“Uspe bharosa nhi hai, lekin mujh pr toh hai na mumma? Please trust me and give him a chance.”

(You don’t trust him, but you trust me right?)

“Mai toh chal dedu chance. Tere papa? Pata hai kitna gussa honge wo iss waqt?”

(I will give a chance. But your father? You know how angry he must be right now?)

“Papa ko bhi samjha lenge na mumma. Aap toh saath do.”

(We will convince papa also. You support me.)

Her mother turned her face away and then spoke in a stern voice.

“Thik hai. Lekin agar papa nhi maane toh mai toh kuch nhi kahungi. Tu apne aap dekh lio.”

(Ok. But if papa denies I will not say anything. You see for yourself.)

She knew her mother wasn’t strict and would support her throughout. She was just being cautious and concerned for her safety. There hasn’t been a moment when her mother hadn’t supported her or fought for her.

And she knew that she would do that here also. The main concern was her father, who like every other girl father was very strict when it came to her safety and well-being.

She couldn’t even imagine what Karan must be going through right now. Sitting alone with her father after being caught by them. Poor man.

“Mumma! Ab bahar chalte hai na. Papa pata nhi kya kr rhe honge Karan ko.”

(Let’s go out now. Don’t know what papa might be doing to Karan.)

“Badi chinta hai. Kuch nhi hoga. Agar pyaar krne ki himmat rakhi hai ladke ne, toh baap ke kuch sawalon ka jawab nhi de skta?”

(You worry a lot. Nothing will happen. If the boy has guts to love, can he not answer a few of your father’s questions?)

Monami made a pleading face and her mother melted. She sighed and got up. Monami took that as an approval and rushed out only to freeze on her spot.

She blinked and then looked back at her mother who mirrored her expressions. She looked back at the duo again and frowned.

What was happening? She had expected to run into her father grilling or yelling at Karan but never in her wildest dreams did she imagine her father and Karan laughing together like best buddies.

“Papa? Karan?”

Monami moved ahead cautiously while eyeing the two in suspicion. Their heads snapped up together and they smiled at the mother daughter duo. Karan gave Monami a wink and that made her frown deeper.

“Sab thik hai na papa?”

(Is everything alright papa?)

“Arre bilkul thik hai. Ek dum first class. Waise Monami tumhara ye dost hai bada achha. Nirmala, dekho mai kehta tha na tumse ki hume bhi cryptocurrency mai paisa lagana chahiye. Karan bhi yahi keh raha hai. Tum meri baat hi nhi maanti.”

(Absolutely fine. First class. Your friend is very nice Monami. Nirmala, did I not tell you we should invest in cryptocurrency. Karan is also saying the same. You don’t listen to me.)

Her father said with a smile and asked her mother to sit. Her mother sat adjacent to her husband’s couch, on the armchair and eyed Monami in confusion. 

Even Monami was confused. Monami too took a seat on the armchair adjacent to Karan’s side. But as she sat, she looked at Karan, who motioned her to sit beside him. 

She bit her lip and got up, unaware that her mother was seeing the whole ordeal with her eagle eyes. As soon as Monami got up, her mother spoke.

“Kya hua? Khadi kyu ho gyi? Baith!”

(What happened? Why did you get up? Sit!)

Her eyes were shooting daggers at Monami as if daring her to do what she was planning to. But she knew her mother was harmless. So she nodded and shifted.

“Haan! Baith hi rhi hu.”

(Yes! I am sitting.)

With that she quickly sat beside Karan who bit the inside of his lips and held her hand discreetly. Only he knew how scared he was when he was left alone with her father. But unlike how he had imagined, he was an easy nut to crack.

“Monami!”

Her mother gritted out her name and Monami grinned. As long as her father was ok with this, she knew her mother was too. It was just new for her and that was why she was reacting like that. 

Monami also knew that once she gelled up with Karan, he would be more loved and pampered than her.

“Haan mumma?”

(Yes mumma?)

She asked cheekily.

“Suniye ji. Itne dino baad beti se mil rhe hai. Aap beech mai baithiye na uske paas.”

(Listen. You are meeting your daughter after so many days. You sit in the middle with her.)

Her mother directed her words towards her husband instead. And knowing how innocent and sweet a creature he was, Monami knew that he would shift also.

“Arre! Papa ko kyu utha rhi ho? Mai beech mai aa jaati hu na. Papa ke paas.”

(Why are you asking papa to get up? I will come in between. To papa.)

Monami shifted in the middle of the two men she loved more than anything and grinned hugging her father.

She showed her tongue to her mother and hid her face in her father’s chest while giggling.

“Aap… aapko koi dikkat nhi hai iss sab se? Itna aaram se kaise baithe hai aap?”

(You…you don’t have a problem with all this? You are sitting so peacefully?)

Her mother asked in disbelief. Her father smiled and caressed her hair.

