*Palak Pov*

I stepped out of the washroom only to find the room empty. So, I crossed the room to reach the door connecting to the office room and found him sitting behind the desk using his phone.

"I will talk to you later." Saying that he hung up when I stood near the door waiting for him to finish his conversation.

"I need to go to hospital." I said before he can say anything else.

"I will accompany you. Go and change your attire." He mumbled, opening the laptop.

"I will be fine to go alone." I stated, but he just sighed.

"When you cut off my reply earlier, isn't it mainly because you want to hide your pregnancy from them? Going with me will not make them suspicious as I will tell them it's for my therapy." He explained glancing at me.

"Okay!" I mumbled, turning around to walk towards the door, but his words stopped me.

"Why don't you change first? You are still wearing your gown." I glanced down realizing he is right before turning around to see him, pointing my suitcase a few steps away from me which I didn't even realize until now.

I walked back into the bedroom while dragging the suitcase behind me before taking out an attire. However, when I placed my hands on the gown, I paused staring at the gown.

I still remember how nervous I was to even think of wearing a gown when we went for shopping and walking down the aisle without tripping. But he was there assuring me that everything will be fine. He was there.... No! I shook my head to clear the memory while reminding myself that I need to hurry up.

After changing my dress, I held the gown tightly before throwing it away from my sight when I felt my hands shaking again just like in church hearing his words.

This time James was waiting when I stepped out of the room, but my hand paused on the knob involuntarily. I... I don't want to step out of here and see any one of them. I don't want to be here in this room with this person too.

I wish I can just close my eyes right now and get to the place where none of them will be there. I want to go back to the days where the major point where I get angry or hurt is when my friends hide anything from me or any of such silly reasons.

How can I deal with all these people and the level at which they formed these plans? I never expected my life will be tangled with all these lies. I was not even prepared to go through problems I may receive by falling for someone and now... maybe I was so stupid to not realize their intentions.

Whom should I blame now? The person who is now waiting for me to open this door or the one I trusted with everything? Or just blame my brother who made all these people take such steps and just forget all the emotions that are trying to burst out.

"Is something wrong?" I want to laugh hearing that question from James.

Is anything right? I want to ask back, but ended up taking a deep breath before turning the knob still wishing with my every breath that I can escape to the place where I need not see any one of them after taking a step out of this room.

When we stepped out of the room together, I ignored everyone who are still present in the living room while he answered his Mom's inquiry.

"You can take rest for today, right." His Mom suggested.

"It is best not to skip, Mom." James said and even Chief followed along with us saying he has to return to work too and his wife took the car with her.

I wish he is not sharing the drive with us as it will just another person I want to escape from but I also know I don't have any strength now to voice that out.

When we left the place, I again stared outside thinking about my options from now on regarding my life, but the scare of the hurt I may have caused to my baby today is stopping all my thinking except to pray that everything is fine.

"Ms. Palak! I really think you are very good at your work and that's why it is not just for that reason." I closed my eyes hearing Chief's words.

"I am still on my leave, Chief." I stated letting him know I don't want to talk about anything about work now.

"Why are you both coming to the hospital now, James?" he asked, turning his attention away from me.

"She doesn't want to stay at home for now. We will return after having dinner from out." I frowned, hearing that reply but didn't say anything.

"You need to take an appointment, right?" he asked when Chief walked away after the car stopped near the entrance and I just gave him a nod.

"After that, finish my therapy so that he will not get suspicious, but I think you have to eventually tell him the truth to adjust your work." He just continued and I wish he can stop talking right now.

"When it is your check up, I will come with you. It is better to have someone's presence. Later, I need to have a word with you." He added and finally I turned to glance at him.

I am glad he is talking after the driver too stepped out of the car, but I calmly asked, "How are you able to say all those things to me right now?"

"Someone should be logical in this situation, Palak." He pointed out with a blank face.

"I am more than logical right now." I shook my head before turning away from staring at him wishing again that I can escape from this city itself and run far away from them.

"No! You are not at all logical right now, Palak." I immediately turned to stare at his face hearing his reply.

"You are doing a good job pulling yourself together and being emotional right now and you are even thinking about your baby, which I commend but your thinking process is somewhere stuck to a point. It is better if you listen to me and you can continue to be mad at me for being one of the people to have a thought of hurting you. However, you should already realize the priorities changed at a whole new level and just like you I am also thinking about your baby, but at the same time about the situation with a clear mind." He just continued talking so much which is kind of getting lost from entering my mind itself.

