Some say the world will end in fire

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

{Fire and Ice by Robert Frost}

•••

Diva closed the poetry book she was reading as she felt a wave of distress hit her. Something was bothering her, actually everything was bothering.

Amyra's hazel green eyes were bothering her. She resembled Advay a lot and anyone could easily guess that she is Advay's daughter, and it's true.

However, Abeer's contentment was also bothering her. Since high school she knew Abeer had some kind of psychological problem. But she never pointed it out because somewhere deep she knew that she was the reason of it.

He was obsessed with her. What he felt for her wasn't love, but obsession. He was addicted to her.

And now she regretted ignoring his mental health. She thought if they will be together, if she always stayed by his side, then he will be okay. But it only worsen his condition.

Over the top, her affair with Advay. It just ruined everything for her, but still she will never regret it. How pathetic!

And Abeer hated Advay. But how is he so happy raising Advay's biological daughter as his own child? It was also bothering her.

Abeer was never a selfless person. He was kind, generous, but not selfless.

Is it because of her? He is afraid if he didn't accept Amyra she will leave him.

Of course, she will.

But no, it doesn't seem so.

It seems as if he is getting obsessed with Amyra too. Not because she is Diva's daughter, but because she is his daughter on the legal papers.

Nothing was making sense to her.

Abeer was more than the Abeer she loved. He had a dual personality. One Abeer was whom Diva loved and the world appraised. Second Abeer was the one who kept his presence hidden, and who never trust anyone.

"You are still awake?" Abeer's voice disturbed her thoughts.

She looked at the wall clock which showed it was midnight now.

"I was reading Robert Frost." She showed him the book she was holding.

"Come to bed." He said with a mischievously stern voice and pulled her cheek, making her smile.

"I am coming with your dinner." Saying so she headed to the kitchen.

Abeer was working really hard. Previously, he worked hard only to compete with Advay in the business world. But now he worked hard for his family. And his rivalry with Advay had ended a year ago, when Diva chose him even when she was bearing Advay's child in her womb.

He entered the bedroom and removed his coat and tie. A smile bestowed upon his face as he saw Amyra sleeping in the middle of the bed. He silently sat beside her tiny sleeping frame and leaned to look at her angelic face.

Even if she resembled Advay, he couldn't deny that she was the most beautiful baby he had seen. Actually she was the only baby he had seen so closely. The only baby he will have. His only child.

Maybe little Amyra sensed his presence that she opened her eyes, her beautiful hazel green eyes.

"Paa!" His smile turned into a wide grin listening to the sound she just made. Did she call him Paa, means Papa?

"Amyra, say again. Call me Paa." He urged to her while making baby faces.

"Paa!" She gave a toothless laugh at the end and began clapping her hands.

"Paa loves you." He kissed her chubby cheeks.

"Dinner, your grace." Diva put the tray on the table.

"Yes, your highness." He picked Amyra up and sat on a couch. Diva frowned as he kept playing with Amyra.

"Abeer, eat." She said sternly but it had no effect on him. She sighed defeatedly and sat down beside him. She picked the plate of food and made a morsel.

"Open your mouth."

Abeer smiled before opening his mouth making an "Aaaaa" sound. And instantly moaned as the delicious flavours exploded inside his mouth.

"It's delicious!"

Little Amyra was looking at Abeer and Diva animatedly. Her expression clearly showed she wanted to eat that dish too, but baby, you need teeth for that.

"Paa! Paa!"

"Baby, you need teeth to eat it."

"Paaaaa!" And she began fake crying, which seemed very real to Abeer that he felt guilty to eat the dish alone.

"Diva, can I just make her taste a little of it's gravy?"

"It's too spicy. She will began crying at her top pitch. Let me feed her milk and she will be okay."

Diva put the tray on the table and picked Amyra up. She sat down on the bed, raising her top she began breastfeeding Amyra, who got silent in just a second.

When Abeer was done eating, he showered and changed into something comfortable. And slumped on Diva's side of bed.

"Go to your side." Diva protested while holding a sleeping Amyra.

"What if I want to sleep by your side?"

"But Amyra..."

"Put her on your chest, like I do every night."

"Why not tonight?"

