Six Months Later
16 July 2017
2.00pm

Ms Raashi Raman Bhalla laughed in delight as she ran in front of her big sister, her shoes squeaking and lighting up with each toddling step she took. Her delighted laughter caught the attention of the man busy supervising the decorations being put up in the hall and he turned and stooped as the little girl came barreling straight at him.

"Paaaa" she screamed as she toddled into his open arms. "Didi ... tatch."

Raman Bhalla gathered his princess to his heart and then picked her up, covering her face in kisses as he did. Raashi giggled in delight and he hugged her close, marveling anew at the little miracle that he held.

"Kya kiya didi ne?" (What did didi do?) He smiled at his older daughter as she too reached him, and put out a hand to gather her close to him as well. His Ruhi had grown so much, but she was also still papa's little princess, just as Raashi would always be.

"Raashi is so naughty papa" Ruhi complained with a pout as she scowled at her little sister, who had taken safe refuge in their fathers arms and was still shrieking with delight as she looked down on her sister. "I was doing my homework and she grabbed my coloring pens and then she ran."

"But she doesn't have it with her beta" Raman checked his baby's clenched fists and she shrieked again. "Diiiiii " She crowed down at her sister.

"I have it here Ruhi darling. Yeh Raashi shaitaan ne gira diya tha." (This little devil Raashi dropped it)  Unbeknownst to them, Ishita had come up behind the trio and she held out two coloured pens to her older daughter.

"Mee" Raashi screamed as she grabbed at the pens, only her fathers strong arms holding her back.

"See papa" Ruhi complained, before turning to her mother. "She's so naughty mumma. And papa never says anything to her."

"I know beta. Papa never says anything to his princesses. Just like he didn't say anything last week when someone dropped ink on Adi bhaiyaas guitar. Hmm?" Ishita gave a meaningful look to her older daughter as she pulled her into her arms for a hug, before turning around to glare at her husband.

"I said sorry" Ruhi had the grace to blush, before wriggling out of her mother's arms. "And I didn't mean to. And you gave me time out too. And bhaiya said it's okay. I have to go complete my homework mumma." She grabbed the pens from her mother and ran off, leaving her parents alone with their younger princess.

"Honestly Raman" Ishita continued to glare at her grinning husband. "These two girls have you wound around their little fingers. This Raashi ki bacchi is getting naughtier by the day and you just won't discipline her. Kyun karte ho aisa?" (Why do you act like this?)

"Calm down madrassan" Raman shifted his daughter in his arms, adding another kiss to her cheeks and then watching with infinite love in his eyes as she burrowed further into his chest, her head sinking on his shoulder. "Aaj koi meri beti ko kuch nahi kahega. Aaj meri Princess ki janam din hai aur woh jo bhi chahti hai kar sakti hai" (Nobody will say anything to my daughter today. It's my princess's birthday and she can do whatever she likes.)

Ishita shook her head in mock exasperation, her own eyes shining as she reached out to caress her daughters head.

"Raashi betu. No naughty please. Or else mumma will have to put you in the naughty corner."

Raashi lifted her head from her papa's chest at the feel of her mother's touch.

"Ma" she said sweetly, stretching her hands towards her mother.

Ishita melted and grabbed her daughter from her husband, cuddling her close to her heart and glaring at her husband as he laughed openly at her.

"Badi aayi discipline karne wali" (And you think you can discipline her ) he said between laughs. "You're as bad as I am madrassan."

Ishita grinned sheepishly at her husband as her daughter yawned and closed her eyes.

"We can't spoil them like this Raman. Both Raashi and Ishaan are getting so naughty. Ab dekho yeh badmaash sona chah rahi hai. Abhi jab mein koshish kar rahi thi sulano ko, toh bhaag gayi thi Ruhi ko tang karne ke liye." (Now see, this little terror is sleepy. When I was trying to get her to take a nap, she ran away and went to bother Ruhi)

"Go and put her to bed." Raman leaned over and kissed his daughters head, then glancing around at the men busily engrossed in putting up decorations, added one for good measure on his wife's lips. "Is Ishaan sleeping?"

"Raman" Ishita looked around self consciously. "Kya kar rahe ho? Kya kahenge log?" (Raman, what are you doing? What will people say?)

