Ashi's POV

I woke up in my bed and groaned for I'm not having a headache, for fuck's sake let me be drunk for once. "you okay?" I hear and open my eyes to see Randeep coming out of the shower only in a towel, this man. I groan again when I remember what I told him "hangover?" he asks and I look at him like he's kidding, that is a dream for me.

"no, just tired" he nods and disappears in the closet. I get out of bed and go for my bathroom routine, when I walk out I see him again dressed now. I rush in the closet as usual, I should talk to him about last night.

Sitting at the breakfast something unusual happened, as I sat he wished "good morning" with a slight smile, I have never and I mean never seen Mr. Casanova smiling in the morning, if he has it was fake, today is genuine, uncomfortable with the change I clear my throat before returning the gesture and begin with my breakfast.

"so about last night" I start and he nods with a hum "I know it was ... weird" I carefully choose this word and he nods again "and I know it was not in the contract, so you can forget it"

He raised an eyebrow "and why will I need to do that?"

Before I could answer my phone rang, I picked it up since dado's calls are not to be ignored. "good morning dado"

"morning princess, you had breakfast?"

I looked down at my half eaten pasta "I'm having it now" Randeep seemed to get the topic with my action "so today important? I mean you called this early"

"yes actually, I knew you must have forgotten, the panel will come today or do you want to go?" yes my doctors' appointment, I did forget.

"hm, I forgot" my tone went quiet and he heard that

"so they should come or-" I could read the hesitation, I know he feels bad too but I cannot help it.

"ill go" I don't like to hear how worse my situation is in every few months but yet I have to. Plus I don't want them here at Randeep's place.

"princess listen-"

"no I know, its important. Ill go, thanks for reminding me" trying to bring all happiness I could muster I did

"I will come with"

No he wont, I don't want him worried over some new problem "actually dado .. I was thinking" I glanced at Randeep who seems to be reading me again and looked up from his plate "Randeep can come with if you allow"

The line went quiet, though I wont be taking Randeep but dado doesn't need to know that. After sometime his voice came "okay, as you wish"

"um.. bye dado I have to go" with that I hung up.

I got up leaving the food, but Randeep stopped me "where do we have to go?"

"nowhere, I'm not taking you"

He stood up and I collected my things for office "well you said so I'm coming"

"you're not, no one is" I stated with finality and moved out of mansion, instructing Dave my new guard about my destination, I sat back thinking.

I was 16 or 15 maybe when it all started, that year I fainted a lot and got sick easily. Dado was always informed by my teachers, each time. Then one day I fainted after vomiting on the playground itself. My nose bled and dado panicked, I felt him pick me up before I lost consciousness, next I woke up in hospital with Ayesha beside me. I heard dado shouting at someone for being so careless and threatening the person. Later he told me I have weak immune system and from there till now I have acquired quite lot problems, though I'm almost healed. 10 years, that's how long I have received treatment for it, now I'm on testing period, they try new food charts on me to see if my body can take it, which is why I have three different diet charts in a week.

Well then things got complicated, I was so drowned in my problems I forgot I have health issues and neglected it, and ended up not only intensifying my amnesia which I acquired at the age of 11 I guess, I don't remember but also the injuries. All this in summation affected my reproductive system.

Last session I was told, my womb is getting weak and so maybe I wont be able to carry a child even if I conceive. "ma'am we have reached" Dave said pulling me out of past. I got off the car and walked down to my old house. The bungalow where I lived as single.

"Dave get me some snacks will you?" nodding he went and I went inside, going in the house, I looked for clothes in the old closet in my room.

Pulling out rugged jeans and a top with leather jacket in daze I went to garage after changing. As soon as I put on the lights, my most favorite collection sitting under covers came in view – the bullet range of bikes.

First model of every new range released are here and in perfect working condition, each of them were gifted to me some or the other year on my birthday by either dado or Ayesha or even Niket.

Pulling the cover from the model of 2000, I kick started it. Hiding my face with helmet, I rode out of there before Dave comes back. Directed to outskirts I rode on speed but not higher than limit, I can always speed on highway. Riding was something I did often back in years but now I only ride when I need to go far from people.

