Epilogue #3
The moment he says that, the possessiveness returns in full force. “No. You’re not asking Maa anything.” I point a finger at him.
“See?” Vishnu says with a laugh. “Protective son activated again.”
Before I can respond, Simran and Trisha walk over to us.
“If the women’s gossip session is finally over, can we please cut the cake now?” Simran asks.
The entire group protests at once.
“What women’s gossip?” Krish looks personally offended. “We do not gossip. We discuss serious topics.”
“Very serious topics,” Ayaan adds, trying to hold his grin.
“Oh, really?” Trisha arches an eyebrow. “What was today’s serious topic?”
We all look at each other because nobody has an answer. I don’t know why, but we all look at Vishnu, who blurts out, “We were discussing politics.”
Everyone nods in unison, covering up his lie.
“Really?” Simran narrows her eyes at him.
Vishnu calmly lifts his drink. “Of course. We were discussing international affairs.”
Now Trisha is openly laughing.
Simran simply points at her husband. “Bulsh*t. Look at his face,” she says to Trisha. “It’s so obvious he’s lying.”
The rest of us immediately start laughing.
“Come on,” Trisha adds. “A few minutes ago, we overheard what you guys were discussing.”
“And what is that?” Krish asks cautiously.
“How your wives don’t give you enough time anymore because we’re too busy taking care of your children.”
“Exactly,” Simran says. “You all wanted children. And now you’re complaining because you don’t get enough time with your wives anymore.”
“That’s not what we were saying,” Krish defends himself.
“You were.” Trisha narrows her eyes at him. “And when exactly are mothers supposed to find free time between raising the kids, running the house, managing work, and taking care of you guys?”
“Baby, relax,” Krish says, lifting both hands in surrender.
“Actually, I think they have a point,” Ayaan says, cutting in before Krish can continue. “I think we all should seriously plan a trip. Just us. No kids.”
The men immediately become interested.
“You mean a proper vacation?” I ask, suddenly far more interested. “Only couples? No children?”
“Exactly. A few days at some exotic location,” Ayaan adds. “There are enough elders to take care of all our kids, especially if they’re all in one place, like here at RK Estate.”
The idea receives immediate approval from every man present, but the women look considerably less convinced.
“Fine,” Trisha says finally. “We need to discuss this with Meher and Siya. But right now?” She points towards the stage. “We need to cut the cake.”
That finally brings everyone’s attention back to the actual celebration. I glance around, searching for one person.
“Where’s Siya?”
Simran smiles. “She’s bringing the cake out.”
Almost on cue, my eyes find her. Siya enters the ballroom, pushing the cake trolley, with Meher and Esha beside her, helping with the rest of the arrangements.
As the cakes arrive, the entire family’s attention shifts towards the table, and we head there too.
There are two cakes tonight. One is for the fiftieth anniversary of RK Estate, and the other is for Ayaan and me.
Our birthday cake. The large anniversary cake sits proudly at the centre while our birthday cake is placed beside it.
The guests begin gathering around, and the children immediately become excited. In the middle of it all, Ayaan and I exchange a glance before looking for one person.
Baba.
The moment we spot him, we both walk over and bring him to the table to cut the cake.
Naturally, he starts protesting. “Why me? You two should be doing this.”
Ayaan shakes his head. “No, Dad. All these years, you’ve carried RK Estate on your shoulders. It was you who protected this legacy.”
“Exactly,” I add. “Ayaan and I may be looking after it now, but the right to cut this cake belongs to you.”
Baba opens his mouth to argue again, but Ayaan doesn’t give him the chance. I step forward and rest a hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, Baba. You can’t disappoint us tonight.”
His expression softens into a smile. “When have I ever disappointed my sons?”
That answer alone brings smiles to everyone around us.
Before either of us can say anything else, he takes the knife.
The entire hall falls silent, and with all of us gathered around him, Baba cuts the fiftieth anniversary cake.
Applause erupts throughout the hall. Guests cheer. Family members clap.
Then it’s our turn. As Ayaan and I move towards our birthday cake, the children start jumping in excitement. But the mothers step in before complete chaos can break out.
