The next morning, a private jet landed at Delhi Airport, and from it emerged Aarnav and Shakshi Khanna. Both had grim expressions, their worry for Anamika overshadowing everything else.

Standing near the arrival gate was Ashok, waiting for them. His face was laced with guilt, but he tried to mask it with a hesitant smile.

Shakshi, however, was in no mood for pleasantries. The moment she saw him, her expression turned cold. "We don't need you to wait for us, Ashok."

Aarnav, equally displeased, added, "You've already done enough damage. Just take us to Anamika."

Ashok sighed. He had expected this. He knew his parents still held resentment toward him for his choices, but right now, their only priority was Anamika. Without another word, he led them to the car and drove straight to the hospital.

---

As soon as they reached the hospital, Aarnav and Shakshi didn't waste a second. They ignored Ashok's attempts at conversation and stormed inside, heading directly to Anamika's room.

Inside, Anamika was sitting on the bed, listening to the doctor's instructions about stress management and prenatal care. But the moment she saw her in-laws walk in, something inside her broke.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, "Maa... Papa..."

And then, unable to hold it in, she broke down completely.

Shakshi immediately rushed to her, gathering her into a warm, tight embrace. "Beta, we are here. You don't have to be strong all the time," she whispered, stroking Anamika's hair, her own eyes moist. "I should have come earlier. I shouldn't have left you alone."

Aarnav stood beside them, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions. He wasn't a man of many words, but his presence alone was enough to show his support.

Anamika sobbed into Shakshi's arms, letting out all the pain, all the suffering she had kept bottled up inside. "I tried, Maa... I tried so hard... but..."

Shakshi pulled back slightly and cupped Anamika's face. "You don't have to explain anything, beta. I know everything now. And I am proud of you for standing your ground."

Anamika nodded, overwhelmed by their unconditional love.

Just then, the door creaked open again.

Vineet who had spent the entire night in turmoil. The confrontation with Raman, Bala, and Vandita had shaken him to his core. But nothing had hit him harder than the realization that Anamika was carrying his child... and she had no intention of telling him.

It had taken him hours to gather the courage to come to the hospital. And now, standing at the door, he felt a lump in his throat.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes landed on Anamika-his Anamika-wrapped in his mother's embrace, her face streaked with tears. His heart clenched painfully.

But before he could take a step forward, his gaze shifted to his parents.

The look they gave him was one of sheer disgust.

Shakshi's warm expression turned ice-cold as she met his eyes. Aarnav's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists.

Neither of them said a word, but their silent condemnation was louder than any accusation.

Vineet swallowed hard. He had expected anger, disappointment-but nothing could have prepared him for the sheer contempt in his parents' eyes.

He truly felt like the villain of the story.

Vineet took slow, hesitant steps toward Anamika, his heart hammering in his chest. He needed to talk to her, to explain himself-even though he had no idea how to begin.

But before he could get close, a firm hand came between them.

Aarnav Khanna stepped forward, his towering presence radiating authority and rage. His usually composed face was filled with cold fury.

"What do you want?" Aarnav's voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.

Vineet clenched his fists. "I just want to talk to Anamika..." His voice was almost pleading, but his father's hardened gaze didn't soften.

"No," Aarnav declared, his tone final. "You don't get that right anymore."

Vineet's eyes widened in disbelief. "Papa, please-"

"Don't call me that," Aarnav cut him off, his expression filled with disappointment. "You are no longer the son I raised."

Vineet took a shaky breath. "I made mistakes, but I-"

"Mistakes?" Aarnav scoffed, his voice laced with disgust. "You abandoned your wife. You accused her. You refused to listen to her. And now that she's finally moving forward, you want to come back and claim a right over her? Over the child you didn't even know existed because you never cared enough to ask?"

Vineet flinched. Each word struck him like a slap.

"I have every right to know about my child!" he argued desperately.

Aarnav let out a bitter laugh. "No, you don't."

Vineet froze.

Shakshi, who had been silently holding Anamika close, now spoke, her voice sharp. "You are not worthy of being a father, Vineet. A father doesn't abandon his child before birth. A father doesn't put his own selfish desires above his responsibilities."

