Sanyukta groaned softly as she opened her eyes , feeling the weight of his body pressing over hers .
Her gaze shifted to the other cot , where Avu and Aarvi were sleeping peacefully, their adorable faces bringing a smile to her lips .
Last night he had returned late from a drinking party with the other men and had slipped into her cot , wrapping her in his arms .
He clearly had other intentions ,but with Avu and Aarvi widely awake , he couldn't act on them .
But that didn't stop him from teasing her , he kept sneakingly bothering her under the quilt, giving her a hard time .
Sanyukta gently ran her fingers through his messy hair, smoothing it out , and placed a soft kiss on his nose as he slept peacefully, holding her securely beneath him .
She tried to untangle herself from him, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“Ranvijayyyyyy...” she called out softly, patting his cheek in an attempt to wake him up.
He muttered something incoherent in his sleep and buried his face in the crook of her neck, sending a ticklish shiver down her spine.
“Aap soote rahiye, par mujhe jaane dijiye... nahi toh main disturb karti rahungi,” Sanyukta warned him truthfully, making him groan in response.
“You irritate me a lot in the mornings, I swear,” he muttered, turning away. She chuckled softly, finally slipping out of the cot.
Sanyukta quickly got ready in a red anarkali dress and then woke up Avu and Aarvi.
The little ones kissed a still-sleeping Ranvijay on the cheek, earning a faint smile from him in his sleep, which made them giggle adorably.
After bathing them and dressing them in warm, comfortable clothes, Sanyukta escorted them downstairs, making sure not to disturb Ranvijay’s rest.
Today was the Mehndi function, and everyone was relaxing, feeling drained from the excitement of last night's Sangeet.
Sanyukta helped Sonam prepare tea and distribute it to everyone. She then made Aarvi and Avu drink their milk before they ran off to join the other kids, busy playing and laughing.
“Bhabhiii... aap thik hai ab? Kal raat ko aapko thoda uneasy feel ho raha tha na?” Sanyukta asked Anjali as she sipped her tea.
“Haan, ab thoda better hai,” Anjali replied with a warm smile.
“Aaj bohot kaam karna padega... we have almost 40 people here. Sabka khana aur phir function ki tayyari bhi,” Sonam said, making everyone nod in agreement.
“I guess ho jaayega... hum bhi toh 7-8 log hain banane waale,” Sanyukta said with an optimistic smile.
With that, they got busy in the kitchen, efficiently dividing the work among themselves to ensure everything was managed smoothly.
“Bhabhi, aap bahar baith jaaiye sabke saath... idhar hum sab hai karne ke liye. Aapko waise bhi morning sickness hai,” Sanyukta suggested to Anjali gently.
“Nahi na... aise accha nahi lagega,” Anjali replied hesitantly, but after everyone insisted, she finally agreed and went to join the other ladies in the courtyard.
“Bhabhi... kuch relatives aaye hain. Unke liye chai bana do,” Anu informed Sanyukta, who nodded and got to work.
Sanyukta prepared the tea and distributed it to the guests with a warm smile. She was about to head back inside when she overheard one of the ladies talking with Pushpa ji.
“Badi bahu ko ab ek beta ho jaaye toh aapke parivaar ko bhi vaaris mil jaayega,” one of the ladies said to Pushpa ji, her tone laced with implied judgment.
“Ab chhoti bahu ke paas hai ladka, par apna toh apna hi hota hai... Kitne kisse-kahaniyan suni hai humne aise logon ki,” another chimed in, adding fuel to the conversation.
“Abhi toh bacha hai woh, lekin jab bada hoga aur pata lagega sab, toh woh bhi badal jaayega... Khoon ke rishte toh alag hi hote hain,” the same woman added with a knowing tone.
Pushpa ji didn’t say a word in defense. She simply gave a faint nod, her expression unreadable, and excused herself from the conversation.
Sanyukta stood frozen, her eyes brimming with tears as she overheard everything. She had been trying to ignore such remarks for the past few days, brushing them off to avoid the pain. But now, it stung deeply.
Her heart ached more as she realized that her mother-in-law hadn’t even tried to defend Avu. Was Avu not a part of their family? Did they see him as an outsider?
“They were never happy with this marriage,” she thought bitterly, tears streaming down her cheeks as the weight of the words and the silence around them crushed her.
She wiped her tears and joined the other ladies in the kitchen, but her mind kept replaying the hurtful words she had overheard.
Her head began to ache, and she felt an overwhelming urge to scream and let out the frustration building inside her.
