Bhumi's POV!

"Bhumi, talk to Aryamann once before coming to any conclusion," Siddharth bhaiyya said, sitting next to me and placing a hand around my shoulder.

"I don't want to talk to him," I said, the hurt slicing through me in waves.

He was in no way obliged to stay celibate during the years we were apart. He wasn't even obliged to do that while we were together.

The contract we signed had made sure that he was free to have relationships with any woman of his desire.

I can't even blame him.

But I had started hoping. Hoping for a life filled with love.

"Honey, I know Harini. I have known her for years. I am sure Aryamann wouldn't make the mistake of getting involved with Harini. No matter what," Siddharth bhaiyya said with so much conviction.

"Why? Why are you so sure about it? Who is Harini? Why is no one ready to answer that one question? Three years ago, I asked the same question. Aditi refused to answer me. Aryamann too. What is with her that everyone keeps themselves from answering me?" I asked furiously.

"It's not about Harini, honey. It's about Aryamann. It's Aryamann's story to tell you. And I am sure, after what happened today, he will definitely tell you," Siddharth bhaiyya said.

"Sid Mamu, Sid Mamu. Want ice cream?" Abhi and Sammy came running to us.

"Good idea. Come on, Bhumi. Let's go out and have some ice cream," Siddharth bhaiyya said.

"I don't want to. You all go. I just need to be alone," I said, and Siddharth bhaiyya stared at me unsurely.

"I am not going to commit suicide, brother. I have two little boys to think about. So, don't worry. Go ahead. I just need a little time to gather myself," I said.

"I know you are strong, little one. We will be back soon," Siddharth bhaiyya said and held the hand of each boy and walked out.

As I was alone again, thoughts of Aryamann and Harini plagued my mind.

Who is Harini?

Why does she still hold so much importance in Aryamann's life?

I still remember Aryamann's words from three years ago. After he accused me of being a gold digger. He said it was because of some video Harini showed him.

'When Harini showed me that video, I felt betrayed. I shouldn't have believed that. That was my fault.'

Those words kept ringing in my head.

He believed Harini over me back then.

And now again Harini is creating problems in our life.

Why is he letting her do that?

Did he really have s*x with her? Are they really having a baby?

And the thought of Aryamann accompanying Harini into the OBG office for a scan. How could he do that to me?

The ringing of the doorbell brought me out of my thoughts on Aryamann.

Who could it be?

Madhuri bhabhi is in Pune for some official reasons.

Siddharth bhaiyya just went out with the boys. Did they forget something?

The bell kept ringing!!

"I am coming!! You have the key, right Sid bhaiyya? Why are you-" I stopped mid-sentence seeing who was at my door.

"Aryamann," I whispered, my eyes filling with tears.

"Why Bhumi? You didn't expect me to come for you just like what you thought the last time?" He asked and I could see the hurt in his eyes.

"I- you. What!! Why!!" I stammered not knowing what to say!!

"Won't you let me in, Bhumi?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure. Come in," I said.

He took my hand and walked me towards the couch and made me sit there.

"Couldn't you just confront me for once? Why do you always run away?" Aryamann asked in exasperation.

I just looked away.

"Bhumi. Look at me," he said and turned to me so that I was facing him.

"Aryamann??"

"Hmm!!"

"Why are you here?" I asked in a low voice.

"Where else should I be? If not with my wife and babies?" He asked.

"I saw that tabloid news, Aryamann." I said, feeling the pain of a knife thrusting into my heart.

"I figured as much," Aryamann said.

"I just couldn't bear to stay there anymore," I admitted.

"I know, my love. I know what you must have felt seeing that. But do you trust me?" He asked.

I remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"You remember the way I reacted three years ago. When mom asked about a grandchild?" He asked.

Of course! How can I ever forget!

Those words have played through my head a million times, causing more pain each time I remember them.

"When mom said about wanting a grandchild, the pain I went through once came back in such a force that I took it out on you! I am really sorry for that. Will you forgive me, Bhumi?" he asked, taking my hands in his.

"What pain?? Why does the thought of a baby bring you pain!!" I asked as I needed to know. I needed to know why he had hurt me in such a way.

"You know a little about my childhood, right? Mom and dad were never there for me when I was a child. I never knew what love was!! They were busy with building the business and I sacrificed my childhood for their career," he said.

"I know. But they regret that now. They want to make it up with you," I said.

"I know. And I am trying hard," he said.

"What else is there? Something else had hurt you badly in the past, didn't it??" I asked.

"Harini!!" He whispered and my heart skipped a beat.

Bhumi's pov!

Harini!

I don't think any other name had ever hurt me in such a way before.

"You were in love with her!!" I said. That was not a question. I somehow knew it.

Maybe I always knew it.

"Yes. Or so I thought," he said.

"What do you mean??" I asked, frowning in confusion.

"We were childhood friends turned lovers. I was emotionally dependent on her. And I was in love with the idea of being in love," he said and I looked at him confused.

"When we were twenty one, I found out that she was pregnant. I was over the moon. I didn't care that I was only twenty one. I was ready to marry her. To make a family. I promised myself that I would be the best father in the world!!" He said.

