Three sharp raps on the door.
Ishana blinked her eyes open sleepily, but as far as she could tell it was still night and she turned onto her side, snuggling closer to Om for warmth. He easily accommodated, unconsciously pulling her closer.
Another three raps, more insistent this time.
“Who’s knocking at this time of night?” Om mumbled into her hair.
Ishana shifted, “I should see who it is. It could be something important.”
Om’s response was to tighten his hold on her, still with his eyes closed, “No, stay and maybe whoever it is will go away…”
The knocks came again and Ishana reluctantly pushed him away, tying the undone belt of her robe. Om rubbed his knuckles into his eyes, yawning and got up with her.
Ishana opened the door to see a very unabashed and cheerfully awake-looking Soumya and Rudra with their daughter, Madhuri. “It’s about time,” Rudra said reprovingly, “We were starting to think we’d have to resort to more desperate measures.”
“Rudra…Soumya…at this time?” Ishana looked at them confused.
“Shhh…don’t ask any questions, just come!” Soumya ushered.
Om sighed, “It’s the middle of the night-”
“Shh!” Rudra and Soumya looked at him sternly and he gave up on his protests. A tiny wail came from the crib and Ishana went to retrieve their little daughter, Madhuri.
“She’s hungry,” she said and Om got the bottle of formula milk.
“Bring her and come!” Rudra said and they followed the three into the hallway quietly.
Once they reached the living room, Om turned on them, “What mischief are you two…or should I say, you three, up to now?”
“Well, Madhuri woke up crying and we fed her and although, she stopped crying, she wouldn’t go back to sleep. And then I was feeling hungry so we went to the kitchen…and then…” Soumya pulled out a cake from the table, “We decided we should have a small party for your ‘double happiness’ today!” her excitement was contagious and they all couldn’t help but smile.
Ishana was blushing, but the happiness on her face glowed, as she fed Madhuri and all Om could think, as he caught that beautiful Madonna-like expression on her face, was if it was possible to fall even more in love with her, he was then.
“We made it,” Rudra announced proudly, looking at the cake.
“You mean, I made it,” Soumya corrected, “You had no idea what you were doing.” she shrugged at Ishana, rolling her eyes, “Men.”
“Hey!” Rudra started but Om cut him off before they could begin another of their daily good-natured squabbles, “How about we cut the cake now?”
“Good idea, Bade Baalwale Bhaiyaa !!” Soumya agreed, handing him the knife.
Om sat next to Ishana, who put down Madhuri’s bottle for a moment to cut the cake with him. He fed her a small sliver, all the while gazing at her and she looked down smiling, before giving Madhuri the rest of the milk.
They all took turns feeding each other cake, while keeping it quiet, so as to not wake the other members of the Oberoi family. “She looks so sweet,” Om whispered, leaning over Ishana’s shoulder to touch his fingers lightly to Madhuri’s rosy cheek, “So beautiful, our little chutki. You know when I saw her for the first time, I could hardly believe it. This perfect little baby is ours. And finally, finally, I’m a father.”
Ishana nodded happily, “I can hardly believe it myself. I think I’m so full of happiness, I could burst!”
“Not yet,” Om laughed, entwining his arms about her stomach, “You still have some months to go for that.”
She laughed with him and he leaned his head against hers, both simply gazing at their little baby, whose dove grey eyes slowly closed and held them entranced. She was truly such a lovely, sweet little thing, the fulfillment of all their dreams and hopes. Ishana had once thought she couldn’t love anyone more than Soumya or Om. But now that she held her Madhuri in her arms, she realized there was nothing and no one she loved more. Except, she thought, as a dreamy smile floated to her lips, the other little one residing in her stomach.
“She looks so much like you,” Om said softly, “As beautiful…as sweet…my little Ishana.” There was such reverent wonder in his words and Ishana loved him all the more for it. “I think she looks more like you,” she said.
Om made a face, “No, look at her eyes and her lips.”
