"Meri beewee banne ki koshish bilkul mat karo. Pehle sirf tumhe pasand nahi karta tha, ab nafrat karne laga hu tumse. Tum sirf mere bete Abhi aur uss anath Neil ka maa bann sakti ho, meri patni nahi!" (Don't try and act like you're my wife. I simply disliked you before, but I have started hating you now. You're just my son Abhi's and that orphan Neil's mother, not my wife!)

"Par mein aapse pyaar karti hu" (But I love you!) Manjiri replied, tears running down her cheeks.

"Mujhe paagal samajh ke rakha hai kya? Yeh tumhara naatak hai" (Do you think I am stupid? This is all a pretence)

"Nahi Harsh" (No, Harsh)

"Harshwardhan hai mera naam! Sab jaanta hu mein, yeh naatak hai, tumhe asal mein sirf yeh aish aaram aur paise chahiye" (Call me Harshwardhan! And I understand everything, this is just a drama for the luxury and money I provide you)

Abhimanyu woke up with a start, sweating and panting for breath. He couldn't express how much he hated his birthday. Getting out of Akshara's grip, Abhimanyu got out of his bed and poured himself a glass of water.

Chugging down the tasteless liquid in a go, Abhimanyu glanced at the calendar. Akshu had marked his birthday on the calendar by drawing a couple of balloons, some stars and smileys. She had also written 'Abhi's b-day' in faux calligraphy.

Realisation dawned upon Abhimanyu. If it his birthday in a week, it means that Naira maa's death anniversary is in two days....

🍁

2:30 a.m.

Arohi for sure wouldn't be awake right now. Neil thought as he entered the house. He just wanted to avoid her a bit till Naira mumma's death anniversary. He gently opened the door of their room, not wanting to wake her up, but was shocked to see Arohi sitting beside the window, staring blankly at the night sky.

"Chipkali?" Neil asked, his heart beating loudly.

"Hm?" Arohi snapped out of her thoughts and tilted her head to face her husband.

"Is..everything okay?" he questioned, clearly worried.

"Yeah, yeah..of course. I- I just couldn't sleep" she replied and Neil looked at her, unsure of what to say. He was ninety-nine percent sure, but then again, she was a doctor working in the emergency room, which was a stressful job, which could cause insomnia.

"Oh..kay" he replied, keeping his bag on the couch and entering bathroom. Sighing, Arohi resumed looking at the moon and the stars.

Neil came out, drying his hair with a towel.

"Can't you just use the blow dryer?" Arohi asked, frowning as water droplets fell on the floor.

"Too tired" Neil replied, throwing himself on the bed and Arohi rolled her eyes.

"Over dramatic idiot" she muttered, looking away.

"Aye chipkali, pehle yeh bata ki tu soyi kyun nahi? Thak nahi jaati?" (Arohi, why didn't you sleep? Don't you get tired?)

"Neend nahi aayi Neil" (I couldn't sleep, Neil) Arohi uttered softly and Neil looked at her.

"Are you thinking about Naira mumma?" He asked, as he got up to sit beside her.

"How can you miss someone when you don't have any memories of them?" Arohi questioned, her face devoid of emotions.

"You tell me" Neil replied, sitting beside her.

"Do you really believe that dead people become stars and watch over us in afterlife?"

"Uh..I haven't thought about it." Neil said.

"Does she hate me?" Arohi asked directly, in a soft voice.

"Uh" Neil was flabbergasted with Arohi's question, but before he could come up with a reply, Arohi continued.

"I am her husband's second wife's daughter, Neil. She has no reason to like me"

"But, from what I have heard about her, she was an extremely loving person, with a heart full of love. Then why would she hate you?"

"I..I don't know" Arohi replied honestly.

"It's okay to move on, Chipkali. She knows that"

"But" Arohi wanted to argue, but just couldn't reason anything to form a sentence.

"Neil, I have no memories with her, but she has been in my life. In the form of my family's memories, in the form of my dad, Kairav bhaiya and Akshu's mere existence in my life" Arohi told Neil and he nodded.

"And I wouldn't be able to cope up with the fact that she hates me. I just hope she doesn't" she whispered, followed by a soft yawn.

"Who could hate you, Chipkali? I am sure that Naira mumma, Sirat maa and Kartik papa are proud of you. Proud of the fact that their daughter in such an independent, honest person who saves lives every day" Neil reassured her, a couple of tears collecting in his eyes and he kissed the top of Arohi's head.

"I hope so" Arohi mumbled, dozing off in Neil's arms.

Hi, sorry I'm a bit late! Holley me know your thoughts🌻