"It restricts my movements." She knew what exactly he meant. But nevertheless put Amyra on her chest. Amyra weighed like a soft toy, it felt good sleeping like this. With her daughter in her embrace.

Abeer looked at them with adoration. His one hand caressed Amyra's tiny forehead and the other careesed Diva's cheeks.

"Sleep, Abeer. You have to go to office tomorrow."

"It's Sunday tomorrow."

"Then? You don't want to sleep?"

"No."

"Then what will you do rest of the night?"

"I'll do whatever I want, just make sure Amyra don't wake up with your wild moans."

And that was enough to convey what would happen rest of the night, much to Diva's pleasure.

•••

N E X T   M O R N I N G

"Is it necessary?" Abeer asked.

"It is." Diva replied.

The couple was standing in front of a hospital. And the purpose was Abeer's appointment with a psychiatrist. To be honest, Abeer felt offended when Diva informed him about the appointment that morning.

"Diva, why I need to visit a psychiatrist when I am absolutely fine?" He asked, trying to change her mind.

"Abeer, you don't need to be a lunatic to visit a psychiatrist. Psychological health is equally important as physical health. And you don't need to be ashamed or offended if you are having mental problem." Diva replied, trying to make him understand her concern.

"What mental problem?" But Abeer was ready to put a fight with her so that he could get an excuse to go back home without meeting any psychiatrist.

However, Diva kept quiet. She had a reply to his question, but answering it would only enrage him.

Obsession. That was her answer.

She held his hand and dragged him inside. It was quite amusing how a fragile woman held so much authority in front of a muscular guy. And how Abeer helplessly let her drag him, as if he had no power in front of her. He indeed had no power in front of the lady he loved.

"Because of this stupid appointment I had to leave Amyra at Armaan's place." He whined.

"Armaan is really good with kids. He will do fine."

"But Amyra is a homesick baby."

"Homesick? She is just a baby, I bet she doesn't even know it's meaning."

"She must be crying. My poor baby."

"Abeer, stop your drama." Saying so both of them entered a cabin. The door had a plate which read 'Dr. Shiv Rane'.

Abeer was frustrated as well as afraid. Frustrated because the appointment was just a waste of time. And afraid because he knew whatever Diva said was true.

•••

"Oh, my baby, don't cry. Your father will burn me alive." A very tense Armaan was trying to handle a very wailing Amyra.

Poor Amyra was crying because she could not see her Paa or Maa anywhere. Even the house seemed foreign to her. The uncle was cute but nonetheless a stranger.

"Armaan, you need to pacify Amyra for your future children's sake. You can do it!" Armaan motivated himself.

"Yaar, how will I take care of my future kids when I can't handle this little devil of an angel. Baano will definitely beat me up with her Dadi's stick. And my kids will be laughing at their helpless father. Shame on you, Armaan! By the way I can add this into my upcoming project. The hero trying to pacify his friend's kid. It will make a great comic scene. Right, Amyra?"

Well, I am over the moon to ask this question after a long time.

How many of you want smack his head?

He found inspiration in a wailing Amyra as well.

Even the little Amyra was wondering in her baby language, "Kis Jokal ke sath chol diya Paa ne."

"Let me sing a lullaby for you. Nanna munna raahi hoon, desh ka sipahi hoon, Bolo mere sang, Jai Hind! Jai Hind!"

First of all, someone please tell him that it's not a lullaby. And his rough voice only made the baby cry even louder than before.

"Baano says absolutely right. I am good for nothing. Oh God, send me your help."

And the very next moment the doorbell rung.

"Wow! Such a fast delivery, God. I promise you that I'll add it in my project."

Even God would be smacking his head and wondering why he created this weird creature.

Armaan opened the door and found Advay standing on his doorsteps. He stiffened. He never expressed it but just by looking at Amyra he understood that she is Advay's daughter. She had an unmistakable resemblence to Advay. Same hazel green eyes. Same blushful cheeks. Same brown hair.

And now he was in dilemma.

Advay all of a sudden wanted to visit Armaan. The reason was very simple, he missed his idiotic yet amusing talks. And his famous phrase, "I'll add it in my project."

When he saw a baby in his arms, he was surprised. Okay, he knew Armaan was engaged for last few years. But he was unmarried, or maybe he married during the last year. They were meeting after one and a half year and it was a long gap of time.

