The whole family crowded around the doctor, breathless with anticipation.
Suhani: "Doctor, just tell us—is it a boy or a girl?"
Everyone's eyes turned to the doctor. He smiled warmly.
Doctor: "It's a girl."
The room erupted in joy. Everyone jumped, clapped, hugged one another. Suhani spun around, dancing as if she had won a jackpot. Laughter and congratulations filled the air.
Vikram, however, was too overwhelmed to stand. He sank onto the couch, his chest swelling with emotions he could no longer contain. His eyes brimmed with tears.
Dadi walked up to him quietly. She knew exactly what he was feeling—the joy, the relief, the gratitude. She placed her hand on his head.
Without hesitation, Vikram hugged her tightly, letting his tears flow.
Dadaji joined them, eyes moist as well. He sat beside Vikram and spoke gently:
Dadaji: "Enough now, son. Stop crying. You've become a father today. Smile."
Dadi: "Yes, Vikram. From now on, no more tears. Only happiness."
Wiping his eyes, Vikram nodded, finally smiling through the haze of emotion.
Just then, Prithvi stepped forward, his voice full of excitement.
Prithvi: "Congratulations, Bhai! Now that you've become a father, I've decided something—I'm retiring from business and moving back into the Suryavanshi Mansion."
Vikram smiled.
Vikram: "Good. But since you're officially an uncle now, I have a gift for you. From tomorrow, you're joining the Suryavanshi Company."
Prithvi: "No, Bhaiya, please!"
Dadaji: "You must learn responsibility, Prithvi. What will people say otherwise? That the baby's uncle is irresponsible?"
Prithvi: "Alright… but not from tomorrow. From next month. For now, I just want to spend time with the baby."
Vikram teased him.
Vikram: "But didn't you always want a baby boy?"
Prithvi: "No way. One Vikram in my life is more than enough—I couldn't survive another mini-Vikram."
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Dadaji and Dadi smiled fondly.
Suhani: "Jiju! Team Pink has won!"
Vikram knelt down and hugged her back.
Vikram: "Yes, Suhani… we won."
From the corner, Tara's mother grew emotional.
Tara's Mom: "If only Tara's father were alive today… he would've gone mad with joy."
Dadi held her hand in comfort.
Just then, a nurse entered.
Nurse: "You may meet the baby and the mother now."
The family rushed toward the room so eagerly that Vikram himself was nearly pushed aside. Everyone gathered around Tara, cooing over the baby, showering love and questions.
At last, Vikram stepped inside quietly. Tara looked up, weak but smiling faintly. He smiled back, eyes wet with gratitude.
Suhani grabbed his hand and led him to the crib.
Suhani: "Look, isn't she beautiful? But… what should we name her?"
Vikram gazed at the tiny bundle and whispered,
Vikram: "Ruhi."
The whole room fell silent for a moment. Dadi's eyes softened.
Dadi: "Yes. Ruhi is the perfect name."
Dadaji nodded firmly.
Dadaji: "Ruhi it is."
Suhani clapped her hands.
Suhani: "It's beautiful. Absolutely perfect."
Everyone spent precious time with Tara and the baby until the nurse requested rest for the mother. Reluctantly, they left—everyone except Vikram.
He walked over, kissed Tara's forehead, and whispered,
Vikram: "Are you alright?"
Tara: "Yes… are you happy?"
Vikram: "More than ever. Tara, no matter how much you dislike this date… for me, the 8th of December will always be the best day of my life. Last year, it gave me you. This year, it gave me Ruhi."
Tara's lips curved into a small smile.
Tara: "I'm happy too, Vikram."
Vikram: "So, no need to change our anniversary date, right?"
Tara: "Looks like not anymore."
He stroked her hair tenderly.
Vikram: "You had me so worried. But now… you and Ruhi are safe, and that's all I could ask for. She's so beautiful."
Tara: "Beautiful, yes. But unfair too—I carried her for nine months, endured all the pain… and she still looks just like you!"
Vikram chuckled.
