For the first time in life, I have finally realized that sometimes changes can be scary, well most of the times, but what is greater than that is the support that you get from your loved ones. All fears in life can be conquered if there are people who constantly remind you of your own strength and ability, who will not judge you despite the circumstances. I'm fortunate to have got so many lovely people in my life. I had been blinded, by my own sorrows and fears, that I failed to realize how they were always there to help me. Only I wasn't ready to accept their help.

I still can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that it has been three years since we got married. Four years since the first time I met Akshit. I won't say every day has been great. That's surely because not every day is the same but it's definitely not the worst, because Akshit makes sure it isn't. We do argue sometimes, not because of lack of understanding but because we care for each other. We know what the other wants but doesn't tell. There are sometimes when we don't share our worries with each other, afraid it would stress out the other. But that's when we actually realize what we mean to each other.

It's astounding as to how much has changed since then. Pia is finally in seventh grade and laments about lack of time for games every now and then. Guess some things never change.

"Saumya, where are you lost?" Surbhi's voice brought me out of my reverie. She was having a hard time balancing the now three year old Kartik in her arms and fetching a glass of water. Aww he's such a cutie with those light brown eyes, courtesy of Surbhi and those little dimples. However, my attention turned back to Surbhi all over again. Her expression was sour as she dodged the kitchen island in an attempt to reach the water purifier.

"Nothing. Wait I'll get you water. You sit on the couch. Kartik seems a bit too tired today."

With a sulking expression, she spoke, "What was the need to go out and play with Pia for so long? Now it will be my arm you'll be nursing next. Whoever thought gym helps with toning your muscles is insane. Try holding a toddler for so long. Your arms would automatically give way."

Laughing, I replied, "Come on. What's with moms always scolding their kids? Let him have fun while he can." I now tried to navigate my way through the toy strewn floor to reach the living room while Surbhi stood beside me. The guys were busy discussing new developments in their research as they sat on the couch, their eyes glued to the macbook screen.

"Di, watch out!" Esha's exclamation brought me out of my thoughts. However, her warning seemed to be a bit too late as I skidded across the floor on Pia's skates. My breathing hitched. What if... No everything will be alright. Oh come on, you know it won't be alright. I involuntarily closed my eyes as if that could lessen the pain but Akshit seemed to have faster reflexes than me as his arms wrapped around me protectively. I opened my eyes to see him staring at me with concern etched across his features.

Aww he's so cute when he is worried. I hope that never changes. That he shall always remain this way. I couldn't help staring at his chocolate brown eyes when Surbhi's coughing brought us out of our reverie.

I surreptitiously glared at her as we straightened up. "Why are you always this clumsy?" Akshit questioned, his deep voice reverberating through the walls of my heart.

"Ask this question to your dear Little Princess. She is the one who left her skates in the living room. You are so lenient towards her. She is growing out of hand. She'll definitely get an earful from me and don't you dare stop me." I glared at him as he raised his arms in mock surrender.

"Why do you guys fight like middle aged uncles and aunts with the responsibility of their teen daughter's education and marriage on their head?" Pia spoke before falling into fits of laughter, Surbhi and Akash accompanying her. It was then that I realised that she returned from the backyard a couple of minutes ago.

"Come on guys! Don't you have anyone else to tease?" I pouted. "And Pia, stop being so callous. What's this, huh? Your toys are lying everywhere on the floor. It's fortunate I didn't fall." She muttered something under her breath which made my glare intensify.

"First off, I don't play with cars anymore, these are Kartik's. Secondly, after playing here we went to the backyard as my friends had come. Why do you always scold me?" She pouted looking at Akshit. Oh no girl, that won't work today.

"What if these toys are Kartik's? Are you only liable for your own goods? You literally have an excuse for everything."

Pia ran towards me, wrapping her arms around my neck. "You didn't fall, right? Then be happy. Sorry Princess."

"Gosh you're no longer eight. Stop clinging." My flaring nose was enough to send her fleeing.

