***Parth's POV.***

We walked in silence as we went up and the only noise we could hear was when we passed Badi Bua's room. The kids are literally howling like wolves. I pray for the kids to be fine. I open the door to the terrace and she looks around in surprise at the arrangement.

"Aunty was right. It looks rather enchanting." She says and I nod.

"So... how should we start this?" I ask, confused, as I am still no good at this.

"I don't know. It is my first time meeting a man like this." She says.

"I like your father." I say jokingly to break the tension.

"He is... little possessive of me and also Saina." She says with a smile.

"Rightfully so." I say, "You both are pretty and talented."

"Thanks." She says.

"Are you interested in-" I go to ask if she is interested in jokes but get interrupted by a phone call, "I am sorry but I have to take this."

"Sure." She says.

"What is it, Megha?" I asked my manager.

"Sir, one of our guests has gone into labor." She says.

"Is that a guest again?" I ask.

"Yes." She says.

"But earlier she said it was just gas." I ask, confused.

"She is a first time mother, Sir. Obviously she was confused." She says.

"Then why are you calling me and wasting time? Take her to the hospital instead. And where is her husband?" I ask.

"He is stuck in the meeting and when I called it was saying this phone is switched off." She says.

"What kind of husband would he be if he can't keep his phone on when he knows his wife is close to her due date? Just take her to the hospital first." I say.

"But she isn't listening, Sir. She is saying she won't go anywhere until her husband is back." She says and Saira comes in front of me.

"But she has to go to the hospital." I say.

"Can I help?" Saira asks.

"Sure, please." I say and put my phone on speaker.

"Hello, uhh... can you give the patient the phone? Tell her it is a doctor." She says.

"Sure, Mam." Megha says and we hear some arguments and then hear the woman on the phone.

"I am not going anywhere." She says and sounds distressful.

"First of all, calm down Mam. Can you tell me your name?" Saira says softly.

"Prachi." She says after a second.

"Prachi, can you tell me how far is your contraction?" Saira asks.

"I don't know." She says, and now sounds more stressful than before.

"That's okay. Calm down. Just tell me, did your water break?" Saira asks.

"Yes." She says.

"And has your pain shifted to lower than your back?" Saira asks.

"No. But it is painful around my belly and lower back." She says.

"Prachi, listen to what I say now. Get to the hospital right now." Saira says.

"Is something wrong?" Prachi asks.

"Not for now but you really need professional help and for that you need to go to the hospital. If you risk waiting for your husband, your pain could worsen." She says.

"And while you go to the hospital, one of my staff will get hold of your husband." I say.

"Prachi, right now, what do you think is most important and can't wait?" Saira asks.

"Baby." She says.

"Yes. The baby wants to get out and you have to go to the hospital for the baby's and your own safety's sake. So take a deep breath and do what you have to do in this situation." Saira says.

"I want that luxury coupon for a spa." She says.

Saira and I look at each other and I see her lips turning up a little and she asks, "Sure, Mr. Malhotra can give the new mother something like this. Right?"

"Why not? Just go to the hospital first, Mam. I will give you not one but five tickets to the spa." I say.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go. My baby is coming." She says, and Megha assures me that one staff member has already left to call her husband.

"Thank you so much." I say.

"I actually did nothing." She says.

"Still." I say.

"So, you were asking me something?" She asks after a few seconds of silence.

"Yes. I was asking if you are interested in-" I say but I get interrupted again when Amara and Siya burst out on the terrace along with Vedika and Riya and Rhea in tow.

How did they climb the stairs?

***Saira's POV.***

"Chachu, is my Gobo okay?" Siya asks as she keeps hold of Rhea, who looks ready to pounce on a Mogra flower.

"Yes. She is good as new and in my room, resting. But what are you all doing here and how did you climb the stairs with Riya and Rhea? You know it is dangerous and you aren't allowed here with no adults." Parth says.

"But aren't you an adult, Mamu?" Amara asks.

"And Riya and Rhea were feeling stuffy, so we brought them with us." Siya says.

"Mamu!" Vedi says, tugging at his pants.

"Yes, dear." He says, crouching down to her level.

"Swing." She says and Riya calls for him, too.

"Okay. I will take you both to the swing, but everyone else has to calm down." Parth says.

