《The way I used to live》


 Chapter 1: characters.

    Chapter 1: characters.


    Daksha: she is bold, confident, and straightforward person. She is a doctor by profession and can''t


    stand injustice. She has a beautiful and loving family, but she is staying away from them for some


    reason. She has a past that still has an impact on her present. She has three best friends who she


    considers to be her family. Their families have known each other for quite a few generations as they all


    belong to the same vige.


    Yuktha: She is one of the best friends of Daksha. She is a doctor by profession and Daksha always


    considers her opinions before taking any decision.


    Aarna: Daksha and Yuktha always treat her as their little sister. She is a wildbination of


    childishness, craziness, and innocence. She refers to Yuktha and Daksha as Akka(sister). She loves


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    her bestie Aarushi to the core.


    Aarushi: She is the youngest one in their group. She is a mature person and always helps others. She


    also refers to Daksha and Yuktha as Akka. She is a pir of support to her friends.


    Mrs. Indraja: Mother of Daksha and Aditya. A caring and outgoing person. She just wants her children


    to find happiness in their lives as they had faced a lot in their past.


    Mr.Raghav: CEO of Shine Corporations. Father of Daksha and Aditya. A loving husband and a caring


    father. He is also longing for his children''s happiness.


    Aditya: Elder brother of Daksha. He is so protective of her and loves her a lot. Something happened in


    the past that made him detach himself from his family. He is a kind person with a broken heart.


    ??????


    Arjun (male lead): At the age of 29, he is an undefeatablewyer in the country. He is a person with


    upright morals and principles. He always fights for justice and stands against evil. He faced an


    unexpected betrayal at his lowest point from the most important person in his life. From then onwards,


    he shut his heart for others and built a wall around himself with a cold facade. He loves his mother and


    sister a lot. His secret passion is hacking and is one of the best-certified hackers by the government in


    the country.


    Sarada: She is Arjun¡¯s mother. She is a lovabledy who adores her children more than her life. She


    misses her cheerful and naughty son and wants to find a perfect life partner for him who would help in


    bringing the yful side of her son back.


    Amrutha: She is Arjun¡¯s sister. She is studying in the third year of engineering. She misses the past self


    of her brother a lot. She loves her mother and brother and can do anything for them.


    Indratan: He is a police officer by profession and is Arjun¡¯s best friend. He tackled many of his cases


    with the help of Arjun.


    Dhruv: He is another one of Arjun¡¯s best friends and is a businessman. He helps Arjun in taking care of


    his business also.


    Darshith: He is the best friend of Arjun too. He is the youngest one in their group. He too is a


    businessman by profession. Currently residing in Italy.

 chapter 26

    chapter 26


    Daksha''s POV:


    I had a sleepless night because of Aarna''s words. I spent the whole night, thinking about the ''what ifs''.


    Damn, Aarna! Shepletely messed up my brain with her words.


    I really don''t know whether to consider her words seriously or to ignore them, considering it to be her


    usual nonsense.


    Talking about Arjun, I have a strong feeling that he won''t do any such thing.


    Truth be told, I might have known him only for a short period of time but he gained a little bit of my trust.


    Don''t ask me how because I don''t know how it happened.


    I spent a restless day in the hospital. I was waiting for the clock to strike at 4 o¡¯clock.


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    So, I could meet him and finally get rid of this anxiety. It was 3:45 pm but I already started for the cafe.


    I went walking as it was just a street away from my hospital. I reached there within five minutes and


    entered the cafe. While waiting for him, I ordered an espresso to calm myself.


    He arrived sharply at 4:00 pm.  He took his seat and ced his order. An awkward yetfortable


    silence engulfed us until it got broken by the waiter who returned with the order. God, it''s really


    awkward.


    He cleared his throat and ced a file in front of me. He gestured to me to open it but I sat there


    without moving an inch. He sighed and started talking.


    "Why are you not opening it when I called you here for that purpose only?" He asked me.


    Idiot, how can I open it when so many weird ideas are running in my brain?


    "What''s in it?" I asked after calming down my nerves to some extent.


    "It''s an agreement. It is actually important for you to sign it before the marriage itself," he told me but he


    didn''t exin anything about what the agreement was for. It was enough for me toe to a weird


    conclusion.


    "Agreement! What are you talking about, Arjun? I know this marriage is not happening out of love. I


    know that we both agreed to this just for our parents but seriously, how can you ask me to sign this


    agreement? Look Arjun, I don''t know what you are expecting from this marriage but I want to give this


    marriage a chance. So, I can''t and won''t sign any of these silly agreements."


    He looked astonished at my sudden outburst. I really didn''t know what that damn agreement was


    about.


    I couldn''t help but think of it as a prenuptial agreement because of the circumstances of our marriage.


    He looked at me with a somewhat amused and thoughtful expression and gestured to me with his


    finger to lean forward. I looked at him with a confused face but I did what he asked me to do.


    When I leaned forward, he immediately pinched my nose and flicked my forehead with his thumb and


    forefinger.


    When he released his hold, I immediately red at him while rubbing my nose and forehead.


    "Silly girl. Why don''t you open it and see for yourself about what''s there in it?" he asked me in a teasing


    tone that earned another re from me.


    I opened it and became bbergasted seeing what that agreement was about. Yeah, not an


    agreement. They were property and transfer of shares agreement.


    It stated that 80% of his property would belong to me after our wedding. I looked at him with my eyes


    wide open.


    "I. I thou..ght it was a prenup-" he cut off in the middle and continued.


    "A prenuptial agreement. When did I say that? It looks like it has be a custom for you to


    misunderstand my every action," he said with a sigh and shook his head. Before I could say anything,


    he continued again.


    "Before you misunderstand me again, let me clear my stance. If you think that I considered you as a


    person who was after my money, then don''t. I never took you and will never take you to be a gold


    digger. I am transferring my property which I have earned to you so as to give an assurance to you that


    I am serious about this marriage. I would have transferred my entire property if I didn¡¯t have a sister.


    20% of my property is for my sister. As you have said, this marriage might not be out of love but I would


    never do such a petty thing to disrespect this sacred bond. I can assure you that divorce will be thest


    thing that I will do," he said while giving me an assured look.


    His words warmed my heart. Now I was guilty of using him wrongly when he did nothing but


    consider my feelings and assuring me.


    "I am really sorry. It won''t happen again. I promise you. By the way, I appreciate your gesture but you


    don''t need to do all this. Please, I can''t sign them. I believe in you," I said while looking at him. He


    Damn! His heartyugh was making my heart run a marathon. I was used to his smirks or his teasing


    smiles but it was my first time seeing himugh. He was looking so sexy whenughing.


    I calmed myself and controlled my racing heart. Afterughing, he suddenly took my palm into his,


    making my calm heart race yet again. He patted the back of my hand and started talking.


    "What will I do with this property? Till now, I didn''t have any thoughts of getting married. So the money


    that I earned to this day had no purpose. Now I am getting married and ites with responsibilities.


    Let my hard-earned money have some purpose. From now on, I will transfer my monthly earnings to


    your ount too. You will handle every money-rted matter at home. I will never question your


    usage. Please sign it and consider it as a present from your soon to be husband," he said, thest part


    making me blush a little.


    Even after his reasoning, I was still hesitating to sign it. He again probed me to sign it by making an


    innocent face.


    Atst, I signed it. He gave me another document to sign it. I signed it as it was a document for


    registering our marriage legally.


    We came out of the cafe after paying the bill. I bid him goodbye and thought to return to the hospital as


    Yuktha must have been waiting for me.


    When I was about to leave, he held my hand and asked me if I was free, to which I nodded my head.


    "Great then. Can youe with me? I have something to tell you," he said and I agreed.


    I settled in the car and he started driving. I messaged Yuktha to go to my house without waiting for me.


    Upon reaching that ce, he stopped and parked the car at the side. He immediately rushed to my


    side to open the door like a gentleman.


    Iughed in my heart seeing this side of him. I got out of the car.


    I looked at the ce and was greeted with a peaceful sight. It was filled with greenery.


    The view was already breathtaking but as it was close to twilight; it enhanced its beauty even more.


    I smiled excitedly. He took my hand and walked further. After that, he sat on the grass and gestured to


    me to sit beside him. I did the same.


    "Beautiful ce, right," He asked and I agreed with him by nodding my head continuously, making him


    chuckle a little. He rubbed my head and started looking ahead.


    "I identally discovered this ce. This ce gives me beautiful sce. So, whenever I want to


    escape from this stressful life, Ie to this ce to seek peace. Nobody knows about this. Not even


    my friends. I brought you here to let you see the ce with which I have a special attachment," he told


    me with a smile on his face.


    At that moment, I felt like I was so special to him. Seeing his actions and care, I was sure that agreeing


    to this marriage was not a mistake.


    "Daksha, I don''t know how much you know about me. If I am sure, you don''t know anything about me


    apart from the basic details. If so, I want to tell you some things rted to my past. I want to share


    everything with you before the marriage itself," he said and looked at me. I nodded at him to continue.


    "In the past, I was already engaged," he said while looking at me as if he was checking for something


    on my face.


    When I heard him saying that he was engaged, I felt a little pang in my heart but I masked it


    immediately. He sighed and continued.


    "But it was broken off," I did a mental dance after hearing him say that.


    He told me about how he was engaged and how it was broken off after his father''s death. He shared


    his struggles in the past. He told me everything.


    When I heard about his past, my respect for him reached another level. Even in the face of difficulties,


    he stood strong and faced everything bravely.


    Call me weird but I was d when I heard that he was just in a tonic rtionship with his ex-fianc¨¦e.


    "I am not sure whether my feelings for Anusha were real or not, but I felt betrayed when she left me at


    my lowest point. So, I don''t know whether my heart is capable of allowing anyone inside for that matter,


    but I am sure that I won''t regret this marriage. This is my past. Even though it is called the past for a


    reason, it has surely left a shadow over my present. So, bear with me." He looked at me and continued.


    "I don''t know how to express my feelings in words and I don''t know sweet talking. So, I will always


    prove it with my actions. As of now, I am not sure about my feelings for you but I am not repelled by the


    idea of being with you. I respect you a lot and I expect the same from you. We can start this


    rtionship by being friends at the start. We will take it slow." He said and extended his hand for a


    handshake. I took it immediately.


    Seeing him being so understanding, I was really happy. My Mom was right. They would never make


    any wrong decision for me. I was d that I agreed to the marriage.


    "Shall we leave then? " he asked me and I nodded. He stood up and gave me his hand. I took it and


    before I stood up, I asked him a question, still holding his hand.


    "Arjun? What if I say that even I have a painful past? I don''t know whether you will support me after


    hearing about my past. So, can you promise me that you will stay with me forever irrespective of my


    past?" I asked him and I didn''t receive any response.


    My eyes teared upon seeing his silence and I was about to remove my hand from his but he tightened


    his hold and pulled me upwards with a force. Inded on his warm and broad chest.


    I looked at him with my teary eyes. When I wanted to leave his hold, he hugged me tightly with one


    hand, still holding my palm with his other hand. He brought our entwined hands in front of our faces.


    "I didn''t offer my hand to leave it in the middle," he said while motioning at our hands with his eyes.


    Understanding his meaning, I removed my hand and hugged him tighter.


    I started sobbing in his chest, remembering all the past happenings, I cried at my fate, I cried at my


    helplessness.


    All the while, he hugged me tightly and started consoling me with his awkward gestures. Iughed at


    his awkwardness in between my crying. He looked at me and brushed off my tears. I was still smiling


    with tears.


    "Stopughing. I am really not good at consoling," he said while removing his hold. I left him and


    nodded.


    After that, we settled in the car and headed to my parent''s house. We reached there and he again


    came out to open the door for me. I came out and bid him goodbye.


    When I was entering the house, he called me. I turned around to see that he was behind me.


    I questioned him with my eyes to which he shook his head and held my face with both hands.


    He kissed me on my forehead while lingering his lips there for a while.


    "Don''t worry. You can tell me about your past whenever you arefortable. We will face it together,¡±


    he told me. After that, he entered his car and drove off after waving at me.


    Even after he left, I stood in the same position while cing a hand over my racing heart.


    "God, I think my heart will stop functioning if it continues like this," I thought and went into the


    house.

 chapter 27

    chapter 27


    Daksha''s POV:


    When I was entering the house, I heard someone clearing their throat. I turned around while praying in


    my heart. Please, don''t let it be Aarna.


    I was greeted with the sight of Rishu. I think she was walking on thewn and saw everything that had


    happened out there. When I turned around, she gave me a teasing smile while trying to wiggle her


    eyebrows.


    I was shocked to see her behave like that. Yeah and I have every right to get shocked because it''s not


    like, I will get to see that side of her every day. Seems like Aarna was rubbing off on her.


    Don''t think that I am exaggerating here. Rishu was always a conservative person. She only minds her


    business unless it involves the three of us.


    I don''t know what caused the change in her behavior but she became quite a mature person for her


    age.


    She just expresses everything through her actions instead of words. That was why it was a sight that


    was worth getting shocked for.


    She was trying to wiggle her brows but she was not getting it perfect. I want tough out loud seeing


    her struggle.


    I would have done it if I was not the one at the receiving end. She was too adorable. I went to her and


    pinched her cheeks.


    "Don''t fret over it. Tell the idiot who taught you to do this to teach you well next time," I told her and she


    gave an embarrassed smile while scratching the back of her head.


    After that, I went to my room. After getting freshened up, I had my dinner. Now I was on my bed,


    smiling gleefully while thinking about all the happenings of this day.


    I got out of my reverie when I heard the pinging of my mobile. It indicated that I received a message


    from Arrogant Ajju.


    Oh, by the way, that was the name I gave him earlier. I was going to change it though.


    [Good night :)


    - Arrogant Ajju.]


    The message from him was wishing me a good night.


    [Hope you have reached your home safely. Good night.]


    I sent a reply to him and started to think of a name to change his name in my contacts.


    Adorable Ajju? Nah! It is too girly.


    Sweet Ajju? Nah! Too routine and prettymon.


    My Handsome Ajju? Nah! That he is. I don''t need to mention it specifically.


    Oh, God. I couldn¡¯t even think of a good name. I fisted my hair with my hands and started dwelling over


    it. Suddenly a name stuck in my brain and I smiled in victory.


    I saved his name as ''MJ''. Yes, it is MJ. Others didn¡¯t need to know the meaning of this name, right?


    That was why I saved it like that. MJ meant My Jun. He is my Jun.


    I smiled over that name and buried my face in the pillow. I started smiling like a fangirl and I didn''t know


    when sleep took over me. I slept with a content smile on my face.


    ????


    Arjun''s POV:


    After dropping Daksha at her parent''s house, I started driving towards my house. To my house, I kept


    smiling to myself.


    I knew that I was behaving like a teenager who got his first love. Trust me, that was exactly how I was


    feeling at the moment.


    I reached my house and after parking my car, I went into the house. I was climbing the stairs while


    swirling my keys with my forefinger and whistling a happy tune.


    Ammu was about toe out of her room but when she saw me in that avatar, she stood rooted to the


    ground and looked at me with her mouth agape. I gave her a full-blown smile and went into my room.


    I don''t feel like eating anything. So, after freshening up, I went directly to bed and took my phone. I


    opened the contact of my angry bird and sent her a good night message.


    The reply came immediately. I read the message and smiled to myself. I was about to reply back but


    after seeing the time, I thought to not message her anymore as it might dy her sleep.


    I kept my phone aside and started thinking about that day¡¯s happenings. I smiled after remembering


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    how she misunderstood my intention and started scolding me.


    See? I didn''t call her an angry bird without a reason.


    She told me about how she wanted to give this marriage a chance, making my heart skip a beat.


    Even though I felt bad when she misunderstood me, I understood her feelings and insecurities


    immediately. In fact, I gave it a thought before itself.


    That was why I transferred the majority share of my properties to her name to assure her.


    I didn''t decide to open up to her about my past at today''s meeting itself but when I heard about how


    she wanted to give this rtionship a shot, I decided at that moment toe clean about my past.


    I took her to my secret ce and told her about my past. When I was telling her about Anusha, I


    observed her face to gauge her reaction but I received none.


    I sighed in disappointment and chided myself for thinking like that. How could I expect her to fall for me


    when it hadn''t even been a month since we met each other.


    When she questioned me regarding whether I would stay with her forever irrespective of her past, I


    couldn''t answer immediately because I was so shocked to see her so vulnerable when she asked me


    that question.


    She looked like she was about to cry when I didn''t answer her question and tried to remove her hold


    from me. So, I immediately pulled her into a hug and assured her.


    She hugged me tightly and started sobbing in my chest. My heart constricted with every sob that


    escaped her mouth.


    I didn¡¯t know why but her tears gave a pang in my heart and I couldn¡¯t stand the sight.


    So, I hugged her even tighter and I let her cry her heart out. At that moment, whatever her past might


    be, I promised myself to protect and cherish her forever.


    After a while, she stopped crying and startedughing at my awkward consoling.


    I dropped her off at her house. I gave her a forehead kiss and again assured her.


    "What might be her past? Why is she so affected by it? Is it that dreadful? Whatever! I asked her to tell


    me whenever she feelsfortable. So, I won''t force her and will wait patiently for her to tell me. Till


    then, I will just support and respect her decision,"  I thought and drifted off to sleep with her face in my


    dreams.


    The next day, I woke up, freshened, and dressed in casual attire as I wouldn¡¯t be going to my office for


    a week or so. What to say? Mom''s order.


    I went to the dining room, took my seat, and waited for my breakfast. Mom was already there.


    She smiled at me teasingly. By seeing her smile, I got a pretty good understanding that she was up for


    teasing me.


    "I heard that yesterday someone came to the house in a jolly mood. I also heard that someone


    transferred his properties to someone. Mthi, do you know who that person is?" Mom asked me in a


    teasing tone. To say that I am embarrassed by her teasing would be an understatement.


    "Maa," I whined, expecting her to stop teasing me.


    "Okay. I won''t tease you anymore. I am really happy with your decision. In fact, I am proud of you for


    treating her well even before the wedding," she said and gave me a heartwarming smile.


    That is why I always say that I am lucky to get this family. Mom never opposed my decision and always


    supported me in everything.


    Even yesterday, I neither approached nor discussed my decision with her before transferring the


    property. Yet, she didn''t feel bad about it and was even praising me about it.


    I smiled at her. Ammu also joined us at the table and sat beside me. One of the maids served breakfast


    and I had it pretty quickly.


    When I was about to leave, Mthi aunty stopped me and told me to wait for her as she went to bring


    the juice. While waiting for her, I took out my phone and thought to send a message to Daksha.


    ''Good morning. Have a nice day.¡¯ I typed and sent it to her.


    [Man :(  Don''t you have a single romantic bone in you?'']  That was the reply I received from her.


    I heard theugh of someone and I turned to see that it was Ammu who was controlling herugh to


    not get choked on her food.


    "Oh my God!¡± sheughed. "I totally agree with vadhina(sister-inw)." She said andughed while


    holding her stomach. Mom smiled at us and left for her room after having her breakfast.


    "Anna, the message that you sent is so formal. It didn''t give any romantic feel. No wonder she sent you


    that reply," she said after controlling herughing.


    I didn''t understand anything at all. Was there any other way to greet someone? I looked at her


    confusedly and asked her the same to which she burst into another round ofughter. I red at her


    and she somehow stopped it.


    "Anna, I am not talking about the words that you have used but I am talking about the way that you


    have sent the message. Give me your phone. I will show it to you,"  I handed her my phone and she


    typed something and showed it to me.


    ''Good morning beautiful. Have a nice day I gave him some instructions and hung up the call. I went to


    my room after having my juice andid on my bed. After a while, he called me and told me that the


    work was done.


    "I hope she is not too dumb to understand the meaning behind it." I thought and waited in anticipation


    for her reply.

 chapter 28

    chapter 28


    Daksha''s POV:


    The next day, I woke up and did my routine. After that, I went downstairs, taking my phone along with


    me. As I was not going to the hospital today, I woke up a littleter than usual.


    So when I went downstairs, nobody was there at the dining table except for my Mom.


    Dad waspletely busy supervising the wedding arrangements. Yuktha and Rishu already went to


    their respective workces.


    As for Aarna, much to my relief, she was pretty busy with her exams. Though, her exams were going to


    end today. I took my seat at the dining table and Mom served me breakfast.


    While I was in the middle of having it, suddenly my mobile pinged, indicating that I received a message.


    I thought of opening it by using my other free hand and unlocked my phone. But before I could see the


    message, my Mom snatched the mobile from me.


    "Youngdy, did you forget that using the mobile is prohibited while eating?" she asked and gave a


    nce at the mobile.


    The home screen of the mobile was still lit up as I just unlocked it. I couldn''t get a clear view of the


    message since the mobile was in her hand.


    My mom read the message and looked at me while raising her eyebrows in a questioning manner.


    "Who is this MJ?" she asked me and once I heard that name, I immediately stood from the chair and


    approached her, to snatch the phone from her.


    But she held up that phone at a height with her hand, making it impossible for me to get hold of it.


    Did I ever mention that my mom has a pretty good height? She is 5 feet 9 inches and whereas I am just


    5 feet 4 inches.


    She again probed me to tell her about that person. So, I gave in and disclosed that person.


    "It is Arjun," I told her and went to my chair. I sat on it and started eating with a sullen face.


    "Really? Then why did you name him MJ? Wait...Hahaha... I understand. It is a lover¡¯s thing, right?


    Then don''t bother about exining it," she told me while passing teasing smiles my way.


    She again read the message and shook her head as if she waspletely disappointed by it.


    "God, he is so unromantic. Who sends such a message to his soon-to-be wife? He has to update his


    skills," she sighed and settled herself on another chair beside me. She typed something on the phone


    and sent it to him.


    Seeing her do this, I immediately snatched the phone from her and thought to delete it for both parties


    as the text was sent through WhatsApp.


    But it was toote because he already saw it. Looked like he was waiting for my text.


    I read the text that she had sent to him and red at her. Even though I agreed with that unromantic


    part, how could she just say it to him directly?


    Oh, God! He would think that message was sent by me as he didn''t know the fact that it was my Mom


    who had sent that message.


    "Don''t re at me like that. He has to learn these things otherwise your married life will be pretty


    boring. You guys don''t even know a thing about being romantic," she shook her head. She ced a


    hand on my shoulder and continued


    "These days, you youngsters only consider candlelight dinners, surprising the spouse with holiday trips,


    going on dates, etc., as the only romantic things.  There is more to those things. You know, sometimes


    the smallest things give the biggest happiness," she said with a smile on her face as if she was


    reminiscing some beautiful memories.


    "Back then, when we were young, your father and I used to sneak out to watch movies. He used to


    give me flowers at our every meet. We used to enjoy ourselves a lot at the fairs and exhibitions. There


    was not a thing which we didn''t do to enjoy the time that we got to spend with each other. Those days


    were the golden days." After saying this, she sighed and turned to see me.


    "So my point is, you have to be a little demanding. Ask him to buy things even if you are capable of


    buying them on your own. Doing this will give him satisfaction. He will feel content in his  heart." She


    patted my cheek and left for the kitchen.


    I smiled hearing her say those things. Earlier, I thought of sending a message to rify the


    misconception. Now after hearing her, I dropped the idea of doing it.


    I stared at my phone waiting for his response to that message. When I didn''t receive the reply even


    after a while of waiting, I stood up and went to the living room.


    I took the magazine and started skimming the pages. An hour or so passed. Suddenly, I heard the


    ringing of the doorbell. I ced the magazine aside and went to open the door.


    After opening the door, I saw that there was a delivery boy, holding separate bunches of red roses in


    his hands. I looked at him questioningly.


    "Are you Ms.Daksha?" He asked me with a friendly smile. I returned it after nodding at him.


    "Okay. Ma¡¯am, we received an order from a customer to deliver these flowers to you. Here they are.


    Have a nice day." I signed the delivery and he handed me the flowers. After he left, I closed the door


    and went to the living room.


    Hearing themotion, my Mom also came to the living room. Seeing the flowers in my hand, she


    gestured to me to see the name of the sender.


    There was a note along with the flowers. I took the note and read the content.


    Hope you will know that I too have a romantic side ;)


    -From Arjun After reading it, I bit my lips to control the smile that was threatening to form on my face.


    I handed the note to my mom. She also started smiling gleefully after reading the note.


    The thing I didn''t understand was, why didn''t he send the flowers in oneplete bouquet. Instead, he


    sent me five separate bunches of red roses.


    I asked my Mom the same but even she shared the same opinion as me. I thought to message him and


    ask the reason but dropped that idea after thinking for a while.


    I ced them on the teapoy and started looking at them in a scrutinizing manner to understand the


    meaning behind his gesture.


    It was almost afternoon. Aarna just returned after giving her an exam and plopped on the couch after


    throwing her books aside.


    Mom gave her water. She gulped them in one go. After that, she sat on the couch on her knees and


    exined to us dramatically about how hot it was outside and grumbled about how she had given her


    exams despite the heat


    After that, she looked at the flowers and gave me a look while raising her eyebrows in a questioning


    manner.


    Mom told her that the flowers were from Arjun. After hearing it, she started grinning like a Cheshire cat.


    "Oh, Akka. Looks like someone got something special from someone so special," she said and I


    resisted the urge to p my forehead.


    "I also wished to get a husband like that Airport guy. By the way, why did he send them separately like


    that?" After her initial teasing, she expressed the same doubt.


    "Wish I could know the answer," I sighed.


    "Really? Wait let me see them." She took the flowers and started counting the number of flowers in


    each bunch.


    After counting them, she had an expression of victory like she had solved one of the most typical


    riddles.


    "Hurray. I got it, Akka. That''s why I told you to concentrate on other things also apart from studying and


    working. You always scold me to not watch and read those dramas and romantic novels. See, now how


    they came in handy,¡± she said while pointing a finger at me usingly.


    "You are really lucky to get him. Actually, there are hidden meanings behind the number of flowers. It


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    indicates indirect promises from him. See, even though he sent the flowers in separate bunches, there


    is a change in the count of flowers. Let me exin it clearly, " She said and handed me a set of flowers


    to count them. It contained 9 red roses and I told her the same.


    "Okay. It has nine flowers, right? It is known as the special nine. Actually, this gesture has a very deep


    meaning and it is not a gift but a promise. It means ''together as long as we both shall live.'' How


    beautiful!"


    "Next one has 10 flowers. It is known as pretty 10. It is an indirect way of saying that you are pretty. He


    sent you this bunch topliment you."


    "It has twenty flowers. It is known as a sincere 20. He is indirectly assuring you that he feels


    responsible for you. Also, he is sincere as far as your rtionship with him is considered."


    "It has 24 roses and it is known as always 24. Here 24 roses indicate the 24 hours of the day. It is a


    beautiful way of telling you that you are on his mind every time and he always thinks about you, " She


    shouted in glee.


    "Last one. It has 50 roses and is called the sanctuary 50. He is telling you indirectly that he loved the


    warmth of this rtionship. He is confessing that he never regretted or won''t regret any moment that he


    is going to spend with you," she said and a dreamy sigh escaped her mouth.


    "Woah! He is so sincere. I am sure, you won''t regret this rtionship too. These flowers clearly show


    that he respects you and cares for you a lot. What does anyone need other than these things in a


    rtionship? I am so happy for you, Akka." After saying this, she came towards me and hugged me.


    Even my Mom had an awestruck expression and a strange satisfaction on her face.


    I was still astonished after hearing the deep, hidden meaning behind the simple gesture.


    I really didn¡¯t know how to respond. I left her and went to my room along with those flowers.


    After reaching the room, I closed it. Settling on my bed, I hugged the flowers to my heart.


    I was so impressed. Impressed to the extent that I felt happy tears gliding down my face.


    How heart-touching gesture it was. Itpletely warmed my heart. How wrong it was of me to think


    that he was not romantic. I suddenly remembered his previous words.


    "I don''t know sweet-talking. I don''t know how to express my feelings through words. So, I will portray


    them through my actions."


    True to his words, he easily expressed everything through his actions. At that moment, I felt so lucky to


    get him. I was proud that he belonged to me, only to me.


    I also wanted to return his gesture. So, I made a call to Sarada Aunty to know some things. She


    attended my call and answered every question of mine with the utmost patience.


    I ended the call with a smile and looked at the flowers. It increased my smile even more.


    "How can I resist my urge to fall for him when he is so sweet and caring?" I thought in my mind andid


    on my bed thinking about my uing n.

 chapter 29

    chapter 29


    Daksha''s POV:


    I asked Sarada Aunty about Arjun''s favorite cuisines. She informed me that he likes South Indian and


    Italian cuisines. So, I spent the rest of my day thinking about what dishes to prepare.


    I didn''t send any reply to him. I knew that he would have been waiting for my reply but I wanted to say


    everything in person.


    So, I nned a small dinner date(if it is considered as one) for the next day. I already had some dishes


    in my mind. With those thoughts, I drifted into a good night''s sleep.


    The next day, after I woke up, I hurriedly had my breakfast. After that, I rushed into the kitchen to see


    whether all the ingredients for the dishes were avable or not. Fortunately, everything that I needed


    was present in the kitchen.


    Till afternoon, I spent my time with Aaru and mom. I told them my idea and they agreed to it instantly


    while grinning widely.


    After having lunch, I and Aarna headed to the kitchen. Even though I was good at cooking, I really


    sucked at baking. So, I asked Aarna to bake a cake for me as baking is her favorite pastime.


    She decided to make a simple chocte truffle cake and I agreed to it.


    While she was busy doing her things, I started the preparation for my dishes. I decided to prepare


    Italian cuisine.


    First, I started making the dough for the pasta, precisely heart beet ravioli pasta, and another dough for


    pasta sheets to preparesagna.


    It is named like that because the pasta which we use for that dish will be in heart shape and it has


    beetroot powder as one of the ingredients. I prepared it and let it rest for 30 minutes.


    Meanwhile, I started preparing the broth for Mushroom risotto. After the broth got ready, I headed with


    the further process of risotto by adding all the required ingredients. The mushroom risotto was ready.


    I took the pink dough for pasta and cut them into heart-shaped ravioli. I also prepared pasta sheets for


    the pasta.


    By the time I was done with the pasta, the cake was baked and Aarna was preparing the pipings and


    chocte ganache for decorating it.


    So, I took a casserole pan and ced the pasta sheets one by one by adding vegetables and paneer


    on eachyer after applying the Rag¨´ and sauces as ayer.


    Finally, I added the cheese and put it in the oven to bake it. It would take another 25 minutes or so. I


    looked at the clock and saw that the time was nearly 4:30 pm.


