Author pov...

That night, Ishani did not sleep at all.

She lay beside Abhay in the dim silence of the room, her eyes fixed on his sleeping face as if she were trying to read answers hidden beneath his calm expression.

The whole night passed like that heavy, breathless, endless.

Thoughts kept rising in her mind one after another, refusing to let her rest.

Some were painful, some confusing, some so deep that even she could not give them a name.

Her heart felt crowded, yet the room around her was unbearably quiet.

Every now and then, she turned slightly to look at him again, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, wondering how someone could sleep so peacefully while a storm raged inside another person lying just inches away.

By the time morning arrived, Ishani’s eyes were tired, her body weak from exhaustion, but the moment she remembered the date, she forced herself to sit up.

Today was Ishaan’s birthday.

That one thought made her gather the broken pieces of herself.

No matter what she was feeling, she could not let it reach him.

Especially not him. Ishaan was not like other children.

He noticed everything every silence, every trembling breath, every smile that did not reach the eyes.

Being an autistic child, he was deeply sensitive to the smallest shifts around him.

One look at his mother’s face, and he would know something was wrong.

So Ishani pressed her pain down into the quietest corner of her heart and wrapped herself in a soft smile.

She got up from the bed, went to freshen up, and dressed carefully, almost like she was preparing for a role she had to play perfectly.

When she was ready, she walked slowly toward Ishaan’s room.

The early morning light fell gently through the curtains, painting his little room in shades of gold.

Ishaan was still asleep, looking so peaceful, so innocent, as if the world had never touched him with anything cruel.

For a moment, Ishani simply stood there at the door, watching him.

And just like that, all the heaviness in her chest melted into something softer.

A small smile curved on her lips.

She walked to him quietly, sat on the edge of his bed, and brushed his hair back with trembling fingers full of affection.

Then she leaned down and placed a tender kiss on his forehead.

“Happy birthday, mera baccha,” she whispered, her voice so full of love that it nearly broke at the edges.

Ishaan stirred slightly in his sleep, and Ishani’s eyes stayed on him, filled with a tenderness only a mother could carry.

In that moment, despite all her pain, despite the sleepless night, despite the ache sitting inside her heart, he was enough to make her feel alive again.

Without making a noise, she began to decorate his room.

One by one, she placed everything in its place the balloons, the ribbons, the little birthday decorations she had prepared with so much love.

Her hands worked gently, but her eyes kept drifting back to Ishaan again and again, just to make sure he was still sleeping peacefully.

Every small thing she touched carried a piece of her heart.

Now and then, a faint smile appeared on her lips as she imagined the look on his face when he would wake up and see everything.

That thought alone filled the room with warmth, making her exhaustion fade for a little while.

She looked at him for a few seconds more, as if memorizing the peace on his face, then quietly got up and left the room.

Ishani walked to the kitchen and began preparing Ishaan’s favorite breakfast, Ishani kept herself busy with Ishaan’s favorite breakfast, moving from one task to another as if staying occupied would stop her thoughts from returning.

The soft hiss of the pan, the clinking of utensils, the warmth rising from the stove everything gave her something to hold on to.

She had just finished arranging the food when her phone, lying near the counter, began to ring.

The screen lit up with a video call.

Divya.

A tired but genuine smile touched Ishani’s lips. She quickly wiped her hands on the edge of her dupatta and accepted the call.

The moment the screen opened, she saw not just Divya but Vaibhav and Malini too, all three crowded together, their faces bright with excitement.

Before Ishani could even say a proper hello, all three of them began speaking at once.

“Where is Ishaan?” “Is he awake yet?” “Show us our birthday boy!”

Ishani stared at them for a second, then narrowed her eyes with mock anger.

“Wow,” she said, pretending to be offended. “So none of you miss me at all? You only care about Ishaan. Bas, I understand now. I have no value in this family.”

Divya laughed softly, but it was Malini who answered first, her voice warm and affectionate.

“Arre, not like that, Ishani. But today is Ishaan’s birthday, na? That’s why we all got a little too excited.”

The fake annoyance on Ishani’s face slowly melted into a smile.

