It had been almost four years since they got married again, five years of being together, and a lot of things changed in their lives.
Roop knew how it felt to be a parent but even after so many years, she still couldn't figure out how someone could hurt their child, she couldn't see her baby in pain then how did her parents do?
She never met them again, Amrit made sure of it but she knew what happened to them, all their wealth was gone in the past few years, their company faced a huge loss that wasn't recoverable, the news was all over the headlines, she somehow had an idea who was behind it all but she never brought up the topic.
"That's disgusting." Mihir looked at her choice of food, gagging just by looking at her dip an apple in ketchup.
"You know what else is disgusting? Your-"
"Okay, okay. My wife insults me enough...aaj ka quota poora hogaya hai mera." He raised his hands in surrender.
(Today's quota is completed already.)
Mihir and Madira got married shortly after Ruaan aka Cheeseball was born, it was different for him this time since he was chasing the girl away instead of chasing the girl for the first time in his life but Madira was quite determined about what she wanted.
It wasn't easy to break down his walls since he wasn't ready to emotionally invest in a relationship, it took her months to build the trust but with the help of her brother and Mihir's family members, she was now his wife with a cute little version of Mihir too.
"Tell me one thing." He leaned on the kitchen island seriously, "Did Ru poop a lot too? I feel like I've been changing the diapers only for the last four months." He sighed tiredly.
"He did." Roop nodded absentmindedly, "I asked for strawberries but no one got me strawberries." She murmured, her eyes filling up with tears.
"Bhabi..."
"Is it because I'm getting fat?" She asked.
"Uhh...no, bhai went to get strawberries for you...he must be on his way, let me check." Mihir walked away, calling his brother to come back sooner.
It was around two in the morning when Roop woke up with an urge to eat strawberries, founding none at home, he went to get them for her, and she was waiting in the kitchen when a sleepless Mihir joined her.
She was having a crying session when a very tired Rahil walked into the kitchen with a baby bottle in his hands.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, seeing her cry.
"I asked for strawberries and he left...he took Cheeseball too...how could he do that to me? He said he'll never leave me...he took my baby too." She looked at Rahil, her lip wobbling as she tried not to burst into sobs.
"I think...he went to bring you strawberries? Don't worry...he'll be back soon." Rahil tried to assure her, making baby formula milk since it was his duty to take care of the baby today.
Avni and Rahil were very clear about having a baby in their 30s and the family members supported them with their decision from the very start instead of forcing them, 6 months earlier, They had a baby girl named Riva, at the same time Madira and Mihir had Ayaan.
"And if he doesn't? He took Cheeseball."
"He will, now stop crying...it's not good for the baby." He patted her hair, "I'll get going before Riva wakes up Avni...good night." He said, walking back to his room.
Ten minutes later, Amrit dropped four boxes of strawberries infront of her along with a very active Ruaan. Nighttime was his favourite to play, he would run to everyone's room to scare them since he could never wake his mother up from her deep slumber.
"Shh, I'm so sorry I got late." Amrit wiped her tear-stricken face, kissing her forehead, "I'll wash them first, yeah?" He took a box, walking towards the sink to wash them.
Ruaan took it upon himself to kiss her cheeks since Amrit didn't.
"Down." He looked at the floor, wanting to run around since he couldn't stay put in one place for long. She put him down before turning towards Amrit, whose back was facing her.
She went to hug him only for her very pregnant belly to come in between, everyone thought she was having twins with the way she was showing but the ultrasound proved them wrong, the baby was just a little too healthy.
He turned to her, making her eat the now-washed strawberry as he wrapped his other hand around her.
"What if it's a boy?" She asked, rubbing her belly with one hand.
"Then he will have to wear the frocks we got for him." Amrit replied, making her sit on the chair she was previously sitting on.
"I wish it's a girl." She whispered, opening her mouth for another strawberry.
"Me too Ruh, me too."
"Your baby's kicking me." She brought his hands to where the baby kicked, "Did you feel that?" She asked, feeling the kick one more time.
He bent down, pressing his ear to her stomach before kissing over there.
"Amrood?" She whispered, clutching his shoulder tightly.
"What happened? Is something wrong?" He got up hurriedly, worry crossing his features since her due date was close.
"No...I think...I think my water broke."
"What?"
"I swear I'm not joking this time." She said, walking here and there in worry, she remembered waking up Amrit when Ruaan was about to born, he panicked badly and almost rushed out, wearing just a pair of shorts.
"Cheeseball? Where's Cheeseball?" He looked around in worry, "Ruaan? Come here." He called him, spotting him under the table.
Hearing his father, he immediately ran over, "Why mama run?" He asked, looking at Roop still walking to and fro.
"Mama's worried, now listen to me... I and your mama are going to bring your little sibling...you have to go to your dadu's room and tell him the same...can you do that baby?" He asked, kneeling down to his level.
Ruaan nodded, showing a thumbs up, "Papa?"
"Yes?"
"Stawbwy."
"Take these with you, go and no running, yes?" Amrit asked, handing him the box of washed strawberries.
"Otay." He took the box, walking out of the kitchen but made a run as soon as he thought he was out of sight.
•••
"Congratulations, it's a boy." The doctor announced, laying the baby on Roop's chest for the first skin-to-skin touch.
She turned to Amrit, who was holding her hand the whole time with teary eyes.
"Stupid man." She cried, she badly wanted a baby girl, and she even bought different types of dresses for the baby with him.
The next hour was spent in a blur as doctors completed their work, the freshly bathed baby wrapped in a baby pink towel was handed to them.
"You were wrong, cheesecake is Cheeseball's little brother, not sister." She booped the little nose that looked identical to hers.
"He looks so much like Cheeseball." Amrit whispered, leaning in to see properly.
"He looks like you idiot." She shook her head, "Whose eyes do you think he inherited?" She asked, waiting for the little baby to open his eyes, Ruaan got his father's hazel eyes, and she wondered if the little baby would have brown or hazel eyes like his dad and grandmother.
"I hope yours." Amrit sighed, the door burst open and a very energetic Ruaan entered the room.
"Baby!" He yelled in excitement, trying to climb his father's legs to see the baby.
Amrit picked him up, making him sit beside Roop, a gasp left his mouth before he touched the chubby cheek, making the baby open his eyes for the first time.
"He wooks wike me." Ruaan told his parents excitedly, poking the baby's cheek softly.
"He does."
"What would you like to name your brother baby?" Roop asked.
"Amlood."
Amrit looked at his wife with a shake of his head, "Viaan. Viaan Mehrotra." He whispered, kissing Roop's forehead.
"I wanted Viyana." She murmured.
"It's okay, Riva is enough for us." He caressed her hair.
"I love you." She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I love us." He turned his head, kissing her lips softly.
"Ewwww."
They heard Ruaan's voice in the background, laughing at his usual response whenever he saw them kiss, by now the whole family knew whenever Ruaan said 'eww', Amrit must've kissed Roop.
Grabbing Ruaan, Amrit attacked him with kisses, making the room fill with his giggles as he tried to push him away.
Roop smiled at her little family, her reason to smile.
It was hard in the beginning but in the end, it was all worth it and there wasn't a day that went without her thanking the Lord for blessing her with happiness.
None of them knew where it started but it did end with You and Me.
...
This is it, eh?
I'm going to miss my Roop and Amrit <3
Can't thank you all enough for the love and support, Roop and Amrit will always be special to me, thanks to you people.