Vikram: "That's one thing I can't help."
Tara: "Mr. Suryavanshi… last year on this very date, I was crying so much."
Before he could answer, Ruhi let out a tiny cry. Both of them burst into laughter.
Vikram held Tara's hand tightly.
Vikram: "I love you. Thank you for giving me the most beautiful anniversary gift."
Tara: "And what are you giving me as a gift?"
He teased,
Vikram: "I'm thinking… maybe we should plan for Ruhi's little brother or sister soon."
Tara: "Don't even think about it, Mr. Suryavanshi. Or I'll be very, very angry."
Vikram: "Don't worry, Mrs. Suryavanshi. I'll convince you."
Her expression softened.
Tara: "I miss Papa today…"
Vikram's voice turned gentle.
Vikram: "Miss him, Tara. He'll always be your first love. I'll settle for second."
Tara: "Just as your mother is your first love, and I'm second."
He chuckled.
Vikram: "True. But now I wonder… are you really my second love? Or has Ruhi already stolen this place?"
Tara: "Exactly. Ruhi has taken my place—and I couldn't be happier."
Vikram kissed her hand softly.
Vikram: "Even after Ruhi, I love you the most."
Tara: "We'll see. Ruhi is already a daddy's girl. Not only does she look like you, she even changed this painful date into a happy one. From now on, I won't fight with you on our anniversary."
Vikram smiled.
Vikram: "Rest now. I'm right here."
Tara's eyelids grew heavy.
Tara: "Last year, on this day, you thought you'd be a father soon…"
Vikram: "Of course. That's why I married you—with every ritual, every promise."
Tara: "Mr. Suryavanshi, you really are the best businessman…"
He kissed her forehead, then Ruhi's.
Vikram: "Yes. And this time, I've cracked the deal of my life—happiness. A permanent contract, sealed by destiny itself. Thank you, Tara."
---
The Next Day
Ruhi's cries echoed in the hospital room.
Suhani: "Why does she cry so much?"
Dadi laughed.
Dadi: "Because she's trying to say something… but you don't understand."
Suhani: "What is she saying?"
Dadi: "That she's hungry."
The family chuckled, but their laughter was interrupted by Prithvi, who entered grinning, phone in hand.
Prithvi: "You all need to see this."
He showed them a video—Tara, during labor, clutching Vikram's hair with all her strength as he tried to guide her inside. The video had gone viral.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Vikram stared in disbelief.
"Great. I'm trending as the husband beaten by his wife during labor…"
Slipping out of the room, he called his PR team.
Vikram: "Delete that video from every platform immediately."
Laughter echoed on the other end.
Vikram: "I don't pay you to laugh. Delete it or you're all fired."
One of the women on the team replied gently,
PR Executive: "Sir, we were about to. But have you seen the comments? Everyone is calling you the best husband, the dream husband. It's a positive image."
Vikram: "Really?"
PR Executive: "Yes, sir. Do you still want us to remove it?"
Vikram chuckled.
Vikram: "No. Let it stay."
Back in the room, Prithvi smirked.
Prithvi: "Dadi, do you know why I was always jealous of Bhaiya? Because whenever he stood in front of someone, they would tremble in fear. And now look at him… trending because his wife pulled his hair."
Vikram grinned.
Vikram: "You should've read the comments, Prithvi. They're calling me the best husband… even the dream husband."
Tara: "Best husband is fine, but dream husband? Why dream?"
Vikram laughed.
Vikram: "I don't know."
And just like that, Vikram Suryavanshi became the nation's "Best Husband"—adored by wives everywhere, envied by husbands everywhere else.
But none of that mattered to him. His world was here—Tara and Ruhi, finally home. The Suryavanshi Mansion was filled with joy, laughter, and endless visitors eager to play with Ruhi. Even the household staff abandoned their duties to spend time with her. Suhani and Tara's mother stayed on at the mansion, and the entire family was wrapped in celebration.
For Vikram, life's greatest contract was now permanent—sealed with love, laughter, and a tiny heartbeat named Ruhi.