She shook her head, trying to act upset for a few seconds more, but she could never really stay angry with them.

“Okay,” she said at last, her voice gentler now. “But all of you will wish him one by one, understood? No chaos.”

Vaibhav nodded immediately. “Hmm, of course. We know Ishani… we all understand Ishaan’s condition. We’ll be careful. Now come on, show me my nephew.”

Something soft passed through Ishani’s eyes at those words.

There was comfort in being understood without having to explain everything.

She smiled, picked up the phone properly, and began walking toward Ishaan’s room.

Her steps slowed as she entered.

Ishaan was still asleep, his little face calm, his body curled slightly into the blanket, untouched by the noise and emotions already waiting for him outside that room.

For a moment, Ishani said nothing.

She simply turned the phone toward him.

On the other side of the screen,

Malini, Vaibhav, and Divya fell silent.

All three of them looked at him with so much love that it softened the entire moment.

Their excited expressions turned tender, almost emotional, as if just seeing him peacefully asleep was enough to fill their hearts.

Vaibhav’s eyes warmed instantly, Divya’s smile became quieter, and Malini looked at him with that deep, overflowing affection only the family could hold.

“He looks like an angel,” Divya whispered.

Malini’s face softened even more. “My child…” she said under her breath, almost as if she was afraid even her voice might disturb his sleep.

Vaibhav smiled, his eyes fixed on Ishaan. “Look at him,” he murmured, pride and love blending in his voice. “Still sleeping peacefully on his big day.”

Then Malini’s eyes turned moist. A soft smile trembled on her lips as she whispered, “He has grown up so much…”

Divya nodded, her expression full of affection. “Every time I see him, he looks different. More mature… but still the same sweet Ishaan.”

Vaibhav leaned a little closer to the camera, lowering his voice as though

Ishaan could hear him through the phone. “My nephew is looking too innocent. Wake him up now, Ishani. I want to wish him first.”

Ishani let out a faint laugh and looked at the sleeping child in front of her. “No,” she said softly. “Let him sleep

for a little longer. You know how he gets if someone disturbs his sleep suddenly.”

All three of them agreed immediately.

They knew.

They had seen enough to understand how delicate things could be with Ishaan.

Love for him has taught them patience.

Malini smiled and asked gently, “Did you decorate his room?”

Ishani glanced around and then turned the camera slightly to show them the little decorations she had put up herself simple balloons, ribbons, a birthday banner hanging a little unevenly on the wall.

Nothing extravagant, but every corner carried her love.

Divya’s face lit up. “Ishani, this is so beautiful. You did all this alone?”

Ishani smiled, a little shyly. “Yes. I wanted him to wake up happy.”

Vaibhav gave an approving nod. “He will. Definitely. When he sees all this, he’ll be so happy.”

As if he had sensed their presence somehow, Ishaan stirred.

His fingers moved first, then his eyelashes fluttered.

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Ishani instantly leaned closer, her face softening into the gentlest smile.

“Ishaan…” she called quietly, almost like a lullaby. “Mera baccha…”

His eyes opened little by little, still heavy with sleep.

For a moment he looked confused, blinking at the morning light, and then his gaze fell on Ishani’s face.

He stared at her closely, as if checking her expression the way only he could.

Ishani’s heart skipped.

Even half-asleep, he was reading her.

So she smiled wider, softer, warmer pouring every bit of love and steadiness she could into that one smile.

She brushed his hair back from his forehead and said, in the sweetest voice she could manage, “Happy birthday, my baby.”

A faint smile appeared on Ishaan’s face.

Not big, not loud. Just small and precious. But it was enough to make Ishani’s eyes shine.

Then she lifted the phone a little.

“Look,” she said gently. “Everyone is here to wish you.”

Ishaan turned his head toward the screen.

The moment Malini saw his eyes open, she could not stop herself.

“Happy birthday, my child!” she said, her voice overflowing with love.

Divya smiled brightly and waved. “Happy birthday, Ishaan! God bless you, sweetheart.”

Vaibhav grinned. “Happy birthday, champ. My strongest boy.”

