"Jai, wake up!"

I shoved at his chest. He didn't move - he didn't even blink.

"Jai!"

He groaned in response but remained still.

Frowning, I pinched his nose so that he wouldn't be able to breathe peacefully and he got up with a start.

"What the fu—"

"Shh!" I slapped my hand over his mouth and he stared at me through glassy, tired eyes. He took my hand away from his mouth.

"Karishma, it's a Saturday. Why the hell are you waking me up so—" His eyes widened as I gave him a look and he stared at me.

"Fuck, is it that time of the year again?!"

I nodded, smiling but also feeling a tinge of sadness. The years were going by quickly and even though I loved every minute it, it felt too soon.

"I can't believe he's turning eight," I whispered to myself.

Jai sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Shit, I'm old, aren't I?"

Without any hesitation, I nodded again. He narrowed his eyes, lips pursed.

Before I knew it, he pulled me onto his lap so that I ended up straddling him. I squealed as he laid back down on the bed and looked up at me with a smirk.

Slapping his chest gently, I rolled to the side to get away.

"Old men like you shouldn't be doing indecent stuff like that!" I teased, biting back a smile. I got up quickly and he followed with a scoff.

"Well, old or not, you do realise I'm still a man with needs," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist, rubbing the tiny bump that was forming.

He then buried his head into my neck, placing a soft kiss there. I clicked my tongue and tried to move away from him.

"Control them for now, Jai!" I whined, pulling out the present I had packed for Vikram. He groaned but obliged and moved away.

"You weren't complaining a few months ago, but now that we've got almost three kids, you don't want it anymore," he mumbled to himself with a scoff. "Wow."

I giggled and wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm sorry," I said, placing a kiss on his back. "I know this has been hard for you, too. You only wanted one kid after all, but I wanted three and you sacrificed what you wanted for me. I should be more grateful—"

"No," he said firmly, turning around. "It's not about that. Three kids or one, I love our kids no matter what and I would never change that for the world. At the end of the day, seeing you happy is what keeps me going. It's just—sometimes I feel neglected in the intimacy department, that's all."

Seeing Jai look worried and like a little boy caused my lips to quirk up into a small smile.

He was like a little puppy that craved my attention and it only made me feel more special.

Jai raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking I'm like a little child that's craving your attention, right?"

A strangled noise escaped from the back of my throat.

How did he know?!

"No! Of course not!"

"Uh huh." He rolled his eyes. "Open book, remember?"

"Oh...right," I mumbled. I shook my head frantically. "But I'm sorry for neglecting you. I didn't know that that's what I was doing. I guess with all these kids and becoming pregnant—I forgot where it all really started and it just tires me out."

"I know. And I don't want to force you into doing anything. I just want you to keep it in mind."

"I will. Don't worry—I have a feeling our next intimate session will be soon," I whispered, trying not to giggle.

Jai raised an eyebrow, bright eyes darkening with desire.

"Hmm, really, now? You've gotten bolder over the years, haven't you?"

"Maybe." Realising the time, I gasped and shoved him away. "Oh my gosh, we're wasting time! We'll finish this discussion later, now go brush your teeth! Go, go!"

"Okay, okay, god." Jai rolled his eyes as he lazily walked towards the bathroom. "You're always more excited than Vikram on his birthdays."

"Of course I would be," I said as I waited for Jai to come out. "I'm his mother."

"And I'm his father. Your point?"

"Mothers have more of a connection to their children." As he came out wiping his face on a towel, I stuck my tongue out at him. "You wouldn't understand."

"Fair enough, I'll give you that."

Opening one of the closet doors, he grabbed a large rectangular box from under one of my sarees.

"It was under there the whole time? Why didn't you just tell me?"

Jai smirked. "Well, I do have my secrets."

I pouted and he chuckled, coming forward to kiss me softly on the lips.

"I'm just kidding," he whispered against my lips. "I could never hide anything from you."

When he leaned down to kiss me again, I stepped back.

"You're a liar," I said, laughing as I watched his face fall comically. "Now come on!"

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I'll go grab Priya first."

Placing a kiss on the side of my head, he hurried out of the room. I bit my lip to stop from smiling.