    After informing Aarna to keep an eye on thesagna, I went to my room to freshen up.


    After freshening up, I wore a simple salwar kameez and left my hair loose. When I went to the kitchen,


    Nom and Aarna had already packed everything into containers.


    Mom even made carrot halwa after she got to know about it being one of his favorites. Mom asked one


    of the maids to ce all the dishes carefully into my car.


    Meanwhile, I messaged Arjun to know out about his whereabouts. I came to know that he was in The


    Empire Corporations along with his sister. So I headed there after bidding bye to my Mom and Aarna.


    I reached there and after parking the car, I went towards the office. Wow! That was the only word that


    left my mouth after seeing the rtively grandiose view of the skyscraper from the outside.


    I went inside and stood in the waiting area to call him. I told him that I was in his office and I asked him


    toe down. At first, he was surprised a little, nheless, he came to the first floor.


    I saw himing towards me along with a beautiful girl, probably his sister. Before I could greet them, I


    was attacked with a bone-crushing hug by that girl.


    "Oh my God! Finally, I got to see you. Woah, Vadhina(sis inw)...you are so beautiful. My brother is so


    lucky to get you," she gushed in an excited tone. I smiled at her behavior.


    "Nice to meet you. Amrutha, right?" I asked her.


    "Yeah and nice to meet you too. You can call me ''Ammu''. Vadhina, I heard a lot about you from my


    Mom and even from my brother too," she said with augh.


    I looked at him and he turned his head to another side without meeting my eye with a small smile


    ying on his lips.


    "Ammu, are you gonna continue your bbering here itself? Let''s introduce her to Dhruv too." After


    saying this, without waiting for any reply, he held my hand and took me towards the elevator.


    I just followed him silently with Ammu tagging behind me with a pout on her face.


    After entering the elevator, he pressed the designated floor number of their office. When we reached


    the floor, Ammu excitedly rushed outside before us and went into a room.


    Arjun shook his head at her behavior and passed me a helpless smile with a sigh. I returned that


    gesture with augh after seeing his face.


    We went to the room which had the name Dhruv - CEO on the namete. Before we opened the door,


    it swung open from the other side.


    It was Ammu who opened that door while holding the hand of a man(probably dragged him forcefully)


    who seemed to be of the same age as Arjun. I realized he was that infamous Dhruv.


    He had an irritable expression on his face but it changed into a teasing smile after seeing us, precisely


    after seeing Arjun with me.


    He passed me a warm smile and introduced himself as Dhruv. I smiled back at him and shook his


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    hand.


    After that, we settled in his office and got ourselves involved in casual talking and asional teasing of


    Ammu. Seeing the time, I signaled to Ammu with my eyes.


    She understood my gesture and asked us to go if we had any ns to which I stood up immediately.


    After bidding them goodbyes, I held Arjun''s hand and strode out along with him.


    When we were out of the elevator, I could still hear the gossip that stirred due to my presence among


    the employees.


    I could hear the hushed voices of asking each other about who I was and what was my rtionship


    with Arjun, etc.


    Arjun might have noticed it. So he removed his hand from mine and held me close to him by cing his


    hand on my shoulder.


    After that, he passed me a smile and ced a kiss on my palm by holding with his other hand, making


    me blush a little.


    This one action from him was enough to answer all their questions. He indirectly announced my


    position in his life. He was making me go gaga over him. I smiled sweetly at him.


    When we reached outside, I insisted him to drive my car to which he obeyed immediately. I told him to


    drive to his favorite secret ce.


    He agreed to it, though, I could guess he had a lot of questions in his mind. I smiled to myself after


    seeing his face.


    Even though the area was deserted and far away from the city, it was a well-maintained area with good


    security as it consisted of private estates of so many influential people.


    That was why I asked him to drive to that ce as I was sure that it was safe to go there anytime.


    We reached that ce. He parked the car aside and opened the door for me to get out.


    After getting out of the car, I gestured to him to help me with the things that were ced at the backside


    of the car. He nodded at it.


    I took out the mat and the adjustable table from the car and ced it on the grass. After that, I also


    brought some containers.


    I ced them on the table and arranged them neatly along with the cutlery that I brought.


    I think he understood after seeing the setup. After seeing the dishes, he smiled at me gleefully and sat


    opposite me on the mat while rubbing his palms together.


    I smiled at him and served him a piece ofsagna and some pasta. I also served him mushroom risotto


    in a bowl.


    When I was about to serve myself, he held my hand to stop me. He took my te and served a little bit


    of everything on my te.


    He ced it in front of me and gestured to me to have it. I smiled at his gesture and also asked him to


    have his share.


    We had the food in silence. I only brought the food that was enough for two people, so there were no


    leftovers. After having the food, I served both of us with the carrot halwa.


    He had it like a child who got his favorite candy. I smiled at his behavior. After that, I took the box which


    had a cake on it.


    "Another dish!!" He eximed after seeing the box and I shook my head negatively at him and


    gestured to him to open it. He nodded and opened it.


    After reading what was written on that cake, he looked at me with a hint of surprise and amusement on


    his face.


    "Really?" he asked and I nodded at him shyly to which heughed loudly and pinched my cheeks.


    When Aarna was done with preparing the cake, I wrote a sentence on the cake i.e., Anch''io Penso


    sempre a te which means "I also think of you always." in Italian.


    "God! You are so cute. Then I will assume that you liked the flowers that I sent and understood the


    meaning behind them," he said in a happy tone. I nodded at him.


    "Yeah. I liked them. In fact, I loved them. That''s really a meaningful gesture. Thanks for the flowers. I


    am so impressed. That''s why I asked Sarada Aunty about your favorite cuisine and prepared all of


    them. By the way, this carrot halwa is prepared by my Mom, and this cake is prepared by my friend


    Aarna," I told him and handed him a knife to cut the cake.


    He took the knife and came to my side. After that he made me hold the knife and ced his hand over


    mine. I understood his gesture and we both cut the cake.


    "I am d that you liked them. Actually, it was Ammu''s idea. She was beside me when I received your


    message and asked me to send those flowers to change your opinion about me," he said with a


    somewhat embarrassed expression.


    "Hahaha. It''s okay. I don''t mind whose idea it was. Only your effort matters to me," I told him and he


    released a rxed sigh.


    I didn''t tell him about the fact that the message was sent by my mom to not make him even more


    embarrassed than he was.


    After that, he fed me a small piece of cake and I too did the same. We sat in silence until I decided to


    break it.


    "Aren''t you feeling nervous about this marriage? I don''t know about you but I am pretty nervous. I have


    to leave everything behind and have to get adjusted to a new ce. It''s really not an easy task," I told


    him with a worried expression marring my face.


    He sighed and held my palm, "Do you think it is easy for me? Same as a bride, the groom also has to


    adjust to everything. I agree it is not easy to livefortably in apletely new ce. But trust me, it


    is also not easy for the groom to share everything with an unknown person, especially in arranged


    marriages like ours. He has to share his room, bed, and closet, everything. So, just like how the bride is


    new to things after the marriage, the same will be the case with the groom too," he said and side


    hugged me before continuing.


    "So, what I want to say is, we both are on the same boat. We will work through everything together. If


    you are new to everything then so am I. Don''t worry unnecessarily. Luckily, you already know my mom


    very well and now met my sister too. But think about my condition. Poor me. I never met my inws


    and don''t know anything about them," he said thest line dramatically in an attempt to make meugh,


    to which he seeded.


    After that, we ced everything back into my car and started to my parent''s house. While we were


    halfway through the journey, he called me to which I looked at him.


    "The carrot halwa and the cake were awesome. I liked them a lot," he told me.


    Though I was happy that he liked them, I was somewhat disappointed that he didn''t say anything about


    the dishes that I prepared painstakingly.


    So, I turned my head towards the window after passing him a tight-lipped smile.


    Soon we reached my house and I told him to take my car with him to reach his house, without looking


    at him. I got out of the car.


    When I was about to go to the gate of my house, suddenly I got pinned to the car and I was greeted


    with the hovering figure of Arjun over me.


    He passed me a mischievous smile and pressed me more to the car. I looked at him with a frown,


    clearly showing my earlier dissatisfaction.


    "Oh, looks like someone is throwing a tantrum," he said to which I scoffed. He suddenly held my face


    closer to him and held his gaze on my lips.


    He inched forward still looking at my lips, making me close my eyes in anticipation.


    My breath hitched when I felt his hot breath near my lips. I thought he was going to kiss me on my lips


    but he again surprised me by cing a soft kiss on both cheeks and finally on my forehead, making me


    a little disappointed.


    After that, he smiled at me smugly after seeing the look of anticipation on my face earlier. So, I pushed


    him and moved a little away from him.


    "As you have loved the flowers that I sent to you, you returned the gesture by making my favorite


    cuisine. As I have loved the dishes that you made for me with so much effort, I appreciated it with a


    kiss," he said with a smile.


    After that, he pulled me into a hug and kissed my palms while looking at me lovingly.


    "Thanks for the lovely dinner date. I loved it a lot," he told me and released me from the hug. All the


    while I was looking down to cover my blushing cheeks.


    "Daksha? Are you blushing?" He asked me to make my blush even more prominent.


    I pped him lightly on his chest and made a quick run to the main gate of my house while covering my


    face with my hands. I could still hear his heartfeltugh from my behind.


    After seeing that none of the devils were out there to tease me further, I rushed to my room and closed


    the door with a thud.


    I leaned on to the door. After that, I ced a hand over my racing heart to calm it down and smiled


    while remembering his antics.

 chapter 30

    chapter 30


    Daksha''s POV:


    The next morning, I freshened up and went downstairs. As the wedding day is getting closer, everyone


    is busy with their chores.


    My mom is busily applying the turmeric paste to the wedding invitations. Dad is talking to the caterers


    over the phone.


    Even Aaru, Yuktha, and Rishu are busy discussing something. Yuktha and Rishu are sitting on either


    side of Aarna on the couch while Aarna has a notepad on herp and a pen in her hand.


    I noticed that she was doing only one thing i.e., writing something and striking it off again and again.


    Just like me, both Yuktha and Rishu must have been fed up with her behavior. That was why both of


    them smacked the back of her head together.


    After that, they looked at each other and startedughing like idiots because of their mirrored actions.


    At least Rishu had the decency to snigger by covering her mouth but Yuktha wasughing directly at


    Aarna''s face.


    When I saw that Aarna was ready to retort back at them, I interrupted them, not wanting for World War


    III to start in the morning itself.


    When they saw me, both stoppedughing. Aarna bit back her retort and sat there while sulking.


    "What are guys busy with?" I asked them.


    After hearing my question, Aarna scoffed and turned her face to another side with a pout on her face.


    It was her indirect way of letting me know that she did not want to talk to me. I smiled at her childish


    behavior.


    "We are not," Yukthaughed, "Only Aaru is busy with an important thing. She is having a hard time


    making a list of the delicacies that she wants to eat at your wedding." After saying this, Yuktha involved


    herself in anotherughing fit.


    "Really?" I took the notepad from Aarna''sp.


    I startedughing after seeing the contents in that book too. She prepared a schedule for her eating


    session for every half an hour.


    When I reached the dessert section, I saw that she first wrote ice cream, then she removed it by


    striking it off and wrote Gb Jamun instead and again struck it off. Finally, she wrote the names of the


    pastries there and received a smack from Yuktha and Rishu before she could get a chance to strike


    them off too.


    "Looks like you are really having a hard time, Aaru baby," I teased her whileughing.


    She stood up from the couch and snatched the notepad from me. After ring at me, she went towards


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    my Mom and rested her head on her shoulders while puffing her cheeks.


    Mom was smiling at our banter. I took Aarna''s ce and settled myself between Yuktha and Rishu.


    Meanwhile, Dad finished his call and motioned us to exin what happened there.


    "Uncle, I will tell you. What will they do except for teasing me? They are teasing me because I am


    preparing a schedule regarding what to eat at her wedding. It''s not like Daksha is going to get married


    every day, right? That''s why I prepared it. Now they areughing at me," sheined to my Dad


    and he listened to everything with a small smile ying on his lips.


    "Especially that Yuktha Akka. Instead ofughing at others¡¯ expense, she should think about her own


    marriage. She is getting older. I lost my hope for her marriage as no one will be willing to marry an old


    asked him and waited for his response.


    "Yeah, I agree with you,¡± heughed. ¡°Youngdies, why are you teasing her?" he asked us and


    pretended to re at us. After that, he again turned his face to look at Aarna.


    "What you have said is right. Yuktha is bing too old and she is not getting any matches. So, why


    don''t you get married after your Daksha Akka''s marriage? You can also get a chance to eat the


    wedding delicacies again," he asked her.


    When he was saying the first part, she kept on nodding her head, agreeing with him. But when she


    heard thest sentence which was directed at her, she stopped nodding at him and looked at my Dad


    wide-eyed.


    "That..Uncle.I think I heard my phone ring. I am going to my room." After saying this, she sprinted


    upstairs like some mad dogs were chasing her.


    We all startedughing at her behavior. God! How much I was going to miss this fun! I sighed sadly in


    my mind. I got distracted by my Mom.


    "Daksha, your dad and I are going to the temple to ce the first wedding card at the feet of the deity.


    From the temple, we will go to your inw''s house to give them the card. We have to distribute the


    cards to our family friends and close rtives too. So, you guys have your food on time, and Daksha,


    don''t forget to have your breakfast. We will get going then. Take care." She left after listing so many


    dos and don''ts.


    Yuktha and Rishu went to their rooms. After having my breakfast, I went to thewn and sat on the


    swing for a while.


    Remembering something, I hurriedly reached the room which was prohibited for outsiders. I opened the


    door with my shaky hands.


    Once I entered that room, so many memories yed in front of my eyes. My heart constricted at the


    sudden surge of emotions. I slowly reached the closet and took a carton box that had my name on it.


    I opened it after cutting the tape that was stered on it. I took out the dresses and sarees that were


    ced in them.


    I held a saree with my hands and caressed it lightly as I drifted back into memoryne.


    ?shback?


    "Teju, why are you staying up sote when you don''t even have any orders in your hands currently?" I


    asked her.


    "I am designing a saree for a client. She is important to me. So, I want to put in some extra effort into


    the design of her saree," she replied to me.


    "Can I know who is this so-called important client?" I asked her while scoffing.


    "If you want to know about my client, I can give you some clues, " sheughed. "She is my very first


    client. She is the one who offered me a good life and even a family too. She looks so beautiful. You can


    say it like this, she is my life and I can even sacrifice it for her," she said these words while looking into


    my eyes. I immediately engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug.


    "Never say that, okay? How can I live without you? You are my life too. I am so lucky that I got to meet


    you on that day," I said to her with tears in my eyes and she agreed to it after saying a ''Sorry''.


    "By the way, what''s the need for designing it now when we don''t even have any asion shortly?" I


    asked her after a while.


    "Silly girl, " she chortled. " It is for a future asion only. I am designing a saree for your wedding. Who


    knows what the future holds for us! So, I want you to wear a saree that I made with my own hands,"


    she said to me.


    "Girl, you are talking like you won''t be there for my wedding." After saying this, I gave a light smack on


    her arm.


    "It''s not like that. How can I leave you? I am preparing the saree because currently I am pretty free and


    I want to utilize this time by investing it fully in your wedding saree because for your wedding, I will be


    busy with all the preparations and I won¡¯t be able to concentrate on it fully. I even made some designs


    for Aaru, Yuktha, and Rishu. Yours is thest one as I want to concentrate more on it." After saying this,


    she again immersed herself in the work. I shook my head at her worries for the future.


    ?End of the shback?


    Back then, the naive me didn''t take her words to heart but who knew that her words would be


    true. Who knew she wouldn''t be with me on the most important day of my life?


    She left us. She broke her promise and left me alone. All I was left with were her memories. I could


    give anything to get her back. s! Not everything happens ording to our wishes


    I hugged that saree tightly to my chest with the continuous flow of tears from my eyes. I was suddenly


    engulfed in a group hug.


    I looked up, to see the three of them hugging me. I didn¡¯t realize when they came to the room, but they


    were what I needed the most at the moment. I hugged them back and cried my heart out.


    "Guys, she left us. How I wished that I didn''t meet her that day! How I wished she hadn¡¯t been a part of


    our lives! If only I didn''t meet her that day and if only I didn''t bring her into my life, she might be alive


    somewhere, living her life happily. I am the culprit behind her death. Who will punish me? Do I deserve


    this life? See, here I am, getting married as if nothing has happened. I don''t have a right to be happy


    after snatching it from others." After saying this, I started sobbing uncontrobly.


    "Calm down, Daksha. Her death was nowhere your fault. Just imagine to what extent she must have


    loved you that she even ignored her own life while saving yours. Do you think she will be happy after


    seeing you living like this? She always wanted you to be happy. I am sure you would have done the


    same had you been in her ce," Yuktha consoled me and they again hugged me.


    "Akka, until now, you have punished yourself for the crime that you didn''tmit. You even punished


    Aunty and Uncle in the process of punishing yourself. You felt that living away from them might make


    you feel less guilty. But have you ever thought of their side? Have you ever thought about how they


    would live without you in their life?" Rishu asked me by cing a hand over my shoulder and


    continued.


    "I don''t know whether you noticed it or not. Your marriage brought so much happiness to them and we


    got to see the smiles on their faces after a long time. You returned to your cheery self and this house


    got its previous glory back. If this marriage brought so many positive changes in you and your


    surroundings, how can you say that you don''t deserve this marriage and this life?" She asked me. This


    was the first time I saw her like that but what she said made so much sense.


    "Yeah, Akka. I agree with them. This marriage is a blessing in our lives. I have positive feelings about


    this marriage from the start. Akka, you should try to move on from your past. I am not asking you to


    forget it but don''t let it influence your present. You got an understanding person as your partner. Trust


    him and trust yourself. He won''t leave you in your struggles. He won''t even let theme in your way.


    So, please never think like that. You deserve this whole world. This marriage is just a beginning," Aarna


    said after releasing herself from the hug.


    "You know, I am so lucky that I got you guys as my friends. I will never talk like that again. I am sure


    Arjun will understand my past and support me in facing it. I love you all. Even though we miss her a lot,


    we should remember her with a smile on our faces. I will give my best to make this marriage work," I


    told them with a smile after wiping off my tears and hugged each other.


    "By the way, Teju even prepared the dresses for you guys. They are in that closet. Try them out when


    you are free. At my wedding, I am going to wear the sarees and dresses that she had designed. I want


    to feel her presence by wearing them. Hope you guys won''t have a problem with wearing them too?" I


    asked them and they agreed to it instantly.


    "Oh, shit! In a hurry to see what happened to you, I left the ice cream that I was eating in my room


    itself. It must be molten by now," she said and pped her forehead while making a sad pouted.


    "This girl and her worries are out of this world," Yuktha said and we all shared a heartyugh.

 chapter 31

    chapter 31


    Arjun''s POV:


    All the marriage arrangements are going smoothly. The day before yesterday, Daksha''s parents came


    to give the wedding invitation from their side. Finally, I got a chance to meet them.


    They were a lovely and humble couple. They behaved like they had known me for ages.


    I didn''t feel like they were strangers as well. Her Dad told me a lot about Daksha''s childhood.


    Even though they were looking happy, I felt like they were in some kind of pain. I don¡¯t know, it might be


    my imagination.


    Finally, the following day was the one when my wedding was going to take ce.


    I''d be lying if I said I wasn''t nervous. Maybe the wedding jitters. Indra and Dhruv were there with me to


    calm my nerves, not beforeughing at my situation though.


    Dharshit couldn¡¯t attend my wedding as he was so busy handling his recent project.


    He already apologized for his absence. I understood his situation and didn''t force him to do so.


    As we didn¡¯t have any extended family or any close rtives, Indra''s and Dhruv''s families were the only


    ones from my side.


    Sudha Aunty already informed Daksha''s Mom that she was going to attend the wedding from the


    groom''s side and they agreed to it dly.


    As for my grandfather, a month back, he went on a pilgrimage along with his friends and also to see the


    world.


    As this wedding was not a pre-nned one, he couldn''t make it. I really wanted him to be with me on


    this important day of my life but I had to understand the situation.


    Mom and Ammu were handling everything very well. They were not letting me do anything but how


    could I make them do everything? So, I also helped them with what I could.


    Mom told me to wake up early the next day as some rituals were to be performed. So, after having my


    dinner, I immediately came to my room to get some sleep.


    Iid on my bed and took my phone. My fingers automatically went to open the picture of Daksha which


    was shared by her Mom on the day they came to give the card. My lips curled up into a smile upon


    seeing her divine looking face.


    She really has a beautiful smile that can captivate the heart of anyone. Her every feature is wless.


    She is a sight that I want to wake up to see every day.


    My smile increased even more after remembering her well-nned dinner date.


    How much I loved her hand made food! I remembered the little moments that we both shared that day.


    When I kissed her, I recalled how her beautiful face was adorned with a tinge of rosiness. She was


    damn adorable and definitely a sight to behold.


    After thinking about something, I immediately sent a long message to her and drifted into sleep with the


    thoughts of that message that might help her.


    The next day, Mom woke me up. She told me to get ready for the rituals and handed me a white dhoti


    to wear as a part of the ritual. After wearing it, I went downstairs.


    Mom ushered me to thewn where the ritual was going to take ce. I went there and took my seat.


    As it was still dawn, the sky was not clear.


    They made me take the auspicious bath which was required for both bride and groom on the wedding


    day. So, as a groom, I had to perform it.


    It is known as Ma?g sn¨¡nam. It is said that this ritual aims to purify us and make us prepared to


    perform the sacred rites.


    I was done with the bath and when I was about to get up from the seat, Indra poured a bucket full of


    turmeric water on me, making me drenched again.


    It was a cue for the water fight to break out. We only stopped it when elders intervened in between.


    Everyone was watching us with a smile on their face, especially Mom. She looked so happy that it was


    even reflecting in her eyes.


    After that, my Mom asked me to clean myself and told me to get ready as we were going to the


    wedding venue. The remaining rituals were going to be performed there only.


    I got ready and went to them. After assuring that all gifts for the bride''s side people were ced in the


    car, we all started towards the farmhouse of Daksha''s family as the wedding was going to take ce


    there itself.


    ?????


    It was the day before my wedding. Our house was filled with the hustle-bustle of our rtives.


    As we nned for a simple wedding with limited guests, only the close rtives of my family were


    there.


    My mamayya''s(maternal uncle) family and pedda nanna''s(paternal uncle) family came on the previous


    day itself. My day passed with all the teasings from my cousins and my girls.


    That morning, Mom invited some beauticians and they did a good job of grooming us. After that, some


    henna artists visited us.


    I asked them to make simple designs but before they could get a chance to ept it,


    Sadhvi Vadhina(daughter of my maternal uncle) came out of nowhere.


    She told them to ignore my requests and ordered them to make pretty designs on my hands and legs.


    Hearing me whine, even Mom came to me and gave me a good lecture. Having no choice, I agreed


    with them.


    They even made all three of the girls get the mehndi designs on their hands.


    I grinned at them after seeing them making faces at my mom and Sadhvi Vadhina.


    When they asked me about the groom''s name to include it in the design, Aarna, who was seated


    beside Yuktha, shouted Arjun''s name loudly from there itself.


    In return, she earned a good smack from Yuktha for shouting near her ears.


    It was followed by everyone teasing me from the background which made me even more embarrassed.


    After sitting in the same position for more than an hour, they were finally done with the designs on both


    of my hands and legs. I released a sigh of relief and seated myself there itself.


    Rishu''s family and Yuktha''s Mom woulde directly to the wedding the next day as they were busy


    with their own things but Aarna''s parents already came to our house to offer their help with the


    marriage arrangements.


    Her Dad stayed at my house only to help my Dad, though her Mom left earlier as she had to take care


    of Aarna''s sister.


    When she came here, they both didn''t even pass a nce at each other. I sighed recollecting their


    behavior. I really hoped for them to reconcile soon.


    Mom and my peddamma(paternal aunt) fed us all some food, as our hands were filled with Mehendi.


    Afterward, all the cousins and girls formed a circle. They yed all kinds of weird games and finally


    ended it with antakshari.


    All of them went to their rooms to hit their beds. I went to thewn, sat on the swing, and started


    thinking about the big day in my life.


    I really didn''t want to marry without the presence of my grandfather and my brother. Especially in our


    culture, brothers y a crucial role in the wedding.


    I know everything was happening so suddenly. But this was the time where I needed my brother the


    most and he was so busy with something else.


    I couldn''t even urge him to attend it. I wanted Teju to be with me but I knew it was impossible. How was


    I going to take up all the responsibilities without them beside me?


    I badly needed my brother to cheer me up and I wanted him to assure me that everything was going to


    be fine.


    Thinking about all these things, a tear escaped my eyes. I didn''t even bother to wipe it off. I just let


    them flow like that.


    "Missing me, aren''t you?" I heard a voice that made my head snap in that direction.


    I couldn''t believe my eyes. He was really there. My brother was really there.


    He stood with his hands crossed across his chest while leaning on to the connecting door of the house


    andwn.


    I just sat there, looking at him wide-eyed to make sure that he was there for real and it was not a


    dream.


    Seeing my dumbfounded state, he walked up to me and sat beside me on the swing.


    He clicked his fingers in front of my face which made mee out of my stupor. After realizing it, I


    started hitting him with my dried Mehendi hands.


    He just sat there and let me do whatever I wanted. After hitting him for a while, I hugged him tightly and


    started sobbing in his chest.


    "Darling, you know Ipleted everything so quickly and came here to surprise you. I thought it would


    make you happy. Instead of being happy, why are you crying now?" he asked me and made me look at


    him.


    "Don''t you know the reason already? Idiot! I missed you so much and I really wanted your presence on


    the big day of my life but you told me that you couldn''t attend it. You know, I am damn nervous. I am so


    afraid to take up the responsibility thates with a marriage. I want your assurance. I want your


    support," I told him and turned my face to the other side and continued.


    "When you told me that you couldn''t attend my marriage, I wanted to shout at you for that but I felt like I


    had lost every right to demand anything from you long ago. I felt like I am indebted to you and that I


    didn''t deserve your precious pampering and everything.


    "That''s why I didn''t force you to attend the wedding. Though I didn''t insist on you at that time, now I am


    really craving your presence. I want us to return to our old selves where we used to live without this


    hesitation between us but I know it is highly impossible. One incident was enough to snatch everything


    from us." Suddenly, I was taken into a warm embrace of my brother.


    "I know. I am trying to be the best brother for you. I missed you a lot too. Do you think that I enjoyed


    living alone, far away from everyone? No, I didn''t. But I did not have any other choice. So even if it was


    difficult to leave you all, I did it. I achieved what I wanted. Now I am back for good. So don''t cry


    anymore, and from now on, I will always be there for you and never leave you again." He told me and


    kissed my hair.


    I managed to pass him a smile in between my crying. I again started talking after a while.


    "I miss her so much, Anna. There is not a day that passes without me thinking about her. Why is God


    so cruel to us? If he wanted to snatch her from us then why did he bring her into our lives? Why did he


    make us believe that life was so beautiful and left us alone to face the harsh reality? Was the beautiful


    life that he portrayed to us was just an illusion? Why, Anna?"


    "Though we were living happily without her in our lives, she made our lives even happier with her


    presence. Now happiness is a far fetched dream for us. What was the crime that we all hadmitted


    to getting this kind of punishment? Life is unfair. God is biased and our fate is so cruel. It''s hurting a lot,


    Anna," I told him while clutching my chest and started sobbing even more.


    I felt the wetness on my shoulders and felt his body shaking against me. It was enough for me to


    realize that he too was crying. I hugged him even tighter and patted his back in a consoling manner.


    "It is hurting a lot when thinking about the injustice we faced in the past. At least I am experiencing a


    little bit of happiness after Arjun came into my life and I am getting addicted to that happiness again


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    which is making me scared. Scared that once I get used to him, God might snatch him from me too.


    Losing Teju itself is a big wound in my life and I can''t experience the same pain again, Anna. I am not


    sure that I can withstand that pain when I face it again."


    "Shh..everything will be alright. Don''t worry. She will always have a ce in our hearts. Nothing will go


    wrong again and I will make sure of that. I don''t want to lose you too. So, just focus on your married life


    and leave the rest up to me," he assured me after wiping his tears and I nodded at him.


    "You know, Anna? Arjun is a good person. He is so caring and always considers my feelings in


    everything  He faced a lot in his past. Now he is recovering from the pain that was caused by his past. I


    don''t know what he feels towards me but his every action makes me feel so special and creates hope


    in my life that I too deserve happiness. But can I trust my instincts? Can I ever make him happy?" I


    asked him after releasing myself from his embrace.


    He wiped the remnants of the tears on my face and tried to say something but got interrupted by the


    pinging of my mobile.


    After hearing it, I knew that I received a message from Arjun without even seeing it as I made a specific


    and separate ringtone for his calls and messages.


    I took my phone and tried to unlock it but dried Mehendi on my hands was making it an impossible


    task.


    Seeing my struggle he took the phone and unlocked it after pressing the password that he knew very


    well by heart.


    After unlocking it, he opened the message and read it aloud. My lips curled into a smile after hearing


    the content of that message.


    [Hope I am not disturbing you. I suddenly thought about something and immediately messaged to tell


    you that you are not the only one who is having wedding jitters.


    Even my condition isn''t any better than yours. So, don''t worry about anything. We both have things that


    we fear the most. We will ovee it together.


    I just want you to be there with me in every situation and I promise you that I will make you the happiest


    person in this world. Your smile is the best thing that I like about you. So, never let it slip away from


    your lips.


    Have a good night''s sleep and get ready to wee the new life with your open arms.


    -Arjun ]


    "Looks like constion from my side is not necessary now. One text from him is enough to bring a


    smile to your face when my presence itself utterly failed in doing so. You know, I am feeling so jealous


    of him," he said in a dramatic way, which resulted in me blushing a lot.


    I smacked his arm and snatched the phone from him. After that, I made a quick run towards my room.


    Heughed out loud and I could still hear himughing while I was going to my room.

 chapter 32

    chapter 32


    Daksha''s POV:-


    The next day, Mom woke me up to perform the ma?g sn¨¡nam. Mom asked me to wear a cotton


    saree for the ritual.


    By the time I went downstairs, everybody was there while preparing everything for the ritual.


    Yuktha took me to thewn and made me sit on a stool. They all smeared my face with Nalugu(a


    mixture of flours and turmeric powder) and poured the turmeric water on me.


    Peddamma asked me to freshen up and take some rest for a while as I had to perform a lot of rituals. I


    woke up at noon and had my lunch.


