Hey, my lovely readers.
How are you all?
So it's been about a month since the book ended. How many of you re-read it?
Also, I can see that many of my regular readers haven't commented on my Postlude chapter. Guys, did you not read it?
Please read the Epilogue/Postlude chapter if you haven't yet.
As promised, I am giving you all a bonus chapter
Let's begin with the chapter now.
Siya's POV
I was right now travelling to India, after about one and a half years.
I really wanted to meet my in-laws and I was nagging Akash a lot to visit India but he and Sid lately had been busy a lot due to multiple branch opening of their company around the world.
I was so angry at him for not taking out time to travel and meet mom, dad, uncle and aunty but he just wouldn't budge.
Finally after lots of argument, I was travelling all alone.
I am so mad at him.
I was just looking out of the window when Mark came to me.
"Ma'am, we are about to land" he said.
"Mark, you know I can fire you from your job right now?" I asked, glaring at him.
"For what?" he asked, confused.
"You've known me for around four years now and you still call me ma'am" I said.
He just chuckled and I glared at him again.
"Nobody takes me seriously" I said.
"I do" he said.
"No, you don't" I said.
"Ma'am, we'll be landing in fifteen minutes, please fasten your seatbelt" the air hostess interrupted us and I nodded looking at her.
I saw her eyeing Mark for a split second and then she walked off.
I looked at Mark wiggling my eyebrows and he looked at me.
"What?" he asked.
"The air hostess is cool" I said, fastening my seat belt.
"Yes, she is" he said, fastening his seatbelt.
"For you" I said and he coughed, hard.
"What are you saying?" he asked and I laughed, very hard looking at his shy face.
"Oh my god, you are blushing" I said and he just looked away.
We just continued our bantering and finally after few hours, we reached our home.
"Mom" I squealed as soon as I saw mom on the threshold waiting for me.
"Siya" she said and I hugged her tight.
"How are you my baby" she said, still hugging me while caressing my back.
"I am fine mom" I said and I don't know why tears started making it's way to my cheeks.
Breaking the hug, she looked at me and her eyes widened.
"Why are you crying, beta?" she asked worried while caressing my face.
"Nothing mom, I just missed you" I said and she kissed my forehead,
"You scared me, Siya. For a minute I thought that Akash isn't treating you well" she said.
"He is not treating me well" I said and sat on the couch with my arms folded on my chest.
"What has he done now?" she asked with a smile.
"He denied to come with me" I said and she smiled.
"He is expanding his business, Siya" she said.
"Even then he could have at least managed two days, mom" I said, complaining about him.
"Siya" I heard aunt's voice and I immediately dashed to her.
I hugged her and she hugged me back.
"How are you, child" she asked, breaking the hug.
"I am fine aunt and I am really craving your handmade aloo paratha" I said.
"I knew it, that's why I have already prepared it, for you" she said and I squealed.
"Ma'am" I heard Mark and we all turned in his direction to see him carrying all my luggage along with my handbag.
"Mark" I said and dashed to him.
"I am so sorry" I said, taking the handbag from him.
"I'll keep all your luggage in your room" he said and greeting mom and aunt went to my room.
"Siya, you're still a child" aunt said and I shrugged.
"Aunt, mom, I was so excited to meet you both that I forgot to even take my handbag" I said, giving them a sheepish smile.
They both chuckled, shaking their head.
We then proceeded to the dining table and had lunch.
"Where are dad and uncle?" I asked.
"Oh, Adarsh, your dad and uncle have gone to attend a meeting in one of the branches. I think there is some major problem that has come up" aunt said.
"Is it serious?" I asked, getting worried.
"We don't know anything yet. We only know that Adarsh got a call yesterday early morning and they all hurriedly went to visit the branch" mom said.
"I just hope everything is fine" I said, looking at both of them.
"We hope so too" aunt said, sighing.
After having lunch, we all retired to our respective rooms.
In the evening we all decided to visit the mall with Mark accompanying us.
"Siya, why don't you check some clothes for you while we check something for ourselves?" mom said.
"I want to accompany you" I said, pouting.
"Siya, we'll just be back in half an hour, child" aunty said and I nodded, even though I didn't want to.
Making my way to another aisle, I was looking at some clothes when I felt a tug on my jeans.
When I looked down, I saw a very cute looking toddler looking at me with her big curious eyes.
When I looked around, I didn't see any adult around.
I picked her up and she immediately wrapped her tiny chubby arms around my neck and I hugged her back.
