Dhwani's eyes widened when she saw Anika this morning. It was her godh Bharai while she arrived to her mother's place to stay and her baby bump had grown big.

"Bhabi... You ate too much. You have become so fat" Dhwani spoke shocked. Anika chuckled looking at her.

"Dhwani it's the baby" Her mother in law spoke. "The baby is here?" asked Dhwani pointing to Anika's stomach and she nodded agreeing.

Dhwani placed her finger but quickly drew it back feared.

"I will hurt the baby sorry" she looked up at Anika.

"Nothing will happen bhabi give your hand" Anika forwarded her palm and Dhwani complied.

She placed Dhwani's palm on her stomach.

The baby kicked which brought a huge grin on Dhwani's face and she was shocked.

"It did something" she looked at Anika with wide eyes.

"I think it's mini Zorro because it responded to Pooh Bear's touch when it did not even responded to its father's touch" Anika chuckled.

"Ansh was trying to get a kick from it from morning. But as soon as it sensed Pooh Bear's touch it kicked" Anika explained.

"It's kicking?" Dhwani asked curious.

"Why?" asked she confused.

"Like father like daughter" Ragini who entered the mansion spoke hearing her.

"Mumma... " Dhwani squealed happy hugging her mother.

She then looked behind searching for her father. Ragini who now walked to Anika signing her to sit looked at Dhwani.

"Whom are you searching?" asked Ragini.

"Where is Paa? " she turned to her mother. "He is in some meeting he won't be able to come" Ragini reasoned.

Dhwani's face fell. Shlok who was serving the tea to everyone looked at Dhwani sad and walked to her.

"Missed me? " Dhwani's eyes widened in surprise.

"Paa... " she screeched happily hugging her father.

"You are so bad mumma" Dhwani whined. "Aww I just wanted to see that huge smile on your face baby sorry" she held her ears while Dhwani pouted turning to her mother.

Then she smiled and hugged her father again.

"I missed you Paa. So much" she stretched her hands and Sanskar smiled kissing her forehead.

And that made Shlok also smile.

The Godh Bharai rituals started and all showered Anika with gifts. She was smiling widely while Ansh sat beside her.

Shlok looked at Dhwani who was with her parent and enjoyed being in their company.

He smiled finding her happy.

He did the ritual and handed Anika Her gift which he and Dhwani selected.

"Dhwani..." he called while she was walking towards the kitchen. She did not stop.

"Dhwani please yaar" he held her wrist. "I am sorry" he apologized.

"You told a lie Sok and if you ask sorry it will not become a truth" she turned to him angry.

"I know it will not... But if you forgive me I will feel a bit better" he looked down feeling guilty.

"If we wouldn't have gone for shopping to get Bhabi a gift I wouldn't have known at all" she wiped her nose.

It was just a day ago when Shlok and Dhwani went to buy gift for Anika.

Dhwani adored all the small clothes and toys in the shop while Shlok recieved a call and walked aside.

When he turned disconnecting the call he saw a lady holding very small baby and trying to manage her bag.

He walked to her quickly and held the baby which was about to fall.

"Oh thank you so much" the woman looked up. "Shlok?" she asked surprised.

He was shocked too. "H... Hai" he fumbled.

"How are you?" she asked and he smiled weakly at her.

"I am in a hurry" he  tried to hand her the baby. "I wonder you don't want to hold the baby more as far as I know you loved babies" she looked at him surprised taking the baby back.

"I still do" he  spoke weakly smiling.

"But... " he turned to look and found Dhwani watching him.

"You said you don't like babies" Dhwani snapped at him and he  landed back to present.

Shlok stared her for a good amount of time.

"That's what you are pissed about?" he asked still in trance.

"Then what?" asked Dhwani.

"Thank goodness" he placed his hand over his chest relaxing.

"Oh god Dhwani" he dragged her into a hug. He was scared like hell.

But she released herself from his embrace.

"I am really sorry Dhwani. But I...." he  struggled to give a reason.

Dhwani walked from there annoyed.

Shlok turned and was shocked when he saw his father in law.

"Hai papa" he smiled weakly.

"What's happening? " Sanskar asked and Shlok rubbed his shoulder nervously pretending not understanding.

"Why is Dhwani annoyed at you?" he asked directly this time which made Shlok to gulp down the saliva nervously.

"Actually I told her a lie that I don't like kids because.... Because..." he struggled to form the further sentence.

"You did not wanted her to have kids" Sanskar completed the sentence which made Shlok to watch his father in law in bewilderment.

"Yeah" he sighed nervously.

"She is so innocent and I don't want to burden Her with that. I don't even know if she is ready for it" he spoke looking down pouring all his worries in front of Sanskar.

"I get you" Sanskar smiled. "You do? " Shlok looked surprised.

"When Dhwani was in Ragini's womb I was initially not sure if Ragini is ready for it. I hardly slept from the day I discovered she was pregnant" he nodded his head side hugging Shlok.

"But you know then I realized its not just her. The baby is mine too. So why should I think of her handling the kid when I can do it myself if in  case she isn't ready. I couldn't stop my wife from having a hope of being a mother" he  smiled.

"I was all set to welcome my baby in our life in a determination that I will take full responsibility of it because at times Ragini seemed she was not happy about the kid" he remembered the past.

"But fate. All my preparations went in vain when I had to leave the baby to take care of Ragini. I thought I will love them both equally. But it was such a situation either I could be a good husband or good father" he wiped the slight tear at the edge of his wrinkled eye.

Shlok looked at him sympathetically.

"And I chose my wife.  The regret will be always there but I don't think I can even imagine a life without her. I'm not saying my baby isn't important to me. I love Dhwani also but may be a bit just a bit lesser than her mother" Sanskar chuckled.

"And for the same I suffered all my life for Dhwani's love her forgiveness" he stared blankly.

"And she loves you" Shlok smiled.

"She does" Sanskar agreed.

"Touch wood the life should never put you in such situation son" Sanskar nodded his head.

"I will always chose Dhwani" Shlok smiled.

Sanskar looked at him and then a smile broke into his face.

"I am chosing her now also.  Thanks Papa" Shlok hugged Sanskar expressing his gratitude.

When Dhwani entered her room still pissed after the function was over she could really not recognize it.

A light music played and she felt a hand grabbing her wrist. Shlok locked her in his embrace and started to sway to the music and she was forced to do so.

"Let me go Sok" she spoke trying to get out of his hold which only tightened.

"I have chosen you and not to let go but to hold you with me for forever" he  kissed her forehead.

"I am still angry" she huffed. "I know" he just smiled at her and turned and continued to sway locking her eyes with his.

She gave up. She can't possibly even fake that she is angry with him for more time.

"Why do you do this Sok? " she placed her head over his chest listening to his skyrocketing heart beat which she missed from last night.

"I am sorry Biwi" he placed his chin over her head and they continued to sway to the music.

Dhwani smiled looking up at him and he kissed her lips still moving with the music.

"I love you Dhwani. I love you and I will always choose you" he  whispered.

"I love you too Sok" she placed her head back on his chest.

Oh how much she missed his heart beat and his fragrance.

***.***