This chapter is dedicated to cupidflakes_8, csvarsha & . Thank you for your support and love.

Unedited

Author's POV:

A leap of three months:

Maya was sitting in her room surrounded by the girls, getting dolled up like a bride for her baby shower. Her face was glowing like a moon with happiness.

Taara was sitting on the bed and munching on fruits along with ice-cream. She was looking cute with her baby bump and with ice-cream spread on her face.

Sravya was doing Maya's make-up much to her irritation. Arpita was braiding her long hair. Siri is sitting on the bed and is busy with her phone.

Vansh and Varsha are running behind Darsh who is crawling and giggling.

"Ayy, you little boy stop, can't you sit in one place?" Varsha said, getting tired of running.

Aashi picked him up in her arms and said, "You are becoming naughty day by day baby."

Darsh giggled and clapped his hands as if he understood her. She made him sleep on the bed and nuzzled her face in his tummy, while he was making sounds.

Soon they brought Maya down and made her sit on the swing which was decorated with flowers. She looked around for her husband and found him standing at a corner and talking to someone.

She called Vansh and told him, "Tell your babai (mausa/chacha/uncle) to come here."

"Okiee pinni (masi/chachi/aunt). You look pwetty (pretty)", he said, kissing her cheeks.

"Aww, thank you, baby. Now go and call your babai", she said, pecking his cheeks.

Avi was talking with guests when he felt someone pulling his pants. He looked down and saw Vansh, looking at him with pout. He picked up Vansh in his arms and excused himself.

"Babai, pinni is calling you", said Vansh.

"Come, we will go then", said Avi.

"Babai, when will my little brother come?" Asked Vansh.

"In a month or two months, baby", said Avi.

"Where are you till now?" Sakshi asked him.

"Greeting guests, atta", said Avi.

"There are many people to do, you just stay with my daughter", said Vani.

"Now apply vermilion on her forehead and wear bangles to her hand", said Janaki.

Avi put vermilion on her forehead and in her hairline. He applied sandalwood paste to her cheeks and wore bangles to her hands. He kissed forehead and then kissed her belly.

She took some paste and applied it on his nose and giggled. Everyone smiled, looking at them.

Next all the elder ladies repeated the same. She looked at Anju and Meera who were sitting at a distance along with Gayatri.

"Amma, what are they doing there, when everyone are here?" Maya asked Sakshi.

"We told them to come, but they were chanting the same thing "they can't come". We got tired in making them understand", said Sakshi.

"You go and tell them to come here. And if they don't come, then tell them that I'm not going to have my lunch", Maya told Sakshi.

Sakshi nodded her head and went to call them and came back with them.

"Why are you three sitting there, when everyone are here?" Maya asked them.

"Nothing, kanna", said Anju.

"Okay then, now do all the things like everyone and bless me", said Maya.

"How can they do that?" Said one lady from the guests.

"Why can't they?" Asked Maya.

"They are widows. They can't take part in all these auspicious ceremonies", said that lady.

"So, what if they are widows? What is with these auspicious and inauspicious? Okay, tell me one thing aunty, you came here to bless me, right?" Maya asked that lady.

"Yes", she said.

"Even they are here to bless me and my baby. Will your blessings be different from theirs as you are a sumangali?" Maya asked them.

While that lady has nothing to say.

"Look aunty. It's okay, if you believe in such things, and you can follow them, I don't mind. But don't try to impose them on us, because I don't believe in such things. I want their hearty blessings and if you have any problem with it you can leave", said Maya sternly.

(I have seen people considering widows inauspicious in many regions. Widows are not allowed to be a part of any auspicious ceremony in most of the Indian households. But those restrictions are only for women, isn't it? A widowed man actively participate in any ritual, but the same doesn't apply to a woman. How ridiculous? All we need is their hearty blessings. So, what if she is a widow or sumangali, the blessings are still the same, isn't? Don't forget that they are humans too.)