What I did notice however, throughout this exchange, was Esha who only smiled slightly. That's one more change which I'm not fond of. What actually happened to make her so serious is beyond me. I miss that sister of mine who would not stop teasing me. The girl in question raised her eyebrows as she saw me staring at her. I only shook my head as I turned my attention towards the men seated on the couch.

Currently, Akash was cradling Kartik on his shoulder and Akshit was wiping off the drool from Kartik's face. God, he's three and yet some habits never die, his mother for instance. This made me smile as Akshit looked up.

"What are you laughing at?"

Quirking my eyebrows, I replied, "At how funny you are looking, obviously."

"God! When did you turn this sassy?" he questioned, running a hand through his hair.

"Well your company affects you, right?"

"Guys, you can argue as much as you like but we need to go. Tomorrow is Monday and I have an important surgery." Akash's voice broke in.

"When will Uncle and Aunty return?" It was Surbhi's question this time.

Ever since we married, Akshit's parents always treated me as their daughter. And as a rightful daughter, I surprised them by giving them tickets to a vacation. They usually get little to no time to spend with each other. Hope they're enjoying themselves.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I believe."

By now, Surbhi and Akash had already reached the door with Kartik stirring slightly in Surbhi's arms. They surely knew how to dodge him from one's arms to the other's.

I placed a light peck on Kartik's chubby cheeks, whispering a low, "Bye."

We waved as their car left the driveway. As we turned around, Esha bid us good night and went to her room upstairs.

Akshit grabbed me by my waist and spoke up, "So you know it wasn't such a bad idea."

I scrunched my eyebrows. Exactly what is he talking about? His lips curved up in a smile as he said, "Sending Mom and Dad away so that we can have the house to ourselves."

I rolled my eyes at that. "Let's go to the balcony."

"Why? You want everyone to look at us kissing." He winked at his remark. Another change I quite enjoy. I didn't notice how or when but he has become such a tease.

I shook my head, saying, "We'll jam to the beats of a new song. I've still not forgotten your promise."

He pecked my lips as he pulled away. "Let me grab my guitar first."

___________________

The moonlight illuminated his face as he sat beside me. The moon is such a beauty. When you gaze fleetingly, all you notice is the beauty but when you look closely you notice the scars and flaws. That's the beauty of being a human. You have flaws but they enhance your beauty.

"Let's start," Akshit's voice broke my musing. Apparently, he had tuned his guitar by now.

Saasein leti hun to bas tera hi ehsaas hota hai, ehsaas hota hai

My voice was a gentle tone as I sang.

Door hoke bhi hardum tu mere paas hota hai, tu mere paas hota hai

He sang in his deep voice as he turned towards me. I subconsciously wrapped my arm around his torso gazing at his eyes which glittered, holding the splendour of a freshly bloomed flower and the toxic fragrance of caffeine.

Tere naal jina mennu,

Tere naal marna mennu,

Tere naal, tere naal.

We continued singing but I was hardly able to register what I was singing anymore. My attention had been snapped towards Akshit's cute dimples and that small black mole above his eyebrow. I tried suppressing the urge to kiss him as he played the guitar. God what's happening to me. As we sang the final notes of the song, he kept the guitar aside wrapping me in his strong and protective arms.

Gently pecking my forehead, he pulled away and we sat in a comfortable silence albeit I missed his arms around me. I was staring at the moon when a thought struck me. How would Mom react if she knew I married Akshit?

"What are you thinking?" Akshit's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

A small smile played on my lips as I replied, "You know when I was in school Mom used to tell me that she would get me married at the age of twenty six. I just abhorred the very idea. Mom thought it was because I was shy or something but the reason was entirely different. You know when my friend had a serious relationship and then she broke up she was never the same again. A part of her was lost in the process. I didn't want to lose myself because of someone who would ultimately leave me."

A wry smile appeared on my face as I continued, "Ironic, right? I failed to realise that the day I set foot outside my house to go to London, I had lost my true self. Even when I returned back to India, I had no hopes of ever being the same because I knew I was lost. The day of the accident was perhaps the day that I died. The part of me which had revived after coming to India died."

