It was the time of the night, the stars were twinkling in the sky and the roads were flowing with the vehicles. In the apartment, everyone gathered for dinner except Aditya.

Aman: Aarti, give him food in his room and ask him to not come out.

Avni heard but she didn’t look up. Aarti nodded and went.

Aditya was coming to the door but he heard the footsteps so he looked up. Aarti came and stood at the door. A tray of dinner with a glass of water was in his hands. Aditya smiled.

Aditya: Bhabhi? Please, come inside.

Aarti smiled and came. She went to keep the tray on the table. Aarti turned to Aditya.

Aarti: your dinner. Aman asked me to give you dinner in the room.

Aditya smiled.

Aditya: no problem, Bhabhi. He did right, if I had dinner with you guys then maybe Avni left the food in between so it is better I stay here. Stress is not good for her and the Baby.

Aarti smiled. She looked at the room.

Aarti: how will you be here?

Aditya: don’t worry.

Aarti: if you don’t mind then you can sleep in the living area.

Aditya: why would I mind? You are asking it for my betterment. Even it is a good idea.

Aditya whispered: I can keep an eye on my wife in this way.

They smiled.

Aarti: you sleep in the living area tonight, I will call the electrician tomorrow.

Aditya: no worries. Ab, you go before your angry man comes here.

They smiled.

Aarti: both brother and sister are angry birds.

They smiled and then Aarti went from there and Aditya sighed.

It was the time of the night, Avni was laying on the bed in a Fowler’s position.

Avni: How will Aditya stay there? He is habitual of sleeping in the AC. How will he sleep there?

Avni got worried.

Avni: Should I go and check on him?

Avni thought and then she got angry.

Avni: No. don’t be an emotional fool, Avni. Don’t forget what he and his family did with you. You will not go there and that’s final.

Avni nodded.

On the other side, Aditya was laying on the couch in the living area keeping his head on his arm, and was thinking something. Aditya turned his side and tried to sleep but he was feeling uncomfortable so he was not able to sleep. Aditya turned his sides.

Later, Avni was laying on the bed and was sleeping. Aditya slowly came to the window and saw Avni. Aditya smiled to see Avni. Aditya came to the door and slowly he tried to open the door and it opened. Aditya carefully opened the door and he came to Avni. Aditya sat on his knees and smiled to see Avni. Aditya slowly caressed Avni’s hair. Avni smiled in sleep and Aditya got emotional.

Aditya whispered: sorry.

Aditya looked at Avni’s belly and he forwarded his hand to touch Avni’s belly. His hands were shaking and he touched Avni’s belly. Aditya shivered and took a deep sigh. Tears fell from his eyes.

Aditya cried: My baby.

Aditya gave a soft kiss on the belly.

Aditya whispered: Papa loves you.

Aditya sniffed and he went from there hurriedly before he breaks down. Avni was sleeping.

On the other side, Aditya came to the living area and sat on the couch. Aditya was shaking and his eyes were red, his lips were trembling. Aditya ran his hand through his hair and held his neck and then he intervened his fingers and tighten the grip as he was trying to control his emotions. Aditya gulped.

The next day, Aman went office and Aditya was at home. Avni and Aarti were sitting in the living area and Aditya came there. Avni saw him and then she ignored him. Aditya smiled and came to sit there.

Aarti: ab, I have called the electrician but his number was off.

Aditya: it's ok, Bhabhi. I will fix it. Just give me the tools.

Avni got shocked but she didn’t react to it.

Aarti: are you sure?

Aditya: yes.

Aarti got up and went. Aditya got up and upped his sleeves. Avni raised her eyebrows in surprise. Aditya looked at Avni who looked away. Aditya smiled and went. Avni looked at him and thought.

Avni was sitting on the bed in her room and was thinking about something.

Avni: will Aditya really try to repair the fan?

Avni got shocked.

Avni: Aditya is mad, he can do anything. He cannot be trusted in any case.