“Sanyukta... kya hua hai tumhe? Tabiyat kharab hai kya tumhari bhi?” Sonam asked, noticing her pale expression.
“Nahi, main theek hoon... bas thoda sar dard ho raha hai,” Sanyukta replied, forcing a faint smile to hide her emotions.
Just then, Aarvi ran into the kitchen. “Chachiiii... Chachu ne bulaya hai!” she exclaimed excitedly.
Sanyukta stepped out to find Ranvijay sitting with Dadi, Bua ji, Pushpa ji, and the other ladies.
“Dekho, jeweller aaya hai. I got these little anklets and earrings for Aarvi. Avu ke liye main soch raha tha kuch gold ka le lu... like this gold chain with a Lord Shiva pendant,” Ranvijay said, holding up the chain and looking at her for approval.
The ladies exchanged surprised glances, their expressions curious, while Sanyukta’s mind immediately recalled their earlier conversation.
“Nahi... abhi woh chhota hai. In sab ki zarurat nahi hai,” she said, her tone calm but firm.
“It will look good on him,” Ranvijay insisted, confused by her reluctance.
“Woh nahi pehnega, Ranvijay,” she said, her voice more serious this time, making him frown in confusion.
Without offering any further explanation, Sanyukta turned and went upstairs, her frustration and anger bubbling over. She felt suffocated by everything happening around her, and she needed space to calm down and process her emotions.
“Kuch aur hai kya chhote bache ke liye? Chain nahi pehnega vo,” Ranvijay asked the jeweler, determined to find something else for Avu.
“Yeh dekhiye, gold aur diamond ka kada hai. Bacchon ke liye hi banvate hain log,” the jeweler suggested, showing him a delicate gold kada embedded with tiny diamonds. Ranvijay immediately liked it.
“Tere liye bhi banvaya tha humne,” Pushpa ji said with a nostalgic smile, looking at the kada.
“Thik hai phir, aap yeh hi de dijiye,” Ranvijay decided, purchasing the kada for Avu.
He also spotted a traditional gold arm bracelet for Sanyukta and bought it as well, smiling at the thought of surprising her.
After settling the payment, he went straight to their room, carrying the jewelry boxes.
Sanyukta was busy folding blankets when he entered. He smiled to himself, placed the boxes on the table, and hugged her from behind.
“Ranvijay, mera sar dard kar raha hai... abhi mujhe pareshan mat kijiye, please,” she said, trying to free herself from his grasp.
“I have a surprise for you, biwi... tera sar dard gayab ho jaayega, tu dekhegi toh,” he teased, kissing her cheek, making her sigh in exasperation.
He gently turned her around, picked up the two jewelry boxes, and opened them to reveal the arm bracelet for her and the kada for Avu.
“Kaisa laga? I liked the traditional type of jewelry, toh socha tum dono ke liye kuch le lu. Waise bhi, abhi tak maine tujhe koi gift nahi diya hai,” he said, pinching her cheek playfully.
“Maine mana kiya tha ki zarurat nahi hai... phir kyun liya aapne?” she asked, her tone mixed with frustration and curiosity.
“Chain ke liye mana kiya tha na? Par dekh, yeh usse better hai. Aur maa ne bataya ki mere paas bhi aisa hi tha jab main chhota tha,” he explained with a smile.
“If you don’t like the design, I’ll get it changed... tu apni pasand ka le le chal ke,” he added, making Sanyukta groan in defeat.
“Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye... aur Avu abhi chhota hai, itni expensive cheezein theek nahi hai,” Sanyukta said firmly, her voice tinged with frustration.
“We will make him wear it occasionally... tu itna kyun serious ho rahi hai?” Ranvijay asked with a frown, clearly puzzled by her reaction.
“Kyuki aap nahi samajh rahe hai... maine bola na, nahi chahiye kuch bhi. Please, vaapis kar dijiye,” she replied, her tone unwavering.
“Avu ko main ek simple life dena chahti hoon, jo main afford kar sakoon,” Sanyukta stated, taking Ranvijay aback with her words.
“I can afford these things for him... aur yeh kaisi baatein kar rahi hai? Dimag toh kharab nahi ho gaya tera?” Ranvijay retorted, clearly irritated.
“Main bilkul theek hoon, but shayad aap nahi samajhna chahte hain. Main maa hoon uski... I know what is better for him and what is not. So please, return these things,” Sanyukta said, her voice steady and determined.
