Color of Yearning [Completed]

Bonus Chapter : 2

TANMAY POV

You know what they never tell you in those fancy CEO leadership seminars? How to handle a baby who seems to have made it his life mission to test your crisis management skills every  hour. And by crisis, I mean poop. Lots and lots of poop.

"I swear to god, this kid is a poop machine," I groan, carefully wrapping up what feels like the hundredth diaper today. Saumya, looking unfairly serene as she rests on our bed, just smiles at my complaints. Her messy hair and simple pajamas somehow make her even more beautiful, and I find myself getting distracted mid-diaper change.

"Stop being so dramatic," Saumya chuckles, watching me struggle with the wipes. "And pay attention to what you're doing instead of staring at me."

"Dramatic? Me?" I gesture wildly with one hand while keeping the other firmly but gently on our son to prevent any rolling escapades. "I'm being practical here! I run a software company, my love. I know numbers. And these numbers?" I wave a fresh diaper for emphasis, "They're scary!"

Just then, our little bundle of joy decides to add some sound effects to our conversation. A series of adorable little gurgles and coos erupt from him, followed by what can only be described as a tiny baby sneeze. The sneeze catches both of us off guard, and we burst into laughter.

"Oh my goodness," I exclaim, tickling his tiny tummy. "Was that a sneeze or are you trying to join our conversation, little man?"

Saumya leans in, her eyes twinkling. "I think he's telling Daddy to hurry up with that diaper. Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

Our son responds with another gurgle and a wide, gummy smile that melts my heart instantly. How can something so small be so incredibly cute?

"Let me help," Saumya starts to sit up, but I stop her with a look.

"No, no, no!" I practically leap to stop her movement. "You stay right there. Your only job is to feed him and rest. For everything else, your capable CEO husband is at your service."

I attempt a suave bow, which is somewhat undermined by the fact that I'm still holding a dirty diaper. Saumya bursts into laughter, and even our little one joins in with his adorable baby chuckles.

Her eyes meet mine, soft with affection. "CEO, huh?" Saumya smirks, reaching up to trace her fingers along my jawline. "And when was the last time this CEO actually went to his office?"

I lean into her touch, savoring the moment. "Well, I am on my paternity leave," I defend with a grin, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm. 

Saumya tilts her head, her eyes curious. "I've always heard about maternity leaves, but what exactly is this paternity leave? Don't you have some important work at the office? Board meetings, quarterly reviews..." Her voice trails off, a hint of concern mixing with her exhaustion.

"Hey," I say softly, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. "Nothing is more important than this - than you and our little guy. The company can survive without me for a few weeks. This time? These first moments with our son? We'll never get them back. And I don't want to miss a single one." I brush a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. "And who says only mothers deserve time with their newborns? We're in this together, aren't we? Equal partners, equal parents. I want to be there for every smile, every cry, every tiny milestone. Besides," I lean closer, my voice dropping to a whisper, "watching you be such an incredible mother makes me fall in love with you all over again. How could I possibly want to be anywhere else?"

As if on cue, our son lets out a happy squeal, waving his tiny fists in the air. I can't help but chuckle. "See? Even he agrees. Though I think he might just be excited about his newly acquired diaper."