PAAKHI POV

"Where is she?!" The roaring voice of Shaurya masks the additional commotion in this busy hallway.

"Where is she Paakhi?" His disheveled state mirrors mine.

The tears I have been holding onto push through when I see him.

"She's inside," I point towards the dusted white door behind which my Aditi is being examined.

"How could this happen?" He yells before pushing through those doors.

I feel arms go around me and I lean into his embrace soaking his t-shirt.

"It's okay love, she's going to be okay," Viren whispers to me.

I stay in his embrace remembering the horrific incident half an hour ago.

I don't remember when we drifted off on the couch watching a movie but I remember, Aditi's hoarse voice calling for help.

When I woke up, I saw her a few feet away from us on the ground clutching her belly and sobbing.

I rushed to her and yelled for Maanu. Things were blurred after that as we called the ambulance, but it took a long time that Maanu, and I had to lift her to the cab downstairs.

On our way here, I just heard Aditi sobbing about her baby.

"I was so scared," I tell him amidst my sobbing.

He doesn't say anything just caresses my head.

"Sir you need to wait here," the uproar behind me made me take a step away from Viren.

"Shaurya!" Viren leaves my side to take a hold of his yelling brother.

Shaurya is yelling and shouting at the staff.

"Sir we have other patients too, please maintain silence." The doctor requests him.

Shaurya doesn't listen to anyone causing Arhaan and Viren to grab him and pull over harshly.

"Shaurya! Let them do their work!" Maanya tries to reassure him.

"Everything will be okay..." I mumble to him.

He stares at me and I don't know what was it that he saw in my eyes that he nods and quit struggling.

Viren pulls him to the plastic chair and Arhaan grabs him a glass of water.

"What happened?" He asks helplessly.

I glance at Maanya and then at him.

"We don't know..." I reply.

"We were slumping on the couch watching a movie when I don't remember when I drifted to sleep. I woke to Aditi's Voice. I saw her on the floor clutching her stomach and sobbing. We rush to her and then to here..." I inform them.

"Is our baby-" he doesn't finish the sentence but we all know what he implied.

"What's happening?" The authoritarian voice of Dad behind us snaps us to look at him.

Ma is standing beside him with apprehension.

"We don't know, she's still inside," Viren informs them.

"Visitors of Aditi Singh?" Hearing the nurse, Shuarya tumbles over towards her.

"Me! I'm her husband," he announces and we assemble beside him.

I join my hands and begin chanting my prayers.

"Doctor will talk to you inside." She doesn't have to say twice before we all barge Inside the small room.

There rests my girl, eyes closed.

Shaurya plops beside her and holds her hand.

"We can't have all of you here, only family!" The doctor looks disapprovingly at all of us.

"We all are family!" Viren glares at him.

Now we all know when Viren glares at you, you can't defy him.

The doctor takes a deep breath and looks at his charts.

"The patient is fine, but we need to monitor her blood pressure." He informs.

"But what happened earlier?" I ask concerned.

"As the uterus stretches to accommodate the growing baby, so do the ligaments. This may cause sharp or dull pain in the abdomen, hips, or groin. Shifting your position, sneezing, or coughing can trigger round ligament pain. This usually occurs in the last half of the pregnancy." He informs.

"Is she okay now?" Ma asks walking to her other side and caressing her forehead.

"She is, but the concern is her blood pressure. We need to monitor her blood pressure, I will provide the list of some foods and exercises." He instructs.

"Thank you, Doctor!" Dad acknowledges and walks out of the room with him.

"Thank God she's fine." Maanya sighed and walk over to the bed beside ma.

"I will be back, there seems to be a bit of commotion outside. Seems like the paparazzi got the whiff of us here." Viren informs leaving the room.

"You guys should have taken her to a better hospital," Shaurya scrunches his nose as his chair makes a noise.

"Sorry we were so focused on getting Aditi to a hospital we didn't see if it deem fit to Singh's" Maanya rebuked.

