48.
Urmila is looking at an old album and smiles with tears seeing her baby Aarav giving a toothless smile looking toward the camera. Her fingers caress the picture before she kisses it letting her tears fall.
"Don't be angry with Mom, Ari. Mom will do anything you say but just come back, baby," she cried looking at another picture in which she was holding him close to her heart while he was kissing her cheek.
As she flipped to the next page, her eyes fell on the 3 year old Veer looking at newborn Aarav with happy glowing eyes.
She smiles unknowingly remembering how excited Veer was to see his baby brother.
And she placed a two days old baby in front of him.
He gasps cutely and looks at him as if Aarav was some alien.
"Everything is shattered. I destroy everything, Di," Urmila said while crying and looking at smiling Naina's picture.
She sob while smiling looking at the happy faces in the album unlike now.
Her cry echoes in the empty room where there is no one to hear her painful cry. But whom should she blame? She, herself is the sole reason.
Her tears fell on the photos. She closes the album and places it against her chest. She closes her tired eyes and looks outside the window in a daze while sitting on a single chair.
Sumitra who was standing outside the room wiped her tears in anger, looking at the condition of her daughter.
"I will make everything right, Urmi," She said, feeling pity for her daughter.
"Avni…I don't think Veer will agree," Preet sadly said and sighed.
"Then We are not having a baby shower if you and Bhai won't come," Avni said sadly and emotionally blackmailed her.
"Don't say like this, Avni. Okay, I will talk to him. Take care of yourself," after that Avni hung up the call.
Preet looked at the time and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner as Veer must be coming back.
Hearing the doorbell, Preet smiled and wiped her hand with the cloth before rushing to open the door.
She smiled widely as she opened the door for Veer. He placed a light kiss on her cheek making her grin.
"Seeing your beautiful smile, all my tiredness flew away," He said, looking at her with a love filled gaze. She giggles at his cheesy words.
He wraps his arm around her waist as they walk inside the house. He sat on the sofa and let out a deep breath due to exhaustion. Preet brings him water to drink and gives him before sitting beside him.
"How was the day?" she asked, taking an empty glass from him and placed it on the table.
"Same.. tiring and busy," he said and lay down, placing his head on her lap. Preet wipes the sweat from his face from her dupatta and caresses his hair while looking at him with a proud yet sad smile.
Her husband is working so hard to provide them with all the basic necessities.
She applied for a few jobs to share the financial burden but she didn't get any reply from any company.
Also, she is a culinary student and graduated with the same.
So it would be hard for her to get a job other than the hotel and restaurant business.
She applied in a few restaurants. Let's see what she will get.
Veer buries his face in her belly making her giggle feeling ticklish as he rubs his face cutely over her cloth-cladded tummy.
He smiles and slowly slips his hand inside her loose Kurta.
"Veer!! Don't… " she exclaimed, giving him a warning look as he softly stroked her soft chubby belly.
Her hand which was buried in his hair gripped his hair when he kissed her stomach over her Kurta and snuggled into her chubby belly. While Preet is feeling hot at his innocent action and closes her eyes while her lips quiver in need.
She gasped and threw her head back when he pushed his thumb into her belly button making her lower suddenly tremble badly.
"Oh!!!" she let out a shaky moan and gritted her teeth.
Veer look at her finds her looking breathtaking while breathing heavily and closing her eyes tightly. He smiled mischievously and swiftly sat up on the soft, making her open her eyes with a jerk. She gulped and looked at him with her dark eyes.
"I think I should shower now," he innocently said and stood up. She looked at him in disbelief and anger.
But suddenly she squealed in surprise when he picked her up and started going toward their room.
"Will you help me, wife?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. She bites her lower lip controlling the big smile from forming on her face.
He chuckles at her happy yet shy face and kisses her forehead before locking the door of the bathroom behind them.
"Veer, Avni called me today," she began as she served rice in his place.
"Hmm, ..Aarav also called me to inform about the baby shower but I denied," Preet looked at him and glared at him.
"Seriously Veer," she said, sitting on the chair looking at him.
"Yea, seriously. Can I get one more roti?" he said then casually said to her, making her more angry.
She sighs loudly thinking about his behavior with Aarav and Avni when they are not at fault. She placed the roti on his plate.