Ishaan looked at the screen silently, still waking up, still processing so many faces and voices at once.

Ishani noticed the slight shift in his expression immediately the way his fingers tightened a little over the bedsheet, the way his eyes flickered.

At once, her hand moved to his shoulder, rubbing it slowly and reassuringly.

“It’s okay,” she murmured. “One by one, hmm? Everyone is wishing you love.”

Her voice grounded him.

He looked at Malini first, then Divya, then Vaibhav, and though he said nothing for a few seconds, his breathing steadied.

Finally, in his quiet, sleepy voice, he said, “Thank you…”

That single soft reply melted all three hearts on the screen.

“Aww,” Divya said. “He sounds so sleepy.”

Vaibhav laughed under his breath. “Still, he answered. That’s enough for me.”

Malini’s eyes remained fixed on him with that deep, aching love. “Stay happy always,” she said softly. “That is all we pray for.”

She leaned down and kissed Ishaan’s temple again. “Come on, birthday boy,” she whispered. “I made your favorite breakfast.”

At that, Ishaan looked at her properly, a little more awake now. “Really?”

Ishani smiled. This time, the smile came easier.

“Yes,” she said. “Everything you like.”

Ishaan rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked around the room once more before his gaze returned to Ishani.

“Mumma…” he asked softly, “where is Papa?”

Ishani’s expression is gentle at once.

She smoothed his hair back from his forehead and said in a warm voice, “Papa is sleeping. Go and wake him up.”

The moment she said that, Ishaan’s face lit up. A bright, genuine happiness spread across his features, washing away the last traces of sleep.

Without wasting another second, he quickly got off the bed and rushed toward Abhay’s room with the innocent excitement only a child could carry so purely.

Ishani watched him go, and for a brief second, a soft smile stayed on her lips.

On the phone screen, Malini and Vaibhav had already started getting busy with their own work, saying they would talk later.

After a few quick words, they left the call, and only Divya remained.

Then Ishani adjusted the phone in her hand and asked gently, “And what about your IVF? How is everything going?”

The moment those words left her mouth, Divya’s face changed.

The playful light in her eyes dimmed, and her expression fell with a sadness she could no longer hide.

“I don’t know, yaar,” Divya said in a tired voice. “I really don’t understand anything anymore. The doctor keeps giving me so many medicines… I’m taking so much every day. Vaibhav stays worried too, seeing me like this.”

Ishani’s heart softened. She leaned against the wall near Ishaan’s room door, her voice turning full of warmth.

“Nothing will go wrong,” she said gently. “Very soon, God will be kind to you too. You’ll become a mother, and Vaibhav bhaiya will become a father.”

Divya gave a faint, tired smile, but it did not quite reach her eyes. “Let’s see,” she murmured. “We’ve been waiting for so many years already.”

“It will happen,” Ishani said firmly, as if trying to pass some of her strength through the screen. “Just have patience.”

Divya exhaled slowly, then looked down for a moment before speaking again. “Vaibhav stays tense all the time, but he doesn’t tell me anything.

These days, there’s very little communication between us. He thinks he can solve every problem on his own.”

Her words lingered in the air.

For a second, Ishani went still.

Something inside her tightened quietly, because those words touched a place she had been avoiding all night.

There isn’t much conversation between me and Abhay either, she thought.

He keeps everything to himself… and I keep drowning in silence.

“Ishani?” Divya’s voice pulled her back. “Where did you get lost?”

Ishani blinked, then quickly smiled as if nothing had happened. “Nowhere,” she said softly. “I was just thinking. When is your next doctor’s appointment?”

“One week later,” Divya replied.

Ishani nodded. “Don’t worry.

Everything will be fine.”

Divya gave a small “hmm,” then after a pause asked, “And Abhay? Is he okay?”

Ishani’s fingers tightened slightly around the phone, but her face stayed calm. “Yes,” she said. “He’s fine.”

Divya looked at her for a long second, as if sensing there was more behind that answer, but she did not push. Instead, her voice softened.

“I miss you,” she said. “When will you come back from London?”

That made Ishani smile, though there was helplessness in it too. “Abhay doesn’t even get one day off,” she said. “How can I come?”

