Shivanya's POV -

6 YEARS LATER.

" Mumma this is not fair! Bhai is getting two video games on his birthday while you didn't even get me one." Samarth complained to me. He had turned five years old last month and he already wants to keep in competition with his elder brother.

" That is because Sahil bhaiya is turning 12 and you are still 5, silly." Nitya, my smartest child replied to her younger brother.

" That's right my boy. Sahil bhaiya is elder and anyway, you all will share the games." I tried to make him understand but kids are kids.

" You are a cheater." He said as tears threatened to spill down his eyes and I signed.

" Okay I will get you one but promise me that you will behave tonight in the party Samarth. It's Sahil's special day and no will will ruin it. You threw such a huge tantrum on his last birthday. If something like that happens today, forget about your toys and video games, alright?" I coaxed him into behaving and he nodded.

" Mumma what should I wear for the party?" Nitya asked as Samarth was busy placing with his car. Both my boys have taken after their father totally.

" Come on, I have a dress for you." I extended my hand towards her and she enthusiastically took it as we made way to my room where her bua, Diya who had just made Amayra sleep, her daughter who was 1.

" Diya bua!" Nitya ran towards her and hugged her. They both shared a very special bond. When Diya married and was leaving, Nitya was the one who cried the most. These two are partners-in-crime.

" How is my most favourite girl?" Diya asked, taking Nitya in her lap. These two look the happiest together.

" Diya please get Nitya ready for the party and you get ready too. I will finish up with the decorations and then make the spoilt brat ready." I joked in regards to my youngest child Samarth who has been spoilt rotten with all the love he gets from his grandparents, father and siblings.

Diya just chuckled and nodded as I left the room. Abhimanyu and dad had taken Sahil for his cricket practice and then from there to some Avengers movie on the pretext of spending some father-son time and how the women of the house were too demanding of them. On this, both of them had earned a smack from me and mom.

" Shivanya beta get ready. People will be here soon and the host cannot be going around dressed like this. The dinner arrangements have all been made and Sahil's friends will be reaching." Mom emerged from the kitchen and came to me.

" Yes mom. Once this last balloon is placed, I will go and get Samarth ready. You rest for a while now. You have been in a kitchen for a long time." I made her sit first and gave her a glass of water.

" Thank you Shivi." She said and then Samarth came running to her.

" Daadi....see this car. The color is good na?" He hopped on the couch next to her and they entertained each other while I finished the work.

It took me another 10 minutes to wind up everything and as I was done, Nitya and Diya came out, both ready.

" Oh my god look at these two girls. So pretty!" I went to them and pinched Nitya's cheeks.

" Diya where is Ram?" I asked her. Ram, her boyfriend of seven years and Husband of two was initially a shock for all of us but once we met him, he charmed us all.

" Bhabhi what do you think? He will miss out on the guys party? He has also gone for that Avengers movie." Diya remarked as we laughed.

" I should have sent Samarth too but I was afraid he'd open his mouth and spill the party secret in front of Sahil." I told her and she nodded in understanding.

" I just have to go and get the cake now." I said as I picked my wallet which Diya snatched.

" You go and get ready. The bakery is just across the street. Nitya and I will go. Maa can you please just look at Amayra once? She will be sleeping for another two hours I suppose but just in case?" She asked mom who nodded as they went out.

" Now Samarth, come on." I took him in my arms and walked towards our room. He was still busy admiring his toy.

It was a task to get him ready because whatever I would take out, he'd throw away. This boy took a lot of my patience test on a daily basis. Easily, my most difficult child.

" Samarth if you throw anymore of anything, I will not give you any pizza tonight." I threatened him and sat next to him. I was so tired.

" I want to wear the blue T-Shirt." He demanded.

" You cannot be wearing that every time. See, this red one is so good." I gave it to him but he kept it aside and ignored me.

The doorbell went off and I heard mom that she was opening it so I went on to try and dress him but he kept refusing.

" Okay that's it Samarth. Now you will......" I started to scold him when Abhimanyu came and sat next to me.

" What is going on?" He asked, looking at the two of us.

" Your son loves being difficult." I complained, standing up and made Samarth stand too.

