Bonus 2
I entered my room after a long tiring day but was met with a hilarious sight to witness. Both my girls were chasing a very naked Dhruv who was laughing loudly and crawling around. He hates clothes.
"Adhyay help me! Look at him, he is not wearing anything", Akriti yelled and tried to pick up our son who jumped from her arms. He is a lot more active than usual five month babies are. We can't keep him sitting in one place.
Dhruv innocently looked at me, blinking his long lashes again and again.
He often does that to lure us in his cuteness.
He thinks he is the smartest. I knelt and picked my son up.
His lips wobbled and he wrapped his arms around my neck.
I looked at Akriti who was now standing in front of me with her arms on her waist.
"I am so done with this father and son duo, take this", she yelled, throwing me a onesie in which I was supposed to dress my son up.
I looked at Amayra who also imitated her mother's actions.
Shrugging my shoulders, I stood up and laid Dhruv on the bed.
Unfolding the onesie, I approached him but he rolled away.
"Dhruv come here, let me dress you up", I sternly said, using my fatherly tone on him. He pouted and crawled away from me.
"Baby, does it look nice when you show your tiny organs to these two girls?
We should hide it!", I said. He looked at me blinking his eyes and crawled towards me.
I smiled triumphantly and glanced at Akriti who was still looking at me with scrutiny.
I dressed him up and to my surprise he didn't revolt, just had a grin on his face.
He jumped from my arms as soon as I completed dressing him up and crawled to his mother.
Akriti smiled at our baby and instantly picked him up, showering kisses on his face.
How I wish it was me instead of Dhruv! I can't believe I am jealous of my kids, but Akriti doesn't give me time anymore.
When I come from work, she is busy entertaining Dhruv and Amayra.
When I wake up, I find her on calls or work.
At the breakfast table, instead of having lovey dovey talks, she consults me for her book.
How the hell am I supposed to not get jealous?
"Shanti, set up dinner please", she requested the maid and sat down with the kids.
I sighed and quickly changed into my sweatpants and a comfortable t-shirt.
Life was better without these two chipmunks, I don't complain about having them, I love them.
But sometimes, I just need my wife to be with me! They are draining all her time!
"Adhyay, do you know Amayra got first prize in a poem reciting competition", Akriti excitedly chanted as soon as I sat on the dining table. I looked at my daughter who nodded with a grin.
"That's amazing! I know my kids are intelligent like me", I boasted a little. For a second I almost felt like I just copied what my dad used to say whenever I or the twins would do something great. But who cares? Every father says this.
"Very intelligent like you?" Akriti sarcastically asked, rolling her eyes. Look! My wife doesn't even compliment me these days! When we were newly married, she always used to say how handsome I am but now she doesn't even look at me! What is this!
I scoffed and mumbled, "You can say whatever you want but at the end of the day you also know that my kids got my intelligence".
She rolled her eyes again and fed Dhruv who was a little too eager to get his mother's attention.
Such a pain in the ass. Amayra pointed at the heavy casserole, asking me to give her vegetable curry.
I sighed and helped her decorate her plate.
Akriti glanced at me a few times and when she was sure Dhruv was well fed, she put him down.
He can't sit at one place for long ever since he started crawling.
My son crawled around the dining table and giggled loudly when he found his toys neatly kept in a box. He pushed that box, taking out all the toys and making a mess in the dining room. Akriti sighed and called, "Dhruv baby don't spread things around".
He looked back at her and laughed again.
It was his way of telling that he won't listen to his mother.
Akriti fake glared at our son. He pouted and crawled back towards the dining table.
Patting my legs, he signalled me to take him in my lap.
With a smile, I took him in my arms and made him sit on my lap.
Kissing his soft cheeks, I resumed eating my food.
After we were done with dinner, I helped Akriti stuff the dirty utensils in the dishwasher and washed my hands clean. With a tired sigh, Akriti said, "Can you put Amayra to sleep while I clean the kitchen?"
