As the door slammed shut behind Vineet and Shikha, the silence in the room became deafening. Anamika tried to hold herself together, but the weight of their words and the pain they had inflicted on her soul broke her. 

She sank onto the bed, her hands covering her face as sobs wracked her body. Everything she had worked so hard to bury—the memories, the hurt, the betrayals—came rushing back like a tidal wave, drowning her. 

“Why do I deserve this?” she whispered through her tears, clutching the pillow tightly. "What did I do so wrong to deserve such hatred from the man I once gave my everything to?" 

As her emotions poured out, a sharp pain shot through her stomach, catching her off guard. She gasped, clutching her belly, her tears momentarily replaced by panic. 

“It’s nothing,” she tried to convince herself, breathing deeply. “Just the stress... it’ll pass.” 

But the pain didn’t subside. It grew sharper, more insistent, until she could barely sit upright. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as fear gripped her heart. 

“No, no... please...” she murmured, one hand instinctively cradling her belly. The thought of losing her baby—the one part of her life she was holding onto—was unbearable. 

Her breathing quickened, and she realized she couldn’t ignore it anymore. She needed help. But whom could she call? Her family was miles away, and she had no one in Delhi. No one... except Ashok. 

The thought of reaching out to Vineet’s brother felt strange, but she knew Ashok genuinely cared for her, and he had always offered his support. In this moment of vulnerability, she had no other option. 

With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone and dialed his number. 

The line rang twice before Ashok picked up, his voice calm yet concerned. “Anamika? Are you okay?” 

Her voice cracked as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. “Ashok... I... I need your help. Please...” 

Ashok’s tone changed immediately, his concern turning to urgency. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” 

“I... I’m in pain,” she managed to say through gasps. “I think... I think something’s wrong with the baby.” 

“Baby?? Stay where you are,” he said firmly. “I’m coming right now. Don’t move. Just send me the address.” 

Anamika hung up and sent him the address. Clutching her belly she cries as the pain continued to radiate through her body. She whispered softly, “Please, stay with me... I can’t lose you. You’re all I have.” 

Minutes felt like hours as she waited, her breathing shallow, her heart racing. Finally, a knock sounded at the door. She mustered the strength to stand and open it. 

Ashok stood there, his face etched with worry. Without a word, he stepped inside and gently supported her. 

“We’re going to the hospital,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring. “You’ll be fine, Anamika. I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby.” 

As he guided her out of the room, Anamika couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief. In her darkest moment, Ashok had been there, proving that even amidst the chaos, she wasn’t completely alone.  He careful hold her hand and supported her to walk out of the hotel.

....

At the hospital, Ashok paced the corridor anxiously as the doctor conducted Anamika’s check-up. Every passing moment felt agonizingly long. Finally, the doctor emerged from the examination room, offering a reassuring smile. 

“It’s nothing serious,” the doctor informed Ashok. “The pain was a result of extreme stress and tension. She and the baby are fine, but she needs to rest and avoid any kind of emotional strain.” 

Ashok nodded, his concern not entirely alleviated. “Thank you, doctor. Can I see her now?” 

“Yes, but please make sure she stays calm. She’s been through a lot.” 

Ashok entered the room to find Anamika sitting upright on the bed, looking pale and exhausted. Her eyes flicked toward him briefly before dropping to her hands. 

“You scared me,” Ashok said, pulling up a chair beside her bed. His voice was soft, but the worry in his tone was unmistakable. “Why didn’t you tell me about the pregnancy earlier, Anamika? I would’ve taken better care of you.” 

Anamika looked away, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket. She didn’t answer. 

“And what happened today?” Ashok pressed gently. “How did you end up in so much pain? What caused this stress? Did Vineet come to see you? Because he came to me earlier this morning complaining about your business plan with Raman and was upset that you were attending his daughter's birthday party. Did you see him? Usne kuch kaha tumse?” 

Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, her eyes filled with tears. Ashok sighed, leaning back in his chair. 

“Anamika, I know you’re strong, but you don’t have to carry everything on your own. This isn’t just about you anymore; it’s about the baby too.” 

Anamika finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can take care of my child, Ashok. I don’t need anyone else.” 

