She carefully entangled herself from Hriday and patted his chest to lull him back into sleep when he stirred.

“How’s bhabhi? And the baby?”

Devansh grinned and whispered.

“Bhabhi’s fine. And so is the baby. It’s a girl. And she’s exactly like bhabhi. Bhaiya ka rona nhi ruk raha. She’s so small and so cute.”

(Bhaiya couldn’t stop crying.)

He gushed and she could see his own eyes tear up. Rishika immediately threw the covers away and scrambled to her feet.

“Mujhe bhi milna hai.”

(I also want to meet them.)

“Tujhe hi lene aaya tha. Mummy papa hai ghar pr Hriday ke saath. Chal jaa. Jaa kr ready ho ja.”

(I came to get you. Mummy papa are home with Hriday. Go. Get ready.)

She nodded and ran out, greeting Komal, who was in the living room, on her way. 

Rishika smiled warmly at the little girl in her arms. She was asleep, blissfully unaware of the adults gushing at her.

Rishika placed a soft kiss on her forehead and held her close to her heart. Devansh, who was standing behind her, leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“Ek din hamare baby ko bhi aise hi pakdenge.”

(We will hold our baby like this one day.)

She looked at him wide eyed, before blushing and nudging his stomach with her elbow.

“Chup! Gadha!”

(Shut up! Donkey!)

“Hayye! Meri gadhi!”

(My donkey!)

He teased and kissed the back of her head. His bhaiya and bhabhi, who were very much present in the room, exchanged glances and smiled.

“Toh tum dono ko finally akal aa hi gyi.”

(You both got your senses.)

Vedant teased. Rishika blushed again while Devansh grinned sheepishly and nodded, shamelessly pulling her close.

It was the newborn’s naming ceremony. The couple had decided to name the little girl, Amrita. Rishika was running around the house, getting everything done correctly.

Devansh was busy too. Vedant was proudly showing his daughter around, while Hriday boasted about becoming an elder brother to his cousins and other society kids.

“Rishika? Dev? Idhar aao dono! Ye saare gifts uthao aur bhaiya bhabhi ke kamre mai rakh aao. Yaha se jagah khaali hogi.”

(Come here both of you! Pick these gifts and put them in your bhaiya bhabhi’s room. Space will be cleared.)

Komal instructed. Rishika nodded and immediately picked up as many gift boxes as she could, without tripping. Devansh followed suit and picked up the remaining.

Rishika entered the room, followed by Devansh, who subconsciously shut it with his foot. She kept the boxes down and sighed.

She turned to see Devansh standing close, too close to her. A surprised yelp escaped her lips and she started to lose balance, only for his hands to shoot out and hold her bare waist to stabilize her on her feet.

But he did not let go of her waist when she regained her balance. Instead, he pulled her closer and nuzzled his nose into her neck.

“Dev! K-kya kr raha hai? Sab log hai bahar.”

(W-what are you doing? Everyone is outside.)

She whispered, trying to make him leave her, although her actions proved otherwise. Her fingers threaded in his hair and she clutched his kurta at the back with the other hand.

Finding the encouragement he needed, Devansh laced hot, open mouthed kisses to her neck, making her bite her lip to control her moans.

“Dev please!”

He sucked on her neck and squeezed her waist, eliciting a soft moan. She placed a palm against her lips and closed her eyes, tilting her head back to give him access.

“Koi aa jaayega Dev.”

(Someone will come Dev.)

“Aane de! Meri biwi hai na tu toh.”

(Let them! You are my wife.)

He teased, eyes sparkling with mischief. She gasped and hit his chest.

“Chup! Shaadi hui nhi hai hamari. Wo valid thodi na thi. Bache the hum. Gadha!”

(Shut up! We are not married. That one was not valid. We were kids. Donkey!)

He kissed her softly, making her forget her argument and pulled back to whisper.

“Meri gadhi!”

(My donkey!)

She blushed and pushed him away, running out of the door. He grinned and sauntered out behind her.

“Tu aise daant kyu dikha raha hai?”

(Why are you showing your teeth like this?)

Devansh looked beside him and saw his father looking at him with curious eyes. He grinned wider and showed more teeth.

“Mere daant hai. Mai dikhaunga!”

(They are my teeth. I will show!)

He singsang and chuckled seeing his father glare at him.

“Kabhi seedha jawab nhi deta ye ladka.”

(He never gives a straight reply.)

He muttered to himself and left. Devansh chuckled and went to his mother when she yelled his name to come help.

Time was passing by and Devansh was becoming more and more clingy and shameless around Rishika. Not that she minded but it left her embarrassed at times. 

Right now, both the families were gathered at Devansh’s house to watch the World Cup final. The lights were dimmed, popcorn and drinks were around and everyone was hooked to the screen.

Rishika was trying hard to concentrate on the screen but Devansh’s wandering hands and mouth made it difficult. He was taking complete advantage of the partial darkness.

Him and Rishika were sprawled on a large bean bag. Rishika was holding a cooing Amrita who had just turned 4 months old. 

“Dev!”

