LIII. Hope

"Having a small hope in life will make us look at things brighter. Never lose hope in your life."

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

They say that truth will come out no matter what you do, but the way the person learns the truth might vary with his perspective. I wanted to tell Abhi about it but I wanted to wait for the right time because after learning about my pregnancy I don't want Abhi to make any wrong assumptions.

I may have forgiven Abhi for accusing me of cheating but if he blames my baby for anything I will definitely never forgive him in my life. I will never see him or try to explain things to him. He already accused me of cheating, if he accuses my baby then he suggests that I slept with another person. I can take many blows to my heart but a single blow to my dignity, I can't accept it. I may even leave him if he has that thought. It is the reason I don't want him to know about my pregnancy, if he doubts me in this regard I may leave him for good and never see his face again.

"Abhi, what are you doing here?" The question came out of my mouth as I panicked and didn't want to answer him, afraid of what he would think about me. I knew he was not like this and he just had some issues to deal with. He was cheated on and I knew he had insecurities but those will not stop hurting me though.

"Avni, I asked you a question." I ignored his answer and walked in his direction as I spoke.

"Did you hear what uncle said, right? Daksh is just a person, I didn't even know about him until a few days ago. Raghav uncle also met him a few days ago in a meeting, he approached me after our marriage. There is nothing going on between us, I treat him like my brother. He-" Abhi raised his hand and halted me. I was near him just a few feet separating us.

Abhi took slow steps in my direction. He stood in front of me and asked the question again. "Are you pregnant?" He asked in a low yet intimidated voice, I looked away from his intimidating gaze. Aunt and uncle were looking at me with inquisitive gaze. I swallowed the lump in my throat and started speaking nonsense.

"You heard what uncle told right, it was all a misunderstanding. We can put everything behind us now. How is Diya? Is she alright?" I questioned him and hoped that he would forget about it and answer my question. I was genuinely concerned about Diya and wanted to know how she is.

Abhi closed his eyes in sheer frustration. He breathed heavily through his nose. "Avni, I am going to ask one more time and I want a reply this time." He said, making me look into his eyes, his eyes were filled with irritation and his face was etched with frustration. I expected to see anger in his eyes but there were no signs of it in him. "ARE YOU PREGNANT?" He stressed each single word making me shiver.

His voice was strict, I wanted to look away from him and deny him an answer but I was unable to do so. "Avni, what is going on?" Raghav uncle questioned me from behind. I turned away and broke eye contact with Abhi and looked behind me. Swapna aunty and uncle were looking at us anxiously, I can see that they also wanted to know the answer.

"Avni, I am waiting and I need an answer." Abhi's voice brought me back to him. I looked at him and found specks of anger in his eyes. "Tell me, Avni. If you don't," he stopped speaking and clenched his hands tight. I know what he was going to tell me, I understood the unsaid words he wished to utter.

I closed my eyes and thought about the consequences, if I didn't tell him now he may assume things. It will be worse than it is now, he may make assumptions and it might be difficult for me to make him believe in the truth. If I tell him about my pregnancy he may believe me as he heard me and uncle speak about Daksh.

"Yes!" I opened my eyes and looked in his eyes as I spoke the next words. "Yes, I am pregnant with your child." I didn't tell you because I was afraid about the things you were going to assume. I said the words in my heart but I knew that he could read them from my eyes.

I was waiting for his reply, but he stood still like a statue without a single twitch. I was looking in his eyes and wanted to know what he was thinking about the news. I wanted to know whether he was happy or sad or angry with me. But his expression was blank as he stood in front of me.

"I am going to be a grandmother!"

"My Avni is having a baby!" Two voices spoke from behind me excitedly. I felt a pair of arms engulfing me into a bone crushing hug.

"Oh, leave her. She is unable to breathe." Swapna aunty scolded and pulled my over excited uncle away from me. He gave me a sheepish smile in return.

"Sorry, I got excited there for a while." He apologized but he got a glare in return.

