4 years later

Four years had passed since the day Advik woke up in a hospital bed with a blank mind. Those four years hadn't brought back the old memories, but they had built a fortress of new ones.

Advik was home on a two-month leave, and the house felt alive. Satvik was now a six-year-old, the perfect mix of Advik's stubbornness and Sakshi's gentleness. But tonight, the house was quiet. Satvik was fast asleep in his own room, exhausted from a day of playing soldier with his father.

In the master bedroom, the lamp was dimmed to a soft, golden amber. Sakshi lay back against a pile of plush pillows, her expression full of desire and ecstasy. She was eight months pregnant, her belly a beautiful, heavy curve that held their second child.

Because of the late stage of her pregnancy, their usual intimacy had shifted. They were careful, protective of the life growing inside her, but Advik's hunger for her hadn't faded one bit. If anything, seeing her body change to carry his child again had made his desire for her more intense than ever.

Advik was positioned between her legs, his strong, calloused hands gently supporting her thighs. He looked up at her, his eyes dark with a heat that made Sakshi's toes curl.

"Advik... please."

She whispered, her face flushed. 

"Shh..."

Advik murmured, his voice a low vibration that travelled straight to her core.

"Just relax for me, Sakshi."

He leaned forward, his lips pressing a tender kiss to the top of her baby bump.

"Daddy is just taking care of Mumma. Don't mind us."

He joked softly, making Sakshi giggle despite the tension.

Then, his focus shifted back to her. His tongue, skillful and teasing, began to trace the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Sakshi gasped, her fingers tangling in the sheets. He knew every curve, every secret spot that made her breath hitch.

As he moved higher, his fingers joined the dance, rhythmic and sure. Advik wasn't just trying anymore, he was a man who worshiped his wife's pleasure. He remembered her comment from years ago, that he was intense, and he leaned into it now. His touch was firm yet incredibly mindful of her comfort.

He used his tongue with a deliberate, slow pressure that drew a long, shaky moan from her lips. Sakshi arched her back slightly, her eyes fluttering shut as the world narrowed down to the sensation of him.

"Advik... please."

She breathed out, her voice breaking.

"I've got you."

He whispered against her skin. He didn't stop until she was trembling, her body glowing with the aftershocks of a peak that left her completely breathless.

He stayed there for a moment, his forehead resting against her knee, breathing heavily himself. He didn't need the release tonight, seeing her completely sated was enough to settle the fire in his own blood.

Slowly, he moved up the bed, sliding under the covers to pull her into his arms. He was careful not to put pressure on her stomach, instead curling around her like a protective shield.

"Thik ho?"

(Are you ok?)

He asked, his voice returning to that gentle, caring tone she loved so much.

"Very much."

She whispered, leaning back into his chest.

"Aap thak gaye honge."

(You must be tired.)

"Tumhari seva karke kabhi nahi thakta."

(Never tired of pleasuring you.)

He teased, kissing her shoulder.

"Ab so jao."

(Now sleep.)

The next morning, the sun was barely up when a small weight jumped onto the foot of the bed.

"Papa! Utho! Training ka time ho gaya!"

(Wake up! It’s time for training!)

Satvik, dressed in his miniature camouflage t-shirt, was shaking Advik's leg with all his might. Advik groaned playfully, pulling the blanket over his head, which only made Satvik giggle and dive under the covers with him.

"Abhi toh chutti hai, Major Satvik. Five more minutes."

(It’s an off, Major Satvik.)

Advik's muffled voice came from under the duvet.

"No! Soldier never sleeps late! Aapne hi toh bola tha!"

(You said that!)

Satvik countered, poking Advik's ribs. Advik suddenly threw the covers off, growling like a tiger as he grabbed Satvik and started a tickle war. The room was filled with the sounds of Satvik's high-pitched laughter and Advik's deep chuckles.

Sakshi sat up, leaning against the headboard, watching them with a peaceful smile. This was her world.

"Okay, okay! Soldier surrender!"

Satvik gasped, breathless from laughing. Advik sat up, ruffling Satvik's hair.

"Thik hai. Go brush your teeth. If you're fast, I'll show you how to do a proper push-up in the garden."

(Ok.)

"Yes, Sir!"

Satvik shouted, giving a sharp salute before sprinting out of the room. Advik turned to Sakshi, his expression softening instantly. He reached out and touched her belly, feeling a sharp kick against his palm.

"Morning, Princess."

He whispered to the bump. Then he looked at Sakshi.

"Morning, beautiful. Did the boys wake you up too early?"

"I don't mind this kind of alarm clock."

She said, leaning in to give him a sweet, lingering morning kiss.

While Advik and Satvik were training in the small garden patch outside, Sakshi prepared a breakfast of parathas and fresh curd. She watched them through the kitchen window. Advik was down on the grass, doing slow push-ups while Satvik tried to mimic him, his little bottom sticking up in the air as he struggled to keep his balance.

Advik stopped, sat on the ground, and patiently corrected the boy's form. He didn't just tell him what to do, he showed him, his eyes full of pride.

"Papa, main bada hoke aap jaisa soldier banunga."

(Papa, I will become a soldier like you when I grow up.)

Satvik said, wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"Tum mujhse bhi achhe soldier banoge, champ."

(You will be a better soldier than me, champ.)

Advik replied, pulling him into a one-armed hug.

"But first, you have to be a good man. Wahi sabse badi duty hai."

(That is the biggest duty.)

At the dining table, the three of them sat together. Satvik talked a mile a minute about the birds he saw in the garden, while Advik made sure Sakshi was eating enough, constantly piling extra butter on her paratha.

"Advik, main moti ho jaungi!"

(I will become fat.)

She complained, laughing.

"You are eating for two, and you look stunning."

He replied simply, winking at her. After breakfast, Advik insisted on doing the dishes. He made Sakshi sit on the recliner in the living room with her feet up. He then sat on the rug at her feet, and Satvik joined him, bringing his colouring book.

Advik rested his head on Sakshi's knee. Satvik was busy colouring a picture of a tank, occasionally asking Advik which colour the object should be.

"Sakshi."

Advik said softly, looking up at her.

"Ji?"

(Yes?)

"Main kabhi kabhi sochta hu... what if I never lost my memory? Cheezein kitni easy hoti na. You wouldn't have to go through the pain you went through."

(Sometimes I think…what if I never lost my memory? Things would be so much easier.)

Sakshi stroked his hair, her fingers moving through the short strands.

"Maybe. But then we wouldn't have had all those flirty dates again, or the excitement of falling in love the second time."

Advik smiled, taking her hand and kissing the palm.

"True. I liked the second time. It gave me a chance to choose you all over again. I didn't just wake up married, I worked for it."

Satvik looked up from his colouring book, sensing the serious tone. He crawled over and wedged himself between Advik's chest.

"Mamma, Papa, look! Maine hum sab ki photo banayi."

(I made a photo of all of us.)

Satvik said, holding up a page. It was a crude drawing of four stick figures, one big man in green, one woman, a small boy, and a tiny baby. All of them had giant, yellow smiles.

Advik took the drawing, looking at it like it was a masterpiece.

"This is perfect, Satvik. We look great."

"Hum hamesha aise hi rahenge na?"

(We will always stay like this right?)

Satvik asked, looking between them. Advik pulled both of them closer.

"Hamesha."

(Always.)

Advik promised, his voice thick with emotion.

Sakshi leaned down, kissing Advik's forehead and then Satvik's. They had this moment, this family, and a love that was increasing every single day.