Hi Maahira-A Failed Promise○

7. Princess

A flashback

"Aaj meri bitiya rani kya khaayengi? Blueberry cheesecake or maple waffles? Papa has got you both. Agar first option chahiye tohh ek baar laath maarein,agar second option chahiye tohh do baar laath maarein andddd if you want half-half portion of both,teen baar laath maarein!" Armaan exclaimed with a big cheeky smile on his face as he threw his office bag on the sofa and,with the two bakery boxes in his hands, tiptoed to sit beside a 7-month-pregnant Abhira-whose earlier gloomy eyes were now shining with happiness as she started with her favourite work these days-casual fighting with her khadusmaan.

"You,you kameena boy! How dare you? Yeh koi call center hain kya joh tum 'Is gaane ko caller tune set karne ke liye 1 dabayein,agle gaane ko set karne ke liye 2 dabayein and main menu pe jaane ke liye 3 dabayein' kar rahe ho? 

Body meri hain and tumhari beti abhi mere kabzeh mein hain,tohh zyaadah gundagiri math karo. Main tohh donon cheezein khaoongi aur full khaoongi" Abhira mumbled and turned her grumpy face to a side as Armaan lifted her kurti a little to kiss her baby bump and caressed it.

 With welled up eyes he whispered,

"Mera bachcha,you've grown so much! Do you remember the first time we got to know about you? It all felt like a surreal dream,princess. Mamma and Papa couldn't believe that you were there until you started growing and your mamma's belly turned into this golu molu golgappa. We've learnt a lot ever since you entered our lives baby,we both have grown so much as individuals. Your mamma,she has become a cool cucumber-so patient in decision making,she's become such a multitasker baby. And I, I have got a chance to reflect back upon my mistakes and try to become the father I yearned for. We're waiting to have you in our arms doll(I know you are a girl,and my gut feeling never lies), jaldi aana,healthy aana,khush aana. Intezaar kar rahein hain ham.

And please tell your mamma that she can't have large portions of this sugary stuff,hence I'm not going to let her have it full. Aadha khaana hain khayein nahin tohh mujhe khaate huye dekhein!"Armaan kissed her bump again and then looked up at Abhira when he felt her ruffling his hair gently. Both of them smiled at each other as the hot stream of tears rolling down their cheeks did not seem to stop-the reality of the time that had passed so quickly,striking them hard. Just eight weeks more,and the missing puzzle piece of their lives would complete them-just eight weeks!

Armaan cupped her face in his palms and brushed a hair strand away,her hands moving to his nape,wrapping themselves around. He slowly lowered his soft gaze to her parted lips and leaned in gently, loving the sensation of her pouty lips against his rough ones. She closed her eyes, pressing herself closer to him in the moment as he slowly captured her lips with his own. Ten minutes after they had lost themselves in each other's embrace,forgetting about the world around-they heard someone at the door and quickly parted,breathing heavily.

"Hawww mamma,bhai-bhabhi ne baby ke saamne kiss kiya. Baby ne aankhein bandh kari hongi?"Aryan asked with his index finger on his chin,as he,Manisha,Kaveri,Vidya and Kiara stood there with gifts in their hands.

"Aryan beta,tujhe kya lagta hain,baby aiseh hi hone walah-Oh sorry Armaan tu maar daalega-I mean hone walih hain in donon ki? Koi angels toh baby deliver karne nahi aate hain nah. Tohh yeh sirf ek mamooli si kiss thi,rayi ka pahadh bana raha hain tu badtameez?" Manisha winked at Abhira who blushed and started fidgeting with her dupatta and Armaan just stared at his unpredictable Chachi with amusement.

"Manisha,kyon hamari afath ki pothli ko pareshan kar rahi ho?Aisah koi karte hain? Ek tohh waiseh hi ham sab ne aake in donon ka moment kharab kar diya!"Kaveri put up a stoic face and said all of it with utmost sincerity,playfully slapping Manisha on the shoulder-earning a whistle from the kids.

"Dragon saaa"Abhira glared at her with her hands on her waist as she walked towards her.

"Kya dragon sa? Kuch galat kaha hamne?Hamein tohh nahin lagta!"