That lady went away, stomping her feet. While the family looked at Maya proudly. Meera, Anju and Gayatri were overwhelmed listening to her and had tears in their eyes. They blessed her happily.

Maya still remembered, how Anju had skipped Arpita's baby shower wantedly, saying that, she had an important meeting in Delhi. And Meera didn't come as Ragini's health is not good. She didn't go even after Raman told her to go, saying that, he would take care of Ragini till she came back.

Meera gifted Maya a bal gopal idol, making her grin.

"This is beautiful, atta. Thank you so much", said Maya, while Meera caressed her head.

After sometime, Avi put some cushions behind Maya and sat beside her. While Maya mumbled a "Thank you" to him.

"Did I tell you, how beautiful you are looking today?" Avi said, side-hugging her.

"Nope", Maya said, shaking her head negatively.

"You are looking ethereal and sooo cute with this baby bump", saying that, he pecked her lips.

(Maya's attire)

They heard someone coughing and saw Arjun standing there with a smirk.

"How do you always come at perfect timing?" Avi asked him, with an annoyed face.

"That's a talent", said Arjun, grinning.

"Whatever", said Avi, making a bad face.

Maya giggled, looking at his poker face.

Arjun sat on the other side of her and caressed and belly and said, "Come soon, baby. Mama is waiting for his little monkey."

"My son is not a monkey", said Avi.

"Ignore your dadda, baby. We will irritate him, play pranks on him and make him run behind us, okay", Arjun said, caressing her belly.

Just then Maya and Arjun felt a kick.

Arjun grinned and said, caressing her belly, "See he has kicked. So, he is supporting his mama, right baby."

Again Maya and Arjun felt a kick, making them grin.

"Little one, you are on your daddy's side, right", Avi said, caressing Maya's belly.

This time baby didn't kick and Avi made a bad face. Arjun and Maya burst into laughter, looking at Avi's poker face.

Avi got an idea and said, "Little one, tell Mama that you want a girlfriend soon."

And bingo, the baby kicked again making Avi grin like an idiot.

"See, he is agreeing to his father. So plan a girlfriend for him soon", said Avi.

While Arjun made a bad face, listening to him.

"Ammu, go and change your dress", said Janaki.

"Aru go and help her", said Vani.

With that, Maya and Arpita moved towards the lift. Avi told her that they could shift down till the delivery, but our stubborn lady refused him.

Maya changed into a long frock with the help of Arpita. Arpita changed her hairstyle and make up. They moved down and Maya sat back on the swing. Sakshi fed her food, as they had planned a small photoshoot.

**********************

After a long day, Maya sat on the bed leaning her back to the head board. Her legs have swollen a little and she is totally tired.

She sat there closing her eyes, when she felt someone massaging her legs. She opened her saw Avi massaging her foot.

"Sleep properly, bunny", said Avi.

She slept properly on the bed, with his help. She knew, it was waste to argue with him. He has been massaging her back and legs from her second trimester. Soon, she drifted into peaceful slumber due to tiredness.

Avi massaged her legs and went to have a shower. After coming from the shower, he slept beside her, cuddling her.

The next morning, both of them came down, and joined others on the dining table.

After having a tummy full breakfast, everyone sat in the living room. Everyone took an off today from the work as they were tired with the preparations and rituals.

Rishi and Sakshi looked around and saw the happy faces of their family. This what they wanted. For these smiles, they have sacrificed many things in their life. Finally, the evil is out from their life. They got the punishments that they deserved.

They looked at the glowing face of their little princess, who was busy in gossiping with her brothers. They felt contented, looking at them. They were brought out of their thoughts by Siri.

"Umm, I've to tell you guys something", said Siri.

"What is that, chudail?" Said Nandan.

"Anna, this is serious", said Siri, glaring at him.

"Stop teasing her everytime. You continue goldy baby", said Surya, hitting on Nandu's head.

(Aashi and Surya calls Siri as Goldy baby)

"I wanted to do fashion designing", said Siri.