    They informed me that Arjun''s family already reached the wedding venue. Even most of our rtives


    went to the venue to handle the things there. Remaining people, along with me, would reach the venue


    afterpleting Gauri p¨±ja.


    Soon it was time for the pooja and the beauticians did the magic with their hands. They took me


    downstairs. Mom did the h¨¡rati or Aarti. After that, they guided me to do the pooja.


    When I was done with the pooja, we all started going to the wedding venue.


    ________________


    Arjun''s POV:


    When we reached the wedding venue, I was astonished seeing the decorations. The ce was


    beautifully decorated with all the rich colorful flowers and mango leaves.


    Her father and a young man who seemed to be the same age as mine, gave us a grand wee. I


    came to know that he was Daksha¡¯s brother. Indra greeted him with a hug as they already knew each


    other.


    Her brother came to me and had a nice chat with me but before going, he warned me to take care of


    his sister and I agreed dly to it. They asked me to rest and I agreed to it. I went to the room that was


    allotted to me and took a small nap.


    After a while, they called me for the rituals. I got ready and went towards them. A priest came there to


    perform the ritual of Sn¨¡takam. It is known as Bath Graduation. It is performed before householder


    responsibilities are handed over to the groom. This ritual takes ce before the muh¨±rtam...precisely a


    few hours prior to the wedding.


    After chanting some mantras, the priest made me wear the silver thread as a part of the custom.


    By the time, the ritual was over, it was evening and time for the actual wedding rituals to start. I went to


    change my dress and after that, Indra called me for another ritual. The next ritual''s name was k¨¡s¨©


    Y¨¡tra.


    It is a fun-filled ritual where I had to pretend to go to Kashi and to say that I have discarded the worldly


    pleasures like marriage, rtions, and property, and was no longer interested in family life.


    Both sides were arguing yfully. One side was encouraging me to go to Kashi and the other side was


    convincing me not to go.


    Finally, Aditya, Daksha''s brother, came to me. As a part of the ritual, he stopped me and persuaded me


    to assume the responsibility of the household.


    In Telugu speaking states, most of the weddings usually take ce at midnight. So, we got some time


    before the actual muhurtham.


    We also give high priority to the food. We served food to all the guests, which is also part of our culture


    of offering food to anyone whoes on an auspicious day. It finally ended with the offering of sweets


    after dinner as it is considered auspicious.


    Mom came to me and fed me the food. After that, she told me that Daksha already reached the venue


    and asked me to get ready as well. After I was ready, I was taken to the mandapam where the wedding


    was going to take ce.


    The priest made me perform the Gan¨¥sa and Gauri puja. During that time, Parvara, the ritual of


    changing the bride''s paternal gothram(n) to that of the groom''s, was performed.


    My Mom and Daksha''s parents were present there when I performed the ritual.


    ____________


    Daksha''s POV:


    We reached our farmhouse where the wedding was going to be performed. I was taken into a room.


    They made me get ready wearing my wedding attire.


    They braided my hair and decorated it with flowers as per the tradition. Yuktha and Rishu''s mothers


    came to my room and gave me their blessings.


    Finally, Mom and Sarada aunty came to me and blessed me after kissing both my cheeks. After that,


    mom tied basikam around my forehead.


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    Girls took so many selfies with me and they kept on praising me, telling things like how beautiful I was


    looking and how Arjun would have a hard time controlling himself, making me blush uncontrobly.


    My dad came to us and gave me a kiss on the forehead with tears in his eyes. Looking at him made me


    quite emotional but I controlled myself and gave him an assured smile.


    Soon, my peddananna and my mamayya came to us with a bamboo basket to carry me to the


    mandapam(wedding pavilion). They made me sit in it and they both lifted me with the help of my Anna


    and cousins.


    Amidst all the teasing, they carried me till the mandapam(wedding pavilion) and made me sit in front of


    Arjun with a veil separating us. Until the kany¨¡d¨¡nam would be over, we were not allowed to look at


    each other. They ced that curtain as a partition between us.


    It was a ritual where my parents handed over my responsibility to Arjun. As a part of the ritual, my


    parents washed his feet with milk and water, as the groom is considered to be an incarnation of Lord


    Vishnu whoes to marry the daughter who is considered as Devi Lakshmi.


    The priest asked Arjun to chant the mantra "Dharm¨¥ca Arth¨¥ca Kam¨¥cha Moksh¨¥ca N¨¡ti Car¨¡mi"


    three times which would be an assurance to my Dad that he would remain mypanion in joy and


    sorrow, forever.


    The next ritual was panigrahanam which means "holding hands". Arjun held my hand and spoke the


    mantra that has the meaning: "The Devas have offered you to me in order that I may live the life of a


    householder (Gruhasta); we shall not part from each other."


    After the priest recited the ?loka?s from the Vedas, we were asked to ce a paste made from cumin


    seeds and jaggery on each other¡¯s heads. The custom is referred to as  Jkarra-Bemu.


    The ceremony was observed tomunicate that our rtionship was unbreakable and we were


    inseparable. That was the actual muh¨±rta? time.


    The ritual (Pravara) of changing my gotram(n) was once again performed on the marriage dais in


    the presence of everyone attending the ceremony. Henceforth, I no longer belonged to my father''s


    gotra, but belonged to Arjun''s.


    As a part of the Madhuparkam ritual, they took me back and dressed me up in a white sari. Arjun was


    also asked to wear a white dhoti with a red border because white symbolizes purity and red represents


    strength.


    Ten married women (Sumanga?i) apanied me. Six of the ten women held tes containing sacred


    rice (a mixture of rice and turmeric powder), while the rest of them held small litmps on their


    respective tes. Here rice represents abundance, while the litmps symbolize light.


    Ma?ga?as¨±tra Dh¨¡ra?a means tying Ma?ga?as¨±tra? (holy thread). In order to perform the ritual, we


    were asked to sit next to each other and the partition between us was removed.


    Then Arjun tied the two strings of Ma?ga?as¨±tra?, each with a golden disc, around my neck while


    smiling at me gleefully and I too returned it with equal enthusiasm.


    The Ma?ga?as¨±tra? represents the physical, mental, and spiritual union of the couple. In Telugu


    weddings, the groom ties three knots of Ma?ga?as¨±tra?.


    When he tied that sacred thread around my neck, we were showered with Akshithalu as the blessings.


    In this ceremony, we both exchanged gands.


    Married people witnessing this asione forward to bless us by sprinkling flower petals and rice


    coated with turmeric powder which was called Akshithalu.


    As a part of the Saptapadi rituals, we walked seven steps together around the holy fire, while taking our


    oaths of caring, protecting, understanding, loving and guiding each other, with the pallu (edge of the


    sari) of my saree tied to one end of the Arjun''s scarf(Kan?uva).


    Sth¨¡l¨©p¨¡ka? is a ritual wherein Arjun adorned my feet with silver toe rings. It is also believed that the


    man bends to the woman in order to im her as his.


    Also in order to ward off the evil eye, I was adorned by a string of ck beads during the ceremony.


    These beads, along with the silver toe rings, symbolized that I was a married woman.


    After that, a kun?a (decorated silver or terra-cotta vessel) full of water was ced in front of us and a


    ring was put in it. Arjun had to put his right hand in and I had to use my left hand. We needed to fish the


    ring out.


    We had to do this three times and whoever won more rounds was supposed to be the dominant one in


    this marriage.


    That was a time of fun because water was sshed everywhere and there were chants and shouts of


    support for both sides. Every time Arjun got the ring, he slipped it into my hand but I again pushed it


    into his hand and so every time we took the ring out together.


    After this ritual, we were again made to sit opposite to each other for thmbralu ritual. It is a ritual


    where we have to pour sacred rice on each other.


    We enjoyed this ritual a lot. The next ritual was Arundhati Nakshatram. It is a ritual where both are


    shown the stars that represent Arundhathi and Vasista. These stars represent the perfect couple


    Finally, we were united with the symbolic traditions and in the presence of Panchabhuthalu(five


    essential elements of life), amidst the blessings of everyone.


    It was then time for the ritual of Appaginthalu where I was supposed to be traditionally handed off to


    Arjun and his family.


    It waspleted in between a tearful bidding from my family and a lot of assurance from Arjun to them.


    I hugged my brother so tightly, not wanting to leave them.


    He assured me that I could visit them at any time. I finally bid a goodbye, not before hugging them once


    again.


    I didn''t find Aaru anywhere and I knew she hated goodbyes. That was why she might be hiding


    somewhere and crying to herself. I got sadder after remembering the beautiful time that us four had


    together.


    Then we sat in the car and went to Arjun''s house. I was sobbing silently while looking outside the


    window when Arjun¡¯s warm hand sped my palm.


    He gave me a side hug in a consoling manner and I leaned more into him, weing his embrace


    after resting my head on his shoulder.


    It might have been the end of the rituals but it was the beginning of a heartwarming tale of love, hope,


    and eptance.

 chapter 33

    chapter 33


    Daksha''s POV:-


    I didn''t know when but I drifted into sleep while leaning into his warm embrace. I woke up from my


    slumber after hearing the booming voice of someone. I opened my eyes to see that Arjun was throwing


    res at his sister as she gave him a cheeky smile.


    I gave them a confused nce and gestured Arjun with my eyes asking what happened there. He just


    shook his head, not revealing anything.


    After that, he helped me in getting out of the car. I was immediately greeted by the beautiful sight of his


    house. The mansion loomed proudly behind the huge iron gates with a modern touch, nked by the


    trees which were swaying gently to the cool breeze.


    In the middle, there stood the delicate marble fountain, gurgling the clear water, melodic as it resonated


    in the surrounding silence.


    "Wow!!" was the only word that left my mouth as it was truly an enthralling sight. "It is beautiful," I said


    to Arjun.


    "Yeah. It is my dad''s dream house.," he told me with a somewhat forlorn look on his face.


    Understanding his feelings, I patted his shoulder in an assuring manner to which he gave me a full-


    blown smile, making my heart skip a beat.


    Ammu immediately ushered us in. Sarada Aunty came to us and weed us inside, after doing the


    Aarti.


    After that, she took me in front of a portrait and told me that he was my mamayya(father-inw). She


    asked me to pay my respects and I did the same.


    "Daksha, I think you might be hungry. Do you want to eat anything? " she asked me.


    "No, Aunty. I am fine," I declined her offer politely.


    "What Aunty? Call me '' Attayya''(MIL). I will be happier if you call me ''Amma'' though," she told me and


    gave a teasing grin to Arjun.


    "If she calls you " Amma", then what does it make me to you? A son-inw..?" he asked this with a


    scoff.


    "Yeah. Son-inw. You better start calling me ''Attayya'' from now onwards," she told him teasingly.


    "You are not a good mother. How conveniently you kicked your son aside immediately after getting your


    daughter-inw?" He said this like a sulking child.


    "I am just teasing you, Ajju,¡± sheughed. ¡±But Daksha, consider me as your mother instead of your


    mother-inw," she told me and I passed her a grateful smile.


    "Ammu, take your vadina(SIL) to your room as she won''t befortable being alone in a new house,"


    she instructed Ammu.


    "What?" Arjun eximed immediately after hearing his mother, making every one of us look at him. He


    realized his slip of tongue and gave us an awkward smile.


    "I mean, what''s the need for going to Ammu''s room when she can stay in my room?" he asked his


    mother.


    "Then where will you sleep? In the guest room.?" Instead of answering him, she asked him in return.


    "Why will I stay in the guest room.? We both can sleep in my room." After saying this, he looked at his


    mother as if he had solved the most difficult riddle.


    "Oh my dear son, I know you are desperate for your wife but you both can''t stay together until the


    neck and turned his face to the other side.


    I bit back my smile at his behavior. Ammu gestured to me to go along with her and took me to her


    room.


    After reaching her room, I took the nightwear from my duffel bag and went to freshen up. By the time I


    came outside, Ammu made the bed for us. We bothid on our sides. She suddenly turned to my side


    and looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked her to which she shook her head.


    "Nothing. Just trying to see what magic you have in you," she replied.


    "Magic? For what?" I asked her to which she grinned cheekily at me.


    "I am asking about what magic you have that made my brother behave like a lovesick teenager," she


    replied, making me flush.


    "I didn''t do any magic. Why did you think like that?" I asked her confusedly and she gave me another


    teasing smile.


    "Do you know the reason why he was ring at me earlier?" she asked me, to which I shook my head


    negatively.


    "Earlier in the car, I didn''t know that you were sleeping. So, I knocked on the window to tell you guys to


    the same in my loud voice that woke you up from your sleep. That was why he was ring at me like


    that. You know, it is unusual for him. I mean, it is unusual for him to care for a person who he has


    recently met unless you upy an important ce in his heart," she said this with a heartwarming


    smile.


    "I am d to see my brother like that. I am really happy that he got you as his life partner. Please be


    with him in every situation. He is a good guy and can be a good husband too. Another thing, just treat


    me as your sister. Will you do that?" After asking these, she looked at me expectantly for my answer.


    I just hugged her from the side and patted her head.


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    "Silly girl. I already considered you as my sister from the moment I saw you. As for staying by his side


    in every situation, it is an oath that I took in my heart the moment he tied this sacred thread around my


    neck. So, don''t worry. I won''t leave him even if he asks me to," I assured her and she hugged me back


    tightly.


    Still hugging each other, we soon drifted to sleep. Early in the morning, we woke up due to the


    knocking at the door. I went to open the door and saw that it was Attayya.


    "So sorry to wake you up this early, dear. I know that you are so exhausted but what to do, you guys


    have to perform the pooja and after that, we have to visit the temple too as per our family tradition. So,


    please bear with me for today. You can rest as much as you want after we are done with everything,"


    she told me in a motherly tone.


    "Attayya. Don''t worry and no need to feel sorry for waking me up. I will get ready and meet you in 15


    minutes. Is it okay?" I asked her to which she nodded at me with a smile.


    After giving me a saree and the jewelry, she asked me to wear them for pooja and left from there.


    I saw that Ammu was sitting on the bed while looking at me with a smile.


    "Do you need any help with draping the saree?" she asked me.


    "No need. I can manage Ammu,¡± I told her with a smile. She nodded at me.


    She informed me that she was going downstairs to help her mom and asked me to call her if I needed


    any help. I nodded at her and went into the washroom to freshen up.


    After a while, I came out wearing the saree that was given by my Attayya and stood in front of the


    mirror to wear the jewelry. I just left my hair to flow down loosely to let it dry.


    After getting ready, I filled my hairline with the sindoor and thought of going downstairs. When I went


    outside the room, Arjun came out of his room too while folding his sleeves. He wore a white shirt with


    checkered pants. He was looking so dashing that I couldn¡¯t stop myself from ogling at him.


    He might have sensed my presence. He too lifted his head to look at me and If I was not mistaken, he


    was looking at me with eyes full of admiration. We are still looking into each other¡¯s eyes. But our


    staring session got interrupted because of someone clearing their throat.


    "Ahem! Sorry for the interruption. Mom is calling you both for the pooja," she informed us with a teasing


    smile ying on her face.


    After hearing her say this, we both looked around the surroundings awkwardly and went downstairs.


    Attayya came to me and praised me as I was looking good in that saree. After that, she made us sit


    together for the pooja. She told us the procedure and made usplete the pooja together. After that,


    she took me aside and asked me.


    "Daksha, are you hungry? If yes, can you bear with it for two or three more hours? You know that we


    have to go to the temple for another pooja, right? You have to perform that pooja without eating


    anything. If you are not okay with it, we can do it another day," She asked me.


    "Attayya, it''s okay. I am not that hungry. Sometimes I have to stay without eating my breakfast because


    of my schedule. So, I am used to it already," I assured her to which she red at me.


    "Really? It is going to be like that for only today, that too because the situation demands. From


    tomorrow onwards, I won''t even let you step out without having breakfast," She informed me and I


    smiled at her caring behavior.


    After that, she ushered us both to start for the temple in the same car and informed that she and Ammu


    woulde by another car. We agreed with her and reached his car.


    While he took the driving seat, I got settled in the passenger seat. After igniting the engine, he started


    driving in the direction of Goddess Lakshmi¡¯s temple.


    An awkward silence engulfed us. So, I took out my phone and opened it. I saw that there was a


    message from my Mom, informing me that they were reaching the temple soon. I replied to her with an


    okay and started scrolling the news feed.


    After some time, I got bored with that and kept my phone aside.


    "You are looking beautiful," he suddenlyplimented me out of nowhere, making me face him.


    Hearing hispliment, a tinge of rosiness crept on my face.


    "Not only today but also in yesterday''s wedding attire, you were looking very beautiful." That made me


    blush even more.


    So I turned my face towards the window to cover my face.


    "Then I am honored and you too look very handsome," I told him in a low voice while still keeping my


    face towards the window.


    "Really? I don''t think so. You are just saying it as a formality," he told me in a nonchnt tone.


    "No, no, it¡¯s not like that. You are looking so hot that I couldn''t take off eyes from you earlier. Even at


    the wedding too, you were looking too dashing that I felt like kissing you then and there itself," I told


    him honestly while looking into his eyes.


    "It looks like someone wants to kiss me," he said with a teasing glint in his eyes.


    I realized that he had ns to tease me all along, and like a fool, I fell for it. Hence, I started smacking


    him, making him burst into fits ofughter.


    "Okay,okay, stop it. I am sorry," he said but didn''t stopughing.


    So, I turned my head and started looking out of the window with a pout.


    When we reached the temple, I got out of the car without waiting for him. I went to Attayya and Ammu


    when I saw them reach the temple.


    Arjun joined us and again Attayya made us stand together. I stood beside him and turned my face to


    the other side, pretending to be angry at him.


    Attayya asked us to go inside the temple and told us that they will join uster.


    We agreed and started climbing the steps to go inside. While climbing, I stumbled on my foot due to my


    saree.


    I closed my eyes to wee the fall but suddenly a muscr arm encircled my waist and held me


    tightly.


    I opened my eyes to see that it was Arjun who held me and was looking at me with worry evident on his


    face.


    "Daksha, are you okay?" he asked me, bringing me out of my reverie.


    I stood properly while still holding onto him. I calmed down my frightened heart and smiled at him.


    "I am fine. Don''t worry. I just stumbled on my saree," I assured him.


    "How can I not worry? You gave me a huge scare. What would have happened if I hadn¡¯t reacted


    immediately? Did you not see those steps?" he asked me in a slight angry tone to which I bent down


    my head like a culprit.


    Seeing my face, he released a sigh and lifted my head.


    "It''s okay. Be careful from now on," he said this and patted my head lovingly. I nodded at him and was


    about to climb the steps further.


    "Wait," he stopped me and took my hand into his.


    "Lest you might fall again," he said.


    I smiled at our entwined hands and climbed the stairs along with his protective presence.

 chapter 34

    chapter 34


    Daksha''s POV:-


    By the time, we both went inside the temple, Indra Anna and his family were already there. Eeshwar


    uncle(Aarna''s father) and Shekar uncle(Dhruv''s father) were discussing something.n When they saw


    me, they gestured to me to go near them. Arjun told me to go and involved himself in casual talking


    with Indra Anna.


    I went to them and greeted them. They smiled at me and told me the main issue.


    "Daksha, I called you here to ask your opinion on something. Shekhar proposed a marriage alliance


    between Aarna and Dhruv. I know it is too sudden but I want my daughter to get settled in her life. You


    know her and her situation very well. So what do you think about this proposal? " he asked me.


    I thought for a while and replied to him. "Uncle. I understand your concerns. In the past, if someone


    had said that I would be very happy after getting married, I would haveughed in their face. But now, I


    feel it is true. Though it has been only a day since I got married, it is so blissful and I am enjoying every


    moment of my married life. So, I think she too will find her own happiness after marriage. You are an


    elder and you know what''s good for your daughter. If you feel this marriage will help her to get some


    happiness, then go ahead with this proposal without any hesitation." I told him and he smiled at me


    warmly. All the while, Shekhar Uncle was just watching us.


    "I am sure of this proposal, dear. It''s just that I don''t know how to convince her for this marriage," he


    said with a frown.


    "Uncle, don''t worry. Your daughter respects and loves you a lot. She will never say a ''No'' to any of your


    decisions. All you have to do is ask her and she will be ready to do anything for you," I said and passed


    an assuring smile at him.


    Meanwhile, Aarna too joined us and greeted us. After talking with Aarna, Sekhar uncle gestured to


    Eeshwar uncle with his eyes. So, he asked us to take our leave.


    We went to my Attayya but she was busy with preparations for the pooja. So, we stood aside and


    talked for a while. When Arjun approached us, Aarna teased us for a while and introduced herself. After


    that, she left from there, leaving us alone.


    Soon an awkward yetfortable silence fell between us. To break the silence, he cleared his throat


    and started speaking.


    "Earlier, for what did they call you?" He asked me but I hesitated to tell him.


    After thinking that Dhruv was his friend and there was no harm to tell him the matter beforehand, I


    spoke up.


    "They are thinking of a marriage alliance between Aarna and your friend Dhruv," I told him.


    He looked at me for a while and startedughing with a strange glint in his eyes. "Really? Soon my


    friend is going to face hell. His life will be a roller coaster ride. Aarna will make sure of that. She is


    a perfect match for him. He sure will be hot on his heels after facing her antics. God! I can imagine his


    misery." He said all that whileughing carefreely.


    I just stood there watching him in amusement. "Have some shame. You are having fun at the expense


    of your friend. I pity him for having a friend like you and sympathize with him for going to marry a devil


    incarnate," I told him while trying to stifle myugh.


    He was stillughing. So, I too joined him.


    "By the way, will your friend be okay with this marriage?" I asked him after a while.


    "Don''t you worry about that. Just like my mom, his mother is also a great drama queen. She will


    definitely convince him." He grimaced and Iughed again at that.


    Soon, Attayya called us for the pooja. We went along with her. After the pooja, I sat with my parents at


    the temple.


    They asked about my well being and after making sure that I was happy at my inw¡¯s home, they took


    their leave. My Anna didn''t attend the pooja as he was busy with something.


    We too started for our house after bidding them goodbye. Before going, my girls hugged me and asked


    me to take care of myself. I nodded at them and joined Arjun in his car, with Attayya and Ammuing


    in another car.


    Unlike earlier, this time the journey waspletely filled with silence. We soon reached the house.


    Immediately entering the house, Attayya asked the maids to serve the food to everyone. After having


    the food, I went to Ammu''s room to get some rest.


    In the evening, Ammu woke me up from my sleep. She informed me that I needed to get ready for my


    nuptial night, making me go insane.


    ¡°Nuptial night? God! Ipletely forget about that. What to do now? Damn! I am not ready for this


    step. Wait, I can exin my views to him and I think Arjun will definitely understand me." After thinking


    about this, I calmed down to some extent.


    Attayya and Ammu made me wear a cream-colored saree and adorned me with some jewelry. After


    that, they made a simple hair bun at the nape of my neck and pinned some flowers on it.


    When I waspletely ready, Attayya handed me a ss of milk and ushered me to his room.


    After entering into the room reluctantly, I saw that Arjun was already in the room and stood


    ufortably at the window of his room.


    I cleared my throat to make him aware of my presence. After hearing it, he turned around and saw me.


    He smiled at me lightly.


    I stretched my hand to give him the ss of milk and he looked at it with disgust.


    "Do I have to drink this ss full of milk now?" Still looking at the ss, he asked me repulsively.


    I stifled myugh at this. "Not fully. You have to drink half of it and I will drink the other half," I told him.


    "Really?" he asked me as if some burden was lifted from his shoulders.


    "Yeah," I told him with augh.


    "Then you have it first. I will drink it after you," he said and looked at me.


    I sighed and drank half of the milk. After that, I handed him that ss. He had it in a single gulp while


    closing his eyes.


    I smiled at his antics and took the ss from him.


    "God, it was too sweet," he said while licking the remnants of the milk on his lips.


    "What? It was not. I too drank the same milk, right? Why didn''t I feel it?" I eximed.


    "You didn''t drink the same milk," he retorted.


    "I did."


    "You didn''t."


    "Have you gone crazy? We both drank the same milk from the same ss," I told him irritatedly.


    "We might have drunk from the same ss but not the same liquid," he said.


    "Stop irritating me. How can it be possible?" I asked in an annoyed tone.


    "It is possible and the fault is yours. The touch of your lips added the extra sweetness to it. God, I


    couldn''t take it," he said dramatically with a teasing glint ying in his eyes.


    "Damn! Too cheesy." I rolled my eyes at him.


    "What cheesy? I just tried to lighten up the situation, okay? It is damn awkward." He told me with a


    smile.


    After hearing him, again the same nervousness hit me. So I sat on the stool in front of the mirror,


    fiddling with the end of my saree.


    _____________


    Arjun''s POV:-


    When I said those words, she went and sat on the stool while nervously fiddling with her saree.


    Knowing very well about what was going on in her mind, I sighed and sat beside her while my legs


    were on either of the seat.


    "Girl, you will tear this with your fiddling." Saying this, I removed her hold on her saree and held her


    hand with mine.


    "What''s your problem?" I asked her calmly as her nervousness was pretty obvious.


    "That¡­ you know, it is our nuptial night. I am notfortable¡­ I mean¡­ I am not ready for¡­ you


    understand it, right? I am new to all these things." She said and Iughed at her words.


    "You are so cute." After saying this, I pinched her cheeks and leaned towards her a little, joining my


    head with the side of her head


    "Silly girl, I didn''t get married to anyone before. This is my first marriage and I''m also new to


    everything." I told her in a teasing tone to which she looked at me indignantly. I smiled at that and


    continued.


    "I understand your feelings. Don''t worry about anything. We will take things slowly. I am okay with


    everything and I promise, I won''t deny any of your wishes. So, try to behavefortably with me," I


    told her and encircled my arms around her waist. I closed my eyes to inhale the enchanting scent of


    jasmine mixed with the natural fragrance emitting from her body.


    "Really? You won''t deny any of my wishes and will be okay with everything?" She asked me and I


    nodded in a daze, still inhaling the enticing fragrance.


    "Then I don''t wake up early and won''t prepare a morning coffee for you?" she asked me.


    "No problem. I will prepare it for both of us." I told her.


    "I won''t work anymore and will stay at home itself."


    "No problem. I am d to take care of you for a lifetime."


    "I won''t cook for you and won''t do any household chores."


    "Maids are in the house for a purpose. I liked your handmade food though. So, try to cook for me


    asionally."


    "I won''t drive my car anymore. So you always have to drive me if I want to go anywhere."


    "I am d to be your driver."


    "I won''t wear sarees as I ain''tfortable in wearing them."


    "Then I am d to wear-" I stopped in the middle realizing what I was going to say and came out of my


    trance after hearing her heartyugh.


    "Did you just tease me?" I asked her and she came out of my hold and stood up from the stool while


    "What? Only you have the right to tease me? Can''t I do it? It is a payback for the morning''s car


    incident," she told me smugly and started running around when she saw me chasing her.


    After running for a while, she stopped andid down on the bed horizontally with her legs dangling on


    the floor.


    "I can''t run anymore," she said this while panting.


    "Really? You are too weak." I tooid beside her and told her. After that, I turned towards her while


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    keeping a hand under my head.


    "Do you think I am done with you?" I asked her with a gleam in my eyes. Seeing that, she revealed a


    horrified expression.


    "Arjun, you better stop thinking about it." She eximed while pointing her finger at me and in return, I


    smiled smugly at her.


    "No. It is my turn to pay back." Saying this, I started tickling her. Soon, the room reverberated with her


    "Hahaha..Arjun..hahah...stop it..please..hahah..I am sorry...hahahah.." She pleaded with me in


    between herughs. I stopped tickling her and slumped beside her.


    "Arjun, you are so petty." She used me after calming herself down.


    "Don''t me me. You asked for it again." After saying this, I pretended to tickle her again to which she


    retracted from the bed with a startle. I smiled at her.


    "Go change into something that you feelfortable in." I told her and showed her the way to the


    washroom.


    "Such a meanie," she grumbled under her breath but I heard it.


    I stifled myugh at her antics.


    After grabbing her nightwear, she went to the washroom while mumbling colorful profanities at me all


    the way. Iughed after hearing them and changed myself into afy t-shirt and track pants. I


    removed all the decorations from the bed and dumped them in the dust bin.


    Meanwhile, she too came out wearing her nightwear while leaving her hair to flow down. She stood


    there silently looking at the bed.


    "You can sleep on the bed and I will take the couch," I told her, thinking that she wouldn¡¯t like to share


    the bed with me, not yet.


    "No need. We both can sleep on the bed. I am okay with it," she said while looking down.


    "Are you sure?" I asked her to which she lifted her head and smiled at me in assurance.


    We both took our sides and she soon drifted to sleep as she might have been too exhausted with all


    the day''s events.


    I looked at that ceiling, reminiscing all the small moments that we shared until now. With a sweet smile


    ying on my lips, I closed my eyes.


    In the middle of the night, I woke up with a startle when I felt her crawling into my arms in her half-


    asleep state.


    She fell asleep again while resting her head on my chest. I held her tightly and ced a feathery kiss


    on her hair.


    I didn''t sleep for a while, listening to her peaceful breathing. I didn''t want to miss a single moment that I


    got to hold her. I felt content with her in my arms.


    "Girl, what are you doing to me? What are these weird feelings? I don''t know when it happened and I


    know it is too early to admit it but you became my home and my purpose to live." I said this in a low


    voice and kissed her head again. After that, I fell asleep while still holding her securely in my arms.

 chapter 35

    chapter 35


    Arjun''s POV:-


    The next morning, I woke up when I felt the sun rays seeping into the room and hitting us directly on


    our faces. I looked down to see that Daksha was still sleeping while snuggling into me. She frowned


    and scrunched her nose in irritation when the sun rays fell on her face.


    I smiled at her cute antics and brought my hand forward to her face as a shield in order to prevent the


    sun rays from disturbing her sleep.


    Soon, a rxed expression etched her face making me smile even more. I nted my face to watch


    her face more keenly. It was such a serene sight to watch my beauty having her beauty sleep. I


    I kept on staring at her peaceful face in a daze but the sudden ringing of the rm brought me out of


    my reverie.


    Damn the rm!


    I stretched my hand to shut it off but retrieved it back when I saw her stirring in her sleep, her eyes


    fluttering.


    Seeing this, I immediately closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I felt her move beside me and heard


    a loud gasp. Knowing very well the reason behind that, I stifled myugh and loosened my hold around


    her.


    After she came out of my embrace, I heard her shutting off the rm but what surprised me the most


    was, she again snuggled into me by cing her head on my chest.


    After seeing our position, I thought that she would be hot on her heels but she did the opposite. She


    was so unpredictable.