I nodded and pulled her towards me by her waist. She gave me a tired smile and mumbled, "I am scared for tomorrow".
I kissed her forehead and traced her cheek with my index finger saying, "Hey! Don't worry, my love. The book is a banger and you will do excellent tomorrow".
She looked up with a gentle smile and said, "Hmm but it's my debut book in the romance genre. What if people don't buy it?"
I sighed and pecked her lips. She worries way too much.
"Akriti, 10,000 copies are already sold. After your interview tomorrow, more people will buy it. And don't you trust the abilities of your beloved husband? It's impossible to find a critic like me and I have read the book. It's perfect. If I like it then a lot of people will too", I explained.
She raised her eyebrows and said, "I don't trust you in that matter. You always say good things except a few minor mistakes. I think you deliberately butter me up".
"Yeah?"
"Yeah", she confirmed with a laugh. I pouted and argued, "That's because I don't find the mistakes!"
"Whatever, I don't believe you in this situation. Now go and narrate Amayra a story, she is calling for you", Akriti said and pushed me away. I groaned and walked towards our room when suddenly I turned towards my wife and teased, "Sweetheart, I have another way by which I can relieve your stress!"
She gasped when she realised the hidden intent of my words. Her cheeks slowly turned into a deep shade of red. She took in a shaky breath and threw a hand towel at me yelling, "Go and check on the kids, you idiot".
I chuckled and saluted my wife who still looked like a tomato. She glared at me but her ears and cheeks were burning red. She is so cute! I love her so much.
I threw a flying kiss at her and marched to my room.
When I entered our room, I found Amayra teaching Dhruv something and he was clapping his hands, giggling loudly.
I smiled, awing at how precious these two are.
Amayra and Dhruv are a perfect pair, just like Adrija and I were.
Sometimes, seeing them fight and then patching up instantly reminds me of Adrija when she was young.
She was always a bold one and loved troubling me, just like all younger siblings.
But I couldn't even remain angry with her for long.
Then the twins popped out, adding up to both of our miseries.
They were more mischievous than Adrija and finally she understood how much pain it is to be an elder one.
Just like that we were perfect together. And Amayra and Dhruv are as well.
"What are you doing my cute babies?", I asked and entered my room.
Amayra giggled and Dhruv rolled on the bed, howling with laughter.
I raised one eyebrow at my daughter. Dhruv patted on the bed gesturing me to sit beside him.
I shook my head with a smile and sat in between my two kids.
Dhruv yawned loudly and snuggled closer to me.
Seeing him sleepy, I picked him up and patted his tiny back.
"Story papa?" Amayra cutely asked. I couldn't help but agree with her. I put her in bed with Dhruv in one hand and pulled a blanket over her. She blinked her eyes as I began narrating her a story. Dhruv too sleepily listened to what I was narrating , such an inquisitive child he is.
After ten minutes, I found both of them drifting in their dream land.
Dropping a chaste kiss on both of their foreheads, I closed the lights.
I put Dhruv in his crib cautiously so that he doesn't wake up.
He sleeps with much difficulty. In the initial few months, we had a lot of trouble with him.
He would sleep at day time and wake the whole night.
Akriti was taking too much stress, I was scared that she would slip into postpartum depression so I decided to tell mom about it.
She understood the situation and asked us to move back to their house so that she takes care of Akriti and Dhruv both.
We did and things naturally became easier. Akriti regained herself and her health started getting better.
"Is he asleep?" I heard a very tired voice from my wife. I turned to find her standing with the support of the door taking deep breaths. I nodded with a smile and extended my arm, telling her to come closer. She sat beside me and leaned her head on my shoulder with a sigh and closed her eyes.
Out of reflex, my hand went to her hair and I began running my hands through her hair, relaxing her. In the past few months, she grew her hair from shoulder length to the middle of the back. She said that she wanted to try something new and thus was the change. She has changed so much from before.