"That's cool", said Aashi.

"I wanted to pursue the course at abroad. And I've applied for the universities in UK and also written some exams", said Siri, closing her eyes.

She opened her eyes, and saw everyone sitting with neutral faces. Of the all, the most affected one is Pranav.

"Guys, say something", said Siri.

"From when have you planned all these?" Anju asked her.

"From six months", Siri said, meekly.

"And you are telling me now", Anju said, in a stern voice.

"Stop scaring her, we are okay with your decision, kanna", said Revathi, chiding her daughter.

"Thank you, ammamma (maternal grandma). You guys are the best", she said, pecking Revathi cheeks.

Maya, Aashi and Surya looked at Pranav who was lost in his thoughts. They sighed, looking at him. He just excused himself saying that, he had to make a important call and left from there. Siri looked at him and smiled sadly.

Yash patted her back and said, "Everything will be okay."

Siri nodded her head and sat beside her mother.

********************

Maya was playing caroms with Nandan, Arpita and Arjun. She and Arjun in one team, Arpita and Nandan are one team. While Vicky and the twins are cheering.

And bet is the loosing team has to cook the winning team's favorite dishes.

Maya told Arjun, "Anna, we have to win this game, any how. I've prepared a big list of our favorite dishes."

Arjun nodded his head and with that, they have started, playing the game seriously as if they are playing an Olympic game. Varsha and Vansh are cheering for their big mama and pinni. While Vicky is cheering for his elder sister and brother.

"Won't you cheer for your amma, you little brats?" Arpita asked her kids.

"Nah!! We are pinni and mama's team today", said Varsha.

"Don't worry akka, I'm in your team, only", said Vicky.

"Aww, I love you, Vicky. We will eat ice-cream after this okay", Arpita said, kissing Vicky's cheeks.

And how can our jealous babies be calm, seeing her amma kissing their chinna (younger) mama? They came and stood on the carom board, folding their hands and glaring at their mother. And not to forget spoiling the match at the end.

"We are about to win", Maya said, pouting.

"Exactly", Arjun said, joining her.

"My kaju barfi and prawns pulao?", said Maya.

"What about my chicken tikka and Fish curry?" Said Arjun.

"Cook yourselves", said Nandan, showing his tongue.

"Amma, why did you kish (kiss) mama?" Vansh asked, Arpita.

"Yesh (yes) amma, you can only kish (kiss) us", said Varsha.

"Sometime back you are cheering for your pinni and mama, right. So, I kissed your Vicky mama as he is cheering for us", said Arpita.

"We cheer you, and you kish (kiss) only us", said Vansh and Varsha, sitting on her both thighs.

"Okay, my jealous babies", she said, kissing their both cheeks, making them grin.

While the other three, looked at them with a smile.

*********************

Avi and Aashi are sitting with Sravya who was feeding cerelac to Darsh. He was making her run behind him. From the time he has started crawling, he is making everyone run behind him.

Surya has changed the flooring and spread soft rugs, in everyone's rooms and in the living room (protective father mode on). By mistake, if you get busy in your work for a minute, then you have to start searching for this naughty boy.

"This boy is crawling too fast now-a-days", said Sravya.

Aashi picked up Darsh in her arms, while he started to wriggle in her arms.

"Darsh stop wriggling and have your food like a good boy", said Aashi.

He looked at Aashi and rubbed his face on her dress, making it dirty as his mouth was covered with cerelac.

Avi chuckled, looking at him and took him into his arms from Aashi. Now our naughty Darsh stayed silent and had his food silently, making Aashi look at him wide-eyed.

"Bhaiyyu, you are pampering this naughty boy too much", said Aashi.

"That's true. And he got attached to you so quickly", said Sravya.

Avi smiled, listening to them.

"Darsh is a good boy, right" Avi said, making faces.

Darsh giggled, looking at him and kissed his cheeks.

Hi guys!

I'm back with the another update

Hope you guys have liked it.

Keep smiling and take care ❤