"Are you happy, Mayank?" She asked him, nervously.

He glanced at her, "Why are you asking this question, Shikha?" He quirked his brows at her.

She sighed, "I mean... I don't want... you to feel another burden on you..." She stuttered whilst fidgeting with her fingers.

"Have you gone insane? This baby can be anything but a burden to me. It's a beautiful gift and I'm very grateful to god for sharing this gift with you again." He grabbed her hand in his and squeezed it lightly.

"What do you want? I mean, you do have a preference, don't you?" She questioned him.

"Anything would do but he or she must have your traits.-" He paused and passed her a cunning smile,"-well except for my looks, my brains and even my habits. In short... all of me." He completed and stuck out his tongue when she pulled his ears.

"Okay ... okay! this time, I want him or her to be exactly like you." He told her and Shikha smirked in victory.
"So do you have any name in your mind?" He asked her and she pursed her lips, "Actually, I do." She spoke with a smile.

"Then tell me." He insisted.

"If it's a boy then 'Shrey'..." She said and briefly looked at him.

"Good! but if it's a girl then?" He quickly enquired.

"Anamika." She replied and he turned his head in her direction, "Anamika?"

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" She asked him.

"No... no... actually I... had this name in my mind for a very long time.."

"Really?" She asked and he winked at her, "I love this name and you know what, I love you too."

"I love you more." She blushed immensely before averting her gaze, "Focus on the road, Mr. Suri." She reprimanded, changing the subject.

"Yes darling." He smiled and shifted his attention back on the road.

All of a sudden, a loud dash pushed the car ahead, "What the fuck!" Mayank cursed under his breath. He peered through the side mirror to see a huge truck exactly behind them.

"Who's it?" The noise scared the hell out of his wife as well.

"It's some idiot out there in the truck... right behind our car." Mayank replied gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Then let him pass ahead of us." Shikha suggested and he nodded, "Okay."

As he was about to change the gear, their car got pummelled by the huge truck once again but forcefully this time, frightening the living daylights out of them, "MAYANK!" The next thing he heard was his wife's screech and then everything in front of him blacked out.

"Shikha!" He woke up with a jolt, "Shikha!" He breathe out and closed his eyes in fury as the realisation finally hit him hard.

The Accident! His wife?
His Shikha! Where is she?

He had to see her.
To ensure himself that she and their baby, both were perfectly alright and nothing had happened to them.

He pushed the duvet aside and tried to get up from his bed but failed miserably as the next thing he felt himself was losing the command over his limbs and he instantly hit the ground with a bang.

"Mr. Suri, Oh my god!" Amrita quickly ran up to him and supported him to get back to the bed.

"I want to see my wife, where is she?" Mayank persisted as he spoke out very clearly to her amazement but Amrita ignored to answer that question of his, rather she asked him something about him, "Sir! Are you alright?"

Mayank couldn't keep his temper under control. He pushed the vase off the table and it landed on the floor, breaking into tiny little pieces.

"Call my WIFE here.." He growled and saw her flinching at his tone.

Nakul immediately rushed inside to see his brother fuming.

"Bhai?" He stopped on his tracks as Mayank's eyes fixedly shifted to his brother.

"Nakul! I want to see Shikha... where is she?" He asked him and Nakul stiffened.

He knew he had to tell him some day but still he wasn't prepared to reveal such harsh truth anytime sooner.

"ANSWER ME!" Mayank yelled furiously.

Nakul swallowed hard.... while Mayank went berserk.

Silence had engulfed the entire room.

Nakul finally opened his mouth, "She's no more... She couldn't be saved after that accident. She had already lost a lot of blood in that accident and..... till the time you both were rushed to the hospital, it was already late." Nakul spell out the most unpalatable truth with tears in his eyes.

"NO.... NO... NO." Mayank emitted a long mournful squall as he clutched his chest in affliction.

He had not only lost his beloved wife but also their unborn child.

Nakul was shaken by his ordeal and so was Amrita.
She knew about the baby as she remembered Aakash's words.

This was not at all easy for anyone especially for him to withstand the blow of his wife's demise.
Mayank continued to whimper in grief and Nakul wasted no time to have his arms around him to lend him some comfort.

Mayank cried feverishly in his brother's embrace.

"She can't be! Tell me you're kidding."

"Bhai, please." Nakul held his tears.