"I didn't mean it like that," he looks remorseful.

"Of course, you girls did the right thing by bringing her here on time," Mom says.

"When will she wake up?" Arhaan asks upset.

I feel warmth flutter through me seeing in such a little time we have become so close. Just as Arhaan and Shaurya are like brothers to me, similarly, Viren and Arhaan care so much about Aditi.

"She will when the medicines wear off," mom replies.

"Can you ask for an extra chair for ma?" I ask Arhaan. He nods and walks out of the door.

"I got so tensed when I heard about Aditi in the hospital," mom mumbles.

"We all were," I mumble.

Everyone stays silent, lost in their thoughts when Maanu's phone rings.

She excuses herself.

"I will go check on others, do you need anything?" I ask them and leave when they deny it.

Taking a step out of the doors I see men in black suits lining the small hallway.

I stare at the frowning faces of people around me. Nurses and doctors have to almost scoot while passing them.

"Aunty Savy and Abby are coming. I told them not to worry Nana and Nona as Aditi is okay now." Maanya informs coming over to me.

I nod my head in acknowledgment.

"You seem troubled?" She points out.

"Look at this! People are being troubled because of this!" I tell her trying to control my anger.

"It's important though," she declares.

"No, it's not," I exclaim.

"For our comfort, we can not compromise others' convenience," I explain to her.

"Hmm... But what can we do?" She consults.

Just then I see Viren and Dad walking towards us.

Maanya walks in with Dad but I stay put and frown at Viren.

"Love?" He asks staring at me.

"What is all this?" I asked glancing at his security.

"I don't want any inconvenience to occur for us," he confides.

"But what about others? They are being disturbed because of this," I try to explain to him.

"That's not our deal, I have to look out for my family," he replies irked.

"Viren? Just because they are common people?" I ask surprised.

"This is a public place, you can't do this, " now I'm irritated,

"I can and I did, I paid for their discomfort. Why do you think they did not interfere?" He asks arrogantly.

"You paid the hospital not them," I say looking at the people around.

"Paakhi that's enough! I don't want to talk about it, it's useless." He chides and walks inside Aditi's room.

I stare at the now-closed doors. I hate his imperious nature sometimes.

"A little help please?" Arhaan stop beside me.

I stare at his hands and see him carrying paper bags and behind him, one of the security men is standing carrying two trays of coffee.

"Grab that coffee from him so that he can bring in some chairs." He asks and walks in.

I take the trays and follow him.

"You are amazing," Maanya rushes towards me and takes a tray from me.

"I brought those beautiful," Arhaan pouts causing Maanya to blush to look at Dad and Ma.

"I brought donuts too..." He says passing around the bag.

Seconds later, 4 men walk in with chairs in their hands.

I uphold a coffee cup to Dad, Shaurya, and Viren.

I don't even look at him so that he can know I'm angry. I even sit away from him causing him to scowl at me.

"After this, I think mom you should go home." Arhaan declares.

"No I'm not going anywhere," she scowls at him.

"What about your backache? And we all are here to look for Aditi." He explains.

"Dear, I agree with him. Let's prepare everything for Aditi at home." Dad tells Ma.

She contemplates for a minute but agrees.

"Promise me you will let me know if anything happens." She looks at all of us.

We nod and dad takes her away.

I stifle a yawn.

And stare at my lap.

"I'm so sleepy," Maanu complains while yawning.

I smile sleepily at her.

"You two should go home too," Shaurya lets out.

"Never!"

"No!"

Maanu and I reply simultaneously.

We won't leave our girl behind.

"What time is it?" I ask Arhaan.

"It's 4 in the morning," Viren answers instead.

But I keep staring at Arhaan as if I didn't hear Viren.

"Don't involve me in your foreplay," Arhaan comments starting at me and then at Viren.

I hear a snort from Maanya.

"What?!" I ask flabbergasted.

"What? Aren't you guys playing the angry wife and husband part?" He asks with a smirk playing on his lips.

