As Reya walked up on stage to receive her PG degree, I felt a surge of pride that was impossible to put into words.
Holding Vyansh in my lap, I heard him call out softly, “Mumma”.
I hugged him closer, smiling as we both watched the woman who meant the world to us.
When it was time for her speech, I could see the confidence and grace in her eyes. The auditorium was silent, all eyes on her, and I knew everyone else was as captivated as I was.
She glanced at us, her gaze softening, and I could almost feel her gratitude and joy from where I sat.
She cleared her throat, her voice steady yet carrying an unmistakable warmth.
“Last time I stood on this stage to receive my UG degree, I spoke about my fiancé and his unwavering support,” she began, a soft smile appearing on her lips as she looked our way.
“But today, it’s different. This time, there's another person whose presence, love, and joy have been just as crucial to my journey.”
She took a deep breath, her gaze softening as she spoke. "Through the last three years of my PG, his little smiles, his laughter, his giggles—those were what kept me going.”
“No matter how exhausted I was after a long day on duty, his voice, his presence, had this magical way of lifting it all."
I felt my chest swell with pride, glancing down at Vyansh, who was now watching his mother with a fascination I’d only ever seen in him for her.
Her voice softened, holding back the emotions that were rising within her.
“He’s too young to understand anything I’m saying right now, but I want him to know one day just how lucky I feel to be his mother,” she continued, her eyes shining.
“He’s my son, my Vyansh, who carried me through the toughest times without even knowing it.”
She took a steadying breath, her gaze turning toward us. "Every night spent without him in my arms was a quiet battle with myself. But every time I heard his little voice, I saw that glow in his eyes whenever we video-called—it made all the pain and all the waiting worth it."
Vyansh, nestled in my arms, called out “Mumma” again, his little voice filling the room. She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with love and gratitude.
She reached out with open arms, her face lighting up as she called, “Come here, my son.”
I set Vyansh down, and he immediately dashed toward her, his little legs carrying him across the stage with pure excitement.
The crowd chuckled softly, charmed by his eagerness. When he reached her, she lifted him into her arms, her laughter mingling with his as he wrapped his tiny arms around her neck.
“Thank you for being my strength,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
With Vyansh in her arms, she looked out at the audience, her smile warm and proud.
She paused, her eyes meeting mine in the audience. “And to my constant support, my husband, my best friend, who not only kept me strong but stayed strong himself.”
“He’s a captain in the Indian Army, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The audience clapped for me, making me smile with pride.
Her voice caught with emotion as she added, “All three of us were in three different cities over the past three years.”
The audience murmured in admiration, sensing the depth of her words.
She continued, “But distance didn’t weaken our bond. Instead, it made us value every moment, every call, every smile that much more.”
Vyansh clung to her, his small hands resting on her shoulder, looking around with innocent curiosity, completely unaware of the pride and love filling the room.
Her voice softened as she continued, "I couldn't be more thankful to my in-laws and my parents," she said, her words heartfelt.
"They stood by me in every situation, raising my son with the love and care I couldn't always be there to give. They helped me not to miss the moments a mother longs for as her child grows up."
She continued, "To be able to pursue my dreams, knowing Vyansh was in such loving hands... it's something I can never repay. I am here because of them."
The crowd erupted into applause, moved by her gratitude. At that moment, I felt an overwhelming pride—not just for her achievements, but for the strength and unity of our family.
She turned to the audience again with a warm smile and continued, "And last, but not least, to all my teachers, my fellow mates, every single person who stood by me through these years—from the hospital staff who always lent a helping hand to the watchman bhaiya who greeted me with a smile every morning. I'm here because of each and every one of you."
Her voice wavered slightly with emotion. "This degree isn’t just a result of my hard work; it's a testament to the constant support and encouragement you all provided me with. Thank you for being my strength when I needed it most."
The room filled with applause, and in that moment, she radiated gratitude and resilience, truly shining as the woman we were all so proud to know.
I woke up feeling warm breaths around my cleavage and wetness around my buds.
“Ahmm..” I moaned and opened my eyes only to find Vayu nestled over my chest.
“Vayuu..hhh” I moaned again as he nibbled over my skin.
He moved up, pecked my forehead softly, as he murmured, “Good morning, Sunflower!”