Somehow my dream of becoming a family with Jai had finally come true. I had Vikram, Priya five years ago and now I was pregnant again.

Life couldn't be any better.

Of course being a mother had its hardships, but I loved every single moment of it. Mainly because I had Jai by my side.

Even though he was a dad now, he was still the same old Jai I fell in love with.

I tip-toed into Vikram's room, careful not to scare him.

He slept peacefully, cuddled into his blankets. I almost felt bad for having to wake him up.

I was even more scared about his reaction to the present I had gotten him, though.

Sitting near him, I brushed back his shaggy black hair. He never listened when I would urge him to get a haircut.

I placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Vikram," I whispered, affectionately. He remained still so I shook him gently. He hummed in response, shifting in his bed.

"Vikram, get up. Guess what today is?"

He grunted in response, but said nothing.

Like father, like son.

He was like Jai in more ways than one.

Just as soon as I had thought of him, Jai opened the door, a sleepy Priya in his arms. She clung to him, tightly, her head buried in his neck.

He made his way over, an eyebrow raised at me as he looked up.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing." I smiled and he raised an eyebrow at me. His eyes then glanced over at Vikram who was still sleeping soundly.

"You haven't woken him up yet?"

"You know how he is, Jai. He's exactly like you," I said, and he puffed his chest out.

"Good. He should be just like his amazing father."

"And by amazing I think you really mean lazy."

"If lazy is another word for amazing then yes, I'll agree."

I laughed. "You're so arrogant, Jai."

The corner of his mouth tilted up in an amused smile as we looked at each other. I then reached out and rubbed Priya's back.

She hummed softly in response and lifted her head up. Turning, she reached for me immediately.

"Mommy," she said, sleepily.

I took her in my arms and kissed her unruly and chaotic hair that hung over her shoulders.

"Do you remember what day it is?"

Priya nodded eagerly despite being half-asleep. "It's Vikram's birthday today. Sanaya aunty, Mohit uncle, Khushi and all his friends are coming!"

She then rubbed her eyes, sleepily. "But why isn't Vikram waking up, Mommy?"

"He's tired, sweetheart," Jai piped up. "Your Mommy's not being very nice and not letting Vikram sleep."

I gasped, my eyes wide. "Jai!"

He snickered and Priya giggled, poking my cheek.

"Daddy's just joking, mommy!"

"See? She gets it," Jai said, smirking.

Pouting, I turned away to Vikram again. I shook his shoulder.

"Honey, wake up," I said, a little louder. Vikram swatted my hand away, his eyebrows furrowed.

His eyes were still closed as he spoke. "Ma, why do you have to wake me up so eaaaaarly?"

"It's not that early, Vikram."

"It's pretty early," Jai quipped in and I frowned at him. The smirk from before remained as he raised his arms up in surrender.

I pouted and huffed. "Fine. It might be a little early but it's for good reason! It's your birthday, did you forget?"

Vikram's eyes snapped open and he shot up like a bullet. I snickered as an excited grin overtook his face. Priya clapped her hands eagerly.

It was as if all the sleepiness had gone from him and from her. He was as hyper as a little puppy now.

"Do you have my presents?!" He began bouncing on his bed. "Do you, do you, do you?!"

Jai chuckled. "We sure do, bud. And guess what this is?" He whipped out the gift from behind his back.

Vikram gasped and stared at his father in disbelief.

"No...dad, you're joking!"

"Open it and see for yourself," Jai said, shrugging.

Now I was curious too. I looked up at him. He winked at me, his lips tilting up into a sly grin.

Priya wiggled out of my grip to sit with Vikram on his bed. She eagerly leaned in towards him, watching as he tore open his present.

"Yes!" he yelled, standing up on his bed. "You got me a Nintendo Switch!"

A smile overtook my face at how happy he was. Of course, I wasn't very happy that it gave him an excuse to play video games all day without a break - but it was his birthday.

"You're the best dad ever!" he grinned, jumping out of bed to leap on Jai.

He chuckled, placing a kiss on the top of Vikram's head.

"Anything for you, buddy. Happy birthday."

"Thank you!" He beamed, before turning to look at me, expectantly.

