Episode 20...

The air inside the cafe was thick with emotion. The truth, finally laid bare, left everyone in a state of disbelief. Abi had spoken with a raw vulnerability that stunned everyone into silence, her heartache and confusion evident in every tear that fell down her cheeks. The revelation of the lies that had torn her and Ajay apart all those years ago was more than anyone had expected.

Ajay stood there, his mind racing as he tried to process everything. He couldn't comprehend that Abi had lived through so much pain, believing him to be dead. His fists were clenched at his sides, not out of anger, but out of the overwhelming mix of emotions-grief, regret, guilt, and most of all, a deep sense of sorrow for what had been lost.

Abi's sobs filled the room, and she buried her face in her hands. 'Na avangala nambunen.... enna suthi nadandha ellathayum nambunen, and I let them take away everything I held. I was so blind. Na epdi ivalo mutal ah irunden ney theriyala' Her words trembled as she cried harder, her shoulders shaking with the weight of her sorrow.

Vijay, standing close to his wife, had tears in his own eyes. He had never seen her in this state before-so broken, so fragile. He stepped forward instinctively, his heart aching for the woman he loved. He understood the depth of her pain now, and his protective instincts kicked in. He hadn't been there for her when she lost Ajay, but he had been there ever since, and he had to be there for her now.

But before he could comfort her, Abi suddenly reached out, grabbing Ajay's hand in her confusion. 'enna manichudu Ajay . Naa.... nee inimey illa nu nenachen. I never would have...' Her voice broke again as she held onto him tightly, her head bowed in shame. 'Na thappu paniten, na avangala nambi irukka koodathu'

Ajay looked down at her hand, his own trembling slightly as he clasped hers in return. He wasn't out of the shock yet; his mind was still reeling from the revelation that the woman he had loved with all his heart had thought him dead. But he could see the agony in her eyes, the guilt she carried for something she had no control over.

'Abi' Ajay's voice was low, barely a whisper. 'Ennaiyum manichudu na unna thapa nenachiten... that you left because I wasn't enough.'

Abi's eyes widened in shock, fresh tears spilling over her already wet cheeks. 'Illa Ajay, naa unna epovum veruthadhey illa. Not for a moment. It was my parents... they made me believe you were gone.' Her voice cracked again, and she held his hand tighter. 'Enna manichudu, naa avanga munnadi strong ah irundhu irukanum'

The room was silent, save for the quiet sounds of Abi's sobs. Everyone else-Naren, Keerthana, Malini, Hussain, Vijay, and Shreya-stood in shock, their eyes brimming with tears. This revelation, this heartbreak, was more than they had anticipated. Shreya, especially, was moved by the raw emotion in front of her. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she watched the two former lovers finally confront the truth.

Shreya stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. 'Neither of you should be sorry' she said, glancing between Ajay and Abi. 'Idhu... idhuku unga rendu peru mela endha thappum illa. Ellam soolnalai ala ipdi agiduchu. Sometimes life throws things at us, things we can't control, and it hurts. But it's not your fault. It was a cruel twist of fate, and the lies of others... but you were both victims in this.'

Abi looked up at Shreya, her expression a mix of gratitude and sorrow. Shreya's words were a balm, soothing the raw pain that had been consuming her.

'Maybe' Abi whispered, 'we weren't destined to be together after all.'

Ajay stiffened slightly at her words, but there was a strange kind of acceptance in Abi's tone. She wasn't saying it out of regret-more out of a realization that life had its own plans, plans that neither of them could have foreseen.

Vijay, who had been silent for most of this, finally found his voice. He glanced at Ajay and Shreya, the guilt evident in his face. 'I... I'm sorry' he said, his voice thick with emotion. 'Na ungala pathapo romba rude ah nadanthukiten. Adhu sudden ah Abi ku apdi anapo tension agiten, and I lashed out. It wasn't right of me.'

Ajay looked at Vijay, surprised by the sudden apology, but he quickly shook his head. 'Ada idhula enanga iruku adhu unga thappu illa. I understand. You were protecting Abi, and I respect that.'

Vijay offered a small nod, but the tension in his face remained. He had never seen Abi so vulnerable before, and the knowledge that she had once loved someone so deeply-someone who wasn't him-left him feeling conflicted. But as he glanced at Shreya and the way she was holding Ajay's hand, he felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. This was a past neither of them could change, but they all had to live with it now.

In the midst of the heavy emotions, Malini, who had been watching the scene unfold quietly, suddenly smiled and stepped forward. 'It looks like fate has a funny way of bringing people together and tearing them apart.' Her voice was soft, trying to lighten the mood just a little. 'But what matters now is that namba ellarum inga onna nikkuradhu dhan, understanding the truth.'

