The silence in the room hung heavy, punctuated only by the rhythmic tick of the wall clock. Vineet sat on the edge of the bed, face buried in his hands. Anamika, her back stiff, stared out the window, tears blurring the cityscape. The positive pregnancy test, abandoned on the bedside table, seemed to mock them both.

Vineet finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "I understand if things haven't been easy, Ana. But a child..."

"Another child, Vineet," she corrected sharply, the familiar bitterness creeping into her voice. "We already have two sons. The boys need us, need stability, and frankly, need more than what we've been able to give them. Agar kissi ne aaj tak support kiya hota na, ya situation aise nahi hote toh shayad main ye decision kabhi nahi leti but you know the reality and aise mei i don't want to take any risk."

Vineet sighed, the sound heavy with a decade of unspoken apologies. "I know. I know I haven't been the husband you deserve. But I'm trying, Ana. Truly. This could be a fresh start, for all of us. I know past mei sab galat hua hai par i assure you aab aisa nahi hoga, meri taraf se toh bilkul nahi!"

Anamika turned, her gaze cutting through him. "A fresh start with a newborn while we're still struggling to parent the two we already have? Vineet, this isn't a movie. Your family won't magically change, the exhaustion won't magically disappear, and you..." Her voice cracked, and she choked back a sob. "I'll be honest, tumhara ye changed behavior mujhe raat din satata hai Vineet."

For a long moment, Vineet held her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and understanding.

"Ana..!" He couldn't find a word to express anything.

"Vineet main tumhe hurt nahi karna chahti par main jhooth bhi nahi bolungi. I really like you these days, tumhara care, pyar, respect, support, everything, I don't know kaise express karu ki how I feel around you these days par mujhe darr bhi lagta hai kahin tum..tum kahin badal na jao!! Dekho, mera ye decision lekin mere iss doubt pe base nahi hai main bas aab aur ek burdenburden nahi lena chahti!" She clarifies.

The word burden hit him hard but he has to control his emotion and he did. He let out a deep sigh and then, he reached out, his touch tentative on her hand. "Alright," he whispered. "We'll do what you want. But Anamika, please..." His voice hitched. "Don't shut me out. We can get through this together." He patted her upper palm, assuring her for he knows only this can save his marriage. He though wants the child but she's right at her place and she has all the right to take the decision on her own.

Anamika felt a pang of guilt pierce her resolve. Vineet, for the first time, seemed truly present, his support of a fragile olive branch. But the fear, the resentment built over years, wouldn't be silenced so easily. "Are you sure, Vineet? This isn't just about me. Are you okay with this?" She questioned, her mind not able to proceed to what he said a moment ago as she expected him to fight.

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken accusations. Vineet met her gaze, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I... I'd rather have this family, Anamika. All of us. But ultimately, the decision is yours."

A hollow victory settled in Anamika's stomach. Relief warred with a surprising surge of sadness. Vineet's quiet acceptance, the flicker of hurt in his eyes, felt like a fresh wound. Had she become so jaded that she couldn't trust this newfound support, this glimmer of hope?

As Vineet turned away, his shoulders slumping under the weight of her decision, Anamika knew the battle wasn't over. The fight for their future, for their family, was just beginning. And this time, the enemy wasn't just her in-laws, or the exhaustion, or even her own shattered dreams. It was the specter of their past, a heavy burden threatening to tear them apart yet again.

That night they both just toss on the bed, unspoken words screaming with their each turn. Every time their gaze meets, they immediately shut them out, not wanting to start a conversation.

.....

The following days were a blur of strained silences and stolen glances. Anamika moved through the house on autopilot, the weight of her decision a constant companion. The guilt gnawed at her, especially when she saw Vineet interacting with their sons, Advay and Ansh. He'd always been a good father, playing with them in the evenings, helping them with their homework, a stark contrast to his emotionally distant demeanor of the past.

One evening, as Anamika tucked Ansh into bed, a tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down her cheek. Ansh, ever perceptive, reached out and wiped it away with a small hand.