A whirlwind of emotions stirred in my heart and weighed down my words but I went on. "I knew my only aim was to live for Pia. Everything was such a mess after all. She had only just met me and I had no idea how to tell her all would be good. Maybe because I knew it won't be good anymore but I had a distant relationship with her. Why would she listen to me then? Everything just spiralled out of hand that day. It wasn't the funeral of four lives but the funeral of my whole world." A lone tear escaped my eyes.

Akshit hugged me so tightly I felt the air being knocked out. "It's all good now," he whispered in a husky voice.

"I know." I pulled away. I couldn't keep quiet now. I had to tell him. "You know what? The day I met you was the day I was revived, the day my world became alive all over again. Pia was no longer overly bored by my serious attitude. My friends weren't setting me up on blind dates anymore. But above all, I finally felt hope. Hope that everything would be alright. I didn't need your assurance though. Your presence was assurance enough. I knew long ago that I was falling but I knew how detrimental such a fall would be. You made me realise that taking risks is essential and that at the end of the day you would always catch me before I fell. And I finally fell that day Dr. Akshit Aggarwal. I fell in love with you." A smile erupted on my face as I turned towards him.

His eyes seemed to hold an unknown emotion as he leaned forward, crashing his lips on mine. He nibbled on my lower lip as I whispered, "I have a surprise for you." I could feel the tingles in my stomach but I ignored it.

"What's it?" He raised his eyebrows as he said so.

"You look cute when you frown but no. It won't be a surprise if I tell you now, would it? Let's go downstairs where your surprise awaits. It's almost midnight."

I clasped his hand in mine, not before admiring how my hand fit so perfectly with his. I slowly walked downstairs careful not to slip but it seemed that Akshit's patience was ebbing away.

"Will you walk faster?"

I glared at him and that shut him up pretty easily. "Wait," I called out as we reached the door to our room. My palms were sweating profusely and I had a sudden urge to throw up. That would have to wait though.

I went in the room and retrieved the small box wrapped in a pastel lavender paper.

"Open it."

His eyes roamed the box with curiosity before finally opening the ribbon. As he opened the box, his eyes widened. He showed me the small piece of paper which read- Happy Birthday Dad!

I knew what he wanted to ask though. Is it true? I only nodded, giddy with excitement, as I stared at his face with each changing expression. His eyes held the wonder and amazement of a child as he picked me in his arms and swirled around. My laughter and squeals mixed with his exclamations filled the room. The euphoria was clearly visible. Suddenly realising what he had done in his excitement, he immediately made me sit on the bed.

"Oh My God! It's true? We're pregnant?" His voice was a gentle whisper as he kneeled at the foot of the bed. My voice was lost as I nodded. He kissed me as his arms wrapped around my waist tightly like a child who didn't want to lose his mother. I could feel a lone tear escape his eyes. I pulled away, wiping that tear on his cheek with my lips. "You haven't checked out everything in that box."

His eyes widened as he quickly looked for the box he had discarded so rashly that I couldn't help but giggle. He finally found the box and opened it. He brought out an ultrasound report as he sat beside me. "Baby A? Baby B? Why did they get confused?" He furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at it when the realisation finally dawned on him.

"Oh My God! That can't be! We're having twins?" His voice held an unknown excitement. I had never seen him act like a child.

"Yes," I replied, my voice a mere whisper.

He immediately wrapped his arms tightly around me. "I can't believe this Saumya. When did you get to know?"

"A little over a week ago," I whispered guiltily.

"What?" His exclamation added to my guilt. With my eyes downcast, I answered, "I'm really sorry Akshit. I wanted to tell you but Mummy and Dad made me swear that I won't until your birthday. They wanted to give you a surprise on your birthday." A tear escaped my eyes and my lips parted as I spoke. He gently wiped my tear with his thumb as he spoke in his husky voice, "I'm not angry at you Saumya. I can never be angry at your cute little face." I giggled like a teen girl as he continued, "The hormones are kicking in, I see." A smirk was plastered on his face. Was this the same man who was acting like a kid just moments ago?

"Thanks a lot, Saumya. This is the best birthday gift ever." His arms wrapped tightly around me as I rested my head on his well built shoulders.

________The End_______