Ayaansh Singh Rajput: A wealthy CEO of a prominent business in Rajasthan. He married his love, Aarushi, four years ago. When they finally became parents, tragedy struck. Aarushi lost her life while giving birth to their daughter, Arya. Even three mo...
I looked down at Arya, sensing the excitement, squirmed in my arms, her big, curious eyes scanning the room and looking back at me as if she, too, was waiting for answers.
"Should I talk standing here, or will I get the honor to sit?" - I roll my eyes.
"Aaja, aaja" - My maa, Mahika, leads into the living room. ("come, come")
I walk in, and ask Mihir, my cousin, to get my baby's portable swing.
Gesturing everyone to sit, I place Arya into the swing which is on the floor, next to the couch I sit on.
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I look around to see each of them curiously staring at me like I was about to announce the results of a secret mission.
Maa sat close to Papa, her arm resting lightly on his. Priya Kaki mirrored Maa's posture with Kaka, except Kaka's hands were wrapped around her shoulder, rubbing them gently as if assuring her that everything would be okay.
She has always treated me like her first child. And I have been a little extra close to her then anyone in the family, as she had taken care of me so often when Mum had to leave for the NGO unexpectedly. She never differentiated between me, Avyaan, or her own kids, Mihir and Akshita. Honestly, no one in the family ever treated any of us differently.
"SO!" - Akshita brings me out of my world.
I looked at her and then glanced down at Arya, who was sucking her fist while looking up at me with doe eyes.
"YES" - I say, looking at no one in the particle. Actually, I don't know whom to look at.
"Yes? What do you mean by yes?" - Akshita blinks her eyes.
"It's a yes from me and Ruhanika" - I close my eyes.
I keep them closed, for a good 2 minutes, but the unusual silence forces me to open them. Everyone was staring at me with wide eyes, while my cousins overacted, fake-drooling at me.
Suddenly, Maa and Kaki rushed to me, performing the classic gesture of cracking their knuckles on my head in playful celebration.
"Oh I knew it" - maa exclaims. She bends to kiss my forehead, showering me with blessings.
I see papa and Kaka walk to me, making me stand up.
I bend down touching their feets, as a gesture of seeking blessings.
Papa pulls me up, pulling me into a hug, and I feel kaka patting my back.
"We are soo happy for you. And trust me, she will take care of not just Arya, but also you" - dad pulled me out of the hug.
I smiled. It was all I could do. Deep inside, I knew I might never become the husband every wife dreams of, but I couldn't admit that to my parents—it would only escalate their worries.
