Alex's POV

I collected Ananya's reports from the attendant who had come to the mansion to drop them by. I quickly opened them to see if everything was alright.
But what I saw took me by surprise. I was not ready for this. I don't think even Ananya was. But does she know? Does Mom know?

"Mom? Did you talk to the doctor today?
Did he not tell you this? I just got Ananya's report and.."

I paused as I saw Ananya and Dad standing right in front of me in the living room.

I was not expecting to see Ananya there. Has she spoken to Dad yet? What has she decided? May be it was a No and so nobody called me yet. I had so many questions but I did not know if it was the right time to speak. So I stood there like a deer in the headlights.

"Whats in the report Alex?" She questioned me.
She didn't know? How could she not know?
I couldn't speak a word and kept staring at her. I found myself tongue tied as I struggled to find words to speak.
But the awkwardness was broken by my mother.

"Oh Alex! You are home. I was just about to call you."

Call me? For what? What has happened here.
"Whats in the report Alex, tell me."
Ananya was concerned about the report. She looked worried. Oh! I scared her, may be with the surprised look on my face.

Mom and Dad on the other hand were calm. What was happening?
I gathered all my courage and mumbled something.
"Nothing Ananya. Everything is fine. I just saw that you are.."

"Lexi!! Come here honey and give Mommy a hug." Mom intervened.

Now I didn't know how to react.
A hug? May be they were trying to pacify me.
I looked at Ananya and she was all I wanted to see.

But she looked disturbed. Oh! The report.
I should tell her.
I kissed mom on the cheek and broke free from the hug.
Ananya was almost on the verge of crying. "Hey beautiful. Don't cry please. There is nothing to worry about. I just saw in the report that you are carrying twins. And I was pleasantly surprised. Thats it. Relax."

My God! I unintentionally scared her. She sat down on the couch with her hands covering her mouth and eyes still moist
"Twins!" She was flabbergasted.

"Oh you didn't know? Doctor didn't tell you?" I couldn't hold my laughter. Yay! We found about it almost together.
"No. I mean he did mention two lives. But I thought he meant me and the baby." She was all smiles with tears still rolling down.

I walked towards her and pulled her in an embrace. I was so excited for US. But suddenly I remembered, I still didn't know if there was even going to be an 'US'.

I looked at my Dad for some clue. But his lips were sealed. He was just staring at us with an amazed look.
"You knew. Didn't you?"

"Yes son. But we didn't know if Ananya would be worried or happy. We wanted her to take her decision first. She fainted this morning. And.."

"You alright there sweetheart? How are you feeling now? Have you eaten something? What did the doctor say about that? I know I should have been there?" I panicked. What happens to me when it comes to her

"No. You shouldn't have been there. You scared me Alex. What did you just do? You made it sound like there was some problem and I thought I could not evem have one thing working out for me." She playfully hit my chest but then hugged me again, tighter.
"I am so happy Alex. So happy that I haven't been this happy since days."
She exclaimed.
"I know. I thought you knew. I am sorry. I didn't know you were here." She suddenly let me go as if she remembered something. And she took a step back but avoided eye contact.
My heart sunk a little. May be she said NO.
I looked at Dad.
"I think you both need to talk. We will excuse ourselves for now."
He further called onto Mom and walked right out.

It was strange. This is what they wanted me to avoid since morning. Confrontation!
And now they leave me alone with her. 'What is happening?' I thought.

"Ananya, I know it wasn't right for me to ask for marriage at this time. You are already emotionally drained. I just want to tell you again. I am in it only for the kids. I want them to grow up in the shadow of a father. A loving father. They will have my name and love. I expect nothing else from you in this marriage but the right to be called their father."

I did not want to tell her that marrying her was a dream come true. May be I didn't want her to feel any kind of pressure. She didn't love me. And I knew marriage was a big deal for her. Marrying someone you don't love was so not like her. But she really needed to hear that I will have no expectations in this marriage.

She was looking straight in my eyes. For a moment she seemed lost. Her eyes looked sad but that was just for a moment before she smiled.
"Alex, I have already told your Parents my decision."

"Yes? And that is?" I held my breath.
My heart was beating so fast.

"I said Yes, Alex."
Her eyes now looked empty. She just said yes for marrying me. She sure agreed only for the sake of her children. I know all she would be looking for in this marriage would be to get a father for her children.
But I didn't mind. I would do anything for this beautiful girl standing in front of me. The girl for whom my heart beats.

*****************************************
Ananya's POV
I told him I said yes. He looked happy. But he made it very clear. He is marrying only for giving my kids his name. He doesn't need a wife. This marriage is his act of pity.
May be I should never have said Yes. How could I even think for a moment that he would want to marry me for me after all that has happened and we might give 'us' a chance. I was foolish.
He loves me and I can never doubt that. But his name for my children is more than anything I could ever have asked for.

