A dream house you have in your young years. A certain theme chosen, color combination decided, interiors imagined, architecture all ready, and you're just waiting for that special moment to see the dream alive. To see your own house, craving to turn it into a home.

Rivaah was living that special moment. But the difference was, she felt no more special. The dream that she once used to think of, not mattered anymore now. Her eyelashes blinked, taking everything in from all the nook and corners. Her throat ran dry, she was having trouble keeping her eyes fixed on one spot. She felt his cologne inching closer and knew he was beside her. If this was some kind of joke, then she didn't find any humor in it.

"What the hell is this!?", He murmured to himself.

Shock enveloped him in folds. He could easily resemble an human version of owl with his eyes wide as balls, glancing around quickly yet the disbelief remain strong. He couldn't fathom the most believable explaination for the absurd sight around him. She was literally everywhere. Across every wall hung her picture, some smiling, some laughing, some of having a faraway look yet her beauty remain constant. One certain frame caught his attention and he gasped. Dropping the luggage there itself, he marched forward and gawked at the picture on the wall. The frame was larger than most of them here, it was more exquisite, detailed with minute designs along their borders. It was delicate and the glass twinkled, reflecting his image back at him.

It was him in the picture with her. She was wearing all white. And she looked like Dove that he loves to compare her with. But she looked pale. He, however, stood by her side. His hand cupping her cheek and eyes gazing deeply at her. The picture brought no memories, but it did made him feel a kind of connection with her. A connection that was intangible and no words would be enough to describe that feeling.

"You really were my wife.", He mumbled to himself. Not that he didn't believe it before. But now, seeing the pictures, he surely felt more comfortable to acknowledge the truth.

"You thought I was lying!?", She snapped and he flinched as she removed the picture from wall. He confusedly turned around and every wall was now empty. Void of her beauty and delicacy.

"When was this taken?", He asked as she slammed the frame above the bunch of others.

Reyansh huffed. He didn't like how she treated the frames. He would love to keep them. But his mother is stubborn and right now angry. He knows better than to poke an angry lioness. She'll burn him in flames.

"I don't remember.", She replied shortly. She clearly remembers the memories related to that picture. It was the day she conceived her first born. It was the day she lost her virginity to the only man who had tortured her mentally, betrayed her countless times, blamed her for bizarre claims and then told her to leave for good. Yet here they are. Life surely plays well with you.

"I thought only my memories are erased.", He said sarcastically.

"Unfortunately yes. Everyone is not as lucky as you. I would love to be in your place, the memories are that horrible.", She bit back with a smirk before grabbing all the frames.

The woman, who was already astounded because of the scene before her, came rushing inside. "Please give them to me. You're pregnant. You should not carry heavy weights.", She said as she took the frames from Rivaah.

"Thanks. Please throw them away.", Rivaah replied as she clapped her hands to get the rid of dust.

"Don't!", Kabir said.

"Ignore him. Throw them away.", Rivaah said, her words directed at the confused laden woman, but the hard glare clearly focused on Kabir.

"Please don't.", Reyansh mumbled. His doe like eyes wide for extra effects. This'll surely melt his mother. It always does.

"Ha! It's two against one!", Kabir said victoriously.

Rivaah rolled her eyes before sighing in defeat. "Fine. Do whatever you want to do with them. But I don't want them before my eyes.", She said as she picked up her tote bag, slinging it around her shoulder. "Let's see what's in store upstairs for us, Rey.", She said to him and he immediately turned, acting on what his mother said.

She walked past Kabir, only to stop right beside him. He frowned as he looked down at her. "Why do you need my pictures?", She asked in whisper. "Don't tell me you want to jerk off using them.", She smirked as she patted on his chest. He gasped at her bluntness. Laughing at how quickly his body reacted and redness covered his flawless white skin, she shook her head before strolling upstairs.

He gulped as he tried to avoid the eyes of elderly woman before him. "What's your name?", He asked after clearing his throat.

"Taila.", She said with a smile.

"Okay. Uhm, Aunt Taila, please keep those frames in store room. But first wrap them up in a clean cloth to prevent them from getting dust.", He said and she nodded. Hoisting the frames up in her arms, she headed to the direction of store room.

