After Abhigya's wedding, Tanu fell in love and got married soon after. She moved to America with her new husband and rarely contacted with anyone after that.

Her parents had lost their lives in a car crash after her marriage. Abhi tried his best to contact her and eventually got through. He felt Tanu had changed but it might have been because of her parents death. Maybe she needed some time and he also tried not to contact her regularly.

***

After a few months of marriage, round midnight, Pragya was in deep sleep when suddenly she heard some beautiful music and a beautiful aroma smell surrounded her, but she did not open her eyes. She was searching for her love with closed eyes but she didn't find him.

Abhi smiled seeing Pragya searching for him in deep sleep.

"Fuggi, Fuggi darling." He called. "Wake up. Come on, baby, a surprise is waiting for you." Abhi said, trying to wake her up by patting her cheek slowly and lovingly.

"Five minutes, Abhi. Please, let me sleep na." said Pragya thinking it was morning.

Abhi started kissing her all over her face to make her wake up. Pragya woke up from her sleep and hugged Abhi without opening her eyes.

Abhi " fuggy , open your beautiful eyes my beauty"

Pragya opened her eyes and surprised seeing the beautiful decoration of their room and realized it was only midnight.

"Abhi , to make all these beautiful arrangements you made me sleep at ten o'clock?"

Abhi smiled and said, "Yes, baby."

"I love you, Abhi" she said to him. "By the way, what's the special about today? It's not my birthday neither yours. What the special occasion?" asked Pragya.

"You are too bad, Fuggi!" he said to her. "You didn't even remember our special day?"

"What special day?" she asked.

"Baby , it's our six month marriage anniversary." he told her.

"Oh! How can I forget that? But what was the need to do all this, Abhi? How did you manage all this by yourself?"

"You are the the only inspiration I needed t do all this, Fuggi. If you are with me, every day is special to me. These days I am alway busy with my work, so I wanted to do something special for you and also I want to gift you something special. So you can ask me for whatever you want, Fuggi."

"I may not have all the things I want in the world, Abhi, but have the most important one and that's you, Abhi. I don't need anything other than you."

Abhi kissed her forehead.

"Shall we go out then?" he asked.

"What about a small party with family and friends. You know, Abhi, it's been a long time since we met Tanu and her husband, Nikhil."

"Yeah, that's a good idea, but their mobiles were switched off. I tried a lot to contact them but I couldn't. I'll go to their home tomorrow and see them personally."

"It's alot easier to see them now that they have shifted back here after her parent's death." Pragya said. "I'll come with you. I have some work, but I'll complete it in no time." said Pragya.

"It's ok, Fuggi. I'll go there on my own. By the way, where is my gift?"

"I am all yours, na? Do you need any other gift than me? No, na?" Pragya said winking at Abhi.

"In that case, I'll definitely take this gift... "

***

The next day, Abhi went to Tanu's house. It was locked, but he heard tv sounds coming from inside. He felt that something was wrong and with much difficulty he managed to open the window and he called out Tanu.

"Tanu! Tanu, are you there? It's Abhi! I'm at the back window, Tanu!" He yelled.

Tanu came to the window running and cried vigorously. Abhi was shocked seeing her like this.

"Abhi! Please save me! He will kill me. Please take me from here." she pleaded.

Abhi broke the door and brought Tanu out from there.

"Abhi, please don't ask me anything now. I'll tell you everything but first take me from here."

Abhi took Tanu to a hotel, after she insisted on not going to his home.

"Ok, Tanu, tell me what happened. What's going on and where is Nikhil?" Abhi asked impatiently.

"I was cheated by him, Abhi! He is not a good person! He is the reason my parents died, Abhi! He is a cheater!" said a crying Tanu

"What happened, Tanu? Don't cry, please. I am here, na? No one can hurt you now. Please don't cry." Abhi consoled her.

After few minutes, Tanu became normal.

"I am sorry Abhi, because of me everything collapsed. I am the reason for everything. I will die, Abhi! If I die, Abhi, please take care of my kid like your own. Please Abhi, promise me, please." cried Tanu.

"What are you taking about Tanu? What kid?" Abhi asked confused. "And never speak like this, Tanu. No no more talk about dying."

"That Nikhil is the reason for everything Abhi! He cheated me for money! He has a doubt on our relationship. He thinks we are together." she said. "He tortured me to no end and he was the one who caused my parents accident. All for money! But after their deaths, he got to know that mom and dad made a will transferring all money and property to my future kids."

Abhi was shocked hearing all this and his blood boiled at what Nikhil had done to his beloved cousin.

"Let's go Tanu. We will get you a doctor."

Tanu cut him off at once. "Abhi, I want to have this baby. I am in my fourth month now. I thought he will change after hearing my pregnancy news, but he has doubt on me. He thinks this baby is yours! No matter how many times I pleaded with him, he doesn't believe me. He just wants to use this kid as a way to get the money."

Tanu continued, "I am very weak, Abhi. I can't bare a child. Will you do one me a favour, Abhi?"

"What's that?" he asked.

"Please make that those rumors true." she pleaded.

Abhi was shocked!

"Tanu, what are you talking about? Stop this nonsense and come with me to my home. Pragya is there. She will help you. We will consult the best doctor and if you're are unable to deliver the baby then you will get an abortio.."

"ABHI! Please don't say that. It's my baby, Abhi! How can I kill my baby? Abhi, if you want to help me, then please do what I asked... or leave me, Abhi." said Tanu in a serious tone.

"Ok Tanu, I will do whatever you say, but come with me to the hospital. Look how weak you are Tanu. First take some rest and then I will take you to the doctor when you get up."

"Abhi, promise me you will not say anything to Pragya."

"Okay, Baba, eat this food and take rest, then we will go to hospital."

