Madhav leaned back in his lounge chair, sunglasses perched on his nose as he took in the stunning view before him. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting a golden hue across the horizon. Waves gently lapped at the shore, creating a soothing rhythm that filled the warm evening air. But it wasn't just the beach or the sunset that held his attention—it was Shree.

She was a vision in a turquoise bikini that perfectly complemented her sun-kissed skin. Her hair, slightly tousled by the ocean breeze, cascaded over her shoulders, and her confident stride as she walked along the shore caught the attention of more than just Madhav. But for him, it was like time stood still as he watched her move with effortless grace.

Shree had always been beautiful to him, but there was something different about seeing her in this setting, so carefree and radiant. She exuded a natural elegance, and every curve of her body seemed to be highlighted by the shimmering sunlight. As she walked closer, the sight of her toned legs and the way the bikini hugged her figure made his heart race.

Madhav's eyes were drawn to her ass, the way it swayed slightly with each step she took. He couldn't help but admire how perfectly the bikini accentuated her curves. He shifted slightly in his chair, trying to hide the fact that he was staring. But he was only human, and Shree was a breathtaking sight.

As she sipped the drink, the glass clinked softly against her teeth, and she let out a satisfied sigh. Madhav's gaze traveled up from her hips to her cleavage, partially hidden yet tantalizingly on display. The bikini top was just enough to cover her modestly but left plenty for his imagination to fill in.

Madhav swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. He quickly glanced away, trying to play it cool, but his mind was still filled with the image of her—every line, every curve. Shree, however, wasn't oblivious to his wandering eyes.

She caught his gaze and smiled slyly, setting her drink down on the table. "Enjoying the view, Madhav?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Madhav chuckled, trying to mask his embarrassment. "The view is... stunning," he admitted, though he wasn't sure if he was talking about the beach anymore.

Shree placed her hands on her hips, cocking them slightly as she tilted her head to the side. "Is that so?" she asked playfully. "And what exactly are you admiring so intently?"

He felt a flush of heat rise to his cheeks, but he decided to play along. "Well," he began, leaning forward in his chair, "the ocean is beautiful, the sunset is gorgeous, but nothing compares to you."

Shree laughed, a musical sound that made his chest tighten with affection. "Nice save," she said, stepping closer to him. She leaned down, giving him an even better view of her cleavage as she looked him in the eyes. "But I know where your eyes have been, Mr. Madhav Ramakrishna. You've been staring at me like a man who's never seen a woman in a bikini before."

Madhav grinned, not even bothering to deny it. "Can you blame me?" he asked, reaching out to gently take her hand. "You look... incredible, Shree. I couldn't help myself."

Her smile softened, and she squeezed his hand. "I'm glad you think so," she said, her voice laced with affection. "But next time, you could try being a little less obvious."

He pulled her down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Or," he whispered into her ear, "I could just keep looking, and you could pretend you don't notice."

Shree shivered as his breath tickled her ear, and she turned to face him, her lips just inches from his. "Or," she countered, "I could just kiss you and make you forget everything else."

Madhav's heart raced as their lips met in a tender yet passionate kiss. The feel of her warm skin against his, the taste of the cocktail on her lips, the way her body fit perfectly against his—it was intoxicating. For a moment, they forgot about the beach, the people around them, and the world itself. It was just them, lost in the bliss of each other's presence.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless. Shree rested her forehead against his, a contented smile on her face. "You always know how to make me feel special," she murmured.

Madhav cupped her face in his hands, his thumb tracing her jawline. "You are special, Shree. And you're mine."

She nodded, feeling a deep sense of belonging. "Always."

The evening continued with them basking in each other's company, sharing drinks and laughter, the beach and the sunset now mere backdrops to the love they shared. And as the night crept in, Madhav knew that no matter where they were, as long as Shree was by his side, nothing else mattered.

* * * * *

Madhav sat on the edge of his desk, staring blankly at the floor, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. The words Devi had just spoken echoed in his mind: *Shree has moved on.* His chest tightened painfully as the reality of those words settled in. How could she? How could Shree, his Shree, just give up like that?

He rubbed his hands over his face, trying to compose himself, but the frustration and pain were overwhelming. He grabbed his phone and dialed his best friend, Sivaji, unable to hold it in any longer.