Abi, sensing that the atmosphere had shifted to something more peaceful, wiped her tears and glanced at Vijay. The two shared a brief, silent conversation through their eyes, and then Abi turned to the group, her face softening for the first time since their meeting.

'And unga ellarukkum oru person ah introduce pananum nu nenaikuren' she said, her voice still a little shaky but filled with warmth. Everyone, including Ajay, looked confused for a moment, wondering who she was talking about. Abi exchanged a brief glance with Vijay, who nodded in understanding, and then she gave a signal to Ajay.

Ajay turned toward the cafe's entrance. When Vijay returned, he wasn't alone. In his arms, nestled comfortably and with a soft giggle, was a baby girl-about 6 months old. Her hair was dark and curly, and she had Abi's delicate features, but her eyes-her eyes were all Vijay.

A collective gasp echoed through the room as everyone took in the sight of the beautiful child. Even little Zaara, who had been sitting quietly, lit up with excitement as she saw the baby girl. 'Aii Papa' Zaara said making everyone chuckle

'Everyone' Abi said softly, her face glowing with a mother's pride, 'this is our daughter, Nila.'

For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then, one by one, expressions of awe and joy spread across everyone's faces. Malini was the first to step forward, her hands outstretched. 'Oh my goodness, azhaga irukka!' she exclaimed, her face lighting up as she gently took Nila into her arms. 'Hussain nambalukum ponnu dhan porakanum' she said 'Achoo azhagii, ungaloda kutty version madhiriye irukka Abi' Keerthana said

Abi smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with pride as she watched Malini coo over her daughter.

Ajay, who had been standing back with a wistful expression, leaned forward to look at Nila closely. 'She really is a mini Abi' he said softly, his voice tinged with a mixture of emotions.

Shreya, who had been standing next to Ajay, chuckled and nudged him gently as she took Nila from Malini's arms as Nila giggled at her. 'Ava kanna thavara' she said, smiling at Vijay. 'Papa ku apdiye unga kannu dhan anna' she added, teasing him with the affectionate term. 'She's adorable.'

Vijay's eyes misted over at the mention of "anna." He had grown up as an only child, raised by his loving grandparents, and he had always longed for a sibling. Hearing Shreya call him "anna" touched something deep inside him, and he smiled warmly at her. 'Thank you, ma' he said softly, his voice full of gratitude.

As everyone took turns holding Nila and admiring the little girl, the atmosphere in the room shifted entirely. What had started as a tense and emotionally charged meeting was now filled with warmth and hope. It was as if the presence of the baby had soothed everyone's hearts, reminding them that life, despite its hardships, had a way of bringing joy when they least expected it.

As the atmosphere in the room softened, Abi looked at Ajay with a thoughtful expression. She had bared her heart to him and the others, and now, with Nila in her arms and Vijay by her side, she realized something. She realized that despite the pain and the lies, life had given her a second chance-a chance to rebuild, to heal, and to find happiness again. And she wanted the same for Ajay.

Abi took a deep breath, still holding her daughter close, and said, 'Ajay na unkita onnu solanum' Her voice was calm, yet filled with warmth. *'I know this situation is overwhelming for both of us, and I can't tell you how sorry I am for everything that happened. But I want you to know that life isn't over for you... or for me.'

Ajay looked at her, confusion and emotion clouding his expression.

Abi smiled softly, glancing at Vijay, who was standing nearby, his protective yet comforting presence a reminder of how far she had come. 'I mean, life enaku oru second chance kuduthuchu. I met Vijay... and now, I have Nila. I never thought I'd feel whole again after everything, but look at me now.' She paused for a moment, her eyes misting over as she glanced down at her baby girl. 'I'm lucky. So incredibly lucky to have this beautiful family of my own.'

She turned back to Ajay, her gaze steady. 'Ajay, you deserve that too. Oru second chance. Idhu keka venumna impossible ah irukalam, especially after everything that happened between us. But you're not alone in this world. Look around you.' Abi gestured to Shreya, who was standing beside Ajay, a quiet but solid presence of support. 'Avala paaru. Look at what she's done to make sure you got to meet me. Ellathayum vitutu unna inga kootitu vandhuru, idhellam ava verum unnakaga senji irukka. That kind of dedication, that kind of effort... it comes from love, Ajay.'

Ajay's eyes flickered to Shreya, and he saw her in a different light. He had always known Shreya was special, but hearing Abi say it out loud-acknowledging her efforts-made it more real. He could see the affection and the silent strength in Shreya's eyes, and for the first time, he allowed himself to consider what that might mean.

