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."

Pragya was shattered hearing that Abhi was willing to give her a divorce. She thought he would have said a flat no, but instead he wanted her to wait six months. Torture her first with Tanu and the baby and then let her go. How much more cruel could he be?

Pragya fell on her knees and cried. Immediately Abhi went to her and held her in his arms forcefully.

"Pragya, don't cry. Please Fuggi, I can't see you like this. I didn't do anything wrong. Don't believe what Nikhil said, please. Give me time, Fuggi. I will sort out all the issues."

Pragya hugged Abhi tightly and cried loudly. She couldn't believe his words when all the proofs were against him.

She cried until she eventually fell asleep and Abhi carried her over to the bed.

He then went to the other room and called Tanu.

"Abhi, how is Pragya?" she asked. "Did you tell her everything? I'll come there and explain everything to her. I am really sorry, Abhi. Because of me you are facing all this."

He could tell Tanu was crying.

"Tanu, dont talk like that and please don't cry. Everything will be fine and it's not a good idea to tell everything to Pragya. Your delivery date is near. Tanu, don't stress yourself. I will come there tomorrow, you take rest."

"But Abhi.."

"Just take your medicine and then take rest. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye."

Abhi went to their room to check on Pragya.

Pragya was awake, but she was crying still, and holding their picture in sleeping position.

Abhi went to the kitchen and prepared some food and took it to Pragya.

"Fuggi, don't cry baby. See, if you cry like this, then your Abhi feels bad. If you want you can beat me, but have something na. Tomorrow we have to fight a lot. If you are not having food, then from where will you get the energy?" Abhi said trying to make her smile.

After a lot of struggle Abhi fed Pragya. While he feeding her, he got a call from Tanu.

"Tanu, how are you? Is everything okay?"

Hearing Tanu's name, Pragya got angry and was about to leave, but abhi held her hand.

"Abhi! I am feeling uneasy. It's paining! Please come soon!" Tanu said.

"Pragya, I think Tanu is in labor pain. We should go." Abhi said to her.

"Look Mister, why do I have to come? I don't have any relation with that cheater."

"PRAGYA!" shouted Abhi and he took her forcefully to Tanu's flat.

When they reached there, Tanu was unconscious and they took her to the hospital and got her admitted.

Doctor came out of operation theater. Abhi rushed to the doctor.

"How is she doctor? Is she ok?" he asked.

Doctor " Mr.abhi , I am sorry saying this , but u know the complications. She is still very weak and very stressed. Her body is not responding to the treatment. We trying our best, but we can't guarantee anything for now. We gave to do operation immediately."

Abhi & Pragya were shattered hearing this. Abhi filled out the necessary forms and then went over to the sitting area and sat there silently. He didn't even hear when Pragya spoke to him.

Pragya sat beside Abhi and held Abhi's hand.

Please God, save Tanu! If they knew that this delivery would be very risky, then why did they take this risk? Please save Tanu and the baby. They betrayed me, but I can't see them like this. Save them, God, save them, pragya prying.

After one hour the doctor came out.

Pragya rushed to doctor.

"It's a baby girl, Mrs. Mehra, but Tanu's condition is critical. We can't say anything right now."

Abhi hearing this, asked the doctor, "Can I meet Tanu?"

"Sorry Mr. Abhi, you can't meet her now." The doctor said.

"Please doctor, let me talk to her this once." he pleaded.

"Abhi, try to understand. You can't meet her now. Please Abhi, listen to me" said Pragya with tears in her eyes.

After one hour, the doctor came and informed them that they can meet Tanu and the baby now. She wants to meet both Abhi and Pragya.

Abhi rushes to Tanu, while Pragya stood near the window.

Tanu signs Pragya to come near.

Tanu and the baby are attached to several machines.

"Tanu, please don't leave me, please." cried Abhi.

Tanu signed Abhi not to cry.

Pragya came near Tanu.

Tanu took Pragya's hand with most difficulty and place her hand on baby and said, "ABHIGYA."

And then she went unconscious.

The doctors hurried in to her and they sent out Abhi and Pragya and started treatment.

After few minutes, the doctors came out and said, "Sorry, Mr. Abhi, she is no more. We tried our level best, but..."

Abhi hugged Pragya tightly and both of them cried for the one who is no more.

After one week,

Abhi and Pragya were not talking to each other.

Abhi spent his all time at the hospital with Abhigya and because of this, Pragya felt all alone.

Abhi felt guilty, thinking that if he had only stayed with Tanu that night, she wouldn't have stressed herself so much and she would still be with them.

Pragya felt that Abhi held her resposible for Tanu's death and that's why he didn't want to speak with her.

But Abhi tried to talk to Pragya, but she had completely ignored him.

She thought he maybe he wanted to talk about them, but instead, he started talking about Abhigya.

She cut him off and said, "I still want a divorce."

After that, Abhi didn't talk with her, because he thought Pragya needed some more time to accept that Abhigya was their baby.

Abhi took Abhigya home after she was discharged from the hospital.

Pragya cried holding Abhi's photo.

How could you, Abhi ? How could you do this to me? You ignored me so much. You used to pamper me, Abhi, but now you are not even trying to talk to me.

You would notice even when I got a little headache, and you would take care such good care of me. Now that's all changed. I have had fever since two days ago and you don't even care to know that.

