Hey guys!

I'm back with the new update.

Those who didn't read chapter 62, do check it out.

Thank you so much nardhanaram for the beautiful aesthetics. You can check out the beautiful aesthetic made her and the gist in her book.

Avinav Krishna

And in her smile I see something more beautiful than stars.

Mrs Maya Avinav Krishna

You are that part of me
I always need

Unedited

Author's POV:

Siri was sitting in the green room, getting ready for her dance performance. She was fidgeting with her fingers in nervousness. She has given many performances before, but this time she is doing it for a good cause. She was helping an NGO that was raising funds for cancer patients.

Every time, Anjali or any one of the family members used to accompany her, but this time no one came except her bodyguards. Everyone gave her excuses, saying that they had important work and would watch her performance live from their respective workplaces.

She was brought out of her thoughts by the knock on the door. She unlocked the door and saw the organiser. She told her that everything was ready and was just waiting for her.

"Okay, I'm coming. Just five minutes," said Siri.

She looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath. She composed herself and moved towards the stage when she saw Pranav standing at the back of the stage. A smile formed on her face as she looked at him.

"What are you doing here?" Siri asked, folding her hands.

"Arey, I just came to encourage you, little one. It's okay; if you don't want, I'll go from here," said Pranav.

She looked at him sarcastically and said, "Don't you have important work?"

"What will be more important to me than you, little one?" Pranav thought in his mind.

"Did you say something?" asked Siri.

"No, did you hear anything?" asked Pranav.

"No!" Siri said, looking at him suspiciously.

They heard the host calling her name.

Pranav embraced her in his arms, kissed her forehead lovingly, and said, "Calm down, little one. This is not your first performance, and remember, you are doing it for a good cause. Uncle will be so proud looking at you. So, stop being nervous and rock the performance."

"You'll be here only, right?" she asked, raising her head.

"I'll sit in the front row and cheer for you, so now go and make us proud once again," said Pranav.

Siri went on stage and closed her eyes, praying to God. When the curtain raised, she looked at Pranav, who was sitting in the front row. He said, "All the best to her," and showed his thumbs up.

--------------------------------

Pranav was capturing her on his mobile and admiring her. He fell in love with her once again by looking at the way she was dancing gracefully, forgetting the world around her.

Siri finished her performance and bowed in front of everyone. She heard claps echoing through the whole auditorium. A smile formed on her face. She gestured for Pranav to come to the back of the stage. She hugged him tightly, pecked his cheeks, and muttered, "Thank you," making his heart jump for joy.

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

Aashi is in her apartment, preparing the dough for the cookies. And Suhaas is back hugging her, nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck.

"I love you, sweetheart," said Suhaas.

"I love you too," Aashi said, tilting her head and pecking his lips.

"Suhaas?"

"Yes, sweetheart," he mumbled against her skin.

"I want to go out and feel the fresh air," said Aashi.

"But!"

"No, I don't want to listen to any of your excuses. You guys didn't let me step out of the house from the time I woke up from the coma, saying that I was weak. Now, I'm fit and fine. So, please, let's go out for some time. I feel like I'm caged," said Aashi.

Suhaas grip tightened as he listened to her. He could understand her feelings. But the point here is that they still couldn't trace the culprits behind her parents' deaths. What if they come to know that she is alive? No, he can't afford to lose her; she is her life. He worked like a machine for the last year while she was in a coma. He used to spend his entire day at the office. On weekends, he used to spend his entire time with her. He became mad without listening to her voice.

But the question is, how long can they confine her? If they go out, then the media will definitely spot them. What if the people who are behind her parents' deaths learn about her? That's the reason they didn't allow any media during Arjun & Diya's, Veeru & Taara's, and Sravya & Surya's weddings. And also, he purposely delayed their wedding for her safety. Though he proposed to her long ago, on the day she graduated, he decided that he would marry her after punishing her parents' culprits. Now, she is able to walk on her own, and her health is returning to normal.

Once he caught the culprits, he would make sure that they begged for their deaths, unable to bear his tortures.

He was brought out of his thoughts by Aashi's question.

"You people are hiding something from me, aren't you?" asked Aashi.

"There is nothing like that, sweetheart," he said, turning her around.

"Then why are you not letting me go out?" asked Aashi.

On seeing that there was no way to escape, he thought to take her out for dinner.

"Fine, we will go out for lunch and then to a movie. But there will be bodyguards around us. Are you okay with it?" Asked Suhaas.

"Double okay," Aashi said, giving him a full-blown smile.

"I hope everything goes well," Suhaas thought in his mind.