Swapna aunty pointed a finger at him. "I will talk to you later." She turned her attention to me. Her eyes were shining in happiness, I felt my smile broaden seeing them both tease and shower me with love. "Are you fine? Do you feel like eating anything? Come and sit first." She said and left me there muttering something to herself. I looked up at my uncle confused about her actions.

"She is excited afterall you are our daughter and we are going to have our first grandchild. Of Course, Diya is our granddaughter also but this is yours and Abhi's child and we are just excited. Come and sit first." He motioned towards the couch. I started walking in the direction he pointed.

"Come inside, Abhi." Hearing this made me stop and I slowly turned around and found my husband in his previous position. I forgot about him for a moment as I got immersed in the love uncle and aunty showed. I was unable to read his expression, his face was still blank, not giving away any emotion.

"Yes, I am coming." He replied with a forced smile, from the way he spoke I can understand that he was tense. What might he be thinking?

Uncle came and stood beside me forbidding me from having any other thoughts. I followed him and sat on the couch, Abhi followed my suit and sat on the other end of the couch. We waited for my aunt to come in silence. Uncle broke the silence making us both tense.

"What was the thing you were speaking about?" He directed the question in my direction but it was for both of us. "Something about, Daksh. What happened?" He asked the last question looking in Abhi's direction.

Abhi looked in my direction before he started moving in his chair, completely uncomfortable. He must be, though. He might be thinking of a way to tell things that will be quite awkward for him. "Umm, that," he started speaking and fidgeted with the collar of his shirt.

"Uncle, he was just asking about how I met Daksh. We were talking about him when he arrived and I told him the same thing. Nothing else." I said and smiled in Abhi's direction with a knowing smile and wanted him to play along.

"Yes, that's it. There is no big deal." He plastered a fake smile on his face. Uncle doesn't look satisfied with the answer but he dropped the topic and Swapna aunty came back at the same time breaking the tension in the room.

She came and placed a tray on the table. She sat beside me and took a plate from the table and offered me a sweet. "Here, eat this ladoo. It is made with nuts and is healthy for you and the baby." She placed it in front of my mouth offering me to eat. I took a bite and started chewing as I enjoyed the sweet and opened my mouth for another bite. I was hungry and didn't have any lunch and it was evening now. I was unable to resist the temptation.

"Here," she offered me another bite and I gladly took it. "You look quite hungry, did you have lunch?" She asked me and I shook my head in a negative way. "How can you skip a meal?" She shouted, making me startle, I looked at her in alarm as she started scolding me.

"Did you forget that you are pregnant, young lady? You must eat for two members now, how can you ignore this?" She huffed and called a maid. She ordered the maid to get the fruits for me as I and Abhi shared looks. We heard a chuckle and looked in uncle's direction and found him shaking his head at us.

"It is just a sample of what the future might contain, she is going to take everything seriously and you are going to be tortured by her."

"What torture?" I heard my aunt's voice and uncle's face become pale as if he saw a ghost. I placed my hand on my mouth trying to stop the chuckle from escaping my mouth. My uncle looked at her with panic and tried to cover as he fumbled with his words.

"No-nothing. I um, I was just telling her that," he passed in between as he thought of a reason to escape from her wrath. "Yes, I was telling her how you are going to take care of her and see to her needs all the time." He said, giving her a cheeky smile. A laugh bubbled out of my mouth catching others' attention and I smiled in their direction and went back to bickering between themself. But I felt a person's glance on me, I turned my head and found him staring at me intently as if he was trying to understand me.

I observed the way his eyes were fixed on my face but he was not there, he was lost in his thoughts. A deep v was formed between his eyebrows as he thought, I wanted to run my fingers over it and smoothen it. I ached to hold him close to me and run my fingers through his hair. He shook his head as if trying to come out of his thoughts and locked eyes with me. He kept looking at me and I didn't break eye contact with him. There was something in his eyes that was not present before but I couldn't pinpoint on what that emotion might be. He opened his mouth to speak and I dreaded what he might want this time but his phone rang stopping him. Aunt and uncle also turned towards him as he excused himself and went out. At the same time, the maid brought fruits.

