XXIX. Seema

Everyone was silent, observing the situation, assessing the young woman, who arrived unannounced creating a commotion. The girl looked young, probably in her mid-twenties. Some members recognized her and the shock was visible on their faces, while others were excited to get some gossip from the Goenka family. The girl, dressed in a filthy dress, there was mud all over her dress and some visible wounds on her arms, cheeks, and legs. There was sadness on her face. Only one saw something different in her eyes, greed, and satisfaction for the attention she got.

Avni stood still keeping a blank face. She was looking at the pair, who didn't break. She shifted her gaze from Seema to Abhi's back, she knew he was tense, by his stiffened posture.

Seema started crying, making loud sounds. Everyone present at the party stared at them, and they started whispering loudly about them.

"Isn't she his ex?"

"Oh, she's his baby's mother, right?"

"What about Mrs. Goenka? Does she know about them?" The questions did not hurt Avni, they were mere facts and she knew that at one point people might start speaking about them. It didn't bother her, but she knew that she need to take them away from prying eyes as it can stir trouble in their lives.

Avni approached Abhi and took his hand into hers, she interlaced her fingers with his. Feeling a touch Abhi looked down and looked at their intertwined fingers. He held her hands tight and slowly moved his gaze from their hands to her eyes. Avni felt her breathe loose from her lungs after seeing the look in his eyes, his eyes were not filled with any anger or sadness, neither were they blank. There was a remorse look in his eyes he was feeling guilty. He was feeling guilty after seeing Seema's condition, he was blaming himself for the pain she suffered even not knowing the full story.

Avni wanted to leave him alone, but the weight along her neck reminded her of her new responsibility that she now has a family's responsibility. She wet her dry lips, leaned towards him, and whispered in her ears.

"Abhi we need to take her away from here." And looked around her and noted some people click some photos with their mobiles trying to be discreet.

Abhi followed her suit and looked around, he nodded his head agreeing to her. Avni moved towards his other side and slowly pulled Seema towards her. She feels that the woman is disgusting but there was no option left for her.

Seema glared at Avni to which Avni did not react. Seema fainted on her adding more weight towards her. It's a pitiful move, a security approached them and took Seema from Avni. Avni smiled at him grateful to have the extra weight off her. Abhi approached him and whispered something in his ear. The person nodded his head took Seema in a bridal way, and took her away from the scene.

Avni observed them go out until their figures disappeared. She was startled when she felt a hand slip into hers, she didn't dare to look down or at him, she kept her eyes straight not even looking side.

"Thank you, everyone, for attending this party. We both are grateful to have you all here. If you can excuse us, we have to leave." He made a small speech dismissing the party and we were out of the door.

When we reached the basement, where the vehicles were present. Avni shook her hand from his grip. She folded her arms across her chest waiting for their family to arrive.

"Avni.." Abhi started but couldn't proceed further.

"Please go and check whether she is alright or not." Avni's brown eyes meet his blue ones. Her brown eyes were devoid of emotions, a thing Abhi never saw her like this, she always has something in her eyes, and the lack of emotion in her eyes made him think the worst.

Abhi ignored her and approached her cautiously, he observed his surroundings and found James at the entrance of the basement. Abhi signaled with his head to leave them alone. After James and other people left, Abhi pulled Avni into his embrace and held her tight.

"Leave me." Avni struggled to get out of his grip. But she had nothing compared to his strength.

"I said, LEAVE ME!" She hit him on his shoulder shouting loudly, he didn't budge from his spot.

Avni placed her forehead over his arm tired from struggling. Abhi smoothed the hair on her head making Avni relax and snuggle her more into him.

"You are my wife, angel. She is nothing to me when compared to you." Avni looked up and stared at him.

"I don't care about these sweet words. I saw guilt in your eyes, you were guilty because you think that it was your responsibility to protect her." Abhi lowered his eyes proving that she was right. Avni swatted his arms away from her and maintained a distance between them.

