After Six Years

R I T I K A

"Aryan! Stop being stubborn. We are going to restarunet, okay?" I spoke while grabbing his wrist.

"Thank you, mumma!" He giggled, making me smile too.

"Where is Adika?" 

"Ma, she has gone with Dad."

"What?" My eyes widened hearing his words," Your dada know?"

"He is the one who took her."

I rolled my eyes. Of course, the daddy's princess.

"Okay, let's go. I will see him there." He smiled at my remark, my anger evaporating.

***

"Mumma!" My two-year-old girl moved towards me. I smiled, but as I took her in my arms, I faked anger," You came here with your papa and didn't even tell me?"

"You wouldn't have allowed it, Mrs Bansal."

I rolled my eyes at his voice," And you know exactly why."

"I can manage both, the restarunet and my princess." He said while kissing her cheeks and then on my lips.

"'Princess's daddy." I retorted, teasing him a little.

"Mumma, stop teasing my dadda-" This time, my four-year-old son chimed in, making my eyes roll.

Chuckling, Advik held him in his  arms and kissed the top of his head and muttered, "See champ, your mumma is so bad, always teasing her lovely husband."

I rolled my eyes, though a smile formed on my face.

"Dada, you work hard with uncles, I am going with Mumma!" Adika spoke while waving her hand.

"Okay, my baby." He spoke while flicking her nose.

"DIPUU UNCLE!" Aryan shouted, making all of us go deaf.

"Hey, my champ and my little doll!" He said while hugging Aryan and taking Adika in his arms.

"We all three are coming. We are going to buy chips." Before we could say anything, he was out of sight with both of them, making us chuckle.

I turned towards Advik," So Mr Bansal didn't even inform me?"

"For what baby?" He asked while pulling me closer.

"Stop being so irritating, Advi."

"And stop being so beautiful, my pretty Ritika." He whispered in my ears, the goosebumps erupting due to his husky voice.

"Stop flirting!"

"How can I? It may be six years of our marriage, but baby, you have been glowing a lot daily, making me head over heels over you."

"Advii!" I whined.

"Hanji?"

"Some habit never dies?"

"And I won't let them." He spoke and then pulled me closer and pressed a lingering kiss on my lips, melting me in his hold.

****

A D V I K

Could life be more perfect than this? It's been six years since she entered my life- a total of six years of pure bliss. There were days when I doubted, hated myself, but there she was for me- holding me, planting kisses over me and telling me how amazing of husband I was.

When Aryan was born, the restaurant was dull, rarely a customer, my days were dull, but her and my baby's presence made everything feel less painful, and just like that, we grew. It grew and then finally customers flooded, and till now there are regular customers. I wouldn't say I earn a lot, but I earn enough. 

I sighed and came out of my thoughts and took the food for all of my babies sitting on the sofa, munching and binge watching Doraemon. 

I may be tired or anything, but I never miss the chance to make food for my family- because that's when my heart is full. Of happiness. 

"Have dinner!" I spoke and served the little kids food and mine and Ritika's in one plate, cause this has become our habit. Even if we fought, not once have we eaten alone.

"PAPA!" My little champ spoke.

"Yes, beta?"

"You are the best cook!"

I smiled," Thank you, beta."

I looked at Ritika, who was admiring our bond. I promised her we won't have a toxic family but one that will be filled with love, warmth, and home and not for one day we have let our trauma dump on them. When they were born, we both doubted what if we messed up? But now looking back, I have realised we grew, we healed from the trauma, there are haunting days when I cry in her arms, and she holds but never for once grew angry, shouted.

Everything has been like a beautiful dream that I used to think about on the lonely nights, and now I see three of them; the ache is no more, but instead there is warmth. 

"What are you thinking?" She asked.

"About us."

"What about it?" she smiled, maybe thinking how it started.

"With you, everything feels magical, my pretty Ritika," I spoke while leaning in for a kiss.

"EWW STOP IT MA- papa!" Our children's voices came, a laughter breaking from our mouths.

And this was the goal, to hear this from our children instead of,"please stop shouting."

"Why? She is my wife, I won't." And with that I pecked her soft lips, that tastes like my home.

Ritika laughed while hitting me.

And that's how our life was filled with,

Love.

Comfort. 

Peace.