Author's POV :
Five years later
Samay pulled into the driveway of their beautiful suburban home, feeling the weight of the day's work melt away as he saw the lights glowing warmly in the windows. His thoughts were of
Saanvi, their love now a bastion in a world of change, and their little girl, Aarohi, who had brought them even closer together.
The moment he stepped through the door, the sound of Aarohi's wailing echoed through the hallway. He found her in the living room, her tiny frame huddled on the floor, surrounded by toys and a half-eaten bag of chocolates. Her bottom lip trembled as she looked up at him with teary eyes.
"What's wrong, baby?" he asked, kneeling down to her level. She pointed at the chocolates accusingly. "Mumma ate all my chocolates!" she sobbed. Samay couldn't help but suppress a chuckle.
"Come on, now," he said, gently scooping her up into his arms. "Let's go find Mumma and ask her about that."
In the kitchen, Saanvi was busy preparing dinner, her face a picture of concentration. She looked up as Samay entered, a smudge of flour on her nose and a spatula in her hand. The sight of her never failed to make his heart skip a beat. "Is there a chocolate thief in the house?" he asked, his voice filled with mock severity.
Aarohi looked at her mother, her eyes wide and teary. "Mumma," she accused, pointing at the half-empty bag in the living room.
Saanvi's eyes widened in feigned shock, her hand flying to her chest. "Oh no," she gasped, "not the chocolates!"
Samay couldn't hold back his laughter as Aarohi nodded vigorously, her sobs subsiding into sniffles. "Yes, Daddy," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "Mumma ate them all!"
Saanvi set down the spatula, her eyes dancing with mischief. "How could you say such a thing, Aarohi?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron. "I was just keeping them safe for you."
Samay couldn't help but laugh at the sight of his daughter's crestfallen expression. "Looks like we've got a little detective on our hands," he said, nudging Saanvi playfully. "But it seems she's caught you red-handed, Mrs. Sinha."
Saanvi rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward in a smile. "I suppose I'll have to pay the price," she said, walking over to kiss Aarohi's forehead. "But first, let's get you cleaned up, and then we'll talk about sharing."
The little girl's face lit up as she was handed a warm, damp cloth to wipe her tears and chocolate-stained cheeks. Samay couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell in his chest as he watched the two most important people in his life interact. Despite the shadow of their families' rivalry that had once loomed so large, they had managed to build a life filled with love and laughter.
Aarohi's eyes grew wide with excitement as she looked up at her father, her chubby fingers clutching the cloth. "Will you play with me, Daddy?" she asked, her voice still shaky from crying.
Samay's heart melted at the sight of his little girl, her innocence a stark contrast to the cunning games their families had once played. He nodded, setting her down gently on the kitchen floor. "Of course, I'll play with you," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. "But first, let's get those hands clean."Aarohi squealed with delight as he led her to the sink, her laughter filling the room as they washed the sticky mess from her tiny fingers. The kitchen, once a battleground of accusations and tears, was now a sanctuary of warmth and love.
Saanvi watched them with a soft smile, her heart swelling with joy. She had always known that Samay would be an amazing father, and every day she felt blessed to have him by her side. She handed Aarohi a napkin to dry her hands and set the plate of her favorite snack on the counter. "Here you go, little one," she said, her voice gentle. "Let's not let your chocolate tragedy ruin your day."
Aarohi's eyes lit up as she looked at the plate, her gibberish turning into a delighted stream of baby talk that only they could understand. She babbled something that sounded like "Thank you, Mumma," her chubby cheeks dimpled with happiness. Saanvi couldn't help but laugh, her eyes sparkling with love as she leaned down to kiss her daughter's forehead. "You're welcome, my sweet girl," she said, her voice filled with warmth.
As Aarohi eagerly munched on her snack, Saanvi turned her attention back to dinner, her movements efficient and practiced. Samay watched her, feeling a sense of awe at how she juggled her roles as a wife, a mother, and a student so seamlessly. Despite the drama that had once engulfed their lives, she had always been the rock, the calm in the storm that was their love story.
"Samay," she called out, her voice warm with affection. "Could you grab the salad from the fridge?"
He nodded, moving swiftly to the task, his eyes never leaving her. The way she moved, the way she laughed, it was like watching poetry in motion. Their life had been far from perfect, but in moments like these, it felt like they had conquered the world.
The next day, they decided to take Aarohi to the park, eager to introduce her to the simple joys of swinging and sliding. The air was cool and crisp, the perfect antidote to the heat of the day, and the swings squealed with delight as children played. Aarohi's eyes lit up as she watched the other kids, and before Samay could blink, she was off, her tiny legs toddling towards the playground.
As they sat on the bench, watching their daughter's unbridled excitement, a four-year-old boy with a mop of unruly hair and a shy smile approached them. He held out a small, slightly crumpled paper airplane, his eyes hopeful. "Would your baby like to play?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Saanvi's heart melted at the sight of the little boy, so earnest in his offer. She nodded, and with a gentle nudge, encouraged Aarohi to take the airplane. "Go on, Aarohi," she said, her voice a soft coax. "This little boy wants to play with you."
The shy boy's smile grew wider as Aarohi took the paper airplane, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. He showed her how to throw it, and soon they were both giggling as the makeshift toy soared through the air. Samay felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he watched them play, their laughter mingling with the rustle of the leaves and the distant sounds of the city.
"What's his name?" Saanvi whispered, her eyes never leaving their daughter.
Samay looked up from his phone, where he'd been scrolling through work emails. "Huh?"
"The little boy," Saanvi said, nodding towards the playground. "The one playing with Aarohi. What's his name?"
Samay squinted against the sun, watching as the boy pushed Aarohi on the swing. "I don't know," he admitted. "But he seems nice."
"Aarav," a soft voice said from behind them, and they both turned to see the boy's mother, a young woman with a warm smile and tired eyes. "That's what his dad and I call him. He's quite the charmer."
Saanvi's heart skipped a beat as she took in the woman's words. "I can see that," she said, her voice filled with genuine warmth as she watched Aarohi squeal with delight as Aarav pushed her higher and higher on the swing.
The woman, Neha, sat down beside them, her eyes sparkling with the same love that Saanvi and Samay felt for their daughter. "It's so nice to see them get along," she said, her gaze lingering on the two children playing. "Aarav doesn't have any siblings, so he's always eager to make friends."
A sense of ease settled over the small group as they watched their children play. Aarohi's giggles filled the air, punctuating the gentle creaks of the swing. Neha shared stories of Aarav's antics, and Samay and Saanvi couldn't help but laugh, recognizing the same curiosity and mischief in their own little girl.
Little did they know, as the children's laughter mingled in the breeze, that a bond was forming that would transcend the years. Aarohi and Aarav's friendship would blossom into something far greater, a love that would be tested by time and fate, much like their parents' had been.
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The End
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