It was eleven in the night.

Aarush and Aditya glanced at each other as the phone rang loudly in Shrey's hand. The man didn't even eat properly and had two drinks. Aarush made sure, he didn't get more than that. They both too had a little bit.

The Whiskey started to get into the system as slowly Shrey's frustration reached it's peak. He called Rishabh for the twelfth time but the man didn't pick up. All of them thought that he was sleep.

It was Aarush who suggested Shrey to call his mother. She needs to know what had been happening all this time.

A mother's love is eternal.

She was awake and picked up his first call. But unexpectedly, Shrey had cut the phone, afraid that his mother would be worried about him being drunk.

Aarush stressed that he wasn't as drunk as one could be called drunk. He must tell her so they could arrive soon here to talk to Sakshi's family.

Before they could even think more, his mother was now calling back.

Shrey gulped shakily, his eyes half opened as he swiped towards the green. "Mom?"

"Shrey, where have you been? I had been calling you ever since. You wouldn't pick up my phone. When I pick up your call, you cut the call. What is wrong with you? Why wouldn't you talk to me? What's going on there-"

Shrey closed his eyes. "Mom, I did it."

His mother turned quiet. "What?"

"I pushed away the other guy out of the way. Raghav was fine with me. He has grown warm with me. He told me that he would talk to you and father, for the sake of his sister. Could you believe it?" He said, hoarsely.

His mother whimpered in the phone, happily. Aarush smiled sadly as she told him, "That is wonderful, son. Your father wants to talk here. . . Uh, hold on."

Shrey's lips tightened as his father held the phone desperately. "Shrey? Son?"

"Dad."

"Tell us, when can we come?" His father asked desperately. "We are here awaiting your call ever since. What did he say? Did he agree? He didn't hit you. Did he?"

Shrey rubbed his eyes while saying, "No one hit me. You want to come?"

"Yes, why not-"

"There is no need to come, Dad." Shrey said, immediately.

Aarush and Aditya exchanged a confused look as Shrey brokenly said, "You shouldn't come. I am coming back there. Because I failed. I failed in making her mine. I failed in making her believe that I would keep her happy. I never understood what she actually wanted."

"She is a woman who believes in living together. She hated the idea of even upsetting Rishabh by marrying me. Didn't I tell you how much that bastard insulted her?" Shrey's voice broke. "His words are still there in her heart."

"Stuck there in her beautiful old heart. She is a gem. She told me to leave her for the sake of Rishabh, could you believe it?" Shrey said, tears sliding down his cheeks. "She doesn't want me to be apart from my brother because of all the efforts he put in protecting me from the cases and everything. She doesn't want to marry me because of him."

"What?" His father was speechless it seemed. There was a thick silence that followed.

Shrey blinked while wiping his eyes. "I am coming back, empty. Raghav says that he will talk to Rishabh's father. He doesn't deserve that. Rishabh tried to break his marriage. But for his sister, Raghav wants to  make a step. But I don't want that, Dad. I won't be able to sleep at night if Raghav cones at our home, shaking hands with us with those bad memories still in his heart."

"It's us who did bad to him," mumbled Shrey. "I don't want that. I don't want to receive happiness this way. I am coming back."

"No, don't. Shrey, we will come before Raghav could approach us. We are happy to start the talks with Rathore's. There's no hard feeling. Remember, he had helped us in discounting the hospital bills. Rishabh didn't know that until I told him. We don't hate Rathore's."

Shrey blinked brokenly. "Rishabh does."

"That bastard ruined my life. Because of him, today, I feel homeless. Because of him, I feel helpless. I can't do shit to make my love believe in me that she will get the dream family she always wanted. She doesn't want to break our home. But you know what, when she isn't coming at my home at all. What is even the use of pretending to be a family?"

Anger flickered in Shrey's eyes as he growled, "You, as my parents, aren't going to talk to him. I am coming back and we are ending all relations with that rascal. He did shit for me. I am paying for what he did years ago. If you talk to him, I am not your son."

"Shrey! Listen to me! We will talk. Okay? We all like Sakshi and Rishabh has no role here. We are coming tomorrow." His father tried to make him understand.

