Advik let out a yawn, taking off his watch and setting it aside as he glanced around for his wife. He shrugged off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt, and stretched his arms, feeling the weight of the day on his shoulders.

Just as he began to move toward the bed, he heard light footsteps—and suddenly, Yashvi jumped on him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck. He staggered slightly but quickly regained his balance, a smile forming on his face.

"I missed you so much today," Yashvi murmured, pressing soft kisses to his neck, shoulder, and cheek, each touch bringing a deeper smile to his face.

"Yashvi, you shouldn't jump like that. It's not good for you," he gently scolded, bending a bit so she could place her feet on the ground. She did so, reluctantly letting her hands slide from his neck, but he turned to face her, chuckling. She looked lovely in her white silk nightgown, her eyes bright and playful.

"I missed you too," he replied softly, pulling her close by the waist and nuzzling her neck, his eyes closing as he breathed her in. Yashvi wrapped her arms around him, sighing contentedly as she leaned into his embrace.

"I thought you'd be asleep by now," he murmured, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek.

"How could I sleep when I knew you'd be home soon?" she teased, pressing his hand to her cheek, her warmth anchoring him.

He chuckled, lifting her in his arms and carrying her over to the bed before gently setting her down. She giggled, looping her arms around his neck as he leaned over her, their faces close.

As Advik began to step away, Yashvi suddenly grabbed his collar, taking him by surprise. He stopped in his tracks, looking at her with wide eyes.

"Where are you going?" she asked innocently, her gaze playful yet questioning. He swallowed, momentarily taken aback by the intensity of her hold.

"The washroom," he replied, his voice a little hoarse. She nodded, releasing his collar with a soft smile, allowing him to step away from the bed. But as he took a few steps, he stopped, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, almost as if he were reconsidering.

With renewed resolve, he turned back to her, catching her attention just as she picked up her phone. "Forget the washroom," he murmured with a grin, taking the phone gently from her hand and setting it aside. Before she could react, he leaned in, capturing her lips with his, his arms wrapping securely around her waist.

Yashvi's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing at the sudden intimacy. But within moments, she melted into the kiss, her hands moving up to trace the contours of his chest and abs, their warmth pulling her closer.

In the quiet of the room, they lost themselves in each other, a shared connection strengthening in every touch, breath, and unspoken promise .They moved together with a rhythm as natural as breath, their closeness deepening with every touch and whispered word. In the gentle glow of the night, time seemed to slow, cocooning them in a shared warmth. Their connection was a seamless blend of trust and affection, a quiet exchange of hearts that left them both feeling complete, their souls intertwined in a way words could never fully capture.

-----

"I thought you were tired," Yashvi murmured, tracing her fingers over the veins of Advik's hands. He just chuckled, pulling her closer.

"I can never be too tired for you," he replied softly, his gaze warm. He could tell from her eyes that she wanted to feel close to him again. Ever since they first discovered her pregnancy, it had been over a month since they'd shared an intimate moment. But just two months after the fair, they finally received the news they'd been hoping for—Yashvi was pregnant again.

"I heard you ask the doctor about it," he teased with a wink, making her blush as she hid her face against his arm.

"I didn't know you were craving it that much," he added playfully, feeling her shyly tighten her hug.

"What did you have for dinner?" she asked, softly tracing patterns over his chest as he stifled a yawn.

"Quesadillas," he murmured, pulling her a little closer by the waist.

Yashvi pulled back, frowning in disappointment. "Seriously, Advik? You should have had a proper dinner." She quickly slipped on her slippers and grabbed the shrug to her nightgown, clearly worried about his lack of a fulfilling meal.

Advik gave her a sheepish look. "You wouldn't have eaten without me, so I ate lightly with the delegates. Most of the food was non-vegetarian, so I just ordered some vegetarian quesadillas. I wasn't that hungry anyway."

"Come on," she sighed, taking his hand and leading him toward the kitchen.

