1 YEAR LATER

Aarti's pov:

A year had passed since I joined Prayag Samriti Sang, and my journey had been nothing short of transformative. Today, I played the veena for renowned musical composers. My hands no longer trembled, and my heart swelled with pride as I performed, knowing how far I had come.

For the past week, I had been feeling strange. I had been constantly tired, light-headed, and vomiting. Something in my body felt off, and despite the presence of hospitals nearby, I decided to visit Daima. Her presence always comforted me, and I trusted her more than anyone when it came to matters of the heart.

I arrived at her home, a sense of uncertainty weighing on me. Daima welcomed me with her usual warm smile, but even she could sense my discomfort. I sat down beside her and began to explain everything I had been feeling. "Daima, mujhe ek hafta ho gaya hai, par main bilkul theek nahi hoon. Mein baar-baar bechain ho rahi hoon, thoda chakkar bhi aa raha hai, aur kabhi-kabhi mujhse khana bhi nahi khaya jaata..." I said softly, my voice betraying the confusion and worry I felt.
(Daima, it's been a week, but I'm not feeling well. I keep feeling dizzy, and sometimes, I can't even eat.)

She listened to me patiently, her face soft with concern. She took my hands in hers, as if trying to feel the change in my body. "Beta, kuch toh badla hai tumhare andar," Daima said thoughtfully.
(Child, something has changed within you.)

She paused for a moment, her gaze intense, and then she said something I least expected. "Aarti, aap peit se ho," she told me with a gentle yet knowing smile.
(Aarti, you're pregnant.)

The words hit me like a thunderbolt. My heart skipped a beat as the truth settled in. I had been waiting for this moment for so long, but now that it was finally here, I felt overwhelmed with a mix of emotions-joy, disbelief, and excitement.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized I was going to be a mother. After years of longing, this was the moment I had always hoped for. Daima's reassuring touch on my hand grounded me, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. "Tum ab maa banne wali ho, Aarti. Yeh ek nayi zindagi ka shubh aarambh hai," Daima said softly.
(You are going to be a mother, Aarti. This is the beginning of a new life.)

The news filled me with joy, but also anxiety. I couldn't help but wonder how I would balance my passion for the veena with the responsibilities of motherhood. How would I manage both? The thought of nurturing a child while pursuing my music seemed daunting.

Raghav's pov:

I returned home from school, eager to see Aarti, but something was off. She was unusually quiet, her brow furrowed with concern. After dinner, I noticed her looking lost in thought. "Aarti, tumhe kuch chahiye? Kyun pareshan ho?" I asked, my voice gentle.
(Aarti, is there anything you need? Why are you so worried?)

She didn't speak at first but then took my hand and placed it gently on her stomach. "Raghav ji... hum maa-baap banne wale hain," she whispered, her voice trembling.
(Raghav ji... We are going to be parents.)

My heart skipped a beat as those words sank in. The realization that we were about to become parents, together, felt like a dream. I couldn't contain the joy that surged within me, but I noticed the nervousness still lingering in her eyes. I pulled her into my arms, kissing her forehead gently.
"Main khush hoon, Aarti. Tumhe ab taunt nahi sunne padenge," I reassured her softly.
(I'm happy, Aarti. You won't have to bear the taunts anymore.)

I couldn't hold back the painful memories of what we had gone through. I remembered the cruel words the villagers had spoken when we went to our village last week for a marriage . They had called Aarti inauspicious, telling her she should stay away, because she had no child.

The villagers had cruelly questioned Aarti's worth, calling her inauspicious because we didn't have a child. Some even suggested that I should take another wife. The anger surged within me, but holding Aarti now, feeling the warmth of the life growing inside her, made me more determined to protect her from their cruelty.

The anger still burned inside me. "Woh jo keh rahe the... unki baatein mujhe bahut gussa dilati hain. Main unse keh chuka hoon, koi bhi meri biwi ke baare mein kuch nahi bolega. Agar aarti wahan nahi chahiye, toh main bhi wahan nahi rahunga," I said, my voice filled with rage. What they said... it makes me furious. I have already told them, no one will speak against my wife. If she is not welcome there, I won't be either.