Even Amrita's eyes were equally misty. It was indeed a heartbreaking sight to see him emotionally burst out.

"I lost them." He mumbled.

"Them?" Nakul was dumbfounded.

"Shikha and... our baby." Mayank uttered and Nakul was hit by another wave of shock.

His bhabhi was pregnant... How come he wasn't aware about it? Did his Mother knew? If she did then why didn't she tell him? It was way too enthralling but he let it go after seeing his brother's misery.

"I lost them... I lost them." Mayank was uncontrollable as he had shut his eyes in anguish.

"Bhai.... Please!" Nakul implored as he continued to hug him, "You have to be strong... bhai... For us... For Aakash." Nakul told him.

His eyes fluttered in just a friction, "Aakash!" He pronounced and Nakul nodded, "Yes, Aakash."

"I want to see him... My son... Nakul, Where is he? I want to see him." Mayank pleaded without keeping desperation out of his voice.

"I'll get him." Amrita chimed and sprinted out of the room.

She stopped and swiftly opened the door of his room.

"Amy! Catch the ball." Aakash was playing with Ambar when Amrita stepped inside.

They both quizzically peered at Amrita while she scooped Aakash in her arms.

"Where are we going?" Aakash asked her but she didn't respond

"Come Aakash." Amrita took him upstairs whilst Ambar just followed them in bewilderment.
As they entered the room, Mayank watched his son walking through the doors.

"Aakash!" He called out his name and the little boy's eyes went wide in surprise.

"Dadda!" He strode to his bed and Nakul made him sit up beside him.

Mayank made no hesitation and pulled him in his arms.

"Dadda! Dadda!" The boy repeatedly chanted as Mayank kissed his son's forehead.

"My boy." He stroked his chubby cheek and Aakash grinned with glint of happiness reflecting from his eyes, "I missed you, Dadda." He said.

"I missed you too." Mayank replied and held him closer to his chest.

"Now, don't sleep this much ever?" The boy chided and Mayank chuckled at his cuteness, "Okay, my son!"

"-And don't leave me... like Mumma." Mayank's smile faded but he rapidly masked his emotions, "I promise, I won't leave you." He told him and kissed his forehead.

"Bhai... you should rest for sometime... you haven't fully recovered yet." Nakul voiced out and Mayank nodded, looking up at him, "I still can't feel my legs." He said the actuality.

"It's normal.. Once your physiotherapy starts then you'd be able to reflex your muscles properly." Amrita prompted and Mayank's eyes shifted to both the women at the door.

Nakul sensed his confusion, "Bhai, this is Dr. Amrita Sahay. She has been the in-charge of your treatment here and that's Ambar, Aakash's governess and Dr. Amrita's sister." Nakul quickly introduced both of them and they genuinely smiled at him. While Mayank only bobbed his head in acknowledgement.

"But Amy's going tomorrow " Aakash muttered gloomily while Ambar's mouth got pressed in a thin line but she moved forward and held his small hand in her palms, "Aakash! See, your Dadda's awake now. This is supposed to be a happy day... Not a sad one." She set forth and he blinked his eyes in agreement.

"You know that you can call me everyday." She reminded him and he smiled.

"And I've something for you." Ambar grinned like a cheshire cat.

"What?" Aakash asked out of his curiosity.

"It's in my room. Come, I'll show you. Meanwhile, we'll leave your Dadda to get some rest." She told him and Aakash turned his head to see his father.

"Go... See. What your friend has got for you?" Mayank kissed his head and Aakash got down before walking out with Ambar.

Once they were gone, Nakul faced his brother. He sighed deeply.

"I know this is very hard and especially for you but you're our backbone. Without you, we'll be crushed, bhai..." Nakul let out the words and saw his brother's eyes which were depicting nothing but pain.

"Take your time." He murmured lastly before hugging him.

"I have to leave for the office.. I've an important deal to crack." He said and Mayank smiled at him, "It's good to see you step into my shoes. I'm proud of you, Nakul for handling everything in my absence."

"Yes but these shoes doesn't fit me that well, big shot! They're waiting for you to step into them which you will and very soon." Nakul smirked and saw his brother roll his eyes, "Somethings never change."

"Yes, never."

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"Nakul!" Amrita followed him out in the corridor.

"Yes."

"I wanted to ask for your permission." She murmured.

