Yuvaan's first birthday:

"What are you thinking?" Advik asked softly, sitting behind Yashvi on the sofa and following her gaze outside, toward the bright moon and shining stars. Gently, he slipped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her left shoulder as she held his hands tightly.

"A year ago, on this very day, I was in so much pain—waiting for you to come back to me as soon as possible, praying to God that the baby wouldn't come until you were by my side," she said softly, looking at the moon with a gentle smile on her lips. Advik's smile faded immediately, guilt gnawing at him from within.

He had been there for her throughout her pregnancy, but just a few days before her scheduled delivery, an urgent work commitment arose. Adarsh was suffering from typhoid, and Advait still wasn't ready to handle such a high-stakes project on his own. As the CEO, Advik felt it was his duty, yet he'd already decided he wanted to be a husband and father first, planning to skip the work trip. But Yashvi wouldn't let him. The project wasn't only his; thousands of employees were involved, and a setback would mean a significant loss, both financially and in reputation. She practically forced him to go, assuring him that she still had two weeks left before her due date.

It was a trip of more than a week, first to the southern parts of India, then to Tokyo, and finally back home. Advik tried to wrap up his work as quickly as possible, keeping in touch with her throughout the trip.

The whole family, including her brother and mother, was by Yashvi's side, but no one could take Advik's place. Throughout her pregnancy, Advik had treated her with love, care, and affection. He was the one who managed everything—from her medicines to her diet. He would do morning yoga with her, call his mother to remind her about Yashvi's medicines, come home in the evenings to accompany her on walks, and fulfill her midnight cravings, whether that meant stocking the kitchen with golgappas and flavored water or keeping the fridge stocked with pineapple pastries. He did everything he possibly could.

He hadn't taken a single trip in the seven months since they'd found out about her pregnancy. Before that, he would travel abroad once or twice every month, but after hearing the news, he avoided traveling altogether. However, when Adarsh fell ill with typhoid at the last moment, Advik had no choice but to go.

Just a few days without Advik, and Yashvi had already lost the glow she'd had throughout her pregnancy. Then, on the day of his return, the pain began. It was incredibly hard, especially without Advik by her side. The pain started slowly, intensifying, and then it stopped. The doctor recommended a cesarean, but Yashvi decided to wait for Advik; she didn't want to go through it without him by her side.

Meanwhile, Advik's flight was delayed due to bad weather. His heart raced at the thought of not being there for his wife during the most important moment of their lives—not being the first to see his own child. Thankfully, he arrived home by midnight, and just as he did, Yashvi's contractions began again. Advik was there by her side, holding her hand tightly and reassuring her.

"I am sorry." He softly whispered, kissing the side of her to which she chuckled, shaking her head in no as she turned towards him and cupped his cheeks.

"There is nothing to be sorry for. You are the best husband ever. Thank you so much, Advik, for always being there for me. After the first miscarriage, I was so scared, but you faced all my fears with me and took care of me throughout this pregnancy. Honestly, if you hadn't been by my side, it would have been too difficult. Mumma was right—if my husband was with me, all my worries, troubles, and pain would lessen. Thank you for being there," she said with teary eyes, holding his hands tightly. He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her forehead.

He didn't truly take away her pain, but just by being there, he calmed her. He made her feel that she wasn't alone and that her husband was by her side.

"It was my duty as your husband and as Yuvaan's father to take care of you. You were already going through so much. The least I could do was to be there for you, and that's exactly what I did. And look at our son," he said softly, side-hugging her as they looked at the crib where their symbol of love was sleeping. "He's turning one today. Time really flies—do you remember the first time we held him?" he said gently. She smiled widely, stood up, and walked to the side table by the bed, where she pulled out the journal they kept for their baby.

He smiled as he walked toward the bed and eagerly opened the journal. The first picture was of him, Yashvi, and Yuvaan, followed by photos of Yashvi with newborn Yuvaan, then one of him holding their son, and another with the entire family. It contained pictures from Yuvaan's naamkaran and annaprashan, monthly photos, and a few lines written by Yashvi or him for their son. It was as if they had captured the entire year within that tiny book. Feeling a surge of excitement, Advik pulled out the frame with Yuvaan's tiny footprints and handprints.

"Remember?" he asked softly with a smile, to which she chuckled and nodded.

"You went to a museum and saw the footprints of some extinct animal, and that's where you got the idea. You wanted to capture it every month, but Maa scolded you, so we ended up doing it when he turned six months old," she said, laughing.

He pouted, but a soft smile played on his lips. He looked at his son, who was peacefully sleeping, before walking toward the cabinet beneath the television and pulling out a happy birthday banner.

"Yashvi, it's almost time for him to turn one," Advik said softly, glancing at the clock, which read twelve. Yashvi nodded excitedly before walking to the mini refrigerator and retrieving the small cake box she had purchased for their son on her way home from the office. Advik eagerly decorated one side of the room with the banner while Yashvi took out some fairy lights and adorned the wall with them. Then she pulled out a few photos and began clipping them to the wall along the fairy lights.

A few moments later, a knock was heard so and as soon as she opened the door, Adarsh, Adya, Advait and Esha were standing there with Mylar balloons and a cake.

"Sorry, Bhabhi, we couldn't wait to wish Yuvaan," Adya said with a pout, holding a halwa cake decorated with cherries. Yashvi chuckled and nodded, giving them space to come inside. Her son was so loved by everyone.

As the clock was about to strike twelve, another knock came, and in walked everyone: Sandhya, Aakash, Padmakshi, Alok, and even Advik's grandparents. Advik's grandfather had been extremely unwell lately, but he managed to come to wish his great-grandson, which made Yashvi smile.

There were four cakes, and their son was still sleeping. Soon, Advik's phone started ringing with a video call from his cousin sister, Aashi, while Yashvi received a call from her mother. Adarsh also got a call from his bua, and as soon as the clock struck twelve, everyone began giving blessings to the sleeping Yuvaan.

Advik and Yashvi cut the cake in Yuvaan's honor, praying for his happiness, success, and long life, and they fed the first bite to each other. It was the same day, a year ago, that they became parents. Advik clicked some amazing pictures, and their son's first birthday became one of the best memories of their lives.

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Another peep into their life<3