Maybe he is a business man for a reason and I can't dwell into his thinking right now, except to go right now and clear my worry more than anything.

I ignored him after that and stepped out of the car before walking into the building feeling better that I didn't invite anyone from here for my wedding keeping in mind the profession of Da... him.

The doctor was kind enough to squeeze me into her break time after looking at my face. However, it will take one hour for her break to start, so I returned to my department to finish his therapy in the mean time.

"One hour!" I replied calmly when he asked me how much time should they wait.

"I will accompany you to the appointment." He repeated which I just ignored concentrating on his therapy still feeling scared with the coming check up.

****

"Mr. Anthony!" Doctor stared at him in surprise when he stepped into the room along with me.

"Hello doctor!" he greeted politely and I know as his family is one of the major trustees, he could know the doctors too.

"Why are you accompanying her? And where is Mr. David Mattew, Dr. Palak?" she asked the second question turning towards me and I realize I already wrote down his name when I went for a second check up last week.

"He is not here today. She is my sister-in-law." I had to shake my head once to clear my thoughts, hoping what I heard is just my imagination.

"Oh! It's good that at least you are accompanying her. I already told her that it is better if she has someone during checkups." She nodded, smiling at him while I just sat there in shock still trying to process his words.

"Let's go, Dr. Palak." She asked, gesturing the room from her cabin and I followed her after glancing at James with questioning eyes but he didn't say anything.

"Is everything fine, Doctor?" I asked after she asked me to get down from the table.

"Your baby is completely fine, Dr. Palak. Why don't you wait along with Mr. Anthony?" she asked, smiling and I gave her a nod before returning to the place where James is present.

"Are you going to tell me the reason behind your words later?" I asked before he could say anything.

"Yes! And is everything fine?" he asked, gesturing the room from where I returned.

"Yes! But she needs to say something more I think." I replied before we both fell into silence.

During that silence, I let go of all my questions finally feeling the relief I never thought I will feel after today's afternoon events, but now I can finally calm down regarding this worry.

I know the worry is not completely over, but I can make sure from now onwards to take care of myself and think of this life more than anything else.

We both are here! I repeated the words again and again placing my hand on the stomach and at the same time my shoulders relaxed, making me ignore everything in my surroundings.

"I found your blood pressure to be higher than the earlier week, Dr. Palak. I am not completely sure of the diagnosis at this point, but there is a chance of Preeclamsia but it may not be too. We will conduct regular checkups and if it still points out towards that by the time you will be 12 weeks pregnant then we can start some medication. You need to be really careful with everything and I hope you will follow my instructions. As you are already working here, you can come and meet me whenever you have any problem." I sat there listening to her words keenly without missing a moment.

(*I really don't know anything about all this but just blindly following google. I hope even if it wrong, you guys can take it as fictional. Hail Google!*)

"If it is that diagnosis, then what are the dangers to the baby?" James asked while I kept quiet already knowing the results of it because when she informed me about complications last time I searched for all types of complications a pregnant woman could have and it was one of that.

"It is a danger for both mother and baby." She replied before explaining the risks of organ failure, pregnancy loss, stillbirth and of course a stroke.

"Every two week checkup is fine and after one month we will start medication if there is no improvement." She added after James stayed silent hearing those words.

After leaving her cabin, he gestured the way we used to go when his therapy was conducted outside the department and in the garden area.

When I sat on the bench, which was our usual spot, he finally opened his mouth saying, "I will not be registering our marriage, Palak. Even the pastor just said those words without actually blessing us like I asked him to. So, the ceremony wasn't real at all."

Hearing those words, what I felt was... how can I put it into words... I felt a sense of relief. I know what I was thinking while asking him to marry me at that moment in the church, but if I had really held myself back for just ten minutes then I wouldn't have come up with those words for sure.

I gave him a nod without glancing at him, but his next words made me fist my hands feeling scared. He continued saying, "Your brother is absolutely right when he said you will be the one giving my family the next generation. And I am very particular about that thought. So, this baby belongs to my family too."

"This I cannot accept, James. This baby belongs to no one except me. I already know you went along with this marriage worrying about my baby and thank you for that. I will even thank you for just ignoring this marriage because I really want to leave this place more than anything. But I am not ignorant to forget that your brother has every right to fight for the custody in the future." I said turning to stare at him knowing well I have to fight then regarding this matter even more in future.