Divya frowned immediately. “What do you mean, how can you come? You and Ishaan come.”

Ishani looked at the screen in disbelief. “Alone?”

Divya rolled her eyes dramatically. “Obviously, you idiot. Why are you scared of everything? Seriously, Ishani, I don’t know what will happen to you.”

Ishani laughed softly, the sound lighter now. “Well, I’m not like you,” she teased, “Who gets angry and runs off to Delhi just because Vaibhav bhaiya doesn't allow you to eat ice cream.”

Divya narrowed her eyes at once, offended and amused at the same time. “Then what was I supposed to do? Vaibhav weren’t letting me eat ice cream. Of course I got angry, so I left.”

Ishani burst into laughter. “You and your tantrums… I seriously don’t know how Vaibhav bhaiya handles you.”

Divya lifted her chin proudly. “What is there to handle? He’s my husband. If he won’t put up with my tantrums, then who will?”

That made Ishani laugh even more.

For a few precious moments, their conversation became light again easy, teasing, familiar.

The kind of warmth only best friends could bring back into each other’s lives, even after tears.

Just then, from the other room, Ishani heard the faint sound of movement and Ishaan’s excited voice calling out to Abhay.

Her smile softened.

“I’ll talk to you later,” she said. “Abhay is awake now.”

“Okay,” Divya replied with a fond smile. “Bye.”

“Bye,” Ishani said gently, and ended the call.

The screen went dark.

Ishani stepped out of Ishaan’s room and paused at the sight before her.

In the soft warmth of the morning, Ishaan and Abhay were laughing together, completely lost in their little game.

Their laughter filled the house with a kind of happiness that made Ishani’s heart feel light.

A tender smile touched her lips as she stood there silently, simply watching them.

Ishaan was the first to notice her.

“Mumma!” he called out happily, his eyes instantly lighting up.

Abhay turned at the sound of Ishaan’s voice and looked at Ishani too.

For a moment, their eyes met.

“Come on, Ishaan,” she said gently. “Let’s go take a bath first, and then we’ll have breakfast.”

At once, Ishaan made a face, his little expression full of protest. “No… I don’t want to bathe.”

Ishani walked a little closer and looked at him with soft amusement. “Why not? It’s your birthday today, remember? Come on.”

Ishaan immediately turned to Abhay, his hopeful eyes silently asking for rescue, as if his father would surely save him from this unfair fate.

But Abhay raised both his hands at once in surrender and said dramatically, “No, Ishaan. Even though I am scared of your mumma.”

Ishaan looked at him in disbelief. “Papa, please…”

Abhay only shook his head, trying hard not to laugh.

Ishaan let out a deep, defeated sigh, the kind only a child could make, and finally gave in.

Quietly, he went with Ishani toward the bathroom while she smiled at herself.

Inside, Ishani carefully helped him get ready for his bath.

With the patience and tenderness only a mother could have, she bathed him gently, dressed him in nice clothes, and fixed his hair lovingly.

Once she was done, she stepped back and admired him with shining eyes.

“See?” she said warmly, cupping his face. “My little prince looks so handsome.”

But Ishaan still kept his lips puffed out, clearly unhappy about having been forced into a bath.

Seeing his sulky face, Ishani laughed softly and suddenly tickled him.

The reaction was instant.

Ishaan burst into laughter, his earlier annoyance melting away in seconds.

His bright little giggles filled the room, and Ishani’s heart softened even more at the sound.

“There now,” she said with a smile. “Come on, let’s go have breakfast quickly.”

Holding him gently, she brought him outside.

Abhay was on the phone, speaking to someone, but the moment he saw Ishani and Ishaan walking toward him, he ended the call without a second thought.

His full attention shifted to them.

“So, Ishaan,” he said, smiling, “you took a bath?”

Ishaan nodded. “Yes, Papa.”

Abhay leaned down and kissed his cheek lovingly. “Okay. Then I’ll go get ready too and come back quickly.”

Ishaan nodded again, calm now, the earlier drama already forgotten.

Ishaan and Ishani were having breakfast together when Abhay walked in, dressed for work and ready to leave.