" Where is Sahil?" I asked Abhimanyu who had now taken the responsibility to get him ready as I walked to my closet to decide what was I wearing.

" Ram has taken him for an ice-cream and his friends are here. Diya and Nitya are with them. You go and get ready." He said and I nodded.

Samarth had shown absolutely no tantrums to Abhimanyu as he dressed him and then ran to the hall while he came to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

" Tired?" He asked and I nodded, hugging him.

" Did Sahil enjoy?" I asked him who replied in a yes.

" Let's get ready. We can't miss our son's birthday party!" I exclaimed and tried to get away but his hold on me only tightened.

" I am sure no one would miss us and besides, what better gift than a brand new another sibling to Sahil?" Abhimanyu asked with a mischievous glint playing in his eyes and I hit his shoulder.

" When will you grow up Abhi? I can't believe you!" I hit his shoulder lightly as he laughed and I tried to not blush.

" Seven years and three kids later and you still get shy Mrs. Singhania. Tell me, how does that work?" He went on to tease me.

" Abhi I need to get ready. Will you please leave me?" I asked him, trying to control my blush.

" Of course my love, in fact, I will help you get ready." He said and leaned into me, pressing his lips to mine and somehow, it always felt that he was kissing me for the first time, the same feelings of giddiness, nervousness would always take over me as I matched him. His hands firmly pressing the back of my neck was sending shivers down my spine and my fingers playing with his hair was what a distracting comfort was.

We pulled apart, out of breath and he then slightly kissed my forehead and walked over to my closet and I walked to his to give him his clothes.

He had picked out a golden Banarasi silk saree for me and I had his grey suit with me and we handed our clothes to each other. As I was done getting ready in the walk-in-closet, Abhimanyu was on a work call in the balcony. His workaholic nature never really faded out. He is just as much a one as he was earlier.

His coat was lying on the bed. I picked it up and walked to the balcony and kept a hand on his shoulder for him to turn around as I helped him wear it and then commanded him to hang up and so he did.

" Mrs. Singhania how do you always look ravishing in anything you wear?" He asked me and tried to pull me closer to him once again but this time, as much as I wanted it, I didn't allow it. instead, I held his upper arm and started to drag him with me to the hall where everyone was.

Shivanya's Look -

Abhimanyu's Look -

Just my parents, bade papa, badi maa, bhai and bhabhi were missing because they had to go for a wedding of a close family member.

" Mumma can you please fix my hair? Samarth pulled them." Nitya ran to me, pulling my saree.

" Of course my baby. Come here." I made her sit on the chair and ran my fingers through her hair. She loves when I do that.

" Samarth is getting out of hands, I am telling you Abhi." I complained to Abhi who looked in no mood to agree with me and just went on to sit next to Nitya as she told him about her day.

" Okay guys. Ram has just texted me that these two are reaching home in two minutes. Let's switch off the lights and hide." Diya instructed and we all went on to hide and left the main gate open.

As promised, my eldest son walked inside with Ram and Samarth and Nitya were the first ones jump on their brother and scream happy birthday as Dad put on the lights.

Sahil looked around at his friends, grandparents, siblings and Abhimanyu with a huge smile on his face and then he came running to me.

" Thank you mumma!" He hugged me tightly.

" Happy Birthday beta. You are the first person who made me a mother, your mother. Thank you for letting me be one to you. Aditi mumma must be so proud of the little boy you have become." I kissed his forehead and whispered the last part to him.

" Thank you for becoming my mumma, mumma! I love you." He kissed me too and didn't leave my side for a long time as everyone started to wish him and talk to him.

" Come on, let's get the birthday boy ready before he runs off to his friends and Nitya and Samarth." I said as we walked to the kids room and I helped him get ready.

" Okay I have to tell you a little secret my champ." I said as I was brushing his hair.

" What mumma?" He asked, his eyes glittering up. He always loves when the two of us have secrets.

" You are my most favourite boy in the world. My darling." I whispered to him and he gave me a cute grin as the moments flashed in front of my eyes.

The first time he had called me mumma, the first time he had told me that he loves me, the first time he let me put him to sleep, his first broken tooth that he gave me, telling me that I was his fairy and everything in between.

