Epilogue

Dev was sleeping peacefully, cuddled in his blanket. He had this habit of sleeping shirtless and then he used to pull the blanket off Meera and there would ensue a tussle for the blanket.

Meera had grown used to it now that they were married for almost two years.

Their married life was blissful and happy.They obviously fought at times but then it would end up in Dev taking Meera out on icecream dates. It was Dev's style of saying sorry.Meera at times used seduction as a weapon to nullify the difference and  Dev always obliged.

A few months back they had been to Ruturaj and Netra's son's first birthday party. His name was Rugved and Dev had really liked the name.They had recently started giving a thought to having a child owing to the fact that Dev had entered his thirties and Meera was about to turn thirty.

None of their parents or their friends coerced them to think of a child. It was solely Dev and Meera's decision.Just like when they were searching for a cute gift for Rugved, Meera had come across a pretty blue dress made for baby girls and indirectly dropped a hint to Dev.

At the billing counter, Meera had seen a plush toy of the cartoon Peppa Pig in their trolley."We didn't buy this, ye yaha kaise aaya?" Meera asked Dev."Rugved is a Mickey Mouse fan. Ye Peppa Pig kisne laya?" Meera added."Obviously maine liya"."Par kyu?" "Humare bachhe ke liye." Dev replied casually and Meera tried not to blush.

"Aye haye, biwi sharma gayi!" Dev nudged her."But I'm not pregnant." Meera giggled."Whenever you'll be, uss time ke liye I bought this because it's very cute". Dev said as they paid the bill."Humare time pe ye sab nahi tha, our toys were basic and look at kids from this generation! Aajkal every kid gets their toys from Hamleys! Nakhre hai." Meera opined."Then our baby won't get toys from Hamleys or what?" Dev asked."Ha ha majak uda lo! Baby ka Dad will buy the whole Hamleys store!" Meera answered satirically.

It was Dev's 31st birthday tomorrow but for him, sleep was important.The clock struck 12 and Meera woke Dev up."Ae sleepy baby, wake up it's your birthday!" Meera spoke softly."No, we'll celebrate in the day, let me sleep now." Dev whined and pulled the duvet over him.Giggling, Meera pulled the duvet away and Dev turned to look at her sternly.He was rubbing his eyes when she bought a small cake and they cut it together.

"Birthday boy, close your eyes." Meera said as she rushed to the cupoboard."Why?" Dev asked persistently."Jaisa mein bolti hu waisa kyu nahi karte, bavlat." Meera urged him to close his eyes."If I close my eyes, I'll fall asleep again." Dev remarked but closed his eyes nevertheless."Are tumhara present dekh kar tumhari neend ud jayegi." Meera said as she arranged something in her hand and hid it behind her back.

"Ab aankhe kholo." Meera's voice was exuberant as she placed the Peppa Pig soft toy in his hands."Yeh mera present hai?" Dev asked incredulously."Are ruko na!" Meera tried to be patient but she was too excited herself.She brought up a file and placed it in Dev's hands."Happy Birthday Dad." read the cute note on the file.Dev was initially dumbfounded so he quickly opened the file to see a page that said Meera is pregnant.

"Whatt!!!?" Dev screamed.Meera covered her ears at the loud sound and gestured him to tone down."Are you really pregnant?" Dev held her by the shoulders as he sat on his knees."No the reports are lying." Meera giggled and Dev made a funny face."Bavlat, I'm really pregnant!" Meera said and Dev's face lit up like a thousand candles burning together."Oh my God Meera!!!! I can't tell you, oh my god this is the best birthday gift ever!" Dev spoke overwhelmingly as he kissed Meera's face.

"Dont act like a chimpanzee Dev!" Meera laughed as Dev ran around the house shouting happily."How many days has it been since you found out?" Dev questioned as he finally sat down on the bed."3 weeks" Meera smiled."You remember I wasn't well a few weeks back? I went to the gynaec as I was doubting that I had conceived and she confirmed." Meera explained."Damn!" Dev looked amazed.

The next thing, they called Ruturaj and Netra."Bhai, parenting tips de mujhe." Dev demanded."Tujhe kyu chahiye parenting tips?" Ruturaj asked, puzzled."Kyu ki Rugved is going to get a new friend!" Meera spoke on the phone enthusiastically and Ruturaj cheered from the other side."Netra, come quick! You have to listen to this!" Ruturaj addressed his wife."What happened Rutu?" Netra asked."Meera is pregnant!" Ruturaj announced excitedly and Netra gasped."Omg Meera! Great news! How many weeks are you along?" Netra said all of it in one go."Just 3 weeks." Meera replied."Bro take care, don't stress and eat good food!" Ruturaj advised.

"Honestly Rugved is going to be so happy!" Netra exclaimed."Hai na!" Dev agreed."Bro chal mein phone rakhta hu ab, I can hear Rugved crying." Dev said and Ruturaj congratulated them once again before ending the conversation.