“Let your fathers cut the cake first. Then you can have yours,” Meher says to Arnav and Rudra, who are already trying to swipe a little icing with their fingers.
The children reluctantly agree… for about five seconds. For the first time, Ayaan and I cut our birthday cake together. Another round of applause follows as we each pick up a piece of cake and turn to Baba first.
Always him. We feed him before anyone else.
After that, everything becomes a blur of laughter, cake, and celebration.
The children are next. Then our wives. Then the rest of the family.
Everybody wants a piece of cake. Everybody wants photographs.
Everybody wants memories. It’s one of the happiest moments our family has had in years.
Ayaan and I look at each other.
“Happy Birthday, brother,” he says, feeding me a piece of cake.
I pick up another piece and feed him too before pulling him into a tight hug. “Happy Birthday.”
And just like that, we return to our families, our wives, our children, and to the life we have built together.
*****************
A few hours later
It is well past midnight, and the celebrations have finally come to an end. The guests have retired to their rooms, and the laughter that filled RK Estate all day has softened into a peaceful silence. Now, it’s just the four of us.
Ayaan, Meher, Siya, and me.
We’re sitting in the open garden outside my villa, a bonfire burning brightly between us. Siya and Meher are settled on the mat beside us, talking about the day’s celebrations.
Siya is leaning against me, her shoulder pressed into mine as she idly swirls the wine in her glass. None of us is in any hurry to call it a night. We’re all enjoying the rare luxury of peace.
Rudra, Riya, Myra, Arnav, Sanvi, Veer, Rihan, and Prisha are all tucked into bed, and everyone else has retired for the night.
Meher is still talking about how much she loved the cakes.
“The cakes were yum. They looked beautiful, and tasted even better,” she says, smiling. “Everything about today was just perfect.”
“It really was,” Siya agrees. “I’m booking the same bakers for our wedding anniversary cake.”
Ayaan and I exchange a small smile as we watch our wives relive the day, dissecting every little detail that made it special. I glance at Siya, still talking animatedly with Meher. As she talks about our wedding anniversary, my gaze shifts to Ayaan.
There’s something I’ve never said to him. Something he deserves to hear.
I turn towards him and say, “Thank you.”
Ayaan looks at me, confused. “For what?”
I stare into the bonfire for a moment before answering. “For planning to send Siya off to Queenstown five years ago.”
My gaze drifts to Siya, who looks up at me in surprise. I turn back to Ayaan.
“If you hadn’t changed that drop location, if you hadn’t decided to send Siya somewhere other than where I wanted... I don’t think I would have realised what she truly meant to me.”
A faint smile appears on Siya’s lips.
“Of course, the decision to marry her was mine alone. But the reason I went there... that was because of you, Ayaan. So, thank you. If you hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t be here today.”
“I agree,” Siya says, entwining her fingers with mine as she rests her head on my shoulder.
Meher immediately snuggles closer to Ayaan. “I agree too.”
Ayaan gives a smug smile. “Great. So, you’re giving me all the credit for your love story?”
“Pretty much,” Meher giggles.
He grins. “Fine. If you’re serious about thanking me, then I want something in return.”
“Anything.” I don’t even hesitate.
“Alright...” The grin on his face widens. “Then stop reminding me every chance you get that you’re older than me by ten minutes.”
Meher, Siya, and I burst into laughter.
“That’s never happening.” I shake my head. “That’s the one thing I’ll never agree to. Besides, I know you secretly love it.”
The smile on Ayaan’s face tells me I’m right. A second later, we exchange a fist bump, just like we always have. Just like brothers.
I pour wine into all four glasses again.
“To RK Estate,” Ayaan says, raising his glass to toast.
“To happiness,” Meher adds with a smile.
“To family,” Siya says, looking at me as she snuggles a little closer.
They all turn to me. My eyes sweep across RK Estate, over the home we built together, before coming back to them.
“To Redemption,” I finally say.
A silence follows... the kind that only comes when life finally gives you more than you ever dared ask for.
We clink our glasses together, and beneath the stars of RK Estate, surrounded by family, love, friendship, forgiveness, and a future brighter than any of us once imagined, we drink to tomorrow.
THE END