"Kya kahenge? Apni biwi hai, padosi ki nahi. Besides, aaj bacho ka janam din hai. Aise hi toh nahi aa gaye na yeh dono? Mummy aur papa ko bhi kuch karna padta hai. Toh ek kiss se kya problem hai?" (What will they say? You're my wife, not the neighbors. Besides, it's the babies birthday today. And the babies didn't get her just by themselves did they? Mummy and papa had to do something as well. So what's the problem with one kiss?)

Ishita blushed again. "Bas. Hogaya?" She asked her husband as she moved away with their sleepy daughter. "And yes, Ishaan is sleeping. Ab aap bina koi interruption ke yeh decorations complete kijiye aur mein is choti Raavan ko apne bete ke paas sulati hoon." (Enough? And yes, Ishaan is sleeping. Now you complete your decorations without any interruptions while I take this little devil to sleep next to my son)

And so saying she moved away with her precious bundle as her husband stood staring adoringly after her.

******************************
7.00pm

Raman Bhalla, his lithe form encased in a well cut black Armani suit, a royal blue silk tie setting off his crisp white shirt, came rushing into his bedroom where his wife and babies were getting dressed.

"Kya madrassan. All the guests are downstairs and children are crying out for cake. Why is it taking you so long?" His voice died down as he stepped into the room, the sight before him taking away his breath, and making him laugh at the same time.

His wife was sitting on their bed, dressed in a beautiful royal blue silk sari, with a matching blouse. Around her neck was a single strand of  pure white south sea pearls, which he had gifted her six months ago, when he had re-discovered his life after his injury and amnesia. Her face was lightly made up, her hair silky straight down her shoulders. And bouncing on her lap was their son, his junior Rajnikanth, dressed in a white kurta, and a royal blue veshti that matched his mother's sari. His face was squeaky clean and bright, his unruly curly hair smoothed down, his rosebud pink lips wide open as he stared at his twin.

Ms Raashi Raman Bhalla was standing in front of her mother and her brother, her curly hair adorned with a royal blue ribbon that matched their outfits, and a strand of white beads, mimicking her mother's pearls, around her neck. And the only other garment she was wearing was a diaper. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at her mother and twin brother, the royal blue pattu pavaddai her mother had been trying to get her to wear discarded at her feet.

"Noooo" she was screaming at her mother, as her father walked in and sat beside his wife, chucking his son under his chin.

"My champ looks like a real Rajnikanth tonight" he grinned at his son and wife, before turning his gaze to his daughter. "But what happened to my princess?"

"Honestly Raman, I'm at my wits end. I know it's late but what can I do? Raashi just won't wear her pattu pavadai. Ive tried but she just takes it off." Ishita looked at her husband in resignation, and he chuckled.

"Don't worry madrassan. Papa will make everything right."

He held out a hand to his scowling daughter.

"Raashi, come here princess. Papa ko batao, kya baat hai?" (Tell papa, what's the matter?)

Raashi, who had become even more attached to and possessive about her father since his recovery, and who could make her mother cry in frustration, but melted at the sound of her father's voice, immediately moved into his arms.

"No papa" she pointed to the discarded pattu as Raman picked her up and cuddled her close.

"But it's so pretty beta. And it's just like Mumma and bhaiya and papa's outfit. Look." He turned his baby around to show her her mother and brothers outfits and then pointed to his own tie. "Same same. See darling?"

"No' insisted his stubborn daughter, glaring at her laughing twin. "No paa."

"Toh phir kya pehenna hai meri princess ko? (Then what does my princess want to wear?) Because we have a party to go to and cake to eat, right? It's Raashi and Ishaan's birthday today."

Raman got up off the bed and carried his daughter over to the connecting door which led to the nursery, ignoring his wife's worried protests. "It's okay madrassan" he said soothingly over his shoulder to Ishita as he walked over to the twins walk in closet. Ishita had followed him in, Ishaan in her arms, and she entered the closet after him as father and daughter stood staring at the tidy collection of the twins clothing.

"But Raman, everything else is color coordinated, and we bought her outfit specially for the party. And all the trouble amma went to when we couldn't get the right color in Delhi. She sent it over from Chennai and I promised her Raashi would wear it. Ruhi is wearing a matching one too and..."

