
Lucas refuses to stay still.
Laksh keeps kicking his tiny legs like he’s preparing for battle.
One of them grabs the towel.
The other throws it.
Leo walks into the room and sits down quietly, watching the entire scene like he’s judging me.
Ruhi leans against the wall, trying not to laugh.
“You said you’ll do it.”
“I didn’t realize they were this difficult.”
“They’re babies.”
“They’re criminals.”
She finally walks over, helping me dress them properly.
Within seconds, both of them calm down.
I stare at her.
“How?”
She shrugs slightly.
“Experience.”
Lucas yawns and rests his head on her shoulder.
Laksh holds onto my finger again.
And just like that…
Everything becomes quiet.
I look at them.
Then at her.
And suddenly, Nonno’s words echo in my mind.
You have your family.
I pull Ruhi closer with one arm, careful not to disturb the babies.
She looks up at me softly.
“What?”
I shake my head.
“Nothing.”
But it’s not nothing.
Because standing here…
With my wife beside me and my sons holding onto me like I’m their entire world…
I finally understand.
This…
Is everything.
A few minutes later, we finally manage to get out of the room.
Lucas is in Ruhi’s arms, half asleep again, his tiny hand clutching her saree.
Laksh rests against my shoulder, unusually calm for once, his fingers still wrapped around mine like he refuses to let go.
Leo follows us downstairs, as always.
The moment we step into the living room, I stop.
Of course.
They’re here.
Alexander is sitting comfortably on the couch like he owns the place, one arm stretched behind him, completely relaxed.
And beside him…
Nisha.
She’s sitting straight, composed as always, looking effortlessly put together even this early in the morning.
I narrow my eyes slightly.
“Do you people not have a home?”
Alexander looks up, completely unfazed.
“Good morning to you too.”
Nisha glances at me briefly before her eyes move to the babies.
And just like that…
Her expression softens.
“Good morning,” she says calmly.
Ruhi smiles warmly.
“You came early.”
“I didn’t come,” Nisha replies. “He dragged me.”
Alexander grins.
“Correction. I invited myself.”
“That’s called trespassing,” I mutter.
He ignores me and stands up, walking toward us.
His attention immediately shifts to the twins.
“Ah,” he says, “my favorite people.”
“They don’t even know you,” I reply flatly.
“They will.”
He leans closer, looking at Laksh.
Laksh stares at him for a second.
Then suddenly makes a face.
I smirk.
“Rejection.”
Alexander places a hand on his chest.
“That hurt.”
Ruhi laughs softly while adjusting Lucas in her arms.
Nisha slowly stands up and walks closer, her eyes now fixed on the babies.
“Can I?” she asks, looking at Ruhi.
Ruhi nods immediately.
“Of course.”
Nisha carefully takes Lucas into her arms.
And for a moment…
The savage, sharp-tongued woman completely disappears.
She looks… gentle.
Soft.
Lucas blinks up at her before grabbing a strand of her hair.
Nisha freezes.
Alexander watches with amusement.
“Looks like he likes you.”
Nisha glares at him.
“He’s pulling my hair.”
“Love comes in different forms.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t let go of the baby.
Instead, she adjusts him more comfortably.
Laksh, meanwhile, is still in my arms.
Alexander tries to take him.
“No,” I say immediately.
“Why?”
“You’ll drop him.”
“I will not.”
“You will.”
Alexander scoffs.
“Give him.”
I hesitate for a moment before carefully handing Laksh over.
Alexander holds him awkwardly at first.
Laksh stares at him.
Then suddenly grabs his shirt.
Alexander blinks.
“…Okay.”
Ruhi laughs.
“You look scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
Laksh lets out a random loud sound.
Alexander stiffens.
“I might be slightly concerned.”
Nisha glances at him, clearly enjoying this.
“Careful,” she says. “That’s your future responsibility if you keep flirting like this.”
Alexander smirks instantly.
“So you admit there’s a future?”
Nisha almost drops Lucas.
“What? No—”
Ruhi gasps dramatically.
“I knew it!”
“There is nothing,” Nisha says quickly.
Alexander leans slightly closer to her.
“There could be.”
Nisha glares at him.
“Keep dreaming.”
I shake my head, watching the entire scene.
Chaos.
Unnecessary chaos.
But as I look around…
Ruhi smiling.
The twins making soft noises.
Alexander being an idiot.
Nisha pretending she’s not affected.
Leo sitting like a silent guard.
I realize something again.
This house…
Is alive.
And for the first time in a long time…
It doesn’t feel empty anymore.