Abhi came out of the room and made a call to Pragya.

"Why didn't you pick up my call, Mister? Do you remember that you told me you would take me out for lunch on our half anniversary?" she said with a serious tone.

"Arey Pragya, I'm sorry." He apologized. "Listen, I have a very important meeting. I can't take you out now, Fuggi. Please understand. I will do whatever you say but I am really sorry. I can't make it to our date. Have lunch, okay? I'll talk to you later. Bye."

This idiot cut my call! Let him come home I will see...

***

Abhi took Tanu to the hospital for a checkup.

"Doctor, is everything fine?" Abhi asked.

"Mr. Abhi, I don't know how to say this. Tanu is very weak. I think someone hit her on the stomach too. We can't abort the baby because it's almost the fifth month of her pregnancy. We have to keep her here for a couple of days. This is a highly complicated case. Let's hope for best."

Abhi was shattered hearing this. He never thought that Tanu was going through all this. He assumed she was happy and living a good life with her husband. He just thought her parents death had put a little stress on her, but he had no idea of all this. If he hadn't promised Tanu, Nikhil would be one dead man right now!

***

After returning to the hotel, Abhi spoke to Tanu.

"Tanu, please listen to me. We have to punish Nikhil. We can't leave him like this. You have suffered a lot because of him. He just say the word and we can have him thrown in jail!

"Abhi, I don't know whether I'll be alive or not after the delivery, but, I don't want my kid have anything to do with Nikhil...not even his name. I can't bear that he is the father of my baby."

"But.."

"Abhi, I need you to promise me that if this baby survives, you will accept it as your own. You will give this baby your name and accept him or her as part of your family. Will you do that for me?"

"Tanu, I..."

Will you promise me? This baby is ours. I will give divorce to Nikhil. If Nikhil believes the baby is yours then he will never claim custody in future, but please don't tell anything to Pragya and even don't say that you met me. After delivery, I will tell her everything if I am alive. I am so sorry, Abhi, to involve you like this, but I have no choice. I have to what's best for my baby."

"Tanu, I can't keep this from my wife, She is my everything." Abhi said. "Pragya will understand."

"Please Abhi, don't ask me anything. Think of this as my last wish. I know no woman will agree to this, Abhi, not even Pragya."

For Tanu's sake, Abhi agreed.

***

After a few months

What happened to Abhi? He's behaving differently now.

He's always asking me questions about pregnancy. I think he wants to be a father soon. He isn't regularly at home these days and he always on his mobile. Why do I feel like he is hiding something from me?

Abhi, why are you neglecting your Fuggi?!

On the other side, Abhi was trying his best to get Tanu's health and well-being back to normal, while making sure also that Nikhil knew the baby was Abhi's.

Their plan succeeded as Nikhil believed their charade. But now, there was an even bigger problem....Nikhil wanted revenge!

***

Finally, Tanu was in her ninth month!

Nikhil came to Abhi's house with lawyer to meet with Pragya.

He told her everything he thought was going on between Tanu and Abhi.

After hearing everything, Pragya slapped Nikhil hard!

"I know, Pragya, that you won't believe me, but I will show you proof."

He showed her pictures of Abhi taking care of Tanu and a voice tape where Abhi admitted to being the father of Tanu's baby.

Pragya couldn't believe it! She was shattered that Abhi was with Tanu at another apartment, yet, he was always saying to her that he was busy with work!

Nikhil brought Pragya to Tanu's apartment.

When they entered the flat , Abhi was feeding Tanu.

They were shocked to see Pragya there with Nikhil.

"Pragya, listen to me! This is not what it looks like! Please don't believe Nikhil. He is a liar!" Abhi said.

"Who is the father of this baby, Abhi?" She asked in tears, pointing to Tanu's abdomen.

"Pragya listen to me first. Let me explain everything." He pleaded.

"Abhi!" she yelled. "Just tell me the father's name."

Because Nikil was there with his lawyer, Abhi told her what Tanu wanted him to.

"It's me." he said softly. "I'm the father of Tanu's baby."

Pragya was numb. Without saying anything, she turned and left from there.

Abhi turned to Nikhil with a murderous look on his face and was about to beat the hell out of him, when Tanu stopped him.

"Abhi, go to Pragya!" Tanu said to him. "You need to talk to her!"

***

Abhi went home looking for Pragya and saw that she locked herself in their room.

"Pragya! Pragya! Please open the door!" He shouted. "Let me explain! I never betrayed you! Please listen to me once, Pragya. Open the door!"

After a lot of pleading by Abhi, Pragya finally opened the door.

Before Abhi could say anything, Pragya held up her hand and stopped him.

"Tanu or me? Choose one." she told him.

"Pragya what is this? How can I choose between you both?"

"Just tell me. Tanu or me?" she asked again.

Abhi didn't say anything. He just looked into Pragya's eyes with tears in his own.

Pragya realized he had chosen Tanu but wanted to spare her feelings by not saying anything.

"Give me a divorce." Pragya said to him.

"Pragya!" Abhi shouted.

"I want to go away from you." she said.

"Please, Pragya, give me sometime. I will solve all this." he said. "I can't live without you Pragya, I love you. Please believe me. "

"I won't change my mind." she said to him.

After few minutes of silence, Abhi spoke.

"Okay I will give you divorce, but after 6 months, but till then you have to stay with me."

***

To be continue ...............

Thank you all so much for your support so far! and if you like this story , just tap on star symbol ✴️ bellow 😉😉 ...
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And

@the_naughty_princess (Trisha),Thank you so much Trisha....and

My lovely buddies @---anu--- @suba30 (AM), and maya from TU love you girls....

Happy pongal to all Abhigya writers and readers

With love
⚜️Santhi