Bhumi's pov!

It was so cute watching Dadu and Nanu glaring at Aryamann and being all protective over me.

I have never had this privilege before, but now everything is changing fast.

First, Aryamann came back! That was a shock in itself.

Now I have my family with me. My real family. And they love me.

I always thought they would be hating me, like they hated my parents' relationship.

How could they love me when I am the result of the very relationship they hated. That was what I always believed.

Only if my parents and Ryan were alive. They would have been happy. Ecstatic.

"She is my wife, Nanu," Aryamann said, in a possessive tone, and a shiver ran down my spine hearing that possessiveness in his voice.

Does he mean that? Or is he still pretending? What would he gain this time, by the pretence?

"Well, she is our little girl. We are not letting you hurt her again." Dadu said, angrily.

Good God!

"Please, this is not the place for a fight. This is a hospital." I pleaded with them to quieten down.

Both the grandfathers huffed in annoyance, and Aryamann still had a scowl on his face.

"Okay guys, no need to fight. I will take this young man and his mommy to have lunch," Gaurav said, standing up with Abhi in his arms.

"I will go with Gaurav." I said quickly, before they launched into another argument.

As we walked towards the hospital cafe, we remained silent for a while. The only person talking was Abhi, who was perfectly capable of holding a conversation alone.

When we reached the cafe, we left Abhi inside the play yard set up in the corner of the cafe and as we sat across a table, Gaurav turned to look at me.

"I thought we were friends, Bhumi," Gaurav said, almost in an accusing tone.

"Gaurav.." I spoke softly, not knowing what to say

"You couldn't come to me, when you had a problem? How could you simply leave? You just vanished, Bhumi. Do you have any idea how worried we were these past years." Gaurav asked, the worry still evident in his eyes.

"You are definitely a good friend of mine, Gaurav. But more than that you are Aryamann's younger brother. I know he will always be your priority and I didn't want to put you in a place where you have to choose between us." I said softly.

"I do love my brother, Bhumi. But I love you as much. Granted, we have not known each other for a very long time, but you have become very important for all of us." Gaurav said and I could see it in his eyes that he meant every word of it.

"I know. And I am very honoured about that. But that day, after finding out that I am pregnant, I panicked. I couldn't think of anything else, other than protecting my baby. I was worried how Aryamann would react if he came to know. He had already once told me that he didn't want a baby with me. And not to think that I can trap him by getting pregnant." I said, as a tear ran down my cheeks

"Bhumi-"

"Let me speak, Gaurav. That night, you were there when he accused me of being a gold digger. You were a witness to my heartbreak. Rejection hurts hard, Gaurav. And two days later, I found out I am pregnant. I was still wounded by Aryamann's harsh words. All I could imagine at that time was Aryamann's fury when he came to know that I am pregnant. What new names would he call me? What new accusation would he put on me? I was too exhausted by then. I wouldn't have been able to bear more heartache, Gaurav. Rejecting me, I tolerated it. But the thought of him rejecting my baby? I couldn't even bear to think about it. So I left." I said, as a soft sob escaped my lips.

"Oh darling. It is okay," Gaurav said, hugging me.

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

Aryamann's pov!

I stood frozen, listening to the heartbreaking words coming from Bhumi's mouth.

I had known this all along, yet hearing her heart break from her own mouth. I felt a slicing pain as I stood there, listening to her.

She was the most beautiful thing that had happened in my life and I ruined it with my own bare hands.

How am I ever going to make amends for that?

When I turned around to leave, I saw Siddharth standing behind me, his eyes red with fury.

"I never knew what happened between you two. I never knew that you broke her heart and drove her away. The last time you saw her, she was a defenceless orphan, Aryamann Mehrotra. But now she is not alone. We, her family, will be standing between you and her, like a wall protecting her from all the hurt and pains." Siddharth said in a chilling voice.

"I love her, damn it." I snapped, at the end of my tether.

Yes, I have made terrible mistakes in the past. I admit that. I regret it.

But don't I deserve a second chance?

Don't I deserve happiness in my life? For once?

"Great way of showing it, Mehrotra." Siddharth said sarcastically.

"I have enough on my plate already, Siddharth. That woman there, she is my whole world. And if I have to fight against every single person on this earth, to reach her, then I will. This is a promise, Siddharth. I will never let anyone take her away from me. I have lived in hell for the past three years, wondering where she is, worrying over how she is. Now that I have found her again, there is no way I am letting her go." I said and walked away with determined steps.

I should have just stayed quiet when I saw her family photo that day at Adani mansion. If so, they wouldn't have known that Bhumi is their grandchild and I could have had the whole of her to myself.

As soon as that thought entered my mind, I felt guilty. My Bhumi was alone, her whole life. How can I begrudge it, when she is finally getting all the love that she deserves.

How can I call myself in love with her, when I have such grudging thoughts in my mind.

