When Vineet entered the room, he found both his kids were already asleep on the bed while Anamika was in the bathroom, as he could hear the sound of running water. He closed the room and after checking on the kids, secured his seat on the couch with a file. 

Anamika steps in the room after a while, she finds Vineet busy with his file and the kids are sleeping peacefully so she decides to make a call to Aakash and ask him about his well-being. Aakash seemed to be waiting for her call only, once he picked he refused to stop blabbering. She moved to the balcony and conversed with him as she didn't want to disturb either Vineet Or the kids. 

After moments when she ends the call and turns, she finds Vineet standing behind. Anamika almost jumped at her place, her heart skipped a beat. 

"Oh sorry! Main bas ye keh raha tha ki maa ne khane ke liye bulaya hai!" He told her to which she nodded. Moving in the room she woke up the kids and took them downstairs to feed them. 

.. 

Kaushalya offered to feed Ansh which Anamika agreed without any objection while Aarnav fed Advay. Anamika served dinner to others and stood at the side. Vineet gazes at her for a moment. 

"Ana, tum bhi baitho! Tumne subah se kuch nahi khaya hai, come have something!" Vineet asked, indicating to sit beside him but she refused, he insisted and when she didn't agree, he pulled her by hand and made her sit. 

He served food for her in a plate and placed it before her, everyone's eyes fixated on them as Vineet nudged her to proceed with the meal. 

Hesitantly Anamika proceeds to eat, Dadi and bua grunted under breath but couldn't speak a word, they had to let it go and just like that they had their dinner after which they dispersed in their rooms. While Anamika asked the nanny to tug the kids to sleep as she needs to wind up some work. She had already skipped every work of the house and didn't want to face any consequences the other day so she decided to take on some tasks at hand. 

An hour later, when Anamika finished off her tasks, the house was eerily silent as Anamika tiptoed through the hallway, the only sound of the faint ticking of the clock in the living room. She paused at the doorway of her son's room, peeking in to make sure they were fast asleep. She gazed at Ansh, the sight of his small, fragile body nestled under the blankets tugged at her heart, a mix of worry and relief washing over her. The fever had finally broken, but the fear lingered.

As she turned to head back to her own room, she nearly collided with Vineet, who had been standing just outside the door, his face etched with concern. They hadn’t spoken much after the incident at the hospital, the tension between them palpable. His sudden change in action, creating doubt in her heart. For years, Vineet had been a distant figure, more aligned with his family’s harsh expectations than with her needs and struggles. But lately, something has changed.

“Is he okay?” Vineet’s voice was soft, a stark contrast to the stern tone she had grown accustomed to.

Anamika nodded, her eyes meeting him briefly before she looked away. “Yes, he’s finally sleeping peacefully.”

A moment of silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Anamika moved past him, intending to retreat to the sanctuary of her room, but Vineet’s hand on her arm stopped her. His touch was gentle yet firm, sending a jolt of unexpected warmth through her.

“Anamika, can we talk?” His voice was filled with sincerity she hadn’t heard in years.

She hesitated, memories of countless arguments and lonely nights flooding her mind. But something in his eyes—an unfamiliar vulnerability—made her pause. With a small nod, she followed him into the balcony of their room. They sat on opposite ends of the couch placed in one corner, the space between them feeling like an insurmountable chasm.

“Why now, Vineet? Aab kya baat karni hai tumhe?” Anamika’s voice broke the silence, her words heavy with pain and confusion. “Why do you suddenly care after all these years?”

Vineet ran a hand through his hair, his expression pained. “I know I’ve been a terrible husband, Ana. I was blinded by my family’s expectations, by their constant interference. But seeing Ansh so sick… it made me realize how much I’ve neglected you both.”

Anamika’s eyes filled with tears, her anger bubbling to the surface. “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? How alone I’ve felt all these years?”

Vineet’s eyes were filled with regret as he reached out, taking her hand in his. “I do now, and I’m so sorry. I can’t change the past, but I want to make things right. I want to be there for you, for Ansh and Advay.”

The sincerity in his voice and the warmth of his touch began to melt the icy wall she had built around her heart. Anamika pulled her hand away, wiping at her tears. “Words are easy, Vineet. How do I know you won’t go back to the way things were?”

He moved closer, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that took her breath away. “I swear to you, Anamika, I’m done letting my family dictate our lives. I want to start over, to show you how much I love you, how much I need you.”

Anamika’s heart ached with a mixture of hope and fear. She wanted to believe him, but the wounds ran deep. “I don’t know if I can trust you,” she whispered, her voice trembling and running inside the room. 

Vineet followed her, he stopped her again and cupped her face in his hands, his touch gentle and reassuring. “I’ll earn your trust back, I promise. Just give me a chance.”

Anamika remove his hand, "mujhe iss baare mei koi baat nahi karni. Mujhe sona hai!" She declares but instead of moving towards the bed she moves to the cupboard in search of pills - her head has started to explode but upon not finding it there, she realizes her husband has changed the place. 