I scoot over and hit him.

"Why are you behaving like him?" I ask eyeing Shaurya.

"My question exactly," Shaurya asks looking appalled.

I chuckle at his expression.

"You are rubbing off on him," Maanya quips.

"I hope he learns my bedroom skills too," Shaurya replied smugly.

"Ew Shaurya!" Maanya laughs.

"What's wrong with you?" I ask Arhaan.

"I'm sleepy," he replies while yawning.

"But what's wrong between you guys?" Shaurya asks me.

I shrug and look away.

"She's angry with me," Viren reply nonchalantly.

"Tell them why?" I glare at him.

"I'm loving this," Shaurya leans forward and eyes us.

"Oh lord, why do you test me like this?" He stands up and frowns at me.

"Me? You are the one behaving like an imperious man," I comment.

"Imperious?" He looks surprised.

"Damn woman," Arhaan starts chuckling.

Our attention shifted to the knock on the door and then to Abby and Aunty Savy walking in.

She rushes towards Aditi's bed and assesses her anxiously.

"She's fine, just resting," I walk over to her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"How did this happen? She was fine when we left," she asks.

"Doctor says it happens to some women during their later stages, the only concern is her Blood pressure, we need to regularly monitor it," Maanya informs.

"We were so tensed when we got a call, " Abby tells.

We all chat for some time and then Abby and Savy leave for the cafe.

"You both don't have to stay, go home, and rest," Maanu tells Arhaan and Viren.

"I will wait," Viren announces stifling a yawn.

" I want to see if she's okay," he further adds.

I can't help but smile, I'm touched by their affection for Adi.

"But when will she wake up? I'm getting anxious," Shaurya mumbled starting at Aditi.

"Will you mind going with me to the coffee shop around the corner?" Viren stands up and stretches his arms before looking at me.

I nod and follow him out of the room.

He waits for me to walk beside him.

We take the stairs down and to the front door.

"Damn they're persistent," he mumbles seeing the still loitering Paparazzi.

His men walk forward and make way for us.

"We should answer them so that they can leave," I whisper to him.

"They won't stop at a few questions love, they will eat you alive." He warns.

"You are just exaggerating it," I scoff.

He smiles and then takes me to the entrance and stops.

Seeing this the paparazzi got excited and bombarded us with questions.

"Are you pregnant?"

"Why did you marry her Viren?"

"Is she your wife or are you deluding for the inheritance?"

"Did you abort the baby?"

He was not kidding, These questions are intense.

"Told you," he whispers to me with a chuckle.

"Should we tell them the reason?" I ask him.

"That's something Shaurya and Aditi should decide." He concedes.

I nod and whisper, "now what should we say?"

"I'll handle it, babe," he replies smugly and loops an arm around me, and says, "Everyone, meet my Wife, Mrs. Paakhi Singh, and we married because we love each other." Just as he says that the camera starts flashing.

For a few seconds, I'm stunned.

"Love, follow me," he takes my hand and to the awaiting car.

"You seem shocked?!" He asks joining me in the backseat.

"Because I'm, " I declare staring at him.

"You just introduced me as your wife, when I look like this!" I say motioning over my pulled-back hair in a bun and my clothes all ruffled up.

"You look, good love, " he scrunches up his face.

"I don't want people to think you married someone -" I assess my brain for a word.

"Are you ashamed of yourself?" He asks seriously.

"Because I'm not! And I hope you are not too, I won't say you look gorgeous or anything, but you look good as much as a person in your situation would look." He confesses.

Should I fret that he just said I'm plain or should be satisfied that he accepts me like this and is proud to announce me to the world?

"And just look at me, I'm half asleep, my wife is angry with me, and I want coffee..." He quips.

"I'm not angry, just want you to know that you should consider others' feelings too." I confide.

"If I don't know them, how can I care for them?" He asks confusingly.

"But I'll try," he smiles at me and hold my hand.

