41 | double happened
_________________________________________
After setting everything up, Avyukt left without even having breakfast.
He told everyone he had some work and headed straight to the hospital to collect Avantika's reports and documents.
Meanwhile, Avantika was sitting at the breakfast table.
Waiting.
Every few seconds she glanced toward the entrance. But Avyukt didn't come.
Renuka noticed immediately.
"Is everything alright between you two?"
Avantika quickly looked up.
"Haan, Maa. Everything is fine."
Before anyone could ask more questions, Siya quietly came and sat beside her.
Leaning closer, she whispered,
"How long are you planning to hide it, Di?"
Avantika glared at her.
"I'll tell him."
"When?"
"I'll tell him."
"Di."
"He doesn't have a brain."
Siya immediately started laughing.
At that exact moment everyone looked toward them.
"What doesn't he have?" Ruhi asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," both sisters replied together.
---
A few minutes later, Avantika still hadn't touched her breakfast.
Siya finally had enough. She picked up her phone and called Avyukt.
On the second ring he answered.
"What happened?"
Siya immediately complained.
"Your wife isn't eating."
Instant silence.
Then the call disconnected.
---
A few moments later Avyukt called Avantika .
She picked up.
"What?"
"Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Avantika."
"I'm angry."
"That isn't a valid reason."
"It is for me."
Then she cut the call.
Avyukt stared at his phone.
Then sighed.
---
Before leaving, he stopped near a few stores.
Bought fruits.
Healthy snacks.
Juices.
And a ridiculous amount of things he thought she might like.
Then he finally sat inside his car.
Ready to go home.
His gaze fell on the file lying beside him.
Finally he opened it properly.
One page.
Then another.
Then another.
His eyes stopped moving. For a few seconds he forgot how to breathe.
He looked down again.
Read the line once more.
Then again.
And again.
Just to make sure he wasn't imagining things.
A slow smile appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then returned even bigger.
"No way."
He looked at the report again.
Then laughed.
A completely disbelieving laugh.
"No way."
The file slipped onto the passenger seat.
Avyukt got out of the car.
Immediately.
Without thinking.
Without caring.
The security guard outside the parking area looked confused as Avyukt started walking back and forth.
Running a hand through his hair.
Laughing.
Stopping.
Then laughing again.
One poor employee happened to walk past him.
Avyukt grabbed his shoulder.
The man froze.
"Sir?"
Avyukt pointed toward the file inside the car. Then toward himself.
Then back toward the file.
The employee looked terrified.
"Sir...?"
"I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER."
The employee blinked.
"Oh."
Then Avyukt immediately corrected himself.
"No."
He pointed toward the file again. Then laughed like a complete madman.
"No. That's not the important part."
The employee became even more confused.
"What important part, sir?"
Avyukt just looked at the report.
Then at the sky.
Then back at the report.
Still unable to believe what he was reading.
To his own surprise, the great Avyukt Vardhan had absolutely no idea what to do next.
_______
Avyukt practically ran inside the house.
For once, he wasn't thinking.
Wasn't planning.
Wasn't acting like the calm and collected CEO everyone knew.
He was just...
Happy.
Ridiculously happy.
The moment he entered, Siya happened to be passing near the entrance. Before she could even say hello- Avyukt pulled her into a hug.
Siya froze.
"Jiju?!"
When she pulled back, she noticed the tears in his eyes.
Now she was completely confused.
"What happened?"
Avyukt laughed.
A shaky, emotional laugh.
"I'm going to be a father."
Siya blinked. Then smiled.
"Haan, I know."
Avyukt shook his head immediately.
"No, that's not it."
"What?"
He looked at her, still unable to process it himself.
Then almost shouted,
"Siya, I'm going to be the father of TWO babies!"
"What?"
"TWINS!"
The word echoed through the house And someone else heard it too.
Avantika.
Who had been standing halfway down the stairs.
She froze.
For a second, she was shocked seeing Avyukt hug Siya. But the moment she heard the word- Twins.
Everything else disappeared.
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Both Siya and Avyukt looked up. Avantika was standing on the stairs, staring at him.
Completely stunned.
Avyukt's smile immediately faded.
" Uh oh."
Caught.
Avantika slowly walked down the stairs.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
Until she stopped in front of him.
"You knew?"
Avyukt opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"I can explain-"
"You knew?"
The glare got stronger.
"I was waiting for you to tell me-"
"You lied."
"I didn't lie!"
"You did."
"I just didn't tell you."
"Same thing."
"It is not the same thing."
"It is."
"It isn't."
"It is."
Siya wisely disappeared.
Immediately.
This was no longer her problem.
---
A few minutes later, both of them were sitting in their room.
Avantika on the bed.
Legs folded.
Arms crossed.
Still upset.
Avyukt was sitting on the floor in front of her. Trying very hard to look innocent. Which wasn't working.
At all.
"I was waiting for you to tell me."
She looked away.
"I had a plan."
"I had a plan too."
"What plan?"
"To tell you."
"When?"
"Eventually."
"That's not a timeline."
Despite herself, Avantika almost smiled.
Almost.
Then suddenly she paused.
The anger faded.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She looked at him.
"What did you say downstairs?"
Avyukt blinked.
"What?"
"You said twins."
Silence.
Both stared at each other. Then Avyukt slowly held up the report.
His smile returned.
A huge one.
"Twins."
For a seconds Avantika just stared.
Processing.
Trying to understand.
Then her hand moved to her stomach.
"Twins?"
Avyukt nodded.
Still smiling.
Still looking like he might cry.
"Twins."
The realization hit both of them at the same time. And suddenly neither of them cared about the argument anymore.
Avantika's eyes filled with tears.
Avyukt's did too.
Then she practically threw herself at him. He caught her immediately.
Holding her carefully.
Tightly.
The two of them laughed and cried at the same time.
Neither able to believe it.
Neither wanting to let go.
Two tiny heartbeats.
Two little lives.
The family they had dreamed about was suddenly twice as big.
Avyukt rested his forehead against hers.
Still smiling through his tears.
Neither of them said anything.
They just sat there together.
Holding each other.
Holding on to the happiness.
And letting it finally sink in.