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

Arpita was working in her cabin, giving instructions to her PA, manager, and head of the design department regarding a project, when the door got opened.

There stood Vansh and Varsha, giving her mother their toothy smiles. Behind them stood their nanny, making a sorry face. Both of them came inside and silently sat on the sofa with the help of the nanny, which is in the corner of the room. They were munching on the cookies and looking at their mother innocently.

They sat quietly, not disturbing their mother until her meeting ended.

"Did my munchkins get bored at home?" Arpita asked, sitting beside them.

"Yesh Amma," Vansh said cutely, climbing on her lap.

He made himself comfortable in his mother's lap and snuggled into her, seeking his mother's warmth. Varsha pouted, looking at her mother. Arpita shook her head at her daughter and made her sit on her lap, making her grin. Arpita's PA smiled, looking at the cute family.

She gestured for her PA and the nanny to go out. She locked her cabin and opened all the curtains with the remote so that no one could see inside. She covered herself with a scarf, unhooked her shirt buttons, and fed both of them.

She made Vansh sit beside her after feeding him, and she was feeding Varsha when she got a video call from Yash. Vansh, being Daddy's little champ, was overjoyed to see his face. He answered the call and shouted, "Nanna," in his baby voice, making Arpita and Yash chuckle.

"What are my naughty ones doing in their Amma's office?" asked Yash.

Vansh was tapping the mobile screen, looking at Yash's face.

Listening to Yash's voice, Varsha stopped drinking milk and started wriggling in Arpita's arms to talk with her father.

"You little brat, don't come to me later and ask for your feedy," Arpita said, buttoning her shirt.

Varsha pouted, listening to her, and looked at Yash with a puppy face.

"Oyy, stop scolding my princess," said Yash.

"Nanna, I mishh you," Varsha said cutely, snatching the mobile from Vansh.

"Aww, your Appa is also missing his princess," said Yash.

On seeing that his father was ignoring him, Vansh burst out crying, making Varsha slap her forehead.

"Ayee, chotu shtop (stop) clying (crying)," said Varsha.

"Acha, stop crying, baby; look, your Appa is giving you kissy," Arpita said, cajoling him.

Vansh stopped crying and looked at his father, who was giving him flying kisses, making him giggle.

"Such an attention seeker. Like father, like son," Arpita muttered under her breath, but loud enough that Yash heard her.

Yash gave her a sheepish smile, listening to her.

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

Avi and Maya are cuddling on the bed. Maya was doodling "I Love You" on his chest, making him smile at her antics.

Avi called her, caressing her hair, "Bunny."

"Hmm," she mumbled, raising her face and looking at him.

Avi asked, pulling her close to him, "How many babies do you want?"

"Umm, two. One boy and a girl," she said, after thinking for a while.

"So, what do you think? Is it a boy or a girl?" asked Avi.

"Of course, he is my little Avi. Just like his father, he is also a foodie. He is making me eat lots of food already," Maya said, pouting.

Avi chuckled, listening to her.

"After all, he is my baby," Avi boasted.

Maya glared at him. She was about to scold him, but she ran to the washroom, throwing up everything she had for breakfast in the morning, and Avi ran behind her. He was rubbing her back while she leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling dizzy. He made her drink water and picked her up in his arms. He made her sit on the bed and prepared lemon water for her.

Avi asked, "Feeling better?"

She mumbled, "Hmm," and gestured for him to sit beside her.

She snuggled into him while he pecked her head.

"Stop troubling your Amma, junior," Avi said, kissing her stomach.

Maya smiled, listening to his words, and hugged him tightly.

Avi asked, "Shall I order lunch for us, or shall we go out?"

Maya said, "I don't have the mood to go out now. Avi, Attayya packed dry fruit laddus for me. It must be in the small bag, give them to me, please."

Avi nodded his head, gave her the laddus box, and ordered lunch for them.

"You know, Bunny, I still remember the time when I held you for the first time in my arms, though I was just a four-year-old kid. Thathayya brought you to me and placed you in my lap. You were wrapped up in a pink towel, looking so adorable. And then, as you held my finger in your small fist, right at that moment, you became precious to me. Arjun began to cry, seeing that. Such an attention seeker he is." Avi chuckled, remembering the wonderful memories. "And then, they took you away from me, as you were born before the due date. They had kept you under observation, and every day I used to come to the hospital to take a glance at you. But they never let me," he continued, taking a deep breath. "As we started to grow up, my feelings for you became stronger. I didn't even realize when you became an integral part of my life. And when you started ignoring me, I felt broken. I didn't understand what went wrong, and I used to wonder: Did I make any mistakes? I used to feel you were close to me yet apart. I tried to talk with you many times, but I didn't. I was afraid—what if you stopped talking with me and went far away from me? I knew something was wrong, but I never knew you went through a lot. I'm sorry; I was not there with you when you needed me the most."

