"Veer â¦" Urmila whispered, looking shocked seeing Veer in front of her after months.
Veer cleared his throat and stepped aside letting her come in without saying anything. She gulped and looked down before entering inside followed by Sumitra who clenched her jaw in anger.
Not wanting to face them, he went to the balcony and sat there letting Aarav explain to them about his and Preet's presence here.
"Aarav," Aarav looked around to see his mother and suddenly he felt his heart break seeing her dull and lifeless face and dark circles around her eyes. She is looking weak and tired, making his heart pinch.
"Please sit. Avni is getting ready. She will be here in a while. You need anything," he said politely although he is still mad at her but now seeing her state he decided to leave it aside for now. Today he is happy and doesn't want any drama on his and his wife's big day.
"It's okay, dear. I am find," she lovingly said to which he just nodded without any emotion on his face.
He saw his Nani and greeted her. He can't forget his morals and mannerisms for someone like her.
Sumitra smiles at her and forces him.
"I am so happy for you and Avni. God bless you,"
He forced his smile clearly showing his disliking toward her but she ignored it.
"Aarav, Veer-" Urmila wanted to ask about Veer.
"He and Bhabhi are here for our baby shower ceremony. They are family so they are here to share our happiness and bless our baby," He said, smiling at them, making Urmila nod as she smiled weakly.
While Sumitra fumes in anger. But hide her hatred for them in front of Aarav.
"Please make yourself comfortable. I will be back," he said and went to search for Veer. But seeing him sitting in the balcony and staring at the clear sky he thought to not disturb him and talk to him later after the function.
Urmila stood up and smiled softly as Anaya came running down the stairs in a hurry while smiling. Her daughter is looking happy and innocent unlike before, reserved and irritated. She really failed as a mother, no? This thought makes her eyes tear up but she closes her eyes again and looks at Anaya who is now standing at the bottom of the stairs looking at her with a small smile.
"My baby seems so happy," She said, walking near her and caressing her head.
"I am, Mom," she said, unaware of the fact that her mother's heart shattered at the thought that she couldn't keep her own children and family happy.
"I am glad," she said, patting her cheek.
"Anaya when are you coming bac-'' Sumitra asked which Urmila wanted to ask but couldn't gather the courage.
"I forgot, I have to get juice for Avni Bhabhi," Anaya gives a tight smile to her Nani then runs to the kitchen, ignoring them.
"Now she also becomes like Aarav. I really curs-"
"Ma, please stop it,â¦" Urmila cut her mother in her weak voice. Sumitra frowns at her but doesn't say anything.
Veer is standing in the corner waiting for his wife while Aarav is talking with the priest about the ritual that has to be performed. Urmila is helping in arranging things for the main ceremony.
Veer's eyes again run around the beautifully decorated hall with balloons and flowers and a sad smile formed on lips. If not for the pathetic revenge and jealousy of some people, he would have also had this happiness in his life. His and Preet's baby.
He quickly shook this thought and shut his eyes. No, he shouldn't have thought like this. Life has given him a very precious person and instead of crying for what couldn't have, he should be grateful for what he has. He is very happy and content with his beautiful wife.
But somewhere he also craved for those cute giggles and little feet waddling around their home while he ran behind to catch the cutest version of him and Preet. Life would be more beautiful, right?
Suddenly he looks up hearing Anaya's laugh but his eyes get stuck on his wife. And he swears, she is looking no less than any fallen angel in a white suit. She smiled at something Avni said. And a smile automatically formed on his face.
Preet looks at him and finds him standing in the corner. She smiled at him softly and tucked her hair strand behind her ears feeling shy under his intense gaze.
But she looks away when Avni tells her something about the new baby information she read in the book she is reading.
As they reached the downstairs, Preet noticed Sumitra sitting on the sofa glaring at her. Well, nothing unexpected. She looked away and made Avni sit on the stool for the ritual to begin. She can feel Urmila's eyes on her but she didn't say anything and silently went and stood beside Veer.
"You are looking breathtaking, Jaan. Can I kiss you?" She smiles while looking at the ritual Avni and Aarav are performing.
"You can't, Mister," she said, giving him a warning look. He chuckled silently at her and pulled her near to himself holding her waist as they watched Aarav and Avni doing Hawan for the peace and happiness in their life.
While Sumitra was burning at the sight of them being so happy and loving. She curses them in her mind. This is not what she expects.
Soon Avni's baby shower ritual began first. Urmila performed the ritual heartily and blessed her and the baby with good health and happiness. And give her and baby a few gold jewelry and clothes for Avni.
When Sumitra about to come but Aarav stop saying,
"Nani, you can do later, first let our family do the ritual," this shows Sumitra her place and she backs off feeling humiliated. She gave a tight smile and nodded.
Veer smirks internally feeling weird satisfaction in his heart.
