EPILOGUE

 ***Four years later*** 

Third person's POV

"Oh honey, I will come home soon, baby. I miss you already. *mwah mwah*" 

Janu mimicked Akash's voice while he playfully glared at her, but soon a smile crept onto his face with a distanced look. He was so smitten with his wife. But Janu was so happy for her friend. Akash got married to Priya two years back. And she was his breath. The best part was their cute little bundle, Krish. Like his name suggests, he can steal anyone's heart in a matter of seconds.

"Hey, don't tease me, Jaans. You were also like 'Oh mama, when will you come back? Your pumpkin and munchkins are waiting for you. Come home soon, darling... blah-blah-blah...' so quit teasing me and ask Zee whether he has spoken with the Ganesh group of companies. Getting their audit would be a turning point for our firm. And I have ordered the office boy to get some tender coconut juice for you. It was good for the baby as the climate was a little hot. Now get yourself out."

Janu glared at him for calling her pumpkin, but smiled at his care and stood up to go to Zee's cabin with a sweet, "Thank you." The idea of teasing him for calling her 'fat' with her fake tears was highly appealing as he would freak out if she cried, but the fact that the juice was waiting in her cabin for her made her choose differently.

A lot has happened in their life. They all became proud Chartered Accountants. Akash and Ajay cleared their exam three years back, and they started their own firm separately. Vidhu, Zihan, and Janu cleared a year ago. Vidhu wished to do a partnership with her love, and Janu had already decided to join Akash. There were no hard feelings between them for choosing a different path for their heart, they knew their affection for each other. Zihan grew close to them, and when Janu offered for him to join, he happily joined them. Akash had worked really hard to bring the firm to a decent state, and now all three were working to develop the firm. This Ganesh group of companies was a big catch, and it would surely take them to the next level. 

Prabhu's family had their doubts about Ajay from the beginning as he was often seen in the youngsters' group whenever they had come to visit and often he would accompany Prabhu, Janu, and Vidhu to visit them. Likewise, Vidhu used to visit his parents. But elders didn't interfere as long as their studies were progressing. Last year, they both expressed their love to their families. And with mutual consent of their parents, Ajay and Vidhu happily got married a six months ago. They were so cute together as always. Ajay was taking care of her so well. And he was a great addition to the family. Vidhu and Ajay would meet Janu at least once a week. They were working to build their own firm, which was holding a progressive growth rate. And Vidhu was very protective of Janu as always and would bite anyone who dared to make her shed a single tear. Ajay grew fond of this family and would tease Vidhu about having many babies. But they decided to have babies later after enjoying their married life for some time.

Nandhini and Sanjeev resolved all their conflicts with their family, and they left to New York as they said. Before they left, they had a simple marriage at a registered office as Nandhini didn't want to have a normal wedding with her baby bump. Their parents and friends were only present there. She was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Nivi. They will visit once in a year for vacation, and the friends would spend some time together. She had become so responsible and... she turned into a great mother. That's what everyone could see.

Prabhu left his job as he said a year back and he opened a wonderful hotel seven months ago. He didn't let Janu see the place until opening day. God's willing, he could rent a good spacious place in the busy area of Chennai. He made the interior designer give the best look to the hotel, and the ambience was so good with a slight hint of nature inside the place. He named it as Hotel Ecstasy, and the dishes served there accomplished the name. Like magic, he gathered cooks from the deepest corners of all over the state and the menu serves the best signature dishes from various places of Tamil Nadu without missing its remarkable touch. As he dreamed, he was serving high-quality food at an affordable price that made the hotel famous. For the best taste, people would be ready to pay any amount, and the hotel's prices were just an extra topping for them. The middle-class people were most attracted to the hotel. And weekends would be fully packed.

Though Janu was very happy for his success, Janu envies the hotel for consuming most of 'their' time. Unlike his office timings, he has to attend his business from morning to night without weekend offs. So their personal time was reduced, but both of them had an understanding and were holding onto their growing love.

Like Akash mentioned, two little munchkins were inside Janu, and she was six months in and still struggling with second trimester's nausea and fatigue. Both of their family was so happy about the arrival of the new members. Prabhu was in ecstasy to know his vixen was carrying his offspring. His care for her increased ten times. As much as Janu would like to get her hormones in control, she couldn't help it burst at a few moments. But later she would cry for being rude to her husband. And he found her tears worst as it was so hard to console her, in comparison to her temper which he could easily handle. Sometimes Akash would lend his hand to help Prabhu with his experience.

When Janu went to check Zee, he was drowned in a file and was looking so exhausted. This young man made his grandpa proud by passing his exams with flying colours, and his smart work was also contributing to the firm. He confirmed to her that he had arranged a meeting tomorrow with Ganesh companies and returned back to his work. Janu went to her cabin to continue her work after drinking her juice. Later that evening, Akash dropped her at her apartment and went to his home.

