48 | The ending they deserve
Four Years Later...
Four years passed in the blink of an eye.
Life had changed.
But somehow, everyone was happier than ever.
Krish's hard work had finally paid off. He had received a major promotion and was earning well now. His engagement day with Siya had finally arrived.
Siya was busy pursuing her medical studies and was doing exceptionally well.
Ruhi, who was now married, wasn't just attending the engagement as a guest anymore...
She had also come with her 1-year-old daughter.
Little Aaruhi.
A tiny bundle of joy who instantly became everyone's favorite.
And Avantika...
She had officially taken over the CEO position of Vardhan Group.
Meanwhile, Avyukt had become even more successful than before. As Chairman of Vardhan Group, his influence had only grown.
There was just one small problem.
The Chairman of Vardhan Group was still terrified of his CEO wife.
Every employee knew it.
Every board member knew it.
And Avyukt himself definitely knew it.
---
Vardan Group Headquarters.
Monday Morning.
The entire floor became alert the moment two very familiar little figures stepped out of the elevator.
Four-year-old Aarav Vardan.
And his twin sister, Ritika Vardan.
Both had arrived with their caretakers.
The moment the elevator doors opened, they jumped down from their caretakers' arms.
Both wore tiny sunglasses.
Both had serious expressions.
And both walked through the floor like they owned the entire building.
Which technically...
One day they would.
Employees immediately stood up.
"Good morning, Sir."
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Aarav casually lifted his tiny hand.
Ritika did the same.
Wearing a beautiful bracelet on her tiny hands.
As if greeting employees was part of their daily CEO duties.
The staff tried desperately not to laugh.
---
Soon the twins reached the familiar fork in the hallway.
Without discussing it, both separated.
Like always.
Ritika turned toward her father's cabin.
Aarav turned toward his mother's.
---
Inside Avyukt's cabin.
A serious meeting was going on.
Board members were discussing numbers.
Presentations were being shown.
Everyone was focused.
Then the cabin door opened.
Tiny footsteps entered.
The entire room immediately relaxed.
"Princess is here."
Ritika ignored everyone.
She walked straight to Avyukt.
Climbed onto his lap without permission.
And stole his glasses.
Avyukt immediately smiled.
"Good morning, baby."
Ritika pointed at his coffee.
"No."
Avyukt obediently pushed the coffee away.
Board members exchanged looks.
The Chairman listened to nobody.
Except his daughter.
---
On the other side.
Inside Avantika's cabin.
Aarav entered confidently.
Avantika was reviewing files.
Without saying anything, he climbed onto her lap.
Wrapped his little arms around her neck.
And kissed her cheek.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then continued sitting there.
Like that was his full-time job.
Avantika laughed.
"Good morning, Aarav."
Another kiss.
"Mumma."
Another kiss.
"Mumma."
Another kiss.
Employees outside were already used to this.
---
A few minutes later, Avyukt entered Avantika's cabin.
The moment he walked in, he saw Aarav sitting comfortably in his mother's lap.
Still hugging her.
Still kissing her cheeks every few seconds.
Avyukt narrowed his eyes.
Aarav ignored him.
Avyukt narrowed them further.
Aarav kissed Avantika again.
"Love you, Mumma."
That was it.
Avyukt finally spoke.
"Excuse me."
Aarav looked at him.
"What?"
"You've been hugging my wife for ten minutes."
Aarav blinked.
"So?"
Avantika immediately hid her smile.
Avyukt looked betrayed.
"He's doing this on purpose."
Aarav hugged Avantika tighter.
"She's my Mumma."
"She's my wife."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
The argument continued.
Meanwhile, Ritika walked in carrying Avyukt's expensive sunglasses upside down.
She looked at both of them.
Then at Avantika.
Then at Avyukt.
And declared,
"Mumma is mine."
Immediately both children stood on one side.
Against their father.
---
Avantika laughed so hard she had to put her files down.
And Avyukt sat there staring at his own children.
Jealous.
Of a four-year-old boy.
And a four-year-old girl.
His own children.
Which, according to everyone in the family, was the most Avyukt thing ever.
________
********
- The Engagement Night
The entire mansion was glowing like a dream.
Fairy lights wrapped around the pillars.
Fresh flowers everywhere.
Music soft but full of happiness.
Tonight wasn't just Krish and Siya's engagement...
It felt like the celebration of everything everyone had survived together.
---
Krish stood at one side, nervously fixing his suit again and again.
Siya walked in wearing a soft pastel outfit, her smile shy but sure.
Ruhi was the loudest of all, shouting,
"Finally! I get to see my brother engaged before I turn old!"
Everyone laughed.
While Aaruhi was sitting in Ruhi's lap, dressed in a cute pastel frock, clapping her tiny hands every time people clapped.
Whenever Aaruhi giggled, the entire family melted.
Even Avyukt, who usually acted strict, couldn't stop himself from softening when she reached out her tiny hands toward him.
Avantika smiled and said,
"Looks like the next generation of chaos has already started."