"I will ask you a single question, and you are answering it. Do you still have feelings for her?" Avni whispered the question afraid that it may become true if she spoke aloud. Abhi did not answer the question, Avni laughed aloud.

"I am a fool right," Avni mumbled in between her laughter.

"A big fool." Then the tears started rolling down her cheeks. Abhi then realized the mistake he did. He tried to analyze his feeling before giving her an answer but he was late, and he regretted thinking for a moment before denying his feeling for Seema. Yes, he felt guilty, because he never saw her like that and he thought that he could have protected her from suffering that cruel fate. It's an act towards humanity.

"Did you enjoy toying with my feelings, Mr. Goenka? Was it fun to play with my heart?" Avni walked towards him slowly.

"Avn-" The words were stuck in his throat when he saw the disdain in Avni's eyes.

"I have enough of your story. Don't you dare think that I will need you! I can take care of myself." Avni poked his chest with her forefinger. "And I will act as your wife only in public, so don't you dare show me that face of yours. The love of your life will need your attention. Don't waste your breath near me." With that, she turned towards the car and got into it slamming the door hard.

It was hard for her, but the anger in her needed to come out. What she said was true and she was not going to feel bad about it, even though it hurts like her heart broke.

She rubbed the place over her heart. "You can do this Avni, you are stronger than this." Avni tried motivating herself beating the place near her chest with her fist to calm down.

💔💔

Abhi kept staring at her figure, he could not forget the look she gave him and her tear-stained face. He had nothing to say to comfort her, he decided to let her be and speak to her after she calmed down. He felt his heart clench seeing her state.

"What is happening Bhai? What is that woman doing here?" He broke his stare from her after listening to his sister's voice. Akshaya was seething in anger after seeing the vile woman.

Abhi rubbed his face in frustration, he was frustrated because his past came back and was threatening his future. He needs to find a solution to this problem soon.

"Akshaya, please take care of Avni. I have some past business to attend." Abhi looked at Avni, who laid her head on the back of the seat. Akky followed his gaze and felt angry at her brother, but she knew he was helpless in the situation.

"I kept Seema in my house, I will go there and see what she needs. Take care of Avni for me. Till I come." Akky nodded her head agreeing to him.

"Ok, I will look after her." Abhi hugged her and with a final glance at his wife, he left.

Abhi kept staring at the buildings they drove past his mind was blank. When Seema came back, hurt, his brain was thinking that how was she hurt. How can he not think of her? After all, he is human, he can't turn off his feeling. Now he thought that it would have been good if he did turn his feelings off for her.

He knew that he has feelings for Avni, but to what extent he didn't know. He knew that he would have been happy if she was there with him. His heart would be at ease if she was there, her presence was enough for him.

They reached his house, which caught fire. He ordered the security to escort Seema there and to get her some treatment. He went inside and opened the guest bedroom. There she was the past of his life laying as if she didn't cause enough problems in his life.

Their family doctor was present there treating her, he stood near the door observing the wounds on her body. There were handprints on her cheeks and hands.

"Is everything ok?" Abhi asked the doctor as he completed checking her.

The doctor sighed and faced Abhi. "I can't tell anything about it. She probably did not have anything for some days she is malnutritioned. By observing the injuries on her body, they are 5 days old injuries given to her."

"Any complications? Or sexual?" He understood Abhi's unasked question.

"No. She will have a trauma. But with good care, everything will be good. I am sending fluids into her body, she may wake up in the morning."

"Thank you, doctor." He nodded his head and left Abhi alone.

Abhi stared at the woman sleeping on the bed, if the woman didn't cheat on her, then this house would have been hers. They used to live like a happy family. The image of the three together crossed his mind many times, but now that image didn't feel good for him. He was unable to imagine another one in Avni's place.

"Sir?" He blinked his eyes coming out of the daze. He looked at James on his shoulder. He locked the door and went to the living room. He sat on the sofa with a huff.

"Are you alright sir?" Karthik asked his boss, worry filling his mind.

"I am fine. Can you stay tonight and update me on her condition?" Abhi never requested others, with Avni in his life he learned to request instead of ordering people around him.