I cleared my throat, sheepishly looking at Jai who smirked. He crossed his arms as I brought out my less amazing present.

"It's not as good as your fathers but—"

He didn't let me finish because he snatched it out of my hands and ripped it open. Vikram gaped at it before choking me with a hug of his own.

"You got me the classic Spider-Man comics! Thank you Ma!"

I glanced at Jai in disbelief. "You actually like it?"

"Yes, yes! You know I love superheroes!"

He squeezed me into a hug again before turning to Priya, the both of them gushing over the gifts. Jai pulled me into an embrace, kissing my head.

"I'll admit, your present wasn't that bad."

"Yeah, it was alright, wasn't it?"

He pretended to think. "It wasn't as good as mine, but it was still good."

I narrowed my eyes at him and pinched his stomach gently but he only grinned at me in response, unfazed.

"Stop being rude! Even after all these years you're still the same."

"Do you want me to change?"

I looked up at him. Jai was staring down at me, his amber eyes gazing into mine intensely in anticipation of my answer.

Even after all these years, I could never get used to his intense gazes. Suddenly shy, I buried my face into his chest.

"No. I fell in love with you for you," I whispered against his chest.

He chuckled from above me, gripping me tighter to him.

"Good. Because I wasn't gonna change, anyway."

I laughed softly.

"And I love you, too," he added in a husky voice.

"Ewwww!"

The chorus of dismayed voices caused me to turn my head. I quickly jumped away from Jai's embrace as both our children were staring up at us, lips turned up in disgust.

Vikram pretended to vomit whilst hastily covering  Priya's eyes.

"Don't look! Ma and dad are doing something disgusting," he whispered to his younger sister.

Priya, in response, stuck her tongue out in a 'yuck' gesture.

Jai scoffed and pulled me into another hug as if to make a point.

"We were hugging, see? That's not disgusting!"

He then dragged Vikram into the hug, bringing him into the middle, sandwiching him.

"See? Now, is that disgusting?"

He giggled furiously. "Dad stop! Let me out!"

"Never!" Jai exclaimed, a broad grin on his face.

"I wanna join!" Priya whined from the bed, a frown on her face. I picked her up and she squealed as we gathered her into our bear hug.

"Say that hugs aren't disgusting! Say it!"

"Okay, dad!" Vikram said, his voice muffled and strained due to the hug. A large smile was on his face despite his actions to leave. "Hugs aren't disgusting!"

Jai stepped back with a chuckle and Vikram leaped forward, squeezing him around the waist tightly.

"Ugh my god, your muscles are too much for my weak body, son." He pretended to be hurt and Vikram rolled his eyes.

Priya and I shared a 'what's happening' look before she leaned in closer to me,

"Mommy, boys are weird," she whispered to me. I nodded, my brows furrowed.

"They really are," I said as we watched the scene unfold before us.

"Dad, stop pretending!"

"No I'm being serious. You're my kid, so of course you're gonna be strong."

He laughed and hugged Jai tightly.

"Daddy always forgets me," Priya whined to me. I kissed her cheek and opened my mouth when she was lifted away from my grasp.

"One," he said looking at me, "you shouldn't be carrying Priya 'cos you're pregnant and she's a big girl and two," he turned to Priya, "how could I ever forget my beautiful angel, huh?"

He blew a series of raspberries on Priya's belly and she began to giggle and squirm.

"Daddy, stop it!"

"Then say 'I'm Daddy's Little Angel'!"

"I'm Daddy's little angel!"

Jai smirked at me after putting her down.

You jealous? he mouthed. I shook my head at him with a frown.

Priya raced away with a giggle.

"Vikram, come with me! I drew a picture of you at school and I wanted to give it to you as a birthday gift!"

Vikram beamed, a gentle smile on his face. "Really?"

She nodded and tugged on his hand, hastily leaving the room. The room immediately went silent and I sighed, looking at Jai who was staring at me.

"What?"

He shrugged. "Nothing."

He came over to me and gently brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.

"I'm gonna say something cringy."

I bit my lip. "Why?"

"Why not?" he said with a grin.

"Okay, fine."

