Chapter 4/Epilogue:
"Mama! Aunti!" screamed the little boy, as he saw a woman entering their house, dressed in a simple sari, a pinch of sindoor on her forehead, a mangalsutra donning her neck.
She stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her sari, as she looked up to see who was at the door. A smile suddenly appeared on her face as she ushered to seat the guest and went inside, calling " Guess who has come to visit!"
And she went back into the living room to find her little son on the woman's lap as the two chatted away.
"Sravani! It's been so long since we've seen you. How have you been?" questioned Archana, as she instructed her little son, Sachin to get off Aunti's lap, and go play somewhere else.
"Haha Hi Archana. Main, bas theek hoon. I just wanted to inform you that I'm pregnant" said Sravani, a smile on her face as she placed a hand over her stomach.
"Wow Sravani! Great News! Did you tell Aditya yet?!" questioned Archana, her voice bubbling over with excitement for the woman in front of her. Yes, the two had been through a lot, both good and bad, and today, they could say that they were each other's best friends. They shared anything and everything with each other.
"Adiya? No. I came here running to tell you first. Who better to share the news with" she laughed, and before she knew it, she was engulfed in a hug.
"Sravani Beti! Itni acchi khabhar! Aaj main to bohut kush hoon" shouted Savita Aai, "I already have one grandson, and I'm going to be getting two more grandchildren soon!
She sat next to Archana, and smiled seeing Archana and Sravani with their hands over their stomachs, feeling the little babies that were growing inside of them. Life had changed so much for them in the past two years, ever since Archana remarried Manav and entered the Deshmukh household once again as a bahu.
Once the baby had been born, Sravani had recovered, even though the doctors said she didn't have a high chance of surviving, she fought a hard battle and won. Today, she was fit and fine, perfectly healthy and pregnant with another baby.
Sravani watched, tears in her eyes, as Sachin went and sat on Archana's lap. "Mama, when is Papa coming home?" he questioned, his little baby voice pulling at her heart strings. She wondered if she shouldn't have given up her baby, but when she saw Archana's smiling face, the love she had for her son, she was more than happy. She knew that she had made the right choice.
After the baby was delivered, two years back, she had told Manav and Archana that she wanted their names to be on the baby's birth certificate. She wanted the baby Sachin to be the memory of the late Sachin Deshmukh, to be with his family once again.
Although they had denied that, saying that the baby should be with its biological mother, Sravani had been adamant once again, until the two had agreed to raise the baby. Sachin was the light of the Deshmukh's life. He brought with him change and happiness, and was the only memory left of Manav's brother, Savita's son.
When Sravani had seen Manav crying to Baba right before their wedding, something hit her. She realized that Manav would never love her the way he loved Archana. She realized how wrong it was to separate the two of them, who were ready to sacrifice their entire lives for the sake of her and her baby. So that's why she had gone and talked to Baba, and the two had decided to enact a little drama to get the couple together.
Baba had faked the second heart attack, and the doctor was told to make up stuff too 😆. Sravani's stomach pains had been unexpected but another miracle in disguise and everything had just seemingly fell into place. Soon afterwards, Sravani found another man for herself. Although she would never forget Sachin, this man had made another place for himself in her heart, and she had married Aditya. Life was good to her.
Now, back to the Deshmukh household.
Soon after Sravani had left, Manav came home from his garage. Yes. His Garage.
"Papa! You're home!" screamed the little Sachin as he ran into his father's hands. Manav lifted up his son, throwing him into the air, as he kissed him soundly on the cheek.
Archana had come outside, and seeing the father-son duo, just stood there with a smile on her face. She loved those two people more than anything in the world, and their happiness meant more than anything else to her.
Walking over to him with a glass of water, Archana slowly ran her hands through his hair, asking him "You seem to be very tired today. Lot of work?"
"Han yes. So many customers today. I just came home early cause I promised this little boy that I would play with him today!" he smiled, tickling his son and loving the giggle that appeared at his lips.
"Papa no! Leave me!" the boy screamed, trying to get away from his grasp, but failing to do so.
Archana just laughed before walking back into the kitchen, screaming to Manav to wash his hands before she laid out dinner for him.
Dinner was a grand affair in the Deshmukh family, with Archana, Savita Aai, Baba, Kaka, Manav and Sachin. Sachin and Baba always acted like little kids, screaming and shouting for Archana and Savita Aai, fussing about their food and just making everyone laugh.
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Archana was sitting in front of the little mirror, taking off her jewelry and getting ready for bed. Just as she was about to take off her earrings, she felt two hands on her hand, stopping her, before they moved to her ear. "Let me" a slow whisper came, his lips brushed against her skin.
Archana smiled as she saw her husband. To this day, his presence brought butterflies to her stomach, a shiver ran down her spine, she was nervous with excitement. When his hand moved to her stomach though, she placed her own hand over his.
"Just a few more months Archana. Are you sure you'll be able to handle this one, after Sachin?" he questioned, a mischievous look on his face.
Archana looked at him with disbelief. "So you don't think I'll be able to handle my own two children? Who do you think I am Manav?" she questioned angrily as she got up with a huff and went to sit on the bed.
Yes. The two of them never thought of Sachin as Sravani and the older Sachin's son. To them, Sachin was their own baby, their own souls, and they loved him more than anything else.
Sighing, Manav went off to the bed to try and manofy his wife, who had gotten so moody with the pregnancy and the hormones. She was definitely not the same Archana he had met a few years ago, the shy, calm woman. Today, she had her own voice, she fought with Manav, but the two never found it too difficult to make up.
"Sorry Archana. You know I didn't mean it like that. Of course you can handle our two kids" said Manav, a small pout on his face, as he held his two ears, kneeling before his wife.
Archana smile, as she caught his hand and indicated for him to sit next to her. Once he was comfortably settled, she leaned over, placing her head on his shoulder, wrapping her hands around him.
"I'm so happy Manav. I'm so happy we weren't separated. I don't know what I would have done without you" she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"Han Archana. Our relationship was meant to be restored. An unbreaking relationship, even with the hitches and the obstacles, we've overcome all of them. That's what we share. A Bond Forever" he said, wiping the tears off her face, and pulling her in for a hug.
The End
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Hi Everyone!
Well, that was my version, how I would have wanted this story to end. I know some of you may have issues with separating Sravani's son from her, but I don't know why, I've always felt that the baby belongs with the Deshmukh family because he is the last memory left of Sachin.
I know most of you haven't enjoyed this story, but I couldn't just leave it hanging, and so I came up with the conclusion and ended it. But I am thankful to those who read and commented, and I do appreciate the comments.
If you do actually make it reading all the way here, please do read and comment. I would definitely appreciate it. But it's ok if you didn't enjoy it too :)
Thanks!
~Naina
ps. any questions or clarifications, do comment, and i'll do my best to explain. i do understand that the ending was rushed.
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