"Yes sir." Karthik left the room leaving Abhi alone with James.

"Sir, are you good?" James asked with his hands behind his back.

"No, I am definitely not good. That woman, I saw her after 3 years and that too like that and in my reception. I am not good." Abhi shouted getting up from his seat.

James glared at him and popped his suit button open, he sat down and gestured Abhi to sit in front of him. The younger one sat with a scowl on his face.

"Why are you stressing like this lad? It is not good for your health." James said with adoration in his voice.

"I can't help it. I keep thinking the look Avni gave me and tears in her eyes and that is eating me up." Abhi bent his head feeling ashamed of himself.

"You are still that young boy, who does a mistake and comes near me crying. Then I would give you advice and everything would be fine for you. Now the only difference is you never cry and you ask advice regarding women."

"Just shut up, and tell me what to do!" Abhi exclaimed.

James was a father figure in Abhi's life, when his father was absent, Abhi used to look up to James for advice and he even does that now. Abhi felt disconnected from his father since he was a child, and James who was head of security for Rudra took care of Abhi. His relation with his father was improving now after Abhi learned about his father's health condition.

"Abhi, you need to know where your feelings are. If you want Avni in your life, tell her how you feel. Communication is the most important thing for a strong relationship. Don't be late for explaining to her how you feel."

"So, your advice is that I should go and explain everything to her. Like about my feelings towards her." Abhi stood up nodding his head.

"Ok, fine then. I will go and explain everything to her. Can you stay here?" Abhi requested James. When James nodded his head, Abhi came out of the house and went to his wife.

💔💔

Avni was silent throughout the journey. She kept her eyes closed pretending to sleep. When they reached the house, Avni silently got down from the car.

"Are you okay, Avni?" She nodded her head not even caring about who asked the question. She left for her room without speaking to anyone. She closed the door behind her and leaned back. There were knocks on her door.

"Avni, open the door!" She heard Ally's voice followed by knocks. Avni fed up with her and knowing her friend that she will not leave until she gets what she wanted. Avni opened the door.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Akky burst inside as Avni opened the door.

"I will change and come." She rushed inside not giving her friend a chance to speak.

Avni cleaned her face and changed her dress, she came back to the bedroom and found Akky sitting on the bed still in her dress.

"Didn't you change?" Avni asked falling on the bed.

"No, I didn't want to leave you alone. Now you are going to tell me what happened." Avni groaned into the pillow.

"No! I don't want to discuss anything with you." She said looking at Akky's face.

"Come on, don't be like that. I am your friend right. Then you need to explain everything to me." Akky whined like a child who was denied from having candy, which brought a smile to Avni's face.

"Ahh! There is the smile I love." Akky stated with major satisfaction. She became serious after a moment.

"Avni, I don't know what happened between you and my brother. However, I can tell you one thing. He loves you so much. Even his past can't change his love for you. My brother is a thick skull, just have some patience with him. Everything will be fine." Avni clung to her words and believed them with her heart.

Akky placed her hand on Avni's hair and smoothed them. "Sleep, tomorrow you will be fine and everything will be in order." Avni closed her eyes after listening to her friend's words and her hand gently rubbing her head lulled her into sleep.

"Avni, get up." Avni slowly opened her eyes as someone started to wake her.

"Get up, Avni. You need to come down immediately." The urgency in the tone woke Avni up. Avni rubbed her eyes and looked at Akky's panicking face.

"What happened?" She yawned.

"Avni, Bhai, and dad are fighting. They are throwing words at each other. You need to stop bhai before he does something." Listening to those words Avni rushed downstairs, where there were shouting at each other.

"Don't tell me what to do. You have never been my father. Now, don't try to be one." Avni rushed inside and found Abhi shouting at Rudra. They were nose to nose.

"Yes, you didn't consider me as your father. Did you listen to me when I told you to stay away from Seema? You didn't! Look what she did to you." Meera approached her husband and placed a hand on his shoulder calming him.

Avni approached Abhi and stopped him when he tried to open his mouth. "Don't." She stood in front of Abhi and spoke to Rudra.