I caressed her back and she most probably dozed off as I could hear light snores.
I was beginning to get worried as to who her parents are when I saw a women, probably my age.
Looking at her dishelved state I could see her frantically searching for something and then her eyes landed on me.
Looking at the toddler in my arms, she ran to me and breathlessly said "I...she's my daughter."
I smiled and gave her my bottle of water.
"Calm down, she is fine" I said and she gulped a huge gallop of water.
Once she was calm, she said "I am so thankful to you."
"Please, it's fine" I said, handing back her daughter to her.
She took her from me and kissed her whole face.
I was just smiling looking at both of them when my eyes saw someone who I didn't want to see my whole life.
"Sandhya" Amit said and I felt as if the ground just slipped beneath my feet.
"Oh, thank god, you found her" he said and hugged both of them, as if his life depended on them.
He probably loved both of them, a lot. I could feel it.
He hadn't noticed me yet.
Just when I was about to turn, his wife stopped me.
"She was kind enough to look after her or I am sure we would have lost her" she said, looking at me with a kind smile and then Amit turned to me.
As soon as he saw me, his smile vanished.
"Hey, I have seen you before" she said.
"Oh my god, you are the famous writer of the bestselling novel that came out about a year back, isn't it?" she asked and I nodded.
"Oh my gosh, I am huge fan" she said and I smiled.
"Can I have an autograph please?" she asked and I nodded with a smile.
"Amit, please get me a pen and paper" she said and then I looked at Amit to see him already looking at me.
His wife calling him probably brought him out of trance.
"Yeah, sure" he said, handing me his notepad and pen.
"Your novel is so so good" she said, gushing.
"I think I have read it around ten times already" she said and I smiled.
"Beta" we heard a voice and looked in the direction to see Amit's parents.
His mom's eyes landed on me and I felt her stiffening.
"Siya" I heard mom's voice and turned around to see her and aunt coming in my direction.
I took a breath of relief.
"Mom" I said and they both smiling, stood beside me.
"Mom?" Amit's mom asked in confusion.
"She's my mother-in-law" I said and they all nodded their head.
"Mom, aunt, this is Amit, his wife Sandhya, his parents and this cute little munchkin is their daughter" I said, introducing them to mom and aunt.
"Oh, Amit?" mom asked looking at me with a raised eyebrow and I nodded my head.
She bobbed her head up and down and I saw her eyeing Amit with a pinning gaze.
When I looked at aunt, she was throwing daggers through her eyes at all of them and smiling, I looked down.
"I must say Siya, you are really an awesome writer" Sandhya said.
"Of course, not only an awesome writer but an amazing human being as well. I am so glad Akash married her or we for sure would have lost gem of a person to some douche" aunt said eyeing Amit and his parents with her pinning gaze making all of them uncomfortable.
"She had to, she had an affair with him after all" Amit's mom said and I closed my eyes.
Some people never change.
"Yes, I had to marry him. After all I love him. How could I let him go? Also, for your information, we loved each other. Don't degrade it by naming it affair" I said.
"You..you" his mom was about to retort when Amit interrupted them "mom, it's enough."
"No it isn't enough. Just because they come from an influential family doesn't give them the right to degrade us" she said.
"I suggest you to keep your mouth in check. Nobody stood for Siya last time when you degraded her but she has her mom and aunt now. One wrong word from your mouth and I'll make sure to show who we are" aunt said.
"Mom, aunt, I think it's enough. No matter what you say, people like them will never understand. There's no use talking to these people and waste your time and energy on them. Let's go" I said.
"Yes, take her with you. These type of girls can only cause scandals.." she was saying but was cut off by Mark.
"One more word from your mouth against ma'am and I'll literally drag you to police station and make sure to press severe charges of mental harassment against you" Mark threatened her.
"Who are you? Her bodyguard?" she scoffed and asked him.
"Yes, I am. You got a problem with that?" Mark said.
"What's going on here?" we heard a voice and turned around to see Akash looking devilishly handsome in his jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket.
"Akash" I said, smiling and running to him, hugged him tight.
"Siya" he said, hugging me back and kissed my hair.
When I looked up from his embrace, he smiled at me and I smiled back at him.
"How are you?" I asked with a smile while he wrapped his arms around my waist.
"I am fine, baby. How are you?" he asked and I gave him a smile.
We then approached where everyone was and Akash touched mom's and aunt's feet.
They both gave him blessings.