    After that, she started murmuring incoherently. Hearing her sillyints, controlling myugh


    became a difficult task.


    .......................


    Daksha''s POV:-


    I woke up due to the constant ringing of the rm. I opened my eyes and looked around my


    surroundings in confusion.


    After a while, everything dawned upon me that I was in Arjun''s room. Iughed in my heart for my


    dimwitted brain but gasped immediately when I noticed our position. My head was on his chest and his


    hand was wrapped around my body securely. When did that happen?


    I slowly released myself from his hold and shut off that irritating rm. After that, I went close to him


    and waved my hand in front of his eyes and grinned widely when I noticed that he was still sleeping


    soundly.


    I snuggled into him again and ced my head on his chest slowly in order to not wake him up. After


    that, I looked up to his face and started observing his every feature keenly.


    I traced his perfectly arched eyebrows and his thick eyshes with my fingers.


    "God, you are too partial. What''s the use of guys having these thickshes and eyebrows when we


    girls are in desperate need of having them. You are so cruel." I questioned God in a low voice about the


    injustice he was doing to the entire gender.


    I shifted my eyes to his prominent and sharp nose. My hands were itching to pinch his nose, to feel it


    but I controlled myself because it would wake him from his sleep.


    Iughed lightly at my barbaric thoughts. After that, my attention drew to his lips. He had thin lips that


    were perfectlyplimenting his chiseled jaw. I slowly ran my hand tracing the outline of his lips.


    "How would it feel to have his lips on mine?" I asked myself in a low voice and pped my forehead


    lightly after realizing my unholy thoughts. I looked guiltily at his innocent sleeping form.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    But suddenly he opened his eyes with a teasing smile and flipped our positions swiftly. Now he was on


    top of me, pressing me under his warm body. A cry of surprise left my mouth and I looked at him in


    astonishment.


    "Wanna taste them?" he asked in his husky morning voice. Damn, too sexy.


    After asking me, he leaned more towards my face, almost touching his nose with mine. He again asked


    me while eyeing my lips.


    I nodded in agreement but immediately shook my head clumsily and covered my lips with my hand


    when I saw him angling his face to kiss my lips.


    A throaty chuckle left his mouth upon seeing my actions. After that, he removed my hands that were


    covering my mouth and held them both over my head with his one hand and brought his face forward


    to kiss me.


    I nervously closed my eyes and tilted my face to the other side to which he held it back in ce firmly


    by his other hand. I felt his warm breath fanning over my face. He first kissed my forehead followed by


    my cheeks. After that, he ced a light kiss on the corner of my lips. I closed my eyes even tighter in


    anticipation but all of a sudden, I felt him leave his hold on me and I opened my eyes in confusion.


    He left me and sat on his side of the bed while folding arms to his chest with a teasing smile on his


    face.


    "I know you are very eager to taste my lips but what to do? I promised you that we will take things slow.


    So one thing at a time," he told me innocently with a shrug.


    I red at him and threw a pillow at his face but he was too fast in catching it before it hit him. I huffed


    in annoyance and grimaced at him.


    "Such a tease you are. Just wait for my turn. I won''t go easy on you." I told him with a scoff while


    pointing my forefinger at him. I stormed into the washroom angrily and closed the door with a thud.


    When I was done with my shower, I just realized that I forgot to bring my clothes with me into the


    washroom in my angry state. I pped my forehead and sighed in irritation. I turned my head and


    noticed a bathrobe hanging there. So I took it immediately and wore it. I opened the door a little and


    peeked into the room to check if he was present or not. I saw him sitting on the bed in a rxed


    manner. He was resting his head on the headboard of the bed while cing his one leg on the bed and


    dangling the other one. He was doing something on his phone while whistling in glee. Though the


    bathrobe was big enough to cover my whole body, I just didn''t want to go in front of him in that state.


    "Arjun?" I called him meekly to which he ignored me.


    "I think he didn''t hear it." I consoled myself and this time, I called him in a slightly higher tone but he still


    ignored me.


    Now, I was sure that he was ignoring me purposely. That man was getting on my nerves.


    "Arjunnnnn?" I shouted his name in a boisterous tone.


    "What?" He chuckled and asked me without turning in my direction.


    "I didn''t bring my clothes with me," I told him.


    "I knew it." That was his reply.


    "Then why didn''t you remind me about that?" I asked him.


    "I didn''t tell you on purpose. I just wanted to tame my angry tigress." He said in a baritone to which I


    scoffed in return.


    "You know what? I don''t want to argue with you. I have to change my clothes." I told him in vexation.


    "You are wee to do it in front of me. I am all eyes." He told me in a teasing voice.


    "Arjunnn! Stop behaving like a rogue and get the hell out of this room," I shrieked.


    Heughed at me and stood up from the bed, his back facing me.


    "Calm down, my angry bird. I think it is enough for today. I will be outside. Call me when you are done."


    He said while raising his hands in surrender and went out of the room after shutting the door.


    I released a sigh and came out of the washroom. After that, I changed into a simple saree and went to


    the door. I opened it and saw that Arjun was leaning on the wall and scrolling something on his phone.


    I cleared my throat to make him realize my presence. After hearing it, he immediately looked at me.


    "Are you done?" He asked me and I nodded at him.


    "Good." After saying, he came inside the room. After grabbing the towel, he headed towards the


    washroom but came back again and stood in front of me.


    He looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze and smiled at me like he realized something.


    He grabbed the sindoor box from the dressing table and took a pinch of it with his fingers. He came to


    me and filled my hairline with the sindoor, a content smile ying on his lips.


    "Now, your look is perfect." He said while looking admiringly at the sindoor on my forehead like he was


    so proud of his noble deed. I chuckled a little at his antics.


    "Okay. Go and freshen up. I will go downstairs," I told him. He nodded at me with the smile and went


    into the washroom while I went downstairs.


    Hearing the noise from the kitchen, I went in that direction. I saw that Attayya was cutting the


    vegetables while talking gleefully with an olddy, who was looking the same age as her.


    I was about to go inside to greet them but stopped in my tracks after hearing the words of my Attayya.


    "The time to hold my grandchildren with my own hands is not so far," she told that olddy gleefully.


    "Stop it, okay? They just got married. Cut them some ck." Thatdy chided my Attayya.


    "Mthi. You don''t know anything. Didn''t you hear Daksha''s shriek early in the morning? I think my son


    has started his work. He will definitely make me feel proud with the good news," she told thatdy in a


    dreamy tone.


    "God! Wow embarrassing it is! Shepletely misunderstood the situation. Damn, Arjun! It is all your


    fault." I thought in my mind and cursed him even more for putting me in that awkward situation.


    As I didn''t know how to face them, I tried to skip to the living room without them noticing. But Attayya


    spilled water over my ns by calling me.


    "Arey, Daksha? Where are you going? Come here." She called me with a smile and I went in


    reluctantly.


    "Sit beside me. What do you want to eat? Tell me, I will ask someone to prepare that for you," she


    asked me.


    "What someone? Tell me, dear. I will prepare it for you." Anotherdy asked me and I looked at her in


    confusion. Noticing my expression, she pped her forehead and introduced herself.


    "My bad. I forgot to introduce myself. I wasn''t there for your wedding since I had to go to my daughter. I


    am Mthi, working as a housekeeper here and I will be d if you address me as ''Mthi Maa''." She


    introduced herself to me and I nodded at her with a smile.


    "You forgot about it because you are getting old. Admit it, okay? By the way, she is my childhood friend


    too and a family to us." After taunting her friend, my Attayya informed me.


    I wasn''t surprised since I already guessed it by seeing their closeness. I nodded at her and she smiled


    at me.


    "Where is Arjun?" she asked me.


    "He is getting ready," I told her and she smiled meaningfully at her friend.


    "Mthi, since you agreed to prepare breakfast for my daughter, I don''t know what you will make. Cook


    something healthy and sumptuous for her," she ordered her friend with fake arrogance in her tone.


    "As if I don''t know. She isn''t only your daughter. She is my daughter too. I know very well about what to


    feed my daughter," Mthi Maa retorted with a scoff.


    "Just because you asked her to call you Maa, she doesn''t automatically be your daughter. If it


    was not for my jealous son, she would also have addressed me as ''Maa'' only. " Attayya said this with a


    pout.


    "Whatever helps you sleep at night." After saying this, Mthi


    When Attayya was about to retort to it, Ammu came into the kitchen and interrupted her.


    "You started your usual banter again?" she asked them normally as if it was prettymon in the


    house. After hearing her question, they both huffed and involved themselves in their chores.


    "Good morning, Vadhina. Are you feelingfortable in this house?" she asked me with a smile while


    munching on her apple.


    "Good morning, Ammu. Though I am still getting used to this ce, I am prettyfortable here," I


    replied to her


    "d to hear it," she said and involved me in a casual conversation with her.


    "Ammu, take these dishes to the dining room and arrange the table,¡± Attayya told Ammu.


    "Wait, I''ll help you," I offered her and she dly epted it.


    We both set the dining table and settled ourselves on the chairs. Meanwhile, Arjun joined us too.


    I served him and myself with breakfast. After seeing the food on my te, Attayya started scolding me.


    "Daksha, it is too little. You are a doctor. Don''t you know that breakfast is an important meal of the day?


    You should have so much strength in your body, otherwise how will you give birth to a healthy child?


    You are so negligent about your health." She stopped her rambling only when Mthi Maa nudged her


    to stop.


    All the while, I just bent down my head in embarrassment. Arjun nudged me and looked at me in


    confusion.


    I just red at him and mouthed to him ¡®You are so dead.''


    ''What did I do?¡¯ he asked me innocently.


    "You didn''t do anything, yet your mother assumed that you did something-something. I just hope that


    our country legalizes the deed of killing someone because I so want to honor you with that glorious


    deed." After shaking my head at him with a tight-lipped smile, I thought in my mind

 chapter 36

    chapter 36


    Daksha''s POV:-


    It had been ten days since we got married. Those days, Arjun and I came close to one another. He was


    always so protective and caring towards me. My days passed with his usual teasing.


    We both resumed our professional lives. Since today was the weekend, we both were at the house


    only.


    Ammu went out to hang out with her friends. Attayya went to meet Sudha Aunty and my Mom. So, we


    both were alone at the house.


    Arjun was studying his uing case. So, I was feeling bored. I went to the kitchen to pass my time


    by cooking something


    I decided to make an apple pie and took out all the necessary ingredients. I prepared the dough for the


    crust and sliced the apples.


    I prepared the sauce and took the rolling pin to roll out the bottom crust. After that, I took out the pie


    te and arranged the crust on it.


    I filled it with the apple and sauce mixture, and covered it with the dough strips in a woventtice


    pattern over the top. After brushing the egg mixture over it, I kept it in the oven to let it bake.


    Meanwhile, Arjun too came searching for me. After seeing me, he stood behind me and wound his


    arms around my waist while resting his head on my shoulder.


    "What are you making?" he asked me.


    "You will know it soon," I replied to him with a smile and leaned more into him. He too smiled in return.


    "Wanna grab some coffee?" I asked him after a while to which he shook his head in denial.


    Seeing the timer rm go off, I came out of his embrace and went to take the pie out. After checking


    that the pie was baked perfectly, I let out a satisfactoryugh and ced it on a te.


    Again, I sensed his presence behind me. He looked at the pie for some time and asked me.


    "Is it an American Pie.?" he asked with a teasing smile. I red at him and smacked him hard.


    "Geez! What''s with you?" He asked me while rubbing the spot where I gave him a smack.


    "What American Pie? Can''t you think of another thing?" I asked him while scrunching my nose in


    disgust.


    "Hahaha..what to do! That movie stirred quite a lot ofmotion at that time," he told me after giving


    me an awkward smile.


    "Gross," I spat at him and cut the pie into pieces with a pizza cutter. Seeing this, he stretched his hand


    to grab the pie but I pped it away.


    "You can''t eat it right away. Let it cool down," I told him to which he rolled his eyes and stormed into the


    living room like a sulking child.


    "This guy really got a sweet tooth," I thought in my mind andughed at his antics.


    After preparing hot chocte for both of us, I served the pie on the te and took it to him. He was


    lounging on the couchzily while flipping through the newspaper.


    I put that te on the teapoy and stretched my hand in front of him to give the hot chocte. He took it


    with a scoff.


    While sipping on to it, he looked at the te and turned his face to the other side as if he wouldn''t eat it


    even if I begged him to have it.


    Noticing him throw a tantrum, I sat beside him and ced the te on myp. I only brought two


    pieces of the pie. So without giving him a nce, I gobbled them up in front of him.


    Seeing this, he turned his attention to me and looked at me with a frown.


    "You ate it all? Where is my share?" he asked in an usatory tone.


    "I thought you didn''t want it," I told him coolly while sipping my hot chocte.


    "When did I say that? Bring it to me," he whined.


    "Didn''t you? Then my bad! I thought you did and had your share too. So, the remaining part is for


    Attayya, Ammu, and Mthi ma. You can have it the next time," I told him smugly.


    "What a petty woman!" He grimaced at me and went upstairs to our room.


    I smiled and leisurelypleted my hot chocte. After that, I went into the kitchen. Upon serving the


    pies on another te, I took it to our room.


    Arjun was talking to someone over his phone while roaming around the room. When he saw me, he


    huffed in my direction and stood at the window.


    I sighed at his behavior and ced the te on the desk which was near the bed. After that, I took my


    phone andid on the bed while scrolling through it.


    After finishing his call, Arjun came to the bedside and eyed the te. Seeing it, he smiled gleefully.


    After taking the pie into his hands, he gave me an ''I know it'' look.


    He had them in delight while asionally praising my cooking skills.


    "God! Daksha! I loved them a lot. They are so delicious." He gave me a full-blown smile andid beside


    me.


    I smiled at him and kept my phone aside. Suddenly, he pulled me to him and hugged me tightly. I


    snuggled more into him and closed my eyes while enjoying the moment.


    "Let''s go somewhere?" he asked me out of where.


    "Really?"


    "Yeah. The location ispletely up to you. It is so boring here. Even the drama queen isn''t at home.


    So?" He looked at me, waiting for my answer.


    "Okay. Since you gave me a chance to choose the ce, you have toe with me whether you like


    that ce or not," I informed him and he agreed to it immediately. "Wait then. I will be ready in a jiffy."


    Saying this, I marched into the washroom after taking my dress.


    I washed my face and changed into a simple churidar. By the time I came out, Arjun was also ready in


    his casual attire.


    I stood in front of the mirror and applied a lip balm. Afterbing my hair, I left it open and applied


    sindoor in my partition. I wore my dupatta and grabbed my handbag.


    "Perfect." Saying this, he showed me a thumbs up and held my hand.


    Together we went out and informed the watchman about us going out. After that, he took his car out of


    the garage while I waited outside.


    After he brought the car, I ushered him to the passenger seat and upied the driver''s seat.


    "God, please save me. Wait, it''s better if I send a message to my friends to look after my mother and


    sister," e talked to himself dramatically. He smiled when I red at him.


    Ignoring his words, I started driving to the local market where they sell handmade clothes and goods.


    Upon reaching that ce, I parked the car at the side and we both got down from the car. He just


    looked around as if he was so familiar with this ce.


    "You should have told me that you were going to bring me here," he told me.


    "I thought you wouldn''te if I informed you about this ce beforehand," I told him sheepishly, to


    which he shook his head.


    "You know, your Attayya always prefers local shops to those shopping malls. So, I grew up visiting this


    ce a lot of times," he said with a smile and I released a sigh of relief.


    "That''s good to hear. Actually, along with my girls, I used to visit this ce. They sell a lot of good


    products here. When I thought about buying something for Ammu and Attayya, suddenly I remembered


    this market," I said to him.


    "Okay. Let''s get going." After rubbing my head, he said to me.


    We both went inside and as usual, it was full of hustle and bustle with a lot of people. It was such a


    lively ce.


    There were so many stalls, selling mouth-watering local delicacies. I gulped looking at them. He might


    have noticed my hungry look because he took me to one of the stalls and bought them for me.


    I had them while feeding him asionally. He went to a shop and bought a water bottle for me. I


    gulped the water and put that bottle in my bag.


    After that, we marched forward while he was still holding my hand protectively.


    "Arjun!  Look there!" I eximed enthusiastically when I saw a stall that was selling candy floss. So, I


    immediately grabbed his shirt and nudged him in that direction.


    "No. You already ate junk food right now. I turned a blind eye to it but it''s enough. You can have it next


    time. It''s not good to have too much of them." He chided me and I bent down my head like a wronged


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    child.


    Seeing this, he sighed and took me there reluctantly to which I smiled in victory.


    "This is thest time," he told me strictly after handing me the candy floss and I nodded at him even


    though I didn''t pay any heed to his words.


    I took it from him and had a big bite of it. It melted on my taste buds immediately. I smiled in delight and


    ced it in front of Arjun for him to have a bite of it. He shook his head and turned his face to another


    side.


    "Girl, you have it, yaar. I don''t like it," he said.


    "One bite won''t kill you. Have it." Saying this, I ripped it with my fingers and ced it in his mouth


    forcefully.


    He had it with a frown but his smile gave away the truth.


    "You liked it, right?" I asked him excitedly.


    "It is not that bad." Hearing his words, I scoffed and finished my candy.


    After that, we went to the handloom shop and I bought a lot of clothes for Attayya, Mom, and Ammu.


    Whileing out, I saw a men''s scarf hanging on the disy.


    I asked the assistant in the shop to bring it to me. He brought that to me and I caressed it lightly. It had


    a smooth texture and grey color which would suit Arjun''s personality perfectly.


    Thinking of this, I immediately went to him and wrapped it around his neck,pletely ignoring his


    defiance.


    "It''s looking so good. Pack it for me." I smiled in satisfaction and asked the shopkeeper to pack it.


    "Daksha, what''s the use of it? I am not a young guy to wear it," he mumbled in my ear.


    "Arey, you are just 29. Stop behaving like an old man," I told him.


    After paying the bill, we marched out of the stall and walked ahead, while holding the shopping bags in


    our hands.


    Suddenly, I saw a man blowing bubbles in different shapes by using the big bubble wand. I stopped in


    my tracks and started looking at it excitedly.


    "Aren''t you an adult? Howe you are still behaving like a small girl?" he asked me and pinched my


    cheeks. I red at him but at the thought of teasing him a little, I smiled at him.


    "Isn''t a small girl good? I still have to give birth to a baby girl for you and Attayya in the future. Then you


    have to take care of two children," I told him in a teasing tone.


    "You don''t know how to be shy." Saying this he ced his other free hand in his pocket and lowered his


    gaze down to nce at me.


    That arrogant expression he had on his face was as if he were saying - Who wants to have a baby with


    you?


    But there was a hint of happiness in his eyes, like the stars in the night sky, sparkling and attractive. I


    smiled at him and hugged his arm.

 chapter 37

    chapter 37


    Arjun''s POV:-


    This girl really didn''t know how to be shy but I still liked the idea of having a little girl who would


    resemble Daksha, calling me ''Dad'' in her adorable baby voice.


    God! The imagination itself was giving me a divine feeling.


    When I was lost in my thoughts, I received a call from my assistant. So, I excused myself from her and


    went a little away from her to attend the call since the ce where we were standing was very noisy.


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    After I finished my call, I came back to Daksha but she was so immersed in looking at the jewelry shop


    which sold custom made rings, especially for couples.


    Outside that shop, there was a couple who just came out of that shop, with a content smile on their


    faces and Daksha was looking at them with envy after gazing at her own ring finger.


    Though I understood the situation, I decided to behave like I didn''t notice anything. So with a smile, I


    went to her.


    "Daksha, what are you looking at.?" I asked her.


    "They are selling beautiful rings," she said while twisting her lips.


    "Okay. Let''s go. It''s gettingte. Mom must be waiting for us." I urged her and in return, she red at


    me and mumbled ''What an ignorant man!'' under her breath but I still heard it.


    I stifled myugh at her and tried to hold her hand to which she avoided it and went ahead after


    stomping her feet like a child.


    I shook my head with a smile and followed her. All the way to the house, she didn''t talk with me. In fact,


    she didn''t even spare me a nce at all and was looking out of the window.


    After reaching home, she came out and took all the bags into her hands from the back seat. She


    carried all the bags by herself with so much difficulty. It wasn''t that the bags weighed too much but


    since there were too many, it became a difficult task for her to hold all of them by herself.


    I just stood there, enjoying her tantrums. Seeing me behave like that, she red at me and stormed


    inside while stumbling on her way.


    Mom was present in the living room and was reading a book. After seeing her lovely daughter-inw''s


    struggle, she red at me too.


    "Someone always ims himself to be a gentleman," Mom scoffed at me. I rolled my eyes at her but


    didn''t make any move.


    "Stop standing there like a statue and lend a hand to her. Daksha,e here and sit beside me. He


    will take care of those bags." Mom ushered her and I made a face at them.


    Seeing this, Daksha stuck out her tongue at me when Mom was not looking at her.


    "Petty!" I mouthed at her and she rolled her eyes at me.


    I sighed and went to pick up all the bags that she had dropped in the middle of the living room.


    "Daksha, did you guys go shopping.?" Mom asked her.


    "Yeah, Attayya. I didn''t buy anything for Ammu and you until now. Since we were free, we both went to


    buy some sarees and dresses for you and Ammu," she said to Mom who grinned at her in delight.


    "Really? Silly child. You don''t need to do all these things but I am really happy with the gestur,." Mom


    said and Daksha smiled at her.


    After that, she turned to me and gestured for me to join her. I didn''t obey and stood stubbornly.


    "Hey,e here. I want to show her everything that I bought," she ordered me and I raised my


    eyebrows at her meaningfully.


    "This boy has be deaf too. Arjun,e here." Mom too joined her daughter-inw.


    I sighed and dumped all the bags on the couch. After that, I slumped beside those bags tiredly.


    Daksha came to me and collected those bags. After that, she showed everything to Mom and Mom


    was listening to her with a gleeful smile on her face.


    "Hope you like them," Daksha asked Mom in a cautious tone.


    "Arey, when they are given by you, how can I not like them? In fact, I loved them. Ammu is sleeping. I


    will give her dresses to her tomorrow. You must be tired. Go and freshen up. Come when I call you for


    dinner," Mom said to Daksha and she gave her a smile after agreeing.


    "Attayya, I am not hungry. I ate some food outside. So, don''t worry about me. You can rest early. Good


    night," she said and went upstairs to our room.


    After she left, I turned to my Mom and asked her.


    "Done pampering your daughter-inw? If you don''t know, I am also hungry here as I didn''t eat much


    outside." I grimaced at her and she smiled warmly at me.


    "Aww¡­ is my Ajju asking me to feed him personally?" she teased me and I scoffed in return.


    "I didn''t ask you to feed me, okay?" I told her.


    "Okay, wait here." Saying this, she left for the kitchen and came with a te full of Rotis with curry


    immediately.


    After that, she sat beside me and brought a piece of roti in front of my mouth which I avoided.


    "Maa, I can eat it on my own. Give it to me. It''s gettingte. You go and sleep." I told and was about to


    take the te from her but she pped my hand away.


    "Be quiet and eat it like a good boy. It''s not like I will feed you every day, right? Nobody is here. So, you


    don''t need to feel embarrassed." Saying this, she started feeding me with a content smile on her face


    and I too couldn''t deny anymore. So, I agreed with her and started eating.


    "Ajju, do you remember when you were young you always insisted me to feed you every day and your


    dad used to scold you for behaving like a child? Thinking about it now, it''s been so many years since I


    fed you with my own hands. Now, I am so happy to feed you again," she said with a forlorn look on her


    face while feeding me.


    "Maa, I know it isn''t enough to say a simple sorry for my previous behavior but I am really trying hard to


    make it up to you. I realized the importance of rtionships. You know, when you were in the hospital,


    Daksha was the one who made me realize my mistakes. I am so thankful to her. She is really good at


    heart. I am d that she became my life partner," I told her with a smile.


    After finishing feeding me, she kept that te aside and caressed my cheek with her other hand.


    "I am d too. Now, will you agree mothers are always right?" she asked with a teasing smile.


    "Of course. Without a doubt," I told her in a firm tone. We bothughed together for some time.


    "Okay, now go to your room. Looks like Daksha is throwing a tantrum. Go and pacify her," she told me


    and I couldn''t agree more with her.


    So, after seeing her entering her room, I too went to our room. When I went inside, I saw that Daksha


    was sleeping. So, I went to the washroom to freshen up.


    After freshening up, I came outside the washroom and went to her side of the bed. I stood there for a


    while, observing her face.


    She was curled up inside the nket. Her soft hair was resting on the pillow and it brought azy kind


    of beauty.


    I stood there for a while but after noticing something, I bit back my smile and kneeled down on the floor


    to the height of the bed and started looking at her face closely.


    Damn! She was looking like a pure, innocent angel. Seeing her face, I felt my heart soften.


    "Daksha?" I called her softly.


    She pouted her lips and didn''t bother with me. She turned over to the other side to sleep.


    Now, my assumption was true. She was not sleeping. I smiled at her. Not only me, but she could also


    actually pretend to sleep. Interesting.


    Now she made an ''I am damn angry'' pose and what she meant behind it was- ''Come and quickly


    pacify me otherwise you are dead meat.''


    I turned her to my direction and pulled her into my embrace.


    "Okay. Stop pretending," I told her.


    "Hmph!" she pouted and ignored me.


    "Arey baba..what''s the reason for this tantrum?" I asked her slowly.


    "As if you don''t know." Saying this, she tried to free herself from my embrace but I tightened my hold on


    her.


    "I really don''t know," I said to her, pretending to not know anything.


    "Hmph! You know it well. Don''t give me that innocent face. You know that I want a ring. We didn''t even


    have an engagement ceremony to exchange rings. So, I want both of us to wear rings like a normal


    couple and you didn''t give a damn to it. You are so mean. Leave me." Finally, she told me and I


    "Daksha, for God''s sake, we are already married. So what''s the use of the rings now? Moreover, in our


    culture, wearing rings is not mandatory. So, I don''t care about it. You too let it be and go to sleep," I told


    her to rile her up even more.


    True to my words, she started smacking my arms.


    "Don''t irritate me. If you don''t want to buy it, I can buy myself. Just think that I didn''t ask you anything.


    Can''t you even afford a single ring for your wife? What a petty man!" she said and came out of my


    embrace.


    I lifted myself from the floor and plopped on the bed sticking close to her.


    "Move away. You are stinking," she yelled at me.


    Instead of moving away, I went closer to her.


    "You are so annoying," she mumbled in irritation.


    "So what? You are tied to this annoying man forever." Saying this, I hugged her. This time she didn''t


    resist me and leaned into my embrace.


    "My bad. I never knew you were this annoying otherwise I wouldn''t have married you," she mumbled in


    a low voice.


    "Hahaha. But you did, right? So, no turning back. Bear with my annoying self all your life," I told her and


    caressed her head.


    "Arjun¡­ about the rings-" she started it again. So, I interrupted her in the middle.


    "Ssh. We will talk about thister. Go to sleep now," I told her and started patting her back.


    Soon, she fell asleep. I slowly released her from my embrace and moved away without disturbing her.


    After making sure that she wasfortable, I took my phone and went to the balcony to make a call to


    Darshit.


    He picked the call immediately.


    "Hi, bro. What''s the matter?" He asked me.


    "What about the thing that I asked you to do?" I asked him


    "I don''t know. I assigned that task to my assistant. Wait. Stay on the line for a minute," he said. I could


    hear him calling his assistant and asking him about the matter.


    "Bro, tt will take ten days. Is it okay?" He asked me.


    "It''s okay. It''s just that your Vadhina is throwing a tantrum. So, I called you to know about that thing," I


    told him.


    "Hahaha..good for you," he replied.


    "When are you nning to return?" I asked him and the call went silent for a while.


    "Not any time soon," he said in a low voice.


    "How many more years are you nning to stay there? Just return to our country, dammit," I bellowed


    at him in frustration.


    "Bro, you know it, right? I can''t," he said. "Bro, I will call youter. I have a meeting to attend now. Take


    care." Saying this, he ended the call without even waiting for my reply.


    I sighed and went inside. I ced my phone aside and slept beside her after pulling her into my arms.


    Soon I drifted to sleep.


    .................


    After a week...


    Daksha''s POV:-


    It had been a week since I asked him for a ring. He still didn''t say anything about it. Though I said that I


    could buy it on my own, actually I didn''t have ns to do it. How could I buy it on my own? It won''t look


    good. So I left that matter aside.


    Now, I was in my hospital, waiting for Arjun to pick me up. We both nned to visit my parents today


    since I didn''t meet them recently.


    I received a message from Arjun saying that he was outside the hospital. So, after arranging


    everything, I went outside and saw his car.


    I entered it and rested my head tiredly on the headrest of the car.


    He looked at me and started the car without saying anything. After a while, he stopped it in front of a


    cafe. I looked at him questioningly.


    "You are looking so worn out. Come. Let''s grab some coffee before heading to your parent''s house," he


    told me after opening a door for me toe out.


    I nodded at him and got out of the car. We both went inside the cafe. He ordered hot chocte for me


    and espresso for himself. After having them, he paid the bill.


    We both were about to go outside but I stopped in my tracks after seeing the person whom I never


    imagined to see, at least not now.


    Though I knew that I would have to face that person someday but I wasn''t ready at that moment.


    I held Arjun''s hand tightly as all the events of that dreadful day were shing in front of my eyes.


    "You are the reason for my destruction. So I will destroy you now."


    .


    .


    "Let''s see who will save you."


    .


    .


    "Daksha, ggo away from here and ask for help."


    .


    .


    "Teju, hold on for a while. Don''t close your eyes, okay? You will be fine."


    .


    .


    "Sorry. We couldn''t save them."


    .


    .


    I started to tremble after remembering all those memories. I loosened my hold on Arjun and closed my


    ears in the hopes that all those voices would stop resounding.


    I gasped as I was out of breath. Soon my vision was blurred and darkness consumed me.


    "Rahul..." I muttered before I lost consciousness

 chapter 38

    chapter 38


    Arjun''s POV:-


    When we were exiting the cafe, suddenly Daksha stopped in her tracks and held my hand tight. I


    looked at her in confusion but before I could have a chance to know what happened, her hold on me


    loosened and she closed her ears as if she wanted to avoid hearing something.


    I really didn''t know what was happening to her. When she was about to faint, I immediately held her in


    my arms and she lost her consciousness after muttering ''Rahul''.


    Now I didn''t have time or leisure to think about who he was. My priority was Daksha. So I lifted her in


    my arms and hurriedly marched towards my car.