"Sivaji," Madhav said as soon as the call connected, his voice thick with emotion, "how could she move on? How can she just give up like that?"

Sivaji sighed on the other end of the line, clearly expecting this call. "Madhav, it's been six months. That's a long time for someone to wait. You have to understand that."

Madhav's hand clenched into a fist. "Six months... I know. But I needed time to figure things out. That doesn't mean she should just—just leave me behind."

"You were the one who distanced yourself," Sivaji replied, his tone calm but firm. "Shree tried, Madhav. She tried everything she could to talk to you. She was patient, but you kept pushing her away. She must have felt like there was no hope left."

Madhav's jaw tightened, the guilt seeping in despite his frustration. He had distanced himself. He had avoided her calls, drowned in work, and let the silence between them grow. But still, the idea of Shree moving on without him hurt more than anything he could have imagined.

"Do you think I should go to London?" Madhav asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the very thought of seeing her again both excited and terrified him.

"Yes," Sivaji said without hesitation. "You need to go, Madhav. You need to see her face-to-face, talk to her. If you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Madhav felt a sliver of hope rise in his chest at the thought. But just as quickly, doubt crept in. What if she had really moved on? What if she looked at him and told him she didn't want him anymore?

He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "But what if... what if Shree says she doesn't want me? What if I go all the way there, and she rejects me?"

Sivaji's voice softened. "Then at least you'll know. You owe it to yourself—and to her—to ask her directly. It's better to hear it from her than to live with the 'what ifs.' If she's really moved on, then you'll know where you stand. But if there's even a small chance that she still loves you, you need to take it. You can't just let her go without trying."

Madhav exhaled, his mind spinning. The idea of losing Shree forever was unbearable. He had always assumed they would work things out, that time would heal their rift. But time, it seemed, had done the opposite.

"I can't believe I let it get to this point," Madhav muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I thought we just needed space, but I was wrong."

"You were both hurting," Sivaji said gently. "But now you have a choice, Madhav. You can either stay here, stuck in your regret, or you can go to her and fight for her. The ball is in your court."

Madhav closed his eyes, picturing Shree's face—her smile, her laughter, the way she made him feel whole. How could he have let her slip away? The thought of her with someone else, of her moving on without him, twisted painfully in his chest.

"I'm going," Madhav said suddenly, his voice filled with determination. "I'm going to London. I have to see her, Sivaji. I can't just let her go like this."

Sivaji smiled on the other end. "That's the Madhav I know. Go get her, man. Don't let fear stop you. If you love her, fight for her."

Madhav hung up the phone, his mind racing with plans. He would fly to London, he would find Shree, and he would tell her how he felt. Even if she had moved on, he needed to hear it from her. He needed to see her one last time, to know for sure.

But deep down, he couldn't shake the hope that maybe—just maybe—there was still a chance for them.

* * * * *

Shree stepped into her apartment, feeling the weight of another long day at university. She was exhausted but content, her thoughts drifting to the little life growing inside her. As she opened the door, a chorus of cheerful voices erupted, startling her.

"Surprise!" Ahaana, Olivera, and a group of their university friends stood in the living room, the space transformed with soft pastel decorations, balloons, and a table full of homemade treats—cookies, pies, cupcakes, all beautifully arranged.

Shree's eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the scene. "What is this?" she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

Olivera stepped forward with a beaming smile. "It's your baby shower, Shree! We wanted to do something special for you and the baby."

Shree was stunned, her heart swelling with emotion as she looked around. Streamers and balloons in pink and white adorned the walls, and a large banner that read "Welcome Baby Girl" hung above the fireplace. In the corner, a table was stacked with gifts wrapped in colorful paper.

"You guys..." she whispered, touched by their thoughtfulness.

Ahaana came over, hugging her tightly. "We couldn't let you go through this without celebrating, especially with you so far from home."

Shree blinked back tears, her hand instinctively resting on her baby bump. "I don't know what to say... Thank you so much. This is beautiful."

Olivera handed her a cupcake, grinning. "You don't have to say anything—just enjoy it. We've been baking all day!"

Shree laughed, finally letting herself relax as the warmth of the moment washed over her. She could smell the vanilla and cinnamon from the baked goods, and the air was filled with the lighthearted chatter of her friends. It was such a welcome distraction from the growing sense of loneliness she had been feeling in recent weeks.