"Papa now is not the time to start fighting. We have many other things to figure out." She tried to reason with Rudra ignoring Abhi.

Rudra sighed. "Ok, but I don't want my son to be alone with her." He said looking into her eyes.

"I am not a child, and I know Seema. She can't do anything to me." Abhi scoffed from behind her.

Avni looked into his eyes as she spoke. "Get ready papa, we will all go and see Seema together and ask her some questions." She raised her eyebrow waiting for Abhi's rejection.

"Ok fine then, as you all wish." Abhi left them alone. She smiled at the others and rushed back to their room.

"Are you out of your mind Avni?" Abhi spoke in her ear with his breath on her neck.

"What did I do, I simply solved a problem." Avni faced him and shrugged her shoulders.

The one thing she learned about Abhi was that he hates changing his plans and others interfering in his business. And she wanted to piss him off so she suggested that they will all go together.

"You know, how I like to do my business. I would have taken you with me but my parents, Avni that is too much."

Avni slowly walked towards him and adjusted the lapels of his shirt, the same shirt he wore yesterday. Avni suppressed the tears.

"Oh dear husband, we are talking about your love. It is not business." Avni let her hands fall and created a distance between them.

"You need to shower, I know you spent all night with your love and don't want to wash her smell of you. But it needed." Avni looked at him blankly.

"Yes, I stayed all night with my love, and that is my wife." He walked past her into the bathroom.

Avni blinked her eyes rapidly and a small smile grew on her face when she understood the meaning behind those words.

She went to Akky's room and got freshen up, she requested Akky to take care of Diya till she arrives.

They had breakfast without speaking and the clinking of spoons filling the room. Avni and Abhi got into one car while Abhi's and Aarav's parents got into another one.

"Where is Seema?" This was the first question Avni asked when they started the journey.

"In our house." Avni did not say anything throughout the journey and Abhi let her be and focused on driving. When they reached the house, Avni got out of the car immediately after the car stopped. She waited for others to arrive while sitting in the living room.

Abhi and others joined her after a moment. "I will bring her, you guys wait here." Abhi left them all in the living room.

Not wanting to think about what Abhi was doing inside, she stared at others. Rudra and Meena were sitting close with their hands intertwined and worry on their faces.

Vinay and Damini were sitting close but they were not touching each other. Vinay's face was blank, he looked as if he was bored and it was all waste of time, while there was tension and some fear in Damini's eyes.

Avni looked aside when she heard footsteps approaching. There they were ex-lovers, Abhi held Seema's shoulders supporting her while the latter one placed her hands over his waist. Avni fisted her hand controlling her anger.

Abhi made Seema sit on an armchair and came back to her. He held her waist and stood beside her. Seema lifted her head when Abhi was not bear her.

She looked at Avni, she stretched her hand in Abhi's direction. "Abhi." She kept her hand hanging in the air. Avni observed her features now more clearly.

She was beautiful than her, even with some bruises on her. She carried herself with grace. Avni jealously towards increased tenfold.

"Seema, you cheated on me and tried to abort my child. You can't expect me to stand with you. And I am married." At those words, Avni gave her a smug look.

"Abhi, you don't know the complete story." Seema looked sad, she looked past the couple noticing the others for the first time. Seema started panicking and sweat started to gather on her forehead. Abhi and Avni looked at each other confused.

"A-abhi, he i-s the one w-ho got me k-idnapped." Seema pointed her finger behind.

Avni followed her hand and found her pointing at Vinay.

Another update!!

Sorry guys! I shifted pov's. But I felt like you need to know how Abhi felt about Avni.

And sorry for creating more suspence and dragging the scene, when I try to write I get many scenes in my head.

You guys suspected the unknown to be Damini or Vinay. Is it Vinay? Or Damini?

You will get an answer in next chapter.

And you know I cooked my first meal without anybody's help. Although I cook often but take my mom's help. It's my first time, yay me.

Do share about your experiences in cooking.

Bye and take care.

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