The moment Ishani saw him, her expression changed.

There was disbelief in her eyes, mixed with quiet disappointment.

“You’re going to the hospital today too?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “It’s Ishaan’s birthday, Abhay.”

Abhay looked at her for a moment before answering, “I’ll come back soon. There’s an important surgery.”

A flicker of anger passed through

Ishani’s eyes, but she swallowed her words.

Ishaan was sitting right there, and she knew how deeply he felt everything around him.

She could not let her emotions spill out in front of him.

After a brief silence, she said softly, “Abhay, I need to talk to you.”

Abhay was still eating. “Tell me.”

“Not in front of Ishaan.”

That made him look at her properly. Something in her tone told him this was not a small matter. He nodded. “Okay. Come.”

Before leaving, Ishani bent slightly toward Ishaan and said gently, “Eat nicely, okay? Mumma and Papa will be right back.”

Ishaan nodded obediently, unaware of the storm quietly building between them.

Ishani and Abhay walked into their room.

The moment they were alone, Abhay turned to her.“Yes, tell me.”

For a second, Ishani said nothing. She stood there, tense and restless, her fingers curling into her palms as if she were trying to hold herself together.

Then, with visible hesitation, she finally spoke.

“The clothes you took off yesterday...” Her voice trembled. “They smelled like a woman’s perfume.”

Abhay looked at her, surprised, then frowned slightly. “So? I met so many people in the hospital. Maybe I hugged someone. That’s why the smell stayed.”

But that answer did not soothe her. If anything, it deepened the ache already sitting inside her.

“You’re not cheating on me, are you, Abhay?” she asked, her eyes filling with hurt. “You come home so late... you barely seem to care about me or Ishaan anymore... What is happening? What’s going on with you?”

For a moment, Abhay just stared at her, stunned by the accusation.

Then he said, almost sharply, “Have you gone mad, Ishani? There’s nothing like that. Why would I ever cheat on you? How could you even think this? I love you.”

His words came quickly, almost too quickly, but Ishani was too emotionally exhausted to notice.

She was clinging to the one thing she needed most in that moment reassurance.

“You’re telling me the truth, right?” she asked again, her voice small and fragile, like she was afraid of the answer.

Abhay’s expression softened. “Hmm. Why would I lie to you?”

That was enough.

Ishani let out a shaky breath, and all the strength she had been forcing into herself since morning suddenly gave way.

Tears rushed to her eyes, and before she could stop them, they spilled over.

Abhay’s face changed the moment he saw her cry. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

“I’m really sorry,” he murmured, holding her close. “It won’t be like this anymore. I’ll give more time to you and Ishaan. Please... don’t think like that.”

The second he embraced her, Ishani broke completely.

She clutched him tightly and cried against his chest, as though all the loneliness she had buried inside herself had finally found a way out.

“I can’t do this alone anymore, Abhay,” she sobbed. “I really can’t... When people call Ishaan mad, I can’t bear it.

Yesterday he kept asking me again and again, ‘Mumma, am I mad?’” Her voice cracked painfully. “It hurt me so much... so much.”

Abhay held her even tighter, one hand moving gently over her back, as if he could somehow soothe the pain she was carrying.

“Shh... shh...” he whispered.

“Everything will be fine. I’ll be there more now. I’ll be more available.”

And in that moment, Ishani was not just crying because of doubt or suspicion.

She was crying because she was tired tired of being strong all the time, tired of carrying fear alone, tired of watching her son get hurt by words he did not deserve.

In Abhay’s arms, she let herself fall apart for the first time in a long while.

For those few moments, all she wanted was no answers, not explanations just someone to tell her that she did not have to carry this pain alone anymore.

Ishani kept crying softly while Abhay tried his best to calm her down, holding her close and whispering gentle words meant to steady her breaking heart.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Mumma? Papa?” Ishaan’s small voice came from outside.

The moment she heard him, Ishani quickly wiped her tears, trying to gather herself before he could see even a trace of her pain.

Abhay gently let go of her and walked to the door.

As soon as he opened it, Ishaan looked up at him with innocent eyes.