"What happened to the baby!!" I asked and he chuckled humorlessly.

"One day, I caught her with Ranbir. In a compromising position. I was stunned. I heard them talking about that baby!! The baby was Ranbir's," he said and my heart ached for him.

How could Harini do that to him?

"I am sorry," I said, hugging him.

"Don't be. They weren't," he said sarcastically.

"What happened then?" I asked.

"I told her I am ready to forgive her. And asked her never to repeat it. After all, I was in love with her," he said with a sardonic chuckle.

I envy her. Very badly. She got that one thing that is what I want the most in this life when she doesn't even deserve it.

"Where is that baby now??" I asked.

"A few days after that incident Harini told me she is going to go visit her grandparents. And when she came back, she wasn't pregnant anymore," he said and I froze.

"She killed that baby, Bhumi. She killed him. I couldn't bear it. He wasn't mine. But I loved him as much as mine, Bhumi. I wanted him so much. I was even ready to forgive Harini for her infidelity for the baby who wasn't even mine," he said crying out loud.

And I can see, he is still hurting for the unborn baby who wasn't even his.

I sat on his lap and hugged him tightly.

"She didn't want to ruin her figure, so she killed her baby. Can you imagine that, Bhumi? She killed her own baby. He wasn't even mine and I couldn't bear with not having him. How did she do that!!" He said, burying his head in my shoulders...

"It's okay!! It's okay!!" I whispered, hugging him close.

How much did he go through in his life?

I at least had love for eight years of my life. He had everyone, but he never had anyone.

"It's okay, Aryamann," I whispered.

"When mom said about having a baby, it reminded me about the baby I lost. And the pain was so unbearable that I lashed out on you. I am really sorry, Bhumi!!" He said.

"It's okay, Aryamann. I understand."

"Do you, Bhumi??" He asked, looking at me and I nodded.

"You are someone who sees charm in the cracks, Bhumi. And I am a cracked man. And the biggest crack happened when I saw your mangalsutra on the top of your signature on the divorce papers you placed on the bedside table before you left three years ago," he said and my heart started beating fast.

"What are you saying??" I asked.

"That I am in love with you my darling wife," he said and my jaw dropped.

"You? You love me??"

"Madly, deeply, irrevocably!!" He said and my breath hitched.

"Oh Aryamann," I said, hugging him tightly.

"Damn woman!! I am trying to grovel!! Give me a chance," he said and I laughed out loud.

"You don't have to Aryamann. I am yours, forever," I said and kissed him on his nose.

We stayed that way for a while. Enjoying the warmth of each other.

In all the talks about the past, the problems of the present skipped my mind for a moment. As soon as I remembered, I pulled away from him and looked him in the eye.

"Tell me about the tabloid news? She is having your baby?" I asked, the hurt bubbling back with more force.

I heard him sigh. Which only managed to increase my hurt.

"Harini is pregnant," he said and I felt my heart stopping for a moment.

I hoped the tabloid news was fake.

I hoped there was some other explanation for this.

"Oh," I said and tried to get out of his hold, but his arms tightened around me.

Aryamann's POV!

"But the baby is not mine, Bhumi," I said and she looked at me with so much hope in her eyes.

Oh my darling!

"What do you mean? Why were you there with her at a maternity clinic then?" Bhumi demanded.

"Harini attended the party last night, Bhumi," I said and she looked at me in shock.

"She did? When? Who invited her? How come I didn't see her?" Bhumi asked question after question.

"She wasn't invited, Bhumi. She came while you were introducing the boys to Jai. You didn't see her, because I dragged her out of the ballroom as soon as I spotted her," I said.

"She is not married to Ranbir anymore?" Bhumi asked.

"No. They got divorced a little while after you left," I said.

"Why?" She asked.

"It seems, Ranbir has been cheating on Harini for a while," I said, with a shrug.

"And she had no idea. How long have they been married? Definitely a few years?" Bhumi asked in disbelief.

"They have been married for six years," I said.

"For a vamp, she is definitely dump. I took one look at him and knew he was a good-for-nothing jerk," Bhumi said angrily, making me chuckle.

"He tried to hit on me, during the party held in honour of Mr. Brahma," Bhumi said.

"I know. I was there, while you taught him a lesson he would never forget," I said, with a smirk, remembering how Bhumi threatened to do permanent damage to his baby maker if he ever tried such a study again.

My little firecracker.

"What goes around comes around. She deserves it for what she did to you. Leave all that. What did she say? Why did she come?" Bhumi asked, coming back to the point.

"To create problems, of course," I muttered furiously.

"She told you about the pregnancy yesterday?" She asked.

"Yes. I was shocked. I didn't understand how to react," I said.

"How can she claim to be pregnant with your baby, when nothing happened between you two? Or did something happen between you two?" She asked and I could hear the pain in her voice. It was so palpable.

"Bhumi, my love-"

A/n

Okay, going for an abortion is entirely a woman's choice. And the girl was only twenty one.. Back when I wrote this book, the women who go for abortions hurting the male leads, were villains. That's what ITV shows taught me....lol

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Love,

SF❤️