I lay my head on his shoulder and look ahead.

_____________________

Aditi POV

"He,y baby, how you doing?" I feel someone caressing my belly.

"Ask mom to wake up," the low exhausted voice of Shaurya confuses me.

A deep sigh and then a peck on my forehead, force me to open my eyes.

Blinking twice, then thrice, I see a cream ceiling and the beeping of the heart machine.

Tilting my head, I see Shaurya a few inches away from me looking at his phone.

The bags under his eyes and his ruffled hair upsets me.

"Sh-" I cough before calling out his name.

His eyes instantly meet mine and he leaps up.

He fetches me a glass of water and a straw and then helps me sit up.

He brings the glass over to my lips and I sip from the straw.

Feeling the cool water flowing down my throat soothes me.

"Are you okay?" He asks hastily.

I nod and he leans down to place a kiss on my lips.

Feeling his warm lips, I loop an arm around his neck and deepen the kiss.

"I was so scared, " he breathes out taking a step away.

"Me too," I look at my belly and feel a few tears tumbling down my face.

"The baby is okay," he ensures and hugs me.

"Aditi?!" I hear Paakhi's voice.

Shaurya slides away and I see Paakhi, Viren, Arhaan, and Maanya standing at the doorway, all looking exhausted.

Without wasting a second, Paakhi and Maanya skip over to me and both embrace me.

I feel dampness at the right side of my neck where Paakhi has her face laying.

I feel so bad remembering how I behaved with her. I want to blame my hormones but it was all me.

This girl has been an angel in disguise for me.

"I was so scared," she mumbles causing me to caress her head.

"We are fine P," I try to console her.

"I'm glad you are okay," Maanya smile and takes a step away.

Maanu and I have a very weird relationship. So many years and still we are not bonded emotionally to the extent where we both are to Paakhi.

Paakhi is the rock in our friendship, she always understands both of us and makes us cordial.

I drape my other arm too around Paakhi and let her cry her heart out.

"We are happy to see you fine," Arhaan walks over to me when Paakhi steps back.

"We missed you," Viren walks over from another side and hugs me.

I feel so blessed to have these people care for me.

I smile a teary smile remembering my father's voice, "You will never have anyone to care for you, you don't deserve it!"

I so want him to see me right now, surrounded by the people who love me and care for me.

"I want to go home," I mumble.

"Doctors didn't allow it, babe," Shaurya exclaim.

"But I don't feel good in this room," I say looking around the small room filled with chairs.

"I will go talk to them," Viren says and walks out of the room.

"I'll see if there are any medicines or anything..." Arhaan says following Viren out.

"And I need to pee," Shaurya says striding out of the room too.

"That man was getting crazy when you were inside the room," Maanya informs smiling at now-closed doors.

"Did he do anything crazy?" I ask them.

"Nothing anyone else would not do," Paakhi mumble looking everywhere but at me.

"Did he beat someone?" I ask again.

"No no, just shouted. Aditi leave all of it, just rest." Paakhi advises.

"Boring..." I mumble.

"Necessary," Paakhi scowls at me and helps me lie down.

"I should probably call everyone and let them know," Maanya says and walks out of the room.

"Do you need anything?" Paakhi asks.

"Yes," I say.

"What? Tell me?" She inquires.

"Your forgiveness, I'm so sorry, I hurt you every time and -"

"Adi! We don't have to talk about it, it doesn't matter." She instructs.

"No, it is, how do you forgive us so easily? We hurt you so much?" I plead.

"When you love people, you know what they did doesn't matter if they care for you," she smiles down at me.

"But that doesn't mean we do it again and again," I mumble. Why is she so naive? Some might consider her foolish.

"I know, but you guys are my family, my people! " she leans down and places a kiss on my forehead.

I know this means she is done talking about it.

I sigh and close my eyes.

The next time I wake up, I'm ready to go home.

Shaurya and Paakhi walk me carefully to the car.
I can't help but notice so many men following us.

