Author's POV:

Avi and Maya prepared breakfast together and placed everything on the dining table. Soon, everyone joined for breakfast. After breakfast, Avi went to his parents' room and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Vani.

Avi went inside and sat on the bed. Shekar, who was arranging his files, saw his son fidgeting with his fingers and looking nervous.

He went near him and asked him, "Is everything okay, Kittu?"

"Yeah!" Avi said meekly.

"Then why are you feeling nervous?" Shekar asked him, raising his eyebrows.

Avi took a deep breath and told him, "Nanna, actually I'm planning to take Maya out for some days."

"So, you are taking my sister on a honeymoon," Arjun said, coming inside.

"Don't you have manners to knock on the door, idiot?" Avi scolded Arjun.

"Nope." He said and laid down on the bed, keeping his head in Vani's lap.

"So, when are you planning to go?" Vani asked Avi.

"Umm, tomorrow," Avi said meekly.

"And you are telling us now. Dude, it's my wedding in 10 days and also your best friend's. And now you are taking my sister on a honeymoon," Arjun said, narrowing his eyes.

"Don't worry, we will return in two days," said Avi.

"Okay, your wish. All we want is your happiness," Shekar said, patting his head.

"Thank you, Nanna!" Avi said, hugging his father tight.

"I'm going to kill you with my bare hands if you don't show up on time," Arjun warned, pointing his finger at him.

"Okay, okay. Before you, your sister will kill me for sure if I don't bring her to your wedding," said Avi.

Vani and Shekar chuckled, looking at them, and shook their heads at them.

"If your drama is over, then get out of my room. I'm getting late for my work," she said, glaring at them.

After some time, some left for their respective workplaces, and some stayed back home to plan for the coming weddings.

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

While in Avi and Maya's room, Maya sat on the balcony, lost in her thoughts. She closed her eyes and leaned back. A lot of thoughts are running through her mind. Could she forgive her parents? Will they love her and trust her enough if she forgives them? Her heart doesn't have enough strength to go through another heartbreak. Will they take care of her? What if they mock her again for everything she does? She cannot go through them again. They have never been satisfied with her achievements. They never trusted her caliber. She really wants to achieve something in her life that she loves. Will they support her decisions and be with her? What if they try to separate her from her Avi? She can't live without him.

She sighed, got up, and went to the room. She went to the closet and sighed, seeing the mess Avi had created. She neatly folded the clothes and arranged everything in its place. She picked up a floral dress, went to take a shower, and came out wiping her hair with a towel. She left her hair open and wore a watch on her left hand.

(Maya's attire)

She took her laptop and sat at the study table. She thought to complete the story that she had started long ago. She went through the completed chapters and sat there thinking about what to write next. She was typing and deleting words continuously. She sighed and went down to prepare some coffee. She went to the kitchen and saw the maids cooking food. They greeted her, and she smiled at them.

"Do you need anything, ma'am?" asked one of the maids.

"No need. What are you guys preparing?" asked Maya.

"Methi-aloo fry, kaju-tomato curry, rasam, pudina rice, and raita," said the maid.

Maya thought for a while and started to prepare payasam. After finishing it, she prepared coffee for herself and moved to her room.

She sat there thinking about what to write next while drinking the coffee. Just then, Aashi entered the room.

Maya turned off the laptop and inquired, "Did Suhaas Bava leave for the office?"

"Yeah!" Aashi said, and she put her walking stick aside. She sat on the bed and asked, "Waise, what are you doing?"

"Umm, nothing. I'm just watching some baking videos," Maya said, stammering.

Aashi chuckled and nodded her head and thought, "You are still bad at lying, Maya."

She looked at Maya, who was again lost in her thoughts. She sighed, looking at her. She sat there for some more time, thinking that Maya would open up. But nothing happened. Aashi stood up to leave, seeing Maya's behaviour.

On the other hand, Maya was too busy in her thoughts to notice Aashi's departure; her mind was lost somewhere in the dreadful memories of her past. She knew thinking about them was nothing but a waste of time, but she still couldn't stop thinking about them. Though Rajesh's chapter was closed, somewhere deep down she was still afraid. What if he comes again in the future? She knew her siblings and her husband would make sure he got the punishment he deserved. But what if he escapes? A fear crept into her heart.