"Keep coming here," Shrey laughed recklessly. "I am coming back Delhi. This is over. I can't see the greed in her eyes to marry me. I lost her. Her pride is bigger than my love. And it should be. She is concerned for our family. She doesn't want to break us. What that bastard called her, a slut?"

"I am going to call his bride, the same at his wedding. I will come there and break his life like he did mine. I am going to ruin him the way he ruined me. I lost a winning war, Dad." Shrey cried softly. "It's hard. It's hurtful."

"Shrey, please don't say that. Do you believe in us? We will talk to Raghav. I will call him in the morning. Do not worry, bachhe-"

"Don't bother," told Shrey. "It's over. And tell that bastard. He won. It will help him sleep better all his life, knowing he rejected a Rathore girl for me, avenging his own heartbreak."

"Tell him, Pihu is happy at her home with her husband. She doesn't give a shit to how cruel and hateful Rishabh has become. Tell him, that Raghav has always been the greatest brother to Sakshi even when they aren't real siblings. But Rishabh and I had the love deeper than the real siblings. Didn't we, Dad? Tell him, Raghav has been a great brother to her than Rishabh could ever have been to me. Raghav deserved Pihu, for real. I admire him. I wish I could have a brother like him."

Shrey hung up without even hearing the reply.

_______

Rolling on to the bed sheet, Raghav groaned in sleep. He was thinking about hugging his wife but she was nowhere on the bad. Opening one of his eye, he looked around. Rian was sleeping by his side.

He immediately reached for his forehead, checking the temperature. Founding it normal, he hummed and caressed his son's hair. Thinking that Pihu must be gone to take bath, he decided to take ten minutes of sleep more and hugged Rian closer to him.

But just as he closed his eyes, the sound of gagging reached his ears. He opened his eyes and raised his head to look at the bathroom. The door was closed and he rubbed his eyes. The sound came for another time when he suddenly heard the shower turning on.

His eyes narrowed as he immediately got up from the bed, scratching his arm. Walking towards the bathroom, he groaned in sleep. "Pihu, you okay?"

The shower was running even then, when he heard her voice. "Yes!"

His eyebrows furrowed when he heard a faint gag again. "Pihu?"

The next he heard the flush running. "What the fuck are you doing?" He asked, in confusion.

Immediately, a loud crash was heard as if she had dropped his shaving kit. Raghav was confused as hell.

"Are you cleaning the bathroom? Babe, you don't have to do it. What's wrong with you? Doing all that early morning? You were tired as hell last night?" He leaned on the door, waiting for her to speak. "Pihu?"

When no reply came, he sighed and shook his head. Walking back towards the bed, he waited for her to come. Till then, he thought about taking Rian to doctor for a check up. He had told Nakul that he would go office late.

The door to bathroom burst opened and came out Pihu, her face wet with towel in her hands.

"You didn't bath?" Raghav noticed her nightie. "What did you break? Was it my kit?"

He walked towards the bathroom when Pihu immediately said, "Wait! First, help me clean this room. Fold the covers."

Raghav yawned while shaking his head. "Give me a break. Will you?" He suddenly remembered. "You were vomiting?"

Pihu's lips parted as her face paled. "No. I was just brushing my teeth."

"Right! Teeth. Not your throat!" He walked towards her, his eyes watching her like a hawk. "What is it? Are you sick?" He checked her forehead's temperature. "I had told you not to sleep to close to Rian."

"I am fine," she said, shakily. Her voice was wavering.

Raghav had observed it as he held her hand and kissed it softly. "Are you stressing over Sakshi again? I told you I would talk to Shrey's Uncle. Then, why are you still thinking-"

"I am not. Stop fretting." Pihu pushed away his hand and stepped back. "Go, freshen up. I have told fold these covers. I need to check Rian too-"

Before she could even move towards the bed, Raghav held her waist. He looked in her eyes, showing sudden concern. "Periods? Cramps? You can rest. I will fold the sheets. But don't talk to me, this way." He said, making her lean on the wall behind while her eyes filled up slowly.

