And lastly that moment for which three brothers along with Anika has planned so much has come. Heartbeats of those four were ringing fast looking at the smiling faces gathering around one by one. Everyone got seated over their comfy couch. Slowly Soumya too entered into the scene holding Sahana's finger. It is always a rare view to watch Sahana walking, but that day she looked happy to walk unlike other days. Sahana is growing, she ran to Rudra leaving her mother's hand and Rudra immediately pulled her up in his embrace and dropped a kiss over her cheek. Sahana pressed Rudra's cheeks using both her hands and giggled feeling them soft and tickling. Looking at her in awe Shivay dropped his head. He cannot let himself go back to his own guilt.

"Shivay" Anika's firm hand pressed Shivay's shoulder.

After the day Shivay came back, she got her own strength to move on but he was loosing the same. Soumya too came to meet her bhaiya after he returned and Anika has noticed that how Shivay was pampering Sahana, Soumya's daughter. She knows that he loves daughter so much but the look after Soumya left was something different. The eyes that were glowing with Sahana's presence has turned to void. He denied discussing it with her but she knew that something is there which he is hiding just to keep her happy.

"Daadi" Shivay fought with himself to look straight into his grandmother's eyes.

"Say my grandson" the loving reply gave him much needed strength and he decided to end what he started, for his brother.

"Daadi Rudra and Soumya wants to marry each other" in a moment expressions changed.

He thought everyone would be happy but they looked surprised. Maybe they never saw it was coming after Soumya walked away on the day Rudra proposed her. Soumya's heartbeat fastened, her attention diverted to everyone equally waiting to listen their questions. Rudra neared Soumya meanwhile and firmly held her hand. Sahana was still busy figuring out the hairs over Rudra's face. She has so many questions regarding those but none are answering, even her Ru buddy isn't answering. Agitated she went on to mess up Rudra's perfectly done hair.

"If our Rudra is happy then we must have no say" like always, Rudra's mother supported them before everyone.

"Are you happy with this decision Soumya?" daadi's attention panned over Soumya, she somewhere felt that Soumya is uncomfortable.

"We still have much to disclose daadi, please listen" Anika came in front.

Soumya waited in anticipation. Rudra has still not left her hand. Sahana was busy with messing up Rudra's hair but none had heart to pay heed over Sahana's deeds.

"Soumya is a widow" nothing said more, the little smile that was still lingering over everyone's face has died now.

Tightening her grip over Rudra's hand as if grabbing onto her last possession Soumya closed her eyes, looking down.

Anika proceeded to disclose everything. She said that how on Soumya's wedding day, her husband left her just after their wedding got completed getting a call from his fellow army troop for some important and never returned.

"He died while serving for his country" Soumya paused, her head still hung low but tears cascaded down her eyes continuously.

"The news of his death came after three days, and- and I couldn't do anything to save him" it was hurting everyone.

Soumya rose her head up and wiped away her tears. She can't fall weak at this moment, she is proud of her late husband. She is so proud of herself because she has not lose hope over her life even after loosing her everything.

"And Sahana isn't Soumya's own daughter" Rudra completed the last part of the shock.

Everyone couldn't believe what they were hearing, they were shocked and surprised and proud because of the strong girl Soumya but at the same time, confused.

"Sahana is Soumya's brother's daughter" Rudra then described that when he met Soumya for the first time, she was so different from what she is now.

He said that how she coped up and moved on in her life after her husband died and made her brother, sister-in-law and Sahana her everything. But that happiness too didn't last longer, Soumya's brother and his wife died when Sahana was just three months old and two days before they met for the second time. From then until now Soumya was fighting for the custody of Sahana with her sister-in-law's maternal family. Rudra paused, he gulped down the painful lump and waited. Soumya continued further describing how her sister-in-law's family and the court is pressurising her in the context that she is a woman who doesn't even have a secured job. She also said that how court has ordered her to marry someone if she wants Sahana's custody, thus she wants to marry Rudra. Soumya completed, somewhere she felt guilty she knew that it is wrong to use Rudra for her own purpose but she had no other way out.

"Proud of you my child" Tej Singh Oberoi, Rudra's father walked up to Soumya and patted her back.

She could see the pride in everyone's eye but still hesitation flashed too.

"We would like to take a day or two dear to decide and then we will let you know. And never forget that you are the daughter of this house too and we are proud of you" daadi said.

Soumya just nodded and all the elders went back to their respective rooms. Youngsters sat back discussing about what to do next when Omkara's phone rang. It was a business call and he went to his room. Soumya got a call from her ongoing event and promised her client to reach the spot by an hour, Rudra accompanied her leaving behind Sahana with Shivay and Anika.

"We will take care, you both go soon and come back super soon" Anika waved her hand assuring Soumya and watched them walk out.

Silently Shivay pulled up Sahana in his embrace and walked towards the pool side. Anika looked on, that how he is enjoying the baby girl's company. He laughed and made sounds and made Sahana laugh and enjoyed. He became like a baby and enjoyed every passing second. No worries, no sorrow dared to flash over his face.

"What is this, you know what is this?" Anika saw him asking the question to Sahana who was astonished looking at the big pool.

"Water-booshh" Sahana said in her baby voice.

"See you are intelligent" Shivay waved her in air making her giggle and clap.

"Shivay" Anika neared them.

Looking at Anika his expressions changed but he soon covered it and smiled like before. This minute change didn't go unnoticed by her and she was adamant to find out that what is bothering him so much. They got seated over the swing near their pool side and swung lightly. 

