Shakshi sat down heavily on the edge of her bed, the phone still clutched in her trembling hand. Ashok's call had left her shaken to her core. A decade of silence had been shattered in a few minutes, and with it, all the emotions she had buried-anger, sorrow, and most of all, guilt-came rushing to the surface.

Her breaths were uneven as she tried to steady herself. But the more she thought about Ashok's words, the harder it became. Anamika, her strong and graceful daughter-in-law, was suffering, and Shakshi had done nothing to protect her.

Her thoughts drifted to Anamika's early days in the family, when she had been so full of life and optimism. She remembered how Vineet had declared his love for her, defying them all, and how Shakshi and Aarnav had opposed the match.

Her hands balled into fists. Was this our fault? she thought bitterly. Did we plant the seeds of destruction by not embracing Anamika when Vineet brought her into our lives?

Her mind then shifted to Ashok. Her anger with him burned just as fiercely. "Encouraging Vineet, indulging his selfishness," she muttered to herself, shaking her head. "How could Ashok not see the damage he was causing? And now he calls me, expecting me to clean up the mess."

But beneath the anger, there was also a deep ache. She had lost Ashok years ago-not physically, but emotionally. His decision to leave home and his entanglement with Shagun had created a rift she didn't know how to bridge. Now, his voice, filled with regret and desperation, had cracked something open in her.

Her chest tightened as she thought about Anamika. Pregnant, stressed, and alone in a city where she should have been surrounded by love and care. The image of her lying in a hospital bed, vulnerable and heartbroken, was too much to bear. Tears welled up in Shakshi's eyes. "meri bachchi," she whispered. "She doesn't deserve this. None of it."

She stood abruptly, wiping her tears away. There was no time to wallow in regret. She had to act. If her sons were too blind to see what was right, she would open their eyes.

Shakshi began packing a small bag, her movements brisk and purposeful. As she folded her clothes, her mind raced. She would confront Vineet-make him understand the gravity of his actions. She would hold Ashok accountable for his role in all this. And she would make sure Anamika knew she wasn't alone.

A sudden wave of sorrow washed over her, and she paused, clutching the edge of the bed for support. She had always believed in raising her sons to be strong, capable men, but now she saw how deeply she had failed them-and, by extension, Anamika.

"Enough," she said aloud, her voice firm. "I can't change the past, but I can fix the present. For Anamika. For the child. For this family."

Shakshi's resolve hardened as she zipped her bag. Tomorrow, she would face her sons, and this time, she wouldn't back down.

Shakshi headed out of the room and entered the hall, her mind spinning after Ashok's call. She couldn't shake the worry for Anamika, nor the fury brewing for both her sons. She had known from the start about Anamika's pregnancy, and it was Aarnav's insistence that kept her silent about it to Vineet. But now, hearing about the hospital visit and Anamika's stress, Shakshi was beginning to wonder if silence had been a mistake.

She turned to find Aarnav sitting on the sofa, his face stoic but his eyes betraying his concern. "Aarnav, this can't go on. She's pregnant, she's stressed, and she's all alone in this. We can't just stand by anymore."

Aarnav looked up at her, surprised but his expression firm. "You think I don't feel the same, Shakshi? But I told Anamika not to tell Vineet for a reason. He's not in the right frame of mind. If he knew about the child, it might have caused more harm than good. You've seen how volatile he's become." he said knowing what his wife meant as most of the time she ends up asking him to disclose everything to Vineet, why? He doesn't know.

Shakshi's voice rose in frustration. "But at what cost, Aarnav? Anamika is suffering! She's carrying their child, our grandchild, and she's breaking under the weight of it all. Ashok called and told me she was in the hospital because of stress. Stress caused by Vineet's behavior!"

Aarnav stood, his face tense. "what?? She's in hospital? And you still think we should have told him everything? Why on earth will you think of any such sort of thing after knowing he's only hurting her at every point? Look, we can't change what's already done. The only thing we can do now is step in and protect her. Vineet is still blinded by his anger and ego, and to be honest I don't trust him anymore."

Shakshi shook her head, her voice trembling. "And what if Anamika has to raise this child alone because Vineet refuses to grow up? Are we just going to let that happen?"

Aarnav softened, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We won't. That's why we're going to Delhi. If Vineet can't step up, we'll make sure Anamika knows she's not alone. We owe her that much."

Shakshi's eyes filled with tears. "We owe her so much more than that. She's been through hell, Aarnav. And she's still trying to stand strong for the child. I see her strength, but I also see her pain. She deserves better than this."

