After the incident with Tanya, Aarav resolved never to confront Maya again. He didn't want any more innocent lives to suffer because of him. The weight of his past failures his friend Ria's tragic death, her husband's murder, and Tanya's unjust dismissal pressed heavily on him.

One evening, he moved to the servant quarters and found Sharda, the elderly housemaid who had been with his family for years. "Sharda kaki, aap jao yahan se," he urged.

Sharda shook her head, her eyes filled with determination. "Nahi, Aarav baba, main aapko chodke kahi nahi jaungi."

Aarav's anxiety grew. "Kaki, aap samajh kyun nahi rahi ho? Main nahi chahta meri wajah se wo Maya aur Sumitra aapko kisi bhi tarah ka nuksaan pahuchaye," he said, remembering the series of tragedies linked to him.

Sharda gently made him sit on the bed, her hands firm on his shoulders. "Aap shant ho jao. Main nahi jaungi yahan se, Aarav baba. Aapki marti maa ko vachan diya tha maine ki main aapke saath hamesha rahungi."

Hearing his mother's name calmed Aarav. He managed a small smile. "Kaki, Maya ka 9th month chal raha hai. Jald hi bacha iss duniya mein hoga," he said.

"Haan, baba," Sharda replied softly.

"Dekhna, uske aane ke baad mera sab dard door ho jayega... uski ek muskurat se main sukoon paunga," Aarav shared, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, Sumitra had been eavesdropping. A wicked smile spread across her face as she hurried to Maya's room.

Maya glanced up, surprised. "Tum yahan?" she asked.

"Haan Maya... mujhe bahut bura lag raha hai tumhare liye," Sumitra said, her tone dripping with false sympathy.

"Mere liye bura?" Maya asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.

"Haan! Dekho na, abhi ye bacha aaya bhi nahi aur Aarav tumse zyada uske baare mein sochta rehta hai. Iske aane ke baad toh tumhare aas paas bhi nahi aayega," Sumitra instigated.

Maya's eyes narrowed. "Aarav mere control mein hai, Sumitra! Meri ijajazat ke bina wo saansein bhi nahi le sakta."

Sumitra smiled, pretending to agree. "Beshak Maya... lekin ye bacha uski takaat ban sakta hai! Ek baar usne bhagwaat kardi phir tum usey nahi rok paogi."

Maya's expression turned thoughtful. She placed a hand on her belly and smiled, a plan forming in her mind. "Bhagwaat toh wo tab karega jab main usey aisa karne ka mauka dungi!"

Sumitra's smile widened as she left the room. Aarav entered shortly after, carrying a glass of turmeric milk.

"Maya, yeh lo," he said with genuine concern.

Maya drank it, and he smiled at her. He sat beside her, placing her head gently on his shoulder. "Maya, kuch dino hum doh se teen ho jayenge. Main chahta hun ki iski shuruwat hum sab bhoolke kare," he said earnestly.

Maya looked into his eyes. "Aarav..."

"Maya, main sirf tumse hi pyaar karta hun. Iss bache ki kasam khata hun maine tumhare alawa kisi aur ke baare mein kabhi nahi socha. Meri wajah se tumhe jo takleef hui uske liye I am sorry," he apologized, his eyes brimming with sincerity.

Seeing the love in his eyes, Maya smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. He responded with equal passion. As they kissed, Maya thought to herself, "Aarav, ache se janti hun tumhe... tumhe mujhse zyada iss bache ki fikar hai. Dekho kaise tumhe pal pal tadpaungi iss bache ke liye."

Aarav, on the other hand, harboured a hopeful thought. "Kehte hai jab ek aurat maa banti hai toh usey apne bache se zyada pyara koi nahi hota. Main umeed karta hun ki tum mere saath bache ki parvarish karogi bina kisi aur baat ki parwah kare."

They parted from the kiss, and Maya rested her head on Aarav's shoulder. He gently caressed her hair, feeling a mix of hope and apprehension for the future.

It was midnight when a sudden, sharp pain shot through Maya's womb, causing her to yell out in agony. "Aah!"

Aarav immediately woke up, his eyes darting to Maya. Seeing her in pain, his heart raced with worry. "Maya, kya hua?" he asked urgently.

"It's paining," Maya shouted, her face contorted in distress.

For a second, Aarav was paralyzed with uncertainty. But then he realized it must be labour pain. Without wasting any time, he lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the room. He rushed to the car, carefully placing her on the back seat, and sped towards the hospital.

Throughout the drive, Aarav kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror, his heart aching as he saw her in such intense pain. "Maya, bas pahuch rahe hai hum hospital," he assured her, his voice trembling.

After a harrowing 20 minutes, they arrived at the hospital. Aarav stopped the car in front of the emergency entrance and quickly pulled Maya from the back seat. He carried her inside and placed her on a stretcher. A lady doctor immediately attended to them, checking Maya's pulse.

