Even after my continuous denial, Diya was adamant to accompany me to the hospital. I hadn't missed a single day of my monthly check-up not after the doctor had mentioned my health condition would affect the baby within me. According to the doctor, my womb couldn't withhold the child. They even suggested going with abortion as an option.

I couldn't make myself kill the only sign I was surviving for. I couldn't kill such an innocent soul. The only sign of Mayur's existence, his love. With an accelerating heart, I took a step into a very familiar yet distant building.

My heart was beating in alarm. I was scared about the report. After the doctor's announcement, each minute passed with fear. I feared that I won't be able to see the child. It was something beautiful and rewarding to glance at the soul born inside your womb.

Diya squeezed my elbow. Blinking her eyes in assurance. "Don't worry..." she wanted to erase my tension but my heart wasn't ready to listen. "Dude, don't stress yourself up... it's not good for your health." I glanced at her, pressing a smile. Wanting to brush every thought away so my child would be safe.

As we were on the verge of entering the cabin, tiny hands engulfed me from the back. Hugging my knees. "Muma..." her familiar sweet voice, knocking the breath out of my system. My heart ached as I recognized the girl hugging me. "You didn't come..." she grumbled, softly but it reached my heart. Her displeasure reached and pierced my heart. I felt guilty for breaking my promise. I felt ashamed of myself as due to me she was sobbing silently. "I missed you..." she choked making me shut my eyes in defeat. All the barriers I had guarded around my heart melted like ice. A drop of tear slowly descended the cheek.

"Aachal..." Diya's confused voice forced me to glance at her. She was staring at me with questions. "Baby," her eyes shifted to the soul not ready to loosen her grip on me. "Hey..." she knelt before her. I didn't have the courage to turn, holding myself in the same spot. "What's wrong, baby girl?" She was trying to earn her confidence but as Diya attempt to talk to her further lead Ridhi to nuzzle herself into me.

I was going to object Diya but as I raised my eyes, my sight went to the glass door. A large, muscular figure reflected in the glass. He seemed extra taller in the it. Though he was wearing his familiar professional attire but the coat had disappeared. The shirt was tapped out of the pant from one edge. His collar was raised and his tie loosely hanging around his neck. Those round orbs drained; messy brown hairs disheveled. He didn't seem perfect but...

"Hot!" I heard a whisper and my eyes traveled toward the source. "How am I to believe he is the father of this innocent child?" Diya questioned me sounding confused. I rolled my eyes at her words slowly turning to face Mr. Oberio. My eyes directly landed on the princess, staring at me with hopeful orbs.

"You won't leave me again, right?" She was pleading with me through her eyes. I hesitated to dart my gaze at her father. To my surprise, his orbs were fixed on me. Unknown emotions displaying in those blank orbs. I averted my gaze not able to meet his intensity.

"Angel, what are you doing over here?" I interrogated getting to her level, and slowly cupping her cheek.

She pouted at my question, folding her hand around her chest. I couldn't help but smile at my furious baby. "Don't question me for the question." Her cute, round orbs glared at me. Further showing the similarity she had with her father.

"I am not questioning you..." I pressed my lip tight, not wanting to end up in a series of giggles and further annoy my cute princess. "I got caught up in work so couldn't make it possible." She stared at me for a minute longer. I offered her a pleading gaze. Deep within, I felt the urge to console her. I couldn't let her be furious with me.

"So, you will come to play with me today?" Her hopeful eyes ached my heart. I knew keeping a distance from her was a way out. I couldn't allow her to miss-interrupt me as her mother.

"Hmm... I had answered your one question now it's your turn." I strolled her question away not wanting to raise her hope. Maybe breaking her expectation was the only way out.

"Mine? Are we playing twenty questions?" Her eyes glittered with wonder. I smiled at her wide, nodding in agreement. I raised to my feet, carrying her in my arms.

"What are you doing in the hospital?" I questioned, my eyes averted to her father who could respond to it, clearly.

"She was stubborn not to have her medicine." I knitted my brow in confusion. Medicine? Was she fine? My worried eyes met her sparkling ones.

"Now I will!" She grinned at me. Her small, soft hands caressed my cheek. "Don't worry..." she assured me. I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Why did you act stubborn? Don't you know..."

"Yeah medicine is important or I will get sick. You lecture same as Dad," she shook her small head in displeasure. My eyes widen at her comment, slowly lowering my gaze in embarrassment. I shouldn't have pried much in her life. After all! I was a stranger. "But I love you more..." she ended up, pecking my cheek. Her loud giggles reached my ears, delighting my heart.

"Princess!" I heard a growl, making her giggle go louder. She was popping her tongue out, teasing her annoyed dad.

