Battle within Hearts

Epilogue

2 years later:

Shantivan, New Delhi

'Arnav Singh Raizada', a shrill of a cry pierced his ears, awakening him from his sleep. He slowly opened his eyes, letting the sun rays in, adapting himself to the sudden light.

He felt like having a deja vu, staring at his best friend, waking him up. 'Arnav! You can never be punctual. Can you?' She seethed in anger, while a laughter escaped his lips.

'I was spared from you disturbing my sleep since I got married', he murmured inaudibly, but questioned her confused, 'That reminds me, where is my wife?'

'It's her best friend's wedding, Arnav. She is busy helping her!' Pankhuri answered smiling. 'And Madam has sent me to wake you up, very well aware of her husband's sleep cycle!' She winked.

Pushing the duvet aside, he got up and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he asked, 'How is my niece doing in there?' His eyes focussed on her lightly swollen belly of five months.

'The child is a HE', Pankhuri retorted, 'I don't know why you and Adi are so sure about a girl!' She huffed.

'Intuition, my dear', he remarked, 'Di has Ansh. So we need a girl!'

'Why don't you have one then?'

'Because your sister is still a child to bear one!' He asserted.

'Don't say that', she reprimanded him.

'Where is Adi?' Arnav queried.

'I am here!' They heard Adi rushing into the room, with an ice cream cup in his hands.

Arnav arched his brows at him, while he spoke hurriedly, 'Don't look at me like that. This is for your best friend whose mood swings are so tough to handle. I am tired of her already!'

'Shut up idiot. She is the mother of your unborn', Arnav admonished, while Adi said, 'And the love of my life'. Adi had a dreamy look on his face, while Pankhuri blushed profusely.

Arnav threw a ridiculous expression at the couple, and vanished to get freshened up. He did not wish to get sandwiched between his two best friends who, lately, fought in a second and patched up in the other, all thanks to Pankhu's mood swings.

*******************

The men clan along with one year old Ansh in Shyam's arms, barged inside Akash's room, who was getting ready for his wedding.

'Someone is handsome!' Adi sang.

'Nervous?' Harish patted Akash's shoulders who nodded a yes. 'A bit', he replied.

'I still can't believe that he pursued Payal till Paris!' Arnav exclaimed, examining the turban that Akash was supposed to wear.

'And she took two years to say a Yes!' Adi remarked.

'It's all worth it, isn't it?' Harish asked, his tone softening, with a serious expression on his face. 'You guys have been blessed to be bestowed with wonderful ladies in your life. Just make sure you never hurt them, alright?'

The boys nodded a yes and hugged Harish, who had been their supporter in every endeavour. Though he acted like a teenager sometimes, he also inculcated great values, lending the hand of a father every time they needed.

*********************

Arnav finally had a glimpse of his wife, who was dressed in a peacock green coloured designer saree with a navy blue coloured fully embroidered blouse, that embellished her beauty, something which he could not get enough even after two years of marriage.