As his lips brushed my forehead, a gentle smile tugged at my lips.
“Good morning, Captain,” I whispered, my fingers tangling through his hair. He chuckled, pulling me closer as if refusing to let go.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his voice a warm murmur against my skin.
I nodded, feeling the warmth between us. "Better than ever."
A blush crept over my face as memories of the night before surfaced, warmth lingering from his gentle, unhurried touch.
The night we made love after a long time, the way we had stayed close, careful not to disturb Vyansh, who slept peacefully beside us.
Yet, there was an unspoken intensity in every caress, a quiet intimacy we shared in the shadows, just between us.
I felt his hand slip into mine, his fingers tracing gentle circles as if sensing my thoughts. He tilted his head, looking into my eyes with a tender smile.
“Thinking about last night?” he whispered, his voice filled with a familiar warmth.
I nodded shyly, biting my lip as I looked away. “It felt…different,” I admitted softly, feeling his hand tighten around mine.
He leaned in, pressing a delicate kiss to my temple. “Last night wasn’t just about love,” he murmured.
“It was about us—how far we’ve come together.”
I sighed, resting my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
I looked up at him, as I asked, “Where's Vyansh?”
He chuckled, softly brushing the hairs away from my face.
“He's intelligent. Giving his parents privacy.” He winked and pointed towards the corner of the room.
I sat up, holding the blanket around me, a warm smile spreading across my face as I looked over at our little boy.
Vyansh was completely absorbed, pushing his toy car back and forth along the window sill, his small fingers gripping the wheels with utter fascination.
"Lost in his own little world," Vayu chuckled softly beside me, his voice filled with pride and love.
I watched Vyansh, my heart swelling. "He's growing so fast," I whispered, a mix of joy and bittersweet nostalgia in my voice.
“I don't want to miss any other moment of his childhood, Vayu!” I spoke leaning against his chest.
“You won't, I know that!”
We sat there, side by side, watching Vyansh as he babbled to himself, his tiny hands busy with his car.
A deep sense of gratitude filled me, overwhelming in its purity. This—this was my family, my world.
Vayu, with his steady presence and unwavering love, had always been my anchor, and now, Vyansh was the little heartbeat that gave our lives new meaning.
I reached for Vayu’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I can’t believe this is our life,” I murmured, my voice catching.
“You and Vyansh… you’re my everything.”
Vayu leaned over, brushing a soft kiss against my forehead. “And you’re ours, Sunflower. This family… it’s all I ever wanted.”
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
We came back to Bangalore next day after my convocation.
The morning was still quiet as I tiptoed around the kitchen, letting the soft clinks and gentle aroma of chai and breakfast fill the air.
I paused, glancing toward the bedroom, where Vyansh lay tucked against Vayu’s chest, both of them completely lost in sleep.
There was something so comforting, yet bittersweet, about watching them together like this, knowing that tomorrow Vayu would be gone again, back on duty.
I felt a wave of emotions as I stirred the tea, the thought of Vayu leaving stirring a familiar ache in my heart.
It had always been hard to say goodbye, but this time, with Vyansh growing older, it felt different.
Vyansh had started saying "Papa" with so much joy and attachment, and each moment they spent together felt like a precious gift.
After setting breakfast on the table and making sure my in-laws were served, I returned quietly to our room to wake Vayu.
As I entered, the sight that greeted me brought an instant smile to my face.
There was Vyansh, perched adorably on top of Vayu, straddling his chest with the utmost determination.
His tiny hands were resting on Vayu’s shoulders as he leaned in, his soft voice repeating, “Papa… papa… papa” over and over, like a sweet, insistent chant.
I moved towards them and settled beside Vayu watching Vyansh. He looked up at me and held my fingers with his one hand.
“Papaa,” Vyansh called out again, his tiny voice breaking the silence of the room.
He reached out, trying to clutch Vayu’s hand.
“Papaa,” he said again, louder this time, as if his voice alone could wake his father.
But Vayu didn’t move.
Confusion clouded Vyansh’s eyes. He looked up at me, frowning.
“Mumma, why isn’t Papa waking up? I wanna play with him…”
I chuckled pulling him into my lap and kissing his forehead softly.