She went to the neighbouring home to fetch Twinkle and Maya. They got Maya after few months from the same adoption centre as Janu insisted Twinkle was pretty lonely. And also their neighbour was the old couple who was so fond of these cuties. So they offered to take care of them while the couple were in the office. Akash still didn't like dogs, but Priya was very fascinated by pets, so one of Twinkle and Maya's pups was being raised there.  

Carrying two healthy babies has its effects as her belly was already so round and she started struggling to bend to take anything that fell off her hand accidentally. His amma or her amma would always be there to take care of her, but the elder couples went on a two-week devotional trip within the state. So Janu was currently alone at her home for the time being. She freshened up and went to bed straight away with the intention of just lying for ten minutes before starting her work. And she grew little lazy from all the pampering from everyone.

When she opened her eyes, the room was so dark except the zero watts winking at her. Her body was covered snugly inside the comforter. She rubbed her eyes and checked her phone. She muttered a sarcastic 'great' to herself and switched on the room light on her way to the kitchen. But a smile crept on her face as soon as the smell of masala's sauteing reached her nose. Her husband was early today, but she slept their time away. She went inside and hugged him from behind, which was not easy as there were two who were stopping her from giving a proper hug to her husband.

He turned around with a smile and kissed her forehead with a side hug and bend down to kiss her belly twice. He looked up and found her narrowed eyes as he expected. He chuckled and captured her lips. She loves his attention for their child, but she will quickly get upset when she notices he pays more attention to their children. He found that fact very fascinating and would tease her sometimes with that. He then signalled her the counter where jasmine flowers and a box of almond halwa was sitting. He went back to finish dinner.

She smirked at him knowingly and happily kept the flowers in her hair. She took the sweet and went to sit in the dining table. Soon her husband joined her with a smile and scooped her up and went to the living room and made her sit on his lap on the sofa. She fed him some and asked him about his day. 

Prabhu's POV

I feel so blessed on seeing my beautiful wife with her big belly proudly showing off. She was everything I could ask for. Without her support, I could never imagine running my business successfully. I was so protective of her recently. Fatherly instinct! Ha! Just the thought of her being alone at home made me restless, so I decided to go home early. She loves when I get flowers for her. So I stopped to get her favourites and went home to find her fully spent and lying with a frown. I eased the creases and tucked her in and decided to finish dinner for her. So I could have some leisure time with my sweet vixen.

She craves sweets recently and often her craving would shift to various things where she would want milk products a week, then she would refuse them and crave pickles. Now her interest shifted to sweets. I took the red fabric pouch and extended it to her. I bought her a new set of anklets. She was already wearing one, but she had chosen a simple one, and I wanted to listen to her every step, with the chimes of her anklet ringing through the home. It would let me know her presence, which would give me a sense of relief. She gave me a quick hug and a big loud kiss on my cheek. I made her sit down on the sofa and sat next to her, pulling her legs up. She smiled at me the whole time while I replaced the old anklet with the new one.

She stood up and walked for a few feet looking so excited to show off the chiming of the new anklet. I chuckled at her childish behaviour. God! She is going to be a mother in a few months yet acting like a child. But that's what the beauty of her character is.

"I love it, mama. Thank you so much. Love youuuuuuu."

 She came near me and sat on my lap again and took the sweet box to continue munching her little snack. She stopped her eating suddenly and looked at me with an unsure expression. I know the look and bit my inner cheek to stop the smile.

"Mama! Tell the truth. Am I looking fat?"

 I tapped her scrunched nose and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"No, darling. You don't look fat. You just look pregnant."

 She still had a small frown on her face.

"You know, Akash called me pumpkin today. Am I look that big?"

 God! Her face and eyes! I shook my head to clear the perverted thoughts and cupped her face and kissed her lips hungrily.

"You look so beautiful, darling. There are two lives developing inside you. Do you expect your belly to not swell? Our children are growing healthily inside you. Why are you worrying about that idiot's words? He might have just teased you. You knew very well about him!"

 I spoke calmly and cautiously to not touch any trigger buttons. She smiled widely.

"Yes. I know he is an idiot. That's why I texted Priya that he called me a pumpkin. She will take care of him."

She spoke smugly. I knew these three had gotten very close, and it sometimes caused a hard time for us men.

Vidhu, Janu, and Priya would just vanish somewhere in the name of a 'ladies night out', and the worst part was they all would 'unknowingly' forget to take their mobile at the same time, which would keep us worrying all night. I chuckled, feeling pity for my friend. I rubbed her belly and heard her sigh. I love to feel them moving inside, which didn't happen often, but my champs started kicking lately. And her heightened hormones never let me sleep earlier at night as she would demand me to make love to her every night. I would never complain about that.

It felt foreign at first when her stomach swelled, but touching her belly was the greatest feeling I ever had. For every passing day, it was amusing to watch two lives growing inside her. We should be more responsible. We are going to be parents of two kids. The pride and happiness swelling in my chest were inevitable from just looking at her protruding stomach.