"Here, have these fruits first." Aunt handed me the plate and turned towards the maid who waited to hear further instructions. I started eating as I heard her order the maid to prepare other items.

"Prepare a fruit juice and get it to me first and start preparing a healthy dinner for her. It must contain a huge amount of protein and no fat." I was shocked as she bombarded her with all questions and suggestions. She didn't allow the maid to leave for a solid ten minutes. All the time, I enjoyed the show with my uncle. He sat beside me and we both enjoyed the show as if we were watching the movie. The maid would get annoyed with aunt's questions but she was unable to show it as she was her boss and it was funny to see her face scrunch in frustration.

"Oh my god! It was so difficult to make her understand. I just wanted simple things but she made it difficult for me. I think I need to change her." She said as she slumped on the armchair and pressed a hand to her forehead. I smiled in my uncle's direction and placed the empty plate on the table in front of me. I stood up and walked in her direction.

I went to the back of her chair and started massaging her head. "Thank you, Avni. It feels good." She appreciated me as I helped her. Her body slowly relaxed and sagged in relief. "These things really give me a headache. I think I need to do all the work for you during your pregnancy." After a moment she suddenly jerked and sat straight, making me startled.

"What happened?" I asked her in a small voice as I calmed my heart.

She turned towards me and took my hand before gesturing towards the couch. I sat on it and waited for her to speak. "You are pregnant and I can't have you help me when you suffer. You must relax during these days and never get stressed or nervous during these times." I nodded agreeing to her. She took my hands, engulfing them in her hold. I remembered my mother at that moment and thought of the things she might say to me. Will she order me to take rest and feed me all healthy food? Will she tell me things like that? At that moment I saw my own mother in her.

"Avni, we know what the doctors said about you getting pregnant. They said it was impossible for you to get pregnant and I remember that day, you were eighteen. You clutched me and sobbed in my arms. I told it to you then and I am telling it to you again, if you share your burden and let it out you will feel relieved but if you keep all the pain bottled inside you. You are going to lose." I know what her next words are, I repeated the same lines in my head whenever I felt low. "You are to overcome the pain and make your victory. Don't let the pain lead your life." I smiled at her as she recited the same words she told me on that day.

"Now, Avni. What is going on between you and Abhi?" She asked in a warm and gentle tone but it made me lose the smile on my face. I looked down away from her eyes as I fumbled to find a correct answer for her question.

"No, there's nothing wrong with us. Everything is fine. We are good." I tried to sound confident.

"Avni, I am not a child. Tell me why you came here first? You looked distressed over something and Abhi followed you. He started questioning you but you kept ignoring his question. What is going on between you two?"

I think of a way to escape because I know that I can't lie to them and if I tell them the truth I don't think they are going to treat Abhi differently.

"There is nothing going on between us, we just had a small argument and she wanted to visit you," Abhi's voice made me look up and found him near the door, tall and proud. "Avni, Diya is asking for you." He gave me a pointed look and I know that I need to go with him now.

"I think we need to leave now," I said as I stood up from my place. I looked in my aunt's direction. "I will come and visit you very soon." She nods her head and instructs me some basic things on how to sleep and what I should eat. I hugged them both and climbed into the car. Abhi started the car and we drove in silence.

I was sad when I came to my uncle's house. I was blamed and accused for a crime I didn't commit. There were many doubts in my heart and everything got cleared with his answers, I was able to see some things in a new light. The way Daksh approached me and spoke to me as if we were longtime friends, and the way he helped me. Now, I understood how he knew about me. He also helped me with some things regarding Abhi, but I was still unable to understand his thoughts. I want to know whether he wants only friendship from me or does he expect more from me? I guess I need to have a long talk with him.

However, I am happy that Abhi knows the truth and now I don't need to do anything to make him believe in me. But there is a voice nagging me in the back of my head that it is all easy. I cleared my throat to get his attention.