"Where have you kept the medicine Vineet? Please mujhe de do, I can't bear this pain!" She requested to which he sighs and moves towards the drawer and pulls out the balm from it. 

Anamika rolls her eyes while he pulls her by hand first making her sit and then lay on the bed. He gently applied the balm on her forehead, he continued spreading the balm . She felt herself falling apart with his warm touches, tears started to roll down her cheek which didn't go unnoticed by him. 

"Tum.. Tum ro rahi ho?" He asked surprised, and she immediately sat up. 

"Nahi!! Wo... Wo!" She couldn't find any appropriate reason to hide her truth and ended up sobbing. 

Vineet holds her from behind, wrapping his arms around her, only to make her situation vulnerable. 

"Vineet please, mere saath aise mat karo! Bahut muskil se khud ko sambhala hai meine main fir nahi tootna chahti, please mujhe mere haal pe chhor doh!" She requested, tears flowing like the ocean from her eyes.

"Mujhe ek mauka doh Ana, main sab thik kar dunga!” He exclaims, in a determined tone. 

" Tumne das saal pehle bhi yahi kaha tha Vineet aur ussi baat ko maan ke main tumhare saath chal di thi par aab fir main wo galti nahi karna chahti. Main ek baar sab kho ke baithi hoon, tum fir mujhe uss aur mat ghasito please, main aabki tumhari berukhi nahi seh paungi Vineet. Main mar jaungi aab!!" She expressed his grip tightening on her with the statement. 

"Aise maat kaho Ana, please! Tumhare bina jee nahi paunga main. Please mujhe sirf ek mauka de do, tumhari saari shikayat door kar dunga main, please Ana, please!" He begged, she felt wetness around her shoulder and turned to gaze at him. Her eyes are already moist. 

The earnestness in his eyes, the desperation in his voice, it all began to break down her defenses. She can't see him crying, all these years she stayed in the house even after being insulted every single moment just because she couldn't move on past him, she just can't bear the pain in his eyes. And that's the difference between them. 

As he continued to sob, she cupped his face, making him gaze at her, slowly, she nodded, her tears flowing freely now. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. How can she see the love of her life crying? The person for whom she left everything? Though she's still doubtful but a yes just stops his tears which was all she wanted. 

Vineet pulled her in a warm hug immediately, her acceptance was all he needed at the moment. Anamika holds him tight, his warm tough melting her, she finds herself caressing him sensually which he too felt. When they parted moments later, their gazes filled with desires met but an initiative was needed and Vineet took the lead. 

Vineet leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tentative kiss, as if seeking permission. Anamika closed her eyes, the warmth of his kiss spreading through her, melting away the years of hurt and anger. She kissed him back, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer.

The kiss deepened, their emotions pouring out in a flood of passion and longing. Vineet’s hands roamed her back, pulling her into his lap, their bodies pressed together. Anamika’s fingers tangled in his hair, the feel of him, the taste of him, reigniting a fire she thought had long been extinguished. 

It started to remind him of their initial days when his touch would create butterflies in her stomach, she just felt the same way at the moment - his touch was that soft and affectionate but in past years, she had never felt the spark, it was just raw sex to fulfill desire. 

Moments later when they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other. Vineet’s eyes were dark with promise as he looked into hers. “This is just the beginning, Ana. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

Anamika smiled through her tears, her heart full of hope for the first time in years. “I hope you abide by your words Vineet,” she whispered, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. 

He took her hand in his, gently rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. "I promise to be better, Jaan. To stand by you, always."

She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. And in that moment, she let herself believe. Leaning in, she pressed her lips to his, tentatively at first, then with a growing urgency. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as the kiss deepened, years of longing and unspoken words pouring out in that single, breathtaking moment.

He lay on the bed with her over him, the air thick with anticipation and unspoken desire. As they undressed each other, their movements were slow, reverent, each touching a promise, a whisper of a future filled with hope.

When they finally came together, it was like finding home after a long, arduous journey. The years of distance and pain melted away, replaced by a new, fragile connection. They moved together in a rhythm as old as time, their bodies communicating what words could not.

Afterwards, they lay entwined, the sound of their breathing the only noise in the quiet room. Vineet held her close, his fingers gently tracing patterns on her back. Anamika closed her eyes, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in years.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"For what?" he asked, a bit confused, kissing the top of her head.

"For giving me a reason to hope again."

He tightened his embrace, his lips finding hers once more. "I won't let you down, Ana. Not ever again."

And in the warmth of his arms, for the first time in years, Anamika allowed herself to believe.

Under his warmth touch, his presence and the love filled surrounding she falls asleep freely as if she doesn't fear anything now. Though a part of her heart still doubts him, waiting for a moment when he would make a quick flip and take his family side but at the moment, she's one happy woman, a woman just loved by her man, a woman whose existence has been proved by the love of her life and she doesn't care anything anymore!! 

... 

To be continued....