“Look at her nose,” she countered and Om had to accept she was correct, “Still, she looks more like you…but I think I may love her just a little bit more.”
Ishana smiled and it lit up her entire face. Om couldn’t help himself, glancing at Rudra and Soumya to make sure they weren’t looking before letting his lips brush under her ear for a fleeting instant, “You know, I thank God everyday I found you. Because loving you has brought me the most precious reasons for my existence. I found my happiness in you and my strength. And I love, I love, I love you,” his words were so soft, they were barely a whisper, but the intensity in them made her cheeks flush with warmth.
It seemed as though Rudra and Soumya noticed, for the latter couldn’t resist teasing them, “How sweet. My Di and Jiju are the number one love crew.”
“All they need is some romantic music in the background and Bhai will ask Bhabhi to dance,” Rudra agreed.
Soumya’s face brightened, “Rudra, you’re a genius!”
Ishana sensing Soumya’s plan, hastily protested, “But Somu, everyone will hear!”
“Relax, Di, I’ll keep it soft.”
“Soft and romantic,” Rudra grinned, taking Madhuri carefully from Ishana, so as not to wake her.
Soumya scrolled through her music playlist on her phone before smiling, “Here’s the one!”
Haan… Aa… Der Re Na…
Om held it out his hand and Ishana took it, smilingly.
Haan Hasi Ban Gaye, Haan Nami Ban Gaye
Tum Mere Aasmaan, Meri Zameen Ban Gaye
Haan Hasi Ban Gaye, Haan Nami Ban Gaye
Tum Mere Aasmaan, Meri Zameen Ban Gaye
One hand at his shoulder the other entwined with his hand, she let him lead them slowly about the room. Every word of the song matched by the look in his eyes. He wasn’t singing, but the way he looked at her told her that she was his smiles, his tears, his earth, his sky. She was his world.
Ae… O… Haan… Aaa… Der Re Na
Haan Hum Badalne Lage, Girne Sambhalne Lage
Jab Se Hai Jaana Tumhein, Teri Ore Chalne Lage
Haan Hum Badalne Lage, Girne Sambhalne Lage
Jab Se Hai Jaana Tumhein, Teri Ore Chalne Lage
It was true. She was lost in memories of their first meeting and their engagement. How it had felt to fall in love. He spun her about, but then as though the distance was too much, pulled her back to him.
Har Safar Har Jagah, Har Kahin Ban Gaye
Maante Thhe Khuda, Aur Haan Wahi Ban Gaye
When he had told her loving her had brought him the most precious reasons for his existence, she did not say it back, but eyes could speak an eloquent language of their own. And her eyes told him so now.
Haan Hasi Ban Gaye, Haan Nami Ban Gaye
Tum Mere Aasmaan, Meri Zameen Ban Gaye
He leaned forward, arching her back with one hand steadying her from behind, the other holding her hand. He had spun her world upside down the moment he’d met her. And looking at him now, with all the memories, the happiness and the tears of their relationship, she felt as though she was falling in love all over again.
She had only enough time to catch the mischievous smile upon his face before he let go slightly and then caught her, pulling her up into his arms where she buried her face in his chest, blushing as he held her closely.
Rudra and Soumya clapped and cheered as loudly as they dared in the quiet and when Ishana finally lifted her head up, Om kissed her cheek. A click came from behind and they realized Rudra and Soumya had taken a picture of them.
At the moment, Ishana had been embarrassed. But, years later when she found the picture again, tucked in an old photo album, she looked at it and smiled. There was so much genuine happiness and love captured in that single instant. Om found her like that and put his arms about her, like he always did and he told her, “You’re smiling so beautifully there.”
There was no hesitance when she said back to him, “You brought that smile to my face. You always have. And I love, I love, I love you.”
Smiles. Tears. Earth. Sky.
THE END
Hello This is Shirali here with new OS. Hope You all like it !!