Vineet turned toward Anamika, silently pleading for her to say something. But she remained quiet, her gaze avoiding his, her hands unconsciously resting over her belly as if shielding their child from him.

Aarnav continued, his tone unwavering. "We have no plans to give this child your name."

Vineet's head snapped toward his father in shock. "What?"

"You heard me." Aarnav's voice was firm. "You have done nothing to earn the right to be this child's father. This baby will not carry the name of a man who abandoned his family. Anamika is more than capable of raising this child on her own. And we will stand by her."

Vineet felt like the ground beneath him had crumbled.

"No... you can't do that." His voice cracked. "This is my child too."

Aarnav's piercing glare silenced him. "You lost that right the moment you walked away from your wife."

Shakshi nodded. "You don't deserve a place in Anamika's life, and you certainly don't deserve a place in this child's life."

Vineet felt like he couldn't breathe. His worst nightmare was coming true. He was losing everything.

Would Anamika really take their child away from him?

Would his parents truly never forgive him?

His gaze shifted to Anamika once more, silently begging her to say something-to defend him, to give him one last chance.

But she remained silent.

And that silence crushed him more than anything else.

Vineet felt his world slipping through his fingers. The weight of Aarnav's words, the cold finality in Shakshi's tone, and Anamika's unbearable silence were suffocating him. He had been prepared for confrontation, for anger, for accusations-but not for this. Not for this absolute rejection.

His knees buckled, and before he could stop himself, he dropped to the floor. His pride, his arrogance, his anger-everything shattered.

"Papa... Maa... please," he choked out, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Don't do this. Don't take my child away from me."

Aarnav remained unmoved, his sharp eyes looking down at him. "This isn't something we are taking from you, Vineet. This is something you threw away."

Vineet shook his head frantically, his hands clenching into fists against the cold hospital floor. "No, no, I-I didn't know... I would have-"

Shakshi's bitter laugh cut through his pleas. "You would have what, Vineet? Cared? Understood? Loved your wife and child? Don't lie to yourself. You left her. You accused her. And instead of looking back, you ran after a woman who was never yours to begin with!"

Vineet's breath hitched, and he turned to Anamika. His Anamika. His wife. The woman he had promised to protect but had ended up hurting beyond repair.

Her face was blank, devoid of any emotion, but the way she cradled her stomach told him everything-she was guarding their child from him.

"Anamika," he whispered, crawling towards her, his hands shaking. "Please. I know I messed up. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I- I can't lose you like this." His voice cracked, and his head hung low as he trembled with remorse. "I can't lose our child."

Anamika's lips pressed together. She finally looked at him, but there was no warmth, no softness-only a distant, exhausted gaze. "You lost us a long time ago, Vineet."

Vineet's heart clenched painfully.

"No," he whispered, his head shaking in disbelief. "I can change. I will change. I just-give me a chance. Let me fix this." His voice was thick with unshed tears. "Please, Anamika. I beg you."

But the silence in the room was louder than his pleas.

Aarnav's expression hardened further. "You're begging now, Vineet?" He let out a cold chuckle. "Where was this desperation when she was calling you repeatedly in those initial days, hoping you would return? Where was this regret when you accused her and humiliated her? Where was this love when you were with another woman instead of being by her side?"

Vineet shut his eyes tightly, his tears finally falling. He had no answer.

Shakshi's voice was quiet but firm. "You don't just get to come back when it's convenient for you. Parenthood isn't about claiming a right, Vineet. It's about responsibility. And you... you abandoned yours the moment you walked away from your pregnant wife."

Vineet sobbed openly now, his forehead pressing against the floor as his body shook with emotions too big to contain. "Please... I'll do anything," he whispered brokenly. "Just don't take my family away from me."

Aarnav exhaled, his expression unreadable. "You don't have a family anymore, Vineet."

Vineet flinched as if he had been physically struck.

Shakshi turned away from him, gently rubbing Anamika's back. "Come, beta. You need rest."

Anamika nodded and slowly got up, but not before looking at Vineet one last time. Not with anger. Not with love. But with pity.

And that was the final blow.

She walked away with his parents, leaving Vineet alone in the cold hospital room, still kneeling on the floor, drowning in the consequences of his own actions.

And there, The Vineet Khanna realized-some mistakes can never be undone.

---

To be continued...