"But I think I made a mistake bringing Rhea with me, Chahu." Siya says as she loses control over Rhea.

"Let me take her. I know how to distract her." I say and pick her up.

"Thank you, Chachi." Siya says.

"Chachi?" I ask with a chuckle.

"Yes, Mami. I heard Mom saying you, and Mamu are getting married. When is the wedding? Our parents didn't invite us to their weddings. So selfish. But we will definitely enjoy Mamu's wedding and wear so many cool costumes." Amara says and hugs Parth's leg.

"Amu, dear. Put brakes on your planning." Parth says, and she rolls her eyes.

We got distracted by the kids after that, but it was a good time. During that time I saw how good Parth is with the children and never gets angry, and kids look more attached to him. That means only one thing: he must be a good uncle to them. He calmly handles them and distracts them if they turn serious about some touchy subject, which, for now, is our marriage. I wanted to know more about him, but it was time we went down.

"Looks like we talked little." He says.

"It is okay. I had made my decision long before we came here." I say with a smile.

"Really?" He asks.

"Yes." I say.

"How long were you up there, that now you now have five girls?" Saina asks as soon as we come down.

"Saina!" Pa says, and she holds her hands up and rolls her eyes, which reminds me of Amara, who is holding my hand.

"Did you two got to talk or did the kids take all the limelight?" Arya asks.

"We talked a little." Parth says.

"Yes." I say. Very little.

As soon as I sit down, Ma asks, "So what do you think?"

"I already said yes to you yesterday. The man is good, the family is great. What more do I need?" I ask.

"You like the boy?" She asks.

"He is nice and very calm. Also, he is serious about his work and looks very mature." I say.

"Great." She says, then turns to Malhotra, "It is yes from our side."

"Seriously, Saru." Pa mumbles.

"Really?" Aunty asks then turns to Parth, "What about you, Parth?"

He frowns and thinks for a few seconds, which seems to irritate my Pa, "Speak up, boy. Your silence would mean my girl is not the best. Any boy should be grateful to have an all rounder wife like her."

"Parthiv!" Ma exclaims.

"I know, Uncle." He says, then turns to his mother and says, "That is why my answer is yes."

"Really?" Aunty asks with her eyes shining with tears.

"Yes, Mom. But that doesn't mean I am the one getting the bidai, so stop crying." He says and I smile along with others.

"Oh, I am so happy." She says and feeds me a piece of ladoo and to Parth, too.

"I will call the priest and find the date for their engagement." Dadi says.

"Yes, weddings can take time. We should at least wait for a few months, but for now let's get them engaged." Parth's Dadi Ji says.

"I want to marry quickly." I say, interrupting them.

"Aww! Did you like my devar so much that you want to marry him as quickly as possible?" Ramya teases me.

"What is the need to hurry?" Pa asks.

"Actually, I will join my work wherever I can by next month. After that for a year or two, I won't be free at all. As you know doctors are called anytime and I am new here, so I have to give more time to build my career and reputation. So it would be very convenient for me to get married this month only. But only if Parth and everyone else would not face any inconvenience because of my plans." I say.

"We understand, Saira. You just became a full-fledged doctor, so you will need time to concentrate in a new place. But you both can get married after two years. There is no need to hurry." Daksh Uncle says.

"I know, Uncle. But it would be more convenient this way and I want to get married around this time only." I say, but try not to reveal my plans about why now I want to get married.

"Despite that, how would we plan for the wedding in just one week and what about an auspicious date and time?" Ma asks.

"Please, Mom. Leave wedding arrangements out of this when you know who my Mum is. Everything would be perfect, so we don't need to worry about that." Ramya says.

"What about you, Parth? Is it okay for you?" Mayra asks him.

He looks at me, then nods, "Yes, I am okay with this."

"Why is no one asking me?" Pa whispered beside me.

"Pa, would it be okay?" I ask, putting my arms around his shoulder.

"Definitely not. But if you think this is what you want, then I trust your decision." He says with a smile.

"Thanks." I say and kiss his cheek, "You are the best." And he melts. I know how to handle my Pa.

After that Aunty assures Ma to call her later with all the details and come to meet her to discuss in person. I feel a bit weird when I see Parth lost in his thoughts. Maybe because we are getting married in old ways and that too very soon.

I hope I made the right decision because there would be no turning back after this point.