“Did you finish your breakfast?” Abhay asked softly.

Ishaan nodded. “Yes.”

A smile spread across Abhay’s face.

He bent down, lifted Ishaan into his arms, and held him close. “So, since you’re not going to school today, what are you going to do?”

Ishaan looked at him with sudden excitement and answered at once, “Birthday shopping.”

Abhay raised his brows with amusement. “Oh? So you’re going to spend the whole day doing birthday shopping?”

Ishaan nodded seriously, as if it was the most obvious plan in the world.

Abhay laughed softly and kissed his cheek. “Okay then. Papa will come home in the evening, and we’ll celebrate Ishaan’s birthday properly.”

At that, Ishaan’s face brightened even more. “Mannat didi and Deeksha aunty will come too, right, Papa?”

“Of course they’ll come,” Abhay said warmly.

By then, Ishani had composed herself. After fixing her face and making sure no sign of her tears remained, she stepped out of the room. A faint smile rested on her lips as she looked at them.

“Okay, Ishaan,” she said gently, though her voice still carried a softness from all the crying, “let Papa go now. Then Papa will come back quickly.”

Ishaan clearly did not like the idea.

His little face fell for a moment, reluctant to let his father go.

But even then, he quietly nodded and said, “Okay.”

Abhay carefully placed Ishaan into Ishani’s arms.

For a brief second, his eyes met Ishani’s, and in that silent glance there were too many things left unsaid.

“Bye,” he said softly.

“Bye,” Ishani replied.

Abhay picked up his bag and walked away.

And as the door closed behind him, the house fell into a strange silence once again.

Ishaan and Ishani spent the day shopping for his birthday, and by the time they returned home, the house felt filled with quiet excitement.

After getting ready in nice clothes, they waited for the guests to arrive, the evening carrying that soft festive warmth that only birthdays seemed to bring.

After some time, Mannat arrived.

But she was not alone.

A young boy stood beside her, unfamiliar and slightly hesitant, while

Deeksha followed just behind them.

The moment Ishani saw him, confusion crossed her face.

She looked from the boy to Deeksha and asked, “Deeksha, who is this boy?”

Deeksha gave a small, unreadable smile and said, “Why don’t you ask Mannat, Bhabhi?”

So Ishani turned to Mannat. “Mannat, who is he?”

Mannat answered without hesitation, her voice simple but serious. “Ishani Aunty, this is my friend Vedant. He’s my classmate. His mother and father have died, and now someone else was going to adopt him. But Vedant ran away from that house and came to mine... so I brought him here for Ishaan’s birthday.”

For a moment, silence settled in the room.

Ishani’s eyes shifted toward Deeksha, as if trying to understand the full meaning behind what had just been said.

Deeksha let out a dry laugh and said, “See, Bhabhi? She can barely handle herself, and yet she’s so young and already trying to protect another boy too.”She laughed again, amused by the absurdity of it.

But this time, Mannat shot her mother a sharp, angry look the kind that carried more disappointment than words ever could.

The effect was instant.

Deeksha’s laughter faded, and she fell silent.

“Mannat,” Ishanisaid gently but firmly, “this is not right. Bringing him away like this... running from home... that is wrong. If his adoptive parents were not good people, then we should have spoken to the police.”

Mannat lowered her gaze for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, Ishani aunty... you’re right.”

The moment those words were spoken, Vedant’s face turned pale.

Fear rushed into his eyes so quickly that it was as if the ground beneath him had disappeared.

No,” he said at once, his small voice trembling. “Please... don’t talk to anyone. Please. I just want to stay with Mannat.”

His words came out broken with panic, and his little hands clenched tightly at his sides.

Ishani’s eyes softened the moment she looked at him properly.

He was terrified not stubborn, not rude, just scared in the way only a child who had seen too much could be.

Very carefully, she knelt down a little and held out her hand.

“Come here, Vedant,” she said softly.

But Vedant did not move. He stayed exactly where he was, frozen with fear.

Mannat turned toward him and said quietly, “Go, Vedant. Ishani aunty is nice.”