He broke down in her arms while her eyes pooled with tears. She knew that she had acted selfishly back then. She just thought from her perspective, but she didn't think that her ignorance would affect him badly. She knew he was badly attached to her. Yet she tried to go away from him. Hell, she even agreed to marry another man. Yes, she might have rejected that first proposal, but still, she could have just told her parents about her love for Avi. They would have happily agreed. But she got ready to accept another man into her life.

She hugged him tightly and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Avi." She kissed his forehead, and he closed his eyes, feeling her lips.

"Never leave me, Bunny. I can't live without you. I will just."

She placed her lips on his, not letting him continue his words. She was kissing him lovingly, pouring all her love for him into that kiss.

"Never speak about death; understand," Maya said sternly, breaking the kiss.

He nodded his head and hugged her tightly. They lay there silently in each other's arms. Avi was busy playing with her fingers, while Maya was admiring her man with lots of love. She has always hidden her feelings, her pain, and her tears by putting a smile on her face. After her grandmother's demise, her life turned upside down, and she didn't want to burden anyone with her troubles. She wants to be strong, to be brave, to be happy, just like her grandmother wanted her to be. But only she knew how difficult it was for her to put that smile on her face when she was breaking down internally every moment. She always craved for someone to see through her mask, to hold her hand, and to comfort her soul. She had waited for someone to say, "You don't have to smile if you don't want to. I'm here for you, to hold your hand, to comfort you, to trust you, to care for you, to laugh and cry with you, and mostly to love you."

Unknowingly, she has pushed away that someone who has always been there for her like a shadow. But she is glad that she realised her mistake. Her husband, Avi, healed her with his love. She knows that no matter what happens, her Avi will always be there for her, holding her hand.

Soon their lunch arrived, and both of them had it quietly. Both of them sat on the balcony of their cottage, looking at the beach. Maya was sitting on Avi's lap, placing her head on his chest.

"Avi?"

"Hmm!"

"Surya loves me," Maya said, fidgeting with her fingers.

"I know that, and he knows that I know about his love for you," Avi said, making her look at him wide-eyed.

"So, am I the only one who doesn't know about this?" asked Maya.

"It's me, Pranav, Sravya, Aashi, and you who knew about it. Even Taara knew everything, but not your name," said Avi.

"Then, why did you agree to Sravya's marriage, even after knowing that he loves me? You are always protective of her. You broke the bones of the boys who tried to approach her. Then why did you agree to their marriage, even after knowing that he loves me and not her?" asked Maya.

"I couldn't get a nicer man for her than him, Bunny. And secondly, she is madly in love with him. Of course, she may lie to us and say that she is trying to move on from him. But she still loves him deeply and madly. And I believe that one day, even he will recognize her feelings for him. And could he get a better girl than my sister, who loves him immensely? But they have a long journey ahead and have to work hard on their relationship. And mainly Surya, he needs to assure her that he will be beside her forever," said Avi.

"I love you, hubby," Maya said, kissing his cheeks.

Avi chuckled, looking at her and said, "I love you too, Bunny."

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

Sravya was sitting in her room, or, to be precise, Surya's room, which is now theirs. She was working on her laptop, and beside her, Darsh was sleeping peacefully.

Just then, Surya walked into the room and sat beside Darsh. Sravya sat still, trying to ignore his presence, and concentrated on her work.

Surya looked at her and tried to talk with her. But he failed; he didn't get the words to speak.

"Sravya?" Surya called her name, gathering his courage.

"Yes," she said without turning her face from the laptop.

"Can we talk?" asked Surya.

"I have to send an important presentation to my father. Can we talk later?" said Sravya.

"All right," Surya said, nodding his head.

After some time, Sravya shut her laptop and asked, turning towards Surya, "Tell me what you want to talk about?"

He was about to speak when Darsh woke up from his sleep and started wailing loudly.

Sravya picked him up in her arms and started cajoling him.

"What happened to my little prince, hmm? Are you feeling hungry?" She said it in a baby voice.

She felt his diaper was heavy. She cleaned him with a warm towel and changed his diaper.

"Shh, let Amma clean you, baby. Then you can have your feed peacefully," Sravya said, trying to make him calm.

She took him in her arms and fed him. She was caressing his head lovingly, while Surya sat there admiring them, his little family.