"Amit, nice to meet you after so long" Akash said, shaking his hands with him while still keeping his arms around my waist.
"Same here, Akash" he said with a tight lipped smile.
"Did you meet Siya, my wife?" he asked, pulling me closer to him.
"Yes, I did" he said, not meeting my gaze.
"You must be his wife, Sandhya right?" he asked looking at her making us all shocked.
"Yeah..yes" she said, stuttering.
"How do you know her name?" I asked, confused.
"Well, I'll tell you later" he said and I nodded.
"I applied for your company, twice but I was rejected every time" Amit said and I looked at Akash, wide eyed.
He never told me about it.
"Oh, is it? Which round were you rejected in?" Akash asked casually while keeping his hand around my shoulder.
"The HR round" he said.
"Oh. Actually you know Maya, right?" Akash asked and he nodded.
"She must be the one rejecting you. You know how she is" he said casually.
When I looked at mom and aunt, they had smile on their faces.
"But.. there's nothing that goes wrong with the HR round. How come I am getting rejected everytime?" Amit asked.
"I don't know" Akash said shrugging.
"Why do you want to join my company? There are hundreds of other companies you can apply for, then why mine?" Akash asked, his hands were holding mine now.
"Are you kidding me? It is one of the fastest growing company in the world. Who wouldn't want to work in your company?" Amit said and Akash nodded.
"That...I agree" he said.
"But I still can't do anything about your selection, Amit. You have to get the job on your merit" Akash said.
"Oh and uncle aunty, do you know something? I am very grateful to you for whatever you did. Unknowingly even you played a part in getting me and Siya together" Akash said and i looked at him lovingly.
"Sir, here are your papers" we heard a man say.
He handed over some papers to Akash which he scanned.
After around five minutes, he said "escort these people out and make sure they are never given entry in my mall."
"Your mall?" Amit's mother asked.
"Yes. I just bought it. The deal was finalized today and these are the contract papers" he said showing them the papers in his hands.
I just blinked my eyes and then he looked at me.
"Don't look at me that way, Siya. You knew I was eyeing this mall for a long time to buy" Akash said, shrugging and I shook my head at him.
"Yes, I remember you mentioning about it but I never knew you were serious"
"You can't do this to us" his mother screeched.
"I think you should lower your voice or your granddaughter will wake up" Akash said, eyeing the cute girl in Sandhya's arms.
"Mark, please escort them out" Akash said and Mark nodding his head took all of them out.
"Oh and Sandhya, if it ever happens that your in-laws ask for dowry, I hope you know what to do" I said, giving Sandhya a smile, making her shocked.
"Are they demanding dowry from you?" I asked and then she looked at Amit and then her in-laws with curious eyes as if afraid of both of them.
"You are strong and mature, Sandhya. You know what to do" I said and kept my hands on her shoulder.
"Amit, I can see the love in your eyes for Sandhya and your daughter. You didn't support me, at least now you should stand for your loved ones. If you don't take a stand now, you'll regret your whole life" I said, giving him a small smile.
They were being dragged out when Akash said "Oh and Amit, don't bother to apply next time in my company. You'll never get a job there."
"Come mom and aunt, let's have dinner, I am hungry" Akash said and we all proceeded to a restaurant.
"How come you are here?" I asked.
"I already had it planned to come with you but I had an important meeting to attend today. As soon as it got finished, I took the next flight" he said and I smiled.
We had dinner with lots of bantering back and forth and then we proceeded to our home.
We all retired to our respective rooms but in the middle of the night, I had a sudden craving to eat ice cream.
Proceeding to the kitchen, as soon as I took the tub of ice-cream from the fridge and opened it, I felt like throwing up from the smell that hit me.
I immediately dashed to my room and making my way to the bathroom, threw up.
"Siya" I heard Akash's voice and then I felt him standing behind me.
Carefully pulling my long hair, he caressed my back.
After throwing up all the contents, I washed my mouth and Akash picking me up bridal style laid me down on the bed.
"I have asked you many a times not to eat anything that would harm you, Siya" he said, keeping a pillow behind my back and gave me a glass of water to drink.
"Akash, I didn't have anything of that sort. Trust me" I said, gulping the water and then kept it on the nightstand.
"Okay now, go to sleep" he said and I laid down while he caressed my forehead.
The next day I woke up to find the place on the bed beside me empty.
When I looked at the wall clock, it showed that it was already eleven in the morning.