After a long hesitant pause, Vedant finally took a few slow steps forward.

His movements were unsure, as though he was ready to run back at any second.

When he came close enough, Ishani studied his face gently and asked in a calm voice, “Tell me... who were your parents?”

Vedant answered in the innocent, unguarded way children often did, unaware of how heavy some truths could sound.

The moment Ishani heard the names, her entire body went still.

Shock flashed across her face.

She looked up immediately at

Deeksha, and for the first time there was visible fear in her eyes. Deeksha looked back at her, equally tense now.

After a moment, Ishani looked at

Vedant again and said in a hushed voice, almost unable to believe it,

“Your father was... the right-hand man of a don?”

Vedant only stared at her blankly, not fully understanding what that meant.

He was too young to grasp the weight hidden inside adult words, too young to know why the room had suddenly become so silent.

A chill passed through Ishani. Fear rose quietly inside her chest.

Deeksha stepped in at once and said, trying to calm her, “There is nothing to be scared of, Bhabhi.”

But Ishani’s voice was tight when she replied, “Deeksha... please. Leave him back where he came from.”

The words had barely left her lips when Vedant shook his head wildly.

“No,” he said, his fear returning all at once. “No, please... I don’t want to go back.”

His small voice cracked, and his eyes filled again, not with tears yet, but with that desperate helplessness that comes just before them.

For a second, no one spoke.

Mannat looked torn, Deeksha stood stiffly, and Ishani remained frozen between fear and pity.

Deeksha immediately turned to Vedant and softened her voice. “Okay, Vedant. We are not taking you anywhere. Calm down.”

The little boy’s breathing remained uneven, but hearing those words seemed to steady him a little.

He still stayed close to Mannat, as though she were the only place where he felt safe.

Deeksha then gently took Ishani aside, pulling her a little away from the children so they could not hear.

“Bhabhi, please,” she said quietly, trying to make her understand, “Please don't scare children like this. I will drop Vedant back later.”

Ishani still looked disturbed. Her eyes flickered toward Vedant again, and worry tightened her face. “But what if something happens?”

“Nothing will happen,” Deeksha said firmly, trying to reassure her. “Please don’t worry.”

Ishani exhaled slowly and gave a small nod, though the uneasiness inside her had not fully left. “Hmm.”

After a pause, Deeksha glanced toward the door and asked, “Bhai still hasn’t come?”

Ishani replied, “He called. He said he’s coming.”

Deeksha nodded at that.

On the other side of the room, Ishaan, Mannat, and Vedant had slowly begun talking to each other.

Soon, the three children were playing together, their small voices and innocent laughter filling the room with a softness that briefly pushed away the heaviness from earlier.

Ishani and

Deeksha stood watching them in silence.

Then, after some time, Abhay arrived.

The moment Ishani saw him, an instant glow of relief spread across her face.

It was as if his presence alone had lifted something heavy from her chest.

Ishaan noticed him the very next second.

“Papa!” he called out happily, his entire face lighting up.

Abhay smiled at once and went straight to him.

He lifted Ishaan into his arms with ease, and the two of them began talking with easy smiles, as though the world around them had disappeared.

Mannat and Vedant stood quietly nearby, watching them.

Neither child said anything, but something in their eyes changed.

There was a stillness there, a silent ache, as if the sight of Ishaan in his father’s arms had awakened the emptiness inside them the quiet space where a father’s love should have been.

Deeksha noticed it too.

Perhaps that was why she quickly changed the mood. Clapping her hands lightly, she said, “Come on then, let’s cut the cake.”

Ishani went to bring the cake, and soon all the children gathered around it.

The room slowly came alive again. There was laughter, soft chatter, little hands reaching forward, and the sweet excitement that only a birthday could bring.

Together, they cut the cake, and everyone ate while talking among themselves, the earlier tension fading beneath the warmth of the celebration.

For a few moments, everything seemed almost normal.

Then Ishani’s phone buzzed.

She glanced at it absentmindedly at first, but when she saw that the message had come from an unknown number, a faint frown crossed her face.

It was a video.

Without thinking much, she opened it.

The video cuts to Abhay entering his hospital cabin.

