47 | Forever, Again.
Avyukt Vardan:
"Peace!!....The world saw a stock market king following a girl. I saw a man choosing the only thing money could never buy."
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The Vardan Villa wakes up unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
The twins are sleeping in their cribs.
Avyukt wakes up before Avantika and quietly takes both babies with him so she can sleep a little longer.
When Avantika wakes up, the room is empty.
Immediately:
"Avyukt?"
No answer.
"Babies?"
Still no answer.
Avantika immediately becomes suspicious.
Because:
Avyukt isn't in bed.
The twins are missing.
Everyone is acting weird.
When she comes downstairs, nobody makes eye contact.
"Where's Avyukt?"
Ruhi suddenly becomes very interested in a flower vase.
Krish starts reading a newspaper upside down.
Siya nearly chokes on her tea.
"Why is everyone acting strange?"
"No reason," they all reply together.
Which obviously means there is a reason.
---
The entire day, Avantika keeps trying to find out what's happening.
But nobody tells her anything.
Every time she asks Avyukt, he simply smiles.
"Patience, bachha."
"I hate patience."
"I know."
---
Meanwhile...
The villa is in complete chaos behind the scenes. Because Avyukt has secretly planned a surprise anniversary celebration. And absolutely nothing is going according to plan.
The cake arrives at the wrong gate.
The decorator gets lost.
The twins refuse to wear matching outfits.
Ruhi keeps revealing hints accidentally.
Krish is somehow making everything worse. And Siya is the only competent person trying to save the situation.
---
At one point:
"Krish, don't tell bhabhi anything."
Five minutes later-
"Bhabhi, if someone hypothetically planned a surprise-"
"KRISH!"
---
Evening arrives.
Avantika is officially annoyed.
"Nobody is talking to me."
Avyukt just kisses her forehead.
"Get ready."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
---
When she finally walks into the garden...
She freezes.
The entire place is covered in warm fairy lights. Pictures from every stage of their journey surround the pathway.
Their first meeting.
Their wedding.
Their arguments.
Their trips.
The born of their twins.
Every memory.
Every chapter.
Every version of them.
---
Avantika blinks.
Then looks at the date.
And realizes...
In all the exhaustion of becoming new parents, she completely forgot.
Their anniversary.
-----
Then Avyukt walks closer.
"Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Vardan."
Avantika laughs through her tears.
"You made me suspicious all day for this?"
"It was worth it."
"You are impossible."
"I know."
---
Then comes the gift.
Everyone expects jewelry.
Maybe diamonds.
Maybe something expensive.
Instead...
Avyukt hands her a scrapbook.
Filled with letters.
One letter for every month anniversary.
Some funny.
Some emotional.
Some written during arguments.
Some written after difficult days.
All of them ending with:
"If I had to choose again, I'd still choose you."
---
By this point:
Ruhi is crying.
Siya is crying.
Avantika's mother is crying.
Even Krish is suspiciously silent.
"Are you crying?" Siya whispers.
"No."
"You are."
"It's dust."
"There is no dust."
---
The anniversary ends with the family dancing, laughing, taking pictures, and celebrating.
And later that night...
After everyone leaves...
Avantika and Avyukt sit alone under the fairy lights.
No speeches.
No grand gestures.
Just quiet happiness.
Avantika rests her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For choosing me."
Avyukt smiles.
Then kisses her forehead.
"That was the easiest decision of my life."
???
Avyukt: "If I had another lifetime, I'd still choose Avantika Avyukt Vardan." ??
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Avantika : "My favorite love story will always be the one where he became my husband and the father of our children." ?
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