"Adhyay?"
"Hm", I answered as I massaged her head. She fluttered open eyes and looked at me.
"People are office were saying that- that umm... they think that..that ", she stuttered.
I halted my hands and asked, "What? Tell me".
"They were saying that they think you must be jealous of me", she said quickly. I withdrew my hands from her hair instantly and asked, "What?"
"N-no I-I don't think like that, I-I mean-"
"You mean that since you earn more than me I might end up in an inferiority complex like husbands usually do", I completed her statement with a sharp breath.
Her lips parched and she slowly nodded. Did she really believe that?
Why the hell would I be jealous of her? Our professions are different, we are different and most importantly we are a family.
She intertwined our hands together and muttered, "I don't know Adhyay if it's true but I am scared".
"I am not leaving you Akriti", I asserted, meaning every word. I know where this all is coming from. She still thinks that I will behave like that bastard of her father and she will end up all alone. After all of this she really thinks that?
"I-I k-know but..but t-there h-have been a lot of incidents which I-I have known", she uttered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. I sighed and put my arm on her shoulders, pulling her to myself. She leaned in my warmth and hid her face in my chest.
"Y-you know Adhyay, just a few decades ago only men worked, women remained in their houses but suddenly women are out there working on their own.
Not you, but a lot of men take it as a wound on their ego.
You are different, I know but I also know that I sometimes feel jealous of you.
You are in such a tiring job but when you tell me how someone thanks you after you save their life, I feel jealous.
I really do. I feel like you are getting so much respect and love from your work and I?
I don't even do real things. I just write, it's not something thrilling.
Everyday you go to that hospital, save lives and emerge out smiling and I can't even manage to write something real without getting tired.
These days, I feel like I vent out my frustration on my kids, you.
I think I am failing in everything Adhyay but still you are there with me.
A-and the thought of you leaving me shatters me", she sobbed.
I pursed my lips not saying a thing. She looked up at me and cried, "I-I know the things I am saying will sound stupid to you but even if you sometimes think that I am better than you, I am not.
I am not. I don't have a big heart to adopt a girl I barely know, I can't marry someone just because they need my help, I can't be sweet to everyone and think of their well being before me.
I don't know how to manage everything together, but you do.
You have a big heart, a wonderful soul. You have the power to make someone smile even after a bad day.
I look up to you. Before you, I didn't know how to express myself, I always thought of myself.
You taught me to look at the brighter side".
I softly caressed her back and mumbled, "I am not jealous, I seriously am not.
I know there are a lot of husbands who pull back their wives but I swear I am not one of them.
I love when people take your name with so much adoration.
You know how proud I feel when I see you confidently answering the absurd questions of the interviewer. And you are wrong about yourself".
I cupped her cheeks and continued, "You are the most marvellous woman I have ever met, I swear. And I love you the way you are, you don't need to change yourself. And don't cry, hmm? Tomorrow is a special day for you, don't ruin your health".
She nodded, letting out a muffled sob. I kissed her forehead and mumbled teasingle, "My proposition of relieving your stress still stands, in case you changed your mind".
She giggled and smacked my chest muttering, "You are incorrigible".
Atleast she wasn't crying now, I hate when she does.
Time by time she needs someone to tell her how perfect she is.
The situation she comes from, explains her behaviour.
Children brought up by single parents face this complex often and Akriti does too.
On top of that her father didn't do a great deal setting an example of how husbands should be.
She still thinks that one day I will leave her like her father did.
She pecked my lips and muttered, "You are the best husband, you know that?"
I grinned and boasted, "I am, baby. Let's get back to business, I am in the bathroom if you wanna join".
I winked at her and marched towards the bathroom. She giggled and shook her head, denying my wonderful idea of relieving her stress in a nice way.
.........