"Bhabhi, Bhai please come," Aarav called them. Preet blinks and looks at Aarav who is patiently waiting for them with a hopeful smile on his face.
Veer nodded at her, earning a smile from her. They are about to take a step toward Avni who is excitedly looking at them.
But Sumitr stops them, catching everyone. Preet and Veer looked at her in question while Aarav felt frustrated with her behavior.
"Ma, please don't make things more complicated in my family than they are already," she whispered looking at her mother not getting good vibes from her.
"I am also your family, Urmi. I also want your and this family's well being. It is just that Preet and Veer can't perform this ritual. Preet, didn't you tell anyone that you can't have a baby, huh?" She said with a fake sad voice. And giving her a sympathetic look.
Preet gulped and went still in her place while looking at her in disbelief.
Everyone was shocked by the revelation. Aarav looked at Veer who was looking like a beast with red eyes as he glared at Sumitra. Avni felt her eyes tear up feeling bad for Preet.
"Ma!! what are you saying??" Urmila shouted, making Sumitra look at her in surprise.
"It will be a bad omen, Urmi," Sumitra said without feeling any remorse at her lying. Urmila remembers Veer's words and feels heavily inside her.
"Please stop it, Ma! I beg you," Urmila whispered to her not wanting her to create any mess here.
Sumitra huffs at her and looks at Preet before looking away.
"Aarav, if you want we would perform the ritual," Veer said looking straight into Sumitra's eyes, who was ignoring his eyes on her.
"Of course Bhai, please," he said genuinely and distracted everyone from the topic.
Preet gulped the painful lump that formed in her throat realizing the truth yet again. She looks at Veer who stares at her and holds her hand possessively as they stand in front of Avni.
Avni looks at the Preet and holds her hands in her.
"Everything will be okay, Bhabhi," she said.
Preet smiled lightly and started doing the ritual. She blesses both mother and the child and prays for their good health. Veer pat Avni's head lovingly and smiles at her.
Aarav smiled widely and felt his eyes getting moist seeing his wife so happy.
"We don't have anything to give you right now," Preet sadly said, making Avni shake her head.
"Your presence in our life is the most precious gift for us and our baby, Bhabhi," Avni said, making Preet cry at her love and her helplessness.
Preet nodded and kissed her forehead before she and Veer again went to stand on the previous corner.
She hugs Veer and silently cries. He sighs and rubs her back gently to comfort her.
"We should go now," he said, not wanting to stay in the presence of that vile woman.
"Hmm," she hummed and wiped her tears.
They wait for Avni and get free so they can leave.
After 5 minutes, Avni's baby shower gets over and she comes over where Preet and Veer are standing, with Aarav.
"We should leave now, Aarav," Veer said, making Aarav's face fall in sadness.
Avni looks at Preet not wanting her to go away but she knows Sumitra will keep taunting and humiliating if she stays here.
Aarave cleaned his throat and unwillingly nodded his head.
Preet smiles at Avni.
"Take care,"
Aarav was about to go with them to see them off but Preet stopped him and asked him to stay with Avni.
They meet Anaya and leave the house. While waiting for the lift, they heard Umila calling them from behind. Looking back, Veer looks at her in confusion and looks at Preet.
Urmila came and stood in front of them nervously.
Preet notices her face and it's like Urmila looks aged more than she is, with a dull and tired face.
Urmila forwards something toward them. Veer frowns seeing a bunch of papers in her hands. Suddenly Preet tightens her grip as she is holding Veer's hand. Her heart beats fast in anxiety seeing papers.
Now what more she wants from them. They gave everything to her.
"What is this, Mrs. Rajvansh?" Veer asked in his blank voice which somewhere hurt Urmila as he addressed her formally.
But she is the one who is responsible for it.
"These are contract papers which Man made Preet sighed giving up her right to conceive. I don't know about it, I swear. I would never let this happen if I knew. I know it's hard to believe after I took advantage of her helplessness and demanded property in exchange for your life while you were in the hospital. But I am not behind this. Here take these, they are still not submitted to any legal authority so these are null," Preet shocked as she was living in pain and suffering while the papers were fakel. She fools her so easily by taking advantage of her situation.
But Veer was struck at the fact that Urmila and Sumitra took advantage of Preet's helplessness when he was not present. They use her for their greed and selfish motives. How can someone be so cruel? And what is funny about it is that those people were his family.
How much they mentally torture his wife. How much his Preet would have gone through just to save him. He slowly turns to Preet who is staring at those papers with her misty eyes.
He gulped and squeezed her palm gently to console her silently. She turns to him and parted her lips to say but her lips are trembling badly.
They hear something falling and look behind Urmila to Aarav standing there in shock looking at them.
Urmila went numb seeing him and sudden fear ran through her body.
Did he hear her?
She thought and trembled slightly as his gaze fell on her and his blank eyes suddenly turned red in anger and disgust.
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