After having a quick chat with Ishika, Anamika enters her room and finds Vineet lying on the bed, checking his phone. She slides onto her side of the bed and snuggles closer to him. She rests her head on his chest and wraps one hand around his waist. Instinctively, Vineet wraps one arm around her shoulders, puts his phone away, and holds her hand with his. Anamika lies silently beside him as he strokes her hair.

"Kya soch rahi ho, Ana?" he asks gently.

"Kuch nahi, Vineet. Main bas ye soch rahi hoon ki bahut jaldi hamara sapna sach hone wala hai," she replies, her voice thick with emotion.

"Maine kaha tha na ki sahi waqt par sab sahi ho jata hai," he replies, his tone laced with maturity.

"Haan, Vineet. Aur ab tak mujhe lag raha tha ki Ishu ye sab hamare liye kar rahi hai, aur ye sahi bhi hai. Lekin aaj usne kaha ki wo ye sab khud ke liye aur apni family ke liye kar rahi hai, mujhe achcha laga. Usey hamari kadr hai, aur isse achchi koi baat nahi ho sakti, Vineet," Anamika says, looking over at him.

"Haan, Ana, aur mujhe khushi hai ki tumne sahi insaan ko chuna hai. Haan, mujhe doubt hua tha, par mujhe khushi hai ki Ishika hamare sath hil-mil gayi hai. She's a part of us, Anu," Vineet says, his tone as gentle as ever.

"Haan, Vineet. I am so glad about it. Achcha, suno, kal Ishika ki doctor's appointment hai, toh humein jana hoga. Tumne kaha tha na ki chaloge, so be ready," she reminds him..

"Of course. Kal hum pehle doctor ke paas jayenge, aur uske baad main shoot par jaunga aur tum apne boutique chali jana. Maine Avinash ko bulaya hai," he says, referring to their driver.

Anamika nods and snuggles into him as the two savor the silence and drift into sleep, hoping for a new start the next day.

*****
A new day comes with new hopes and opportunities. Ishika wakes up in the morning and instinctively places her hand on her belly.
She's in her fourth month, and her belly has already started bloating. Her lips curve into a small smile as she thinks of the little life she's nurturing with all her love.

Her thoughts wander to Anamika and Vineet, who have been her pillars during her toughest times. Nurturing a life for them feels like a blessing in disguise, and she's truly indebted to them for it.

Her trance breaks when there's a knock on her door, and Anamika's voice reaches her, asking her to get ready. Ishika assures her that she'll only take thirty minutes to shower and dress up. Thirty minutes later, she walks out of her room, holding a folder in her hand. She hands it to Anamika, who looks surprised.

"Yeh kya hai? Main kya karun iska?" Anamika asks, though knowing the answer.

"Arey, meri file hai, aap sambhalo," Ishika plays along, her tone playful.

"Checkup tera hai na, main kyun rakhun?" Anamika asks, her tone equally playful, her lips curving into a smile.

"Aap Mumma ho na, isliye. Maine Dr. Anjali ko keh diya tha ki unko jo bhi baat karni hai, aapse karein, mujhe nahi pata kuch," she replies childishly.

"You're pregnant, Ishu, thodi toh maturity dikha," Anamika chides her playfully.

"No, mujhe nahi dikhani. Aur aap uss bandar ki baaton pe mat jao, usko kuch samajh nahi aata, samjhi aap, mat suno uski baat," Ishika chides her, her tone laced with annoyance.

"Arey, tujhe kyun lagta hai ki main Naman ki baaton mein aa gai hoon? Main toh sach hi keh rahi hoon, tujhe dhyan dena chahiye," Anamika plays along.

"Kyunki aap bol rahi ho ki main bachon ki tarah behave kar rahi hoon, aur kal wo bandar bhi yahi keh raha tha. Isliye mujhe lagta hai aap uski baaton mein aa gai," Ishika says irritably.

"Maine toh uski baat bhi nahi ki, tu hi Naman ko har baat mein leti hai aur phir kehti hai ki wo bandar jaisa hai," Anamika chides her, while Ishika makes a face.

Vineet witnesses this exchange with a smile on his face. He looks at the ladies in front of him, clearly pleased to see how they're swept away by Naman's kind and caring nature. Anamika is touched by his gestures and appreciates him for being her showstopper, while Ishika has come to like him after numerous banters.

"Aisa karte hain, Naman ko yahin bula leta hoon. Tum dono ko uski hi baat karni hai toh," Vineet says, his tone playful.

"Nahi nahi, aapko aur Di ko hi uski yaad aati hai, mujhe nahi," Ishika makes a face, causing Vineet to laugh.

"Haha, I know how much you miss him, Ishu," he teases, his voice full of playfulness.

"Noo, I don't. Usko bas aap miss kar sakte ho, huh," Ishika makes a face.

"Okay, fine! Relax! Gussa mat karo. Hum naashta karte hain, phir hospital bhi toh jana hai," Vineet says, his tone gentle.

"Aap aayenge hamare sath?" Ishika asks, clearly surprised, as he couldn't join them the last time.

"Yeah, I will be coming. Ana ne mujhe bataya ki aaj ultrasound bhi hai, so I will be there," Vineet says, his tone laced with admiration.

"Aww, that's great. Mumma Papa, dono ka hona zaroori hai," Ishika chuckles.

Vineet smiles, while Anamika adores the two for a moment before they sit down to have their breakfast. Soon after, they leave for the doctor's appointment.

*****
Anamika, Vineet, and Ishika reach the hospital and are taken into the cabin by Dr. Anjali. The doctor takes Ishika for a checkup and then calls Anamika and Vineet as she begins the ultrasound. Anamika stands by Ishika's side, holding her hand. The doctor applies gel to her tummy and then holds a transducer, rolling it over. On the display screen to the side, images begin to develop, and within a few seconds, clear images appear on the screen.

Anamika's eyes well up as she watches the tiny form on the screen. The tiny hands, legs, and a little face come into view. Anamika and Vineet share a glance, both equally emotional at the moment.

This is the moment they've been longing for. A little life is growing, though outside their proximity, yet it belongs to them.

On the other hand, Ishika's gaze shifts between the display screen and her little family. She feels blessed to nurture a little being for those who've nurtured her during her times of need. As Dr. Anjali stops the scan, Anamika asks for a few printouts of the ultrasound, which the doctor happily provides. Holding the ultrasound pictures in her hand, Anamika is touched.

The ride home is silent as each of them grapples with their own emotions. Vineet is overwhelmed at the thought of seeing his own child growing. Anamika, on the other hand, is glad to finally have the happiness of a child, even though she couldn't nurture it herself. Meanwhile, Ishika feels grateful to do something meaningful for her sister. She doesn't care about her own dreams because this little family has become her new dream.

To Be Continued.