    I ced her down to open the car door and held her by her shoulders. After that I made her sit on the


    passenger seat and grabbed a water bottle from the car. I sprinkled some water on her face, while


    waiting worriedly for her to open her eyes. Some timeter, regained consciousness and looked at me


    after blinking away her daze.


    "Daksha, are you okay.?" I asked her concernedly.


    "I am fine. Can we not go to my parent''s house.? Take me home." She requested me weakly and I


    nodded.


    After making sure that she was okay, I took the driving seat and started heading home.


    Daksha closed her eyes tiredly and leaned on the headrest. Seeing her like that, I couldn''t stop myself


    from worrying more.


    "Are you really okay? Let''s go to the hospital." Saying this,  I was about to change the direction of the


    car but she held my hand and shook her head slightly in denial.


    "No. I am really fine. I know my body well. Just a little rest is all I need. Sorry to frighten you like that.


    Don''t worry, okay?" She told me but still, her words didn''t fade my concern.


    I looked at her for a while and she gave me an assuring smile. I sighed and headed to the house.


    We soon reached our home. I got down from the car and went to Daksha''s side to open her door. I


    called her name slowly but she was sleeping soundly.


    I lifted her in my arms carefully so as to not wake her up from the sleep and carried her inside after


    informing the watchman to park the car in the garage.


    Mom just came out of the kitchen and after seeing Daksha in my arms, she hurriedly came to us and


    nced at Daksha in worry.


    "What happened to her? Didn''t you guys go to her parent''s house? " Mom asked me and hearing her


    voice, Daksha stirred in my arms. So, I gestured to my Mom to keep quiet.


    "Nothing. She is just sleeping. We didn''t go to meet her parents as she was so tired. Can you please


    make a call to inform them that we couldn''t make it today?" I asked her softly and she nodded at me in


    agreement.


    I didn''t tell her about Daksha''s fainting spell as I didn''t want my Mom to worry much.


    After that, she gestured to me to take her upstairs. I agreed with her and wished her a good night.


    I went inside our room and ced her carefully on the bed. After covering her with a nket, I stepped


    into the washroom to grab a quick shower.


    Later on, I checked on her once. After making sure that she was okay, I went outside to make a call to


    my assistant.


    He attended the call immediately.


    "Hello, Sir."


    "Tarun, can you get me the security footage of the cafe which is close to Mam''s hospital?" I asked him


    but after thinking about something, I sighed. "Forget it. Sorry to disturb you." Saying this, I ended the


    call.


    I really wanted to know the reason behind her previous behavior and If I used my means, I would have


    known it by now but I wanted to respect her privacy.


    I already promised her that I would wait for her to open up to me. So, I would wait patiently for her to


    tell me all by herself.


    With these thoughts, I went to bed and slept beside her while pulling her into my arms.


    I could clearly hear the loud thudding of my heart but feeling her soft even breaths reduced my worry a


    little.


    I hugged her tightly to assure myself that she was with me now. I didn''t even dare to get a wink of sleep


    as I feared that she might disappear.


    In the middle of the night, she woke up and tried toe out of my embrace. I held her tightly and


    looked at her.


    "Sleep quietly," I told her and she looked at me in surprise.


    "Aren''t you asleep?" she asked me and I shook my head at her.


    "Leave me, yaar."


    "No. I won''t," I told her firmly.


    "Leave me, Arjun. I have to use the restroom," she told me in an irritated tone and I immediately left my


    hold on her embarrassedly.


    "Sorry," I told her. She huffed at me adorably and left for the washroom.


    After a while, she came out and slept beside me. She immediately came into my arms and ced her


    head on my chest. I hugged her tightly and kissed her hair.


    "I must have frightened you a lot that you didn''t even sleep at all." She said to me slowly while


    stretching her head upwards to look at me.


    "Yeah. You did." I used her softly while bending my head a little to meet her eyes.


    "I am sorry." She said meekly and buried her face in my chest.


    I didn''t say anything in reply except for tightening my hold on her.


    "I am really sorry," she told me again.


    This time I lifted her face to look into my eyes and after looking at her face for a while, I released a sigh.


    "Daksha, please never repeat this. Earlier when I saw you like that, I was so afraid that I felt like I was


    going to lose you too. I don¡¯t know what was the reason behind that earlier incident but I felt so


    helpless. This is the third time that I have experienced the same kind of fear. I have never said this to


    you before but remember it clearly, you have be an important part of my heart. I can''t imagine my


    life without you. So, please never leave me alone," I told her in a low voice.


    After hearing my words, she hugged me tightly and I could feel the dampness of her hot tears through


    my shirt.


    "Ssh! Don''t cry. I didn''t say all these things to make you emotional and you also know that I am not


    good at consoling anyone. So, stop crying," I told her with a hint of helplessness.


    She pped my chest lightly after hearing my words.


    "You always im that you don''t know anything. Yet you will do everything like a pro. Like you have


    been in tons of rtionships before our marriage," she told me in an usatory tone.


    "Hey, believe me. Except for that engagement which eventually got annulled, I swear I have never been


    in any rtionship." I hurriedly retorted to her im to which sheughed wholeheartedly.


    "Hahaha..why are you getting so panicky for no reason? I am just teasing you," she told me with a


    slight smile.


    I smiled at her but remembering the main issue, I immediately looked at her seriously. "Tell me what


    exactly happened at that cafe?" I asked her while looking at her warily.


    "Nothing has happened. I just fainted in exhaustion. Ain¡¯t I okay now.? So, don''t worry and get some


    sleep," she told me without meeting my eyes.


    After saying this, she was about to turn to the other side to avoid my questioning nces.


    It didn''t take a genius to guess that she was lying. So, I prevented her from doing so and made her look


    at me.


    "Don''t take me like I am an idiot and stop giving me this nonsense of fatigue. I know very well that


    something must have triggered you and who the hell is that Rahul?" I asked her in a deep tone.


    After hearing my words, she bit down her lips and bent down her head like a little culprit, making me


    sign in vexation. I sighed and lifted her face with my hands.


    "I won''t force you to tell me everything now. I will wait for you to open up to me. So, tell me when you


    feelfortable," I told her softly while looking into her eyes.


    "I will." She agreed to me immediately.


    "But don''t make me wait too much," I told her and she nodded at me.


    After that, soon we both drifted into sleep.


    .................


    Daksha''s POV:-


    The next day, I woke up to see that I was alone in the room. Arjun was nowhere to be seen. I sighed


    upon remembering all the previous day''s happenings.


    I knew I gave quite a fright to Arjun. I really wanted to tell him about my past but neither I had enough


    courage to open up to him about it nor was I strong enough to face it bravely.


    I was d that he didn''t force me to tell him right away because I didn''t trust myself to tell him


    everything without going through an emotional breakdown.


    If he wanted to know about it, he could know it with just a flick of his finger, yet he respected my


    decision and was even willing to wait for me to say it to him.


    My respect for him increased to another level. I really wanted to lead a happy life with him without


    having the constant fear of my past. So, with these thoughts, I called my Anna to tell him about


    everything. He picked the call immediately.


    "Now you remembered your poor Anna?" He asked me immediately after attending the call.


    "Yeah. At least I called you now but someone didn''t even take an initiative to call me, right?" I taunted


    him.


    "You win. Tell me the matter."


    "How do you know that I have something to tell you?" I asked him in surprise.


    "I know you well enough to tell you that you won''t call me unless you have something important to say."


    I could hear him scoff from the other end.


    "You got it. I actually called you to tell you about an important matter."


    "That I know, tell me now."


    "Yesterday, I saw him." I told him and I didn''t need to tell him anything about who I was referring to.


    The call was silent for a while until he started talking again.


    "Are you sure that the person you saw was ''him''?" He asked me for confirmation.


    "I am sure Anna," I told him and I heard a sigh.


    "Did he see you? Did he say anything to yo.? Why didn''t you call me immediately when you saw him?"


    After a minute of silence, he started bombarding me with questions.


    "Calm down. I am not sure whether he saw me or not. Even if he had seen me, he couldn''t do anything


    as Arjun was with me at that time," I told him and narrated to him about my fainting and the


    conversation with Arjun.


    "I know that he will understand it. Still, you can''t drag this matter anymore. Tell him about everything as


    soon as possible. He won''t judge you. Trust me," he told me.


    "No, Anna. I didn¡¯t think that he would judge me. I know he is my husband and he has every right to


    know about my past. It''s just that I don''t have enough courage toe face to face with my past and I


    don''t want to relive those moments again. That''s why I am not ready to tell him anything, even though I


    want toe clean in front of him. His presence itself is enough to make me feel so terrified. I felt like


    all those treatments that I underwent back then, had gone to waste," I told him while crying silently.


    "Don''t talk like that. You are a strong and brave girl. You just have to realize it. You don''t know your


    capability. Just don''t let your past have an influence over your present. I am always there for you andContent ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    now, you have your Arjun too. So, what are you worried for? Trust me. Everything will be alright." He


    encouraged me.


    "Anna, can I ever lead a happy life.? At least for Arjun, I want to live a normal life. I want to enjoy my


    time with him without any worries. Will it ever happen?" I asked him and controlled myself to not let my


    tears fall down.


    "You will. I will make sure of that." He told me firmly in a mysterious tone. Hearing his words, I


    immediately rubbed my tears and asked him.


    "Are you nning something? Anna, please be careful. He is a really dangerous man," I told him


    worriedly.


    "Don''t worry too much. Just wait patiently for the good news. Take care. I will call youter." He told me


    and ended the call.


    "Please let everything be alright." I prayed in my heart and stood up to start my day.

 chapter 39

    chapter 39


    15 dayster.


    Daksha''s POV:-


    Everything was going well except for the fact that I was receiving threatening messages from Rahul to


    stop my brother from whatever he was doing.


    When I informed the same to my Anna, he told me to ignore those messages but I knew Rahul wouldn''t


    stop sending those messages unless I responded to them.


    Arjun became even more caring than before after that cafe incident. He was always after me to take


    care of myself properly just like a nagging old man.


    Another thing,st week our grandfathers returned from their tour and the interesting fact was, our


    grandfathers were already good friends with each other.


    So Attayya and mom arranged a family dinner for our both families and in that dinner, we came to know


    that Arjun''s family and my family belonged to the same vige butter moved to the city for business


    purposes.


    While Arjun''s grandfather was still living in that vige, our grandfather left with my father to the city.


    That''s how both the families lost contact with each other.


    Our grandfathers identally met once and nned this world tour. Finally, both the friends became


    rtives through our marriage.


    I came out of my thoughts when I heard the pinging of my mobile phone. I knew the message was from


    Arjun because of the tune.


    So I opened and saw the message.


    Have your lunch on time - MJ


    I smiled a little after reading this message. He never once failed to message me to remind me of it.


    I replied to him with an okay and asked him to take the food on time as well.


    After thinking of something, I again took my phone and sent a message to him.


    Come home early. I have something important to tell you.


    I received a reply immediately. He just sent me a simple ''okay''. I think he must be pretty busy. So I kept


    my mobile aside and didn''t bother him anymore.


    Today, I decided to tell him everything about my past. I gathered some courage to face it. Reopening


    my old wounds was going to be a difficult task but I had to do it. It wasn''t fair on his part when all he did


    was, being so understanding and caring.


    I was sure he would support me once he came to know about my past. I trusted him on that.


    Recently, another thing that was confusing me a lot was, whenever Arjun came in front of me, my heart


    felt like it was going to explode at any time. His single touch was enough to make butterflies do salsa in


    the pit of my stomach.


    I really couldn''t understand all these feelings. So I decided to meet my girls to get some rification. I


    immediately messaged them in the group and asked them to meet me at the cafe near the hospital.


    Today, I didn''t have many cases lined up. So I was pretty free and Yuktha too came to my cabin after


    taking some time from her schedule.


    We both went to the cafe together silently. After some time, both Rishu and Aarna came on Aarna''s


    scooty.


    We all sat around a round table and gave our orders. After our orders came, Aarna turned and looked


    at me for some time.


    "Are you going to say anything? Why did you call us and asked us toe here quickly? Is everything


    okay?" She started her question bank session.


    Though I called them here, I didn''t know how to say everything to them. So I just stayed silent.


    "Girl, what''s the matter.?" Yuktha chimed and I released a shaky sigh and cleared my throat.


    "That¡­ recently I had a friendly talk with one of my patients. She got married recently and was pretty


    confused about her own feelings that she felt for her husband. So, she asked for my advice. As I don''t


    know anything, I called you all to ask your opinion," I told them while avoiding their scrutinizing gazes


    nervously.


    "Did you call us here for that matter? Have you gone crazy or what?" Yuktha asked me angrily.


    Of course, she has every right to be angry at me because I made here here by taking out her time


    from her schedule, and because of that, she had to work another extra hour after her shift. So, I


    mumbled a quick sorry guiltily.


    I turned to look at Aarna and Rishu. They both didn''t react much but were passing meaningful nces


    at each other and both suddenly turned to look at me. So, I bent down my head and sipped on to my


    hot chocte.


    "Okay. Can you tell us about her husband.? So, we can help you in analyzing everything." Aarna asked


    me calmly and I nodded at her in understanding.


    "He is the best husband that any girl could ever get. He always takes care of her, pampers her, pacifies


    her, and bears all her silly tantrums. Most of all, he is so understanding and never once forced her to do


    anything against her will. For her, his embrace feels like the safest ce in this world. Being in his


    arms, she feels so secured and protected. His touch makes her heart go on the marathon. He can be


    naughty, childish, caring, supportive, protective¡­ everything but only for her. Finally, that person


    evokes different feelings in her heart which she has never experienced before. She can be her real self


    when she is in his presence. In one sentence, she is feeling like she is nothing without him." I poured


    all my emotions in front of them and they were gawking at me with their mouths wide open.


    I cleared my throat to bring them back from their dazed states. The three looked at each other with


    bright smiles on their face and turned to me.


    "SHE IS IN LOVE." All three shouted together, making everyone''s heads in the cafe snap in our


    direction. I embarrassedly covered my face with my hands and apologized to everyone.


    Not bothering with my embarrassment, the three of them were grinning like a Cheshire cat. I shot them


    a re. Aarna stuck her tongue out at me and the remaining twoughed at us.


    "How are you sure that she is in love with him?" I asked them after some time.


    "Those are all the symptoms of love, Akka. Trust me, she is in love with him," Aarna said.


    "Are you sure?" I asked her while biting my lips.


    "Cent percent. If not, ask her these questions. Can she live without him? Can she feel like she can do


    anything and can go to any extent just to see him happy? Can she feel like his smile is enough to light


    up her world? Can she feel like he is the light in her darkness? If she has the answers to all these


    questions, then she surely knows whether she is in love or not," Aarna said with a glint in her eyes and


    a dreamy smile on her face.


    If it were another time, I would have teased the hell out of her but now I was not in a situation to bother


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    with all these as I was in aplete dilemma about my own thoughts.


    Suddenly, Yuktha received a message from her assistant toe to the hospital. So, we all left the


    cafe after paying the bill.


    Before going, Aarna came to me and whispered something which made my eyes widen in surprise.


    "Confess your feelings quickly and I am sure, he will be the happiest person in this world. Don''t fear


    that he won''t reciprocate your feelings. That won''t happen till hell freezes over." She said and trotted to


    her scooty after passing me a wink.


    I shook my head and went to the hospital along with Yuktha. We both headed to our departments.


    After reaching there, I informed my assistant that I was going home and told her to call me if anything


    needed my attention.


    Since Arjun dropped me to the hospital in the morning, I didn''t have my car. So I hailed a cab to go


    home. After settling in the cab, I closed my eyes to reflect on my thoughts but I opened them


    immediately when the cab driver called me.


    "Mam, is it okay with you to share the ride with someone? Thatdy is asking me for the ride and her


    address is also on your way. So, are you okay with it.?" He asked me politely.


    After hearing his words, I turned my face to look out of the window and saw that a youngdy was


    waiting outside the cab while holding some reports of our hospital in her hand with a blissful smile on


    her face.


    Sensing that thedy was looking harmless, I told the driver that I was okay with it.


    After hearing my consent, he signaled her to get into the cab. She came to the backside and took the


    seat beside me.


    Settling herself in the cab, she turned to me and offered me a friendly smile.


    "Hi! I am Ankitha." She introduced herself cheerfully.


    "Hi! Nice meet you. I am Daksha," I told her with a slight smile.


    "Did youe to the hospital for a check-up too?" She asked me with a frown and I shook my head at


    her in denial.


    "I work as a doctor here. What about you? You must have visited the hospital for a check-up as I have


    never seen you here before," I asked her.


    After hearing my words, she ced a hand on her tummy with a serene smile on her face. "Yes, I came


    here to confirm my pregnancy and came to know that I am three months pregnant." She told me in a


    happy tone and that smile never left her face.


    "Congrattions." I wished her wholeheartedly with a smile.


    "Thank you so much," she replied.


    "Why did youe here alone? You should have visited with your husband or with any of your


    friends."


    After hearing my words, the smile on her lips got frozen and she visibly stiffened but soon masked her


    expressions with a smile. "I don''t want to trouble anyone and my husband is a little busy. Moreover, I


    want to give him a surprise. So, I didn''t tell him about my check-up," she told me with a smile that didn''t


    reach her eyes.


    "Okay. I think he will be very happy with this news," I said while observing her expression.


    "He will," she said in a low voice without even looking at me.


    "I think she too has some story." I thought.


    After that conversation, the atmosphere in the cab turned awkward and we both didn''t talk with each


    other any further.


    I guess I asked the wrong questions. So I kept my silence and looked out of the window.


    Though I didn''t know much about her in the first meeting, I felt that she was a gooddy and I really


    hoped that whatever she was facing in her life would get solved soon.


    I didn''t know why but hearing her talk about being pregnant reminded me of one of the happiest


    memories of the past.


    *shback*


    "Teju!" My Anna and I shouted for her.


    "I am here," she replied from the balcony.


    Soon we both went to her while ring at each other. Upon reaching her, I sat beside her quickly


    without giving my brother a chance to sit there.


    "What''s the matter?" She asked us while drawing some designs in her book. I immediately scoffed in


    my brother''s direction and he huffed at me in return.


    "Teju, if you are pregnant, who will be the first one that you will tell this news to among the two of us?"


    He asked her while pointing at both of us.


    "You will tell that news to me before him, right?" I asked her while looking expectantly at her.


    "No. She will tell that news to only me," he chimed in the middle.


    "Me."


    "Me."


    "Stop it, yaar. First of all, I am not pregnant. So, we will have this talk when I be so," she told us in


    an annoyed tone.


    "That won''t do. Tell us now itself. Imagine yourself to be pregnant and answer this question," I asked


    her and Adi Anna agreed with me.


    "Okay." She nodded and looked at both of us repeatedly. Finally, her gaze settled on me and she


    gestured with her eyes that I would be the first one to know about the news.


    Upon knowing her answer, I jumped from my seat excitedly and stuck my tongue out at my brother.


    "See? She loves me more," I told him teasingly and he scoffed at me.


    "Girl, I am your husband. Give me some importance," he said to her and she rolled her eyes at him.


    "So what? Don''t forget that If it weren¡¯t for her, you wouldn''t have gotten a chance to meet me and


    marry me. So, she should be the first one to know everything," she said to him with a finality in her tone


    and I wriggled my eyebrows at him in victory.


    "You both are ganging up on me, right? I see." Saying this in a sulking tone, he stomped his foot all the


    way back. We bothughed together and shared a high-five.


    *End of shback*


    As she had said, I was the first one to know that news but sadly I was thest one too because she


    didn''t get a chance to share that happy news with anyone, and my brother didn''t get a chance to know


    that he was going to be a father from her mouth.


    Thinking about all these, my eyes filled up with the unshed tears. Suddenly, I came out of my haze


    when I felt a hand on my shoulder. So Immediately wiped my tears without her noticing it and turned to


    face her with a smile.


    "We reached my house. So, I am leaving. Goodbye. By the way, it was nice meeting you. I hope we will


    meet again in the future." Saying this, she got down from the cab.


    When she was about to enter her house, I called her from the window.


    "Ankitha?" Hearing me, she again came back to me.


    "Take care of yourself. I can sense that you are going through some difficulties but don''t let them affect


    your health. You have a life growing inside you. So, the baby should be your main priority and go to any


    extent to protect it. Face everything bravely and start living for yourself and your baby." I told her and


    she looked at me with her teary eyes.


    "Thanks a lot. You are the first one who has asked me to live for myself. I will. Definitely, I will," she said


    in a determined voice and I nodded at her with a smile.


    "That''s good. There are my contact details on that card. Don''t hesitate to call me when you are in


    need," I told her and she took that card with a grateful smile.


    We both parted ways and I soon reached home. After paying the driver, I went inside and greeted my


    Attayya.


    After I went to our room and waited for Arjun in anticipation as I had decided to tell him everything.


    But that anticipation turned into apprehension when I received a message from Rahul.


    I warned you to stop your brother but you didn''t pay any heed to my words. So, now I am here at your


    husband''s firm to have a nice chat with him. I came to know that he doesn''t know anything about your


    past. So, the situation is in my favor and he will believe whatever I say. Goodbye. Wait for my updates.


    -Rahul


    After reading the content, I froze in my ce. Why was everything happening like this? Today, I


    decided to tell him everything yet before I could get the chance to do it, God snatched that right too.


    It was not that I didn¡¯t have trust in Arjun but I couldn¡¯t trust Rahul. He was so maniptive and


    cunning.


    But my instincts were telling me that Arjun wasn''t a person who would believe all his nonsense and


    wouldn¡¯t be manipted easily. So, I decided to trust my instincts and for the first time in all these days,


    I replied to Rahul.


    Do whatever you want to do. I trust my husband. -Daksha.


    Let¡¯s see. Hope you will still be so confident after facing your husband''s confrontation when he will


    believe my white lies.  -Rahul


    I will because I have confidence in my husband that he won''t even acknowledge your presence. I just


    hope that you won''t lose your face after meeting him. -Daksha.


    After messaging him confidently, I put my phone aside and sat on the bed while flipping through a


    magazine.


    "Hope Arjun won''t disappoint me and will live up to his name of a suave and sharp-tonguedwyer." I


    thought with a sigh.

 chapter 40

    chapter 40


    Arjun''s POV:-


    Since Daksha messaged me to go home early, I tidied up my work quickly and was ready to leave but


    my assistant Tarun rushed to my cabin.


    "What''s the matter?" I asked him while collecting my suit jacket and some paperwork.


    "Someone named Rahul is waiting outside to meet you," he said.


    "Okay. Let hime and meet me tomorrow. I have some important work." Saying this, I marched out


    of my cabin while Tarun was following me behind.


    Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks when I registered the name he had just said.


    "What did you say is the name of that man?" I asked him with my back facing him.


    "His name is Rahul, Sir," he said.


    Rahul...Isn''t it the same name Daksha muttered in the cafe before losing her consciousness. Could it


    be possible that they both were one and the same?


    I didn''t know why but something was telling me to go and meet him. At least to know whether both are


    the same person. I had to meet him.


    "Bring him to the meeting room. I will meet him there." I instructed him and he nodded at me before


    making his way to bring that person.


    I took my phone to inform Daksha but after thinking for a while, I dropped that idea. I might not be


    aware of her past but I could understand that she had some bad memories rted to that name.


    So, I didn''t want to frighten her and decided to handle this matter by myself. Moreover, I wasn''t sure


    whether both the persons were the same.


    With these thoughts, I went to the meeting room to meet that person.


    After going inside, I ced my suit aside and sat on the chair while loosening my cor button.


    Soon, Tarun brought that person to the room. I lifted my head to take a nce at him. He met my gaze


    and passed a smirk in my direction. I narrowed my eyes at him but anyways gestured to him to have


    his seat. I know the fact that we shouldn¡¯t judge a person within a single meeting but when I saw that


    man, I didn''t know whether he was a bad person or not but I was sure of one thing, he was definitely


    not a good person.


    After he took his seat, he nced at me and stretched his hand for a handshake.


    "Hello, Mr. Arjun. I am Rahul. Nice to meet you," he said with a slight smirk and I took his hand for a


    firm handshake.


    "Well, I can''t say the same," I told him. I might have sounded rude but I didn''t care because I felt some


    kind of enmity with that man. "Can you state the purpose of your visit and get over with it? I have some


    important matters to attend," I asked him to which heughed at my words.


    "Oh, but I think, what I am about to say is more important than your so-called important matters," he


    said and I didn''t react much except for ncing at him coldly.


    Seeing that I was not responding, he again startedughing and looked at me.


    "How is your wife Daksha?" he asked me and my eyes shifted a little at his familiarity with my wife.


    "How do you know her? Who are you?" I shot back at him.


    "Woah! Calm down. So protective of your wife, I see. But what will you do when I say that not only do I


    know her but we both shared a special rtionship with each other." Hearing his words, I gritted my


    teeth and red at him.


    "Stop beating around the bush ande to the point," I ordered him in a cold tone.


    "Hahaha. Looks like she didn''t tell you anything about her past. How can she tell it when she isn''t what


    she portrays herself to be." He released a mirthlessugh and looked at me.


    "Your wife is my ex-girlfriend." He whispered these words.


    "Don''t spout nonsense," I warned him.


    "No. I am not. Trust me. You will start hating her once youe to know about her ugly deeds in that


    past." He said while sounding genuine but I wouldn''t be the person I am today if I believed every


    person''s words without any evidence.


    So, I scoffed at his direction and stood up from my seat to take my leave but his next words made my


    blood boil. I immediately marched up to him and held his cor angrily.


    "What did you just say?" I asked him while controlling myself not to snap his head.


    "Yeah. She is a b**ch. She seduced me in the past to get hold of my money and deceived me in the


    end after achieving her goal but I have to agree that she is very good in bed." He smirked at me and I


    punched him very hard on his face.


    "If you utter any word against her, I will make sure that you won''t leave my office intact," I warned him


    and heughed while wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.


    "I know you won''t believe me but it is the truth and truth can''t be changed." He said.


    "Before I lose my control, get the hell out of here," I told him while signaling with my hand to the main


    door.


    "Trust me Arjun. I don''t want you to suffer like me. That''s why I came here to warn you to be careful


    around her."


    I released a scoff. "Am I looking like an idiot to you? Okay. As you said, she was in a rtionship with


    you just for the sake of your money but what''s the need for her to do that when her family itself is rich


    enough to feed her for hundreds of years?" I asked in an annoyed tone.


    "That''s where you went wrong. You might not know it. Her family business nearly went bankrupt. So,


    she trapped me for the money and stole all the contracts from mypany. After that herpany


    started doing well and she dumped me ruthlessly saying that she didn''t want to be with a person who


    was a loser. It took so much effort for me to bring mypany back to its previous glory. So, leave her


    before you get fooled by her." He said to me in a suggestive tone.


    "So, you want me to divorce her.?" I asked him and he nodded at me immediately in agreement.


    "Okay," I said and his face was filled with excitement, suggesting he had achieved what he wanted.


    "But before doing that, you have to do something. Since you have said that she had betrayed you in


    the past, file awsuit against her and I''ll help you in winning it as I am awyer." I suggested to him


    and immediately that a victorious smile got wiped off from his face.


    "Not willing to do it?" I smirked at him.


    "Do you think I didn''t try it in the past.? I did it but the case got annulled because her family bribed


    everyone. And what''s the need of getting justice for the thing that has already happened in the past?


    Moreover, I don''t have any concrete evidence to prove her wrong. So, just leave it." He said slowly as if


    he was a victim of injustice and I so wanted to roll my eyes at him.


    "Don''t worry about the evidence. Leave that matter to me. I will handle it." I pretended to be friendly


    with him.


    "Leave it, Arjun. I don''t want to do it. I just want to save you from her. If I file a case against her, your


    name will also get dragged along with her as she is your wife. I don''t want to spoil your name. So, think


    of me as your brother and listen to my words. Just leave her, okay?"


    "Are you worried about me or are you worried that once you file the case, all your lies will get caught?" I


    asked him while taking threatening steps towards him.


    He gulped a little but tried to put a brave front. "What are you talking about.? What I am saying is true.


    If not, why is she hesitating to tell you about her past? Did she ever mention it to you? No, right? She


    avoided talking about her past because she is guilty of her acts." He said to me hurriedly.


    "Is it? How do you know about the fact that she didn''t tell me anything? Are you stalking her?" I asked


    him menacingly and he shuddered a little upon hearing my tone.


    "Why would I do that.? Before meeting you, I just talked with her to tell her about our meeting and she


    begged me to not tell you anything. That''s how I came to know that you are unaware of her glorious


    deeds," he said, making me ball my fists in anger.


    "Did you threaten her?" I asked him calmly but I was not at all calm.


    "No, I didn''t. From the day I returned to the country, I am pleading with her to tell you everything as I


    didn''t want you to get hurt after hearing it from others but she didn''t speak up. So, I came here to tell


    you everything." He said as if he had done some good deed.


    "God! This guy is getting on my nerves. Why is he portraying himself as Goutham Buddha? Can''t he


    understand that I already caught all his lies? Wait! Did he say that he was asking her to tell me


    everything? It means he was ckmailing her all along. How dare he?" With these thoughts, I again


    held his cor.


    "How dare you ckmail her? Listen, I don''t believe any of your nonsense. If I did then I would be a big


    fool. Most importantly, I don''t care about her past. Even if she murdered someone in the past, I will still


    support her and she will still be my wife forever. You can''t fool me. So, stop trying to drive a wedge


    between us. I am going to leave you for this time as my Daksha is waiting for me. I already wasted so


    much of my time on your nonsense. I won''t entertain you anymore. Show yourself out," I told him


    coldly. After saying this, I held his cor and dragged him out of the room.


    All his previous ''I am so innocent'' demeanor changed and I scoffed at his pretentious behavior.


    After adjusting his shirt properly, he red at me ferociously and said," You will pay for it."


    "I will be waiting for it then." I challenged him equally. After ring at me, he started marching to the


    exit but stopped after hearing my words.


    "Mr.Rahul, it would be better if you didn''t do anything wrong to my Daksha in the past. Otherwise, even


    God can''t save you from my wrath." I cautioned him and he marched away while fisting his hands


    without looking at me.


    After he left, I rubbed my forehead and went inside the room to collect my stuff. After that, I started to


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    go home.


    Once I reached the house, I went to our room. I could sense that Daksha was looking at me but I didn''t


    spare her a nce because I was damn angry at her for letting that scumbag ckmail her all along.


    I headed to the washroom and had a bath with the cold water to calm myself down to some extent.


