Unexpectly Yours:The Journey Of An Arranged Marriage

Epilogue 1

The soft giggles of a toddler filled the cozy living room, where little Aarohi Sharma sat on the carpet, attempting to stack her colorful blocks. Her chubby hands fumbled, knocking them over each time, only to let out an adorable squeal of frustration.

Kavya watched her from the couch, a fond smile on her face. The journey from strangers to partners to parents had been nothing short of magical, despite its rocky start. Abhishek, who once sulked his way through their initial days, now sat cross-legged on the floor, making funny faces to cheer Aarohi up. His once-brooding demeanor had melted completely into that of a doting father.

"Abhi, stop confusing her!" Kavya chuckled, tossing a cushion at him. "You're supposed to help her, not compete with her."

He caught the cushion effortlessly, a smirk playing on his lips. "She's got to learn to deal with challenges, Kavya. Right, my champ?" he teased, tickling Aarohi's tiny tummy, earning loud peals of laughter.

Kavya shook her head in mock disapproval but couldn't suppress her smile. Watching them together made her heart swell with love she hadn't known she could feel when their story began.

"Alright, Daddy of the Year, time to show off your parenting skills. She's all yours while I grab her dinner," Kavya teased, standing up.

Abhishek pouted dramatically. "Leaving me alone with this tornado? Heartless."

"Papa!" Aarohi chirped, smacking a block onto his knee.

"See? She's already siding with you!" he called after Kavya, his voice filled with playful exasperation.

As Kavya prepared Aarohi's food in the kitchen, she found herself thinking about how far they had come. The awkward silences and reluctant compromises had given way to unspoken understanding and genuine love. They weren't perfect, but they were perfect for each other.

When she returned, she found Aarohi fast asleep in Abhishek's lap, her tiny fist clutching his shirt. Abhishek leaned his head back against the couch, his eyes closed, a peaceful smile gracing his lips.

Kavya tiptoed closer, placing the bowl of food on the table. She sat beside them, gently brushing Aarohi's hair out of her face.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

Abhishek opened one eye, his smile widening. "For what?"

"For giving me this," she said, gesturing to their sleeping daughter. "For being you. For everything."

He shifted carefully, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "If anyone's to be thanked, it's you. You turned my life upside down—in the best way possible."

As they sat there, their little family complete, Kavya realized that the love they had built wasn't born from grand gestures but from the small moments—the shared laughter, the quiet understanding, and the warmth of knowing they had each other.

And in that moment, she knew: this was home.