"It's okay jaan, don't stress" Raman put his free hand towards his wife, pulling her and their son close. "Let's just get her dressed and go down. Amma will understand. It's more important that Raashi is happy then that the photos look perfect, hmm?" He smiled reassuringly at his wife and then turned his attention back to his daughter.

"Now darling, kya pehenna hai, papa ko batao." (Now darling, what do you want to wear, tell papa) He looked at Raashi seriously as he separated the hangers on the rack. "This.. or this... or this?" Raashi turned an equally serious gaze to her papa before turning to look at the clothes. She shook her head violently at each choice, giggling as her mother sighed in despair, until her father touched a short dress. It had a white cotton bodice with a short black taffeta skirt and Raashi crowed in delight as Raman took it off the hanger. "Diss' she giggled, including her mother in her smile. "Like paa"

Raman looked down at his own black trousers and white shirt and chuckled even as his wife looked on in despair.

"Raman, it's black, it doesn't match." Ishita was almost in tears as she followed Raman and Raashi back out of the closet, watching as her husband quickly zipped their daughter into the dress.

"I told you not to worry jaan" her unperturbed husband said soothingly as he carried their daughter back into their bedroom. He put Raashi down on their bed, stooping to pick up the royal blue dupatta that his headstrong little miss had thrown on the floor along with the rest of her outfit. "Tie Raashi. Just like papa" he told his daughter, who meekly allowed him to tie the dupatta around her waist like a sash.

"Now, let's see" Raman smoothed his baby's curls, straightening her blue ribbon and beads and then stood back to watch her critically. "Doesn't she look beautiful mumma?" He demanded of his wife as she came to stand by him, trying to hold back her squirming son as he made a grab at his twin.

"Yes" Ishita had to admit as she smiled at her daughter. "She looks just like papa"

"Then she's even prettier than mumma" her irrepressible husband grinned as he picked up his daughter, kissing her swiftly on one cheek, before doing the same to his son and wife. "Now let's get this party started."

******************************
30 Minutes Later

The cake had been cut and the birthday song had been sung. And the twins were now busy smearing their faces with cream and cake, supervised by their didi and bhaiya, who had cake all over their clothes as they tried to rein in Raashi and Ishaan's antics. Their cousins and friends were equally busy, with more cake being smashed and smeared then actually being eaten by the junior guests.

Ishita shook her head in horror as she stared at her children, her attempts to go over and stop them thwarted by her chuckling husband, who held his wife's hand firmly in his.

'But Raman, they are making such a mess'

"Let it be jaan. It's their birthday. The cleaners can deal with everything tomorrow."

"But Raman..."

"Shhh...relax."

Her husband squeezed her hand again and tucked an errant curl behind her ear with his free hand. "It's just for one day" he murmured. 'Everything can be cleared up, and they can go back to their healthy diets tomorrow."

"What diet jiju? You mean for the babies?" Mihika and Rinki had come up behind them, and they both laughed out aloud at the horrified look on their sisters faces. The entire Bhalla and Iyer clan adored the twins and Ishita often despaired at just how headstrong the babies were getting to be, knowing that they had a posse of passionate defenders all around them.

"Miku, Rinki, you two are the worst when it comes to spoiling those two terrors" Ishita tired to keep her voice stern as she glared at her sisters.

"But akka, look how cute they are" Mihika turned on the video she had taken on her phone to send to Mrs Iyer, who had been unable to get away from Chennai, where she had gone to care for an ailing sister.

Both Ishita and Raman looked intently at the video, which was of the twins blowing out the candle on their cake. Or at least, that's what they were supposed to be doing. Instead, Raashi was trying to swat her brother away as he leaned down in their mother's arms, and both babies were sucking in air instead of blowing, as the single candle burnt merrily on their huge bunny cake. Ishaan had then decided he had had enough of his twins attacks and had made a grab at Raashi as their parents tried to hold both apart. And amid the laughter of their family and friends, Ruhi had come to the rescue and blown the candle out herself.

"Aren't they sweet bhabhi?" Rinki looked up misty eyed from the phone at her bhai and bhabhi. "And see how they are trying to sing Happy birthday"

The birthday song had been led by Adi with his guitar and over the singing of all the adults and children, Raashi and Ishaan's delighted screams could be heard as they clapped enthusiastically and tried to sing with the others.