These coming months will be the hardest of his life. He has a pregnant wife to take care of, a four year old son, new office environment to fit in, and a new house to call as a home. A completely new life and new challenges.

Collecting all the suitcases, he managed to drag them up all by himself instead of asking the guards stationed outside. He knocked on the first door that he met with after reaching the first floor. Or the only floor. It was a one storey house.

The door opened, revealing her, wearing nothing except a bathrobe.

"Yes?", She asked, as if acknowledging any random bell boy.

"Uhm.", He gulped, his throat dry, craving for something wet. Water that is.

"Kabir?", She probed.

"Rey-Reyansh?", He asked trying to look past her.

"He's in bathroom."

"Oh. Then why are you in-", instead of completing, he just looked down at her, before bringing his eyes slowly up.

"He's a child. He needs someone to bathe him. And he's an enthusiastic kid. He loves to play with water. That makes me wet.", She replied back as she leaned against the door jamb.

"Oh okay. Here's your stuff. And his too.", He replied as he shifted back before bringing their suitcases to front. She leaned down to pick them up, in order to get them past the threshold. But beating her, he walked right past her inside, dragging them along.

"Thanks.", She said opening the door wide.

He understood her indirect message and left. She closed door after him before resuming back on the task of bathing her son.

Kabir chose a room for himself, right adjacent to them. Keeping his stuff at the end of the bed, he strolled around and took a good look of the room he'll be staying in for a long run from now on. He opened the door to bathroom, stole a glance inside before closing it. His brows raised appreciatively as he spotted the balcony. Pushing the button down, he opened the large vertical window and stepped outside in the balcony. Fresh air brushed against his body in a soothing way. His grey shirt wavered, and few floppy strands of his raven black hair hung loosely across his forehead.

His phone rang and he fished out the device before answering the call.

"Yes, Karthik.", He said.

"Good afternoon, sir. Me and my family just landed. We'll head to the cottage we've rented for ourselves. I hope you're satisfied with the interiors of the house? You had designed them personally before the accident. I was not present when you did that so I decided not to tamper with the decorations. I just asked the maid to clean and sweep around. I hope you liked it?", He asked and Kabir sighed. Indeed it was his pyscho brain prior to the accident that did everything.

"Yeah. Kind of. You didn't know I had her pictures hung on every wall?", Kabir questioned in a doubt.

"No, Sir. I honestly had no idea.", Karthik replied back.

"Dad, there's a cab there.", Kabir heard a small boyish voice.

"You're hiring a taxi?", Kabir frowned.

"Yes, sir."

"I'll send my driver to get you. Don't take any taxi. My car will be there as soon as possible.", Kabir said before disconnecting the call and immediately dialling the driver's number. He instructed the driver to reach airport and pick up his secretary.

Later that evening, after getting bored of the room, he stepped out and decided to stroll around the house property for some time. But before that, he thought of checking the whereabouts of his family. So, being a responsible family man that he is, he very maturely pressed his ear against Rivaah's room door and tried to hear the inside activities.

"Why can't I hear anything?", He mumbled to himself.

"The walls are soundproof.", He jumped at the voice. Guiltily turning around, he met with Rivaah's frown and smiled sheepishly.

"I know right! I was just checking. Now a days these civil engineers fool you.", He sighed shaking his head.

"You've the lamest excuses I've ever heard.", She snorted.

"Yeah. I think I've to work on them.", He said scratching the back of his nape.

"You surely do.", She mumbled walking past him and inside her room.

"Idiot!", He cussed himself before jogging downstairs. He took a slow walk around, admiring the surroundings, beautiful snow covered mountains and a gloomy sunset. He felt sleep deprived as he looked at the orange-red hues painted sky.

"Daddy?", Reyansh peeked his head out of the main door.

"Yup, Champ?", Kabir smiled as he turned around. His hand enclosed behind his back.

"Mommy is calling you for the evening tea.", Reyansh mumbled, his eyes distracted because of the view in front of him. He had never seen a place like this. Like a fantasy land.

"Oh!", Kabir exclaimed. He suddenly felt like a married man, who has been living here for ages. "I'll be there quickly.", He mumbled as he took a deep breath to calm down. It's fine. It's normal. Just a normal evening tea with your wife and son. Then why is he panicking? God, he's behaving childish. There's nothing to feel awkward about this.