“Maine le liya hai ab yeh, and I won’t return it. Avu mera bhi beta hai. Main baap hoon uska, I can buy things for him... samjhi?” Ranvijay said dismissively, his tone final as he brushed off her concerns.
“Avu se aapka khoon ka rishta nahi hai... ye sab karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai uske liye.” Sanyukta’s words hung in the air, sharp and piercing.
The moment froze for Ranvijay. The words struck him harder than any physical blow could. His chest tightened, and he felt an unbearable weight settle on his heart. For a moment, it was as if he forgot how to breathe.
“Khoon ka rishta?” he repeated, his voice barely a whisper, trembling with pain. He chuckled bitterly, his lips curving into a sad smile as he tossed the jewelry boxes onto the cot.
“Khoon ka rishta toh phir tere aur mera bhi nahi hai... That means sab kuch hota hai vo khoon hi hota hai... Great thought,” he said, clapping his hands slowly, the sound echoing in the heavy silence of the room.
“Mujhe nahi pata tha tum dil ke rishton se zyada khoon ke rishton ko ahmiyat deti ho,” he said, his voice laced with both sarcasm and heartbreak.
He took a deep breath, his gaze locking with hers, and added, “Main ne usse apna beta uss din maan liya tha jis din maine tujhe apni patni maana... samjhi? So never, never try to use this card with me again.” His voice turned cold, his pain hidden behind a mask of anger.
Sanyukta, her eyes brimming with tears, replied shakily, “Aapke na maanne se sach nahi badal jaayega... jo sach hai vo sach hi rahega. Avu kabhi uss jagah par nahi aa sakta jo aapke apne bache ki hogi...”
Her words cut through him like a blade. His jaw tightened as he clenched his fists, his emotions barely in check. His voice was slow but unyielding as he said, “Agar itni insecurities hai tujhe Avu aur mere rishton ko lekar, toh yaad rakhna... Avu ke alawa humara kabhi koi bacha nahi hoga. I swear on you.”
His words were raw and final, filled with a pain so deep it felt unbearable. He didn’t wait for her response. Turning sharply, he walked out of the room, leaving behind a silence that screamed louder than anything else.
Sanyukta collapsed onto the floor, her sobs echoing through the empty space. She thumped her fists weakly against the cold floor, crying bitterly.
“Humare saath kyun ho raha hai ye sab? Jab bhi khushi milti hai, sab kuch kharab ho jaata hai... I hurt the only person who ever treated us nicely, who loved my baby like his own...” she muttered, clutching her head as tears streamed down her face.
Meanwhile, Ranvijay walked downstairs, his face hard, his body tense, but his eyes betrayed the storm raging within him. He felt suffocated, like her words had ripped a hole in his chest.
“Daddyyyyyyyy!” Avu’s excited voice rang out, pulling him from his spiraling thoughts. He looked up to see the little boy rushing toward him, a ladoo in his tiny hand, his sparkling eyes filled with pure innocence.
Ranvijay knelt down, unable to bring himself to pick Avu up. Instead, he pulled the boy into a tight hug, holding him close to his chest as a lone tear escaped his eye. He quickly wiped it away, not wanting Avu to see his pain.
“I love you, my boy... Daddy loves you,” he muttered softly, his voice thick with emotion. Avu giggled happily, clinging to his father’s neck, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in his daddy’s heart.
For the first time in his life, Ranvijay truly understood what people meant by heartbreak. The pain was raw, searing, and unbearable. The thought that one day Avu might not see him as his father made his throat tighten with unspoken emotions, threatening to drown him.
“Luvvv uuuu, Dadyyyyyyy!” Avu squealed happily, pulling Ranvijay out of his spiraling thoughts. His innocent joy was like a balm to Ranvijay’s wounded heart. Overwhelmed, he kissed Avu’s head repeatedly, holding him close as if he could shield him from everything in the world.
“Dadyyyyyy, eatttt thissss,” Avu chirped, extending the little ladoo in his hand toward Ranvijay. Without hesitation, Ranvijay opened his mouth and accepted the sweet treat, savoring not just the ladoo but the love with which it was offered.
“No matter what anyone thinks about us... you will always be my baby,” Ranvijay whispered softly, his voice thick with emotion, as he pressed a gentle kiss to Avu’s forehead.
Avu grinned up at him, his innocent, toothy smile lighting up his face. That small, pure expression eased the ache in Ranvijay’s heart, reminding him that the bond they shared was more than just blood—it was love.
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