As they moved back into their bedroom, the playful energy softened into something magnetic. Raghav closed the door and stayed there for a moment, his hand still on the handle, watching Siya as she stood by the mirror to remove her earrings.

He walked toward her, his footsteps silent on the rug. He stopped right behind her, his reflection looming over hers in the glass. He didn't touch her at first, he just leaned down, his breath ghosting over the nape of her neck.

"Six months... and I still feel like I'm holding my breath whenever you look at me like that."

He reached forward, his fingers replacing hers at her earlobe, gently unhooking the heavy gold jhumka. His touch was slow, deliberate, sending shivers down her spine. When the jewellery was gone, his hands slid down to her shoulders, turning her around to face him.

"You are so beautiful, it actually hurts. How am I supposed to be in control of my senses when you look like this?"

"Then don't be in control."

She whispered, her hands finding the buttons of his shirt. Raghav's breath hitched.

He picked her up effortlessly and laid her on the bed. The air was a blur of soft light and heavy heartbeats.

Every touch was a discovery. Raghav, who usually hurried through life, took his time.

He explored the curve of her waist and the pulse at her throat with a dedication that made Siya feel like she was the center of his universe.

There was no more Oberoi Rockstar, only a man completely, hopelessly in love with the woman in his arms.

A few hours later, the room was quiet. The moonlight threw long shadows across the floor. Siya was wrapped in the duvet, her head resting on Raghav's bare chest, listening to the slow, steady beats of his heart.

Raghav was tracing patterns on her arm, a satisfied, sleepy smirk on his face.

"Waise, Siya... I have a complaint."

Siya groaned softly, nudging him.

"Ab kya hua? Can't you be quiet for even five minutes?"

(What now?)

"Nahi, listen. This is serious. You totally ruined my tough guy reputation tonight. Agar Ishaan ne mujhe aise soft, mushy avatar mai dekh lia, he'd never let me hear the end of it."

(No, listen….If Ishaan sees me in this soft, mushy avatar, he’d never let me hear the end of it.)

"Ishaan already knows you're a softie, Raghav. How sweet you are." 

Raghav chuckled, pulling her closer so her face was inches from his. He dropped his voice and whispered naughtily.

"Sweet? Is that all I get? I was heroic! I was legendary! I think I deserve at least a five-star review for tonight's performance."

Siya rolled her eyes, her face flushing as she remembered the night.

"Fine. Four stars. Ek star kam kyunki aap bolte bhut hai."

(One star less because you speak too much.)

"Four stars? Oh, it's on now. Kal wo violin wala wapas aayega. And the marching band. And I'll make sure they play right outside your office window."

(That violin is coming back tomorrow.)

"Raghav! Don't you dare."

"Too late, the wheels are in motion. Unless..."

He leaned in, his nose brushing against hers, his voice dropping to a playful, husky whisper.

"Unless you admit that I'm the best thing that ever happened to you. Bol do. 'Raghav is my hero.' Chalo, say it."

(Say it now, ‘Raghav is my hero’, come on.)

Siya laughed, a genuine, bubbly sound, and hid her face in his neck, her arms tightening around him.

"You are impossible, Raghav Oberoi. But... you might be my favourite kind of impossible."

"I'll take it. Kam chalau."

(Workable.)

He whispered, kissing the top of her head.

"Ab so jao, Mrs. Oberoi. I'm sure you're tired after all the workout. Although saari mehnat maine kri."

(Now sleep, Mrs. Oberoi….Although it was all my hard work.)

He teased, making her chuckle and snuggle into him.

6 months later

The Oberoi mansion had seen a year of peak Raghav-Siya energy. The bickering hadn't stopped, it had just become their shared language, a rhythm that kept their home alive.

It was the morning of their first wedding anniversary. Siya stood in front of the bathroom mirror, looking at a small plastic stick.

Her heart was racing, a mix of sheer terror and overwhelming joy. She took a deep breath, tucked the stick into her pant pocket, and walked out.

Raghav was, as usual, struggling with his tie, looking at himself in the dressing mirror as if he were preparing for a movie premiere.

"Siya! This tie is definitely cursed. I've tried three different knots and it still looks like a noose. Apne hero ki madad krdo?"

(Help your hero?)

Siya walked over, but instead of helping, she leaned against the dresser with her arms crossed, a small, knowing smirk on her face.

"Hero? Ek tie nahi bandhi jaati aapse, and you call yourself a hero? Maybe you should just wear a clip-on like a schoolboy, Raghav."