Aarnav nodded, his resolve strengthening. "She does. And we'll be there for her, Shakshi. But we have to be smart about this. If Vineet isn't ready, we can't force him. We'll support Anamika, no matter what."

Shakshi exhaled, her anger softening into determination. "Then let's not waste time. Book the tickets. We'll be there by morning. I want to make sure she knows she's not alone."

Aarnav reached for his phone, his heart heavy yet resolute. As he booked the tickets, he thought about the decision he had made to keep Vineet in the dark. At the time, it felt like the right call. But now, with Anamika struggling and Ashok's words ringing in his ears, he wasn't so sure.

Shakshi stood silently, her thoughts racing. Her love for Anamika and the unborn child burned fiercely, and she promised herself she wouldn't let either of them suffer any longer. Tomorrow, she will be in Delhi. And she would make sure that Anamika felt the love and support she deserved.

.....

Anamika was sitting in the hospital bed, her eyes still red and swollen from crying. The dim glow of the bedside lamp accentuated her pale face as she stared blankly at the walls. Her thoughts were a tangled web of past memories and the present chaos when her phone buzzed, startling her.

It was Raman.

"Hello, Anamika?" Raman's concerned voice came through. "The hotel reception called me and said you left with an unknown guy. What's going on? Are you okay?"

Anamika sighed, her exhaustion evident. "I'm fine, Raman," she replied softly. "I... I wasn't feeling well, so I'm at the hospital. Please don't worry about me."

But Raman wasn't convinced. "Hospital? Anamika, why didn't you call me? You're my guest here; it's my responsibility to take care of you. Which hospital are you in? I'm coming over right now."

"Raman, no, it's really not necessary," Anamika protested weakly. "I'm okay now, and I'll be discharged soon."

"Don't argue with me, Anamika. You're alone in Delhi, and I won't let you handle this on your own," Raman insisted firmly. "Text me the name of the hospital, and I'll be there in no time."

Anamika hesitated but knew Raman wouldn't back down. She finally relented and sent him the details. As the call ended, a wave of guilt washed over her. She didn't want to trouble Raman or drag him into her personal turmoil, but part of her was relieved at the thought of someone being there for her.

Leaning back on the bed, she placed a hand protectively over her belly and whispered, "I'll make sure you're safe, no matter what. I promise."

About an hour later, the door to Anamika's hospital room opened, and Raman walked in, followed by his wife, Ishita, and their daughter, Roohi. Their concerned faces immediately made Anamika sit up straighter, though her exhaustion was still evident.

"Anamika!" Raman exclaimed, rushing to her side. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? You should have called me the moment you felt unwell."

Ishita gently placed a hand on Raman's shoulder. "Raman, calm down. She's already stressed enough," she said softly before turning to Anamika. "Are you okay now? What did the doctor say?"

Anamika offered a faint smile, touched by their concern. "I'm better now. It was just some stress. The doctor said it wasn't anything serious."

"Stress?" Raman repeated, his brow furrowing. "What's causing you so much stress, Anamika? You've always been strong and focused."

Anamika shook her head, trying to brush it off. "It's nothing, really. Just work and travel catching up with me. But I'll be fine."

Before Raman could probe further, little Roohi climbed onto the bed beside Anamika, her bright eyes full of curiosity. "Aunty, are you sick? Papa said you're very strong, so why are you in the hospital?"

Anamika's heart melted at the child's innocence. She stroked Roohi's hair and replied gently, "Sometimes even strong people need to rest, beta. But I'll be okay soon."

Roohi nodded seriously, then reached into her little backpack and pulled out a chocolate bar. "Here, Aunty. Chocolate makes me happy when I'm sad. You can have it."

Anamika couldn't help but laugh softly as she accepted the chocolate. "Thank you, baby. You're very sweet."

Ishita smiled warmly at the interaction and took a seat beside Anamika. "You're in good hands now," she said reassuringly. "If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. Raman and I are here for you."

"That's right," Raman added. "You're not just a business associate, Anamika. You're a friend. And we take care of our friends."

Anamika felt a lump form in her throat. Their kindness and warmth were overwhelming, especially after everything she had been through recently. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "It means a lot to me."

As they stayed and chatted for a while, Anamika felt a sense of comfort she hadn't experienced in a long time. The presence of a caring family, even if it wasn't her own, reminded her of what she truly wanted to give her unborn child-a life filled with love and support.

To be continued...