"I was just going to tell you that you shouldn't be jealous."

I gasped. "I'm not jealous. Why would I be jealous of my own child?"

Jai chuckled. "Oh, I believe you. I just want an excuse to tell you that even though Priya's my little angel, you're my big angel."

My face scrunched up in disgust and he snickered, eyes flickering with amusement.

"Ew, Jai!"

I immediately shoved him away.

"You've lost touch with your compliments! Ew! Please don't say that ever again!"

Despite my words, I giggled and he rolled his eyes, chuckling.

"You still love me, though."

"Unfortunately," I whispered.

Pulling me into his embrace, he secured my waist with his broad arms, his thumb tracing my hip line.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying not to shiver under his soft touch. He slyly smiled at me.

"Nothing."

I was going to push him away but leaned against him instead. His warmth, his touch, everything was perfect and I felt bad for avoiding it sometimes.

His worry about not letting him be intimate with me was called for—I wasn't the best at reading social cues like that.

A content sigh left my lips.

"Wow, you really did keep what I said in mind," he said with a teasing chuckle. "Usually you try and run away from me."

His deep, velvety voice filled my ears and enriched my whole body. I hummed, not wanting to move or say anything to break the moment.

"I'm just so happy. And you were right—sometimes we need some time to ourselves and I've been neglecting that."

Jai lowly hummed in response, only tightening his grip on my body.

At the silence that followed, I allowed myself to truly get caught up in the bliss I felt.

I was genuinely happy.

Yes, we had fights and problems like everyone. But my love for Jai grew more and more each day. My love for my children was never-ending too and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Parenthood was difficult but we were getting through it together. And that thought alone was enough for me.

I loved that Jai was invested with our children. I loved everything about him.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I placed a soft kiss on his nose. Jai blinked down at me, eyes wide.

"Woah, did you just initiate something? Or is this a dream?"

I whined and slapped his chest. "Don't question it!"

He chuckled, pulling me in tighter. "Alright, alright, I won't."

He bent down, placing soft kisses alongside my jaw, down my neck and back up again.

"Mhm, Jai, not here."

"Let's go to our room then," he whispered, his voice husky and dripping with lust.

I bit my lip, feeling playful and pushed him away.

"Not now! We'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now, we have to get ready for the party and decorate the house."

He groaned in irritation and pulled me back to him.

"That can wait," he mumbled in a low whine.

I bit my lip. "Well, if you wait until tonight then mayb—"

"What did you say?"

His head snapped up, his now molten eyes staring right at me. I gulped.

The intensity in his eyes during these moments scared me, but it reassured me of the whole-hearted love he had for me.

"I said if you wait until tonight then maybe..."

"Maybe?" he urged.

"Maybe..." I leaned in, brushing my lips gently over his, causing him to suck in a sharp breath. "I'll give you a kiss."

His face —as well as his tense, anticipation-filled shoulders—fell and he stared at me blankly as I moved away and began to laugh. I bent over, holding my stomach as a wave of laughter hit me.

"So funny," he said in a mechanical voice. "Thanks for bringing my fucking hopes up."

I didn't say anything but continue to laugh. He shook his head and turned but I could see that there was a slight smile on his face.

"I'm leaving."

I grabbed his arm. "No, wait, I'm sorry!"

"No you're not." He pouted and I immediately began to laugh again, thinking back to his expression.

"You're right, I'm—I'm n-not," I managed to say in between my laughter.

As I tried to calm myself down, Jai stared at me for a couple of seconds, his expression blank.

"Bitch."

"Jai!" I gasped. He mocked me by forcing laughter and holding his stomach, slapping his legs for extra effect.

"Look at me, I'm Karishma and I think I'm sooo funny because I made fun of my poor husband, har-har-har!"

"Hey, I don't speak like that." I pouted.

"You've probably never heard yourself speak then."

"You're so mean!"

"Says the woman making fun of her husband!"

"You made fun of me too!"

Jai and I stared at each other for a few seconds in silence before we burst out laughing. He pulled me into another embrace and I kissed his cheek.

He bent down and placed a kiss on my lips.

"I love you," he whispered, his breath fanning against my lips.

"I love you too."