Probably Akash had left me to rest.
Freshening myself up, I made my way to the dining table and saw Akash, mom and aunty still seated and they were chatting.
I hugged Akash from behind and kissed his hair while he was seated on the chair.
"Good morning" I wished him and he circled me around, making me sit on the chair beside him.
"Good morning, wife" he said and I greeted mom and aunty.
"I made your favorite dish for breakfast" aunty said and kept two pieces of bread on my plate but I felt like throwing up as soon as a whiff hit my nostril.
I sprinted to the washroom nearby and threw all the contents again.
"Siya" I heard mom and aunty say while I felt Akash's hands caressing my back and holding my hair in his fist so that my hair doesn't fall on my face.
After around 10 minutes, I washed my mouth thoroughly and when I turned around, mom swiped my whole face with the edge of her saree.
"What happened, Siya? Should we visit a doctor?" she asked me.
"No mom, I'll be fine" I said giving her a faint smile.
"Siya, I think we should visit a doctor. It could be food poisoning as well" Akash said.
I was about to deny but one glare from him and I shut my mouth.
"How long have you been throwing up, Siya?" mom asked.
"A...a weak" I said whispering.
"A weak? You didn't even tell me, Siya. You should have told me" Akash said and I could see disappointment in his eyes.
"Mom, I am taking her with me to the hospital" Akash said and was about to drag me with him when aunty said "Akash, I'll take care of her."
"Aunty" he was about to protest but she said "I'll take care of her. Don't worry."
"Siya, come with me" aunty said and I silently followed her while mom followed me.
Aunty made me sit on her bed and taking few strips from her drawer, came to me.
"When was the last time you had your periods?" aunty asked.
"Ummm...around 2 months back, why what happened aunty?" I asked, confused.
When I looked at mom, she had a faint smile on her face.
"What happened?" I asked glancing between mom and aunty but they just shrugged.
"Take these kits and follow the instructions" aunty said handing over the kit to me and when I read the name, I swear my hands started sweating.
"Go" mom said with a smile and I walked in the washroom.
Taking deep breath, I peed on the sticks and waited for five minutes but I don't know why my heart was beating like crazy.
Even the thought of me carrying our child in my womb was making me feel...surreal.
Once five minutes was over, I took all the stick in my hand and without glancing at all of them, made my way to the bedroom where mom and aunty were waiting for me.
Without saying anything, I handed them the sticks and when mom looked at them, her face split in a wide grin.
"Oh my god" mon and aunty exclaimed and hugged me.
Just then the door burst open and Akash barged in.
"Mom, aunty is everything fine?" Akash asked and looked at me worriedly.
"Yes and it's high time you should take care of her" mom said and Akash looked at me confused.
"We are going to be parents" I said and his eyes widened.
Rushing to me he picked me up and twirled me around, making me squeal.
"Oh Siya, you've made me the happiest man today" he said and I wrapped my hands around his neck.
"Akash, I am feeling dizzy" I said and he immediately stopped twirling me.
Keeping my feet on the floor, he held me firmly in his embrace and asked me worriedly "Siya, baby I am sorry. Is it hurting? Do we need to go to a doctor?"
"No Akash. I am fine" I said with a smile.
"The new parents to be, I think we should leave you both alone" mom said, winking at me and aunty followed her.
"You know I was scared of your reaction" I said as soon as they were out of the room.
"Why?" he asked.
"I...I didn't know if you would be happy with it or not" I said and looked down.
"I have always wanted a child from you, Siya but the question is, do you want this?" he asked, making me look at him by keeping his thumb and forefinger under my chin and tilting my head to look at him.
"I...I am scared" I whispered.
"I know it's all new for you, for us but you don't need to be scared, Siya. You have me, mom, aunty, uncle dad, Adarsh" he said.
"Will I be a good mother?" I asked.
"The best mother in the world" he said and kissed my forehead.
"But there is no pressure, Siya. You remember we had a conversation wherein I said that I want you to embrace motherhood only when you are emotionally and physically ready?" he asked and I nodded.
"I just want you to be sure about it" he said with a smile on his face.
"I...I am ready Akash and moreover I wanted you to have the same smile and laughter, your eyes crinkling with happiness with our child the way you used to play with Alayna" I said.
"So, let's take this step together?" he asked and I nodded.
"Yes, let's take this step together" I nodded and he smashed his lips with mine.
How did the chapter come out?
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Till next bonus chapter, tk cr bbyee
Tadas.