But when we take the exit from the cafe and not the main exit, I know there have to be media at the front.

Cars after car zoom past the hospital driveway all in one direction.

"Nana and Nona were not informed about your visit to the hospital," Paakhi mumbles.

"It's for good, I don't want their health to suffer," I say understanding the situation.

"You know doctors said that now you have to be very careful, no tensions. Okay?" Paakhi chides.

I nod my head like an obedient daughter.

For the next hour, I just look out the window till Paakhi snoozes beside me and Shaurya at the front.

Only me and the driver are awake.

Reaching home, just as we park, the door to Paakhi's side opens, and Viren's face comes into view, he smiles at me and then gently, shakes Paakhi.

"Love?" He calls out to her and she opens her eyes and yawns in his face.

I hold back a chuckle when Viren's face scrunch up for a bit.

"Can you please wake up him too?" I say pointing to the front seat.

He nods and walks to the other side of the car and opens the passenger door.

"Hey, brother wake up," he shakes Shaurya gently causing him to stir but not wake.

He then commences wiggling him vigorously.

"Faster babe, faster babe," Shuarya mumbles sleeping, a snort leaves my mouth just as Viren snatches his hands as if they were touching fire.

"Wake up dipshit!" Viren whacks Shaurya on the head and he wakes up all disgruntled.

"Ow man! Why?" He scowls at Viren.

"I tried a civil way but you were about to have an orgasm, I had no choice," Viren mocks.

I laugh so hard that my stomach hurts, Paakhi just kept smiling at the ordeal.

Everyone leaves the car, and Viren helps me out.

Walking to the front door, I'm welcomed by a warm hug from Ma.

She cries just as she sees me.

"Thank God," she mumbles placing a warm peck on my forehead.

Then Dad place a loving hand on my head and say, "Take care,"

When Palak Aunty walks forward and touches me, I feel anger.

This woman tried to manipulate us against our sister.

"I want to rest," I mumble to Shaurya just as she opens her arms.

Shaurya nods his head and takes me to my room.

"Is something wrong? Should I call the doctors?" He asks afraid.

I don't know what to tell him, so I just say, "I and baby want to be near you, I was so scared when I didn't have you..."

He takes me into his embrace and whisper, "I'm always here for both of you,"

"I need you, Shaurya," I say with desire.

He looks at me worried.

"You just came home from the hospital, maybe we should not-" he starts but I cut him off by pulling him to me and kissing him.

A moan leaves his mouth just as I thrust my tongue in. We both fight for dominance but I let him win.

He backs me away till he carefully lays me down and then gently lays beside me, he backs from the kiss, takes off his t-shirt, wines his arm around my waist, and pulls close.

He places a small kiss on my lips and says, "as much as it pains me to do this, we cannot do it right now, you and our baby need rest, and genuinely me too," he ends his oration with a yawn.

I feel happy, loved, and angry at the same time, probably my hormones.

I understand that he is exhausted but I'm aroused.

"Later I promise to fuck you everywhere in this room, that couch, our bathtub, our basin, and surely this bed." He consoles me.

I smile, he knows what words will make me happy and didn't use words like "make love to you,",

I let those thoughts lure me to sleep.

_____________________

VIREN POV

Waking up with my wife in my arms and her drooling face makes me the happiest man.

I gently tug my arm from under her and make my way to the restroom.

Doing my business and taking a shower, I exit it to see Paakhi still asleep.

Covering her with a quilt and placing a small kiss on her head, I walk out of the room.

Noticing the time on my watch, I descend the stairs toward the kitchen.

" Rose," I greet her, she's the head maid and more than that she's our second mother.

"Son? How are you? Do you need something?" She leaves her work and asks me.

"I'm hungry," I reply.

"What will you have?" She asks setting a pate full of assortments on the food trolley.

"Anything," I reply still assessing the trolley.

"I will prepare something, give me a few minutes." She replies and orders her assistants.