"At least let me put on a t-shirt first," he said, heading to the closet. She sighed, grabbing the bedsheet from the recliner and following him. Tossing it into the laundry basket, she watched him thoughtfully as he chose his night t-shirt.

"It's night; just wear anything," Yashvi said with a soft sigh, handing him a peach t-shirt.

He quickly slipped on the T-shirt, then walked up behind her and, without warning, scooped her into his arms. Yashvi looked at him in surprise, then adjusted herself, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his chest with a soft kiss.

"So, what's for dinner?" he asked, nudging the door closed with his foot as he stepped out of the room, heading toward the elevator.

"I saved a bit of baingan-gobhi for myself. Maa made it, and it was delicious," she replied, a dreamy smile on her face as she recalled the taste.

"The way you're going on about baingan-gobhi, anyone would think it's your first love," he teased as they exited the elevator, still holding her close as he walked them to the kitchen.

She laughed, playfully kissing his cheek. "Food's my second love. You're the first," she said, her tone light yet sincere, making him grin.

Advik smiled, tightening his hold as he carried her effortlessly down the hall. "Lucky me, then," he murmured, leaning into her peck on his cheek. The warmth in his gaze made her heart flutter.

He lifted her onto the kitchen counter, but as she tried to jump down, he immediately held her in place, giving her a gentle but firm look.

"Yashvi, you're pregnant. You shouldn't be jumping like that," he chided softly, hands steady on her waist as he guided her back to the floor. She rolled her eyes at his protectiveness—it wasn't as if she was leaping from the top of the Burj Khalifa.

"In the second cabinet from the right, there's multigrain flour. Scoop two spoonfuls into this," she said, handing him the container.

Obligingly, he knelt down, opened the cabinet, and measured out two scoops before handing the container back to her. She set it in the dough maker, waiting for the machine to start.

"Advik, ghurna band kariye," she murmured, cheeks flushing as she caught his gaze lingering.

(Advik, stop staring.)

"Yeh kitchen hain," she whispered, trying to push him back, though her own resistance faltered.

(This is the kitchen.)

He only tightened his hold, his lips trailing from her cheek to her ear, then down to that familiar, sensitive spot on her neck. He planted a soft kiss there, then gave a teasing nip, making her gasp as he soothed it with a tender stroke of his tongue.

"Advik, no... please," she murmured, though her hands betrayed her, pulling him even closer as a quiet moan slipped out.

He smirked before leaning in, licking her lips softly, and pulling her into a lingering, tempting kiss. His hands rested just above her chest, giving a gentle squeeze through the fabric of her nightgown. The touch jolted her back to her senses, and she pushed him away firmly, though not without a hint of softness in her gaze. He smiled tenderly, pressing a kiss to her forehead, which made her smile as well. She turned to wash her hands, gathering herself.

"Take out the gobhi-baingan and chutney from the fridge, and warm up the sabzi," she said, scooping some dry flour as she quickly rolled out a roti. Advik watched her with a trace of longing, then moved to the fridge, taking out the dishes and warming up the vegetable before plating everything neatly.

Once the plate was set, he slipped his arms around her waist from behind, hugging her tightly as he buried his face in her neck, eyes closed, relishing the quiet peace her presence brought him.

"Advik, clear the kitchen recordings right now," she murmured, glancing at the camera with a shy smile. In the heat of the moment, she had completely forgotten about the surveillance cameras.

"Hmm," he hummed in agreement, holding her a bit tighter. She applied ghee to the fresh roti, stacking three onto his plate, as he finally released her to take care of the recording.

"Advik," she murmured, pulling away as he sighed, taking out his phone to quickly clear the recordings. Then, he sat on the kitchen chair. Yashvi settled across from him, holding the plate as she made a morsel of roti and fed him gently. He looked at her with a soft smile, accepting each bite.

"Packing done?" he asked, taking a sip of water before opening his mouth for another morsel.