No! No!

This time around, Bhumi will have everyone in her life. I will make sure that she will be happy forever.

With me, of course. There is no question on that score!

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

Bhumi's pov!

"Mommy." Abhi cried out, seeing the tears in my eyes.

He was trying his best to get out of the play yard, but unlike the one at our home, the walls of this one are quite high.

Abhi angrily punched the soft walls of the play yard, when he couldn't get out.

"Okay okay, angry little man. Let's get you out of here." I saw Siddharth bhaiyya taking an angry Abhi out of the play yard.

Abhi was about to rush towards me as soon as Siddharth bhaiyya kept him down, but my words stopped him.

"Abhi? What do you say to people who help you?" I asked sternly.

Abhi huffed and looked up at an amused Siddharth bhaiyya.

"Thank you, Uncle Chiddaal." Abhi said, and Siddharth cringed hearing the baby version of his name.

"You can call me Uncle Sid, young man. And you are welcome." Siddharth bhaiyya said and followed Abhi towards our table.

Abhi climbed on my lap, and hugged me tight.

"It's okay mommy," he said, rocking himself in my arms, just like I do, when he or Sammy cries.

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face.

My baby is so adorable.

"May I sit here?" Siddharth bhaiyya asked and I nodded enthusiastically.

He is my cousin-brother after all.

He placed a palm on my cheeks and looked at me lovingly.

"You look just like Maanasi bua. I have vague memories of her. I was very young when she left home. But I adored her." Siddharth bhaiyya told me.

"She has spoken about you a lot. How naughty a boy you were. You put sugar in her cupboard once, didn't you? And her clothes were full of ants, it took her days to clear them all." I asked and he laughed out loud.

"She told you about that?" He asked.

"Many such stories. She used to tell us all about you people as bedtime stories. Though I have never met any of you before, it was like I have known you all my life." I said, teary eyed.

"I have always been an only child. And it was so boring, growing up. So what if we didn't grow up together. Now I have a little sister to boss around and two cute little nephews to spoil." Siddharth bhaiyya said, ruffling my hair, just like how Ansh always does, and I made a mock irritated face at that.

"Oh, now you have brothers and sisters and all, why would you need me anymore?" Gaurav asked, dramatically.

"That's right, she doesn't need you anymore." Siddharth bhaiyya said cheekily.

"Excuse me, if not for my brother, you wouldn't have even known that you have a cousin sister. Keep that in mind, Kaura." Gaurav said, making Siddharth bhaiyya roll his eyes.

"No talking. Mommy is upset." Abhi ordered angrily and hugged me again, trying to console me.

As far as he is concerned, he is the male head of the family, and he needs to take care of everyone.

"Apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Siddharth bhaiyya murmured and I knew what he meant.

My boys are little Aryamanns not only in looks, but also in temper!

"So, how is Madhuri bhabhi and Jai? It's been so long since I last saw J." I asked Siddharth bhaiyya about his wife and brother in law.

"Madhuri is good. She wanted to come with us, but she had some emergency at her work place. She will probably fly over this evening. And Jai, well why don't you ask Gaurav what Jai did?" Siddharth said, making me frown.

"What is it? What did J do? Is he okay?" I asked, anxiously.

"He punched the hell out of bhai, when he found out that you left. Nobody stopped him. Neither us nor bhai. He simply stood there, getting punched, as though he believed that he deserved it." Gaurav said and I gasped loudly.

"Why would he do something like that? Was Aryamann hurt very much? Was he injured?" I asked in panic.

Gaurav let out a mirthless chuckle.

"And you still love him like crazy? You are panicking about something that happened three years ago? Good god Bhumi, why do you love him so much?" Gaurav asked, shaking his head.

"I am heartbroken, Gaurav. And each broken piece of my heart is still owned by Aryamann Mehrotra. That is something three years couldn't change. When I first left, I thought it would be like, out of sight out of mind. Who was I kidding? Each moment spent away from him, only made me miss him more." I said, finally letting out my feelings.

"Oh darling," Gaurav spoke softly.

"Don't pity me, Gaurav. Loving Aryamann is like breathing for me. The day I stop loving him would probably be the last day of my life." I said.

"Darling, he loves you too. Just give him a chance to express it." Gaurav said.

"No. He doesn't. You misunderstood, just like I did three years ago. I too believed that he does have feelings for me. But how wrong I was." I said in anguish.

"He lived in hell for the past three years, Bhumi. He was missing you like crazy. He was searching for you madly. Why would he do that if he doesn't love you?" Gaurav asked.

"I don't know. I am not going to let him break me again. My heart might always love him, but my brain knows better. Last time, it was only me. Now, I have two little boys depending on me for everything. They can't have a heartbroken mother." I said, looking down at Abhi, who in the process of consoling me, rocked himself to sleep.

A/N

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