(You cannot knot a tie and you call yourself a hero?)

"Ouch! Subah-subah itna violent attack? It's our anniversary! You're supposed to be praising my rugged handsomeness, not insulting my wardrobe skills."

(Such a violent attack in the morning?)

"Handsome? All I see is a man who takes longer to get ready than the bride. Waise, you should probably practice being more responsible from today."

Raghav stopped fiddling with his tie and looked at her through the mirror, suspicious.

"Responsible? I am the definition of responsible! I even remembered to water your plants yesterday. Most of them are still green."

"Watering a plant is one thing, Raghav. But handling a human being who will be exactly like you, loud, dramatic, and impossible, is another."

Raghav turned around slowly, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Exactly like me? What are you talking about? Ye dusra Raghav Oberoi kaha se laaogi?"

(Where will you get the second Raghav Oberoi from?)

Siya reached into her pocket and pulled out the pregnancy test, holding it out to him. Her voice trembled just a little, breaking through the bickering.

"Kyuki ab ek aur aane wala hai. You're going to be a father, Raghav."

(Because one more is coming now.)

The room went deathly quiet.

Raghav's hand, which was still holding his tie, froze. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. He looked at the two pink lines on the stick, then at Siya's face, then back at the stick.

One second. Ten seconds. Thirty seconds.

For the first time in his entire life, Raghav Oberoi was speechless. He didn't blink, he just stood there like a statue, his eyes widening until they started to shimmer with unshed tears.

Siya started to get nervous.

"Raghav? Kuch toh boliye. Shock mein chale gaye kya?"

(Say something. Did you go into shock?)

Finally, the dam broke. A single tear rolled down his cheek, followed by a shaky, choked-up laugh.

He didn't say a word, he just lunged forward and grabbed her, pulling her into a kiss so passionate and desperate that it took her breath away.

It was raw, shaky, and filled with a year's worth of love and a lifetime of new promises.

When he finally let her go, he was a mess. His eyes were red, his tie was hanging off his shoulder, and he was grinning like a madman.

He picked her up, spinning her around once before setting her gently on the bed, as if she were made of glass.

"Main... main Papa banne wala hoon? My DNA is going to be out there in the world? Poor world, they aren't ready for another me!"

(I…I am going to be a father?)

"Wahi toh tension hai, Raghav. Imagine a mini-you running around this house."

(That is the tension, Raghav.)

Raghav wiped his eyes and puffed out his chest, the old spark returning to his gaze, though his voice was still thick.

"Tension? It's a blessing, Siya! Main itna perfect father banunga ki log meri photos dekhenge textbooks mein. I'll teach the kid how to charm anyone in ten seconds. Hamara baccha definitely superstar hoga."

(I will be such a perfect father, people will see my photos in textbooks….Our child will be a superstar.)

"Hero giri baad mein. First, learn how to change a diaper without fainting."

(Be a hero later.)

Raghav knelt on the floor in front of her, taking her hands and kissing her palms. He looked up at her with a look of pure, unadulterated adoration.

"Diapers? Arre, I'll make diaper-changing look like a ramp walk. Main toh world-class champion hoon. But... you know what this means, right?"

(I am world-class champion.)

"Kya?"

(What?)

He winked at her, his voice dropping to that familiar, flirty whisper.

"It means you're stuck with me forever now. No exits. Aur waise bhi, you look even more beautiful when you're two-in-one. Agar mujhe pata hota ki pregnancy mein tum itna glow karogi, toh main yeh good news bohot pehle plan kar leta."

(And moreover, you look even more beautiful when you’re two-in-one. Had I known you’d glow so much in pregnancy, I would have planned this good news long back.)

Siya blushed, pushing his shoulder playfully.

"Raghav! Besharam!"

(Shameless!)

"Besharam nahi, Mrs. Oberoi. I just love my wife a lot and I can't wait for my buddy to arrive soon."

(Not shameless, Mrs. Oberoi.)

He leaned in, resting his forehead against her stomach for a brief, quiet moment before holding her hand and helping her up.

"Chalo, niche chalte hain. Everyone needs to know that the Oberoi legacy is expanding. And you... you just get ready to be pampered for the next nine months. Itne nakhre uthaunga ki tum thak jaogi."

(Come, let’s go downstairs….I will pamper you so much, you’ll get tired.)

"Let's see, Mr. Hero. Let's see."

As they walked toward the door, Raghav's loud, joyful voice echoed through the hallway, announcing his new role to the world, while Siya leaned into him, knowing that life was perfect.