Baano leaned into the warmth that engulfed her in it's embrace. It felt good sleeping in someone's arms after a long time.

She hates him for leaving her.

When she needed him the most.

His love for her was fake.

He never loved her.

If he loved her then he wouldn't have left her when she was carrying his child.

She hates Armaan.

And she felt a kiss on her forehead.

“Baano, why are you crying?” A voice boomed in her sleepy mind that was floating somewhere in the universe of sleep.

She again felt warm lips on her forehead and a hand caressing her babybump.

“Baano, tell me, baby. Why are you crying?” A hand caressed her wet cheek.

A sense of familiarity with this touch rebelled against the slavery of slumber. And her eyes jolted open as she recognised the touch. The touch that belonged to her husband.

She saw him smiling softly at her. He cupped her cheeks and asked lovingly,

“Why were you crying in your sleep?”

“I am missing Armaan.”

“Oh. Well, I miss him too. Life without him must be boring, right? He was such a comic character. And look at me, who has no time for his wife.” He sighed.

“Yes, he was better than you. I miss his silly, innocent words.”

“And I miss being the Armaan I was once. Even my beard doesn't feel like mine. Like all of a sudden Amrish Puri replaced Amitabh Bachchan!”

You thought Baano married someone else!? 😜😜😜

If Armaan got to know about this, do you know, what he will say?

I'll add it in my next project. 🤣🤣🤣

“But Amrish Puri didn't had beard.” Baano pointed out. Side effects of marrying The Armaan Gill.

“Baano, focus on my emotions instead of beard.” Armaan being Armaan can't stop being Bollywood-ish. After all, he is a filmmaker in Bollywood now.

“I can't focus on anything. Do you know how much I missed you in the last three weeks?”

She spent five hundred and four restless hours without her husband, when they were expecting their first child.

“I know, but I couldn't change schedule of the film shoot, Baano. But I promise, I will take a break of two years from filmmaking to enjoy our parenthood.” He smiled hopefully. Even thinking about becoming a father sent waves of happiness flooding his heart.

“Promise?” She pouted while asking.

“Promise.” He sincerely smiled.

“Okay. You must be tired. Let me cook something for you.” She was about to get up but Armaan's arms tightened around her.

“No, no, let my baby sleep. Don't disturb her slumber. I'll myself make instant noodles.”

Just say, Armaan, you don't want to eat Baano's cooked food. Her cooking skills are still the same. Non-existent.

“Then make some for me as well.”

“No, you can eat healthy noodles in the morning, but no instant noodles. You should eat healthy food only. I don't want my daughter to be a fragile like you. She will be daddy's strong girl.”

Now she can't argue with about the baby being a boy. The gender of the baby is already revealed and to Armaan's endless joy it's a girl.

“Haw! You already started unloving me.” She complained.

“No, I fell in love with my daughter.”

“Even more than me?”

“Just a little more.”

“I hate you.”

“And I love you, both of you.” He kisses her cheeks before getting up from the bed to fill his empty stomach.

“Armaan, there's leftover food in the fridge. And don't worry, I didn't cook it. Banto aunty had prepared the dinner.” It hurt to say but poor Baano very well knew such a great cook she is. And she was sensible enough to not torture her husband with her dangerous cooking more often. Just once in a month.

Armaan kisses her once again and went to the kitchen.

After five minutes he returned with a tray of food. He sat on the bed beside Baano and placed the tray on his lap.

He made a morsel and moved it to her lips.

“I am not hungry, Armaan. You eat peacefully.”

“I don't want to eat alone. Eat few morsels only, for me.”

She nodded with a smile and ate from his hand. On the name of few morsels he made her eat half of the food. But she silently ate, knowing very well that if she protested he himself won't eat anything.

As they finished their late night dinner, Armaan put the tray on the side table and lie down beside Baano.

For few minutes they kept silent. His arm moved beneath her head, providing her with her favourite pillow. And her hands were placed on his chest. He was still wearing shirt and pants. Strangely Armaan can sleep in any type of clothing and still he will be snoring in a comfortable sleep.

“Armaan, have you thought of a name for our daughter?” Baano asked while looking at the ceiling.

“Yes, her name will be Avnoor.”

“Beautiful. As much as I have understood you in these years, there must be a story behind this name.”

“Yes, there is a story. There used to be a sports teacher in my school. One day I noticed a tattoo on his arm. It read Avnoor. He had tattoed his daughter's name on his arm. It just touched my heart. So I decided that I'll name my daughter Avnoor. Because his one simple action multiplied the beauty of this name.”

“Wow. Such a sweet gesture. So you will also tatto our daughter's name on your arm?”

“Well, wifey, your husband for once can fight against Russia or China but he can't fight the pain a needle gives. So there are very slim chances that I'll ever get a tattoo.”

“Alright, I am myself not a big fan of tattoos.” She shrugged.

“Very good. Now good night. Sweet dreams. Don't you dare cry in your dreams, okay?”

“No, I won't cry. I got my Armaan now.” She grinned.

“And who exactly is your Armaan?” He smirked.

“A very cute guy with silly and amusing personality.”

“Baano...”

“Hmm?”

“I'll add it in my next project! Hero and heroine--”

“Wait, you said you are taking a break from filmmaking.”

“But I didn't said I will take break from planning a new film.”

“You are impossible, Armaan!”

“It's not my fault. Blame the one who is typing this chapter.”

“Well, no doubt, she is mad, but not as much as you.”

“Excuse me, according to the author, I am the product of madness inside her head.”

“Means you agree you are mad?”

“No, I said the author is mad.”

“Armaan, stop it. She needs to end this chapter.”

“But I love all the readers reading our story. They gave us so much love.” He whined.

“Every good story seems short. C'mon, let's sleep and let the author sleep. She is writing the chapter past midnight.”

“Alright, tell her to study as well. Her exams are going on.”

“She won't listen, Armaan. Let her be. You sleep.”

“Hmm, good night. And good night to the author as well.”

Well, Good Night, Baano and Armaan.

Because I can't say goodbye to them. Like never ever. And I hope you all agree as well. Never knew writing them again will leave me in tears.

•••

I wrote this chapter last night past twelve o'clock. So the last few dialogues are the result of my sleepy mind.

I hope readers like this bonus chapter.

And do try my new books

The Stars Have Eyes

Oh, My Heart!

Harfan Maula

Bye 👋