“Your Papa is sleeping, Vyan. Let him sleep, hmm?” I cooed him but he shook his head.
“No…I wanna play with him…papa…papa…papa..uthoo…” He started tapping Vayu's chest with his tiny hands.
I leaned down and whispered in Vyansh's ear, "Chalo, papa ko milke tang karte hain!"
His face lit up instantly, and he gave me a little high-five, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
With Vyansh in front of me, I climbed onto Vayu and straddled him.
Before he knew what was happening, both of us were poking and tickling him mercilessly. Vyansh let out little giggles as he joined in, poking his tiny fingers into Vayu’s sides, while I went for his ribs.
Vayu squirmed under our combined attack, trying to dodge us, laughing and gasping.
“Arre arre, ruk jao dono! Yeh kya atyachaar ho raha hai mere saath saath subah subah!” he said, trying to pull away, but we had him trapped.
"It's just the starting, Kashyap!” I teased, holding Vyansh steady as he enthusiastically joined the tickling.
“Papa woke up! Yayyyy!” Vyansh screamed happily, clapping his little hands.
Vayu finally admitted defeat, breathless but laughing, his face lighting up with joy.
Vyansh clapped his hands, celebrating the "victory" with another sweet giggle. "Yay! Mumma aur Vyansh jeet gaye!" he said proudly, looking at me with absolute delight.
Vayu shook his head, chuckling as he wrapped both of us in a big hug, pulling us close.
“Tum dono se haarna meri sabse badi jeet hai!” he said with a sparkle in his eyes.
“We love you Kashyap!” I whispered, as we all collapsed into a pile of laughter and hugs.
“Vyansh Kashyap love you too..” our little son spoke up, giggling between us.
The morning sunlight filtered through, casting a warm glow over the room, and in that moment, it felt like everything in the world was perfect.
1.5 years later
The atmosphere in our quarter was filled with warmth and happiness. It wasn’t just a house anymore; it had transformed into our home, crafted with Reya's delicate touch.
She’d spent the past weeks visiting during Vyansh’s summer vacation, determined to make our quarter feel like the heart of our family.
Soft cushions and blankets now adorned our living room, with framed family photos capturing countless memories lining the walls.
Reya had added small, loving details—lavender-scented candles, plush rugs underfoot, and even a cozy reading nook where she and Vyansh would spend quiet moments together.
That evening, as we all gathered in the living room, I held Reya close, her head resting comfortably on my shoulder.
We watched as Vyansh carefully caressed his little sister's tiny hand, his big doe eyes filled with curiosity and wonder.
Yes, Reya gave birth to our daughter a few months ago.
Reva Kashyap!
The gentle touch of Vyansh's fingers on Reva's delicate skin made my heart swell with pride.
"Papa, look! Reva’s smiling at me!" Vyansh whispered with pure delight, his face lighting up in awe.
Reya chuckled softly, her own eyes shining. "She knows she has the best big brother to look up to."
I gently pulled her closer, feeling her warmth and the softness of her hair against my cheek.
"You’ve made this place feel like a dream, Sunflower," I murmured, wrapping my arms around her as we watched our children. "This feels like home… because of you."
Reya looked up at me, her face glowing with joy. "I wanted us to have something that feels complete, like we’re all together no matter what."
“I wanted Reva and Vyansh to have this space to grow and feel our love.”
Seeing her dedication to our little ones brought an ache of happiness in my chest. We stood there together, our hearts full, watching Vyansh babble sweetly to his sister, who wriggled happily in her crib.
This was more than I could've ever imagined—a complete family, one that felt like home no matter where we were.
Our innocence, our unwavering love—both had carried us through every storm life threw our way.
Standing here now, holding her close, watching our son gently care for his baby sister, it felt like we had weathered every hardship and come out stronger, with something beautiful to show for it.
The scars told their own story—a faint burn on her waist, and the cuts on my chest.
They had healed over time, yet they would always be there, quiet reminders of the battles we had faced, of the times we had to be stronger than we felt.
But it was our innocence, the purity of our love, that made everything line up in our favor.
Through every hardship, every scar, it was that unshakeable belief in each other that had carried us here.
"Our innocence was the quiet strength that kept us whole, a gentle light guiding us through every storm."
THE END!
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