Ishita's eyes misted over as she looked up from the screen at her husband, and she saw tears glistening in his eyes too. They may be spoilt and headstrong, but they were her two little miracles and she couldn't imagine life without them. She remembered the terror she had felt before their birth, the struggles with Raashi's colic, and then those dark six weeks when Raman had been injured and had lost his memory. Their little family had been through so much, and she couldn't help the tears that flowed as she nodded at her sister in law.

"Yes, they are sweet Rinki' she said quietly glancing over at where they were being fussed over by their big brother, as their big sister danced excitedly around them. "They are very sweet."

"Jaan?" Raman waved Rinki and Mihika away as he grabbed his sobbing wife's hand and pulled her into a corner of the room, away from the others. "What's the matter baby? Aise kyun ro rahi ho, huh?' (Why are you crying like this?)

His eyes searched her face anxiously and Ishita shook her head, wiping her tears as she smiled tremulously at her husband.

"I was just remembering... the day they were born. I was so scared Raman. And then when you....I thought we had lost you forever, that you wouldn't remember them. It was so difficult, I... I can't live without you and the children. Three years ago I had nothing Raman. And I didn't even know what was missing in my life. And now look. Those four children, they mean everything to me. Nothing else seems to matter any more. And you, you made it all happen. You've given me so much. It scares me sometimes. I just.... I love you so much."

"I love you too jaan" Raman pulled his wife into his arms and she snuggled against his chest, unmindful for the moment of the house full of guests, the noise and the bedlam around them. "But I haven't given you anything. I was lost Ishita, and you found me. You made my house into a home, you made us into a family. I know things haven't been easy my darling, but we've made it because of you. And there is no need to be scared. We will always be together baby."

Ishita lifted her head and looked into her husband's sincere eyes and knew that he was right.

"I love you" She whispered again, as he bent his head and captured her lips with his.

"Awwwww papa"

Ruhi's voice caused her parents to spring apart guiltily and they turned around to be faced with all four of their children looking at them curiously.

"Ammaaa" shrieked Ishaan, who was very possessive of his amma and never liked seeing his father touch or hold her. Ishaan jerked his hand out of his bhaiya's hand and held his arms up to his mother, while glaring at his father. "Amma" he repeated, his limited vocabulary frustrating him a little.

Ishita bent down to pick up her baby while her older son looked with concern at the mark of tears on her face. " Are you okay Ishima?"

"Yes darling, I'm fine" Ishita smiled at Adi, kissing his cheek before turning her attention to Ishaan who was clinging to her and had transferred much of the icing and cream from his face to hers. "Too much sugar baby" she chided her son, before looking at her husband. He also had a baby in his arms and he was also covered in cake and cream as his baby daughter planted sloppy kisses on his face.

Ruhi meanwhile was staring at both her parents severely. " Grown ups are so weird" she declared. "You two just kiss everywhere. Yuck. Yucky."

"Hello meri dadima Ruhi, I'll show you what's disgusting" And Raman grabbed his daughter and planted a few kisses on her while his wife laughed and Raashi protested.

And so the evening passed in laughter and kisses.

Hanste hanste kat jaye raste
Zindagi yoon hi chalti rahe
Khushi mile ya gham badlenge na hum
Duniya chaahe badalti rahe

Hanste hanste kat jaayein raste
Zindagi yoon hi chalti rahe
Khushi mile ya gham badlenge na hum
Duniya chaahe badalti rahe

Honthon se bijli chamke jab jab tu muskati hai
Saari haseenaon se hansi tu ho jaati hai
Teri inhee baaton se jaan mein jaan aati hai
Hanste hanste kat jaye raste
Zindagi yoon hi chalti rahe
Khushi mile ya gham badlenge na hum
Duniya chaahe badalti rahe

Chamka mera chehra samne jab tu aaya
Tujhe laga jo haseen woh hai tera hi saya
Teri isi adaa ne aashiq mujhe banaya
Hanste hanste kat jaye raste
Zindagi yoon hi chalti rahe
Khushi mile ya gham badlenge na hum
Duniya chaahe badalti rahe