1 Chapter 1

Marriages are made in heaven. This is what we keep hearing. Marriage isn't just a ring worn on a finger, or a signed piece of paper. It is not something endured, but something sweetly savored. It is the union of two hearts beating as one, is that would sacrifice for others happiness and well-being. It's a union of Two Souls which will smile and Cry Together. It's a union of two bodies which will live for Each Other, forever in love and care.

I was standing with Ava, my wife, in our bedroom. She was all set to leave for the banquet hall, holding a bouquet of red roses in her hand. She was dressed in a long white gown. She was looking as beautiful as ever.

I loved her lips and complimented her. Today when they are glowing with wine colour lipstick, I could not take my eyes away from them. Ava sat in front of the dressing mirror.

Standing behind her, I looked at her with a smile on my face. Her deep thinking eyes were looking gorgeous with perfectly aligned eyeliner. With the fine makeup and hair do, she looked ravishing.

The sound of guests laughing and chatting outside our room was not distracting me that day. I was lost in her beauty which I would miss forever in a few hours. But I am happy today.

"Ash, I'm sorry for leaving you today. You know that I will miss you forever. I know you are hoping that I would stay, but it's just impossible. We started Our Love Story when we were children, and today, I need you to move on, and that too for your love. You were always with me when I needed you, and today, when I'm taking a new path in my life, I will not say that I will miss you because we only miss someone whom we forget. You are a part of my soul, my breath, and my life and I will always love you, until my last breath."

I could feel her pain. I could see tears rolling down her cheeks, but that day I could not stop her from crying, because I was happy. It was her wedding day. She kept looking at the mirror, while I stood behind her, watching her.

I wanted to shout but no one wanted to hear my voice. I wanted to come back but it was too late. I wanted to hug her again but she was no longer mine. Because it was her wedding day - ' .

She stood holding her gown and turned towards me. She looked beautiful as never before and I wanted to hold her and never let her go. But instead, I took Two Steps back and went to the balcony to let my soul cry.

-------------------------------------

-------------------------------------

,

It was 6 in the morning, I was still sleeping, lost in my dreams, when the alarm clock started ringing. Without opening my eyes, I moved my hand to turn it off and put the blanket to cover my face. Winters in Seoul are chilly, and waking up early has always been tough for me. I tried to move my left hand to the side and hug Ava. But she was not there. I could hear her in the washroom. Laziness kept me buried in the bed, and as I moved my hand back, I felt something cold. The mattress on my side was wet. I immediately woke up and stood up to call out to her. "Ava! Ava! What is this? Why is the bed wet?"

Within no time, Ava opened the door of the washroom with her charming smile.

"What happened bun? It's just the glass of water that slipped from my hand." She replied, smiling and fresh. I placed my hand on my face and buried myself in bed again. She usually looked stunning in the morning, but that day, she looked different. She had tied up her hair and had oiled it. She seemed quite busy. The warm light in a green bedroom always made her seem out of the world.

She walked over to my side of the bed with a dazzling smile, and ran her soft hands over my forehead, kissing it softly. She then turned to move away, but I took hold of her hand, pulling her towards me. I always loved her in that white T shirt. "Stop, Ash! I need to do something urgently. Get up and get ready for office."

Disheartened, I let her go towards the kitchen. I did call out to her, "I love you, princess." Yes, I used to call her princess since we were in class 10th.

"I love you too, bunny," she replied from the kitchen, her nickname for me since our school days. But let me be clear, I am not at all like a bunny. I am approximately 6 feet in height with the perfect physique and clean shaven.

I was always crazy about her smile. I had first met her at our school in Busan when we were in our 10th class. It was my first day at school, and when I saw her smiling, she won over my heart. It was love at first sight for me, but not for her. She took 7 long years to say yes.

I removed the blanket and tried to step down from the bed, but the floor was a total mess. A bottle of moisturizer, a tube of a cream, and a comb - everything was on the floor. I was confused about how all that stuff came to be there. I have known Ava for the last nine years, and she is a neat person. How were the things lying on the floor? Was she mad at me? But she never did this, even when she was mad at me. First I thought I would ask her, but then changed my mind and picked up all the stuff and put it back.