    When I came out of the washroom, I saw that Daksha was pacing around the room nervously. Ignoring


    her, I grabbed myptop and sat on the couch. Though I was looking at myptop, all I was doing was


    notice her actions. She came to me and stood in front of me.


    "Arjun, don''t you have anything to ask me?" she asked timidly.


    "Do I even have that right?" I asked her without looking at her.


    "Why are you talking like that? Did I do something wrong? Don''t tell me that you believed his words,"


    she eximed loudly and I scoffed at her.


    "See? This is the problem with you. You won''t say anything yet I have to understand everything. You


    won''t ask me anything yet again you assume everything by yourself. I never once forced you to tell me


    anything rted to your past not because I don''t have any interest in knowing it but because I want you


    to tell me everything willingly." I put theptop aside and stood up from the couch to face her.


    "Can''t you see that I am trying my best to make you feelfortable around me.? Yet I have to hear


    from an outsider that he was ckmailing you. Do you think it is fair? Do you know how angry I was at


    that moment? I felt like how ignorant I was that I didn''t even notice the fact that someone was


    ckmailing my wife," I shouted at her in vexation and this was the first time I raised my voice at her.


    Hearing my voice, she flinched in her ce and her eyes filled with unshed tears. Seeing her


    vulnerable look, I felt guilty for shouting at her but I hardened my heart as this was so necessary for her


    to not repeat the same thing again in the future.


    "Didn''t you ask me whether I believed his words or not? To answer your question, I didn''t because


    unlike you, I trust you. Do whatever you want. I don''t care about anything from today." Saying this, I


    was about to storm off but she hugged me from the back and I could feel the hotness of her tears.


    "I am sorry. I am so sorry. I was a fool to hide that matter from you. I never felt threatened by his


    messages. That''s why I didn''t mention anything about it to you but I didn''t expect that it would hurt you


    a lot. Please don''t be angry. You can scold me, beat me, and do whatever you want if that helps you to


    calm your anger down but don''t leave me and walk away from me." She said in a muffled tone as she


    was sobbing so badly.


    Seeing this, I softened my stance. I removed her hold on me and turned to face her. After dabbing her


    tears away, I took her into my arms and hugged her tightly.


    "Even though it is a small issue, if it is rted to you then it matters to me a lot. So, never hide anything


    from me," I told her calmly and patted her back but paying no heed to my words, she continued


    sobbing her eyes out


    "Stop crying. I am not angry at you anymore," I told her in a hope that she would stop crying but she


    didn''t.


    "How can you say that I don''t have trust in you? Do you know, without even thinking about the


    aftermath, I told him to do whatever he wants to do because I know that you won''t believe his words. I


    even messaged you toe home early as I wanted to tell you everything about my past because I


    trust you with my life. So, never say that I don''t trust you, and never be angry at me. It''s hurting a lot to


    see you behave like that." She said in between her sobs while punching me with her fists.


    I think my words hurt her a lot. So, I held her weeping figure in my arms tightly and gave a light kiss on


    her hair.


    "I am sorry. I won''t repeat it again. Go and freshen up a little. I will bring the food to our room. After


    having it, take a good rest. We will discuss everythingter." I told her softly to which she shook her


    while wiping her tears.


    "No. Come with me. I decided to tell you everything today. So, I will tell you. Lest someone might use


    this reason to create differences between us." Saying this, she grabbed her car keys.


    She held my hand and started dragging me outside, all the while ignoring my protests. She made me


    sit in the passenger seat and started driving somewhere.


    After reaching there, she stopped the car and gestured to me to follow her. I nced around the


    surroundings and noticed that it was an orphanage.


    I looked at her in confusion but decided to follow her anyway. She took me to the backside of the


    orphanage and asked me to sit beside her.


    I sat beside her and saw that she was looking at the sky with a forlorn look.


    "Daksha, it''s okay. We can discuss itter. Don''t stress yourself," I told her when I saw the gloomy look


    on her face.


    "No Arjun. Let me open up. Believe me when I say I am more than ready to say everything to you." She


    assured me and I nodded at her while waiting for her to tell me her story. She started saying.


    "All of it started two years ago¡­¡±

 chapter 41

    chapter 41


    Authors POV:-


    Daksha started narrating her past while remembering all those happy moments with a teary smile on


    her face and Arjun just sat beside her silently.


    "Before telling you about my past, you have to know about an important person in my life. Back then,


    my family was not like this. We were so happy and we didn''t even know how it felt to be sad. At that


    time, I met her here, in this same orphanage, as it was her home. Her name was Tejaswi. My Teju.


    "From that day onwards, she became my friend andter she became my elder sister. Eventually, I


    introduced her to my family. As she didn''t have anyone to call as her own, she used to consider my


    parents as her own and even my parents started to treat her as their own daughter.


    "As for my silly brother, he fell for her at first sight itself. When I got to know about his feelings, I


    convinced him to propose to her and he did the same but who was she! She was my teju. So, she


    didn''t ept his proposal right away,¡± she said whileughing lightly but if one would look closely, they


    could see the pain in her eyes.


    "I got fed up with her behavior and asked her the reason. She said that she wouldn''t match my family''s


    status and she never had any thoughts of getting married in her life. So, after a lot of persuasion from


    my parents and me, she finally gave in to our requests. Their wedding day was the happiest day of our


    lives.


    "I thought, every day would be like that only but how wrong I was," she said while rubbing the tears


    formed at the corner of her eyes and Arjun just side hugged to console her.


    "Ever heard about the fashion brand ''Felicit¨¤''?" She asked and Arjun nodded at her slowly.


    At that time, this fashion brand created a huge sensation in the fashion world. Many celebrities used to


    rush to book their appointments but nobody knew the real creator and mastermind behind that brand.


    Everyone was surprised when that brand discontinued its operations and disappeared so suddenly.


    "Teju was the creator of that brand. She was a fashion designer and wanted to make everyone happy


    with her designs. So, after her marriage, she started that brand on her own without the support of my


    family as she didn''t want anyone to condemn her to be a gold digger that got married into my family for


    the money. It was one of the reasons why she didn''t disclose her identity.


    "As for me, Ipleted my MS in cardiology and started my career as a doctor under the guidance of


    my Dad''s friend, Lakshman Uncle, who is a senior cardiologist. Even Yuktha too started working in the


    same hospital. Everything was going well and we were so happy but God must have felt that it was


    unfair. So, he decided to snatch our smiles,¡± Daksha said while controlling herself to not break down


    and Arjun sat there helplessly not knowing what to do.


    "One day, I finished my work soon and thought to visit Yuktha in her department. So, I went there and


    was greeted with the sight of a man arguing with Yuktha and the girl who apanied him was crying


    inconsbly while looking at that guy fearfully.


    "I immediately intervened in between and that was the biggest mistake of my life. Yuktha exined the


    situation and I got to know that man was forcing that girl to get an abortion and that girl was unwilling to


    kill a life. Yuktha too was opposed to his idea which led to an argument and she scolded him badly


    while threatening to file a case against him.


    "So, when he was about to p Yuktha in anger, I pped him and called the security to drag him out


    by asking that girl to stay behind. He left from there after warning us to not interfere in his matters or


    else the consequences wouldn''t be good.


    "But we didn''t consider his warning seriously. After he left, We asked the girl about her story. She said


    that the man''s name was Rahul, heir of RS enterprises. He was pretty rich and a yboy. His family


    even had a hand in politics too. His grandfather was ex-home minister of our state and his Uncle is a


    central minister. Trust me, I thought him to be an ordinary man and never expected him to have a


    powerful background.


    "That girl''s name was Swathi. She was working as a maid in his house. When there was no one in the


    house, Rahul forced himself on her and threatened her to never say a word about it to anyone. Then


    she became pregnant. So he dragged her to abort the fetus.


    "How inhumane. I was so disgusted by his deeds. We both asked Swathi to stop working at his house


    and even suggested filing a case against him. She said that she already thought of doing that and even


    informed her family about his deeds. Instead of supporting her, they forced her to stop going against


    him," Daksha said with a slight disgust on her tone.


    "We encouraged her to file a case against him and Indra Anna helped us a lot. Going against him was


    really difficult as he never left any clue behind him. One day, when this news got published in the news


    channels, many women came forward bravely, saying that they were the victims of Rahul and his


    friend''s evil deeds and revealed everything in front of the court. That day I came to know that, not only


    Swathi, but there were many others who were facing the same situation but were afraid to reveal


    everything. Some feared the society while some feared their own families.


    "When we were happy that everything was going in our favor, the court suddenly dismissed that


    case,saying that we intentionally filed to defame Rahul and the proof that we had produced in the court


    were all fake. They even asked us to pay the penalty for defamation and the next day we heard the


    news of Swathimitting suicide. Though, we knew it wasn''t a suicide but a murder. Still, we couldn''t


    do anything about it.


    "I was so helpless at that time. I was the one who encouraged her to stand up for herself and assured


    her that nothing would happen but she lost her life while fighting for the truth. Later, I heard that Rahul


    got kicked out of his family. Though his father used all his means to save him, he disowned him. From


    then, he kinda held a grudge against us and I used to get a lot of threat messages.


    "Adi Anna and Teju used to assure me that nothing would happen. Though it took some time for me to


    recover from that incident, I resumed my duties as a doctor as usual and my family wanted to introduce


    me to the public as their heiress for the first time. Even though I was reluctant about it, I agreed with


    them atst.


    "They wanted to introduce me to the public on ourpany''s anniversary. So preparations were done


    and soon that day came. I thought that Rahul''s chapter was a closed one in my life but how naive I


    was!" She scoffed at herself and exined the details of that fateful night to him.


    *shback*


    On the day of the party:


    Daksha''s family was all set to head over to the hall where the celebrations were going to happen. The


    restaurant came under the GV groups, Daksha''s family business.


    Upon reaching there, Daksha''s father started introducing her to all his partners and friends. When she


    got bored from all the formalities, she excused herself and went to Teju who was sitting on the couch


    afar while sipping on to a fruit punch with a bored expression on her face. Daksha chuckled at that and


    sat beside her.


    "Instead of sitting here, why don''t you mingle with everyone?" She asked Teju, to which Teju shook her


    head immediately.


    "No way. Everyone is a spoiled brat and they always look at me like I came from another. So, I


    am better this way." She said in an exaggerated manner making Daksha chuckle a little.


    "That''s because they don''t know the value of my Teju and moreover, they aren''t aware of your true


    identity. If they knew about it, they would definitely worship the ce where you have walked," Daksha


    said while pinching Teju''s cheeks.


    "Woah! Stop it, okay? I don''t like materialistic people who calcte a person''s worth by seeing their


    bank bnces. So, it''s better if they never know about my identity," she said with a sigh and Daksha


    shook her head.


    "Okay, I can never understand your logic and philosophies. I am going to the restroom." Saying this


    Daksha stood up from the couch.


    "Wait, let mee with you. I want a breather. It''s so suffocating here," Teju said and followed Daksha.


    Just then, Teju''s mobile pinged with a message, and knowing very well who it might be, Daksha shook


    her head helplessly.


    "Is it from your husband?" Daksha asked her and Teju nodded at her shyly.


    "Go to him. See? He is already throwing res at me for stealing you from him," Daksha said teasingly


    while pointing at Adi who was already looking at them and Teju blushed even more.


    "It''s not like that. You go and I''ll join you in a while," Teju said and was about to leave from there but


    Daksha held her hand and looked at her face for a while.


    "Girl, why is your face glowing a lot today.? What''s the matter.? Did you change your cosmetics or


    what?" Daksha asked while scrutinizing Teju''s face clearly.


    "That? It''s nothing and you will know the reason soon. Go go." Saying this, Teju left from there hurriedly


    with a smile on her face. Daksha sighed at her weird behavior.


    When she was on her way to the washroom, she was stopped by a waiter in that restaurant.


    "Ma¡¯am, there is a problem with the water supply in the washrooms on this floor. Our team is working


    on it. So ,can you please use the washrooms on the upper floor.?" He asked politely and Daksha


    nodded at him, not doubting his words.


    "Truly sorry for the inconvenience, Ma¡¯am." Saying this, the waiter bowed his head in an apologetic


    manner and Daksha just mumbled an okay.


    Daksha used the stairs instead of the elevator as it was just a floor away. While climbing, she


    messaged the same to Teju and asked her toe to the upper floor.


    But when she went there, it waspletely empty and then she remembered that this floor was under


    renovation. She suddenly thought about something and tried to rush back but her hand was caught by


    someone, making her scream in fear.


    That person started to drag her from there, ignoring her protest.


    "Who are you? What do you want? Leave me," she screamed and tried to wriggle out from his hold but


    she failed miserably.


    So, she tried to call her Anna for help with her free hand but her phone was snatched away by that


    person and he smashed it to the wall.


    When he dragged her to a corner room on the far end of that floor, he revealed his face to her and she


    was pretty shocked to see him there.


    "Rahul?" she eximed in shock.


    "Yeah. Why are you so shocked? Do you think that I will leave you guys this easily? Here you are


    enjoying your life after spoiling mine. It is not fair. If I go down, I will drag you all along with me." Saying


    this, heughed at her maniacally.


    "What do you want?" she asked him calmly, even though she was freaking out from within.


    "Hahaha..Nothing much," he said and went close to her. After that he caressed her cheek lightly,


    making her step back in disgust. He chuckled darkly at her. "So feisty. I like it."


    "Stop beating around the bush ande to the point," she ordered him angrily.


    Heughed at her and held her hand while running his hand on it softly . When Daksha tried to pry her


    hands away, he held it tightly making her hiss in pain.


    "Don''t show that attitude to me. I hate it when someone hinders my way. Not only you dared to spoil my


    reputation but because of you, I got kicked out of my family." He said while holding her face tightly with


    his hands.


    "Since you are the reason for my destruction, it will only be fair if I do the same. Let''s see who is going


    to save you from me," he said dangerously and released her face from his hold.


    After that, he took out the folding knife from his pocket and smirked at her.


    "What are you going to do?" She stuttered and tried to go out of the room but he was fast to catch her


    and pinned her to the wall.


    "Not so soon darling. You tried to be a knight who was saving the damsel in distress. So what will you


    do when you be one of them? I already warned you to not interfere in my matters yet you did. So,


    face the consequences." Saying this, he ran her hand slowly on her cheeks, making her close her eyes


    in disgust.


    When she tried to scream for help, he covered her mouth and threatened her with the knife. Tears


    started to flow from her eyes at her helplessness. Yet she didn''t stop her protest. In that process, her


    arm identally got cut deeply by that knife and she closed her eyes in pain while sobbing to herself.


    "See? Now you hurt yourself. So, stop struggling." He said while roaming his filthy hands on her back


    and grabbed her waist to make her stand still.


    He brought his face closer to her but she turned her own face aside and his mouthnded on her neck.


    Being furious at her resistance, he pped her hard and due to its impact, shended on the floor.


    While holding her wounded arm, she tried to stand up weakly but before she could do it, he lifted her


    from the floor by gripping her arm tightly while tearing the sleeve in that process. When she felt his


    hold, she hissed in pain and started looking around for an escape.


    When she thought about something, she took the pin from her hair bun and pierced his arm with it.


    Being caught off guard by her action, he immediately left his hold on her and held his own arm while


    hissing in pain.


    Taking advantage of the situation, she rushed to open the door of that room and escaped from there


    with him behind her who was trying to catch her.


    When she was about to climb down the steps, he caught her pace and tried to drag her back.


    "Leave me. Please let me go." She pleaded him but he didn''t pay any heed to her words


    "Daksha!" A sudden scream of her name made them stop their actions. Daksha looked at the stairs


    with her eyes wide open.


    "Teju, go away from here. Call for help." Daksha shouted at her but Teju didn''t listen to her and


    marched to them.


    After reaching them, she pped Rahul and tried to pry his hold on Daksha. Rahul just looked at Teju


    angrily while gritting his teeth.


    "Teju, please go from here. I beg you." Daksha pleaded with her but Teju ignored her.


    "Bastard! Leave her. How dare youy your filthy hands on her?" Teju angrily spat at him and Rahul


    furiously pushed her back purposefully, making her stumble on her feet and as a result, she rolled


    down from the stairs.


    "Teju!"


    Seeing this, a gasp escaped from Daksha''s mouth, and sensing that situation was not in his favor,


    Rahul quickly fled away from the scene. Daksha wasn''t in her senses to even notice it. She was staring


    at Teju''s body which was rolling down the stairs andnded at the bottom of the staircase.


    She snapped out of her reverie and reached Teju with her wobbly legs. Upon reaching her, she flipped


    her body back. She saw that her forehead was injured heavily and blood was gushing out of it furiously.


    "Teju? Wake up?." Daksha asked while patting Teju''s face with hope.


    "Teju? Please open your eyes." She cried while holding Teju closely to her heart with her eyes closed


    tightly.


    She heard a low groan and opened her eyes to see that Teju was looking at her with a slight smile on


    her face, though her eyes were reflecting a pain when she ced a hand on her belly.


    She brought her other hand forward and tried to wipe Daksha''s tears but stopped when she felt her


    eyes droop down. She was losing consciousness.


    "Teju, don''t close your eyes. Nothing will happen to you. Please hold on for a while. I will bring Adi


    Anna, okay?" Saying this, she was about to stand up and go to call her brother.


    "Stop. I have something to tell you."


    "Okay, okay. You can tell meter. For now,  please let me go. I beg you." Daksha stood up hurriedly


    and thought to climb down the stairs but stopped in her tracks when she heard Teju''s words.


    "Daksha, I was pregnant." Teju said in a low voice while on the verge of losing her senses.


    "What do you mean by ''was''?" Daksha snapped her head back to look at Teju and asked her shakily


    while ncing at the lower part of Teju''s body which was full of blood.


    Seeing that, Daksha stumbled back while closing her mouth in shock.


    "No, it can''t happen. It''s just a joke. Your baby is safe. Don''t worry. You both will be fine." Daksha


    assured her with her tears falling down as broken pearls. Mostly she assured herself but she knew the


    truth was otherwise.


    Teju smiled lightly and gestured to her toe near her but Daksha shook her head in denial while


    crying to herself.


    "Pleasee here," Teju said slowly. Daksha went near her and sat beside her while holding her hand.


    "As I have pro-mix-seed, You are the fir-st one to kn-ow about my pre-gna-ncy. Tell Adi that I am so-rry


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    and I coul-dn''t keep my pro-mi-use of liv-ing fore-ver with him. Tell him that I love him. Tell Mom and


    Dad that I am go-ing to miss them. Las-tly, I love you. I will miss you a lot. Tha-nk you for eve-rything.


    Beca-use of you, I came to kn-ow how it feels to have a fa-mily. I will fo-rever be gra-teful to you. I am


    sorry that I co-uldn''t be the-re for you when you get mar-ried. And one m-ore thing I want to see Adi for


    on-ce, befo-re leavi-ng this wo-rld." She said with her droopy eyes while Daksha was listening to


    everything as tears flowed down continuously from her eyes.


    "Please stop talking like that. I beg you. Nothing will happen to you," Daksha said in a muffled tone but


    she knew it was impossible.


    "You kn-ow it''s imp-oss-ible, right? Do you for-get my bl-ood gro-up?" She questioned her and Daksha


    shook her head while sobbing.


    "Tejuuuu!"


    Daksha turned to see that Adi was standing there numbly while looking at Teju without blinking his


    eyes. Teju smiled at him lightly.


    "I am sor-ry." After mumbling it slowly, she closed her eyes while losing her consciousnesspletely.


    He immediately rushed to her and scooped her in her arms. After that, he ran down the stairs hurriedly


    not caring about anything, with her in his arms.


    "Nothing will happen to you, okay? Hold on. You can''t just leave me like that." Saying this, he hurriedly


    started his car after informing his father about the situation and asked him to look after Daksha. After


    that, he started driving the car like a mad man.


    Here Daksha was still sitting in the same position in a daze while ignoring the blood that was seeping


    from her arm.


    After hearing Daksha''s condition from Adi, her father immediately rushed to the floor where she was


    where he was greeted with this sight.


    He quickly went to her and nudged her lightly to bring her out of her daze but instead of getting out of


    her reverie, she slumped forward with her eyes closed tightly. Her father was fast enough to catch her


    in his arms and held her tightly in a protective manner.


    "Princess, what''s happening here?" He asked himself while a lone tear escaped his eyes seeing his


    daughter''s condition. He immediately called for help and shifted Daksha to the same hospital as Teju.

 chapter 42

    chapter 42


    shback continues:


    .


    .


    .


    Daksha came back to consciousness after a while and opened her eyes to observe the surroundings.


    When she noticed that she was in the hospital, all the previous happenings flooded into her mind and


    she sat up with a jerk who;e thinking about Teju. She hissed in pain because of the wound on her arm.


    She removed the IV needle from her hand and slowly walked outside. When she went outside, she saw


    her Mom was sitting there on a chair silently. She slowly went to her and nudged her a little.


    "Maa? Where is Teju? She is okay, right?" She asked her mom in a low voice and her mom shook her


    head a little.


    "Doctors aren''t saying anything. She is still in the operation theatre." Her mom sighed sadly.


    "Maa, please take me there.. Let''s go." Saying this, Daksha grabbed her mom''s hand weakly, urging


    her Mom to take her there.


    "You are so weak. You can see her but rest for a while." Her mom suggested after seeing her


    daughter''s weak countenance.


    "No, Maa. She is more important to me now. I can''t calm down until I assure myself that she is well and


    safe. Please take me there. I beg you." Daksha said agitatedly and her mom took her to that floor after


    thinking for a while.


    When they reached there, she saw that her brother was standing at the corner of the hall and was


    looking outside the window calmly. But his tensed shoulders clearly indicated that he was anything but


    calm and her father sat on the chair silently while covering his face with his hands.


    Daksha didn''t know what to say or how to console them when she herself wasn''t in any better


    condition. She took her seat silently and started looking at the operation theatre without blinking her


    eyes.


    Suddenly the doors of OT opened and Adi was the first one to rush over to the doctor and started


    bombarding the questions in anguish.


    "Doctor, everything is okay, right? Is she alright? Can I see her now? When will she regain


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    consciousness? Please discharge her soon. She doesn''t like hospitals. We will get her treated from


    home itself." Adi said hurriedly in a hopeful tone but all he got was silence as an answer from the


    doctor.


    "Doctor, why are you not answering? Tell me. Nothing is serious, right?" He again asked him. This time


    his father intervened in between and let the doctor say his words.


    "I am really sorry. By the time you guys brought her here, she had already lost so much blood and


    suffered from hemorrhage. And on top of that, her blood group is RH -ve which is very rare. Though we


    have her blood group in our blood bank, we couldn''t save them." The doctor exined everything


    clearly.


    Daksha''s mind was stuck at the line ''we couldn''t save them.''. After hearing it, she just sat there like a


    doll without paying any heed to what was happening around her.


    "What did you just say? What do you mean by ''them''?" Adi asked in a pained voice, praying in his heart


    to not let it be what he was thinking.


    "Don''t you know? She was three months pregnant and the miscarriage is the main reason why we


    couldn''t save her. She lost too much blood from the fall." Doctor asked in confusion and soon it turned


    into sympathy at the loss suffered by this family.


    "I am really sorry. We tried our best to save them but still, we couldn''t. Please excuse me. I''ll look into


    the further procedures." Saying this, the doctor excused himself from there.


    "God! What sin had wemitted that you punished us so cruelly?" Mrs.Indraja started sobbing while


    holding her chest. Adi just rushed inside the room to see the love of his life lying on the bed lifelessly


    with a pale face.


    He went to her. After kneeling down to the bed level, he took her cold hand into his hand and brought it


    to his lips.


    The emotions which he was holding till now erupted like a volcano. He stretched his hand and ced it


    softly on her belly where there was a symbol of their love alive until the tragedy hit their family.


    After that, he held her so tightly as if he wanted to immerse her into him as the tears left his eyes


    endlessly for the first time in his life after he became a grown man.


    "You are a liar. A big liar. What a fool I was! I believed your words when you promised that you will be


    with me forever." He used her while weeping badly. The staff around the hospital looked at the


    family with sympathy in their eyes.


    All the rituals were done so quickly and they couldn''t recover themselves from the loss they had


    suffered. What worried them the most was Daksha and Adi.


    While Adipletely started living a secluded life, Daksha hadn''t uttered a single word from the time


    they heard about Teju''s death. She was just like a lifeless doll, always spending her time alone.


    She didn''t even allow the girls to help her. The glint in her eyes disappeared. Her cheerful persona


    changed into a muted one. Her nights turned into sleepless ones. Her dreams changed into


    nightmares.


    Seeing her children be like that in front of their own eyes, the older couple''s worries increased. So


    Daksha''s father consulted his friend who was a psychologist, working in the U.S. They shifted her there


    for a change of environment and for her treatment too.


    shback ends.


    ...........


    Arjun''s POV:


    My eyes misted after hearing the suffering she had endured in the past. I really didn''t know what to do


    and whom to me. I never expected that she was hiding so much pain behind her carefree smile.


    My heart clenched at her sobs. I really wanted to take her in my arms and provide her with thefort


    that she needed but I knew she had to let out all her pent up emotions. So, I let her cry her heart out,


    silently promising myself that this would be thest time where I let myself to witness her tears.


    "It took me six months to recover from that incident. When I used to close my eyes, all I used to see


    was her body amidst a pool of blood. It was so frightening, Arjun. All it took was a night. It destroyed


    the dreams which we had in our hearts. It took away our smiles and our peace. But did you see? The


    culprit is roaming outside happily. What was our mistake? We didn''t do anything wrong to anyone?


    Then why is God unfair?" She poured her heart out and I just apanied her silently to vent out her


    aggravations.


    "After I came back from the U.S., I started living separately like I have no one along with the girls


    because I couldn''t stay in the same house that has so many of her memories. My parents were so


    supportive. They just wanted my well being, sothey let me do whatever I wanted. I am really grateful


    that I got them as my parents. As for Adi Anna, we didn''t even know his whereabouts. After that


    incident, he visited us for the first time for our wedding. After I started living separately, I stopped


    visiting my family as I felt like I was the one who is responsible for all their miseries.


    "I can''t even look them directly in their eyes without feeling like a culprit and I can''t bear that feeling.


    So, I lessened my visits even when I knew, they were missing me like hell. I am so selfish, right? I am


    really a bad daughter, a bad sister, a bad friend. Many suffered just because of me. I don''t deserve this


    happiness, Arjun." She said while crying so hard.


    This time I couldn''t stop myself. So, I scooped her in my arms and hugged her tightly in assurance.


    "Don''t talk like that. You deserve everything in this world, Daksha," I told her softly and she gave out a


    sardonicugh.


    "How can you be so sweet? Does my past not matter to you at all? Should I feel happy that I got you in


    my life or should I feel guilty for being selfish for wanting to have you all my life when I clearly don¡¯t


    deserve you? You may not know it, Arjun, but you are the one who brought hope in my life. A hope of


    happily ever after. The moment I got married to you, I felt like I am the luckiest girl in this whole


    universe and I even imagined a beautiful life together with you. But every time when I have this


    thought, I always be conscious of my past." I started caressing her hair while listening to her.


    "It''s like a barrier to my happiness. I am feeling so guilty, Arjun. I am the reason why they lost their


    lives. Swathi and Teju both are innocent and the babies they were carrying were even more innocent.


    They don''t know how cruel the outside world is, yet they suffered at the hands of it. I felt like if I didn''t


    insist Swathi to file the case back then, she might have not led a happy life but at least she would have


    been alive somewhere, living her life with her baby. If I hadn''t interfered in their argument, maybe all of


    this wouldn''t have happened. Teju must still have been alive and we would all be still happy. Our house


    must have been filled with the innocentughter of a baby. How good it would have been!" Saying this,


    she leaned into my embrace while sobbing to herself.


    "Ie with a lot of baggage, Arjun. I am not worthy of you. I am a culprit. Though I don''t deserve


    punishment in the eyes ofw, my conscience won''t let me be happy until I serve that animal with the


    punishment he deserves. I can never live a guilt-free life. Just when I thought I could be happy with


    you, again my past came in front of me. Now I am feeling like I don''t deserve you, Arjun. I don''t deserve


    you." She said in a muffled tone while cing her head on my shoulder.


    I immediately held her face and made her look into my eyes.


    "Say it again now," I asked her sternly while looking into her eyes. She tried to maintain her gaze and


    started saying with her trembling lips.


    "I don''t deserve you. After everything gets settled, let''s get a divo-" knowing very well what she was


    going to say, I cut her off by cing my lips on hers and started kissing her fiercely with the promise of


    togetherness.


    I felt her wound her arms around my neck and she started responding with the same passion while the


    tears still rolled down her cheeks. Soon the kiss turned into a slow and soft one. Iforted her


    through the kiss in a way that words never could.


    I left her when I felt that she was out of the breath. She immediately gasped for air and bent her head


    shyly but I held her face to look at me.


    "Never. Never ever try to bring that word between us. When I tied this Holy thread around your neck, I


    swore in my heart that there would be togetherness, forever." I told her calmly while holding her nuptial


    chain and she quickly averted my eyes after nodding at me slowly with her reddened cheeks.


    I chuckled a little at the way she was acting all shy. Her face was already red because of her crying and


    the blush adorning her face due to the kiss added more to it. Those teary eyes made her look damn


    adorable.


    Seeing her like this, I again wanted to pull her into a kiss but reminding myself about the situation we


    were in, I put a hold to that thought.


    So, without turning to her, I ced my hands on the floor at my back and told her.


    "And talking about who deserves whom, I have to say this. If there is anyone between us who doesn''t


    deserve the other, it is me who doesn''t deserve you." When she was about to retort it, I ced my


    finger on her lips to shush her. She bit back her words and looked at me attentively.


    "You know, you are the strongest girl that I have ever seen after my Mom. You faced a lot in the past


    yet you emerged out of it strongly. You fought with your own demons, nightmares, and insecurities so


    bravely. You became so sessful at this young age without letting your past influence you. So how


    can I be worthy of this strong, courageous, kind, moreover a pretty and intelligent one, sometimes


    muddleheaded though?" I asked her with a smile.


    She chuckled a little with her teary eyes at myst words and smacked my arm.


    "You started it again. Girl, it took me so much effort to shut that tap. Please give me some face, yaar." I


    told her teasingly. She immediately hugged me whileughing a little.


    "I am so lucky to have you in my life," he said in a low voice.


    "No. I am the lucky one to g-" she cut me off in the middle.


    "Geez. Stop it. I know what you are going to say. We both are lucky to have each other. Happy?" She


    said and I chuckled at her words. While nodding at her, I hugged her but the smile on my face


    disappeared when I remembered about that scumbag.