But as his eyes fell on the little angel, he froze at his place. It seemed as if he was looking at his own young version. He looked exactly the same when he was just a few months old. Or that's what he concluded from his childhood pictures.

From the look on his face, Armaan understood that Advay has noticed Amyra's resembling looks.

"Whose baby is this?" This question came as a shock.

How could he forget? That he had impregnated Diva.

"Diva's." Armaan didn't say Diva and Abeer's, because he knew she wasn't Abeer's, but Advay's daughter.

And then it dawned upon him. He forgot. He forgot in his misery that Diva was carrying his child, his first child, in her womb.

Actually he forgot the entire world when Zuri closed her eyes. At that time he understood how wrong he was. How he mistook affection as love and committed adultery with his stepsister.

"Can I hold him?" He asked.

"Yes and it's a girl. Her name is Amyra."

Advay picked Amyra who was still crying, but as he held her in his protective arms she stopped crying. As if she could feel an undefined bond with him.

"Amyra." He smiled mumbling her name. But then he remembered that Abeer always wanted to name his daughter Amyra.

"Diva and Abeer's daughter, Amyra." It hurt to call his blood someone else's child, but it was the truth.

He doesn't deserve to be called a father. He engraved it in his mind fifteen months ago when...

"Will you like to play with her? Abeer and Diva won't come back for an hour or so."

Advay smiled. Obviously he wanted to spend some time with his daughter. It's the first time he had seen her and held her in his arms. He wanted to live this moment to it's fullest.

•••

"Good morning, doctor." Diva greeted as she and Abeer entered the cabin.

"Good morning to you as well, Diva and...?" Dr Shiv Rane greeted back enthusiastically.

"Abeer Khanna, her husband."

Possessive.
Shiv scribbled on his diary.

"Welcome, Mr Khanna. Are you ready for our first session?"

"Not really."

Straightforward.
He scribbled.

"Please take your seats."

Diva and Abeer sat on the chairs opposite to Shiv's, in between was a large office table.

"So Abeer, do you know the reason for this session?"

"My wife thinks I need mental help." His reply evidently upset Diva. It was his way to show his anger.

A little sarcastic.
Shiv jotted down.

"And do you agree with her?"

"Not even a bit."

Hates to admit his weaknesses.
Shiv wrote down while smirking.

"Diva, will you mind leaving us alone? I'll call you back when we are done." He politely requested to which Diva agreed.

"Why she needs to leave?" Abeer protested.

Impatient.
Shiv jotted it down.

"Because I need to converse with my patient."

Diva squeezed Abeer's palm reassuringly and went outside the cabin.

"Abeer, tell me about your childhood."

"Why would I?" Abeer was simply trying to irritate Shiv so that he himself tell him to leave. But that was not happening, psychology is a profession that needs patience the most. And you can't irritate a psychiatrist so easily.

"Because I like listening to other's childhood stories. It's quite entertaining. Please go ahead, I am excited."

Abeer huffed, this guy was even worse than Armaan.

"My childhood was normal and comfortable. I had caring parents, good friends and over all a happy environment."

"What about your peers? Have you ever suffered peer pressure?"

It reminded him of his school days with Advay and Diva. They were inseparable. But everything changed when he caught Diva and Advay kissing each other in the storeroom of the school.

"Well, there were times when my friends insisted me on smoking and drinking. Mocking me for being so boring. But I stopped meeting them, even changed my school."

What he told was true but he changed school because he couldn't fathom Diva and Advay's presence in his life.

"What about your parents?"

"I had great parents. Very less people know that I am adopted. They were really supporting."

He didn't mention his biological parents. Nor that in his teenage he used to get nightmares of a man beating his wife.

"And when they died in the plane crash? How did it impact you?" Abeer's foster parents were famous and the news of their death was a national controversy at that time.

"I was depressed and agonised." And that was when Diva came back into his life. He needed emotional support and she was there for him at his weakest phase.

"Why are you so insecure about Diva?" By now Abeer's eyes were red. Shiv was intentionally triggering his emotional memories.

"There is nothing like this."

"Abeer... what angers you the most?"

"When she ignores me."

"When was the last time she ignored you?"