The next day, they were at Dev's parents house for his birthday celebration."Amma, Meera is glowing, dekho jara, alag hi radiance hai." Chandni said as she hugged Meera."Ye toh Dev ke pyaar ki vaje se hai!" Meera replied and they laughed.At lunch, Dev made the announcement."Ladies and gentlemen, I've an announcement to make." All eyes turned to him."That you're a certified idiot?" Chandni joked and everyone except Dev laughed."Very funny Chandni" Dev made a sarcastic face.

"Ab mein bolu? Permission hai?" Dev asked Chandni with a funny smile."Yeah so, tayyari start kijiye because Meera is pregnant!" Dev announced and there were happy gasps from Chandni and his parents."Oh my God Meera! I'm so happy for you!" Chandni got up and hugged Meera, kissing her cheek.Meera's cheeks flushed pink seeing all the love she was getting.

"Congratulations Meera! This is such a great news! Have you informed your mum and dad?" Dev's mother asked as she hugged Meera.Meera had that at the back of her mind so Dev immediately video called his in laws.

"Hello Aai Baba!" Dev greeted them."We have an announcement to make!" Meera joined in excitedly."Tumhi ajji ajoba honar ahat!" (you're going to be grandparents) Meera exclaimed and jubilant cheers erupted from the other side.

"This is such a happy news! We'll come to Bangalore soon!" Meera's father spoke jovially as he watched Meera with tears in his eyes."I cant believe my Manu is going to become a mother soon!" Meera's mother started crying.

Dev's mother performed the 'najar utarna' ritual while Dev stared at his wife lovingly.She had made him the happiest man on the Earth.

In the car, Meera demanded Dev to get her icecream."Are par sugar level ka kya?" Dev tried to get on her nerves."Are yaar Dev!" Meera tried to reason."Tum to medical profession mein ho na? You should know better." Dev tried to not laugh seeing her face."Okay go to hell, I'm not talking to you ever. Baby and Mumma are angry!" Meera turned her face to the window."I was waiting for you to make this face. You look very very cute. Ab bolo kaunsa flavour chahiye?" Dev stopped at a Baskin N' Robins store.Meera's face held the brightest smile "Cookie and Cream!"Dev kissed her cheek and stepped out of the car.

"Mumma and baby are both happy, they love Dadda." Meera said as she finished her icecream."Dadda loves them more!" Dev smiled."Mee I can't believe someone will call me Dad! Omg I love you so much!" Dev gushed like crazy."I love you too! And now our baby loves you too!" Meera said as she placed a hand on her belly.

Meera's pregnancy came with its own highs and lows.Dev had to bear it all but he'd never complain. He would try harder to make her happy every minute of the day.Like the day when Dev had scored a century against Australia and dedicated it to his wife and baby.

Another day he would remember is when him and Meera had a small argument on which song will their baby respond to.She was in her 7th month of pregnancy and the baby kicked her relentlessly.Meera had played a Marathi song and Dev played a Malayali song. To her surprise, the baby responded to Dev.

And finally on 25th February, after rigourous hours of labour, their child was born.It was a girl!The baby had troubled Meera for it took 10 hours of labour.Dev was visibly tensed until the nurse handed him their daughter. The joy was inexpressible.Thousands of emotions were running through his mind but the most prominent was love.

Dev fell in love with their daughter at the first sight. He kissed her forehead gently and then handed her over to the nurse for further examinations.

Meera was visibly drained so Dev went and sat besides her.He kissed her hand and then her cheek."You did it Mee! My brave girl." Dev caressed her head."For a moment I was going to give up but then I thought about you and our monkey.""Aww we love you!" Dev responded by interlacing their fingers.

All their friends visited Meera and the baby in the hospital.Dev would rarely leave the room until he was practically pushed out so he could freshen up.Ruturaj and Netra also visited and they were in complete awe."Mere Rugved ko girlfriend mil gayi!" Ruturaj had joked and all of them laughed.

The naming ceremony happened 2 months later.The whole family was dressed up in new clothes and the ambience was amazing.Everyone looked as Meera, dressed in a purple saree complementing her skin tone, walked to the cradle with their daughter in her arms.

According to Marathi tradition, it is the father's sister who names the child.The name is whispered in the child's ear and then announced to everyone.Hence, Chandni performed her duties happily as she whispered the name in the baby's ear."Maithili!" announced Chandni and everyone clapped.Dev put an arm around Meera's shoulders and both of them smiled at each other lovingly overlooking Maithili.

The photographer asked Dev and Meera to pose with Maithili for a family photo and Dev also held the Peppa Pig soft toy in his hand.Seeing the Peppa Pig, Meera was reminded of their journey and she couldn't feel anymore content.

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