"Wanna go to Anika mum?" Anika mum, the name rang inside Anika's ear.

She looked how Sahana tried pronouncing Anika but failed.

"Mum" Sahana said and clapped her hands in her little achievement.

Anika soon took Sahana in her embrace and kissed her face, the edge of her eyes became moistened and she hugged Sahana tight. It felt so good to listen to that particular word. Shivay rubbed Anika's back and kissed over her forehead. As the time passed Sahana slept peacefully in the embrace of her another mother and father like figures. 

Looking at Sahana sleeping peacefully, Soumya didn't wake her up and took her in her embrace to make a move. She has returned few minutes back and found out Shivay and Anika sitting by the pool side along with her daughter. It looked so good, Shivay and Anika resembled her own brother and sister-in-law along with their daughter. Looking at that beautiful scenario tears betrayed again flowing down. Memories of her brother came back but looking at Rudra standing by her side she felt good, she felt secured and protected. Therefore wiping away her tears she took a picture of Shivay and Anika along with Sahana secretly before nearing them.

Anika noticed that how hard Shivay's stare became as Soumya walked off with Sahana. The void inside those pair of pure ocean returned, an unsaid pain played over which he tried hiding immediately when his eyes fell over Anika's. Hr tried to smile fake but Anika pressed his hand and questioned.

"Share it with me Bub" she can't see him in pain.

"Nothing important" he tried avoiding, willing to free his hand from her's.

"It is when it is bothering you this much" he knew that she isn't letting him go this time.

Sighing deep he closed his eyes. He was afraid to let Anika see his vulnerable sight when she herself needed all his support. But Anika's grip over his hand grew and her one hand landed over his chest. Slowly rubbing over she neared him and dropped a chaste kiss over that magical spot. The burden inside him seemed to blow away.

"I- was- so- disheartened- that- day when you said you do not want to work until our baby grows to a responsible age" he paused but without interrupting Anika let him speak "I was mad at myself and over you as well that I cursed our baby" he hung his head low.

He can't bear this pain of guilt anymore, the tears threatened to cross the limit letting his vulnerable sight out.

"I- I even prayed to god- that- that this baby should not come between us" and the crystals dropped from his eyes "I wanted you as only mine- I was afraid- afraid that we won't be having time for us once the baby arrives- I never wanted you away from me- not even- not even for the mark of our love- I am sorry" he held her both hands and cried "I am sorry for all these- I am sorry because I shouted over you that night- I am so sorry- I am sorry" he rested his head over her hand and cried more.

The pain inside him was getting washed, he has held that for so many days and now when it was almost becoming unbearable he let that go. She was shocked listening to him, knowing that the same fears she had initially was also there in his heart made her more shocked. She pulled him and hugged him tight caressing his hairs. He was crying like a baby holding her so tightly. He was guilty and she felt herself getting stabbed looking at his tears. Her memory went back to the day she lose her baby. She remembered that how she shared this news with him.

Anika's phone rang and it was Shivay.

"How is our baby?" he sounded rough.

She confessed it all, sobs leaving her continuously. He listened it all and went numb. For minutes he didn't respond. But listening to Anika's continuous cries he lastly left a sigh and opened his mouth.

"I promise to you D, soon we will get back this happiness again" he tried soothing her but that confidence in his voice was missing.

Anika's tears didn't stop and he had no other way to soothe her.

"I love you D, no matter what I am there beside you. For now please stop crying, every good thing needs time to arrive" the first part of the sentence had her stunned but still the warmth in the words were missing.

Shivay further said that he will keep her and their baby always happy once he or she arrives in their life. Anika controlled herself a little and asked him to comeback soon. Shivay blew a kiss in the air and hung the call. She almost forgot his confession of those three magical words amid her sorrows.

"I am sorry D" his words snapped her back to reality and she held him even close.

"Bub whatever happened was never in our hands. We were not ready for the arrival of our baby, if it is your fault then it is equally mine because the life was growing inside me and I wasn't careful enough. She or he will always be in our heart Bub, we will never forget the happiness that we got but promise me that we will forget this painful incident of our life. We won't share it to anyone ever and once we get this happy news again we will be most careful" Shivay distanced himself from her and cupped her face.

Nodding an yes he dropped a kiss over her forehead.

"You are my angel" she heard him saying as he hugged her back and she now made a mental note to confess those three magical words back to him in her own way.

------------------------------
Well well this chapter has the answer to all your unanswered questions. Now tell me ideas to make Anika confess those three magical words to her dear husband soon, sooner or maybe soonish. Soumya's past is revealed too so let me know about your views about it too and suggest a short name for Sahana. You all keep thinking and suggesting, until then bye.

NOTE- DEARIES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE LOVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SHOWERING THROUGHOUT THIS STORY. WHEN I JOINED WATTPAD I HAD TWO DREAMS, ONE IS GETTING 10K+ VOTES ON ONE OF MY STORY AND BECAUSE OF ALL YOUR SUPPORT IT WILL PROBABLY GET COMPLETED TODAY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND THE OTHER ONE IS 1K+ FOLLOWERS, NOW IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPENS THEN TOO I HAVE NO REGRET BECAUSE I AM SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING YOU ALL HAPPY THROUGH WHATEVER STORIES I HAVE WRITTEN UNTIL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING, LOVE TO YOU ALL.

Thank You so much to everyone who read, voted and commented. Hope you have enjoyed this part as well. If so then please do hit the star button and leave your comment or criticism down.

NEXT EPISODE WILL GET POSTED ON THURSDAY.

-NILANJANA