Ruhi laughed.
"And she's worse than all of us combined."
Krish leaned closer and added,
"Give her a few years... she'll take over Vardan Group."
---
Avantika stood near the stage, holding Aarav in her arms.
Ritika was sitting proudly on Avyukt's shoulder like she was the queen of the world.
Avyukt stood beside Avantika, one hand protectively around her waist.
Even now, after everything, his eyes kept checking on her every few seconds.
Avantika noticed and whispered,
"I'm fine."
He replied instantly,
"That's exactly why I'm checking."
---
In the crowd...
Renuka smiled with tears in her eyes.
Abhyukt's father stood quietly beside Avantika's father, finally at peace.
Krish's mother held Siya's mother's hand like they were family long before this day.
Ruhi's husband watched everyone fondly, smiling at the chaos.
Avantika's mother kept fixing Siya's hair every five minutes even though it was already perfect.
---
Aarav suddenly ran down from Avantika's lap and hugged her legs.
"Mumma!"
Before she could respond, Ritika leaned from Avyukt's shoulder and called out,
"Mumma is mine!"
Avyukt immediately corrected,
"Both of them are mine."
Avantika rolled her eyes.
"Both of you are impossible."
---
Krish and Siya exchanged rings.
Applause filled the hall.
Lights shimmered.
For a moment, everything felt complete.
---
And then...
A silence broke the happiness.
A familiar name entered the room.
Abhimanyu.
Everyone turned.
The smile on Krish's face faded slightly.
Siya stiffened.
Ruhi looked away immediately.
Renuka's expression tightened.
---
Abhimanyu stood near the entrance.
Alone.
Different.
But not the same arrogant boy anymore.
He looked at Krish.
Then at the family.
Then at Avantika.
And finally lowered his eyes.
"I didn't come to disturb anything," he said quietly.
Silence.
---
Avyukt took a step forward.
Avantika gently held his hand.
Not stopping him.
Just grounding him.
---
Krish spoke first.
"You're late."
Abhimanyu nodded.
"Yeah... I know."
A pause.
Then he added softly,
"I just came to see... if everyone is still okay."
No one replied immediately.
---
Renuka finally spoke, voice heavy but calm.
"You made mistakes."
Abhimanyu didn't deny it.
"I know."
Silence again.
Then she said,
"But you're still standing."
That was enough.
Not forgiveness.
Not acceptance.
But closure.
---
Siya looked at him once.
Then turned away.
Krish didn't say anything else.
He just held her hand tighter.
---
Abhimanyu nodded slightly.
"I won't stay."
He looked at Krish one last time.
"Congratulations."
And then he looked at Avantika and Avyukt.
A small pause.
Then he said,
"You both... look happy."
Avantika didn't respond.
But she didn't look away either.
---
Abhimanyu turned.
And left.
No drama.
No collapse.
---
Abhimanyu had just reached the exit when a voice stopped him.
"Wait."
He froze.
It was Avyukt.
Slowly, Avyukt walked forward. No anger this time. No tension. Just something tired... and real.
Everyone held their breath.
Avantika watched silently, holding the twins closer.
---
Avyukt stood in front of Abhimanyu for a long moment.
Then he said quietly,
"You made mistakes."
Abhimanyu lowered his eyes.
"I know."
A pause.
Then Avyukt added,
"But I'm not losing my brother again."
That sentence hit harder than any anger ever could.
Abhimanyu looked up, shocked.
His voice broke slightly as he spoke.
"You still... consider me your brother?"
Avyukt gave a small, tired smile.
"Unfortunately for me... yes."
A tear slipped from Abhimanyu's eye.
He didn't wipe it.
---
Behind them, Krish exhaled slowly.
Ruhi blinked, surprised.
Even Renuka looked away, emotional.
---
Abhimanyu whispered,
"I don't deserve it."
Avyukt replied instantly,
"Maybe not. But guilt isn't a place you live in forever."
He stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Fix what you can. That's enough."
A long silence.
Then Abhimanyu nodded.
Slowly.
Finally.
---
Avyukt turned slightly, half-looking back at the family.
"And don't make me repeat this emotional speech again. I have CEO meetings."
That broke the tension instantly.
Ruhi laughed through tears.
Krish shook his head.
Avantika smiled faintly.
---
Abhimanyu gave a small, broken smile too.
"Thank you... bhai."
Avyukt didn't say anything else.
He just gave a slight nod.
That was his way of accepting.
---
And this time, when Abhimanyu walked out...
He didn't leave as an outsider.
He left as someone who still had a place to come back to.
____
Music started again.
Laughter returned.
Someone pulled Krish back to the stage.
Ruhi started teasing again.
Siya finally smiled properly.
Avyukt leaned closer to Avantika.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
He smirked slightly.
"Good. Because I still have to survive
your CEO mood tomorrow."
She smiled.
"And I have to survive your Chairman attitude."
Aarav clapped from her lap.
Ritika shouted,
"Party again!"
Everyone laughed.