𝓛𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓕𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓼 [*Complete*]

Ch. 53 ⭐

Next day,
Lucknow.

Naina stood in front of the mirror, gently running her fingers over her flat belly. Her lips curled into a soft, shy smile as the thought settled in—there was a tiny life growing inside her. She couldn't quite wrap her head around it. It felt surreal yet magical all at once. 

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Kishori entering the room. The elderly woman paused at the doorway, her heart warming at the sight of her granddaughter-in-law's wonder-filled expression. Quietly, she approached Naina and affectionately caressed her head.

"Caught you staring, hmm?" Kishori teased lightly. "Do you know, I used to do the exact same thing when I was pregnant with my first child? Your grandpa would tease me endlessly, saying I'd worn out the mirror from all my staring."

Naina grinned at the thought, turning towards her grandmother-in-law. "Dadi ji, I still can't believe it. I'm going to be a mother." Her voice softened, and her cheeks flushed. "I mean... it feels so strange. Soon, everyone will know. All my fellow soldiers at work—they'll look at me and think, 'She's not just a soldier anymore; she's a mother too.'" She let out a small, embarrassed whine, covering her face with her hands. "I feel so shy just thinking about it!"

Kishori chuckled, her laughter rich with affection. "Oh, Naina, you're so sweet. Feeling shy is natural, but let me tell you something—being a mother doesn't make you any less of a soldier. If anything, it makes you even stronger. You're fighting a whole new kind of battle now, and it's one of the most beautiful battles there is."

Her words brought a sense of reassurance to Naina, who nodded, her smile returning. They continued chatting, Kishori sharing stories from her pregnancies and Naina listening with fascination and occasional giggles.

Just as they were laughing over a particularly funny anecdote about Kishori's cravings for pickles and mangoes, a sudden commotion from downstairs broke their conversation. Loud voices echoed through the halls.

The two exchanged a curious glance before heading downstairs to investigate. As they approached the main hallway, the scene before them made Naina freeze in her tracks, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The Shikhawat men stood at the doorway, a mix of determined and sheepish expressions plastered across their faces. At the center of the group was Rajveer, his usual confident demeanor replaced with a sad puppy look, doing their best to soften the hearts of the women before him. On either side of him were Shashi and Lala, attempting to mediate with calm gestures, while Dhruv, Manik, and Arnav huddled together, whispering furiously as if they were strategizing for an epic battle.

Across from them, Garima and Madhumati stood their ground, hands on their hips, exuding the authority of seasoned gatekeepers. Their expressions clearly said, Not on our watch.