"Probably a year ago."

"Why?"

"She wanted to meet Advay." He answered without thinking, and regretted it immediately. He was not supposed to mention Advay.

His shocked expression was a victory flag for Shiv.

"Who is Advay?"

"Just an old acquaintance."

"I guess Diva's friend or maybe ex-boyfriend."

"Her stepbrother!" Abeer was now enraged. Being a psychiatrist doesn't mean Shiv would intrude in his personal life.

"Why do you hate him?"

"Because he is just like you. Insensitive."

"Thanks for the compliment. Now tell me about his good qualities, if there are some." Shiv said nonchalantly.

It wasn't hard for Abeer to reply. He had several answers for this one question.

"He keeps his personal and professional life separate. He is a caring brother, but will behave strictly with his brother. He hates his father yet respects him. He never shows off his luxury. He was a playboy but I have to admit that he never forced any women. And he never judged me for being an adopted child. He never pretends. He is outspoken. He is the only true friend I had."

Shiv was looking at him with interest. He says he hates Advay but here he was ranting out praises of him effortlessly.

"Abeer, think again. Why do you hate him?"

This question raised many more questions in his mind.

He hated Advay because he had affair with the girl Abeer loved and who was his stepsister.

Even if he and Diva were not biologically related, his father and her mother were married. They were step-siblings. There relationship was forbidden.

Moreover, Advay knew Abeer had a soft corner for Diva. Yet he continued his affair with her.

And Diva, she claimed to love Abeer then why she could never leave Advay.

Abeer understands that they were soulmates. They understood each other more than anyone else could. But they misunderstood this bond as love.

Zuri. That poor girl.

She suffered the most because of their forbidden relationship.

"Abeer, why are you crying?" Shiv asked in a concerned tone.

Abeer stood up.

"I am sorry, doctor, but I need to leave. I assure you I will take another appointment but not today."

That was enough to convey that Shiv succeeded. People underestimate him for his young age but wisdom comes with experience, not age.

Abeer exited the cabin and all Shiv hoped was that things get easier for the guy. He is hiding many burdens behind his blank face.

•••

Armaan was looking in awe at Advay and Amyra. The way Advay was smiling so heartily. And the way Amyra was smiling in his presence. They looked like a happy father-daughter duo. How he wished it could be true. Advay looked so happy.

"I'll add it in my next project." Even in this emotional state the perfectionist inside him somehow found inspiration in Advay's tragedy as well.

Tell me honestly, how many of you want to beat him with your chappals?

Doorbell rung and it broke his awe moment.

"I'll go and check. You two keep playing."

Advay didn't even bother to listen, he was too busy playing with his princess.

As Armaan opened the door, Abeer was standing in front of him.

Oh, he forgot. He was too happy for Advay.

"Abeer, you returned very early."

"Yeah, the meeting ended earlier." Abeer entered the flat and that's when he saw Advay.

Behind him Armaan was standing with a worried look. He was unsure about how Abeer will react to Advay playing with Amyra.

The scene did something to his heart. Abeer had never seen Advay so much happy. For once he forgot all the anger he had for Advay, he only remembered his best friend Advay. Advay who used to keep his emotions hidden. Advay who was afraid of affection. He was genuinely elated to see him so happy with his daughter. No, their daughter. She was Advay's daughter by blood and Abeer's daughter by her last name.

The beautiful trance broke when Advay noticed Abeer's presence. All of a sudden the smile adoring his face faded away. Abeer could see fear in his eyes, fear of losing his daughter.

Maybe he thinks that Abeer will never let him see Amyra again.

Abeer, tell him. You won't. You remember their true friendship. Do something.

"Leave Amyra home before night." Saying so Abeer left. A smile graced his lips as he uttered these words. He did it!

Advay's eyes filled with tears. Tears of happiness. He got his daughter and best friend back. He got his peace back.

And Armaan who was already crying by that time, made up his mind and with determination he said, "I'll add it in my next project."

And at this point I am myself wondering why I wrote this creature.

•••

🥳🥳🥳

Armaan is back!

Well, my maths exam got postponed so I wrote this chapter. I hope you liked it.

Btw, what about Dr Shiv Rane?

No comments, no update for next week.😤😤😤