"Labour pain hai! Inhe turant OT leke jaana hoga," the doctor said, assessing the situation quickly.

As they headed towards the operating theatre, Aarav continued to caress Maya's head with one hand while holding her hand tightly with the other, assuring her of his presence and support. They reached the OT, and the doctor began the procedure.

"Sir, aap..." the doctor started to say, but Aarav cut her off.

"Main yahi rahunga," he insisted, his voice firm despite the fear in his eyes.

The doctor smiled, touched by his care and determination. As Maya's labour pains intensified, Aarav was right by her side, his heart pounding with anxiety and anticipation.

"Maya, everything will be alright. Just breathe," Aarav's voice trembled with concern, his grip on her hand tightening.

Maya gritted her teeth through the waves of pain, her grip on Aarav's hand almost crushing. "Main yeh nahi kar sakti, Aarav. It hurts too much."

Aarav's eyes filled with tears as he gently stroked her forehead. "Yes, you can, Maya. You're strong. It's just a little longer."

Maya pushed but failed again. The doctor motivated her, and Aarav tapped her head lightly with tears in his eyes. "Maya, ek baar aur koshish karo please, mere liye," he pleaded.

With one final push, Maya let out a cry of exertion, and the room was filled with the sound of a baby's first cries.

"It's a girl!" the nurse announced, placing the newborn in Maya's arms.

Tears of joy streamed down Maya's cheeks as she cradled their daughter, her heart overflowing with love and exhaustion. "She's beautiful, Aarav."

Aarav's eyes shimmered with emotion as he leaned in to kiss Maya's forehead, his voice choked with emotion. "She's perfect, Maya. Just like her mother."

As they gazed down at their precious daughter, a sense of wonder and gratitude filled the room, eclipsing the pain and hardship of the labour. In that moment, Maya and Aarav knew that their lives would never be the same again, but they embraced the journey ahead with open hearts and boundless love for their little miracle.

The doctor smiled warmly. "Congratulations to both of you! Sir, aap formalities puri kar dijiye, tabtak main maa aur bachi ko normal room mein shift karti hun," she instructed.

Aarav nodded, though his heart ached to hold his daughter. He hurried to complete the formalities as quickly as possible. He hadn't even had a chance to properly look at his daughter, and the anticipation of holding her in his arms for the first time filled him with a mix of anxiety and joy.

Aarav hurried towards the room, anticipation and joy coursing through him as he looked forward to holding his newborn daughter for the first time. However, upon entering, he found the cradle empty. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately approached the nurse who was attending to Maya.

"Nurse, bachi kahan hai?" he asked anxiously, his voice betraying his concern.

The nurse smiled warmly at him and replied reassuringly, "Sir, bachi ko humne abhi baby room mein rakha hai. Aaj raat uska observation hai, kal subah aapko yahan de denge."

Aarav nodded, understanding the procedure. "Thik hai na, bachi?" he asked again, seeking further reassurance.

The nurse nodded affirmatively, "Haan Sir, procedure hai."

Relieved to know that everything was as it should be, Aarav turned his attention back to Maya, who had opened her eyes. He sat down beside her, overflowing with gratitude and happiness. "Maya, thank you! Aaj main bahut khush hun. Hamare ghar mein ek nanhi si pari aayi hai. Dekhna, main usey apne palkhon pe bithake rakhunga," he expressed with heartfelt joy.

Maya simply smiled in response. Aarav moved to the nearby couch, eagerly awaiting the morning when he could finally hold his daughter in his arms. Exhausted from the emotions and events of the day, he soon drifted off to sleep.

As Aarav slept peacefully, Maya's gaze fell upon him, a wicked smile playing on her lips. "Tumhare muskurahat ki wajah koi aur ho, Aarav. Maya aisa kabhi nahi hone degi," she thought to herself, her thoughts veiled in secrecy and determination.

In that serene moment, the hospital room was filled with a mix of emotions — Aarav's pure joy and Maya's hidden intentions. The future lay ahead, uncertain yet brimming with possibilities for their newfound family.

As the first rays of sunlight gently kissed his eyes, Aarav woke with a start, his heart racing with panic. His gaze swept the hospital room, only to find it empty—the cradle where his daughter had been was now vacant, and Maya was nowhere to be seen. Fear gripped him tightly as he called out desperately, "Meri beti kahan hai? Maya..."

Rushing out of the room, he sought answers from the nurse. Her words hit him like a thunderbolt, "Sir, subah aapki maa aayi thi aur wo dono ko leke chali gayi."

Shock and disbelief washed over Aarav. Sumitra appeared beside him, questioning why he hadn't woken up sooner. His mind swirled with dread and uncertainty as he raced home, each step heavy with the weight of his daughter's absence.

