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Unedited version
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Aadhya falls asleep having found her solace in Sana's lap after feeding sumptuously on her milk.

Sana pulled and opened the door of her room and found Sidharth standing in front of her. He missed the knock on the door and instead knocked on her forehead.

"Ouch", Sana shrieked at a sudden knock by touching her forehead

"Ooops... Sana.. Sorry..", he said hurriedly rubbing her forehead himself with one hand by holding her hand with another.

"Tssshhh.. Aadhya is sleeping.", She shushed looking up at him.

They both raced inside to pat Aadhya when she whined a little with their noise and having found Sana missing. Sana patted on her chest while humming a tune and Aadhya gripped her forefinger and fell asleep peacefully again.

Sidharth shifted his focus on Sana as soon as Aadhya fell asleep. Sana sensed his gaze on her and blushed biting her lip. She kept her eyes down and caressed Aadhya's head delicately.

A shiver ran down her entire body and her hand froze when he placed his hand over hers. He then kept his head on her lap, closed his eyes shut and placed her hand on his head. She caressed and stroked his hair as delicately as she did for Aadhya.

"Even I couldn't sleep while you were away Sana.", He muttered in a low voice. Her heart sank as she had experienced the same pain of seperation herself. A warm teardrop from her eyes escaped and landed on his cheek making him open his eyes instantly.

"Sana..?", He uttered.

She wiped her teardrop from his face and he wiped hers.

"Don't cry Sana. It hurts a lot to see you cry. I know you've gone through a lot of pain. If I am given a chance, I would take all your pain and suffering to myself and fill your life with smiles.", He said looking up at her face still lying in her lap.

"Don't wish for my pain Sidharth. I won't wish this pain upon my enemies as well, let alone you who I..", she stopped from completing the sentence.

"Whom you?", He asked and she nodded her head to say nothing and looked away from him to avoid his eye contact.

"Say it Sana. I want to hear it.", Requested Sidharth but she stayed silent.

"Sana.. I love you..", Sidharth spoke while cuping her cheek to make her look into his eyes. When their eyes met, he saw a gush of tear flowing out from her eyes. He sat up straight and climbed down the bed to leave. She held his wrist to stop him from going away and he looked at her face.

"I shouldn't love you Sidharth.. It's a sin..", she sobbed.

"What?", He looked at her totally dumbfounded.

"I am a married woman.. and it's forbidden to love someone else..", she sulked putting down her head.

"Do you love him?", He asked

"No.. I hate him.. he is a murderer.. I hate him.", She said seething in anger.

"You don't love him neither are you married to him in the eyes of court. Moreover, he is legally married to someone else. Why do you want to believe that you are married Sana?", Asked Sidharth.

"Because I may have not registered my marriage but I still married him in front of God and the Holy Fire. How do I un-marry him?", Asked Sana.

"Marriage is between two people Sana. He doesn't even considers you as his wife. You married a lie. Moreover, when love in itself is pure, how can you call it a sin?", He asked.

She was quiet. He was right but she still couldn't agree with him.

"My love for you is enough for both of us to stay and survive in this unnamed relationship Sana. I love you but I will never ask you for your love in return. However, I trust you and I want you to trust me too.", He said.

She nodded her head in agreement.

"Thank you Sana.", Said Sidharth.

"Sidharth.. We need to save Chandini from him.", Said Sana.

He looked at her with a subtle smile. He had heard Chandini use disgusting words for her but Sana was still worried for her. He felt proud of his right choice.

"For that we need to convince her that Tarun is Shekar. For her Shekar is non-existent. Don't you have any proof that Shekar is.. your...", He didn't want to complete the sentence by calling Shekar her husband.

"No..", denied Sana.

"Think Sana. It's important not only to get you justice but also Chandini's life. You spent 10 years with him, you must have some proof, somewhere.", Said Sidharth.

"He has destroyed all the proofs while I escaped from his prison. I didn't take anything with me except..", she paused.

"Except?", Asked Sidharth.

"Sidharth I trust you but I need to do get this done myself. Just be by my side and I promise, I will get Chandini out of his clutches.", Said Sana.

"I already told you that I am with you Sana.", He said.

"I can't go out of town, would you shift here Sidharth?" Asked Sana.

"I need to go back Sana..", her face hung down sadly. He cupped her face with both his hand.

"I have given you the right to stop me from going away from you Sana. I will be back soon. I am going to ask my employer to transfer me to their branch here.", He said. Sana smiled.

"Will they agree?", She asked.

"They should else I will resign and pay them the notice money to come back to you and Aadhya.", He said.

"Aadhya?", She looked at him in surprise.

"Yes Sana, I am leaving Aadhya here with you. She needs you more than me.", He said.

Sana got emotional as she learnt that how much he trusted her that he was leaving Aadhya with her.

"Thank you Sidharth", She hugged him instantly and he was more than happy to be in her embrace.

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Sidharth kissed sleeping Aadhya to say goodbye. He then looked at Sana.

"Bye Sana..", He said.

"Come soon", Sana gave him a hug which he needed but couldn't ask due to Sunaina's presence. He smiled  since those two words indicated that he belonged to her.

"I will..", he assured.

"Bye maa", he touched Sunaina's feet to take her blessing and left. Sana stood at the door and watched him leave. Sunaina placed her hand on her shoulder and Sana emotionally hugged her. They walked to her room and Sana laid her head in Sunaina's lap. Sunaina caressed her hair. There was silence between the two.

"He reminds me of Dilip", said Sunaina.

"Hmmm.. I can now feel the purity of your unnamed relationship with Papa as I share the same with Sidharth. Our fates are so similar, maa.", Said Sana.

"No Sana. I don't want our fates to be similar. Dilip was a married man but Sidharth isn't. He doesn't have anything to stop him from loving you wholeheartedly. Marry him Sana.", Said Sunaina.

"I know he is unmarried maa but what about me? At least you can't deny it as you were the proof.", Said Sana.

Sunaina had no answer to her daughter's question. She kept quiet for sometime pondering.

"Sana, you already know my fate after Dilip left us. I feel ashamed to have chosen that path in my life. Once upon a time, I sold my body to survive and raise you. Everyday I am reminded of those unwanted touches on my body. My past memories haunt me and burn my skin. I am living my life in guilt of how impure I am. When Sidharth touches my feet showing his humility and respect to me, I feel humiliated and embarrassed. I don't want your life to be like me, Sana. You have a choice, I didn't.", Said Sunaina.

She didn't get a reply from her as Sana was already asleep. Sunaina kissed her daughter's forehead. Even if she wanted, Sunaina couldn't cry as her tears had dried up long back. She was extremely exhausted carrying the burden on her chest. Her only reason to live was to see her daughter happy.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️