Vineet walks into the bedroom after his wife. She's sitting on the bed. He is really impressed by Anamika because she's so nice to his late wife, Ruhana. But Anamika tells him that she's already made a special place in his heart and their home, so she doesn't want to make Ruhana go away. Vineet sits down on the bed cosily. He thanks Anamika again, and she smiles back at him.

“Vineet, maine aapse kitni baar kaha hain ki aap mujhe thanks na bola kijiye. Biwi ko thank you nahi bolte.” She says this, gazing at him.

“Lekin mujhe kehna chahiye. Kyunki tumhari wajah se hi hum aaj yahan hain. I mean, tumne hi toh mujhe mere ateet se nikaala hain aur mere saath saath mere ateet ko bhi accept kiya hain.” He says this while glancing at him.

“Vo mera farz tha, Vineet. Vaise bhi ateet ko dil mein sanjo kar, aage badhne mein hi bhalai hain. Aur aap hi toh keh rahe they na ki Ruhana ji chahti thi ki aap hamesha khush rahein.” Anamika says she snuggles close to him.

“Tum sach mein sabse alag ho, Ana. Aur sabse strong bhi. Itna sab kuch hone ke baad bhi tumne ek nayi zindagi shuru ki, Ansh ke liye. Main toh kabhi itni himmat hi nahi kar paya.” Vineet says, and she knows that he’s being honest.

“Vineet, himmat toh karni hi padti hain. Zindagi mein himmat haar jana sahi nahi hai na. Par main khush hoon ki aapne aage badhne ka faisla liya. Aapne initiative liya isliye hi toh hum dono yahan sath hain.” Saying so, she keeps her head on his shoulder while he gently keeps his arm around her shoulders.

“Jab tumne saath dene ka vaada kiya, toh aur kuch sochne ki zaroorat thi hi nahi, Ana.” He says this by calling her by the nickname he has given her.

“Main toh hamesha aapke saath hoon, Vineet. Chaliye, ab hume sona chahiye. Kal se Ansh ka school hain, aur aapko bhi toh office jaana hain.” She says.

He agrees, and they lie on the bed; she places her head on his arm, and they drift into their dreamland. It’s just the beginning of their new life.

******

The next morning, Anamika wakes up first. She looks at her husband, who's still asleep with a little smile on his face. She gently strokes his hair and gives him a soft kiss on the forehead. This man is her good luck charm. When she wasn't looking for a relationship, he came into her life. It's as if the universe wanted them to meet, and now they're together, enjoying the happiness of marriage.

He loves her son as his own. He didn’t think twice about taking Ansh as his own child. He pampers him more than her, and her son has become too inclined towards Vineet. She can’t ask for anything more— a loving husband and an adorable son. This is her world, and she’s pretty joyful about it.

She’s busy admiring him when he opens his eyes, and she comes out of his trance as their eyes meet. He settles the strands of her hair behind her ear while she kisses his forehead, greeting him for the day. 

He sits up on the bed, taking support from the backrest. She snuggles close to him and keeps her head on his chest. She’s still thoughtful, and he knows it. She’s drawing some patterns on his chest; that’s her favourite thing to do. He lifts her chin to make her look at him.

“Kya hua? Kya soch rahi ho, subah subah?” He asks gently.

“Vineet, maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki meri life mein itna khubsurat mod aayega. Jab maine jeene ki umeed chhod di thi, tab meri zindagi mein Ansh aaya. Aur jab maine socha ki ab mujhe kisi ki zaroorat nahi hain, mera beta mere liye kaafi hain, tab aap meri zindagi mein aaye.” She says this, trailing her finger on his chest.

“Aur sabse achi baat pata hai kya hai?” She asks, looking at him.

“Ab meri zindagi ki sabse achi baat toh tum ho!” He responds, making her smile.

“Yahi toh main kehna chahti hoon, Vineet. Dekhiye, aapne bhi maan liya na ki har koi apni jagah khud banata hain. Main toh bahut lucky hoon. Jab aap Ruhana ji se itna pyar karte hain, toh mujhse bhi toh utna hi pyar karenge. Ab vo sirf aapki nahi, hum dono ki zindagi ka hissa hain.” Anamika says softly.

Vineet is touched by her words. She’s ready to blend the memories of his late wife into their present. They sit talking for a while when Anamika jumps away from him, hearing his son’s voice. She hops off the bed, leaving Vineet astounded.

“Arey, kya ho gaya? Kahan jaa rahi ho?”He asks.

“Mera bacha uth gaya hoga toh dhundhega mujhe. Abhi aapko intezar karna padega.” Anamika says this and rushes out of her room.

Vineet smiles at his wife and follows her towards Ansh’s room. He stands by the door and finds Anamika sitting near her son. She ruffles his hair, trying to wake him up. The little boy opens his eyes and snuggles close to her, hiding his face in her chest. She makes her sit on the bed and kiss his forehead. They play for a little while, and all that’s echoed is the constant laughter of the mother and son. They’re oblivious to the fact that Vineet is watching them and capturing them with the camera of his phone.

Life is surely beautiful for this small family of three members.

To Be Continued.