Reaching the familiar gates of his home, Aarav's ears caught the piercing cries of his daughter from within—a sound that both relieved and tormented him. "Meri beti!" he gasped, desperation driving him to pound on the door.

"Sumitra, please! Mujhe meri beti ko dekhne do!" Aarav's voice cracked with anguish, his fists pleading against the unyielding barrier.

But Sumitra remained unmoved, her resolve unshaken as she denied him entry. "Tumhara koi haq nahi hai andar jaane ka, Aarav. Maya nahi chahti tum uski bachi ko dekho."

Aarav's heart shattered at her words, tears welling up in his eyes as he refused to accept the cruel reality. "Please, mujhe apni beti se milna hai. Mujhe andar aane do!"

Sumitra's expression remained firm, her stance unwavering against Aarav's desperate pleas. "Nahi, Aarav. Maya ne saaf kaha hai, tumhe andar nahi aane diya jaaye."

Desperation clawed at Aarav's chest as he stood helplessly outside, his daughter's cries echoing hauntingly in his ears. Determined to find a way, he vowed silently to break through the barriers that separated him from his beloved daughter.

Tears of despair blurred his vision as he faced Maya once more, his heart wrenching with longing. "Maya, please... mujhe dekhne do usey. She's my daughter too."

Maya's gaze was cool and calculating as she slid a stack of papers towards him. "Sign these," she demanded, her voice devoid of emotion.

Confusion and anguish churned within Aarav as he looked down at the documents, realizing their purpose with sinking dread. "Yeh kya hai, Maya? Why do I have to sign these?"

A chilling smile played on Maya's lips as she watched him struggle. "It's simple, Aarav. Sign the papers, and you can see your daughter."

Trembling, Aarav reluctantly took up the pen, his mind clouded with conflicting emotions. With a heavy heart, he acquiesced to Maya's demands, his hand shaking as he hastily scrawled his signature across the papers.

Once done, Maya's demeanour softened marginally as she gestured towards the nursery. "She's waiting for you."

Heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope, Aarav followed Maya's lead, his steps faltering as he entered the nursery. There, in the crib, lay his precious daughter tiny and fragile, yet perfect in every way.

Tears flowed freely down Aarav's cheeks as he reached out to cradle her in his arms, overwhelmed with love and longing. "Hello, little one," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Main tumhara papa hun."

In that poignant moment, as father and daughter embraced for the first time, Aarav knew that despite the sacrifices and challenges, nothing could diminish the boundless love he felt for his precious child.

Maya, observing from a distance, wore a satisfied smile. "Aarav, jante ho tumne kin papers pe sign kiye hai?"

He glanced at her, his eyes filled with love and determination. "meri beti se badhkar kuch bhi nahi hai main khud bhi nahi"

Maya kissed his cheek softly and quietly left the room, leaving Aarav to revel in the profound joy of fatherhood, finally united with his daughter against all odds.

In the bustling office corridors, Maya exuded confidence and authority, her heels echoing against the polished floors as she navigated through the daily hustle with determined strides. Her return to work marked a resurgence in her vigour, evident in the way she commanded attention and respect from her colleagues. Maya's focus was sharp, her mind set on reclaiming her professional stature amidst the backdrop of recent personal upheavals.

Meanwhile, Aarav had found a profound sense of purpose in caring for his daughter, a bond strengthened by the unwavering support of Sharda, who stood by his side through every moment. Cradling his precious child in his arms, Aarav's smile radiated with sheer love and devotion, his eyes reflecting the joy and fulfilment that fatherhood brought him. Each day with his daughter was a testament to the new direction his life had taken, away from the tumultuous past and towards a future filled with hope and paternal bliss.

In their respective spheres, Maya and Aarav seemed to be carving out paths that diverged sharply from each other. Maya's return to the corporate world hinted at ambitions beyond just professional success; it mirrored her determination to maintain control and dominance in all aspects of her life. Her actions were calculated, driven by a desire to wield power and influence, even as personal conflicts simmered beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Sumitra, ever watchful and calculating, observed Aarav's newfound contentment with a mix of curiosity and disdain. Her mind churned with schemes as she plotted to disrupt his peace, fueled by her own agenda and grievances. Sumitra's gaze bore into Aarav, calculating the vulnerabilities she could exploit to unsettle his newfound happiness.

Summoning her most trusted confidant, Sumitra laid the groundwork for a devious plan, one designed to strike at Aarav where he was most vulnerable. Her intentions were clear to dismantle his newfound serenity, to remind him of his past mistakes, and to assert her influence over his life once more.

As the news played in Sharda's presence, the shock on her face hinted at unfolding events that threatened to disrupt the delicate balance Aarav had finally achieved. The stage was set for a clash of wills and desires, where Maya's ambition clashed with Aarav's paternal devotion, and Sumitra's cunning machinations threatened to unravel the fragile peace Aarav had fought so hard to build.