"And I don't want to spend my pregnancy with that fear for sure. So, in return for protecting your secret, I want you to make him give up his rights. Then I will let your family name continue." I added still fisting my hands, hoping he will accept for this.

In the normal sense, I actually don't have that much power to help me with this, but I need to at least try. I will think of other problems later regarding my work and health and everything else along with my family.

Why am I pushing my thoughts away like this today? Is this really me? Wasn't I the one to try to remove the thoughts rather than pushing them away?

"Do you really think he will ask for custody? Is this why you don't want to tell them?" he asked, frowning and I gave him a nod without hesitation.

Wasn't that one of my reason for asking him to marry me among others? But he seems shocked that I am thinking like that about his brother.

"You are right that I thought was about the baby at that moment more than anything. I considered the baby to be important when I forced my Mom to accept for your marriage too. I let go of the past for my brother's sake and later for this baby. I don't want it to be taken away from my family." He bluntly stated while I looked around to find a few people walking at a distance.

"Do you really want to discuss everything here?" I asked when he is raising his voice too.

"Yes! Because this is a hospital and I need not worry about any damage to the baby." He replied frowning at my question.

I rubbed my forehead, realizing I was more than right to think of escaping from each and one of them. Haven't I had enough of today? I am already running away from so many things already, but he is adding much more right this moment.

"Fine! I will not make your family be removed from my baby's life, but I still want him to give up his rights." I said opening my eyes and he just frowned.

"Have you thought about his words, Palak? Did you check where your phone is?" he suddenly asked and my hands ended up empty.

I frowned, thinking about it and realized with whom it is as far as I remember. So, he could be telling the truth.

"It doesn't matter whether he was stating truth or not about that message, right?" he added shaking his head in disappointment.

"Why are we talking about that now? And don't forget that I can still tell your family about your secret. Is your family ready to know about this? You are sitting there while giving these commands to me." I slammed him getting frustrated with this conversation.

"Calm down! I am not commanding you." He said in a calm tone controlling his expression.

"One week! I will give you one week to get his signatures, James. And once again thank you for not registering this marriage." I said, getting up to leave, but his next words stopped me in my tracks.

"I will give you one week too, Palak. Either accept to get this marriage registered or..." I stared at him in shock hearing the other option of his and I am really relieved that we are in the compound of the hospital.

*David Pov*

"David! Get up, David." I glanced up to stare at Mom who is shaking me with a worried face.

"It's been an hour since you knelt there, David. You need to get up." She repeated while I rubbed my eyes, feeling her face blurry because of those tears.

"Palak!" I whispered, standing up only to fall down feeling the numbness in the legs.

When I repeated my action, she stopped me saying, "James and she already left to go to hospital for his therapy."

Therapy? Right! She is his doctor, right? I glanced around searching for Satish and found him standing near the entrance staring at me.

"Satish! Give my phone. I need to show her what I said was true." I mumbled forwarding my hand and walked closer before passing the phone.

"Stop it! She already married your brother." Shruthi commented, but I just ignored her before calling Palak.

"Why are you calling her now?" she added and I immediately glanced up to find her holding Palak's phone in her hands.

"Why do you have her phone?" I asked finally getting strength to stand up before walking closer to her.

"You can have it now." she replied, passing it into my hands.

"She never read the message, did she? It was all your doing." I mumbled tightening my hold on her phone to which she just smiled.

"Yes! You didn't get it?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Get out!" I shouted, pointing the door and she stared at me in shock.

"Leave the house, Shruthi. It is better if you don't come back anytime soon." Mom added and she stared at her in surprise before finally leaving the house.

"It is better if you return to your hotel, David." Satish mumbled, walking closer to me when I continued to stare at Palak's phone still unable to grasp that she never got my message.

If she never read my message, then everything I said at the church... I... No! She must be hating me right now. I... I need to explain it to her again now properly and assure her.

"Satish! I need to go to the hospital." I commented turning towards me.

"You can't, David. I know so much happened, but she is still your sister-in-law." Mom stated making me stare at her in shock.

"No! She is my Palak and don't say such things again." I mumbled shaking my head.

"Even if you don't listen to those words, that is the truth." She just continued and I covered my ears not wishing to hear her say anything.

"Mom! She is mine and no one can say anything other than that." I stated fuming and she just shook her head hearing my words.

"You should have thought of that before and not now, Bhai." I turned to stare at Jasmine in shock.

"She must have got so hurt." She added, shaking her at me in disappointment.

"What I am saying is true, Mom." She continued when Mom asked her to go to her room, but Mom continued to insist until she left the room.