Avni fumed.

On the other side, Aditya was standing on the stool and checking the fan. Avni peeked from the window and was shocked to see Aditya standing on the stool.

Avni in mind: is he mad?

Avni got shocked. The stool moved and Aditya stumbled. Avni and Aarti got worried. Aarti held the stool. Avni was about to shout but Aditya got saved.

Aarti: be careful.

Aditya: yeah.

Aditya resumed his work and Avni got angry. Avni came to the door.

Avni: I have called the electrician so stop this drama.

Aditya and Aarti looked at Avni and Aditya came down. Aditya cleaned his hands.

Aditya: I can repair it.

Avni: no need of it if something happened to you then your family will blame us for that.

Aditya got shocked and hurt too.

Aditya: my family?

Avni got surprised and she realized what she said.

Aditya: are they not your family?

Aditya was looking at Avni with hurtful eyes and Avni also felt bad but she hasn’t forgotten anything.

Avni: no, they are not.

Aditya and Aarti got shocked. Aarti looked at Aditya.

Avni: if they were my family then they would have not done what they did with me.

Aditya felt bad.

Aditya: Avni, I admit that I and Grandma did wrong with you but Mom, Arjun, and Dad, what have they done with you? They even didn’t say anything to you in fact they fought for you.

Avni got speechless and she felt bad. Avni avoided eye contact.

Avni: ab, ab, the electrician will come soon.

Avni looked at Aditya who was looking at her and then Avni went from there. Aarti felt bad for Aditya who looked at Aarti and picked up the tools to hide his pain. Aditya turned and wiped his eyes.

On the other side, Avni came to the room and she stopped there. Avni was looking sad.

Avni: I shouldn’t have said that to him.

Avni felt bad.

The sun rises and the smell of the tasty food was coming from the homes and markets. People have started their day. Avni was also busy eating her breakfast like a small kid. Aditya saw Avni and smiled to see her.

Avni: Bhabhi, one more paratha.

Aditya got surprised because he has never seen Avni eat more than one paratha even though she rarely finish one. Aarti nodded and passed it to Avni and Avni started to have it. Aditya got surprised.

Aditya in mind: is she my Avni or her duplicate?

Aditya thought.

Later, Aditya was passing by the corridor and he heard Avni so he stopped and went to the room but stopped at the door. Avni was standing in her room.

Avni: Bhai, when you come back from the office then please brought chocolate for me. I want to eat chocolate.

Aditya thought.

Aman: ok, I will bring it, anything else?

Avni: No.

Aman: ok.

Avni: ok, bye. Don’t forget it.

Aman smiled and said ok. They cut the call. Avni kept her hand on her belly.

Avni: Mamu will buy Chocolate for us then we will have it. You are craving for Chocolate right?

Avni smiled and Aditya thought.

Almost after thirty minutes, Avni was laying on the bed in a Fowler’s position and was reading a book. Aditya entered while calling Avni’s name.

Aditya: Avni, Avni, see, what I have bought for you.

Avni looked up and saw Aditya coming with a packet. Aditya came to Avni and sat on the bed. Avni frowned. Aditya took out the chocolate. Avni kept her book on the bed.

Aditya: see.

Avni got surprised.

Aditya: it is your favorite, right?

Avni looked at Aditya angrily.

Aditya: there are others.

Aditya took out the chocolates of different brands and some were in the boxes.

Aditya said while taking out the chocolates: you were craving for the chocolate so I bought these all chocolates for you.

Avni: and you think that I will take them from you?

Aditya got surprised and looked at Avni.

Aditya: Avni, you wanted chocolates and Aman Bhai will come in the evening so I thought to buy some chocolate for you.

Avni: why? Who are you to me?

Aditya got surprised.

Avni: Hmm, who are you? You are no one to me. And I don’t like to take things from strangers.

Aditya: stranger? I am a stranger to you?

Avni looked away.