"Adhyay give him to me, look how he is wailing", I ordered as my husband relentlessly tried to calm my son. Dhruv roared loudly and opened her arms for me to take him.
Shaking his head, Adhyay said, "No! Your taxi is here, I will handle him. You go, you'll get late for the interview".
"Interview can go to hell, Dhruv is crying Adhyay!
He will fall sick", I yelled at my husband, following him out to the porch of our house.
Adhyay glared at me, one of the deadliest ones.
If it was some other event, I would have been scared of the look on his face but today I wasn't. It was my baby we were talking about and in that case I don't trust anyone, even if it's my husband.
Dhruv roared crying once again, looking at me with glassy eyes, begging me to take him in my arms. I helplessly glanced at Adhyay who said, "You go, I will handle him. Akriti go!"
He rocked our son back and forth, showering him with kisses but nothing worked. Dhruv wants me right now and Adhyay is not letting me hold him.
"Akriti! Are you going or not?" Adhyay yelled at me finally.
I nodded,though my heart was begging me to just hold my baby and take care of him.
looking at Dhruv for the last time, I sat in the cab.
Dhruv's cries turned louder when he saw that I was going.
My heart ached seeing my son crying and I felt that whatever I was doing was wrong.
Adhyay asked me to go because my interview is important but how is it important when my kids are suffering without me?
I always made fun of my mother saying how she always was worried about me when she went out for work but today, when I am standing here as a mother of two children, I know how it feels.
There is a flicker of uncertainty in mind and worry that always laces in my heart.
Anxiety about how my baby would manage without me, fear if he hurts himself and if he doesn't stop crying.
How am I supposed to pacify my aching heart that he will be fine without me and it's a matter of just a few hours?
It's not like I don't trust Adhyay with Dhruv, I do but a mother is a mother.
Adhyay doesn't spend enough time with both of them as I do.
He doesn't know how cranky Dhruv can be if he doesn't get breastfeeded on time.
He doesn't know when to bathe him and put him to sleep.
I know it all and today when I stepped out of the home for the first time without Dhruv, I was scared.
After my delivery, whenever I had to go to the office for work, I carried him along. I didn't trust any maid with my kid.
Today Adhyay had made up his mind to not let me carry Dhruv with me.
He doesn't want him to get disturbed while I work and give the interview.
Technically, he is right. I also need to keep my identity secret and of my family.
Media can be a bit too nosy and that's why we never declared that we have two kids.
Everyone knows that I am married but to whom, they don't.
I closed my eyes as the car sped to the library where the book signing event and the interview was supposed to take place.
All throughout I kept on picturing how Dhruv would be.
Amayra had school today so I didn't have to worry about her but Dhruv can be a tough task.
He is sensitive to changes and today was a big change for him.
As soon as he woke up, he had to see his mother going out for work. He will cry for me the whole day.
My eyes welled up at the thought of my son and impulsively, I grabbed my mobile and called Adhyay. He didn't pick the call at once. After three tries, he picked the phone up and complained, "He won't stop crying, I don't know what to do".
My chest suddenly started feeling heavy. He was crying because of me, my baby was crying because of me.
"I am returning back home", I said
"No Akriti, you won't do this. I will manage him, you manage your work. I don't want you to regret anything just because I couldn't handle my son", he sternly said through the phone. In the background I could hear my baby's loud cries.
"Okay Akriti, I'll call you later. All the best sweetheart", Adhyay hastily spoke and disconnected the call.
My heart was in pain and at that moment I just wanted to go back home but I didn't. I didn't ask the driver to turn the car towards my home.
I was stuck, I was stuck between my passion and my child.
If I go back home, I would have to leave the interview, disappointing a thousand readers who bought seats and were eager to buy signed copies.
And if I don't go back home, my child will fall sick.
What decision am I supposed to take? Why is it so difficult for a mother to manage both her kids and work?
With a heavy heart, I stepped out of the cab as we stopped in front of the library.Wiping my tears, I put on a strong facade and entered inside.