"I am sorry." She whispered.

He moved his nose closer to her neck. "No. I want to know what is wrong," he suddenly gasped. "Do you want to see your brother? We can go meet Mom and Dad? Rian will cheer up at seeing Vivaan."

Pihu's chuckled but her eyes were still looking tearful.

"Hey," he cupped her cheek. "Is it about our fight? I apologised days ago and I will apologise again. I am not proud of how I disturbed you all those times. The torture. I have understood. I am just glad, that you managed to find the good in me. I am so lucky, that you have the heart to love me even after what I did."

She covered his lips. "Stop. It's okay. I love you," she whispered.

He blinked while looking at her. "Then why do you look scared to me?"

"Because I am pregnant."

Rian rolled on the other side, the birds were chirping outside. The sunlight hadn't even touched their window's frame, the fresh air was still very fresh and soothing. Until now, Raghav was very sleepy. But now, he was awake as rumor of war.

"Wh-What? H-How?" Raghav was blank. Pihu's lips parted when he asked, "How did you find out?"

"While making dinner," she breathed heavily while shaking slightly. "I felt some blood leaking. In another time, I could have guessed for my periods. But I haven't got them. It's almost a month."

Raghav could feel the excitement going away replaced by doubt. "You bled. That means, periods started?"

Pihu shook her head at him. "I checked it this morning. Three times. The tests are positive," she whispered shakily.

"But you bled?" Raghav was confused.

"That's just scientific. It happens rarely. It was a light bleeding. I too thought it must be periods. But I know, I was pregnant. My instincts were saying all this time. Look at me, I look pregnant already." She said, a tear slipping her eye. "Tired and fattening."

"You're kidding me?" He said, in disbelief. The goofiness slowly covering his face. "You look amazing!"

Pihu could see the happiness reaching his eyes. She knew that he was jumping inside but he still wanted to confirm it. She rolled her eyes and pushed him away gently. Walking towards the bed, she muttered, "Whatever."

"We are having another child?" He asked, again, looking at her dreamily.

Pihu started picking up the covers, folding them. She put the pillows properly and said, "Yes, we are. Don't ask me again."

Raghav did a fist bump in the air while muttering a Yes to himself. He walked behind her and snaked his arms around her waist.

"Can we have like a little victory dance?" He joked, trying to cheer her up. He could see, she was upset. "I can't believe this."

"I am not in the mood, Raghav. Go freshen up," she muttered quietly.

Raghav stared at her with deep hurt filling her chest. "This is supposed to be a good news. We are supposed to be jumping and dancing. We should be excited."

"I am very excited to have one more pup growing inside me."

Again, that was thrown very quickly and sadly. Raghav felt his mood going from hundred to zero immediately.

"You are not happy."

Pihu gulped quietly while walking around the bed, picking up toys and putting them in Rian's box. "I am very happy."

"You didn't do it purposely. We were using protection. Then, how did it happen?" He asked, now realizing what was wrong here.

Pihu glanced at him blankly while correcting the cushions on the couch. "Does that even matter? You wanted another one. We are having another one. Go, tell everyone."

Raghav walked towards her and stood closer. Snatching the cushion from her hand, he threw it at the floor. Holding her shoulders, he asked quietly. "You don't want this child? Would I ever get a chance to get your pregnancy news in a happy way? I swear, the last time too I had heard that from your sobbing mouth."

Pihu looked at him, her mouth collected. "You know, I am happy with having another one." She said, brokenly.

"You forgot to take pills?" He asked her quietly, while putting finger beneath her chin.

Tears started forming in her eyes as she looked away and nodded. Raghav's eyes turned blank.

"It's all my carelessness. But I am happy," she smiled at him through tears. "It's a good news. You always wanted it to happen. Gods have heard you."

Raghav palmed her belly, pulling her closer, wiping her tears. "I am sorry."

"Why-"

"I should have stopped being a sex addict. I know you weren't ready," he spoke nervously. "You had admission pending for your Ph.D."