Aditya: I admit, I hurt you. I shouldn’t go like that, that day but…

Avni: I don’t want any clarification. Just go from there.

Aditya: Ok, I am going.

Aditya was about to get up.

Avni: and take these chocolates with you. I don’t want your chocolates.

Aditya got hurt.

Aditya: Avni, you are craving for chocolate please accept them if not for me then for our baby.

Avni: first of all, it is my baby and secondly, I know what is good for my baby and what not so, don’t worry about it.

Aditya got shocked.

Aditya: Avni? This much hatred?

Avni looked away. Aditya looked down and got up. Aditya took steps back. Aditya turned and was going.

Avni: if you think that by giving these chocolates and doing drama, everything will be ok then you are wrong, Mr Aditya Singh Rathore.

Aditya turned to Avni.

Avni: everything between us finished that day.

Aditya was looking at her. Avni put the chocolates in the packet and got up carefully. Avni held Aditya’s hand and gave him the packet. Aditya looked at the hands and then he looked at Avni.

Avni: Once the glass is broken, it is never the same again, the cracks are always there. A relationship is also like a glass, once it breaks then it can never be the same again.

Aditya was looking at Avni who was looking at him and then Avni went from there. Aditya looked at the packet.

Later, Aditya was sitting on the couch in a room and the packet was kept on the table. Aditya was lost in his thought.

Aditya in mind: have I lost Avni forever? She hates me now.

The door knocked and Aditya looked at the door. Aarti came into the room and a shopping bag was in her hand and she took Aditya’s bag and put the chocolates in the other bag which was already filled with chocolates. Aditya frowned and then he understood that she added his chocolates to Aman’s chocolates. Aditya looked at Aarti who smiled and went from there. Aditya smiled.

Avni was eating the chocolates and Aditya saw her by peeking from the window. Aditya smiled with teary eyes.

One week passed but no effect on Avni. Aditya was getting worried now and feeling low.

It was daytime, Aditya was standing near the window and was feeling low. Aditya was missing his father because only he can make him feel good and motivate him. Aditya was holding his cell phone in his hand and he was looking at it. Aditya thought and he hesitantly dialed a number. Aditya thought and then he call his father. Aditya kept his phone in his ear. The ring was going but no answer. Aditya got disappointed and cut the call. Aditya looked out and his phone rang. Aditya saw Gaurav’s number and got happy. Aditya picked up the call excitedly.

Aditya: Dad.

Gaurav: hmm.

Aditya’s heart broke and his smile faded. Aditya remained silent.
Gaurav felt that Aditya is disturbed and he broke his heart.

Gaurav: say, my child, what happened?

Aditya got surprised and tears formed in his eyes.

Gaurav: Avni didn’t forgive you, right?

Aditya said with a cracked voice: how do you know?

Gaurav smiled.

Gaurav: I am your father. I can understand your unspoken words.

Aditya was surprised.

Gaurav: when you will become a father then you will understand.

Aditya smiled.

Gaurav: say, what happened?

Aditya: Dad, I am trying my best but Avni is not ready to forgive me. She is not ready to listen to anything.

Gaurav: you also didn’t hear her that day.

Aditya looked down.

Gaurav: Adi, that day not only her heart broke, but her trust also broke. Once we can pacify an angry person but it is not easy to mend a broken heart. It is not easy to build the trust again. You have broken her trust and given her a fear that you will leave her alone again. You will leave her hand again.

Aditya was listening to his father.

Gaurav: you have to work hard to win her trust again.

Aditya: I am trying.

Gaurav: then have patience also. Everything will be fine soon. Hmm.

Aditya nodded.

Aditya: yes, Dad, I wanted this support. I knew only you can make me feel good.

Gaurav smiled.

Gaurav: all the best.

Aditya: thanks, Dad and I am sorry.

Gaurav sighed.

Gaurav: we will talk about it when you will come back.

Aditya suppressed his lips and looked down.