The flash of cameras and the bustling chatter just made me more sad.
Never in my life I had thought that just to follow my passion I would have to leave my crying child at home.
I smiled as I saw my publisher and the graphic designer standing in the corner.
The two ladies smiled reassuringly at me.
The interviewer shook hands with me as we both sat on the round coffee table set up in the middle of the library.
The library was huge, I was here a million times before.
My mother used to bring me here when I was young.
My readers who were bustling with excitement took their seats that were set up in the library.
On the small coffee table, a printed copy of my book was kept.
I smiled looking at the cover, it was Adhyay's idea.
He suggested a lavender coloured background to give it a soothing look.
There were floral imprints on the top border and my bold pen name on the bottom.
"Hello everyone, I am your host Anjali and today we have our very own author, Antara Tiwari.
Who doesn't know her? She is one of the best in the field, her words hold a magical touch and with every page, you just want to dive along and along.
So let's welcome her here with a round of applause", the host roared on the mic.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and put on a smile.
The spectators in front of me burst into loud applause. My gaze went to the first row where one seat was left empty. Who decided to miss the session at the last moment?
"Miss Tiwari, we are so happy to have you here today on the book signing event of your brand new book 'The Love Prescription'", the host excitedly said. I nodded with a smile and said, "Trust me, I am more happy than you all".
All lies, all lies. I wasn't a bit happy to be here. I just wanted to go back to my son and take him in my arms. I wanted to kiss his cheeks and assure him that his mumma wasn't going anywhere.
"Of course, author and readers, it's a two way road", she commented with a giggle.
"Before we proceed, we all readers want to know what inspired you to write this book. Your past three books were not romantic books, why the sudden switch?" She asked.
She handed me the mic and I took a long breath before answering, "Well, I wasn't in the notion of writing any romance book, my past books were a testimony to that.
If you ever noticed, there was one thing common in every book of mine.
I only mentioned the failures seen in Indian marriages".
The readers nodded.
"But two years ago, someone broke my belief", I continued with a faint smile, remembering the face of my beloved Adhyay.
"Was that your husband?" The host asked.
I nodded and said, "Yes, he was my husband.
We met two years back and he was the one who made me believe that not every love story is a failure, not every marriage shatters.
His constant belief and support somewhere changed me.
I fell for him hard and on his persistence, I finally decided to bring a change in my life.
We got married and since then life has just been beautiful.
I wrote this book inspired from my own life.
The majority of the credit goes to my husband of course".
The readers clapped loudly and a few of the ladies chanted, "Awe". I smiled and handed the host back the mic.
"So can we expect glimpses of your own life from the book?" She asked.
"I won't spoil it right now but maybe yes", I answered.
"Okay okay, don't tell us, we respect your privacy", the host said with a laugh. I giggled and nodded.
"One more question. The cover is quite beautiful by the way, you designer surely did a lot of hard work", the host commented and I instantly knew what the next question was.
"All thanks to Rashi and her team, they did a lot of hard work", I said, giving credits to my graphic designer. She hooted from the corner of the library and my lips etched into a smile.
"We all know what inspired you to write this story and the cover also tells a lot. But I want to ask you why you decided to keep the male lead as a doctor?" She asked
I smiled and confidently answered, "I belong to a science background myself and I know that science nerds have the most complicated lives.
One of them is a doctor. A doctor spends so much time in the hospital that he barely has any time for his family but still, every day he comes back home with a smile on his face and gives hope to everyone.
Through this book, I wanted to highlight the busy nature of their lives and of course their love life".
The host commented again, "That was thoughtful of you, I am looking forward to reading their chemistry".
"But again one more question, why isn't the female lead a doctor? I personally have seen how doctors prefer to marry amongst the doctor community and have kids who are also doctors", she commented with a giggle and I was instantly reminded of Adhyay's family. They all are doctors.