"Is someone visiting us?" I ask with a tense feeling.

"Your Aunt," she replies getting back to work.

Anger surged through me, now what does she want?

I March towards the living room and see her indeed chatting away with Palak Aunty.

Dad and Mom are sitting there with a frown on their faces.

"What is she doing here?" I ask walking in.

Everyone looks at me.

"Viren, my son," she gets up to hug me but I take a step back.

Hurt flashed through her eyes.

Good.

"This is not a way to talk to your aunt," dad chides.

"Really? After what she did, do you think I respect her?" I'm fuming right now.

"Viren!" This time it's my uncle.

"It's not his fault, he's saying what his wife taught him." She sneers.

I look at her baffled.

"I told you all, we should bring a well-educated girl from a good family," she remarks.
"Do you know? Everyone is talking about how your eldest daughter-in-law is irresponsible, she is disrespectful, and whatnot..." She continues.

"Don't talk about my wife like that," I yell.

"Really? Why?" She glares at me.

"Because I love her and respect her. If someone was to hurt her, I will hurt that person." I warn.

"Why don't you see she is a manipulative girl, she's taking you away from me!" She yells back.

"No, she's not, there is no person more thoughtful and sensible than her," I state.

"Really? She's stupid! I offered her so much money and she refused all of them, for what? Love? That may last or not." She chuckles menacingly.

"What do you mean?" I ask perplexed.

"What do you mean by that?" I yell again.

"Viren?!" Arhaan comes and stands beside me with Maanya by her side.

"Tell me! What do you mean by you offered her money?" I demand?

"Your lovely wife came to me asking for my forgiveness on the day she had to meet all the relatives. She was being melodramatic and all, saying I need to be there with my family and my brother loves me and whatnot, she said she will do anything for my forgiveness, and I asked her that all three of them leave my nephews. " not even a second later she said this, a sound of slap resonates the room.

I look at my mother standing between Aunt and me.

Aunty looks perplexed by what mom just did.

"You tried to take away my sons' happiness. You tried to destroy my family. Leave and never come back." Mom sobs.

Aunty looks at her brothers but when no one moves an inch she storms off.

"I was so angry at that girl for being late when she just wanted to reunite this family." Mom sobs and take a seat.

"How will I face that girl, I'm so bad," she wails.

Aunt Palk takes her in her arms and they both sob together.

"What do you mean?" I ask her.

"I was being rude and ignorant to her," mom confesses.

I feel a blow to my heart.

That girl was going through so much as didn't even utter a word to me.

Recalling her crying in her sleep and all makes sense now.

"Ma?" Everyone glances at the door where she stood looking anxiously at everyone.

"Is Aditi okay?" She looks at me.

"Nothing happened to Aditi, she's fine. But-" Maanya takes a pause and then says, "Aunt Reshma was here,"

All colors drain from Paakhi's face.

"What did she say?" She asks looking everywhere but at me.

"Everything!" I announce.

Her eyes go wide.

"I'm so sorry dear, please forgive me," mom leaps towards her.

Paakhi embraces her.

"I was so rude and arrogant to you when you were only making things good for this family," mom cries out.

Paakhi mumbles something to her and they both talk gently.

Mom smiles at her and steps away.

I look at everyone in the room and make an announcement, "Paakhi and I are leaving -"

"Viren!" Paakhi yells at me and consoles me crying, mom.

"Son-" dad looks like he's going to cry.

"Bhai?" Arhaan asks teary eyes.

"We are not leaving, this is our family!" Paakhi assert.

"I was saying, we are leaving for a trip, we all need some time to think and I had already planned it," I stifle a smile at all their faces.

Dad clears his throat and nods his head.

"Very well, we will manage at the office." He leaves the room.

"Where are you going?" Arhaan asks.

"Somewhere, not telling anyone," I smirk and leave the room not before taking Paakhi's hand and tugging her.

I smile reminiscing all the things I planned on our honeymoon.

_____________________

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