An Arranged Journey To Forever

Epilogue

Epilogue: A Few Years Later

The sun was setting on a quiet evening in the Malhotra household. The sprawling garden in the backyard was bathed in the golden hues of twilight, and the gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers. The house was alive with the sound of laughter and chatter, as the Malhotra family gathered together to celebrate yet another milestone.

Manik sat on the porch swing, his arm wrapped around Nandini, who was nestled comfortably against him. It had been years since that nerve-wracking day when they had welcomed their second daughter, Gauravi, into the world. Time had passed, and now their family was whole — complete in ways they never imagined.

Amayra, now a confident young lady with a smile that could light up any room, was playing tag with Gauravi in the garden. The little one, all of five, had grown into a lively, curious soul with Nandini's eyes and Manik's mischievous grin. She was the apple of her parents' eye, as Amayra had once been, and their world revolved around her.

Cabir and Abhimanyu were on the porch too, relaxing in the rocking chairs, sharing jokes while keeping an eye on the kids. The bond they shared had only deepened over the years, and now, the two families were closer than ever. Radhika had grown into a sweet teenager, thriving in her new environment, her bond with Amayra and Gauravi nothing short of magical.

The peace of the moment was interrupted as Gauravi ran up to her parents, her tiny hands grasping the sides of the porch swing. "Papa, Mama, look what I found!" she beamed, holding up a small, colorful butterfly she had caught in her hand. Manik smiled at his daughter's excitement, and Nandini's heart melted as she saw the innocent wonder in Gauravi's eyes.

"That's beautiful, Gauravi," Nandini said softly, her voice full of love. She kissed the top of her daughter's head. "But remember, butterflies are meant to fly free, sweetheart. Let it go."

With a reluctant nod, Gauravi gently released the butterfly into the air. The little creature fluttered away, and she watched it disappear into the horizon. "I'll let it go, Mama," she whispered, her voice serious, then broke into a wide grin, "But I want to be a butterfly someday."

Manik chuckled, pulling her into his lap. "You already are, sweetie. A beautiful one."

"Just like her mama," Nandini added, her voice full of affection. She gazed lovingly at Manik, their bond now unbreakable, so much stronger than it had been in the past. She couldn't help but think back to the man who had once feared the depth of love, the man who had now become her rock, her partner through everything.

Manik kissed Nandini's forehead, his fingers gently tracing the curve of her face. "I'm so grateful, Nandini," he whispered, just for her to hear. "Thank you for everything. For giving me this beautiful family. For making me realize that love isn't something to be afraid of."

Nandini smiled softly, her heart full. "Manik, we've come so far, haven't we? From the chaos of that first day when we thought we wouldn't make it to this peaceful moment, with our girls and our beautiful life. I love you more than I ever thought possible."

They sat there, together, watching their daughters, laughing with Cabir and Abhimanyu in the background. The years had taught them so much about love, about patience, and about cherishing every single moment. Their life was imperfectly perfect, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

"Amayra," Manik called out softly, his eyes sparkling with pride. "How's your little sister doing? Did she like her new dress?"

Amayra, with a wink and a mischievous grin, darted toward the porch with Gauravi in tow, both girls dressed in their finest for the family dinner ahead.

Gauravi, beaming, took her father's hand. "Papa, guess what? I told di I wanted to be like you when I grow up. I want to be a strong, smart man who loves his family."

Manik's heart swelled with pride. "And you will, Gauravi. You'll be even better than I could ever be."

Nandini smiled, feeling the depth of their shared history and the incredible present they were building together. Life had a funny way of surprising you, of teaching you lessons when you least expected them. She never thought she would find such a love, such a family. Yet, here she was, watching her girls play, feeling the warmth of Manik's love beside her.

She looked up at him, and in that moment, everything was clear. This was the life they had created, a life full of love, laughter, and togetherness. No matter what the future held, they had each other — and that was all they needed.

"Manik," she said softly, "we did it."

"We did it, Nandini," he replied, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with the kind of love that had grown, evolved, and deepened over the years. "And we'll keep doing it, together, forever. Nandini, I have loved you in ways words will never do justice to. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, through every fight, every tear, every melody we created together—I have been yours. But today, looking at you, the mother of our two beautiful girls, I realize love isn't just about passion or madness. It's about the quiet moments, the way your laughter fills our home, the way your touch still sets my soul on fire. You are my forever, my firefly, the only song my heart will ever know. If I had lifetimes, I would find you in each one and fall in love all over again. So here I am, Manik Malhotra, hopelessly and irrevocably yours—yesterday, today, and always.."
Nandini was in tears. She could not imagine she had found a husband so loving, a family so caring, a life so blissful. And in that perfect moment, as the sun dipped below the horizon, with their daughters in their arms and the world around them full of warmth and love, they knew that this — this was their happily ever after.

The end... and yet, the beginning of so much more