To his surprise, Elena is already there, seated firmly in his space. Abhay halts, his gaze cold as he looks at her.

"What are you doing here, Elena?" he demands, his voice tight. "Go back to your own cabin."

Elena looks up, a mocking glint in her eyes. "Why did you hang up on me this morning? Did your wife and kid show up suddenly?"

Abhay stares at her, his expression hardening. "Elena, I don't want to talk. Just leave. Whatever was between us... it’s over. As of today, we are done."

Elena’s face contorts with sudden rage. "Just like that? It’s over because you say so? You think you can just use me whenever you feel like it, and then, the moment you feel a flicker of guilt for cheating on your wife, you can just tell me to forget everything?"

She stands up, stepping closer.

"You’ve been cheating on her for ten years! You left me here in London, went to India, married her, and then brought her back here only to cheat on her again."

Abhay’s jaw tightens, a muscle pulsing in his cheek.

He lunges forward, grabbing her arm firmly. "Get out of my cabin. Now."

Elena looks at him for a beat, her anger suddenly melting into a desperate plea.

She throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Okay, I’m sorry... I won’t say anything else. Just don't kick me out like this. I love you, Abhay."

Abhay remains stiff, his voice devoid of affection. "But I don't love you. I’ve told you a thousand times I love Ishani. Today, she started doubting me, and I cannot bear the thought of losing her. I can't see her drifting away from me. This... whatever relation we have, I want to end it."

Elena pulls back slightly, searching his eyes. "Do you really want to end it?"

Abhay looks her dead in the eye."Yes."

Suddenly, she lunges forward, pressing her lips against his in a forceful kiss.

Abhay tries to push her away, but she persists with a desperate strength, her hands reaching for the buttons of his shirt.

"No, Elena!" Abhay grunts, struggling to break her hold.

Abhay finally snapped. The wall he’d built around his heart crumbled in a second as he pulled Elena into a deep, soul-shaking kiss.

It wasn't gentle anymore it was a desperate, hungry claim.

The air in his cabin turned electric, heavy with the scent of his cologne and her perfume.

Their hands moved frantically, fumbling with buttons and zippers as they shed their clothes like they were on fire. There was no more waiting, no more.

He lowered her onto the couch, his eyes dark with a raw, animalistic need. As he pushed into her core,

Elena gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. It was intense a wild, rhythmic heat that made her vision blur.

She didn't want him to stop she needed this fire.

They moved together in a feverish blur, chasing that edge until they both crashed into a blinding, beautiful orgasm, lost in each other’s arms.

The tension in the cabin didn't fade even after the peak.

They both collapsed into each other, breathless and shaking as the aftershocks of their orgasm finally settled.

But even then, the heat between them was far from over.

The silence of the office was gone, replaced by the sound of Elena’s ragged breathing and the soft friction of skin.

As she sank to her knees, the power dynamic shifted in a heartbeat.

Abhay’s hands, usually so steady and professional, were trembling now.

When she took his dick in her mouth his fingers buried themselves in her hair, pulling her closer with a desperate, crushing grip.

"Elena..." his voice was a broken wreck, a low, guttural grunt that tore from his throat.

He wasn't the boss anymore. He wasn't the man in the suit.

He was just a raw nerve, pulsing with a need that felt like it would never be satisfied.

He guided her deeper, his hips arching off the seat, pushing until he hit the back of her throat.

A choked moan escaped her, muffled and desperate, and the sound of it sent a jolt of pure electricity through his spine.

He closed his eyes tight, his jaw locking so hard it ached.

Every muscle in his body was coiled like a spring, caught in that agonizing, beautiful blur where pleasure and pain become the same thing.

Shock crashed through Ishani so suddenly that all the sound around her seemed to disappear.

The laughter, the chatter, the birthday noise everything faded into the background.

Her fingers went cold around the phone.

The color drained from her face as she stared at the video, unable to move, unable to breathe properly, as if what she had just seen had shaken something deep inside her.

And in the middle of that cheerful birthday evening, with children laughing only a few steps away,

Ishani felt a terrifying darkness open silently before her.

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