I love kids and so I wanted my own, I still remember the shattered and defeated looks of both dado and bhabhi before doctors assured we can do something. Every year I remember, my medical condition worsened, though now it is stable, I remember the scared face of dado when I first fainted, the worry etched on bhabhi's face every time she tended to me, Ayesha's red eyes when she would come to me from unshed tears or maybe crying when I was on bed rest for a month not long back.

I know I'm not depressed anymore but still sometimes I worry for these lives seem to have stopped because of mine and will only flow if mine has ended. Sometimes I just wish, I could die, that when at night I close my eyes I don't get to open them in the morning.

People don't know what happened in Auckland, Luke had it handled but what actually happened has broken me so much, I feel guilty every time Agnes is mentioned, she lost her mother because of me.

*

For hours I rode my bike to and fro from highway to city and back, at last by 2pm I made it back to bungalow. My appointments are usually by 4 so I ready myself again in formal clothes which I wore this morning and call Dave with the car but to my surprise, dado's BMW GT pulled up in the curb and angry dado came out with Randeep? What is he doing here?

"Ashi Singhania!" dado yelled forgetting I'm Raichand now "where the hell were you?" Randeep looked over to him at his burst before focusing on me

"what are you guys doing here?"

"we are looking for you, who had disappeared without a word, where were you? Do you know I was worried to death?"

I looked confused, why would they look for me? I was here itself in the city "I .. went for a ride, before the appointment" they exchanged a look and I asked "am I missing something?"

Dado took a deep breath and smiled as if he wasn't angry a minute ago "you just disappeared and you know I cannot take that, I was worried" he hugged me

"uh-huh" I nodded not believing a word of it, Randeep is not here for no reason I know. I know something is wrong, parting I said "now how about you spill? You know I have to be at hospital"

"come on we are leaving" he said and I nodded, he doesn't use that tone until something is serious.

"where are we headed?" I asked as we turned towards main city area.

"hospital" he said and in some time we pulled before city hospital, both got off and joined me as we walked inside. The trio entry turned heads but I ignored it until I spotted the VIP doctor coming to us "wait here" dado said and left to meet him.

I pulled Randeep back before he went to them "what are you doing here?"

"your brother came asking me why you aren't in office and dragged me along, that lunatic"

"shut it, you are not supposed to be here. Go home Randeep now" I hotly said, how dare he call my brother lunatic?

He looked surprised at me, "are these many mood swings normal?" he muttered.

"what?" this man is not crazy is he? I mean how did mood swings come in our conversation? "anyway go back"

"princess!" dado called and motioned to follow them, I just smiled and as he turned I looked at Randeep

"I'm not going, I haven't wasted half my day for nothing" he said shrugging, this man is never worried in the least is he?

I am not going to chase him away, let him listen. Not like it will make a difference, he called for it "fine don't" with that I joined dado and dr. abhishek in the lift, Randeep soon followed.

Randeep's POV

"fine don't" as she said I shrugged and followed her.

I am not leaving, the taunts this brother gave me for not knowing where she is are enough for a lifetime, such a drama queen he is. i let it slide for the only fact she is safe, Dave has been shot and we were reported of an attack supposedly on Ashi, the reason this brother and I was so frantic and looked all over the city just to locate her but madam went somewhere without informing.

With the lift opening we came on desired floor which happens to be top floor "princess, you need to go for some scans" she nodded without a word, her mood has changed from before. "I will-"

"no its fine, ill be right back" she told him fake smiling and went somewhere with that doctor.

I heard Saurabh sigh and turned to him but he was focused on his sister "this way" he said and left, what is it with these two? Both their moods have changed drastically, he is not angry anymore but sad so is she.

We entered the conference room where four ladies were seated discussing something, our shoes clicked as we made way to them and they looked up, all stood up and nodded, one of them who looked familiar spoke "Mr. Singhania" where have I seen her?

"tell me you have good news" he practically pleaded to which she just gave a sympathetic smile

"yes and no" this didn't seemed to change his mood but he took his seat and looked around.