In no time I was back in the bedroom, dressing up for office. I could hear her singing in a low voice.

" ?..."

I smiled as I listened to her and went towards her with slow steps. She was facing the kitchen platform. I held her from the back with my hands on her waist. I love her in her pyjamas and top she went to bed at night. She smiled and stopped singing. I kissed her softly on her left cheek. She smiled and replied, "What happened Ash ? You don't want to go to office today?"

"You said, ?... so I thought let me help you with it," I replied, smirking.

"Don't try to act over smart, " she replied turning towards me, with a spoon in her hand. I was approximately 6 feet tall and she was 5 feet and 3 inch, so when she stood close to me, she usually got buried in my chest. I kissed her on her head.

"Your breakfast is on the dining table. Go and have it, fast! If you get late, you will get stuck in jam." Ava replied, pushing me out of the kitchen. I took a seat at the table. She put a bowl of something in front of me.

"Ava, what is this ? It tastes like milk," I asked her as it was something different. It was sweet and smelled good. I took another spoon of it when Ava came out of the kitchen and stood at the door, smiling at me.

"What? Why are you smiling? Tell me what is this?" She kept smiling, sat down next to me and then asked, "Who can get your bed wet? Who will make your room Messy? Who will eat this milk dish?"

She again started smiling. Hearing her, I stopped eating, my mind started running at gigahertz speed. I put my spoon back into the bowl and took two to three spoonsful, one after the other, and then replied anxiously, jumping from my seat, "This is baby food! Yes.... this is baby food. A baby will get my bed wet. A baby will make my room Messy. You're pregnant???!! I am going to be a father. Am I correct ?? Answer me Ava!!"

I shouted in happiness and stood up from my chair to hug her. Ava was smiling with tears of joy in her eyes. She nodded softly, and I hugged her again. I took her in my arms and leaned my face down towards her to kiss her. She kissed me back. I was really excited, but she looked calm.

She let me sit back on the chair, and she stood in front of me, smiling and ran her fingers through my hair. "You know Ash, I came to know yesterday, and since then, I have been wondering how to surprise you. This is one of the most significant gifts God has given to both of us. Aur 9 years of love will be in front of us in the form of a baby. I am feeling complete today, and it's all because of you. I love you and I would only like to ask you something."

I nodded and she continued, "When the baby will keep you up the whole night, will you still love me the same way? I mean not work as fast, will you slow down for me? Will you mind driving your car slowly for the next nine months? I'll not get time for myself and may look ugly and untidy. Will you still love me? I may not get time to cook for you. Will you still love me the same? Our home will be a mess and you might get disturbed by the crying but will you still love me the same way? I will be vomiting for the next three months, will you still be by my side?

Before she could ask me for other questions. I placed my finger on her lips and made her sit. I went down on my knees and put my head on her lap like a baby and replied, "I know this lap will be booked after a few months but I will be the one enjoying it the most. I know you will vomit and I need to help you out but I would be the one cherishing it the most. I know he or she will keep me awake and I need to make him or her sleep in my arms but I would be the one enjoying it the most, seeing the tiny Smiles in his dreams. I know the baby will be your priority but I will be the one enjoying my love growing. I started liking you when you were a kid, I loved you when you got older and will love you till my last breath."

I completed my answer and went silent. She placed her head on mine and we both smiled. Being in love was not only about us. It's a story from 'us' to 'we', and the day you feel the smile on every "we', your life is a success. We both understood the concept of life and agreed to become 'we'.

"Can you come early today? We can meet our gynecologist, Dr. Min in the hospital," Ava questioned.

I stood up and replied adjusting my shirt, "Definitely Princess, I will. You please take care now."

I took my laptop and started moving towards the door, when she asked softly, "Ash, please do not tell our parents and relatives yet. Let's be assured first."

She knew I was thrilled, and it would be tough for me to keep the news to myself, but I smiled and assured her, "I will not be telling anyone, promise."

She waved to me. I kissed her again and left.