Abi's voice broke through his thoughts as she continued, her tone gentle yet firm. 'Enaku Vijay irundha madhiri unaku Shreya irukka Ajay. And I know that if you open yourself up to the possibility, you'll find your own happiness too. Maybe not in the way you expected, but in a way that will surprise you.'

Shreya's eyes shimmered with emotion as she listened to Abi's words. She had come on this journey for Ajay, to help him face his past and find closure. But in this moment, hearing Abi acknowledge the effort she had put into reuniting them, Shreya felt a warmth in her heart. She hadn't realized just how deeply invested she had become in Ajay's well-being until now. It was more than just a task-it was something personal. And Abi's words only reinforced that connection she felt.

Abi smiled at Shreya, her expression one of quiet understanding. 'You've already found someone who's willing to stand by you through the toughest moments, Ajay. That's something precious. Don't let fear or the past hold you back from that.'

Ajay's throat tightened as he absorbed Abi's words. He had been so lost in his grief, in the pain of thinking that Abi had abandoned him, that he hadn't allowed himself to fully appreciate what was right in front of him. Shreya. She had been there, through every difficult moment, always by his side, even when he didn't realize how much he needed her.

Abi's voice softened as she concluded, her gaze full of empathy. 'Sila nerangala, we don't get to choose what happens to us. But we do get to choose how we move forward. I chose to move forward with Vijay and build a life with him. And you can do that too, Ajay. You can find your happiness again. I'm sure of it.'

Vijay, who had been listening quietly, stepped closer to Ajay. He placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice steady and kind. 'Abi's right. Kekuradhuku venumna easy ah illama irukalam, but you'll find your way. And when you do, you'll realize that there's so much more ahead of you than what's behind.'

Ajay looked between Abi and Vijay, then at Shreya, who gave him a small, encouraging smile. He felt overwhelmed by the emotions swirling inside him-the weight of his past with Abi, the uncertainty of his future, and the newfound awareness of how much Shreya meant to him. It was a lot to process, but somehow, amidst all the pain, there was a glimmer of hope. A possibility that maybe, just maybe, he could have that second chance too.

Abi gave Ajay's hand a gentle squeeze before letting go, her expression soft. 'You deserve to be happy, Ajay. We both do.'

Shreya, who had been quietly standing by, finally spoke up. Her voice was calm but filled with emotion. **"She's right, Ajay. You've been through so much... but you don't have to face everything alone anymore."** She smiled gently, her eyes holding his with a quiet intensity.

Ajay felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at Shreya. For the first time, he allowed himself to really see her-not just as his friend, but as someone who had been his anchor through all of this. Someone who, like Abi had said, cared for him deeply. Maybe even loved him.

Abi watched the exchange between them with a knowing smile. She could see the connection growing between Ajay and Shreya, and it gave her peace. 'Take it one step at a time' she advised gently. 'You don't have to rush anything. Just let yourself feel. And trust that good things are waiting for you.'

Ajay swallowed hard, nodding as he processed everything Abi had said. He looked at Shreya once more, his heart full of gratitude and something deeper-something he hadn't fully acknowledged yet, but was slowly starting to realize.

Abi leaned back in her chair, a sense of calm settling over her now that she had said everything she needed to. She glanced at Vijay, who smiled at her, pride and love in his eyes. She had found her peace, her second chance, and now she wanted nothing more than for Ajay to find his as well.

As the weight of the conversation began to lift, a small smile crept onto Abi's face. 'Yaaruku theriyum' she added, teasing slightly, 'maybe one day, we'll all be sitting together again, celebrating the new chapters in both of our lives.'

Ajay chuckled softly, the tension in his body slowly easing. He wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, he could find his happiness again-just like Abi had.

'Ivaluku dhan epo pathalum yaaravadhu advice kudupanga and Abi ye oruthangaluku advice kudukura na adhu neenga dhan nu nenaikuren' Vijay teased 'Over ah pesadhinga' Abi said

As the room settled into a peaceful silence, the bond between everyone felt stronger than ever. Abi's words had touched them all, leaving behind a sense of warmth and possibility.

Before anyone could say more, Malini suddenly winced, her hand going to her belly. The smile she had been wearing faded as discomfort crossed her

face. 'enaku oru madhiri irukku' she whispered, her voice tight with pain.

Everyone turned to her in alarm, and the room, which had been so filled with peace just moments before, became charged with concern, when 'aahh' Malini shouted in pain holding her bump...

To be continued...

Hope u guys liked this chapter, do shower ur love and don't forget to vote and share ur opinions in the comments

Stay tuned!
~Abi