38 | i love you too
"Sometimes love isn't about grand gestures. It's simply choosing each other after every storm. "
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split second, the terrace remained silent.
Avantika was still looking at Avyukt, waiting.
Waiting for the answer she had been craving for days.
Waiting for the answer she was now scared to hear.
Avyukt looked at her for a long time.
As if memorizing every expression on her face.
As if making sure she was really standing in front of him.
Really choosing him.
Really staying.
Then finally, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
A tired smile.
A real one.
The first one in days.
Slowly, he adjusted his hold around her and said, "You talk too much."
Avantika's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You confess after giving me ten heart attacks and then expect me to react immediately."
"Avyukt!"
He laughed.
A soft laugh.
And suddenly, tears filled Avantika's eyes again. Because that laugh sounded like home.
Then Avyukt gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks. And finally said the words she had been waiting for.
"I love you too."
Avantika froze. For a second she genuinely forgot how to breathe.
Then a huge smile spread across her face.
"Again."
Avyukt rolled his eyes.
"No."
"Again."
"No."
"Again."
He shook his head helplessly.
"Always have. Always will. I love you."
"Avantika"
She laughed through her tears, and it felt like everything had finally fallen into place.
---
After sometime later, both of them finally came downstairs.
Hand in hand.
When Ruhi saw them, she jumped to her feet. "Oh thank God."
Krish burst out laughing.
"I was about to go rescue bhai from bhabhi."
Avantika immediately glared at him.
"Krish."
"I'm just saying."
Everyone laughed.
Even Avyukt.
And that alone made everyone feel lighter.
---
Standing nearby, Siya quietly looked at Krish. He looked healthier than before.
Not happy.
But better.
And the guilt she'd been carrying became too heavy.
She took a small step toward him.
"Krish."
He looked at her.
For a while neither spoke.
Then Siya lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Krish blinked.
"I should've listened to you."
Her voice was soft.
"I should've understood you better."
A small smile appeared on Krish's face.
"And I should've stopped acting like a dramatic idiot."
That earned him a laugh from Siya.
A real laugh.
"That's impossible."
"Fair."
And just like that, the heaviness between them started disappearing too.
---
Soon everyone headed toward Renuka's room together.
Avyukt.
Avantika.
Krish.
Siya.
Ruhi.
And Abhijit Dad.
When they entered, Renuka immediately noticed something.
The joined hands.
The smiles.
The peace.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Finally."
Ruhi dramatically pointed at the couple.
"See? I fixed them."
"No, you didn't," everyone replied together.
---
Renuka laughed weakly.
Then looked at everyone standing around her.
Her family.
Whole again.
She slowly held Avantika's hand with one hand and Avyukt's with the other.
Then she looked around the room.
"Now can I go home?"
Everyone stared at her.
The doctor, who had just entered, sighed.
"Mrs. Vardhan, you've been conscious for one hour."
"And?"
"You still need rest."
Renuka folded her arms stubbornly.
"I'll rest at home."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
The entire room erupted into laughter.
Even the doctor couldn't stop smiling.
Finally, after days of misunderstandings, tears, guilt, and fear...
The hospital room was filled with something it hadn't seen in a long time.
Happiness.
Everyone felt like the worst was finally behind them.
---
After leaving the hospital, everyone finally reached home.
Renuka was still a little weak, so her husband and Ruhi were carefully supporting her from both sides.
A few steps behind them, Avyukt and Avantika were walking together, their fingers intertwined.
On the other side, Krish couldn't exactly hold Siya's hand in front of everyone.
So he had found his own solution.
The edge of Siya's dupatta was quietly stuck in the strap of his watch.
When Siya finally noticed it, she stopped and looked at him suspiciously.
"What is this?"
Krish immediately put on the most innocent expression possible.
"I don't know."
Siya stared at him.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Maybe your dupatta likes me."
Siya couldn't stop herself from smiling.
But she didn't remove it. She simply let it stay there.
Krish's smile instantly widened.
---
Everyone entered the house.
Inside, Krish's mother was already waiting. As she saw Renuka, she rushed forward.
"Bhabhi! Are you alright? The moment I heard what happened, I came immediately."
Renuka smiled softly.
"I'm fine now."
Before she could say more, Avyukt's father interrupted.
"Let's sit first. Then we can talk."
Everyone settled down.
Renuka, Krish's mother, Avyukt's father, and Ruhi sat on the sofas.
Meanwhile, Avyukt and Avantika were still standing. And so were Krish and siya.
Then Renuka suddenly looked toward Avantika.
"Arre, this is your bua. Come take her blessings."
Immediately, Avyukt and Avantika stepped forward together. Both bent down and touched her feet.
Krish's mother smiled warmly and placed her hand on Avantika's head.
"My daughter-in-law is very beautiful."
"Stay happy, beta."
Avantika smiled shyly.
The two moved aside.
Then Krish's mother's eyes landed on Siya. "Hmm..."
She folded her arms dramatically.
"So my young daughter-in-law won't take blessings?"
Siya froze. "What?"
Immediately she looked at Avantika for help.
Avantika looked away to avoid laughing.
Traitor.
With no escape left, Siya finally stepped forward.
The problem was- Her dupatta was still attached to Krish's watch.nAnd Krish had absolutely no intention of freeing it.
So when Siya moved forward... Krish automatically moved forward too.
The entire room noticed.
The entire room smiled.
Siya wanted the floor to swallow her.
Finally, both of them bent down together.
Krish's mother blessed them and smiled. "Haan..."
"This one is beautiful too."
Then she looked proudly at everyone.
"Our family has very beautiful daughter-in-law's."
Siya's face turned bright red.
Krish, however, looked ridiculously happy.
Avyukt was enjoying every second of it.
---
A little later, Avantika and Siya spoke at the same time. "We'll make tea."
Both immediately headed toward the kitchen.
And almost instantly-
"We'll help."
Avyukt and Krish spoke together.
The room erupted in laughter.
Their father shook his head.
"Help?"
"You two are owners, not staff."
Then he pointed toward both boys.
"Go sit with your wives."
"Nobody needs your help."
Everyone laughed loudly.
Ruhi immediately added,
"They've become complete slaves."
Krish gasped dramatically.
"Excuse me."
"Respectfully, I prefer the term devoted."
The laughter became even louder.
---
Then Krish's mother looked toward Siya and smiled.
"So tell me..."
"When should we start discussing the wedding?"
Krish almost choked.
Siya looked like she wanted to disappear.
Before either of them could answer-
Avyukt calmly spoke,
"We like the girl."
Everyone nodded.
"But we're still deciding about the boy."
Krish turned toward him. "Bhai!"
Avyukt ignored him.
"The boy needs to become successful first."
The room burst into laughter.
Krish looked betrayed.
Then Dad joined in.
"Arre, the interview is already cleared. What more do you want?"
Avyukt pretended to think.
"Hmm..."
Then suddenly he looked at Krish.
"What happened to the phone?"
"You were supposed to gift Siya one, right?"
Immediately Krish straightened.
"I'll buy sooner."
"I'll give it to her."
Siya became awkward again.
"No, no. That's not necessary."
"My Bade Papa will get me one. Exams are almost over anyway."
Instantly everyone objected.
"Why not?"
"Of course he should."
"Let him give it."
Krish sat there trying-and failing-to hide his smile. And Siya knew exactly why everyone was suddenly supporting this idea.
Because after what felt like forever...
The house wasn't filled with tension.
It was filled with laughter. And nobody wanted that happiness to end.
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