Ashok frowned. “That’s not what I meant. But don’t you think Vineet deserves to know? He’s the father, Anamika. If he finds out, he’ll—” 

“He’ll what?” she interrupted, her voice rising with fury. “Come running back to me out of obligation? Accept me because of the baby? No, Ashok. I don’t want that. I don’t want to beg for his love or his presence in my life.” 

Ashok stared at her, stunned by her outburst. 

“Don’t you think he has a right to know?” he asked after a moment. 

Anamika’s hands curled into fists. “He lost that right the moment he left me. The moment he chose to believe I was selfish and unworthy. This child is mine, Ashok. Mine to love, mine to protect. I won’t let anyone take that away from me—not even Vineet.” 

Ashok rubbed his temples, clearly frustrated but also understanding her pain. “You’re angry, and I get it. But this isn’t just about the past, Anamika. It’s about the future. What if one day your child asks about their father? What will you say then?” 

Anamika’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, but her resolve remained firm. “I’ll tell my child the truth—that they are loved, cherished, and enough for me. That’s all that matters.” 

Ashok sighed heavily, realizing it was futile to argue with her in this state. “Fine. I won’t push you anymore. But promise me you’ll take care of yourself. If not for you, then for the baby.” 

She nodded, her voice softening. “I promise.” 

Though the conversation ended, the tension lingered. Ashok stayed by her side for a while longer, ensuring she was comfortable before leaving. As Anamika lay in the hospital bed, her hand instinctively rested on her belly. 

“You and I are going to be fine,” she whispered to her unborn child, her voice filled with both determination and a hint of vulnerability. “We don’t need anyone else.” 

.....

As Ashok stepped out of the hospital, the night air hit him, but it did little to cool the storm brewing in his mind. His concern for Anamika was genuine, but he couldn’t shake the thought that Vineet needed to know the truth. Standing by his car, he pulled out his phone and dialed Vineet’s number. 

Vineet picked up after a few rings, his voice gruff. “Ashok, what now?” 

Ashok didn’t mince words. “You need to know something. Anamika is pregnant.” 

The line went silent for a few moments, and Ashok could hear Vineet’s sharp intake of breath. 

“What did you just say?” Vineet’s voice was a mix of disbelief and urgency. 

“She’s pregnant, Vineet. Five months along. She’s been going through everything alone, and tonight, she ended up in the hospital because of stress. She’s fine now, but it could’ve been worse.” 

Vineet’s grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles turning white. “Why didn’t she tell me?” 

Ashok sighed. “Because she doesn’t think you deserve to know. She’s angry, Vineet—angry at you, at how things ended, at how you’ve treated her. She doesn’t want anything from you, not even your presence in her life.” 

Vineet’s heart sank. The pieces started to fit together: her faint glow, her hesitations, and her emotional state during their last encounter. How could he have been so blind? 

“She… she was stressed because of me, wasn’t she?” Vineet muttered, his voice cracking. 

“Yes, partly. Tonight, she had a breakdown after your confrontation. She felt so cornered and vulnerable that she had no choice but to call me for help.” 

Vineet’s jaw clenched. Guilt and frustration churned inside him like a raging storm. “I didn’t know… I didn’t mean for this to happen.” 

Ashok’s voice turned cold. “But it did. Vineet, this isn’t just about you anymore. There’s a child involved now—your child. If you care about her at all, or if you care about that baby, then you need to stop acting like a fool and take responsibility.” 

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Vineet admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Start by acknowledging the damage you’ve done,” Ashok said firmly. “And then figure out if you’re man enough to fix it.” 

Without waiting for a response, Ashok ended the call. He leaned against his car, taking a deep breath. He hated being harsh, but he knew it was the only way to shake Vineet out of his self-absorbed spiral. 

Back in his room, Vineet stood frozen, Ashok’s words replaying in his mind. The revelation of Anamika’s pregnancy hit him like a tidal wave, washing over him with guilt, regret, and a strange, unfamiliar sense of yearning. 

His thoughts drifted to the times he’d imagined building a family with her, the excitement he’d once felt about the idea of having children. And now, she was carrying his child—a child she intended to raise without him. 

“I’ve failed her,” he whispered to himself, sinking into the nearest chair. His mind raced with memories of their happier times, the promises they’d made, and the love they once shared. 

For the first time in months, Vineet felt truly lost. But amidst the chaos of his emotions, one thing became clear: he couldn’t let Anamika go on thinking she was alone. He had to find a way to make things right—no matter what it took.

...

To be continued..