"They are innocent, Veer. Don't be cold to them just because of Choti Ma. Avni really wants us to present there and bless her baby. I also want to see her. She is like my little sister, Veer. I know you also wanted to go but something stopped you," Preet softly said, pressing her hand on his.
Veer sighs and looks at her eyes which are pleading to him.
"Preet, Choti Ma and her mother would also be there. I don't want to face them. It's not because of Aarav or Avni but because of other members of the Rajvansh family. I am not in the state of mind to face any of them. I had enough of them. I am happy with just the two of us. Aarav,
Avni and their baby will always have my bless with them. We will send some gifts for the baby," Preet sighed as her face fell but she still nodded her head not wanting to force him.
"Don't be sad please. I really wish the situation was different," see his face, Preet smiles and kisses his hand.
"It's okay," she told him. He feels really grateful for having her with him. She is so selfless and understanding.
"I love you, My heart," he whispered, making her grin.
"Love you too," she cutely said, making him chuckle softly.
"Veer apka lunch!" Preet said, place his lunch box in his office bag while he was wearing his shirt. He nodded without looking at her.
"Is poha okay or do you want something else for breakfast?" she asked, looking at him.
"Poha is fine," he said and sat on the chair to wear his shoes.
She was about to go outside to arrange his breakfast when her phone rang.
She frowns seeing Avni's name. Veer looked from the corner of his eyes and asked,
"Who is it?"
"Avni," she said and picked up the call.
"Hel-" Preet stopped hearing a crying voice from the other side.
She panicked, hearing Avni crying badly.
"Avni!?" She calls her but Avni keeps on crying badly.
"What happened, Avni? Don't scare me, dear," she asked, getting scared when she didn't say anything, just hiccup.
Veer also gets tense seeing Preet scared and walks to her. He gestures to Preet to turn on the speaker.
"Bhabhi..I-i" Avni tried to say but choked on her words.
"Relax, Jaan. Breath, Avni okay. I am listening," she softly said as if she was talking to a baby.
"I need you, Bhabhi. Please come…Ahh!!" Preet's heart drops in fear hearing her painful scream. While Veer's heart stops for a second. They share a concerned look.
"Avni, what happened? Are you okay? Where is Aarav? And Anaya? Avni!" Preet said and quickly took her dupatta from the cupboard.
"Avni, please say something," she said worriedly, hearing only her sniffing sound.
She and Veer run out of the house and get a taxi to the company's penthouse.
Avni is just crying and asking her to come and she needs her now.
After 15 minutes, tense Veer and Preet get out of the auto. Avni is still on the call and sniffing while Preet tells her to breathe and stay calm. In a rush, they forget to call and ask Aarav about Avni.
Veer stops a second looking at the huge glass building which he built with his sweat and blood. He shook his head and went toward the backside of the side from where they took the private lift to reach the top floor where the penthouse is.
Preet ran out as soon as the lift stopped. Veer ran after her and punched the code as Preet didn't know.
"Avni!!" Preet slam open the door and step inside.
But she frowned seeing the decoration all around. Silver and lavender color balloons were beautifully arranged everywhere. Her eyes then fell on Avni, who was eating fruit salad while sniffing. Aarav is glaring at her while Anaya is giggling at them.
But their eyes turn toward hearing Preet's voice. Avni snapped her head toward Preet and a wide smile formed on her face with her eyes tearing up instantly.
Veer was shocked to see the house beautifully decorated. Then his eyes fell on the big banner saying
'Happy Baby Shower!'
Preet who was a few seconds ago panicked and worriedly suddenly felt angry at Avni.
"Bhabhi!! See I told you she will come," Avni said grinning as she placed the fruit salad bowl aside.
Veer looks at Avni then Preet who is ready to burst out at any moment. He instantly held her hand and gave a gentle squeeze to calm her down.
"What is this Avni, huh? Do you think it is a joke huh? Do you have any idea how scared I get!!??" Preet scolds her making Avni smile fall and she looks down feeling bad. Aarav gulped seeing Preet so angry and looked at Veer who was also glaring at him.
Preet let out a loud sigh before taking a deep long breath to calm herself when Avni started sobbing. Her eyes turn soft when Avni slowly looks at her while sniffing.
Avni is looking more beautiful with a pregnancy glow on her face. Preet smiles internally seeing her chubby cheeks as she gains a good amount of weight since she last saw.