    "Rahul, be ready for your doom. I swear I will make you pay for every drop of tear that you made her


    shed." I swore to myself while tightening my hold around her.

 chapter 43

    chapter 43


    Arjun''s POV:


    The next day, I left the house early in the morning. I called Aditya to meet me at a cafe. I didn''t tell


    anyone about this meeting.


    Once I reached the cafe, I asked for a private room and went inside to wait for Aditya.


    He soon came there with some files in his hands. Though I didn''t understand why he brought them, I


    chose to ignore it and greeted him with a brief hug.


    "Looks like she told you everything about her past¡­ our past," he said after taking his seat in front of


    me and I nodded at him slowly.


    "I am sorry for your loss. It must be really hard for you." I told him and though I didn''t know how he


    must have felt at that time, I could understand his pain.


    I never in my dreams wanted to experience it. I felt like my soul left my body when I saw Daksha''s frail


    body in my arms as she fainted in the cafe. So, how can I cope up when I have to put myself in Adi''s


    shoes? That thought itself made my body shudder in fear, a fear of losing her. So, I shook my head to


    stop those thoughts.


    "Don''t be. Yeah, it is hard but I am trying to cope up with the present and I can''t feel at peace unless I


    put him behind the bars," he said while clenching his palms.


    "I understand. I called you for that only. We can do it. I will ask for my friend''s help too. I am sure we all


    can put him behind bars," I told him confidently and he nodded at me firmly.


    "These are the evidence that I have collected against him in these two years by staying away from my


    family," he said, shocking me a little.


    "What! You have been working on this for two years. I thought it''s recently that you have started doing it


    when Daksha told me that she was receiving threat messages from that a**hole," I told him and he just


    shook his head.


    "Naah. Daksha for the first time wished for something i.e., she wants to live a happy life with you. So, I


    want to fulfill her wish. I let him know about my activities to show him that I haven''t given up on this


    matter," he said calmly and my respect for him increased ten-fold.


    I gave him an appreciative nod and opened one of the files to read the great deeds of Rahul. My eyes


    widened in surprise after reading the contents in that file.


    "Can this information be trusted? Are you sure?" I asked him skeptically.


    "Yeah, I even cross checked it with some trustworthy sources," he confirmed.


    "Then why didn''t you take the action till now?" I asked him because the information that he had in his


    hands was enough to put Rahul behind bars for his entire life.


    "I can but I don''t want to. I want to gather evidence for that night''s incident. I want justice for my love,


    for my unborn baby and for my sister. I tried my best but all the events in the CCTV footage on that


    stairs got erased. I am sure it was his doing," he said and when I recalled the events of the night that


    Daksha had exined, my blood boiled in anger.


    Whenever I remembered the vulnerable look on Daksha''s face when she was narrating about that


    night, I wanted to kill that Rahul so brutally that he himself would feel afraid to look at his own corpse.


    "Leave that footage matter to me. I''ll handle it. The thing we have to do now is prepare the strategy to


    hit him where it hurts the most," I said in a determined tone.


    "He doesn''t have any weaknesses. He always spends his time on work and on girls. All these things


    mentioned in that file are handled by his people. Nobody knows about his direct involvement," he said


    and I thought for a while to grasp his words.


    "Well, if he spends most of his time on work, then he must love his work and hispany must be a


    result of his hard work, right?" I asked him and he nodded at me with a smirk when he got the meaning


    of my words.


    "Dhruv will handle that matter as he is a pro in dealing with that kind of person. Leave these files with


    me. I''ll hand them over to Indra. After that, I will send awsuit notice to Rahul," I suggested and he


    nodded at me.


    "Well, tell me what to do. I''ll be grateful to lend my hand," he asked me.


    "Sure thing. There is something you have to do."


    "Tell me. I''ll definitely do it,¡± he said.


    "Okay, go home and just chill. Leave everything to me. You have already worked hard enough. Let me


    help you from now on. Trust me," I told him while standing up from my seat and patted his shoulder.


    "Sure. By the way, Daksha is so lucky to have you." He said with a smile and adjusted his suit after he


    stood up from his seat.


    "Tell me something that I don''t know," I said and went outside.


    "Cocky much!" I heard his distant voice with augh.


    I just shook my head with a slight smile and headed home. After reaching there, I went to my room


    directly. I saw that Daksha was still sleeping. So without disturbing her sleep, I opened the locker and


    put the files safely in there.


    Then I went near the bed and kneeled down on the floor. I smiled after seeing her serene face and I


    softly tucked her strand of hair behind her ear.


    "Where did you go?" she mumbled in a sleepy tone without opening her eyes while hugging my arm. I


    chuckled a little and settled myself on the floor.


    "Went to handle something. Why? Were you missing me already?" I asked her in a teasing voice.


    "Yes." Unexpectedly she agreed. She opened her eyes and sat up on the bed.


    "Well, aren''t I in front of you now?" I asked her with a smile ying on my lips.


    "Yes¡­ yes..." she said while rattling her head continuously and got down from the bed and what she


    did next,pletely caught me off guard. She directly sat on myp and straddled her arms around my


    neck while cing her head on my shoulder.


    "I missed you." Saying this, she snuggled more into me. I held her tightly with a smile and kissed her


    forehead.


    "Didn''t you miss me at all?" She asked while removing her head from my shoulder and looked at me.


    Instead of answering her, I just pecked her soft lips lightly. She instantly buried her face in my neck


    shyly while her face was all red.


    I chuckled at her antics and she smacked my arm lightly while mumbling ''hooligan'' under her breath.


    "What? If you don''t want it, you can return it to me," I told her suggestively and she snuggled more into


    me shyly, making meugh wholeheartedly.


    "Daksha, it''s been a while since we had dinner outside. So, why don''t we go to a nice hotel to have our


    dinner today?" I asked her as I knew yesterday''s events might have taken a huge toll on her. So I


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    wanted to take her out to make her feel refreshed.


    "Sure. I have a restaurant in my mind. Let''s go there," she said.


    "Okay. I have to leave for work. Will see you in the evening then," I said and lifted her in my arms


    steadily after bringing myself into a kneeling position. She let out a surprised squeal and held me


    tightly.


    I carried her to the bed and ced her softly on it before covering her with the duvet.


    "Sleep for a while. I am leaving." Saying this, I kissed her forehead and I saw her nodding at me. I


    looked at her for onest time and left the room after closing the door softly.


    ............


    Daksha''s POV:


    Exactly at six in the evening, Arjun came home and I already got ready for our dinner before he came.


    So I was waiting for Arjun in the living room with my Attayya as Arjun went to get freshen up.


    After a while, he came downstairs in his casual attire. Bidding goodbye to Attayya, we both took our


    leave from home.


    After settling ourselves in the car, he asked me for the restaurant address and I dly gave it to him.


    We reached there while listening to the soft music that was ying from the radio in his car.


    Upon reaching there, he helped me in getting out of the car. Since I already made reservations this


    morning, the waiter took us directly to our table.


    After settling ourselves on our seats, I drank some water from the bottle while Arjun was looking into


    the menu.


    "What do you want to eat?" he asked me.


    "Anything is fine with me. I am not that picky. So, order anything," I told him while looking out through


    the ss wall.


    "Good evening Sir and Madam, your order please?" I heard the soft voice of a woman. So I


    immediately turned my head to get a look at her.


    I saw that Arjun and that woman were looking at each other with shock clearly evident on their faces. I


    found it strange and nced at Arjun.


    He was the first one to avert his gaze and looked at me with a smile as if assuring me that everything


    was okay. Though I was not satisfied, I just nodded at him slowly.


    He immediately ced the order and dismissed her.


    "Who is she?" I asked him while waiting for our orders to arrive.


    "Anusha," he said in a casual tone as if meeting his ex didn''t matter to him at all.


    "Oh," I said as I didn''t know what to say.


    Well. I had to agree. Anusha was really a good looking woman but it didn¡¯t matter as Arjun belonged to


    me now. I really wanted to gloat my fortune at her face but since I am a good human being, I didn¡¯t do


    it.


    She came with our orders and set them on our table. When I saw the tomatoes on my te, I


    immediately extended my hand to ce them in Arjun''s te as I saw him eating them so fondly at


    home several times.


    But my hand stilled in the air when I heard her words.


    "He doesn''t like to eat them," she said hurriedly and I exchanged a look between them and tried to


    withdraw my hand, thinking that I might be wrong in assuming that he likes to eat them.


    "Don''t. I love them." Saying this, he held my hand and made me ce them on his te. "Don''t behave


    as if you know me well," he said to her coldly and I could feel the awkwardness in the air.


    "Sorry for crossing my limits. Have a nice meal." Saying this, she left from there with an embarrassed


    face.


    "You know, you didn¡¯t have to be that rude with her. Don''t tell me you are still holding a grudge against


    her for calling off engagement?" I asked him and he scoffed after hearing my words.


    "Do I seem that petty to you? Talking about rudeness, I have every right to be rude because my lovely


    wife is serving me with so much love. How dare she interrupt you in the middle? I will still react in the


    same way if there were someone else in her ce instead of her," he exined and I just ced my


    hands on my heart with a smile.


    "I am so impressed, my Jun," I told him dramatically and blurted out his name unintentionally.


    "What did you call me just now?" He asked me in surprise and I immediately clicked my tongue at my


    stupid slip up.


    "What are you talking about? I addressed you with the name Arjun only. Why? did you hear anything


    else?" I told him while keeping an earnest look on my face.


    "Nothing. I must have heard it incorrectly. Have your food," he suggested. I nodded my head slowly


    after releasing a sigh and dug into the food.


    After having the food, I excused myself to use the restroom. When I wasing outside after using the


    restroom, I saw that Anusha was waiting for me outside. I wanted to ignore her presence but she called


    me out.


    "Please stop. I know you both hate me for what I had done in the past, but now I am truly feeling sorry


    for breaking the engagement in such a situation. You might be thinking that I am crazy but we both are


    not meant for each other. Even if I didn''t do it at that time, we eventually could have broken upter.


    "It was clearly evident because of the earlier incident. I didn''t even know the fact he likes tomatoes. I


    always thought he disliked them as he never ate them in my presence. How ignorant I was to not notice


    the fact that he stopped eating them because I hate them,¡± she said while wiping her tears but I didn''t


    know why, I felt a pang in my heart when I heard how much he valued their rtionship back then and


    at the same time, feeling bad for Arjun as his sincerity got paid off with betrayal.


    "Are you regretting it now?" I spoke for the first time and she looked at me in surprise but shook her


    head slowly.


    "No. Even If I did, I lost that right too. Everything that I have been experiencing is the result of my past


    deeds. Moreover, regret has no medicine. He deserves someone worth him. I can say you both are


    made for each other within a single nce itself. Always stay happy," she said and turned to leave from


    there.


    "Anusha. Thanks for leaving him back then," I told her.


    "If not,  I wouldn''t have gotten a chance to have him in my life." I thought in my mind with a smile and


    she smiled at me in an understanding manner before leaving from there.

 chapter 44

    chapter 44


    Arjun''s POV:


    It had been fifteen days since I had an encounter with Anusha. When I saw Anusha in that restaurant, I


    didn''t feel anything. Neither pity nor hatred. She was just like a stranger to me. So, I had no hard


    feelings for her.


    Though she backed out from our engagement, it was actually a good thing. We both didn''t suit each


    other well and if we stayed together, one of us would havepromised everything and made


    sacrifices. Even if it was good to hear, it would cause so much harm to us. It would have be a


    rtionship where we would have lost our voices to even raise our opinions against each other.


    So, I was thankful that she broke off the engagement. If she hadn''t done it, then I couldn''t have gotten


    a chance to meet my Daksha and my life wouldn''t be this blissful for sure.


    The time I always spent with Daksha was so precious to me. I regretted not meeting her earlier. All I


    wanted to do was give her all the happiness that she deserved in this world.


    That was what I was fighting for. Her happiness depended on the unattained justice which she was


    longing for in her heart and striving for years. If that''s what she wanted, I would grant it to her dly.


    So I am digging every minute detail of Rahul''s dirty deeds. I wouldn¡¯t leave him so easily for making my


    family suffer a lot. I wouldn¡¯t rest until he got his retribution.


    At present, Indra and I were in my office room to discuss that matter only. I already retracted the


    footage of that night''s events. Talking about that footage, it only had the incident that happened on the


    staircase but that was enough to prove him guilty.


    The contents of that video were still ying in front of my eyes. I closed my eyes to calm myself when I


    recalled the helpless and vulnerable Daksha in that video. My eyes got teary after seeing that video.


    Hearing from her itself was a tough task but witnessing it with my own eyes became an impossible


    task, yet I encouraged myself to see the video in its entirety because I had to make Rahul ountable


    for his every deed.


    Immediately after watching that video, I called Indra to reopen Swathi''s case again and file a case


    against Rahul. The court''s hearing was scheduled for the following month and I was d for that as I


    wanted to finish Rahul''s chapter in our lives as early as possible.


    "Indra, can you ask someone from your department to retract the previous case¡¯s details from the


    database?" I asked him and he nodded before calling someone over his phone and asked that person


    to mail the details.


    After a while, his phone started ringing. He picked it but after hearing what the other person had said,


    he started shouting at that person


    "How can the information get lost from under our noses? Interrogate everyone who has ess to the


    database system and also check if there was any suspicious person entering that department. I want


    you all to find out the reason by this evening," he shouted.


    From his words, I could guess what had actually happened. I clenched my fists angrily and now I


    understood how shrewd Rahul was. He was already one step ahead of us.


    Such a disappearance was indeed not a loss of the file, but rather, someone had purposely hidden it,


    which meant someone had messed with it and I knew clearly who it was.


    "I am sorry Arjun. I don''t know how but the information is lost from the database. Even the files rted


    to this case have disappeared and thus are unavable for extraction. Give me some time, I will do


    something," he said and I just shook my head at him in denial.


    "You know it, right? It will be of no use. He already took his own measures to make us lose. If we


    search for that culprit, it would be nothing but a waste of time. I know what to do," I told him before


    taking my seat in front of myputer system.


    "Arjun? Are you sure.?" He asked as he knew what I was going to do.


    "This is the only way. We don''t have much time and let him feel the taste of the sess for a while.


    Dhruv is already done with his work. He used all his means to stop the deals of Rahul''spany. That


    is the reason why Rahul is so impatient. So, let''s do our part too," I told him as I typing furiously on the


    keyboard to enter the set ofmands that I hadn''t used for a long time.


    Not many dared to break thew under Indra''s watch or even challenged our authority till now. Since


    he dared to do that, I would let him have the taste of his own medicine. I would make him regret


    messing with my loved ones.


    I wouldn''t have used thisst resort if I hadn''t needed to because I still believe that everyone had their


    own morals. But there were some exceptions not because the justice didn''t prevail but because some


    people''s hearts are inked.


    Truth be told, everyone was selfish including both the good and the bad but everyone still liked justice


    behind morals.


    With these thoughts, I pressed the enter key and as soon as I took my finger off the keyboard, another


    page appeared on theputer screen. Leaning against my chair, I stared indifferently at the screen.


    I did not know whose hand it was that had reached into Indra''s territory and broken thew under his


    watch. Be it Rahul''s father or his uncle or even the influence of his entire family, they would have to up


    their effort in order to free the person that was in my hands. I had been in this position for some years


    and had met various kinds of people but among all that had meddled in my affairs, Rahul was the one


    that went too far.


    ¡°You all want to spare him but I want to put him in jail. That¡¯s just splendid. So try me, let¡¯s try and see


    who¡¯s the better yer,¡± I said to myself.


    I pressed another key on the keyboard and the file began to duplicate.


    Seeing this, I nced at Indra and saw that he was studying the file that had all the evidence collected


    by Aditya.


    "Indra, let''s meet his grandfather. We can''t waste our time because of the constant meddling from


    Rahul''s side. His grandfather is a righteous person and I am sure he didn''t know about his grandson''s


    deeds. I heard that he returned to the country recently. So let''s meet him. I''ll call my Grandpa to


    apany us," I told him and he just nodded without lifting his head from that file. I just shook my


    head at his seriousness and dedication towards his work.


    I called my Grandpa toe to the city immediately and he agreed with me after sensing the


    seriousness in my tone.


    By the time, he reached my office, it was already evening. After exining all the happenings, he


    looked at me angrily for hiding all those matters from him. Before he started scolding me, Indra


    interrupted him and said that we didn¡¯t have much time to me each other.


    So, we three hurriedly started for the farmhouse where Rahul''s grandpa was living at present.


    Whenever he returned to the country, he always prefered to stay in his farmhouse rather than living in


    his family mansion with his whole family.


    It didn''t take much time for us to reach his farmhouse but the guards didn''t allow us inside for security


    purposes. I heard a low grunt from my grandpa and saw that he immediately took his phone out before


    punching in a string of numbers.


    Indra and I just stood beside him silently as we were damn sure that he would definitely get the ess


    to go inside.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "Old man, you really raised a good grandson. I am in front of your farmhouse. Your guards are stopping


    me. Okay. Do it. We will discuss his great deeds once Ie inside." He talked over the phone. As


    soon as he ended the call, someone rushed to us and invited us inside.


    After going inside, we were greeted by Rahul''s grandfather, Mr. Charkravarthy, ex-home minister. He


    was a person with great morals and values. During his tenure, he never once encouraged corruption or


    any illegal activities.


    That was the reason why I decided to meet him as I was sure, once he came to know about his


    grandson''s deeds, he would definitely stop his son''s intervention in our way.


    After exchanging greetings with him, we settled ourselves in our seats.


    "What''s the matter, old man?" he asked my Grandpa.


    Instead of answering him, Grandpa grabbed the file from the hands of Indra and threw it on the table.


    "See for yourself," he said and nced at me coldly. From that nce, I knew I was up for a good


    lecture as I hid the matter until now and only told him that evening.


    I avoided looking at him and shifted my focus to Mr. Chakravarthy. I saw that the expression on his face


    was morphed from confusion to anger.


    "Is it true? I can''t believe it. Are you sure, old man? If not, you can forget the friendship between us," he


    said calmly but I know, he was controlling anger.


    My grandpa just scoffed at him and asked Dhruv to handover the video to him.


    After seeing that video, Mr. Chakravarthy waspletely enraged and mmed his walking stick on


    the table.


    "Do you believe everything now?" Grandpa asked.


    "That punk! How dare he to fool me by pretending to be a filial grandson in front me? And my sons,


    how can they cover his misdeeds till now?" He shouted angrily while gritting his teeth. He calmed


    himself down and looked at my Grandfather.


    "I am truly sorry. I gave birth to these useless sons and raised a beast in the form of a human. Tell me,


    what can I do to help you with this? That is the only thing I can do," he asked my grandfather in a low


    voice.


    I knew the truth must have taken a huge toll on him and I could guess how much it must be hurting him


    after knowing the deeds of his grandson and the worse thing was, his own sons were saving the culprit


    from the eyes of thew.


    "Did you really not know anything until now?" Grandpa asked and he shook his head in denial.


    "Believe me, I really didn¡¯t know that all this has happened under my nose till now. I always keep tabs


    on everyone and always hear everything about them from my Secretary. I shouldn''t have believed my


    secretary blindly. I should have checked up on everything on my own. If only I did that, things wouldn''t


    have turned out this way. I think there is a need to change the people around me. They became so


    daring and hid all these matters from me," He said and I could clearly sense the honesty from his tone.


    "Do you know who the people in that video are? Do you know the girl whom your grandsonid his


    filthy hands on? She is my granddaughter and the only daughter inw of my family. Do you know,


    because of him an entire family is lifeless?I can''t even count his sins. He murdered, he tainted the


    innocence of so many young girls, kidnapped the children who didn¡¯t even know the cruelty of this


    world. I can''t understand how that animal was born in your family," Grandpa said emotionally.


    He is not talking as his friend but as a grandpa who was questioning the injustice on the behalf of his


    granddaughter. In these few days, Daksha had be so close to him that he started adoring her


    more than us, his own grandchildren, and I was not feeling bad for that. In fact, I was happy that my


    family was loving her genuinely.


    After hearing his words, Mr. Chakravarthy looked at him in surprise and gave me an apologetic nce


    while bowing his head in front of us.


    "Forgive me. I am even ashamed to call him my grandson. Please tell me what I have to do," he said,


    still bowing his head in front of us. I immediately stood up from my seat and went towards him.


    After reaching him, I ced my hand on his shoulder, making him look at me.


    "Sir, I know you are a respected and honorable person. You are the inspiration for our younger


    generation. So, don''t bow your head in front of us just because of the deeds of some cruel people. You


    were a person with principles and you still are. So, just help us a little. Ask your younger son to stop


    abusing his political power. Let thew do its own things. We are approaching him using all legal


    means. So, ask him to stop siding with his nephew. Otherwise, he doesn''t know what''s going to hit


    him," I told him and he nodded at me firmly after giving me a small smile.


    "Old man, you raised him to be a good person. He resembles you in everything," he said and I saw that


    grandpa was puffing his chest out proudly. I smiled a little at his antics and looked at Mr. Chakravarthy


    for his answer.


    "Rest assured. I''ll stop my useless sons to stop interfering in this matter, otherwise they can say


    goodbye to their positions. As for Rahul, from this day on, he is dead to me. Do whatever you want to


    do but don''t let him die. Death will be an easy punishment for people like him. He has to face hell while


    living on this earth. Hope you won''t disappoint me," he said in a serious tone and I nodded at him


    firmly. That''s what I liked about the old man. He was a man of his word. So I didn¡¯t have to worry about


    anything.


    After talking with him for a while, all of us headed outside. Grandpa and I reached our home after


    dropping Indra at his station.


    Upon reaching home, I immediately went to my room to escape the wrath of Mr. Rama Chandra, my


    Grandpa.


    After going inside, I saw that Daksha was sleeping soundly while hugging my pillow. I smiled at her


    after seeing her sleeping posture and headed to the washroom to freshen up.


    Coming out of the washroom after I was done with the shower, I went to the bed and slowly removed


    her hold on the pillow. After that, I settled myself beside her before pulling her into my arms. I kissed


    her forehead. She might have sensed my presence as she has started snuggling more into me with her


    eyes closed so tightly.


    "Rahul, let''s see who will have thestugh in between us," I thought with a slight smirk and drifted


    into a peaceful slumber with her in my arms.

 chapter 45

    chapter 45


    Arjun''s POV:


    Finally, the day of the court hearing arrived. Daksha couldn''t rest peacefully because of the hearing.


    She had been pretty nervous about the oue because she already experienced failure once and


    lost a precious person in her life.


    I couldn''t do anything except for assuring her that nothing would go wrong.


    I was in the court along with Indra to discuss thest-minute details. Daksha, along with mom,


    Grandpa, and her whole family entered the court as the time for the hearing was getting nearer.


    I just nodded at them and greeted them briefly before involving myself in a talk with Indra and saw that


    Aditya was guiding them inside the waiting room.


    Rahul too came and went inside along with hiswyer after ring at me and I smirked at him slightly.


    Well, anyone in his ce would get angry because he lost his family''s support to use their influence to


    get out of this pit and even hispany was also in huge shackles. It was like he was ying the


    game even when he knew he was going to lose.


    Indra and I went inside too. Soon, the entry of the judge was announced and after all the initial


    formalities, the official trial began.


    "Prosecutor, you may make the opening statements," I immediately bowed my head at him in


    greetings.


    "Your honor, the defendant, Mr.Rahul, is used of killing my client''s acquaintance Swathi and her


    own sister-inw, Tejaswi. In addition to those usations, I have some proof to support the ims of


    him being involved in child and women trafficking. So, let me start with Ms. Swathi''s case first," I


    exined and saw that the judge nodded at me before asking the defendantwyer to make his


    opening statements. After he was done, I started telling my ims.


    "Ms. Swathi used to work as a maid in Mr.Rahul''s house. One fine day, when there was no one at


    home, Mr. Rahul forced himself on her and raped her brutally. He even threatened her to not say


    anything about this matter to anyone but Ms. Swathi informed her parents with the hope that they might


    support her. Instead of supporting her, they shunned her into silence. Later, Ms. Swathi found herself


    pregnant and when he came to know about it, he forcefully took her to the hospital to abort the baby


    where my client Daksha was working as a doctor. At the hospital, Mr. Rahul was involved in an


    argument with my client and her friend. It''s better if we hear everything from my client itself," I briefly


    suggested. When the judge gave his approval, Daksha was escorted to the podium. She came and


    stood there nervously. When I smiled at her discreetly in an assuring manner, she nodded at me before


    starting to narrate the happenings.


    "Everything that the prosecutor has said is correct. That day, I went to my friend''s department to meet


    her but I got to witness him arguing with my friend. From their words, I got to know that he was forcing


    Swathi to abort the baby against her will. When he was about to p my friend, I stopped him and


    pped him. He left from there angrily after warning us. After he left, Swathi told us everything about


    his deeds. When I encouraged her to file aint against him, she did it in the hopes of getting


    justice. When we thought that he was going to get punished, unexpectedly the case got closed and we


    were used of defaming his character. After a few days, I found out the death news of Swathi. She


    hung herself in her house but I truly believe that she is not a weak person to kill herself. So, it has to be


    a murder," dhe said everything in one go.


    "Objection, your honor," the defensewyer shouted.


    "Objection sustained."


    "Thanks, your honor. How can you be sure that my client had forced himself on Ms. Swathi? The deed


    must be done with her consent too. She must be a willing party too. Let me tell you this, Ms. Swathi


    was the one who pestered my client to have a rtionship with her. Later when she got pregnant, she


    used her baby to ckmail my client to marry her, or otherwise she would go to the media and would


    tell the whole world that he raped her. So, he forced her to abort the baby to save his reputation.


    Seeing that he was not agreeing to the marriage, she decided to file a case against him in order to at


    least loot some amount from him but all her ns failed when my client¡¯s innocence was proven. After


    the case was over, her familypletely outcast her for making them face humiliation. So, she killed


    herself as she didn''t have any option. So, your honor, all the baseless usations they made on my


    client are false. He is innocent," he said in a humble tone and I resisted the urge to scoff at his face.


    "So, do you have any proof to show that your client is innocent?" I asked the defensewyer and he


    just smirked at me.


    "Well, I don''t have any proof and so do you. Sir, the court needs valid proof and not some baseless


    usations. If you don''t have one, then don''t use my client erroneously," he said cockily.


    "Who said that I don''t have any proof?" I shot back at him with a smirk and upon hearing my words, his


    previous arrogance faded away from his face. He immediately exchanged a look with Rahul who was


    already looking at me with a confused face.


    "Your honor, I do have some proof to show that Ms. Swathi was murdered and the murderer was Mr.


    Rahul." Saying this, I handed over the evidence to the court.


    The evidence was nothing but Swathi''s handwritten diary, autopsy report, and Rahul''s cufflink of his


    suit.


    Seeing the diary, their faces morphed into a frown, unable to fathom how they missed this silly point.


    "Your honor, I doubt the authenticity of the proof. Ms. Swathi was a maid who didn''t even get primary


    education. So, I seriously doubt that she knew how to write and as for the cufflink, it is a counterfeit


    they prepared to use my client," he came to the defense of Rahul.


    "Your honor, I think the defensewyer doesn''t know the meaning of a literate person. A person can be


    literate without even having proper education and moreover, thenguage she used here is not any


    foreignnguage but her mother tongue. You can check the genuineness. She mentioned everything in


    her diary. From how he forced himself on her and how she spent her nights with the nightmares. She


    seriously fell into depression. You can see the medical reports of Ms. Swathi.


    "She suffered from clinical depression but she recovered from it pretty soon and if you see the reason


    as to why she suffered from it, you will know who was the reason behind her miseries. Even before


    dying, she wrote how she was receiving threat messages from Mr. Rahul but she mentioned clearly


    that she wouldn''t be a coward from now on and would fight everything for her baby. So considering her


    mental health, is there any possibility for her to kill herself? I agree she suffered from depression and


    having suicidal tendencies is prettymon in such patients but she recovered from it soon itself and


    proved that she was a fighter." When the defensewyer was about to refute my words, I interrupted


    him.


    "Let meplete what I want to say. As for the cufflink, I can say that it surely belongs to Mr. Rahul. It


    is a customized one from a famouspany in Italy. They prepare things as per the requirements of


    their customers and are known for their morality. They never ept bribes to do illegal things. The


    thing is, they did make another cufflink but only upon the request of Mr. Rahul. When he realized that


    he lost his cufflink, he ced an order for them to make the same cufflink that matches the other one. If


    you look at the counterfeit bill of that order, surprisingly it is the same date where Ms. Swathi was found


    dead and her family found this cufflink beside her dead body. As for the autopsy, the reports clearly


    said Ms. Swathi struggled to save her life and there were nail marks, fingerprints on her face and body.


    I suspect that he again raped her," I told in a high pitched tone.


    "No. You are wrong. I didn''t rape her. I just killed-" Rahul eximed but stopped immediately after


    realizing what he was saying but anyone could guess that he blurted out the truth in anxiety. Thest


    usation that I made was false but I did it to rile him up in hopes that he would tell the truth and he


    did, but notpletely.


    "Objection, your honor. the prosecutor is misleading the case and he is using my client''s emotional


    imbnce as a tool and forcing him to agree with his ims."


    "Objection overruled." The judge refused angrily and I just passed a sly smile at him to which he red


    at me angrily.


    "Court is verifying the authenticity of the ims and we hope that the doctor who treated Ms. Swathi


    will cooperate with the investigation. Meanwhile, Mr. Prosecutor, you can carry on with your other


    ims," he said and I just nodded at him before submitting every proof against him.


    "There is nothing to argue, Sir. The proofs that I have submitted will tell you everything. Mr. Rahul


    attacked my client Daksha as a revenge to get even with her. He harassed her sexually and


    intentionally pushed her sister-inw from the stairs who tried to save Ms. Daksha which led to the


    miscarriage and the death of Ms. Tejaswi. He was even involved in the trafficking of children and


    women. There is a testimony of his second inmand. He is currently under the custody of ACP


    Indratan," I said while balling my fists tightly.


    Hearing my words, the judge nced at Daksha who had a forlorn expression on her face and asked


    her.


    "Is it true, Ms. Daksha?" he asked her and she just nodded at him before bending her down.


    I could clearly see the tears that were flowing from her eyes like broken pearls, creating a throb in my


    heart. I just wanted to pull her in my arms and wanted to protect her from everything. Her broken voice


    snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "He pushed her in front of me and I just stood there helplessly, not knowing what to do. She rolled


    down from the stairs right in front of my eyes. How I wished to be in her ce! She was pregnant and


    even before she could tell her family, she lost her baby and even her life too. What did she do to


    receive such a fate when she waspletely innocent? What was the mistake of Swathi to get killed at


    his hands? She fought for herself and for her baby, yet she lost in that battle when the culprit is still


    roaming so freely without any care in this world," she shouted while sobbing.