"Aap kyun ro rahe ho Mumma?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Anamika forced a smile. "Just a bit tired, my love. So jao, kal school bhi toh jana hai na tumhe." She instructed him.

Little Ansh, understanding that his mother doesn't want to share things with her, chose to not bother her fir the same and close his eyes obediently.

Later that night, Vineet found Anamika sitting on the balcony, a cup of cold tea forgotten in her hand. The city lights twinkled below, casting an ethereal glow on her face. He sat beside her, their shoulders brushing.

"Kya soch rahi ho Ana, bacho ke baare mei?" he asked softly.

Anamika nodded, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "They deserve so much more, Vineet. More time, more attention, more stability. I just don't know if we can give them that with everything else going on." She sighs

Vineet took her hand in his, his touch warm and comforting. "We can try, Jaan. We can try together. We've faced challenges before, haven't we? Ye bhi kar lenge hum!"

Anamika looked into his eyes, searching for the flicker of the past, the man who had been emotionally unavailable. But all she saw was a reflection of her own pain, a vulnerability that mirrored her own.

In that quiet moment, a fragile bridge of understanding began to form between them. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of their unspoken thoughts a heavy presence in the night air.

Vineet, emboldened by the newfound closeness, spoke hesitantly. "Anamika, are you sure this is what you want? Completely sure? I mean...ahh..sorry!" Realizing he shouldn't be asking her the question because that would mean forcing her mentally by making her guilty of her decision.

His voice held a tremor of doubt, a vulnerability that surprised Anamika. She squeezed his hand, her heart clenching.

"Yes, Vineet. I am. It's the right decision for our family, for now." The "for now" hung in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the sacrifices they were both making.

A flicker of sadness crossed Vineet's face, a shadow of the life they could have had. He didn't push the issue further, though Anamika sensed a part of him remained unresolved. His brain makes noise inside him, hunting him like anything.

.....

The next day I fell into a familiar routine. The unspoken tension between them had eased, replaced by a quiet determination. Anamika threw herself into work and giving out her mind fully to help her friend. Vineet took on more responsibility at home, shouldering the household chores and ensuring the boys had everything they needed.

That evening, as Anamika sat hunched over her laptop, actually his laptop to work over something when Vineet approached her, a hesitant smile on his lips.

"Remember that movie we were planning to watch?" he asked.

Anamika furrowed her brow, trying to recall. "The one with...?"

"The documentary about that wildlife photographer," Vineet supplied. "We said we'd watch it together. Arey wahi jo hum college mei har sunday ko dekhte the" He reminded her, she was and is an animal lover and loves to watch such documentaries.

Anamika's lips curved into a faint smile. It felt like a lifetime ago that they'd planned a movie night. "Sure," she agreed, pushing the laptop aside.

As they settled on the couch, a comfortable silence descended between them. The movie played on the screen, a mesmerizing glimpse into the wild, but Anamika found herself more focused on Vineet. He sat close, his presence a familiar comfort.

During a particularly poignant scene, Vineet reached out and took her hand. Anamika didn't pull away. The simple gesture spoke volumes, a silent reassurance in the face of their unspoken grief. She knows he's hurt by her decision but to save the marriage he agreed to her which she truly appreciates.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Anamika couldn't sleep. The weight of her decision pressed down on her, a constant ache in her heart. She turned to Vineet, finding him staring at the ceiling, his expression unreadable.

"Vineet?" she whispered.

He turned to her, his eyes searching hers. "Hmm?"

"Are you alright?" The question hung heavy in the darkness.

Vineet hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Honestly, Ana? No, not entirely. A part of me wishes things were different. But..." He trailed off, his voice thick with emotion.

"But you understand," Anamika finished for him.

Vineet nodded, his jaw clenched. "I understand. It's not about me."

Anamika reached out and cupped his face in her hand. "It is about you, Vineet. It's about us. We're in this together."

Vineet leaned into her touch, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. In that moment, amidst the quiet vulnerability of the night, they found a fragile connection, a shared understanding forged in the fires of sacrifice. The path ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time in a long time, they faced it together.

......

To be continued..