Gaurav: bye and take care of Avni and your child.

Aditya: yes, dad.

Gaurav: and you too.

Aditya got happy and said: ok, Dad.

They said bye and cut the call. Aditya sighed and was feeling light and good.
Aditya thought.

The day passed and Aditya slept on the couch in the living area. The fan of the room was working now but still Aditya sleeps in the living area because he can keep an eye on Avni.

Aditya: what do I do that melts Avni’s heart?

Aditya thought.

The sun rises and everyone started their day. Avni was sitting on the couch and making socks for the baby. Aditya came there and smiled to see it. Aditya picked up the one and smiled to see it. Avni saw that.

Aditya: wow, it is so beautiful.

Avni smiled.

Aditya: Avni, you know the wool knitting work?

Avni: yes, Grandma taught me this and I have…

Aditya was smiling and Avni stopped because she realized that she is talking to Aditya. Aditya’s smile faded and Avni looked down. Avni saw the sock in Aditya’s hand. Avni snatched that.

Avni: how dare you touch my baby’s things?

Aditya looked at Avni.

Avni: Mr. Rathore, I am warning you last time that stay away from me and my baby.

Avni grabbed her things.

Aditya: you sit here. I am going.

Avni looked at Aditya who got up and went from there. Avni thought.

Aditya came into his room and he was panting. Aditya ran his hand through his hair. Aditya sighed and his eyes were teary.

Aditya: I can’t handle it anymore. I can’t. It hurts, Avni. It hurts.

Aditya sighed.

It was nighttime, Avni was passing by the corridor and a water bottle was in her hand. Avni heard something so she stopped.

Aman: how many times I have asked you that don’t talk to me about this matter.

Aarti: Aman, why you are not understanding? Avni’s happiness is with Aditya. She is angry with him that’s why she is not understanding anything but I am sure if you talk to her then she will understand.

Aman looked away and Avni was listening to them.

Aarti: till when Avni will live with us? She has a whole life in front of her.

Aman: my sister is not a burden on me. She is my sister and she has equal rights on my father’s property.

Aarti got shocked.

Aarti: you think, I am asking all this because of the greed of property? I am Avni’s Bhabhi and best friend. I am thinking of her betterment. She is pregnant and soon her baby will come into this world. How will she raise her baby alone?

Avni got shocked.

Aman: she is not alone. Her brother and family are with her. We will help her. Her baby will be like our baby.

Avni got emotional.

Aarti: and you think, Rathores will sit silently? It is their heir, they will not try to get its custody.

Avni got shocked.

Aarti: we are here for some more months and then we will go back to our home then what will Avni do?

Avni got shocked. Aman thinks.

Aarti: think Aman, a baby needs a mother and a father. What will Avni say to her baby when it will ask for its father?

Avni got shocked. Aman thought.

Aman: we will handle everything.

Aarti looked away in anger.

Aman: Aarti, Avni is my sister and I also want her betterment but I will never ask her to go. It is her life and whatever decision she will take, I will support her in that.

Aman looked at Aarti and then he sat on the bed and lay by covering him with the duvet. Aarti thought. Avni was also thinking.

On the other side, Avni came to her room and was lost. Aarti’s words were roaming in her mind.

Flashback:

1. Aarti: till when Avni will live with us? She has a whole life in front of her.

2. Aarti: She is pregnant and soon her baby will come into this world. How will she raise her baby alone?

3. Aarti: and you think, Rathores will sit silently? It is their heir, they will not try to get its custody.

4. Aarti: we are here for some more months and then we will go back to our home then what will Avni do?

5. Aarti: think Aman, a baby needs a mother and a father. What will Avni say to her baby when it will ask for its father?

Flashback ends.

Avni came to the bed and sat on the bed. Aarti’s words were roaming in Avni’s mind and Avni start sweating. Avni felt a pain in her belly and she kept the bottle on the bed and held her womb. Avni squeezed her eyes.