"Yes. The designers sent all our clothes, and everything is packed. We're all set to leave tomorrow." She smiled as he took the morsel from her, then fed her in return. They were preparing for Adarsh and Esha's wedding, which was set to take place in Manali, Esha's hometown. Plans were in full swing, and nearly all nearby hotels were booked, from the Mehrotras' resorts to nearby five and seven-star hotels. The wedding was luxurious but kept intimate, with a guest list including close relatives and business associates—but, like any Indian wedding, the list had grown.

"Yashvi, we have wedding planners handling everything. Your only job is to take care of yourself and the baby. That's part of the reason we didn't hold the wedding here—otherwise, you'd tire yourself out," Advik said, feeding her a morsel before taking the empty plate from her and placing it by the sink, where the house staff would clean it later.

Yashvi sighed, nodding, as her mother-in-law, Sandhya, entered the kitchen.

"You're both still up?" Sandhya asked, surprised as she filled a jug with water.

"Aapke bete ne dinner nahi kiya tha, Maa," Yashvi teased, glancing at her husband, who just shook his head with a smile.

(Your son hadn't eaten dinner, Maa.)

"Yashvi, beta, don't tell anyone about your pregnancy yet, no matter how close they are. No one should know in the first three months." Sandhya said, caressing Yashvi's cheek. "Honestly, I would have scheduled Adarsh's wedding after the baby's birth, but it's already been over a year since their roka. We can't delay it any further."

Yashvi nodded softly, understanding the concern. Esha and Adarsh had been engaged for a year but had taken their time before committing to marriage. Although Sandhya wasn't overly traditional, everyone was being extra cautious this time, especially after Yashvi's previous miscarriage.

"Don't worry, Maa. I'll take care of your daughter," Advik reassured his mother, side-hugging her. She smiled softly, took the jug, and wished them goodnight as she left.

Once they were back in their room, Yashvi pouted, "Advik, meri imli wali khatti-meethi goli khatam ho gayi hai. Aman ko boliye na kal airport jaane se pehle de jaaye."

(Advik, I'm out of my tangy tamarind candies. Tell Aman to bring some tomorrow before we leave for the airport.)

Advik opened the drawer on her side of the bed and raised his eyebrows at the stash of mouth fresheners and candies inside. "Yashvi, there are so many already! Just look," he said, shaking his head in amusement. She had always enjoyed sour and spicy candies, but her cravings had definitely intensified with the pregnancy.

"No, I need that specific one. Ask him to buy me two packets of the imli toffee," she insisted, crossing her arms and turning away in a huff.

"Yashvi, it's not good for your health," he gently tried to explain, guiding her to sit on the bed.

"I really don't have it that often, and it actually helps with digestion," she replied, looking up at him earnestly. Her drawers were indeed packed with tamarind, pomegranate, mango, mint, and hing candies, along with some spicy treats. The tangy flavors helped with her morning sickness, and lately, she had a lingering odd taste in her mouth. She was careful to control her intake, though.

"Then how did they run out so quickly?" Advik teased, pulling out a tamarind candy and popping it into his mouth, giving her a mischievous grin.

"Advik, that was the last one!" she exclaimed, her face flushed in mock anger.

"Alright, I'll ask Aman," he relented, holding up a finger, "but only one packet, and you won't get another for at least two months. If you really want something, have the ajwain pachak—it's genuinely good for you." He took out the ajwain (carom seed) candy and handed it to her.

"It doesn't taste that great," she mumbled. She hadn't bought it herself; her mother had packed it for her, insisting it was beneficial.

"Trust me, it'll help more than those other candies," he said, squeezing her hand affectionately.

Yashvi sighed, finally taking the ajwain pachak. "Fine," she said, making a playful face as she ate it, while Advik chuckled, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Let's brush our teeth. Did you take your medicines?" he asked, moving toward the bathroom. He took out a toothbrush, dampened it, applied a peanut-sized amount of toothpaste, turned it on, and handed it to her.

"I did," she replied, yawning lightly. She slipped on a headband, took the brush, and began brushing. But after a moment, she paused, setting the brush aside after rinsing and removing the headband.