"Daddy!", Reyansh said loudly as he witnessed his father turning sweaty in the mid of snow covered backyard.

"Coming!", Kabir said. "It's fine. This will be normal from now on. Every wife does this. Mom does this.", He mumbled to himself before striding inside. Reyansh followed his father inside.

"Rey, grab you milk glass and the cookie plate.", She said to the little kid who immediately did as told.

She picked up her tea cup and turned. "Kabir, the kitchen is free now. All ingredient containers are on the kitchen counter. You can make yourself tea. Or coffee. Whatever you prefer.", She said blankly before walking out of the kitchen. He stood flabbergasted. Taila looked sorry for him.

"All the best, Daddy. Don't blow up the kitchen!", Reyansh giggled as he followed his mother.

"I'll prepare tea for you, sir. Or do you prefer coffee?", Taila asked as she quickly took the hold of coffee machine.

"It's fine. I take nothing at evenings so it's okay.", Kabir mumbled before he strode upstairs to his room. "I knew it. It was too good to be true.", He scoffed as he angrily pulled the MacBook out of his backpack and sat down to do some work.

It was eight by the time there was knock on his door. "Come in.", Reyansh peeked in cautiously before waltzing inside and jumping over the bed. Kabir chuckled. "Daddy.", Reyansh sighed as he crawled over his father's lap. Putting the MacBook aside, Kabir made the little guy comfortable on his thigh and leaned back against the headboard.

"Sup? Now you remember me?", Kabir asked faking anger.

"No. I never forget you. You do.", Reyansh mumbled and indirectly though, he spoke out his insecurity that strike hard against Kabir's heart. Wrapping his strong arms around the little guy, he pulled Reyansh closer and kissed his head.

"Daddy is sorry for that.", He breathed out.

"I know. I'm sorry for making you sad.", Reyansh said tracing the frown on his Daddy's lips with his little fingers.

"It's fine.", Kabir smiled, gently biting Reyansh's finger.

"Ugh! My fingers are never safe around you!", Reyansh said yanking his hand to himself and crossing his arms.

"I'll eat them one day or the other.", Kabir remarked snidely.

"Okay. But right now Mommy is calling you downstairs for dinner. To eat what every normal person eats.", Reyansh said monotonously as he tried to grab his father's phone that laid on nightstand.

Kabir slapped Reyansh's approaching hand to the device and the little boy huffed in dismay.

"I doubt she has invited me for dinner. She must have called me to say; Kabir, the kitchen is free now. You can make yourself dinner.", He tried to mock Rivaah's voice, but ended up sounding like an annoying version of sassy school girl.

Reyansh laughed loudly. "That's not my Mommy's voice! But she has made food for all of us. So come. Let's go.", He said getting off his father's lap and grabbing his hand, trying to pull the man five times of his weight. Kabir didn't even move. "Daddy, c'mon!", Reyansh's cheeks puffed out.

"Okay okay!", Kabir breathed out defeatedly.

Both father and son reached downstairs and Kabir sighed in relief that he was indeed called for dinner and not to make it.

"C'mon, Reyansh. Get on the chair.", Rivaah said to him. As soon as he sat down, she served him. "Say thanks to Taila Aunty, she helped your Mommy today.", Rivaah said ruffling his hair.

"Thank you, Taila Aunty.", Reyansh said politely.

"You're welcome.", She smiled sweetly at him.

"Why are you standing there? Come and serve yourself.", Rivaah said as she stood straight. Kabir nodded and took a seat at the end of the table.

"Mommy, is there capsicum in this?", Reyansh asked while they were in the mid of eating dinner.

"No, darling. I know you hate it.", Rivaah said with a sickly sweet smile that looked no close to assurance.

"Then what is this green green?", He asked with a suspicious frown.

"That must be coriander.", She nodded.

"I know how coriander looks like. This is not coriander.", He said shaking his head, his mouth morphing into disgust.

"It is, Rey.", She pressed.

"Bullshit, Mommy! Bullshit!", He exclaimed pushing the plate away.

Rivaah gasped as she stared at him with wide eyes. "Who- Who taught you that!?", She demanded.

"Daddy said it when we were in hospital.", Reyansh pointed at his father.

Kabir choked.

Well, welcome to parenthood!

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