"where is dr. Chouddhary?" he asked

The same lady spoke "he is performing a surgery at the moment"

"excuse me" a lady beside me asked "you are?"

"husband" Saurabh said curtly and all looked wide eyed.

"Mr. Raichand?" I nodded but before any interaction took place Saurabh asked "how is the progress?"

"we have a good news" his face lit at this "and a bad one" and his face fell even more than before.

"excuse me you all are?" I asked and so introduced themselves one by one

"I'm dr. Kristina Chouddhary, her nutritionist" the similar looking lady said, her name sounds known too.

"I am dr. Srija Kothar, a gynecologist" the one beside me said

"I'm dr. Ramona Desai, her psychiatrist" another said

"I'm dr. Leuven Mathew, physician" she smiled softly

"now resume please" Saurabh asked "her report"

Wow, I didn't know her panel was so diverse, though I don't think that is something to be proud of, it only means her issues are serious. Dr. desai started "she is clear, not depressive anymore" she smiled. Right she had depression, I remembered.

Dr. Mathew followed "her vitals have gone up, no problems"

Next, dr. Chouddhary said "I'm happy to inform you her immune system isn't problematic anymore, apart from basic allergies, your sister can eat anything and is as healthy as any other"

Saurabh turned to dr. kothar "its good news right?" he sounded so hopeful but she just gave a shake of head and answered "it will be complicated, but odds are favorable so far"

"good enough for me" came a voice interrupting and I saw her at the door. Ashi was here, she took a seat beside me and the doctor with her joined other side.

"I'm here on behalf of dr. Chouddhary"

"all ok?" Saurabh asked

"well yes, for now but scans aren't exactly good. I have the bad news, dr. Chouddhary has concluded the shoulder might paralyze at this rate" he turned to Ashi "you don't have the time, he suggested to hurry up on the decision of surgery"

"ill think about it" she said

"how long?" Saurabh asked

"3 months max, it will be not an option after that"

He nodded and got up, I and Ashi followed suit, shaking hands with all of them, we left the place. I am still confused but I have gathered some things, like she had a weak immune system but no more, there will be complications about her pregnancy but what I don't get is why she isn't going for surgery? She has some injury from being mugged, her file says.

"princess" Saurabh started

"its still no dado" she stated not even letting him finish

"you heard them" he said

"you heard me" she replied, her tone

They went on like this which sounded like code language to me before Saurabh pulled up at his house where my car is also parked, for we came looking here also. Before Dave informed us she was at her old place.

He turned to her, she was in the backseat. "princess what the hell is wrong with you? You want a paralyzed arm?" he yelled

She sighed and got off saying "I'm not doing this again"

We all made way inside as Ashi strode in, Saurabh still trying to convince her, but as soon as we were entered the main hall, she turned to us and stopped, "enough with this dado, ill think about it. Stop hovering over me" throwing her bag on the sofa she went somewhere in the mansion.

In reply he kicked the table breaking it along with the vase on it, Ankita came out and sighed saying "this is fourth this month". He looked at her angrily and she looked at me "Randeep?" I nod and she smiles "come inside, what will you have?" before I could protest she dragged me inside to the garden.

Now I'm thoroughly confused, are these people normal, I know it's a big issue for people in our society mostly marry out of contracts and heirs are important part in that, everyone wants their own blood carrying their reign forward, still situation is good as doctor said and what is the problem with surgery? "don't worry, they fight like this, its normal" Ankita said getting my attention

"always?"

"yes but nothing major, you'll see by evening they will be at it again" she smiled and we took seats in the garden table and that was how my rest of day went, at his house trying to understand what is actually going on with her.

The more I know the more I fall in web of questions, she has injury but doesn't want it treated, why? She has slim chances of conceiving, is that the reason she made the contract, why is the ever smiling Ashi not happy? What is it about her, that all of these are not just scared of her but also talk and act as per her will?

I look at my side where at a distance Ashi is sitting on a bench oblivious to the world again as she gazes on the lilies nearby, I seem to know nothing about the girl known as my wife to me, does that make sense to you?

*****

thanks for reminding me🙈 i did forget. i told you im out of my mind these days