"What do you want?" she asked suddenly, glancing at him intently.

He looked at her, trying to understand her question, then rinsed his mouth and asked, "What do you mean?"

She led him back to bed, where they settled in. He rested his back against the headboard, and she nestled against him, her head on his bicep as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I mean... do you have a preference for the baby's gender?" she clarified, tracing her fingers over his hand, captivated by the veins she always admired. Two and a half years of marriage, and her fascination with them hadn't faded.

"Why would it matter? Mujhe ek healthy baccha chahiye jo thoda aapke jaisa hoga aur thoda mere jaise hoga. Humare pyaar ki nishani," he said tenderly, resting his hand on her lower abdomen with a gentle smile.

(I just want a healthy baby, a little like you and a little like me. A symbol of our love.)

"I want him to have your dimples. Just imagine! Every time he smiles, we'll see those dimples. How cute," she murmured, a dreamy smile spreading across her face as she envisioned it.

"We won't send him to school with the driver; I'll drop him off myself," he added, already picturing those fatherly moments.

"And after school, we'll pick him up, stop for ice cream, and have our own little family outing," she said, her excitement growing with every word.

"We'll always be there for him. He can become whatever he wants—a singer, dancer, actor, athlete, businessperson, anything," he said softly, brushing his hand along her arm, resting his head against hers.

"We'll have our own little family, Advik. My own family," she whispered, her voice full of wonder, as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

He gently rubbed her arm, glancing at the clock, noting that it was almost midnight. "What are you thinking?" he asked quietly.

She pressed her lips together, trying to contain her emotions. "About Mumma. I miss her."

"Tell me honestly, Yashvi," he said with a hint of sternness, sensing there was more to it.

She hesitated, then finally spoke. "I want Mumma to move on."

He looked at her in surprise, eyes widening.

"What do you mean? Yashvi, moving on doesn't have to mean giving someone else his place or forgetting him. It's about accepting things as they are and finding happiness again. You can't force her to let someone else into her life," he said gently, caressing her hair.

"Advik, I know," she said softly. "But I can't help feeling that she's lonely. I'm busy with our life, and after the baby, we'll be even busier. Darsh barely has time between hospital and work. Mumma is alone most of the day, trying to fill her time with household chores. She doesn't say it, but I know she's lonely."

Advik listened thoughtfully, taking her hand in his. "So... what are you thinking?"

"A partner. For my mumma," she whispered, reaching for a framed photo on the bedside table that showed her, Darsh, and her mother.

"Have you tried talking to her about it?" he asked gently.

She shook her head, biting her lip as she looked at the photo.

"I feel like there's someone in her life. Remember Vikram uncle?" she asked softly, her gaze searching his face for understanding. He paused for a moment, trying to recall the man before nodding.

"Your mother's school classmate who moved into the flat next to yours. We met him when Mumma invited us for dinner. He was there too," he replied, his memory catching up with the image of the man.

"Yes! His wife passed away a few years ago from cancer, and his son lives in Canada. Mumma seems so happy when he's around," she shared, a hint of hope in her voice. "Mumma isn't too old, Advik." Amrita had conceived Yashvi at a young age, around twenty. Even now, she looked stunning, often mistaken for Yashvi's older sister.

"Yashvi, don't stress. Let Adarsh's wedding happen first. After that, we need to talk to Mumma. If there's something going on, we'll discuss it with Darsh too and see how to approach it. For now, let's put this aside and focus on the wedding. Now, get some sleep," he said softly, helping her lean back against the bed. He tucked her in with a comforter, kissing her forehead and then her tummy, whispering a goodnight.

He switched off the lamps and drew the curtains, pressing the side button until the room was pitch dark. Pulling Yashvi closer, he settled down beside her, feeling her warmth as they drifted into sleep.

-----

A little peek into their pregnancy and how Amrita will also have someone in her life, to love her and cherish her because that is what she deserves. After dedicating her whole life to her kids, she too deserves to be someone's priority.

Thankyou<3