"Um, I have a question for you," my voice was hesitant but I needed to ask him a question.

"Yes," he replied without moving his gaze away from the road.

"How did you get the photo?" I was curious to know the answer. His hold on the steering wheel tightened and his knuckles were white.

"Akshaya informed me that you were there as Diya was asking for you and she was crying continuously. When I came there a taxi driver was asking the watchman to allow him inside. He had the photo with him and I took it after knowing that it belonged to you." He said.

He came for Diya, not you. He never believed you, Avni. He was there because Diya needed you and you are going there now. He was never curious to know about you. He was the same then and now. Get into your thick skull that he doesn't love you at all. I chide myself mentally. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the window as I didn't want to speak to him or even look at him. Now that he knows the truth I am angry at him. How can he just assume things and link Daksh and me.

"Avni." Someone shook my arm trying to wake me up.

"Five more minutes," I grumble and try to go back to sleep.

"Avni, we reached home. You can go inside and sleep on the bed." My sleepy head only got the word bed and I slowly opened my eyes. I was greeted with blue eyes gazing at me with love. I smiled in his direction and placed my hand on his cheeks. "Avni, even though I am loving this a lot. We need to go inside, Diya is waiting for us." Listening to my daughter the fog lifted from my head and I pulled my hand back to my side.

He leaned back to his side. "Come, let's go inside." He said with a smile on his face and got down the car.

What happened to him? He is smiling at me and looking at me with love. He has this blank look on his face till now but now his facial expressions are different. What happened to him?

A knock on the window brought me out of my thoughts. I looked out and found him waiting there for me. He opened the door and I got out, still weirded out by his sudden change of behavior.

I started walking in front of him as he followed me. I was lost in thoughts thinking about his weird behavior that I didn't see the stairs in front of me. I stumbled near the step and fell forward, I closed my eyes as I neared the ground. For a second I was terrified but then I didn't feel any pain. I opened my eyes and saw that my face was a few feets away from the ground. I was pulled back and collided with a hard chest. I started breathing heavily as I felt tingles all over my body.

"Careful," I moved out of his grip and started walking straight but he held my hand. I stopped walking and looked at my hand. I was shocked and looked up at him.

"Be careful, you are pregnant now. You must watch where you are going." I stared at him open-mouthed as he spoke. He gave me a small smile and placed his hand on my stomach. "You have another person growing inside you now. Be careful." He rubbed my stomach and gave me a small smile and guided me forward. I followed him, shocked to say anything.

"Avni, are you alright? Where were you till now?" I looked to my side and found Akky on my side looking all worried. I squeezed her hand and nodded my head in her direction.

"Everything is fine. We will speak about it later, we are going near Diya." He said and guided me towards stairs with his hand still on my waist supporting me and helping me to walk further. I was too stunned to tell anything more and I just followed him. "And send me dinner to Diya's room for two people." He said as we reached the last step without looking back.

We reached Diya's room and I opened the door. I saw Diya sleeping on the bed and she was shaking on the bed as her grandmother tried to calm her.

"Princess." Listening to my voice she looked up at me. Her eyes were red and welled with tears.

"Mama," she raised her head and lifted her hand in my direction.

"My baby." I rushed in her direction and took her in my arms. She started shaking in my arms as her body shook with heavy sobs.

"Mama, y-ou l-love me right?" She asked between sobs as she looked up at me. My heart broke seeing her like this. I felt tears run down my cheeks, seeing her like this is breaking my heart.

"Yes, princess. Mama loves you and she will always love you." I said and pulled her closer to me.

"Pwomose," her voice was muffled as she spoke into my chest.

I kissed her forehead. "Promise. Mama loves you more than anything in her life. Because of you I got all the happiness in my life and I will always treasure you, my princess." I said as I tried to convince her. She snuggled close to me and slowly her breathing became normal.

"Avni, she didn't eat anything. Feed her." Meera ma forwarded me a plate of food.

"Diya, I am hungry. Come let's eat together." I started feeding her and myself. Abhi sat beside her and he shared to her that she will be having a sister or brother in a few months.