"Oh ho Dadisa. Aap aiseh apne pote ke tarah innocent look math deejeeye. Sab jaanti hoon main. Waiseh Dadisa,Rohit kab aa raha hain? Adu bhi aayega nah uske saath? Apni choti behen seh milne? Meri delivery ke time honge nah woh? Bataiye nah Dadisa?" Abhira eagerly asked as she clasped Dadisa's palms in hers.

"Ladki,hamein bolne tohh do! Aa raha hain tumhara Rohit Canada seh agle maheene. Apni bhabhi ki baath aaj tak taali hain uss ne? Adyant bhi aayega uske saath,bohoth time ho gaya hain nah hamein bhi usseh mile-ham bhi bohoth excited hain. Par abhi tum baitho,abhi sirf tum par dhyaan dena hain hamein. Baitho!" 

Dadisa seated Abhira on the bed and untied the knot of the small pouch in her hand,pulling out a delicate silver pearl anklet. As Kaveri bent down and gently brushed her fingers over Abhira's foot,she spoke in an almost inaudible voice,overwhelmed with emotions "D-dadisa,aap badi hain,aap aiseh mere pair...main khudh pehen loongi,aap rehne deejeeye"

"Chup ladki! Hamare ghar ki lakshmi ho tum beta,hamari bachchi ho tum. Ham kyon nahin pehna sakte tumhein? Yeh khaandani paayal hain,Kuldevi ke mandir mein chadhaye gayein,jo hamare ghar mein sabse badi bahu ki pehli pregnancy mein diya jaata hain. Paramatmaa tumhari aur hamare aane waleh waaris,hamari rajkumaari ki raksha karein" Dadisa spoke as she finished adorning both her feet with the anklets and got up to bless her,only to be engulfed by her in a tight hug.

"Thankyou Dadisaa,aap best hain. Par aapko kaiseh pata rajkumaari aayegi,raajkumar nahin?"

"Dekho,ham tumhein tohh kabhi bada hote dekh nahin paaye-hamein bhi tum jaisih 'one unique piece poti' chahiye thi,joh bilkul hamare jaisih ho. Par ham tumhari beti ko bada karna chahatein hain,tumharein hi guna honge nah usmein bhi!"

"Timeout mummysa,ab mere,Kiara aur Aryan ki chance hain. Aapne bohoth baath karli Abhira seh. Main bhi tohh hoon,I'm her BF. I deserve some time with her nah" Manisha walked towards Abhira while Kaveri just rolled her eyes at her.

"Tohh my best friend,yeh embroidered skirt aur blouse Kiara ne banayi hain baby ke liye,Yeh choti si jersey Aryan laaya hain. Krish aur Charu ne bhi kuch special banaya hain,woh tujhe kal denge trip se aa kar!"

"Haww best friend,aap nahin denge kuch bhi,not fair Chachisa!"

"Aisah ho sakta hain bhala? Tu apni aankhein bandh kar!"Chachisa put her palms over Abhira's eyelids as she gestured Aryan to get the frame kept outside. 

As Abhira opened her eyes,she saw before her a beautiful oil painting  of her and Armaan from their baby shower the previous month,where he wore a royal blue suit and she,a regal navy blue gown and a tiara of her favorite white flowers on her head. With awe and admiration in her eyes she saw Chachisa who was proudly holding the frame. Unbeknownst to them, Manisha had been working on that painting ever sincethe picture was clicked,in a struggle to complete it in a month's time-rediscovering her passionate love for her art.

"A-apne banayin Chachisa? B-bohoth bohoth sundar hain!" Abhira stuttered with a choked throat and twinkling eyes.

"Thankyou BF. Tere chehre pe khushi dekhne ke liye kuch bhi!"Manisha kissed Abhira on the cheek and side-hugged her,being careful about her swollen belly.

"Aur yeh,yeh necklace meri taraf se Abhira" Vidya said with a small smile,as she handed over the box to her.

"Thankyou Maa", Abhira replied,hurt with her for holding her guilty of something she had not even done!

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Flashback chapters will give a hint of Vidya's behaviour in present and are a base for the story to progress!