Epilogue
Epilogue
And Then There Were Four
Three Years Later...
"Mumma!"
Anaya closed her eyes.
She had been awake for exactly forty-seven seconds.
Forty-seven peaceful seconds.
Apparently, that was all she was getting today.
"Mumma!"
"I'm awake!"
The bedroom door opened immediately.
Nine-year-old Kabir walked in, already dressed for school, his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
"You said that five minutes ago."
"I was mentally awake."
Kabir frowned.
"That doesn't count."
From the other side of the bed, Aarav laughed.
Anaya turned toward her husband.
"This is your fault."
Aarav looked completely relaxed.
"How?"
"He gets this habit of arguing from you."
Kabir climbed onto the bed.
"No."
He sat between them.
"Dadi says I get my intelligence from Dad and stubbornness from you."
Anaya stared at him.
"Your Dadi talks too much."
"I'll tell her you said that."
"Traitor."
Kabir grinned.
Some things never changed.
---
Life after their wedding hadn't suddenly become perfect.
There were disagreements.
Busy mornings.
Forgotten meetings.
School projects completed at midnight because Kabir had remembered them at the last possible moment.
There were days when Aarav returned home exhausted.
Days when Anaya had so much work that dinner became takeout.
But there was also laughter.
There were Sunday breakfasts.
Family movie nights.
Arguments over who had stolen the blanket.
And hundreds of ordinary moments that had slowly become their favourite memories.
They had learned something important.
A happy ending wasn't one perfect day.
It was choosing each other on all the imperfect ones that followed.
---
"Where's my breakfast?"
Kabir asked.
Anaya looked at the clock.
Then at Aarav.
Then back at Kabir.
"Your father is making it."
Aarav immediately sat up.
"I am?"
"You are now."
Kabir nodded seriously.
"I want pancakes."
Aarav sighed.
"Why does everyone order me around in my own house?"
Anaya smiled sweetly.
"Because you love us."
He looked at her.
Unfortunately, she had a point.
"Fine."
Kabir raised his hand.
"Chocolate pancakes."
"No."
"With extra chocolate."
"Absolutely not."
"You're becoming strict."
"I'm becoming responsible."
Kabir looked at Anaya.
"Mumma?"
"Don't involve me."
"You're supposed to support your child."
"I support healthy choices."
Kabir looked betrayed.
"This family has changed."
Aarav laughed as he walked toward the kitchen.
---
An hour later, the house became quiet.
Kabir had left for school.
Aarav had gone to an important meeting.
And Anaya finally sat alone in her home office.
Her laptop screen displayed the logo of her interior design company.
ANAYA DESIGNS
Three years ago, it had been a dream.
Today, she employed more than forty people.
Her company had completed projects across India.
Hotels.
Restaurants.
Luxury homes.
Corporate spaces.
And she had built all of it herself.
Aarav had supported her.
But he had never taken control.
Never invested money without being asked.
Never used his influence to hand her success.
Whenever she needed advice, he gave it.
Whenever she needed space, he respected it.
The company was hers.
And he was proud of her.
That mattered more than anything.
---
Around noon, Anaya's phone rang.
Aarav.
She smiled before answering.
"Don't you have a meeting?"
"I do."
"Then why are you calling?"
"Because you forgot something."
Her smile disappeared.
"What?"
"Your doctor's appointment."
Anaya froze.
Right.
That.
She had been trying not to think about it all morning.
"I didn't forget."
"You absolutely forgot."
"I remembered eventually."
"After I reminded you."
"Same thing."
Aarav sighed.
"I'll pick you up in thirty minutes."
"You don't have to come."
"I know."
His voice softened.
"I want to."
Anaya smiled.
Even after three years of marriage, he still said that.
Not I have to.
Not It's my responsibility.
I want to.
Some things changed.
The important things didn't.
---
An hour later, they sat together in the hospital waiting room.
Anaya's fingers were intertwined tightly.
Aarav noticed.
"Nervous?"
"No."
He looked at her.
She sighed.
"Maybe."
He gently took her hand.
"Whatever happens, we're okay."
She nodded.
They had been trying for another child for almost a year.
Not desperately.
Not because their family felt incomplete.
Kabir had already filled their lives with more love than they had ever imagined.
But they wanted another child.
And every negative test had quietly hurt.
Neither talked about it much.
Today, the doctor had asked them to come in after some routine tests.
Anaya didn't know what to expect.
The door opened.
"Mr. and Mrs. Rathore?"
They stood.
---
Twenty minutes later, neither of them had moved.
The doctor smiled.
"Congratulations."
Anaya stared at her.