" I also have a secret to tell you mumma." He wrapped his little arms around my neck as he was kneeling on the bed.

" Tell me!" I asked, enthusiastically.

" You are my most favourite girl in the whole universe." He replied and kissed my cheek again and I laughed.

" This is not fair." I heard three voices at the door. Sahil and I rolled our eyes.

" The truth is not always fair." I replied back and Sahil nodded in a yes as Abhimanyu, Nitya and Samarth came inside.

" Bhaiya I am your favourite girl." Nitya climbed on the bed, looking at Sahil.

" And I am your favourite boy." Abhimanyu and Samarth looked at each other. Their tone was exactly the same.

" Second favourites." Sahil announced for himself and for me as we burst out laughing looking at their faces.

" Come on champ. Let these jealous people be. We have to go to the party!" I exclaimed and pulled him with me, hearing a couple of wait for us.

Reaching the living room, everyone was enjoying themselves. Sahil went to his friends, Samarth too while Nitya was standing next to me.

" I will help you mumma." She announced and took the tray of juice glasses from my hands.

" No my baby. You will go and enjoy the party with your friends. Your mumma, papa, bua and fufaji can handle this." Abhimanyu took the tray from her little hands and I walked her to where the kids were playing musical chairs. Mom and Dad had kept them engaged.

The party went on and then we cut the cake, the kids had dinner and then it was time for them to return home. All of us were so tired that we left everything how it was and decided to clean up the next morning.

" I cannot believe how far Nitya has come. You remember the first few months when she came here and look at her now. She enjoyed so much!" I talked to Abhimanyu as we finally walked up to our room.

" I remember love. I think we all did a great job, raising our kids. It isn't wrong when people say that it takes an army to raise kids." He replied as I rested my head on his shoulder.

" Sahil too was so happy. I cannot believe that he is 12 already!" I exclaimed, looking at him.

" I think he loves you more than he loves me." He said and I could hear the jealousy in his voice as I laughed.

" Then you know how it feels to me with Nitya and Samarth who are totally yours." I shrugged my shoulders and he laughed.

" Only because you are the strict one for them. But with Sahil, neither of us really are." He remarked in all truthfulness.

" Sahil doesn't really need for us to be strict. He is so well-mannered and polite and he looks after his siblings." I defended him because it was true.

Before any of us could say anything else, our kids ran into our room and jumped on us.

" What is happening? I thought daadi had put you three to bed?" I asked as I shifted to make room for them but them we eventually decided that the bed was a better place so we moved.

" We want to sleep with you both tonight." Samarth declared and the other two agreed.

" Okay but no kicking each other and no pulling Nitya's hair Samarth." I glared at my youngest again but all he did was push Nitya towards Abhimanyu and Sahil towards me and made his place right in the middle of the bed with his Hulk.

This time, I couldn't help but laugh at his antics as I kissed his forehead and stoked Sahil's head as Nitya clinged to her father.

It took them ten minutes to fall asleep and I was almost sleeping too when I found Abhimanyu's hand on my wrist, tracing patterns as I looked at him.

" I love you Shivanya." he whispered and entwined our fingers together.

" I love you Abhimanyu." I whispered back to him and I looked at the kids and him as we both fell asleep.

I was happy, content and a bit tensed for tomorrow because the mess created downstairs was in abundance. For it would take all afternoon to clean up. But other than that, I love my story. Not as straight as an arrow but the turns are what make life beautiful, isn't it?

THE END.

This marks the end of Abhimanyu's and Shivanya's story.

Thank you all so much for being a part of their journey and living it with me. Those who tolerated my irregular updates but yet, never stopped reading the book, let me tell you all that you mean a lot to me. You guys have my heart and I all really love you so much!

Thank you for loving The Third String. This was one book very close to my heart because this concept was something really dear to me. All the characters were tried to be potrayed as natural as I could and I hope it worked.

I'll see you all soon. Until then, goodbye.❤❤

PS- You all have no compulsion to comment now since the book is over, but it would mean the world to me if you do. It will motivate me to come up with things you like.💕