Pihu let out a small smile while her lips were still trembling. "You are saying this, cleans it all for me. I am happy to please you. Please us. We had been in conflicts for so many days. Sakshi will be excited too, I know. She will be distracted by the news."

Raghav shook his head and cupped her cheek. "Please, don't cry. I am sorry. It wasn't supposed to happen this early. I am ashamed. I should have used protection the last time. I didn't, I thought you would take pills."

Pihu had started to sob properly and it scared Raghav to the core. He was highly stunned and nervous. "I don't want you hate me, Pihu. You tell me, I will support in any decision you take. If you want to abort, I will-"

"No," she widened her eyes, putting finger on his lips. "What are you saying! I don't hate this child, Raghav. I am just so sad that God wouldn't give me a chance to complete my studies without any distraction. Maybe, I am just made to birth babies."

Her words broke Raghav's heart.

"Don't say that," he scolded her immediately. "Everything can be handled. You will complete your education, I promise. You will be a professor one day. Your dreams are my dream."

She let out a sob, lowering her gaze as he wiped her tears.

"You are not made just to birth babies. You are made so you could cherish what you want to do. Okay? Remember, when Rian was to come in this world, I managed everything. Your tutors, your exams. You don't have to stress about anything. It's because of me, I will do everything. You just have to rest. It's all my fault. I was so into asking for it."

She stared at him shakily. "I was careless. You were so sweet to understand me. I should have taken more care. Now, forget that. I am happy, Raghav."

But he wasn't, seeing her face full of sadness. He didn't say anything.

She cupped his cheeks and tried to calm herself. "Do you know how much I love you? You have been doing so great all these years. Being a businessman, a husband, a son, a father, a brother, you have been hardworking and passionate. You deserved this little bundle of joy," she told him. "God blesses his favorites sooner."

Raghav felt his eyes burning as they turned glossy.

"Don't cry," she said softly.

His nostrils flared as he closed his eyes and moved away from her. She followed him to the couch as he sat quietly, covering his face. She could see tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Raghav, don't make me feel like a bad wife for making you cry." She said, slowly sitting on his lap.

He held her as she wiped his eyes, pecking his lips. "I am fine, now. I am not crying," she said, worriedly.

Raghav gulped hard while looking in her brown eyes. "How could I get so lucky to have you? What did I do?"

Pihu stared at him blankly. She knew that he was overwhelmed. He had bad day, yesterday. He too had been emotionally exhausted all this time and now, those tears fell finally. If she wouldn't say the right words, he would always feel guilty when it wasn't even his fault.

She didn't have to turn this good news into a mourning. She had to move on this phase of sadness and go with the flow.

"You are wrong," he told her, his voice hard. "I am not any God's favorite. God blesses his favorites after others are done. You are his favorite, Pihu. Because you are an angel, gifted to me."

She smiled, caressing his cheek. Thinking about lightening up his mood, she said, "I have a feeling that it will be a girl."

His eyes lit up immediately.

"In my dream, two days ago, I saw a little boy in front of me with a stick in his hand. He was ignoring Rian who was standing beside me. But was smiling at seeing me. I tried to search everywhere on internet but no superstition was close to this dream. I asked my mom about it and she immediately asked me if I was pregnant. She told me to check. Because if I am, it could be a girl positively," said Pihu while smiling at him. 

Raghav raised his eyebrows. "My mother-in-law is so cool, I always knew."

She chuckled while looking at him. Raghav gulped and kissed her forehead. 

"Words can't describe how much I love you, Pihu."

She smiled shyly.

"Strokes tell me better."

Raghav gasped but then ended up chuckling with her.

"Now, I know you are pregnant."

_______

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

Now, I am out of time as I must go and finally study. I had so much inspiration I couldn't stop myself from writing. The comments are so hilarious and sweet. I am enjoying it all. Hope, you are enjoying too.

Will update only when I get the time in between the exams.

(By the way, I kind of had tear(s) slipping while writing Pihu's lines in this chapter. Especially when she said, "Maybe, I am just made to birth babies." I didn't know, I love and feel for her so much. Even when she's just a fictional character that I created (not created, she came to me on her own. It was a random flow, truly.)