    "I once believed that thew would punish the criminal but it failed us. It failed the victim. I was so


    disappointed that I lost my belief inw, justice, and everything. Everyone says that justice is fair but


    no. It is not. Don''t fool the citizens. It was never fair and will never be. I really don''t know what will be


    your decision against him but I beg you to be fair. Consider every evidence seriously. I beg you. I want


    justice for Swathi, for Teju, for an innocent unborn baby, and for all the victims of his brutality. I beg you.


    Please don''t make us lose faith in thew again and please don''t prove us right again. It is so painful to


    go through the same deceit again and again." She said while folding her hands in front of the judge.


    I shifted my gaze away from her as I wasn''t able to see her vulnerability.


    "I don''t know what happened in the past. I can understand your emotional turmoil but beforeing to


    any decision, I have to give a fair chance to both parties and have to verify every evidence clearly but I


    can assure you, Ms. Daksha, I won''t y sides and the jury will consider everything fairly," he assured


    her and she just nodded her head.


    "Court is dismissed for half an hour." Saying this, he stood up to leave the courtroom with the bailiff


    carrying the evidences behind him


    Immediately after the break was announced, Daksha rushed to me and hugged me so tightly while


    whimpering in my embrace. I held her tightly in my arms and consoled her.


    "Will he get the punishment that he deserves? I am afraid that he will fool every one of us again. I


    shouldn''t have cried in front of everyone, right.? I am a fool who doesn''t have control over her own


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    emotions," she said in between her sobbing session and I just let out a chuckle before holding her face


    with my arms while dabbing her tears away.


    "Silly girl. You did a good job. If his punishment would have been in my hands, he would have been 6


    feet under the earth by now but we can''t take thew into our hands and I am sure he will get a serious


    punishment for all his crimes," I assured her.


    "By the way, even if you are a crying mess, you are always beautiful and cute in my eyes," I said before


    hugging her again. and she immediately buried her face in my embrace, shyly. We both were in our


    own world until we heard someone clear their throat.


    I lifted my face to see that Ma and Attayya were giving us teasing looks.


    "It is a court. Have some control," Ma said with a smile on her face. Daksha immediately left my


    embrace after hearing her words, making me re at my mother after sensing the emptiness in my


    arms.


    "Now, don''t sulk here. Remember, your suave and mightywyer image," she reminded me and I just


    rolled my eyes at her.


    "You guys did a good job." Everyone praised us.


    "Well, we can''t say that till the judgment is announced," Daksha said skeptically.


    "Don''t worry. Nothing will go wrong. The judgment will be in our favor only." Grandpa assured her and


    she smiled at him brightly.


    Soon the break was over and it was time for the judgment.


    "Does the defensewyer have anything to say?" Judge asked him and he just shook his head. I


    nced at Rahul and saw that he had a defeated look on his face.


    "Well, after considering every evidence with the utmost fairness, the court finds Mr. Rahul guilty and will


    be subjected to the death penalty for all his heinous crimes under Sec. 302 of the penalw," he


    dered the judgment with the fall of the hammer.


    "The court is adjourned," he said. I smiled in victory and before I knew it, I was crushed into a hug by


    everyone.


    Adi gave me a full-blown smile with the tears in his eyes and left from there immediately. I smiled a little


    looking at his lonely back. I truly wished for him to find his happiness soon.


    My thoughts were broken down by the excited silly fellow in front of me.


    "Arjun, we did it. You did it. I am so happy. Finally, he got the punishment. God! I still can''t believe that


    this is really happening." I just wanted to kiss her then and there because she was looking so cute with


    that excited glint in her eyes. I nced at everyone and saw that all of my family members had smiles


    on their faces.


    I just took the over-excited Daksha into my arms and hugged her so tightly with a smile as I finally


    fulfilled her wish. From now on, we both can leave happily by leaving our pasts behind us.


    I lifted my head to look at Rahul who was escorted outside by Indra''s team and thought in my mind.


    "If those who break thew are allowed to escape punishment, would the world have any justice in it?


    Surely a big No."

 chapter 46

    chapter 46


    Daksha''s POV:


    It had been a month since we won the case and my life became so peaceful. I was living a happy life


    with Arjun. Though I was still carrying the guilt of my past, it got reduced to some extent.


    At least I was happy that the culprit of my past got the punishment that he deserved. Adi Anna took


    over thepany''s responsibilities from our father and started handling it. He even restarted Teju''s


    fashion line. He was still looking for a suitable person to handle the fashion line.


    Though he was pretending to be content with his life, I knew, deep down, he was still missing Teju. I


    want him to move on in his life and I pray for him to find true love in his life.


    Teju would always be irreceable in our lives but it was a fact that she could never return. So, it would


    have been better if we epted it and tried to live happily just like she wished for us to live.


    As for Arjun, I decided to confess my feelings to him. I couldn¡¯t y dumb when his eyes reflected


    apparently what he felt for me. I knew he too had a thing for me and I just couldn¡¯t sit and wait for him


    to propose to me. He was a buddhu.


    So, I was determined to take the things into my hands and decided to shock him with my proposal. He


    already did a lot of things. He doted on me, pampered me, cared for me, fought for me. He did


    everything that an ideal husband should do.


    So, it was my turn to pamper him a little. Thus, I nned a surprise for him with the help of my girls and


    Attayya at his favorite hideout.


    I tilted my head to take a nce at the clock and saw that it was nearly evening. So I immediately


    rushed to the washroom and had a quick bath.


    After that, I changed into a bluish-grey saree with a designer blouse and styled my hair into a bun. After


    checking myself once again in the mirror, I started going downstairs after grabbing the gift that I


    intended to give him.


    When I went downstairs, Attayya was talking over her phone and Ammu gave me a thumbs-up while


    After she was done, she smiled at me and gestured to me to sit beside her.


    "My daughter is looking so beautiful. I think my idiotic son will have a hard time controlling himself," she


    said teasingly.


    "Attayya!" I eximed in embarrassment and she just smiled at me.


    "Is everything ready over there? Will he be there on time?" I asked her after a while.


    "Yeah. Everything is done. You can start now. I told his assistant to bring him there by hook or by crook.


    So, don''t worry about that." She assured me.


    After bidding goodbye to them, I started driving there with a blissful smile on my face.


    Upon reaching there, I saw that people arranged by Attayya were doing the final touch up to the ce.


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    I waspletely satisfied with their work. I was sure he would definitely like my surprise as he was


    wishing for it for so long.


    After finishing their work, they left the ce while I started waiting for him nervously. Soon I received a


    call from his assistant. So, I immediately rushed outside after instructing him to leave.


    When I went outside, I saw that Arjun was standing there with a confused look on his face. So I slowly


    sneaked from his back and closed his eyes with my palms. He was startled a little but after sensing that


    it was me, he rxed and tried to wriggle out of my hold.


    "Daksha, what are you doing?" he asked me.


    "Shhh. You will know it soon. Just walk along with me, okay?"


    Saying this, I started walking carefully so as to not stumble upon my saree. Since he was a head taller


    than me, walking while closing his eyes became a hard task but I still made it.


    After reaching there, I slowly removed my hands from his eyes and waited for his reaction.


    Arjun''s POV:


    After finishing my work, I intended to go home soon but my assistant forcefully dragged me to the car


    and started driving without my consent.


    When I asked him about where he was taking me, he just replied that it was an order from the home


    minister. I just rolled my eyes at his audacious behavior but when I noticed the route we were heading,


    I grew even more confused.


    He was taking me to my favorite ce where I took Daksha once before our wedding and had a little


    dinner date. Irrespective of the questions I had in my mind, I chose to stay quiet. After reaching there,


    he opened the door for me, before calling someone and drove away from there, leaving me all alone.


    I looked at the surroundings in confusion but suddenly someone closed my eyes from behind. When


    my nostrils caught the whiff of the familiar mist which had be my new favorite, I rxed and asked


    her the purpose but she insisted on me tagging along with her.


    Having no choice, I followed her lead slowly. She stopped at some spot and removed her palms from


    my eyes. I blinked my eyes a little but was surprised to see the sight in front of me.


    "You peeked into my journal?" I asked her in a surprised tone. Well¡­ that was the only possibility.


    She nodded at me slowly with a smile.


    "Don''t you like it?" She asked me carefully while twisting the edge of her saree.


    Saree.


    That was when I noticed her attire. God, she was looking divine. Though she rarely wore sarees,


    surprisingly she could pull off traditional wear very well. I always love her look in sarees. I was still in


    awe until she snapped her fingers in front of me.


    "Tell me."


    "What?"


    "Where did you zone off to? Did you like my surprise?" she asked with a slight frown on her face.


    "I loved it"


    "Really?"


    She beamed at me when she saw me nodding at her.


    "Let''s go inside.¡± Saying this, she excitedly dragged me into the treehouse


    I sighed and went with her. When I entered it, I was again surprised by the decorations that were


    inside. There was a table arranged for a candlelight dinner and the whole house was decorated with


    the candles and red roses. It was looking truly ethereal.


    I admired the efforts she had put in every minute detail. I felt so touched. I felt like I meant everything to


    her. Her every action increased the love I had for her.


    Every day, I was carrying the ring to propose to her at a perfect time but hesitated after thinking what


    her reaction might be.


    When I was still in my thoughts, I heard a soft voice, calling out my name.


    I turned around and what I saw made me widen my eyes in shock.


    Damn! How many surprises were there?


    Daksha was kneeling in front of me while holding the bunch of roses in her hand and looked at me


    nervously.


    I marched towards her and was about to make her stand on her toes but stopped after hearing her


    words.


    "Arjun, My jun," she said with a smile. I was a little surprised by her name for me. "I have been thinking


    for a while to tell you about my feelings for you. You don''t know how much you mean to me. You came


    as a light in my darkness. You swore to protect me even when you didn¡¯t know anything about my past.


    You chose to take my side and decided to trust me even when you werepletely clueless about


    everything. You pampered me, understood me in every situation, motivated me when I was feeling low,


    supported me in everything, fought on my behalf, gave me the taste of sess. Jun, trust me. Before


    you entered my life, I didn''t have any purpose in life. I lost the desire to live. At that time you came as a


    ray of hope in my life. I don''t know when it all started but you became the sole reason for all the


    happiness in my life. I felt like, without you, this Daksha is nothing," she said with the tears brimming in


    her eyes and I was so shocked to even react.


    "I never gave a thought to the concept of love before. Let''s say, I never believed in love because I felt


    like I didn''t deserve it because of the guilt I was carrying in my heart. I never allowed myself to enjoy


    my life but after our marriage, I wished to lead a happy life, a happy life with you, only with you. I am


    not sure when I started falling for you. Your every action made me fall for you even more. I don''t want


    to bury my feelings anymore. I can never be more grateful to God for sending you into my life. I just


    can''t express my love for you in words. But still, I want to say these words." Saying this she looked into


    my eyes. Hearing her words, my eyes got a little misty.


    "I love you, My Jun"


    She uttered those magical words which I craved to say and hear.


    Without wasting a second, I immediately kneeled to her level and ced my lips on hers. I kissed her


    passionately, pouring all my feelings into it. All my senses were numbed. All I could hear was her


    saying ''I love you'' to me.


    I pulled away before I lost myself and rested my forehead on hers.


    "I love you too, my angry bird," I whispered slowly and she looked at me with a teary smile.


    Still holding onto her, I took out the ring from my suit, that I was carrying with me all the time.


    After releasing her, I went back a little and ced that ring in front of her after opening the box.


    "Will you be my Queen forever?" I asked her and she nodded at me eagerly while the tears


    continuously flowed down her eyes.


    I immediately wiped her tears and made her wear the ring after removing her hold on the roses.


    "It is so beautiful," she said while looking at the crown ring on her finger.


    "I was carrying it with me to propose to you but couldn''t find the right time to do it. The crown jewel on


    this ring signifies to add a crowning jewel onto love and the small water diamonds signify forever and


    always. This is a customized ring, personally crafted by a famous designer John. Darshith helped me in


    contacting him. Now you can show it off to others. This is the only one of its kind in the entire world," I


    chuckled a little after saying it.


    "Woah. This ring has such a deep meaning. I am impressed, Jun." I smiled in contentment because


    she liked the ring.


    "Wait. I bought something for you too,¡± she said and went to grab a small bag.


    She handed me the bag and gestured to me to open it. When I opened it, I was greeted with a beautiful


    Patek Phillipe watch.


    "I loved it. I will only wear this watch from now on," I said before pulling her into my arms.


    "Thank you foring into my life," she said after a moment of silence.


    I whispered, "I love you."


    "I love you too, Jun"


    "Call me again with that name."


    "Jun."


    Iughed a little before pulling her into a fiery kiss again. Her scent was flooding my sensespletely.


    I couldn''t resist myself anymore. I rested my hand below her ear and caressed her cheek with my


    thumb as our breaths got mingled. I could feel the rapid beating of her heart.


    I slowly ced my hand on her waist and caressed it lightly with my fingers before starting to ce


    sloppy kisses on her neck.


    "Arjun, dinner!" She said while panting heavily.


    "It can wait," I mumbled before giving her the wet kisses on her corbone.


    "Where is the bedroom?" I asked her in between the kisses. When she pointed in the direction of the


    room, I lifted her in my arms and marched inside the room.


    After reaching inside, I ced her slowly on her feet before grabbing her waist and pulled her closer to


    my body while looking into her eyes for her consent. When she nodded at me, I grabbed her face


    gently and leaned in for a gentle kiss of assurance.


    She immediately tangled her arms around my neck before starting to respond to my kiss. My breathing


    thickened as did hers. I began nuzzling on her neck.


    She suddenly left her hold on me shyly and turned her back to me while breathing heavily. I could feel


    her nervousness seeping from her body. So, to make herfortable, I ced my head on her


    shoulder from behind before whispering sweet nothings in assurance.


    Once she gotfortable, I kissed her ear lobe before slowly peppering kisses on her neck and


    shoulder and pulled out the strings of her blouse, making her gasp in surprise.


    After hours of passionate lovemaking, we snuggled with each other closely. I kissed her forehead and


    hugged her tightly, before muttering,


    "I love you."


    "I love you too."


    That day not only their hearts but their souls became one too.


    Everyone faces heartbreak because they meet the wrong person but once they meet their soulmate, it


    makes them realize that the pain the heartbreak had caused is nothing whenpared to the love they


    have for each other.


    That''s how Daksha and Arjun found their true love with each other after facing a lot in the past.

 Chapter 50: epilogue

    Chapter 50: epilogue


    One and a half yearster


    Daksha''s POV:


    "No, cancel that appointment. I already informed you that I am not taking any cases for now."


    Not again.


    "So, what if it''s the sixth case that I have rejected? It doesn''t matter to me. Just do what I say," Arjun


    shouted at his assistant over call.


    After messaging about something to Adi Anna, I carefully sauntered towards the bed and closed my


    eyes before adjusting myself into a sleeping position.


    I felt him sleeping beside me when he ced his hand on my shoulder and asked me in a worried tone,


    "Are you okay, sweetheart?"


    I just nodded at him and shut my eyes. He sighed and slept while holding me in his arms.


    The next morning, I woke up and saw that he wasing out of the washroom only with a towel


    around his waist.


    If it were some other time, I would have admired the masterpiece in front of me but today neither I was


    in a mood nor I had the heart to admire him.


    So, I slowly stood up from the bed and he immediately rushed to my aid. I let him do whatever he


    wanted to do because even if I protest, he would never listen to me.


    Afterpleting my chores, I came out of the washroom. He was arranging the breakfast on the table.


    I went to the table and started having breakfast silently.


    "Daksha, what happened? You are behaving so weirdly since yesterday. Are you feeling unwell?


    Should I call Yuktha?" he asked me with much concern but I chose to ignore his questions because if I


    opened my mouth, it would only hurt him which I didn''t want to do. So I chose to stay silent.


    Suddenly, a knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. I turned my head and saw that Ammu


    was standing at the door.


    "Vadina, your Anna is here!" she said with a confused look on her face.


    I nodded at her and had my breakfast in a hurry. After that, I grabbed my suitcase and ced it on the


    bed before starting to arrange my clothes in it.


    Arjun immediately snatched those clothes from me and closed the bag.


    "Will you tell me what the hell is happening here?" he asked me in a slightly angry tone.


    "Nothing, I am going to my mother''s ce," I told him calmly.


    "What? You can''t go there. I won''t agree." He immediately retorted.


    "Since I am already in myst trimester, it''s already decided that from next week I have to stay at my


    mother''s ce as a part of our tradition. So, what difference will it make if I go now?" Saying this, I


    again opened the luggage and arranged my clothes in it.


    "Are you serious? Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you in any way, unknowingly?" he asked me in


    a defeated tone.


    I closed my eyes to hide my tears and I didn''t have answers to his questions as he never hurt me


    intentionally or unintentionally but how could I tell my views to him when he never tried to listen to


    them?


    "You did nothing. I am just missing my parents," I said in a low voice.


    Saying this, I went to the table and ate my medicines. After that, I was about to go outside as I couldn''t


    face him.


    "I am sorry if I hurt you in any way. You can go to your Mom''s ce but behave normally with me," he


    said while hugging me from the back.


    I turned around and pecked his lips before nodding at him and went downstairs with him trailing behind


    me with my luggage in his one hand and another one on my shoulders.


    After going downstairs, I informed Athayya about my departure and she gave me a surprised look


    "What! Did he do something? Did you guys have a fight?" she asked me and I shook my head at her


    questions.


    "Then why are you leaving today when it should be next week that you leave?" she asked and I just


    pursed my lips, not willing to answer her questions.


    Understanding my reluctance, she nced at the gloomy Arjun who was standing beside me and


    nodded at me.


    "Okay. Take care of yourself. I''ll visit you daily. Adi, you better prepare a room for me in advance


    because I may surprise you all with my visit anytime." She instructed my brother and he nodded at her


    with a smile.


    Soon, Arjun helped me in getting inside the car. I refused to look at him even when he was looking at


    me desperately.


    Only when Adi Anna started driving, I dared to look at his figure longingly from the rearview mirror.


    "If you are so reluctant to part with him, what''s the need for doing it?" he asked me while giving me the


    side nces.


    "Sometimes, it''s necessary to do the things even when you don''t have the heart to do it," I told him


    calmly.


    "Okay. I know you must have a reason for this sudden decision. So, I won''t probe you any further. Just


    don''t stress yourself too much,"  he said and I couldn''t be more thankful to him for that.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    When we reached our mom''s ce, we both went inside. Mom and Vadhina weed me inside and


    hugged me one after the other. After inquiring about my health, Vadhina and Adi Anna left for their


    room when they heard the bawling of their one-year-old daughter.


    I forgot to tell you that Adi Anna was now happily married. Well, it was a story for another time.


    Though he faced some problems initially, atst, he finally seeded with moving on in his life.


    Teju would always be irreceable in our lives. Now we remembered her with a smile on our faces. I


    was happy for Adi Anna as he found his true love atst.


    Mom sighed as she was pretty much used to the antics of her granddaughter and took me to my room.


    After she left, the tears which I was holding until now, started falling continuously. I didn''t want to leave


    him and hurt him like this but I didn''t have any other choice. While taking care of me, he forgot to look


    after himself and started neglecting his own health.


    When he came to know that he was going to be a father, he was on cloud nine. He took care of me


    very well and didn''t even let me do anything. Though, initially I enjoyed his pampering, eventually, it


    started suffocating me.


    It reached another level after he came to know that I was facing someplications with my


    pregnancy. He stopped going to his work to look after me and made sure that I was taking my


    medications properly.


    I should be happy about getting such an understanding and caring person as a husband, right? Of


    course, I should be but only if he wasn''t overbearing.


    He restricted me from going outside. I had to follow the strict diet and I even had to go for a walk only in


    his presence. So unable to bear it, I decided toe to my Mom''s ce.


    I didn''t know when but I drifted to sleep while crying. In the afternoon, Mom brought lunch to my room


    and fed me with her own hands.


    "Where is Dad?" I asked her while nibbling on my food.


    "He didn''t know that you were going toe today. So, he went out with Aarna''s dad. I already called


    and told him about your visit. He said that he wille by this evening," she exined and I nodded at


    her in an understanding manner.


    After shepleted feeding me, she went into the washroom to wash her hand whereas I took my


    medicines.


    "Now tell me what''s the matter?" Coming out of the washroom, she asked me while wiping her hand


    with the edge of her saree.


    "Nothing."


    "I''m your mother and I know you very well. So don''t dare to lie at my face, youngdy." She insisted


    and having no choice, I told her everything and she justughed at me in return.


    "Is it a matter tough at? Here, I told you about my problems and you areughing at me. How mean


    you are." I huffed at her and turned my face to the other side angrily.


    "Okay. Now don''t be angry. When I saw your face earlier, I thought it''s something serious but I didn''t


    expect this to be the reason," she said and I rolled my eyes at her. "Now listen to me. I don''t want to


    take anyone''s side because you both are correct in your ces. Have you ever tried to talk with him?


    Just like how you had some fears about being pregnant, he too has some fears. He has an additional


    responsibility to take care of along with you. He has to make sure that you both are doing well because


    he is your husband and this little one''s father. That responsibilityes with some fears." She held my


    hand and continued softly.


    "Fear of not being able to take care of you both well. Fear of something might go wrong in his absence.


    Fear of disappointing you if anything happens. See¡­ with these many thoughts, how can he


    concentrate on his work? Men are different from us. They won''t express anything openly. We have to


    understand it through his actions. Just like you, Arjun has his own set of insecurities. He is afraid of not


    being a good father, a good husband."


    "That fear increased even more after hearing about yourplicated pregnancy. He is afraid of losing


    you both. So, his protectiveness came out as a little overbearing. You are his wife. I thought you would


    understand him well. I can''t me you though. I know how this pregnancy is taking a toll on you. So,


    just talk with him nicely and tell him your views. He will understand. Just don''t shut him offpletely.


    You need him with you at this time," she said and that was when I understood what an idiot I was.


    I really failed to put myself in his ce. I failed to understand him. All I had in my mind was his


    overbearingness and failed to notice his fears and insecurities.


    At this thought, my eyes brimmed with tears.


    "Ma, my actions must have hurt him a lot. What do I do now?" I asked her and she just shook her head


    with a smile before wiping my tears.


    "Silly girl. Don''t worry. He is a mature person and won''t sulk over this little matter. I agree he must be


    hurt by your actions but if I am correct, he will definitely want to clear the air between you both. So, he


    wille to visit you for sure by night." She assured me and I sighed in relief after hearing her words.


    "Now stop fretting over it and rest for a while."


    Soon, night came by. I spent my time with my Dad and with my little princess and retired to my room.


    Now, I started regretting my decision of leaving him because I was missing him too much. Suddenly I


    remembered something and opened the wardrobe that had my dresses which I used to wear before my


    marriage and started searching for something.


    After finding it, I slowly took it out and held it with my hands. It was the shirt that he gave me to wash it


    when his mother was hospitalized.


    I forgot to give this shirt to him at that time and with all this marriage stuff and all the happenings after


    my wedding, Ipletely forgot about the existence of this shirt.


    Who knew it woulde in handy at times like these?


    I hugged his shirt and sniffed at it slowly. Though it didn''t have his scent as it faded away over time,


    still, it filled me with warmth and made me miss him even more.


    I went to the bed by cing a hand on my belly and slept by turning to the side while hugging the shirt


    closely to my heart and started to ponder over my thoughts.


    As for what my mom had said, he should have been here by this time but he still hadn''te. Was he


    angry at me for leaving him? Did he not want me anymore because of my continuous tantrums?


    With these thoughts, my eyes filled with tears and I immediately wiped them away.


    Damn, Daksha! You are bing a cry baby!


    I was still in my thoughts when a pair of hands pulled into the embrace from the backside and


    immediately the familiar woody scent hit my nostrils, making me want to squeal in delight.


    "I see, someone is already missing me a lot." A teasing voice drifted into my ears.


    I came out of his hold and sat up on the bed before turning around to look at him. I saw that he was


    sleeping on the bed with his hand under his head and was looking at me with a smile.


    Seeing him, still smiling at me even after the morning''s stunt that was pulled by me, I started sobbing to


    myself by covering my face and he immediately sprang up and sat in front of me before pulling me into


    his arms.


    "Shh. Don''t cry." He said softly and hearing this, I started crying even more.


    "I am sorry," I mumbled slowly in between my sobbing mess.


    "There is no need to say sorry. In fact, there is nothing serious that has happened between us to feel


    sorry about. Now, will you tell me what''s bothering you?" he asked me calmly and I nodded at him


    slowly before wiping my tears.


    "These days everything is damn irritating to me and being cooped up inside our room all day is making


    me fidgety. You even restricted me from going outside. It has started suffocating me. You are doing


    everything that I could ever ask for but it is making me feel like I ampletely useless as I can''t even


    do anything on my own with this big belly. I feel like I am troubling you for every little thing." I looked at


    him to notice any hurt on his face but he was ncing at me calmly and probed me to speak further. I


    nodded at him and continued.


    "The moment you came to know about my health condition, you shifted your entire focus to me and


    started neglecting your career which you have worked for all your life and even forgot to take care of


    yourself. Have you ever had a proper look at yourself in the mirror? See, how thin you have be!


    When is thest day that you have slept peacefully? Whenever I wake up in the middle of the night, I


    see you looking at me, and even if you are sleeping, any slightest movement from me was enough to


    make you wake up in a panic."


    "You know, I should have to be your strength but here I am hindering you in everything. I started


    considering myself as a burden, Jun. You are such a good husband. After talking with mom it made me


    realize what a bad wife I am. I am thinking about myself only and failed to notice your worries and


    fears. I am so sorry, Jun."


    "All I want to say is, just stop worrying too much. Nothing will happen to me. Complications are pretty


    hard work that you have put in, to be the person who you are today. I don''t want it to be ruined


    because of me. Everyone is here to take care of me. I am not stopping you from looking after me but


    just don''t lose your focus on your career. "


    Finishing everything that I wanted to say, I hugged him and buried my face into his chest. He kissed my


    hair and held me tightly.


    "I will. Even Mom said the same. I am sorry for being so overbearing on you." He chuckled a little and


    continued, "Trust me. It''s not my intention at all. Another thing, You are no burden to me. So, don''t ever


    think like that. Remember this, in the future, stop keeping everything to yourself. Share it with me and


    tell me what''s bothering you instead of throwing a tantrum and shutting me off, okay?" he asked and I


    nodded at him with a smile.


    I snuggled into him and I suddenly remembered something.


    "Jun, am I looking fat?" I asked while furrowing my brows.


    "No, you are bing cuter by each day. That''s it. Why? Did anyone say anything?" he asked me.


    "Aarna teased me that I was looking like a cow and started calling me Mama bear," I said with a pout.


    "Hahaha..then I am a Papa bear," he said with a smile and kissed my lips lightly.


    "Yeah. You are."


    "I love you."


    "I love you too."


    Three monthster:


    Arjun''s POV:


    I was pacing in front of thebor room nervously. Every scream of hers was making my heart twist with


    pain. How I wish I could share her pain and how I wish to be the one to bear it! It had  been six hours


    since she went intobor. She had been holding up with that pain since then.


    Everyone was assuring me that she would be okay but they didn''t know that I was thinking about the


    pain she was enduring now.


    After another hour of agonizing wait, Yuktha came out and announced that everything went well. She


    congratted me and said that both mother and the baby were safe and fine.


    Meanwhile, a nurse came out holding a baby wrapped in a bundle and handed it to my mom.


    "It''s a boy."


    Hearing this, I smiled in joy but without taking a look at him, I rushed inside to make sure that she was


    okay.


    Going inside, I saw that she was in a deep slumber. Her face was so pale as if someone had sucked


    the entire blood out of it and there were teeth marks on her lower lips. She might have bitten them


    down due to thebor pain and sweat beads were all over her forehead.


    I went to her and kneeled on the floor beside her bed before holding on to her hand. I kissed her hand


    lightly and caressed her head lovingly. I stayed in the same position for a while until Athayya came


    inside and handed my son to me. After that, she went out to give us a family of three a private moment.


    Though I was pretty nervous to hold him for the first time, the moment I held him in my hands,


    happiness seeped through my entire body and I felt so proud to hold him so close to my heart. This guy


    inherited his charcoal grey eyes from my Dad. I was d that he had them as I could see my Dad''s


    features in him.


    He must be feeling hungry. So, he started crying while twitching in my hands. Hearing his wailing, a


    frown appeared on Daksha''s forehead. So, I immediately took him near the window and started


    coaxing him awkwardly.


    "Little boy, stop crying. See? Your mom is so exhausted and she is sleeping but you are disturbing her


    by crying like this. So, don''t cry anymore. In the future, you will be a little masculine man. You will need


    to protect mommy along with me, okay? Co-operate a little now. Wait for your mom to wake up and she


    will feed you then," I told him softly. He stopped crying for a while and looked at me with his big eyes for


    a moment and again started crying.


    "Didn''t you understand anything that I said till now?" I sighed helplessly.


    Suddenly, I heard theughter of someone. So, I turned around and saw that Daksha was looking at us


    with admiration in her eyes whileughing at my awkward gestures.


    She gestured to me to go near her and when I did the same, she asked me to show the baby.


    Holding the baby with one hand carefully, I helped her in getting into a sitting position before cing


    our son on herp.


    "He is so beautiful," she gasped with a smile as her eyes were filled with happy tears.


    "He is,"


    "Except for his eyes, he is looking exactly like you," she gushed and I nodded at her with a smile.


    "Do you have any name for him in your mind?" she asked me while breastfeeding him.


    I shook my head at her.


    "I expected the baby to be a girl. So, never thought of any name for a baby boy." I said with a slight


    disappointment.


    Though I was happy now, I was a little disappointed at the fact that the baby was a boy.


    "How is Saransh? I want to name him after your father. This name has four letters of Mamayya''s


    name," she asked me hopefully. I smiled at her brightly before nodding at her.


    "Then, Saransh it is."


    She smiled at me happily and caressed Saransh''s head lovingly.


    "Thank you for being the mother of my son," I said yfully and she raised her eyebrows at me with a


    smile.


    "I see. Then thank you for being the father my son," she countered back and we bothughed for a


    while by pulling each other''s legs.


    "I love you," I said all of a sudden.


    "I love you too," she replied with a smile and I hugged her tightly while cing a hand on our son.


    ?The End?


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