The darkness had rolled in hours ago and yet, Neil wasn’t home yet from his business trip.

“You are still up?” Neil crooned into the phone.

“You were supposed to be home yesterday,” Narmada growled.

“I’m sorry, babe… I’m almost home.”

“Really? That means you just landed in India?” She sounded snarky and he knew why.

“Have you been following the news?” His voice was soft.

“Yes… and I am happy and sad at the same time.”

“Why?”

“Neil, it’s Leonardo Da Vinci’s work and there is no price on work that was done centuries ago but on the news they talk about his work as an investment.”

“Don’t read too much into what the media says.”

“I know, I know but you know how much I admire Da Vinci’s work and for something so precious to be talked about like a commodity… I can’t handle it… and the price the buyer paid… I don’t know what to say.” She shook her head.

“I know, I’m sure the new owner of the book wanted it badly enough to justify the price.”

“There should be no price on such work, they should be in museum, unavailable for sale.”

“I agree.”

Narmada turned from the bookcase she was looking at in their bedroom when she heard his voice behind her.

“Neil,” she squeaked running into his open arms.

“I missed you, sweetheart.” His lips grazed over hers gently, sucking in her sweetness.

“I missed you too.” She tightened her hold on him like she didn’t want to let him go.

“Sorry, I got delayed.” He gently pulled back to look at her.

“I was worried you won’t make it in time for the ceremony and lunch tomorrow.” She cupped his cheek with her palm.

He took her palm to his lips. “You know I would never miss them.”

“What took you so long?” she playfully pulled away her hand from him.

“I had to take care of something important.”

“What was more important than getting home in time for a family get together.” She walked away from her nook of books in their bedroom suite.

“Something equally important.”

“Really? How can a construction project in the Americas be as important as a family gathering?” She sat on the bed looking up at him. He looked dapper in a business suit and over the years she got around to admiring him in his dark suits. Deep in her heart she longed for the captor who took her from her misery and gave her a beautiful life. A life filled with his endless love and happiness.

A life filled with fun, success and chaos in the form of their two children and he wanted more of the craziness. She had managed to continue working on her book while Neil got busy with the family business and spun off his own investments. The latest one was collaboration with a construction company overseas to expand the construction empire that her dad owned.

Neil had managed to attend college and get a management degree while being a hitman and she was surprised to find out that about him.

“Is my Mum excited to see her cousins tomorrow?” He peeled off his business suit and changed into a fitting t-shirt and lounge pants.

“Yes, your four-year-old Mum refused to sleep until you were home so I had a tough time putting her to bed.” Narmada laughed. She still could not forget the happiness in Neil’s eyes when he saw their new born baby girl for the first time, a little over four years ago. He kissed and thanked her endlessly for giving him his mother back. He was convinced his nieces were more like his grandparents and that his daughter was his mother and even addressed her as ‘Mum’.

Abhay and Dev also referred to her as Mum and doted on the first girl-child in the Singham family after many decades.

“I’m sure it will be a fun day for Mum and Abhi.” Neil slid into bed next to her.

“Abhi is getting terrible by the day, Neil. You need to start taking him with you if… “ her voice trailed off and he saw her bite her lip.

Neil looked at her and caught the hesitation. “What is it baby?”

“I’m late.”

He looked at her, puzzled and then a glorious smile appeared on his face. “Really?”

“Neil, we have used protection since we had Abhi… it may be nothing.”

“I love you… I love you for giving me so much happiness.” Neil pulled her into his arms.

“Neil, don’t… Its too soon to think and…” He cut her off.

“Take the test.”

“I thought about it this morning but…”

He sprang out of bed and walked toward the bathroom and she knew exactly what he was doing. She had been delayed in the past, right after they had Abhi two years ago and she could not deny that she was disappointed when the test for pregnancy came back negative. They have been on protection after her doctor advised taking it to give her body time to recover from her pregnancies.

Neil was back in a minute holding the home pregnancy test in his hand. “I found it and I promise not to look disappointed if the test is negative, but I need to know.”

“Baby, we can do it tomorrow. Let’s sleep, I’m sure you’re tired.” She patted the mattress, urging him to come back to bed.

“I’m not tired. Please.”

“Ok, you know it may be nothing.” She got out of the bed and walked to him.

“I know.” He pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss on her forehead.

A few minutes later, she sat on the bed waiting for the pregnancy test result for the to be ready while Neil paced on the rug.

“Neil, you’re making me nervous. Come sit with me.” It was a plea.

“I’m so excited.”

“Neil… please.”

“I think it’s time. It has been almost five minutes, let’s check it.”

Narmada walked back into the bathroom, Neil inches behind her. She took a deep breath before taking the pen shaped device in her hand. She blinked twice when she saw the deep pink lines, two lines staring back at her.

She turned around smiling at him. “Neil…”

His lips found hers for a devouring kiss. “Thank you, sweetheart. I knew it, something told me it happened again the moment you told me.”

“I don’t believe this, why don’t contraceptives work for us.” She laughed feeling the prickle from his stubble on her skin as his lips trailed along the column of her neck.

“Narmada, you make me so happy, how can I ever show you how much I love you.” He groaned into her neck.

“I love you too, Neil. You have no idea how blessed I am to have everything I have in life.”

“I love you… love you more than anything in this world.” He bent down to sweep her feet off the floor making her laugh as he carried her to the bed.

He gently placed her on the bed and kissed her lips. “I was going to save it for your birthday but…”

“What?” she looked at him walk away from the bed to open his travel bag. He pulled out a brown box and held it in both hands, making Narmada wonder what was in the box that he held it with so much care.

“Did you go jewelry shopping again?” she teased.

“Maybe.”

She took the box from his hands and realized it was too heavy to be jewelry. “Neil, why is this so heavy.”

“Because it is loaded with my love.” He winked.

“That’s a bit too cheesy for the hitman I fell in love with but I will take it.” She laughed.

She gingerly lifted the lid on the heavy box and put the packing material away. She looked up at him when she saw a rectangle object wrapped in a red silk cloth bag. “What it this?”

“Open it.”

She pulled opened the drawstring on the cloth bag and peeked inside. She scrunched her nose as she pulled it out wondering what it was and almost dropped it on the bed when she saw the words ‘Leonardo Da Vinci’ indented in cursive on the cover.

“Ohh my god… ohh my god… is this the…” Neil’s chest warmed up when he saw the tears of joy in the eyes of his wife, the love of his life.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“Neil… no, I don’t believe this… I shouldn’t be holding it like this.” She quickly grabbed the silk cloth and placed it on the bed.

“I take it that you like your gift.”

She got off the bed and into his arms. “Is this why you were delayed… I can’t believe it.”

“It’s yours to preserve and to never let it become a topic of discussion like it did today.” He kissed her cheek.

“Neil, Thank you… I have only dreamed of holding his book, I have one… is this really for me?”

Neil laughed at the shocked expression. “Yes, you are the new owner they have been talking about on the news.”

“And you were the buyer who spent all that money?” She playfully slapped his chest.

“I made sure more than half of the price was going to Charity when I made that deal with the old owner.” Neil assured her.

“Thank you!” She buried her face into his chest.

“Are you happy, baby?”

“Neil, what more can I want in my life? You made my life a real fairy tale.”

“You are the queen of my heart and my kingdom, baby.” He sucked in her lip between his teeth and pulled her into his embrace, never wanting to let her go. He worshipped her with her lips and enjoyed the sweet moans that filled the night of bliss.