At first, it made Diya depressed but I made her understand the need to have a sibling like her father and aunt. Later she started speaking about the things she is going to do with them.

"I am going to watch movies with her and I will share ice cweam with her." She rambled on talking about things.

"How are you sure that you are going to have a sister?" I asked once she was fed and was lying under the covers.

"I know, I will have a sister." She said with determination. I didn't want to disappoint her so I let her be and stayed with her as she slept. Once, she was asleep. I came out of the room and found Abhi waiting outside the door with a glass in his hand. I looked at him questioningly.

"This is fruit juice for you. I searched on the internet and found that this is healthy for pregnant ladies." He said and handed me the glass with a small smile. I took the glass and took small sips.

"We need to talk." And I know that we are going to have a long conversation with him.

After ten minutes I am sitting on the bed with him in front of me as he paces in front of me.

"I don't know where to start." He stood still in front of me and I looked at him waiting for him to complete his speech.

"I am sorry, Avni." I looked in his eyes and found tears in them, they held sadness. "I am sorry for misunderstanding you. I know I made a mistake, I-I really don't know what I should do now. I committed a sin by suspecting you. You always believed me but when it came to me, I was unable to do so. I am really sorry for it." I was stunned after listening to his words.

"Now, you are pregnant. We are going to have our baby together. Can you forgive me? We will start our life together as a family. Please forgive me." His apology was genuine but it sounded wrong to my ears and I started laughing like a mad woman.

"Forgiveness, for you." I stood and pointed a finger in his direction. "You, Mr. Goenka didn't make a mistake. You committed a sin and accused me of cheating. There is no forgiveness for it." I shook my head in his direction, my body was shaking in anger. "You said you wanted to start anew with our family. But you destroyed it, you destroyed it completely." I stopped abruptly as my blood was boiling. I didn't want to say words that are going to hurt us.

"I know, I made a mistake. But just give me a chance. A chance to prove myself." He was begging me. If I was not angry, I would have hugged him but now my mouth will not stop and today I am going to speak everything that is in my heart.

"A chance, you know Abhi this is the second time you misunderstood me. The first time you didn't give me a chance to explain but I came back to you. Now, you did it again. You didn't listen to me and accused me. This time on my self respect, I am not that needy of you. I can't lower my dignity for you. I can't give you a chance because I know that you are going to break my trust again and I can't let it happen to me." I completed my speech leaving him shocked in front of me.

"Avni, don't do that. I need you, Diya needs you. We four can be a happy family again." I started laughing but I stopped and clutched his collar.

"What family? You told me earlier that I was not a part of your or Diya's life. You knew that Diya was my everything but you let her assume that I didn't love her. Why? Because you are selfish." I spoke the next words in a small voice as my throat was hurting. " You get that Mr. Goenka. You are a selfish person who cares about himself, you never give a fuck about others feelings and I am not going to fall prey for your antics ever again." I said and left his collar and took a few steps back.

I felt satisfied for a moment but at the same time I felt weak. I stumbled on my feet but he helped me from falling down.

"Avni, come and lie down." I didn't argue with him and allowed myself to take his help. I felt the soft surface beneath me, I sat down slowly and felt better after taking some breaths. "Lie down, you need to sleep and don't argue about it. We can talk about these things tomorrow, but now go to sleep." I followed his orders obediently and lied down. He pulled the comforter over my body.

"Remember one thing, Avni. I can't imagine my life without you and I realised it a bit late but I am not going to lose you. I will do anything to earn your forgiveness and I know I am going to earn it." He kissed me on my forehead as my heart started to beat faster.

Maybe, I can have the love I wish for in my life this time.

Maybe.

Hello people!!

Sorry for the late update, I made you guys wait for it but I wrote a very long chapter for you all. I hope you guys will love it.

Was Avni anger justified?

Did she do the right thing?

Will Abhi convince her?

See ya guys in next update and I will try to update fast.

Love you all 💕💕

Vote. Comment. Share.