I took a step forward standing before Mr. Oberio. His fake glare fade away, confusion taking a place on his face. I eyed him carrying her in his arms. He extended his arms but the kid was glued to me. Opposing his move. "No! She will again disappear... like last time..." her words made my eyes widen in surprise. Her cries pleading me, indicating her dependence on me. Just one meet! And she considered me as her mother but why?

"Baby, try to understand she..." Mr. Oberio attempted to convince her but her cry raised a level higher. "Ridhi, don't behave stubbornly... I had enough of your tantrums..." He was going to forcefully grab her from me but I halt him.

"That's not a way!" I countered back, his eyes narrowed at me.

"You have no right to oppose me." With those words, he pulled her from me. Walking away from me. My heart ached as her cry got louder with each step taken away from me. What connection I had with the child? Why I felt as if a piece of myself was snatched away from me?

"Aachal..." Diya squeezed my shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts. Making me realize that they had left. The pain inside me was conveying I might not see her again. That was the reason that I was scared to get attached to anyone as in the end, it was me who had to suffer.

___

"Okay... I had edited the last piece of modification needed." I uttered, ordering the new set of the white curtains. Anaya had kept us busy adding modifications each day. Diya stared at me with gloominess.

"You can't leave me. I won't be able to manage it alone." She was demanding me to change my decision.

"You aren't managing it alone. I will be a call away, acting as your helping hand at each step. And it isn't like you had never done it before. You were managing it alone for a year. This wedding isn't huge." I was trying to convince her but she rolled her eyes getting up from the couch as she rechecked the list.

"This wedding isn't like those we managed before. From the last few days, it's been all over the media. Every human has a deep interest in the wedding. Anaya will kill us if there is even a small mistake. And weddings are never perfect." Her eyes conveyed she was on the verge of tears.

I stared at her a minute longer. "I had promised Ma to meet Tanmay." She glared at my response. Tanmay was a person that had shown interest in marrying a pregnant woman. My parents were adamant to marry me before the arrival of the child. And their constant plead had convinced me to meet him. Moreover, it was providing me with an excuse to not attend the grand celebrity wedding. I was finding ways to distance myself from Ridhi.

"That problem is solved." Came an excited voice from the entrance. I glanced around to find my mother providing us with her beautiful smile. "You don't have to choose between the two." She informed me, "Tanmay was on a business trip in Kerala. He is fine to meet you there." She informed walking into the room. "He doesn't want to be a hurdle in your job." She pressed a smile as she voiced those words. Contradicting the words she voiced out few years before.

"Ma..." I whined as I heard about a meeting arranged. "I can't attend it! I have a meeting scheduled from the past week with my client. It would be very unprofessional of me if I don't make it up." I was arguing with my mother roaming after her at every corner of the house.

"Aachal! Don't trouble me." She glared at me, as she brushed the dust off the cushion. "It was your Papa who planned the meeting. Go and talk to him." She scolded continuing with her work.

"But why should I sacrifice my work for them? Isn't he visiting us because his schedule is off?." I shook my head in displeasure. "He isn't sacrificing anything! But I have to sacrifice my passion, my love for my work."

"It had been the same! It is always the woman who has to scarify." Came my mother's response as she walked away from the living room. I huffed at her retreating figure, cursing my faith.

"That's cool!" Diya jumped in excitement. Her shout brought me out of my memories. "Finally! I would have you by my side." She pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. My mind was trying to register things happening around me. Tanmay! I wasn't planning to meet him. It was rather an excuse to not attend the wedding celebration. And his attempt to prove to be better was further making me dislike his existence.

"I will pack your things... I don't want us to end up late." Diya muttered walking out of the living room. A small touch on my shoulder made me realize I wasn't left alone. Ma offered a sad smile to me.

"Tanmay is ready to consider the child as his own." I raised my eyes at Ma in surprise. Why would anyone do that? "He is trying to grab the opportunity to know about you, about your wishes." She paused a minute longer staring into my orbs. "Aachal, please don't let it fly away. He seems a good human, allow him with a chance. I am not forcing you but just letting you know... you deserve a chance as well. You deserve a life as well..." she voiced those words forcing those emerging tears not to roll down her cheek.

"Who is this Tanmay?" I questioned making Ma sigh in relief. Not aspiring to move on but rather wanting to erase all the worries from her heart. The last few months had been more troublesome for them. They couldn't brush their thought away from my future. Though they convinced me to re-marry hardly anyone showed interest in a woman bearing a child. A woman that was pregnant. They were scared that I would have to face all the humiliation. The child would live a life without having a father figure. They feared that it would be called with names by their peers.

Ma handed me a sheet of paper. "His name and number are mentioned in the paper." She mentioned allowing me with time to possess everything. I slowly opened the paper, glancing at the word prescribed.

Tanmay Chopra... his writing seemed decent nothing impressive. I closed the sheet of paper not planning to save his number.