I could understand her worries as she was getting self-conscious of her body with all these pregnancy changes. But if she asked me, I would tell her she was getting more beautiful with her maternal changes. I try to make her feel beautiful every moment I get and not to let her see otherwise. I love her way too much, and I can't see any flaws in her. She is so perfect to me just the way she is.

Third person's POV:

A month later, on an auspicious day, the Valaikappu ceremony was performed for Janu.

(Similar to a baby shower, Valaikaapu is a ceremony meant to bless a pregnant woman. The pregnant woman is given an odd number of bangles to wear on each hand. It is believed that the sound of the bangles will please the unborn baby.)

It was a tradition to send the pregnant woman to her parent's home for baby delivery after the 'Valaikappu'. But the love birds weren't ready to be distanced from one other. After a few hours argument with elders, the elders agreed to let her stay as they let go of their tradition for the happiness of this loving couple. She spoke with Akash and Zihan to make arrangement for her to work from home as she was getting tired so soon with the twins growing big into her. Prabhu appointed a few more efficient staffs to handle the things there at his hotel to spend his time with his vixen as he knew he can't re-live these past time.

The sound of her glass bangles and chimes of her anklet has become his regular favourite music. Their parents were taking turns to stay at their place while the other couple will handle things back at their home. Everyone was so eager for the baby birth. Janu handled things so far good. But her emotions would make her doubt whether their relationship would be the same as she was noticing the changes in her body even though he still tells her that she looks beautiful. She knew their love wasn't going to get affected by how she looks. But she wants to be in her best look for her hotness overloaded husband. Also, she was afraid about how to manage her time with her husband and babies. She admired when her husband spoke to their kids every night--sometimes about his day and sometimes about how eager he was to see them and his love for them.

Some days, she would go to the hotel if she feels like to stay with him. Even though she was so positive about the delivery, there was a slight hint of fear in her. He would love to have her around in his hotel. She would suggest some changes and will help him to handle things. Above all, he loves to have her around him. Just like the way back in her father's hotel, she was so popular among every staff with her jovial behaviour. She remained as the light of his life.

Soon the delivery date came, but there was no sign of the babies coming out. The doctor told them it was normal and asked them to wait for a few days. But the wait prolonged to a week until the real contraction hit her which marked ten months and three days. There were no complications, and it was going to be Normal delivery. Prabhu insisted on staying with her during the delivery, but he froze on the spot and tears leaked from his eyes when he saw his lovely wife in pain. He held her hand and went to comfort her when he saw her looking at him in worry, trying to reassure him with a smile through her pain. He whispered encouraging words into her ears all the time.

Janu, being a stubborn woman, didn't let out a cry but ground her teeth, swallowing her pain, and listened to the instructions of the doctor. A cry left her mouth at the transitional stage with so many changes happening her body. A healthy baby boy came to the surface of the earth first with a cry, and the couple felt every moment of the pain was worth it once they saw the face of their firstborn. Soon a sharp pain hit her, and she went through the process once again. A healthy baby girl was placed on her chest, and with that, she lost her conscious. He didn't leave his wife's side. She was cleaned and changed. Soon the cleaned-up babies were brought inside, and everyone visited the babies with so much of happiness. His face was so bright on holding his daughter while his grandfather was caressing his first great-grandson. The new feel of parenthood felt too much for Prabhu.

Janu woke up exactly when her son started to cry. He was so emotional already and was so proud to see the motherly instinct kicking already with her and helped her to feed the baby. She admired those two adorable munchkins wondering she brought them to this world and they were part of her blood and flesh a moment ago. She held Prabhu's hand tightly with the 'after-delivery-relief' and pulled him to kiss his cheeks. He kissed her forehead with a loving smile. He almost stayed glued to her except a few phone calls for the next five days with her in the hospital. Vidhu was there at their home to invite the new tiny guests with 'aarthi'.

The couple decided to name their son, 'Amudhan' and daughter, 'Aathira' which was astrologically beneficial for the babies. The couple managed to help each other with parenting, and both of their mothers were so smitten by the babies and decided to give a hand to the couple. 

Their love grew as the time passed, and they did their best to bring up their children with the best behaviour. But the smart twin would sometimes pull their private moment in front of everyone, making the couple turn red in embarrassment. But they started taking extra care to behave in front of them. And Krish was not any less than that, proudly exposing his parent's mischiefs. He appointed himself caretaker of the twins, and he did a great job.

After two years, Vidhu and Ajay were blessed with a cute son, Vinay. At the same time, Akash and Priya went for seconds and got a beautiful daughter, Anusha. Prabhu and Janu were contented with the twins, or should I say they had enough with the naughtiness and double the trouble just mimicking their younger versions, which horrified them. But time proved that they could be great parents. They raised their children by teaching them the values of life and relationships rather than the importance of money.

Live the life blessed to us by God happily. We actually don't need someone to make us happy; it's our choice to be happy. So don't let anyone make that beautiful smile on your face falter!