Epilogue #2
"What if something happens?"
Dadi smiled.
"Your mother is strong."
Kabir nodded.
"I know."
"And your father is with her."
Kabir looked toward the closed door.
"He's probably more scared than Mumma."
Dadi laughed.
"Definitely."
---
Inside the hospital room, Aarav held Anaya's hand.
She glared at him.
"This is your fault."
He nodded immediately.
"I know."
"I hate you."
"I understand."
"Don't ever come near me again."
"Absolutely."
A nurse tried very hard not to laugh.
Another contraction came.
Anaya squeezed his hand.
Hard.
Very hard.
Aarav winced.
But didn't move.
"I'm here."
She closed her eyes.
Hours later...
A baby's cry filled the room.
Everything stopped.
Aarav stared.
The nurse gently placed the tiny baby in Anaya's arms.
A daughter.
Their daughter.
Anaya cried immediately.
Aarav didn't even try to hide his tears.
He sat beside her.
Completely speechless.
The tiny baby opened her eyes.
Aarav reached out with one trembling finger.
She wrapped her tiny hand around it.
And something inside him broke.
In the most beautiful way.
"She's so small."
Anaya laughed through her tears.
"Babies usually are."
Aarav smiled.
Then kissed Anaya's forehead.
"Thank you."
She looked at him.
"For what?"
"For this life."
---
A few minutes later, Kabir entered the room.
He walked slowly toward the bed.
For once, he had nothing to say.
Anaya smiled.
"Come here."
Kabir stepped closer.
She carefully showed him the baby.
"Meet your sister."
Kabir stared at her.
"She's tiny."
Aarav smiled.
"That was my reaction too."
Kabir gently touched the baby's hand.
She wrapped her fingers around his.
His face immediately changed.
Complete wonder.
"She likes me."
Anaya smiled.
"She does."
Kabir looked at his parents.
"What's her name?"
Aarav and Anaya exchanged a glance.
Then Anaya answered.
"Aarohi."
Kabir smiled.
"Aarohi Rathore."
The baby yawned.
Kabir looked proud.
"I think she likes it."
---
One year later...
The Rathore mansion garden was filled with laughter.
Aarohi took unsteady steps across the grass.
Kabir walked behind her with both arms ready to catch her.
"Come on."
The little girl giggled.
"One more step."
She stumbled.
Kabir caught her immediately.
"I got you."
From the balcony, Anaya watched them.
Aarav walked up beside her and handed her a cup of tea.
"You were right."
She looked at him.
"About what?"
"Years ago."
He smiled.
"You said Kabir was changing my world."
Anaya looked toward their children.
"He did."
Aarav slipped an arm around her waist.
"They both did."
She rested her head against his shoulder.
Below them, Kabir lifted Aarohi into his arms.
She laughed loudly.
"Again!"
Kabir sighed.
"You're heavy."
"Again!"
"Fine."
He spun her around.
Her laughter echoed through the garden.
Anaya smiled.
"Do you ever think about those five years?"
Aarav remained silent for a moment.
"Sometimes."
"Do you still regret them?"
"Yes."
His answer was honest.
"I always will."
Then he looked at her.
"But I don't live in them anymore."
Anaya's eyes softened.
Aarav looked toward Kabir.
Then Aarohi.
Then back at the woman beside him.
"I live here."
He kissed her forehead.
"With you."
Anaya smiled.
Below them, Kabir suddenly shouted.
"MUMMA! DAD!"
They looked down.
"Aarohi ate mud!"
Anaya's eyes widened.
"What?"
Aarav sighed.
"Perfect timing."
They hurried toward the garden.
Kabir was laughing.
Aarohi looked extremely pleased with herself.
Anaya picked her daughter up.
"Why would you eat mud?"
Aarohi giggled.
Aarav looked at Kabir.
"You were supposed to watch her."
"I looked away for two seconds!"
"That's enough time for disaster."
Kabir folded his arms.
"She gets that from Mumma."
Anaya gasped.
"Excuse me?"
Aarav looked away, trying not to laugh.
"Don't encourage him."
"I'm not."
"You are smiling."
"I'm happy."
The simple words silenced her.
Anaya looked around.
At Kabir.
At Aarohi.
At Aarav.
At the noisy, imperfect family surrounding her.
Then she smiled.
"So am I."
Aarav took her hand.
And as their children laughed around them, Anaya realized their story had never truly been about the years they lost.
It was about everything they chose to build afterward.
A love that survived fear.
A family that survived separation.
A man who learned that protection also meant patience.
A woman who learned she didn't have to carry every burden alone.
And a little boy who had brought two broken hearts back together before becoming the proudest big brother in the world.
Their love had once been hidden beneath years of pain.
But it had never disappeared.
It had waited.
It had endured.
And in the end, it had brought them home.
Some love stories are remembered because they are perfect.
Theirs was remembered because it wasn't.
It was messy.
Painful.
Imperfect.
But it was theirs.
And this time...
They chose each other.
Every day.
For the rest of their lives.
The End