Her life was not easy. She might have been born with a golden spoon, but no one knows the hardships she has faced. Everyone says that she is the most pampered kid in the family, but no one knows her broken side. Getting molested at a young age imprinted a lot of insecurities on her. Though nothing happened to her that day, the damage was still done. When anyone used to comment on her body, she used to feel insecure about herself. Her friends, whom she had trusted with all her heart, left her when she needed them the most. From then on, she stopped trusting people. Her mother used to get angry at small things and used to give her and Nandan the silent treatment. And with her father, it's totally different. He never had time for them. Every night was a nightmare for her. She stopped expecting it from others. And slowly, she fell in love with the lonely life she led.

Yes, she might have others who have showered their immense love on her, but the love of parents is something that everyone craves. She waited for her mother every day to take her in her arms and tell her everything would be okay. She looked for her father whenever she felt low. But nothing of the sort happened. They say that parents can even understand the unspoken pain of their children. But in her case, they became another reason for her pain.

She might forgive them in the future, but could she forget the pain she had gone through? She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. She lost lots of weight, and her face lost its charm. She wants some alone time for herself. She went inside the closet and packed her clothes and necessities for two days. She wrote a note and stuck it on the dressing table. She went down from the back side of the house, took one of the cars, and zoomed out of the mansion. After travelling for two hours, she finally reached the house that had been gifted to her by her grandfather. She parked the car and went inside the house. She looked around and moved to a room where there was a large portrait of her grandparents. No one knows about this house. Her grandfather brought her here years ago when she was slipping into depression. After that, she never came back here. A caretaker looked after it. She sent the location to Avi, as he would get worried. She sat there for some time looking at her grandparents' picture.

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

Here in the office, Avi is busy with continuous meetings. He didn't even have enough time to glance at his mobile. He even skipped the lunch that was sent to him by Maya. By the time he got free, it was 6 p.m. He looked at his mobile and saw many notifications pop up. Just then, Arjun and Veeru entered his cabin with a worried look on their faces.

By looking at them, he asked, "What happened? Is everything okay?"

"Maya is not at home," said Veeru.

"Didn't she inform anyone at home?" Avi asked them.

"No. We asked the watchman. He said that she went out around 11 a.m. in the car, but no one knew where she went," Arjun said, sounding low.

Avi got tense hearing that. He opened his phone and saw a message from her. He opened the chat and saw the location. He sighed seeing that but got angry as she hadn't informed anyone.

"She has sent me her location," said Avi.

"But where did she go all of a sudden?" Said Arjun.

Avi's thoughts went back to last night, when she told him she wanted to go somewhere for a few days away from all the chaos.

"Shall we go?" Avi asked, looking at them.

He packed his things, and soon all of them reached the mansion. Avi immediately went to his room without speaking to anyone, while Arjun told everyone that Maya had informed Avi.

Avi locked the door and threw all his things on the bed. He went to the bathroom and stood under the shower. He doesn't know why, but he has the feeling that she is going away from him. He came out and stood in front of the dressing table. He saw a note stuck to it. He took it and read it.

Hey, Avi,

I'm sorry for not informing anyone before going. But I badly need some time to myself. When I look at myself in the mirror, I feel like I'm looking at a whole new person whom I have never known. I need to pick up my broken pieces and gather myself. I'm really sorry for going like this, but it's necessary for me, and I hope you understand that.

Don't forget that I love you, Avi.

Avi put the note in the drawer and lied down on his bed, closing his eyes. Slowly, he slipped into a deep slumber.

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

On the other hand, Maya was sitting on the bed, scrolling Instagram on her mobile. But a picture caught her attention. Arpita posted her baby shower picture, which happened four years ago on the same day. She looked beautiful with that baby bump. Janaki was kissing her cheeks. Her face was glowing like a moon, and she was laughing whole-heartedly. Maya's hand immediately went to her belly. She imagined herself carrying a baby, a symbol of her and Avi's love. A cute little version of her or her Avi's. She felt overwhelmed at the mere thought of being pregnant. How would she feel when she was really carrying her child? Suddenly, a question popped up in her mind: Will her mother be with her during that phase of hers?

Hello guys!

How are you all?

I was totally exhausted with my cousin's wedding and slept like a panda for two days.

Anyways, how was the update?

Will meet you in the next chapter.

Until then, keep smiling and take care.