I hate you, Abhi! I hate you.

At the same time, Abhi came inside with Abhigya.

"Pragya, look who came to our house. See our little angel is here." He said in the happiest tone. "Abhigya baby, your Mumma is there. Let's go meet her."

Pragya was shocked! She never thought Abhi would bring Abhigya here.

"Why you bring her here?" asked Pragya.

"What do you mean? Where will she go?" Abhi said. "She is our daughter, Pragya. Please accept her."

"She is not my daughter! Take her from here! I don't want to see her. If she is here, then I will leave!" shouted Pragya.

Abhi tried to control his anger.

"Don't shout, Pragya. Abhigya will cry." he said to her. "And she will stay here only with her Papa."

"Okay Mister, you can stay here with her, but I want to leave. Give me a divorce."

"I told you, if you want a divorce you have to stay with me six months first, after that I'll do whatever you say" He said in a cold tone.

Pragya left from there after he spoke those words.

***

Over the next, Abhi hired a Nanny to look after Abhigya. He couldn't expect Pragya to look after her, because even she was dealing with her own issues...and that was mainly his fault. But he couldn't tell her the truth. Nikhil was still a threat to Abhigya. What if Pragya accidentally blurted it out to him in anger. He couldn't risk that. He and Pragya might not be Abhigya's biological parents, but they were still her parents. He would do his best by her.

He would tell his wife the truth eventually, he just wanted some time to make sure Nikhil would no longer be a threat to his daughter.

He brought Abhigya to their room and saw Pragya laying on the bed hugging her pilow and crying. He didn't know what to do to fix all this! Abhi placed Abhigya on the bed on the other side of Pragya carefully.

"Fuggi, I'm going to make milk for Abhigya. Please watch her for a bit." said Abhi. He placed his hand on Pragya's cheek to wipe her tears and realised Pragya had a fever.

"You have a fever? Why didn't you tell me? Come on, wake up! We will go to the hospital." He told her.

Pragya didn't say anything and refused to get up.

Abhi took his mobile and made a call to the doctor.

Abhi sat next to her.

"I am sorry, Pragya. I'm really sorry. With everything going on, I couldn't take care of you." he said and kissed her forehead.

Pragya couldn't control herself. She had no one to share her sorrow with. She hugged Abhi tightly and cried her heart out till she eventually fell asleep.

While Pragya slept, Abhi took the baby with him and prepared milk for her, fed her and then put her to sleep.

The doctor came home and gave Pragya medicine and injection.

"It's a normal fever." he said. "Nothing to worry about. She is very weak. Take care of her and make sure she takes her medicines on time." The doctor advised.

After the doctor left, Abhi prepared food for Pragya..

"Fuggi, get up. You need to eat and have your medicine. Come on baby, wake up."

Pragya woke slowly and was about to say something , she saw Abhigya and stopped.

Abhi fed Pragya and tried speaking to her.

"Tell me, where will we place the crib in the room? This side or that side? Fuggi, will you help me buy some things for the baby? I have no idea about these things." Abhi keeps talking to Pragya, but she keeps ignoring him and she just eats the food that Abhi is feeding her."

I have to change topic, Abhi said to himself after realizing Pragya wasn't responding.

"Fuggi, we will go out tomorrow....only you and me." he said to her.

Pragya looked up at Abhi.

"Abhigya's nanny will come tomorrow, so she will take care of her." Abhi said.

Pragya didn't protest because she wanted to spend some time with Abhi.

***

The next morning, Abhi and Pragya went to shopping after Abhigya's Nanny came.

First Abhi took Pragya to buy some outfits for her. Abhi chose all things for Pragya, while she just stood there without paying any attention. After that Abhi took her to a baby store with Pragya protesting not to go there.

"Fuggi select clothes for Abhigya, please."Abhi said.

She tried to ignore him, but he kept pestering her to choose and she didn't want to create a scene so she finally selected clothes for the baby. She selected everything perfectly and lovingly. Pragya forgot everything and she was busy in shopping for baby. Abhi felt very happy that Pragya selecting everything with love.

"Pragya, shall we buy these toys for Abhigya?" asked Abhi.

"No, she can't play with those toys as yet. She's too small and some of them might scare her. She has to get soft toys that are cute and well...soft.

"Fuggi, can you give me any suggestions of a pet name for Abhigya?"Abhi asked very slowly and lovingly.

"Hmm.... Abhu!" she said.

After a few seconds, she realized what she said and kept the things back on the rack and went to the car.

Abhi smiled.

I know, Pragya, you can't avoid Abhigya for a long time.

He cleared all the bills and went to the car.

***

"Abhu, how is your new name, baby? Your Mumma selected this name for you. It is superb, na? See all these things? Your Mumma has selected everything for you " He winked at Pragya.

Pragya mentally cursed her self for selecting everything and keeping a pet name for her.

From then on, she strongly decided to avoid Abhigya.

After that, Pragya became very silent and always went away from Abhu. When ever Abhi brings the baby near Pragya, she avoided talking with Abhi too.

But Abhi did not leave her like that. He always tried to change her behavior towards Abhigya and he tried his best not to neglect Pragya too, but there were always small issues ruining their life because of Abhigya.

*******************************************************

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....

With love
⚜️Santhi