"Permission?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Yes, actually I've planned a small farewell party for Ambar in evening.. so.." She fumbled and eventually trailed off, nervously.

"Amrita! That's great... You should definitely go ahead with your plan... No need to ask for my permission." Nakul casually answered before she could even complete.

"Thank you but I've a request too."

"Yeah tell me.".l He gave a slight nod.

"I want you to come early and be a part of the celebration, can you do that?" She queried and he inhaled sharply.

"I can't promise Amrita but I'll try." He smiled and turned to leave, the contentment instantly fell from his face as the thought of her departure intruded his mind.

However, hard he tried but he still wasn't able to convince himself... to let her go.

On one hand, he was delighted to finally have his brother back but on the same time, he felt a void in his heart which was overflowing with a lot more of depression to even think about her egress.

Why was he so concerned about the fact that he'll no longer be able see this crazy girl in his house? Why was he so affected? What was this strange feeling? He didn't know and failed to recognise it.

Anyway, she had to leave him and this house someday. It wasn't like that she was bound to stay here forever but he truly wished for the contrary.

Pushing all his thoughts aside, he concentrated on the meeting for which he had worked so hard.

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Amrita took off her blindfold while they all gathered in the living area.

"How is the surprise, Amy?" Aakash asked her when Amrita placed the cake in front of her. Ambar's eyes rotated across the room.

It was beautifully decorated with balloons and her favourite flowers everywhere.

Euphoria had actually surrounded her heart as she saw their smiling faces one by one.

It showed her that she was never out of love.
From her parents to this little kid, everybody loved her in their own subtle way.

Indeed she was going to miss them terribly.

Tears formed in her eyes, "It's wonderful." She whispered.

"Really?" Aakash queried and she tapped his nose, "Absolutely."

"Okay! Can we now cut the cake?" He sounded very impatient. Mayank ruffled his hair. Even he had joined their small celebration.

Ambar eyed the front door, "Can we wait for Nakul?"

"But it's already late. Why is he taking so long?" Aakash whined.

"Aakash? Why don't you help me arrange the dining table? And maybe by that time, your chachu might join us." Amrita said and he agreed, joining her in the kitchen.

Ambar stayed back with Mayank while he was silently seated on his wheelchair.

"I'm sorry..." She apologised in an awkward way, "I mean, I'm making you all wait..." She shrugged and he smiled.

"No... it's perfectly fine." He replied and she glanced at the door again.

"Thank you." Mayank said out of nowhere, "-For supporting Nakul and taking care of my boy, I can see, how much he adores you." He mumbled.

"He's a lovely kid and I really had a good time here." She praised him.

Before he could respond, the little kid strolled towards them, "Everything's ready." Aakash suddenly announced and Mayank beamed at him.

"Nakul?" Ambar queried and tried to wait some more but Aakash huffed in annoyance, "He isn't even picking up the call." Aakash groaned.

"That's because he's already here." All the heads turned to see him at the door, appearing not only extremely exhausted but also breathtakingly handsome at the same time.

"I'm sorry." He held his ears in an earnest apology.

"Why are you late?" Mayank asked him before Aakash could.

"The foreign delegates arrived late and I had to even buy this." Nakul immediately placed a rectangular box in Ambar's hand.

"What's this?" Ambar was befuddled.

"See it yourself." He told her and she gasped after opening the box, "Are you crazy?" She mouthed and he chuckled.

"I can't take this." She refused straightaway but saw him grimacing at her denial.

"I wanted to gift you something which would benefit you in your studies so here it is." He said.

"But it's a macbook, Nakul. I can't take something very expensive." Ambar retorted.

"It's nothing compared to what you did for us, Ambar and anyway, you'll be needing one, once your lectures starts and you can also use it for the daily interaction with us." He argued and she finally gave in.

"Err.... Okay fine! but this is it and thank you." She said and he nodded, "My pleasure."

"So, can we now cut the cake and proceed to have dinner?" Amrita asked.

"Yes, the frosting is melting." Aakash chirped in and the house echoed with their giggles, leaving behind their own despair for time being.

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Hello everyone.

I'm back with the new update.

How was the chapter?

Write your views and don't forget to vote if you really liked the chapter.

The next chapter would be the most anticipated one.

I've just planned it for now. I hope it comes out well once I start writing.

Thank you.

And until next time.

♥♡♥.