"You should go to your room or go back to hotel for today, David. We have seen too much already for today." Mom said, staring at my face and I closed my eyes, realizing she is right but I want to talk to her right now.

"I will stay here." I mumbled, walking towards the steps to go to my room, but kept on glancing back to see if she returned.

"David! I need to talk to you." Saying that Satish followed me to my room.

"You should have told me if you changed your plan like this, David. I would have made sure that she didn't take this step if you had by staying back." He scolded the moment we both entered my room.

"It was spur of the moment and I didn't expect..." I trailed off, staring at her phone still in my hands.

"If I had tried to think clearly for just ten minutes then..." I shook my head sitting on the bed while he sighed.

"Your brother called on your phone after I got her luggage shifted. I picked it up, but he asked about the messages you were talking about." He started and I frowned listening to him.

"I told him it was true after checking your phone and he asked me for the screenshots too. I already sent him." He added, gesturing to my phone.

"But... why... why does it has to turn out like this? Why did they both get married? She was hurt and angry, but why did Bhai, do it." I asked myself tightening my fingers holding my hair.

"They really got married, didn't they?" I asked, glancing up to stare at Satish.

"They didn't register it though. Shit!" he immediately added when I stood up hearing those words.

"You are right! I should talk to them and I need to plead with them. All I need is one chance, Satish." I mumbled, feeling the sudden hope I felt lost after hearing her words.

****

"We already had our dinner, Mom." I closed my eyes, hearing Bhai's answer, but continued to stand near the railing holding onto it for dear life while staring at Palak standing silently beside Bhai.

"Mom! Can you ask a helper to prepare the guest room? Palak will shift there." I tightened my hands on the railing while feeling a sense of relief hearing those words.

After that, she continued to stand there while Mom left to give the instructions along with asking another helper to get Palak's luggage from Bhai's room.

"You can throw it away." I turned to see about what Palak is talking about and found the helper holding the wedding gown Palak wore in her hands.

Mom didn't say anything except for going back to her room after climbing the stair and saw me standing, but she calmly walked towards her room in silence.

When I saw Palak walking into the guest room, I climbed down the stairs in a rush before stopping the helper from leaving the room while holding the gown.

"Give it to me." I asked, taking it away from her hands before holding it tightly with my hands.

"Did you find out who messaged you as Palak?" I turned to find Bhai still present in the living room.

"It's Shruthi!" I replied, trying to sound normal, even though the anger is sweeping out.

I know it is my mistake and I know if I was right then I wouldn't have lost her like this, but I couldn't stop the jealousy or even anger sweeping in while looking at him.

"I expected that and you shouldn't have gotten involved with her plans in the first place." He shook his head while I just stared at him.

"What? You still don't regret it?" he asked frowning.

"I wouldn't have met her in the first place if not for the..." I cut my words while he gave a nod of understanding.

"As you already applied for a week leave, it is your choice whether to come to work or not." Saying that he shifted his chair to go to his room.

"Bhai! I need to talk to you." I said following him.

"No! I will tell you when you can talk to me. Wait for that moment and it is better if you don't disturb her until I say so." He stated making me fist my hands still holding the gown.

"You can't..." he cut me off saying, "It is for your sake. Let her calm down. She still didn't grab what actually happened to her life because of all of us."

His words really stopped me from saying anything else and I stood before her door. I trailed my hands on the door, wishing I had a right to knock on this door but I don't have any right.

I returned to my room after some time and sat on the bed holding onto the gown for dear life. If only... if only... there are too many things I can add to those words, but all I can hear are her words.

"Don't leave me, David"

She is right! She asked for only one thing and I just did that today by leaving her alone in the church walking away after saying all those words. She must hate me right now and must be wishing to never see me.

It's okay, Palak! It's okay if you hate me, but all I plead is the same from you. I don't have the right to say those words to you but please. I am ready to do anything for your presence in my life.

I let the tears out covering my face with her gown wishing with all my might that I have the power right now to turn the time over back to the church. I am sorry, Palak.

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

Seriously everytime i think of giving an early update something just happens and i really wanted to give one at least by 24th as it is episode 24 :P

So, here is David's pov and kind of messy one from Palak. And point to be noted is Palak just blocked everything that happened you know like blocked but next chapter will be it's opening and the reason behind it will also be special...

So, the next one will be emotional and i will try my best... i really hope you guys are feeling connection to the story and not bored...

How is the chap???

comment plz and vote...