Aarav seemed equally stunned.
"You're pregnant."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The doctor looked between them.
"Are you both okay?"
Anaya slowly turned toward Aarav.
His eyes were already shining.
"Pregnant?"
The doctor smiled.
"Eight weeks."
Anaya covered her mouth.
Tears filled her eyes.
Aarav reached for her hand.
For several seconds, neither could speak.
Then he laughed.
A quiet, emotional laugh.
"We're having a baby."
Anaya nodded through her tears.
"We're having a baby."
Aarav hugged her carefully.
As if she had suddenly become the most fragile person in the world.
She laughed against his chest.
"I'm pregnant, Aarav. I'm not made of glass."
"I know."
He didn't loosen his arms.
"I missed this the first time."
Her smile faded.
He looked down at her.
There was no accusation in his eyes.
Only emotion.
"I missed everything."
Anaya gently touched his cheek.
"I know."
His voice became quieter.
"This time, I want to be there for all of it."
"You will."
"Every appointment."
She smiled.
"Okay."
"Every scan."
"Okay."
"Every weird craving."
"You're going to regret promising that."
"I'll survive."
Anaya laughed through her tears.
For the first time, Aarav would experience everything he'd lost.
The first heartbeat.
The first kick.
The sleepless nights before the baby even arrived.
And Anaya knew he would treasure every second.
---
That evening, Kabir returned home from school.
The moment he entered, he became suspicious.
His parents were sitting together on the couch.
Smiling.
Too much.
He slowly removed his backpack.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Anaya said.
Kabir narrowed his eyes.
"You both look weird."
Aarav laughed.
"Sit down."
Kabir sat opposite them.
Still suspicious.
Aarav handed him a small box.
"What is this?"
"Open it."
Kabir lifted the lid.
Inside was a tiny white T-shirt.
He picked it up.
Written across the front were the words:
BEST BIG brOTHER
Kabir stared at it.
Then at his parents.
Then back at the shirt.
His eyes widened.
"No."
Anaya smiled.
Kabir stood.
"No way."
Aarav nodded.
Kabir's mouth fell open.
"YOU'RE HAVING A BABY?"
Anaya barely had time to answer before he threw himself at them.
The three of them nearly fell backward onto the couch.
"I'm going to be a brother!"
He pulled back suddenly.
"Wait."
His expression became serious.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"We don't know yet," Aarav said.
Kabir thought about it.
"I want a sister."
Anaya raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because another boy might steal my things."
Aarav stared at him.
"And a sister won't?"
Kabir considered the question.
"Good point."
---
Over the following months, Aarav became impossible.
Completely impossible.
"Don't carry that."
"It's a grocery bag."
"It's heavy."
"It has bread."
"Still."
Anaya stared at him.
"Aarav."
"What?"
"I'm pregnant. Not injured."
"I know."
"Then stop following me."
"I'm not following you."
"You followed me from the bedroom to the kitchen."
"I was going to the kitchen."
"You don't even know why."
He paused.
"I wanted water."
"You're holding coffee."
Aarav looked at the cup in his hand.
"Plans changed."
From the dining table, Kabir laughed.
"Dad's scared of Mumma."
Aarav looked at him.
"I'm concerned."
"Same thing."
Anaya smiled.
Her boys were impossible.
And she loved them.
---
Five months later...
The entire Rathore family gathered for the baby shower.
The mansion was filled with decorations, laughter and far too many gifts.
Dadi had taken complete control of the event.
Nobody dared stop her.
Kabir walked around proudly telling everyone he was going to be a big brother.
As if he had personally achieved something.
At one point, Aarav found him standing near the garden alone.
"What happened?"
Kabir looked toward the house.
"Will you love the baby more?"
The question caught Aarav completely off guard.
"What?"
Kabir looked down.
"Because you'll be there from the beginning."
Aarav's chest tightened.
He crouched in front of his son.
"Look at me."
Kabir did.
Aarav gently held his shoulders.
"I missed the first five years of your life."
Kabir remained quiet.
"And I will always regret that."
Aarav's voice softened.
"But there has never been a day since I found you when I didn't feel lucky to be your father."
Kabir's eyes filled with tears.
"The baby isn't replacing you."
"Promise?"
Aarav smiled.
"Promise."
Kabir hugged him.
Aarav held him tightly.
Then Kabir whispered,
"Can I still get the bigger bedroom?"
Aarav laughed.
"There he is."
---
Four months later...
The hospital corridor was filled with nervous family members.
Kabir had been walking back and forth for almost twenty minutes.
Dadi finally stopped him.
"Sit down."
"I can't."
"You're making me dizzy."