I couldn't show him any sign of disappointment. I know for my happiness he would even try to give me a feel of happy married life.

We sat there talking and then on my request he took me to the hospital to visit Maa. She was someone in front of whom I could open my heart out.
I knew she was there , listening to the voice of my soul crying out to her for warmth.

I again could not sleep all night. It was early in the morning that my eyes finally gave in to the drowsiness. But it didn't last long. The morning sickness caught up on me again. I was drained out completely. But today Mrs.Lexstur was not around. She didn't check on me.
I wanted a little water and in the hope of finding what was it that kept everyone so aloof I stepped out of my room.

As I reached the stairs, I finally heard some voices. A few steps down the stairs and I realised that the person speaking the loudest seemed in a really bad mood.
Slowly with each step I took the voices became clearer.

"Who gave you the right to take that decision?" A woman  shrieked on top of her voice.

"Mother, it all happened in such a hurry. Alex was not sure of it before. But he has now decided." I heard Mr.Lexstur's voice. He was trying to pacify the other lady who I now recognised as Alex's Grandmaa.

"Alex will not decide. I will decide. Rather I had already told you all, my decision."

"Mother, we can sit and talk calmly."

"No. I am not here to talk. Last night you tell me that Alex will marry that Indian girl and you support his decision? You know what is at stake right? I am the elder of the family and I will decide."
She was adamant. And became more and more aggressive.

I could only hear voices from the distance. I did not try to intervene in their family discussion. It was clear to me now that Alex's Grandmaa was against him marrying me. And why not, she had every reason to oppose. I was pregnant with someone else's babies.
Just outside the living room, I stood near the stairs contemplating about what my future really held for me. I had messed up every decision I ever took. Was I making a mistake marrying Alex? Was I ruining his life?
And my stream of thoughts was broken when I heard Alex's Grandmaa reveal the real reason of her disapproval.
"Why don't you try to understand Luther? Alex is now engaged to Katherine. Taking out the ring doesn't end such things. What am I going to tell Julia? Wouldn't she feel betrayed that my Grandson broke her Grand daughter's heart?"

This piece of information was shocking for me. No one mentioned about Alex being engaged before. If he is engaged then this marriage can definitely never happen. She was right.
I did mess up everything again.

I turned around to run back to my room when I suddenly bumped into Maria who was holding a glass of water and a glass of juice in a tray. It caused the tray to crash on the floor making such a noise that the Lexsturs rushed out to check what had happened.

"I am sorry." I murmured as I turned and saw Alex, Mr & Mrs.Lexstur and Alex's Grandmaa staring at me.

"You should be Sorry. You ruined everything." Alex's Grandmaa's words pricked me.

I suddenly felt my stomach turn and I ran towards the washroom to throw up.
"Oh My God! Ananya. Are you alright?"
I heard Mrs.Lexstur's worried tone of voice as she ran behind me.

She entered the washroom and helped me hold my hair back.
I cleaned up and she gave me some water to drink. "Alex is engaged?" I put up my question straight forward.
"If he is, I do not wish to come between him and his happiness. That was never my intention.  If only I knew."

" you relax my dear. Stress is not good for you in this condition. Remember what doctor has told you."
Mrs.Lexstur tried to divert the topic.

"Please tell me the truth."
"Dear, leave everything to us. Alex is not engaged, but he was before he decided to get married to you. Its his decision not to marry Katherine and we all should respect his choice. And he did not do this, just for you. So please don't blame yourself."
I was not satisfied with her answer.

"Does she even know that I am pregnant with someone else's kids?" I wanted ro make things clear. I couldn't get married with this guilt.

"No she doesn't and she doesn't even need to know. No one will know that except us. I just want you to trust me. You trust Luther, don't you?"

I trust them but after knowing all this my mind was not ready to accept.
She asked me to meet Mrs.Lexstur senior once and go to my room.
As we stepped back into the living area, my heart skipped a beat when I heard Alex's voice for the first time since morning.
"Grandmaa. This marriage is going to happen with or without your approval. Ananya is pregnant with my kids and I am not going to leave her alone in this."

No! He didn't just lie about the children. 'God! It has become so messy.'
"Alex! No." I protested.

"Yes Mother. She is carrying Alex's babies. Twins! And this is the reason this marriage has to happen." Mr.Lexstur interrupted me.

Alex's Grandmaa was shocked to hear this. She just held her head in her hands and sat on the couch.
She sat there in that position for quite some time.
Mr.Luther signalled me to keep quiet.

"Children without wedlock. Not good Luther. Don't bring shame upon the Lexstur name. I can't sit here and do nothing." She finally got up and walked towards me.

"Be it then. Alex can marry this girl. But I have one condition."
For a moment there, all faces looked delighted assuming she said yes.
But it was short lived as she brought up the condition thing in the middle of everything.