To say sarees without a blouse would make me more conscious and aware of anyone's gaze on me would be an understatement...

But now, just after birthing my daughter, they felt like one of the best blessings on earth.

As the little angel on my hands suckled for her food, I saw my husband returning to the room with a grim face.

"What's wrong? " I asked as he sat next to me.

"We've been found. " He whispered.

"By whom? Mamashree? " I asked, it didn't really come as a shock to me, seeing as he was one of the most cunning men on earth.

"No, not by him. It's your brother and his beloved and your sister. " He said, smiling softly.

"AJ is here! " I exclaimed and the child must have realised something was amiss for her cries interrupted any hope of me getting up to meet my brother.

" Please. Shh. It's alright. " I said as I rocked her, trying to calm her down.

Yudhishthir who had been looking at us fondly extended his hands, as I gently placed her in his arms.

" Oh, you look so adorable." I whispered softly as he rocked her, offering a finger to her. She wrapped her tiny hand around his finger, not even managing to join the thumb and middle finger .

"She's so beautiful. Just like you. " He said softly, wiping away the tears from one of his eyes.

"Well, she has your eyes. It's a blessing. Mine are tiny. " I said squinting.

"They're the most beautiful eyes I've seen, after this little apsara in my hands. Shut up. " He said softly, bumping his head against mine as she softly closed her eyes.

"You were right... It was a girl. " I said, laughing as he looked at me pointedly.

"Of course I was. Did you ever doubt it? "

"Saag! " I heard being yelled, as a man crashed into the room, panting.

"AJ? " I asked, looking at his disheveled form.

"Wah! Shaadi hui, bacha bhi ho gaya. Koi race hai kya mere se aage bhagne mein lagi hai? " He asked, walking over to us. ( You got married, had a kid too. Is it a race or what, trying to overtake me.)

" Mamashree. That's your mamashree putri. "  I said, ignoring his jibes.

"What? " He asked surprised.

"What? Just because I never called you my brother doesn't mean you weren't one. You were my brother even before Krishn decided to twist our lives. " I said as he sat down, overjoyed.

" May-may I hold her? " He asked soothingly, and he cooed at the baby handed over to him.

" Gudu. I don't care what your parents name you dear child, to me you're my Gudu. " He told her and my husband laughed.

"Don't we have a say in it? " He asked.

"No." Was all the answer we received.

"I'll be the best mamashree in the world Gudu, you'll be my favourite niece. I'll take you around for rides and games, sneak you out at night for foo-aah. " He winced as I kicked at him.

"Alright alright, but I promise. I'll always protect you. " He said, kissing my daughter's forehead before handing her over to me.

"I want to sleep. " I said and he got the cue.

"Rest, I'll return later with Devi and Sulohita." He said, placing a hand on my head as if to bless me.

"You do know I'm older than you right? "

"By eight months. " He said.

"Doesn't matter." I whispered as I tucked the baby into my side, Yudhishthir clambered over to the other side.

" So, now that we have her... What about a name? " I asked.

"So early? Give her a few minutes of life. " He laughed.

"Alright, then what do we call her till then? "

" Apsara. " He said and I laughed.

"How can both of us be apsaras? "

" Why not, you're both equally beautiful. " He answered, pressing a kiss to my fist.

"Sleep my loves, we have much to deal with later. " He said seriously as my eyes could finally seek relief, if for a while.

" I love you both, so much. No one will ever harm you as long as I live. " Was the last thing I heard as I went into dreamland.

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I woke with shuffling by my side when I registered the screams of my daughter, her piercing cries and the inconsolable mutterings of my husband.

"Please -please calm down. Your mata needs to sleep. She needs her rest. Please -shh. My dear heart please -" He urged.

" You could have sung to her. " I said as I opened my eyes to see a rather frazzled Yudhishthir holding our dear apsara.

" I didn't want to wake you! I'm sorry-"

"Shh. She might be hungry. Give, I'll take care of it. " I said as he finally handed the child over to me.

Did I mention how much I loved the blouseless saree? It is a dream.

"Ahem." I heard and looked up to see a roundabout husband.

"What's wrong? " I asked, confused.

"N-nothing is wrong. I'll just give you two sone privacy-"

"You're a bigger bonehead than I ever imagined. " I sighed as he looked back at me surprised.

"Why? Why do you say that? "

"If I had any qualms about you being here I wouldn't have hesitated to throw you out. I get what I want. I wanted you in the room when she was born, I got you there. Now you'll stay. After all, if I'm caring for our child, I want someone to care for me too. " I said sternly, hiding a smile.

"I -I never meant. Alright. " He said, walking back upto me to press a soft kiss to my forehead.

"What do you need? " He whispered as he ran his hands through my hair.

" Well, water and a few fruits would be nice. Then I want you to sit with me. We'll rest together. " I said.

"Okay. Anything for my loves. " He answered as he left the room.

"Your father is one of the strongest and bravest men in the world. You should have seen his face when he saw me trying to help you out into this world. His face was white as a sheet of A4 size printer paper, but he steeled his emotions to help me overcome his fear. Doesn't he deserve some love too? " I asked my little apsara as she happily enjoyed her meal.

I heard a gurgle and an attempt to grab onto the hair that hung near her face.

"I take that as a yes. " I whispered.

"Fruits for the queen! " The man himself said as he walked in.

"Ew. No apples. " I said scrunching my  face.

" But they're good for you- alright. Mangoes? " He asked.

" Yes! " I, said excited as he smiled, cutting the mango and feeding it to me.

"Come, we'll all rest. Also show me your arm. " I said.

He moved to sit behind me on the bed, I, reclined on him while our daughter on me.

" You didn't hurt too much. It's alright, I'll apply some paste on it-"

"Not too much! It's blue! " I said, turning his hand around. Nail marks and blue splotches were spread all over.

"It's fine, I gave it to you knowingly. Don't -don't cry now. Shh. Don't you remember what you told me a year ago? " He asked wiping myntears away.

"Mhmm." I sniffled.

"Well, then, know that I gave my hand to you willingly. In more ways then one. " He said smirking.

"Alright."

"Sleep." He whispered into my ears as slumber enveloped me once more.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The reunion is half complete.. second part releasing in the evening.. Stay tuned...

Also Gudu? Really  AJ? I mean it's cute and all, but in Maya Sarabhai's perfect impression.

'You should have called her my honey bunch, sweet pea, darling, love, any of that would work... Gudu sounds tv serial middle class. '

Also if you cannot detect, this is sarcasm. I do love the name ♥

Tell me in the comments how it was and do vote

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