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With a resigned sigh, I sit down, letting them fuss over the food.

“How’s Avika?” I ask Devika, looking around for her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who I haven’t seen yet.

“She’s sleeping peacefully. Although I’m going to wake her up now for her meals.”

“It’s going to be so much fun when she meets her little brother Veer,” Meher chimes.

“I know. I can’t wait for that either,” Devika continues, her face lighting up. “Let the kids rest tonight. But Vishnu, Meher and I are taking over tomorrow. Veer is ours for the whole day.”

“He’s all yours,” I nod.

Meher grins. “Avika is going to be over the moon meeting her younger cousin. Finally, she’ll have a playmate.”

Devika laughs. “It’s about time. Aksh won’t even let her have playdates outside the mansion. He’s that protective.”

“And he’s absolutely right,” I find myself saying, surprising myself with how naturally the protective fatherly instinct has kicked in. “Now that I’m a father myself, I understand completely. Avika and Veer will be perfect playmates for each other.”

Just as I finish speaking, Aksh joins us, a relaxed smile spreading across his face.

“Finally, someone who understands. I’ve been waiting for a fatherly ally in this house. Looks like I’ve got one now.”

I smirk.

“I have a lot to catch up on myself,” I tell him, thinking of all the parenting wisdom I need to acquire. “You’ll have to teach me everything you’ve learned. Fatherhood is a whole new ballgame.”

Meher clasps her hands together, her face glowing with pride.

“Aww. Look at my brothers—full-on doting dads. It’s surreal. It feels so good seeing both my brothers in daddy mode.”

“Speaking of which,” Devika says with a mischievous smile, “when areyougoing to give your brothers the honour of becoming uncles, Meher?”

Meher flushes instantly, her cheeks reddening.

“For that, you’ll need to talk to Ayaan. If he ever decides to put his missions on hold and stop travelling the world for GLEN all the time, maybe then we’d actually have some ‘we time’ to plan for babies.”

“Speaking of Ayaan,” I say, remembering he’s back from his latest mission, “he’s back from Austria, right? How’d you convince him to let you spend the night here?”

Meher’s chin lifts proudly. “As if anything could have stopped me from being here to welcome my brother, his wife, and my nephew to Walia Mansion. And guess what? I’m staying tomorrow night too.” Her expression turns meaningful. “You do remember that the day after tomorrow is your traditional wedding with Simran at the temple, right? With all the proper vidhis and rituals?”

“Followed by a grand reception,” Aksh adds, grinning.

I nod, recalling Dad mentioning the date. Simran knows it too. We have just tomorrow to recover from jet lag before diving into the wedding festivities.

Just then, Meher’s phone buzzes, and she glances at the screen. Her face softens. “It’s Ayaan.”

She answers the call. “Hey, we were just talking about you.”

Curious, I reach over and press the speaker button, much to Meher’s annoyance.

Ayaan’s voice comes through, teasing. “Talking about me? Should I be worried?”

“We were just discussing how you need to hurry up and join the daddy club,” I tell him, enjoying the easy banter with my brother-in-law.

Ayaan chuckles on the other end.

“Is that so, Meher? It sounds like we’ve got some serious work to do. Should I come over tonight to get started?”

“Don’t you dare,” she huffs, though the corners of her lips twitch in a smile. “This is your punishment for making me stay alone for three months. Now you get to stay alone for two more nights.”