“Kyunki mujhe meri laado pr bharosa hai. Aaj tak koi galat faisla lia hai tumhari bachi ne? Nhi na! Toh aaj bhi bharosa rakho. Aur phir uski pasand ko hum ek baar samjhenge bhi nhi toh maa baap kaise?”

(Because I trust my princess. Did she take any wrong decision till now? No! then trust her now too. And if we don’t try to understand her choice then what kind of parents are we?)

He said softly and her mother’s eyes softened. Monami squeezed him a little tighter, getting emotional all of a sudden.

“Mumma, papa, ek baar chance deke dekho. I’m sure you’ll love him.”

(Give him one chance.)

She whispered and Karan smiled holding her hand.

“Sir, mam, mai ye nhi kahunga ki aap sirf Monami ke kehne se mujhe accept krlo. Aap mujhse jo sawal krna chahte ho, jitne test lena chahte ho, lelo, apni tasalli krlo. Lekin please, ek chance dedo. I really love her.”

(I will not ask you to accept me only because Monami is saying. You ask me whatever you want to, test me however you want to, get assured. But please, give me one chance.)

He whispered the last part looking into her eyes and she smiled softly, clutching his hand tighter.

It did take her parents time, specifically her mother to accept Karan, but just like Monami had predicted, when she did, it was always, ‘Karan kaisa hai?’, ‘Karan ko phone de’, ‘Karan se kuch seekh’, and so on.

Basically, now he was the son they never had. And Karan too loved them and cared about them like his own parents. Things were good between them. They did have arguments like normal couples did but they were also clear with the fact that they would never let the fights or their egos come between their relationship ever.

Over the course of the 4 months that the two have been together now, they have gone on various dates. But what Monami didn’t understand was how he controlled himself each time and never kissed her.

She still remembered his promise of not initiating it because he knew that she would not stop him even if she felt not ready because of how much she loved him and he never wanted her to do anything she wasn’t ready for.

And so, he had never initiated anything between them, he did hug her and kiss her forehead all the time. He needed some kind of physical contact with her and he did so by constantly holding her hands and playing with her fingers of just playing with her hair. 

The two were back from one of their dates and Karan had just dropped Monami to her door. His hands were in his pockets and he grinned at her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He whispered and kissed her forehead. Monami bit her lip and pulled him into the apartment making him stumble at the suddenness. He looked at her with shocked, amused eyes held her waist.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to teach you how to end a date.”

She whispered and started leaning in. Karan held her forearms and looked into her eyes.

“You don’t have to do something out of obligation, Monami. Not with me. You know that right?”

She smiled and rounded her arms around his neck, making his go around her waist.

“I know. But I want it, Karan. I want you to kiss me. Please kiss me.”

He rested his forehead against hers and sighed. He had been wanting to hear these words, this permission for so long now. One of his hands slowly reached up to cup her cheek. He softly caressed her cheek and her eyes fluttered shut.

Their breaths mingled against each other and she felt the briefest brush of his lips against hers before his hand went behind her nape, angling her face according to his access and his lips came down on hers in a passionate kiss.

Monami clutched his hair and a small moan escaped past her lips and he swept his tongue inside her mouth. Their tongues fought for dominance and hands now explored each other’s bodies as much as they could.

Monami clutched his bicep and pushed lightly in need of breath. Karan broke the kiss and looked at her in daze. She couldn’t meet his eye and lowered her lashes while blushing and biting on her now swollen lips.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled her into his embrace. She sighed against his hold and rubbed her cheek against his chest, making him smile.

4 years later

Karan rushed into the hospital searching for the room. He entered the room he had been searching for and panted heavily because of all the running. His eyes teared up seeing the scene in front of him.

He had never imagined that he would be seeing something like this ever in his life. But here was. Looking at the most beautiful sight in front of him.

All of their family gathered around, huddling his wife. What made him tear up was the expression of content and relief on his wife’s face and the little bundle of joy in his father-in-law’s arms. 

Monami’s eyes cut towards him and she smiled wide. She raised her hand towards him and he took quick steps to hold her.

Without caring about everyone present, he held her in his arms and placed kisses on her forehead. 

“I’m so sorry baby. I couldn’t reach on time. Are you okay?”

Monami hugged him and melted against him. She nodded and then looked at the baby again. Their baby. The symbol of their love that she had been nurturing inside her for 9 months.

“I won! It’s a boy.”

She whispered while gazing at her baby with immense love in her eyes. Karan chuckled while wiping his tears and nodded.

“You always win, meri jaan. I’m just so happy that you and the baby are fine. I love you so much.”

“I love you.”

She whispered and rested her head against his chest.

“Ye lo beta! It’s your turn now.”

(Take him son!)

His father-in-law came forward and handed over the baby to Karan. Everyone then moved out to give the couple some privacy.

“He’s so perfect, Monami. The perfect mix of both of us. Thank you, love.”

And then, at that very moment, he had his whole world in his arms. And there was nothing more that he could ever ask for. Just her, and their kids. Their own little world.