"RK sent something for you too," Ahaana said, nodding toward the stack of gifts.

Ahaana smiled and pointed to a beautifully wrapped box in the corner. "He sent a crib, which we got the Apartment Maintenance guy to assemble and some really comfy blankets for the baby. He wanted to make sure you had everything you need."

Shree's heart tightened. "That's so thoughtful of him..." she whispered,

"Please thank him for me," she said to Ahaana.

Ahaana gave her a sympathetic look, sensing the shift in her mood. "He's really looking forward to meeting his granddaughter," Ahaana added, trying to lift Shree's spirits.

Shree nodded and smiled, though her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't help but wonder what Madhav would say if he were here. Would he be excitedly holding her hand, teasing her about the baby? Would he be standing with a proud smile as they opened gifts together? The thought tugged at her heart, a bittersweet reminder of how much she missed him. She pushed the thoughts away - Madhav didn't want her anymore.

Despite the ache in her chest, Shree threw herself into the celebration. Ahaana and Olivera had gone all out to make sure she felt loved and appreciated. They played fun baby shower games, laughed over memories from university, and enjoyed the delicious homemade treats. Shree couldn't help but smile as she opened each gift—tiny clothes, adorable toys, and so many baby supplies.

Helga came upto her, with a warm smile and handed her a beautifully wrapped gift. Shree carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box to reveal a soft, hand-knitted blanket.

"I made this for the baby," the friend said shyly. "I hope you like it."

Shree felt a lump form in her throat as she ran her fingers over the delicate stitches. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you so much."

As the evening wound down, Shree sat back on the couch, her feet propped up on a cushion, feeling a strange mix of contentment and sadness. Ahaana and Olivera were busy cleaning up the remnants of the party, chatting animatedly about their plans for the weekend.

Ahaana noticed Shree's faraway look and came over to sit beside her. "You okay?" she asked gently.

Shree nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

"About Madhav?" Ahaana asked knowingly.

Shree sighed, her smile faltering. "No, it's about the baby. I'm nervous about childbirth. The baby is due towards the end of October. That's only 3 weeks from today"

Ahaana squeezed her hand. "I know, Shree. Everything will be fine!"

Shree nodded, hoping Ahaana was right.

"You can do this and you're not alone," Ahaana reminded her. "You have us. And soon, you'll have your baby girl. Everything will be okay."

Shree smiled. "Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."

As the night came to an end and the last of her friends left, Shree stood by the window, looking out at the city lights. She rubbed her belly gently, feeling the baby move inside her. She smiled.

* * * * *

Madhav sat at his desk, browsing through flight tickets when his phone rang, breaking his focus. Glancing at the screen, he noticed it was his building contractor from Munnar. Without hesitation, he answered, already suspecting what the call might be about.

"Hello, Madhav sir," the voice on the other end began with enthusiasm. "I have some good news! Elysium is finally complete. We just need your approval for the final touches—furnishings, fixtures, and a few more things that need your decision."

Madhav's heart skipped a beat at the thought. Elysium had been his dream project for years—his getaway with Shree in the heart of Munnar, nestled in the serenity of lush hills and misty mornings. The fact that it was nearing completion filled him with both pride and anticipation.

"That's great news," Madhav said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "How long do you think it'll take to finalize everything?"

"Well, sir," the contractor replied, "it'll take about four weeks to get everything in order, but if you're in a rush, I can expedite the process. We could wrap it up quicker if needed."

Madhav pondered for a moment. Four weeks wasn't long, but with everything that had been happening with Shree and the chaos of his current work, time felt like a rare luxury. However, the idea of finally seeing Elysium in all its glory and giving his personal touch to the final details felt like the break he needed.

"Let's aim for four weeks, but if you can make it faster, I'd appreciate it," Madhav responded. "I'll head to Munnar soon. I want to see it for myself before we finalize things."

"Of course, sir. I'll make sure everything is ready for your visit," the contractor assured him. "Just let me know when you're arriving, and we'll take it from there."

"Will do," Madhav confirmed before ending the call.

He sat back for a moment, his thoughts lingering on the tranquil escape Elysium promised to be. It would be a perfect distraction from the complexities of his life, a retreat where he could clear his mind and refocus on what mattered most. Grabbing his jacket and keys, Madhav started packing his things.

It was time to head to Munnar.