"Again, that would spoil the story", I answered, preferring not to disclose that this story is exactly my love story, except the fact that I changed the names here and there, hid how stupidly I acted with Adhyay, reduced his family to half and made Adrija's presence more important.
I never got to thank her for what she did for me and Adhyay.
The host was going to ask another question when the library door opened and someone entered inside.
My gaze went to the figure which I realised was none other than my husband's.
He was holding Dhruv in one hand and made way to the first row.
My heartbeats rose and I smiled, this time it came from within.
Adhyay didn't look at me, trying to not make it oblivious that he was my husband.
Much to my relief, Dhruv wasn't crying anymore and was playing with Adhyay's collar.
Both of my boys were dressed up in a similar pair of light blue shirts and black pants.
Dhruv for a change was wearing black coloured shorts.
I bit down a smile when I saw Dhruv turning in his arms. He blinked his eyes and gave me a smile when he realised that I was here.
I almost expected him to jump from Adhyay's protective hold and crawl towards me but he didn't. He just giggled at something and hid his face in Adhyay's neck, shying away from me. Adhyay whispered something in his ears when the host brought me back to the interview.
"Miss Tiwari, I asked you a question", she recalled and I looked up at her, scrunching my eyebrows. I didn't hear what her question was.
"I asked if we can expect more romance books in future", she warmly said.
"Yes, of course! I am planning a second book in this series which will be out by next summer for sure, if we manage to complete it on time", I answered but my gaze was still stuck on my boys. Adhyay smiled when he caught my gaze, giving me a thousand butterflies in my tummy.
I looked away from him and concentrated on the interviewer but I felt his constant gaze throughout. Dhruv was blabbering something and as the interviewer reached its end, his patience ran thin.
"Thankyou so much Miss Tiwari-
The host started when Dhruv threw his arms in the air and jumped out of my husband's arms, earning the attention of the few young ladies sitting beside my husband.
I didn't fail to notice how shamefully one of them was ogling at my Adhyay.
She didn't pay heed to the fact that he had a baby sitting in his lap.
Dhruv crawled near me blabbering something out of excitement. Unable to control myself, I picked him up and kissed him several times. He giggled and patted my cheek as if saying he missed me.
"I missed you too my baby", I whispered against his forehead. I almost forgot that I was in the public with hundreds of readers around. When I realised what I did, I shifted Dhruv on my one hip and nervously smiled.
"Is that your son?" One of the readers asked.
"He is so cute", another one cooed. Dhruv giggled as one of the ladies gave him a flying kiss.
I helplessly looked at Adhyay who shrugged his shoulders with a smile. Shaking his head, he mouthed, "It's okay".
"Umm yes he is my son", I nervously answered when another one asked, "Them is that man in that corner your husband?"
Everyone's gaze followed to where she was pointing and Adhyay was standing. He stood there like a deer caught in the headlights. He slowly regained his balance and loudly answered, "Yes dear ladies, I am one and only Miss Tiwari's husband".
The ladies awed at how supportive my husband was while a few burned in jealousy. Yeah, take that!
He is mine.
Adhyay and I finally managed to quench their questions without giving away a lot of personal information and quickly went out of the library. Dhruv fell asleep in my arms as we drove to Amayra's school.
"He is so naughty", I commented, kissing his cheeks repeatedly. Just two hours were enough for me to realise how much I love my son. I can't even let him out of my gaze for long.
"He is, today he troubled me a lot. How do you handle him?" Adhyay asked whilst driving the car. I giggled and said, "I am his mother, Adhyay, I know his weak points".
"I seriously wonder if I troubled my dad like that when I was a baby, I will ask him today", Adhyay said with a sigh. Looks like Dhruv showed him hell today.
"Hmm ask him", I suggested.
"After picking up Amu, we'll go somewhere nice to have lunch", he suggested.
"Sounds perfect to me", I said with a smile.
................