As Aarti expressed her worries about whether she should leave her veena for the child, I gently held her hands. "Aarti, tumhare sapne kabhi nahi chhodne chahiye. Hum dono apne bachche aur tumhare sapnon ko sambhalenge," I said, comforting her.
(Aarti, you should never give up on your dreams. We will balance both the child and your dreams together.)

I kissed her forehead, smiling softly. "Tum kabhi apne sapnon ko chhodne wale nahi ho, Aarti. Main tumhare saath hoon, hum dono milke sab kuch karenge," I promised her.
(You'll never have to let go of your dreams, Aarti. I am with you, and together, we will do everything.)

Aarti's gaze lowered, her worry still evident. She took a deep breath before speaking again, her voice soft and filled with uncertainty. "Raghav ji... main maa banne wali hoon, lekin mujhse bahut saare sawaal hain... Veena ke saath apne maa banne ki zindagi ko kaise sambhalunga?" she asked, her voice filled with doubt.
(Raghav ji... I'm going to be a mother, but I have so many questions... How will I balance my life as a mother with my music?)

I gently cupped her face in my hands, lifting her chin so that her eyes met mine. "Aarti, tumhara sapna kabhi nahi rukega, yeh main tumse wada karta hoon," I said with conviction. (Aarti, your dream will never stop, I promise you that.)

She shook her head slowly, looking uncertain. "Mujhe darr hai ki main apne bachche ke saath thik se waqt nahi de paungi she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
(I'm afraid that I won't be able to give enough time to my child. )

I pulled her into my arms, holding her close, feeling the little one growing inside her. "Aarti, tum dono ko main sambhalunga. Tumhara gaani aur humara bachcha, dono ek saath chalenge. Tumhare sapne kabhi band nahi honge, aur main hamesha tumhare saath hoon," I assured her softly, my voice filled with love.
(Aarti, I will take care of both of you. Your music and our child will go hand in hand. Your dreams will never be put on hold, and I will always be by your side.)

She rested her head on my chest, her worries starting to fade. "Raghav ji... main kitni khush hoon yeh soch kar ki main maa banne wali hoon," she whispered, her voice full of joy. (Raghav ji... How happy I am thinking that I am going to be a mother.)

I smiled, feeling my heart swell with joy at the thought. But then, she spoke again, and my heart clenched as I listened to her. "Kabhi socha tha ki main maa nahi ban paungi. Har baar jab log mere baare mein baat karte the, toh mere dil mein ek kami si mehsoos hoti thi," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
(I never thought I would be able to become a mother. Every time people spoke about me, I felt this emptiness in my heart.)

I tightened my embrace around her, my heart aching at the thought of how much she had suffered. "Aarti... tumne kabhi bhi is baat ko apne andar nahi samjhaya. Tumhare andar ek maa ka pyaar tha, jo sabse zyada zaroori tha. Ab tumhare sapne sach ho rahe hain, aur main hamesha tumhare saath hoon," I said, my voice low and soothing.
(Aarti... you never understood that you had the love of a mother within you all along, and that's what mattered the most. Now your dreams are coming true, and I will always be with you.)

She looked up at me, tears glistening in her eyes. "Main apni khushi ko shabdon mein nahi bayan kar sakti, Raghav ji... lekin tumhare saath, sab kuch mumkin lagta hai," she whispered.
(I can't put my happiness into words, Raghav ji... but with you, everything feels possible.)

"I promise you, Aarti, we will make it work. Our love will only grow stronger, and we will be great parents. The music will still flow, and our family will grow. No matter what happens, we're in this together," I said, my heart swelling with love for her and the life we were about to bring into this world.

As I held her close, I knew in that moment that becoming a father was the most beautiful thing that had ever happened to me. Our journey was just beginning, and I was ready to face whatever came next-together.

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