She lay on the hospital bed, her one hour baby resting beside her. She stared at the little girl who had her eyes closed and her fists clenched, pushing her cheeks up which made her look as cute as possible. It was just sometime ago that she gave birth to this little princess. Though Neil had always wanted it to be a girl as it was, but she had always convinced herself that she will have to be happy whether it is a girl or a boy. It was perhaps one of the most happiest and lucky days of her life. She felt blessed and fortunate.

A click on the door broke her reverie as she saw Neil entering the room. He curved up his lips into a heart warming smile. Walking over to her, he sat beside her on the small bench, dragging it to reach till the edge of the bed. She signalled her to carry his daughter in his hands but he nodded in a no. To say she wasn’t surprised would be a huge lie. He hadn’t even looked at her, let alone taking her in his arms.

“Let me thank you first.” He spoke, his eyes glassy. She tried sitting up. Resting her back by the bed, she rang the bell and the nurse entered immediately. “Take her to the cot.” Avni ordered and the nurse did as followed before leaving the room.

“Yes?” She turned towards him, her eyes focused on him only. “I want to thank you Avni.” He said, taking her hand in his.

“You have given me all that I had wanted. There was a time when I wanted to be loved and you were there, to love me Avni. You gave me happiness, love, life! What else would I want? And today. Today is perhaps the happiest day of my life. I feel blessed to have you and to have that little girl in my life. I am sure you both are going to be the two beloved ladies of my life.” He kept on speaking, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He wasn’t the one to cry. In fact, he had been the most strong man.

“Neil. I should thank you. You know, you gave me a normal happy family. And now, I have a family of my own! Tum nahi hoty tou ye nahi ho sakta tha Neil. Tumne hi tou mujhe taakat di hai. You have made me believe in Love. I used to feel like I will always burn in the fire of revenge, being the fierce Ananya Verma. But you gave me strength. Tum ne mujhe apni Avni bana liya Neil.” Tears cascaded down her eyes and she tightened her hold on his hand. He placed a soft kiss on her hand.

He smiled and got up to see the new love of his life. As soon as his eyes caught the sight of their cute, chubby daughter, he couldn’t help the happy tear that made it’s way down his cheek.

He came and sat beside her on the bed, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. One of his arm still held their daughter. They kept on staring at her, smiling. He bent down to place a kiss on her cheek.

She stared at both the people who were her life. She placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled back to look up at him only to get a pout of him. She raised her brow in a questioning way to which he just forwarded his own cheek. She chuckled at his playfulness before pulling his ear lightly.

“Tumhari beti kya soche gi tumhare baare mein ACP Neil Khanna?” She teased.

“Kuch nahi. Yehi soche gi shayad ke uske father jee ek bohot great man hein aur wo apni wifey se bohat pyaar karte hein.” He replied with full confidence, freeing his ear from her hold.

“Aur uski mom, wo tou apne pati dev ko lift hi nahi karwati!” He continued, trying to provoke her.

He used to be such a kid at times. Just to light up her emotional moods, he could become a child like he still was though he had become a father now! She was indeed lucky to have him.

She leaned in and pressed her lips on his cheek earning a light gasp from him. He felt so relieved, feeling her touch. “I love you so much my love!” He confessed, his eyes full of sincerity. She smiled lightly and kissed his other cheek.

“Arey. Tum ne free mein kiss de diya! I was talking about my princess! I love her.” He was high at his teasings as he spoke, eyeing the little munchkin in his lap.

Her nose turned red. She wasn’t jealous. But angry. He was looking at her while speaking then how come he was talking about their daughter? She turned the other side, not looking at him. Moments later, she felt his lips on the side of her ear as he whispered, ”I Love my Avni.”

She couldn’t help the smile that made it’s way to her lips. Turning around, she hugged his arm.

“Suno?” She heard him say.

“Meri princess ka naam mein decide karunga since she has no bua.” He declared.

“Kareena!” She reminded. “Offho. Kareena ne kaha tha mujhe. Usne names de diye thy bohot saare and she asked me to decide any one of them. So I will decide.” He spoke, looking at the sleeping girl who had become his life in just some hours.

“We will decide.” She declared, pulling the little girl’s cheeks.

“Okay. I like the name Aditi.” He spoke. “And I like Naina.” She said. They had thought of the names from each other’s initials. Both of them smiled knowingly.

“Ager humne decide kiya tou we will keep on arguing. So better ask Kareena.”

He kissed her forehead. She rested her head on his shoulder, as they felt blessed to have a perfect family.

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Thanks to @SA9reader for giving me this opportunity. Had a great time writing it.

Hope you all will like it too.