Rishika hissed when he started peppering kisses on her jaw. She glared at him and motioned around. It was dark but people could make out what was happening from their silhouettes. 

But Devansh had never cared. He had always been very bold and upcoming when it came to showing his love and care.

As soon as Rishika turned her face to glare at him, he held her chin and kissed her softly.

“DEV!”

They sprang apart from each other, hearing Rishika’s father’s loud voice. The little girl in Rishika’s arms started crying at the loud voice and everyone turned to look at him with matching frowns.

“Wo…sorry…mujhe laga tu bahar hai. Andhera hai na. Mai keh raha tha popcorn khatam ho gyi. Maine socha tu kitchen mai hai toh le aayega.”

(That…sorry…I thought you were outside. It’s dark. I was saying popcorn is finished. I was assuming you were in the kitchen so you’d get some.)

He clarified and everyone went back to watching the match. Amrita was still crying and Priyanshi took her cradling her to her chest. Feeling her mother’s warmth, she immediately quietened and started to latch on. 

Priyanshi got up and went to her room to feed the little girl. Hriday was still munching on popcorn from his little tub while sitting on his father’s lap, completely unbothered about the drama.

Devansh got up and went with Rishika’s father to get more popcorn from the kitchen. He put the packet into the microwave and they waited.

“Aaj kal ke bache mujhe samajh nhi aate. Kuch bhi krte hai aur phir uski justification dete hai.”

(I cannot understand today’s generation. They do anything and then justify it.)

He started and Devansh looked at him confused. Her father looked at him and said.

“Arre ye sab kya chal raha hai….ye casual, situationship, FwB, aur pata nhi kya kya. Dosti ke naam pr kuch bhi kr rhe hai bache.”

(Whatever is going on…this casual, situationship, FwB and God knows what. They do anything in the name of friendship.)

Devansh nodded. Even he hadn’t understood that ever.

“You’re right uncle. Ye Gen Z aaj kal kuch bhi kr rhi hai.”

(These Gen Z are doing anything.)

“Mai khush hu hamare bache aise nhi hai.”

(I am happy our kids are not like this.)

Devansh smiled and checked the popcorn, letting it cook. Her father looked at him for a moment, as if waiting for something.

He finally asked.

“Dev. Maine hamesha tujhe aur Vedant ko apna beta samjha hai.”

(I have always seen you and Vedant as my own sons.)

Devansh smiled and looked at him.

“Hamare liye bhi aap hamare papa se kam nhi hai uncle.”

(You are also not less than our own father to us, uncle.)

He looked at him, as if trying to read into his soul and asked in a very serious tone.

“Kya kr raha hai tu Ishi ke saath, Dev?”

(What are you doing with Ishi, Dev?)

His eyes snapped to her father’s. A moment of understanding passed and he said sincerely.

“Pyaar krta hu usse uncle. Bhut jyada.”

(I love her, uncle. A lot.)

A visible tension released from his body. He knew Devansh would never lie when it came to his Ishi. He patted his shoulder and the two went back to the room where everyone was gathered.

Devansh slumped beside Rishika and whispered in her ear.

“Uncle ko pata chal gaya hamare baare mai.”

(Uncle knows about us.)

She choked on the popcorn she had just popped into her mouth and looked at him wide eyed. He rubbed her back and she looked back and forth between her father and him.

“Kya?”

(What?)

She asked, coming out of the coughing fit. Devansh shrugged and told her the entire thing that took place in the kitchen.

“Papa ko pata kaise chala?”

(How did papa know?)

She asked and he shrugged. She suddenly gasped, as if realising something.

“Did he-did he see you kiss me?”

Devansh’s eyes widened but he pretended not to let it affect as his eyes cut to her father, who was now satisfied and watching the TV peacefully.

“Nah!”

Then after a beat he whispered, eyes still on her father.

“You think?”

“Dev!”

She groaned in annoyance and pushed his arm away.

3 years later

Devansh was sitting on his bed. A heavily pregnant Rishika, sat between his legs, her back against his chest as she sobbed.

He rubbed her belly and arm, trying to console her over the death of a cat in one of the movies. She sniffed and sobbed and he whispered sweet nothings into her ear.

“Shh! It’s ok. She lived a good life. Stop crying Ishi! It’s ok, meri jaan. She’s in a much better place.”

Devansh had no idea that he would have to console his wife over a fictional death. Of a cat. But here they were. 

He placed soft kisses on the back of her head and over her shoulder. As the movie progressed her sobs quietened and he sighed in relief. A few minutes in and he heard her soft snores.

He chuckled softly and carefully adjusted her into sleeping position. As soon as he laid down beside her after switching off the TV and the lights, she snuggled into him.

As close as she could with that huge belly. He kissed her forehead and then a sweet peck to her lips, keeping a protective hand over her.

A few years back, if someone had told him that one day, he would enjoy his life with his best friend as his wife, he would have laughed and told them that it was a very good joke.

But now, life without her seems incomplete and useless. 

“Meri Gadhi!”

(My donkey!)

He whispered just as he drifted off into sleep.