The weight of the past bore down on me like a physical force, threatening to crush me beneath its oppressive yoke. Memories I'd long suppressed came flooding back, each one a painful reminder of the Goenkas' treachery. My mother's tears, my father's broken body, the sound of shattering glass – every detail was etched into my mind like a scar.

 The Goenkas had never acknowledged their wrongdoing, never apologized for their cruelty. Instead, they'd continued living their lives, oblivious to the devastation they'd wrought. But I remembered. Oh, I remembered. And the fire of my hatred for them burned brighter with each passing day.

The mere mention of Ruhi Birla's name made my blood boil. She was the reason for my family's downfall, the one who had driven a wedge between my parents and torn us apart. I remembered the pain and the tears, the countless nights I had spent crying myself to sleep, wondering why my family had been shattered into a million pieces. 

And it was all because of Ruhi Birla's manipulative ways, her cunning schemes, and her selfish desires. I hated her with every fiber of my being, hated her for ruining my childhood, for taking away my happy family, and for leaving me with a deep-seated scar that would never fully heal.

A fierce determination burned within me, fueling my resolve to make the Goenkas and Ruhi Birla pay for their transgressions. I, Abhir Birla, would be the architect of their downfall, the one who would bring them to their knees. The memories of my family's suffering, of my mother's tears and my own pain, would be the driving force behind my quest for justice.

 I would stop at nothing to ensure that the Goenkas and Ruhi Birla faced the consequences of their actions, that they tasted the bitter pill of regret and remorse. My mother's honor, my family's dignity, and my own pride demanded nothing less. The battle lines were drawn, and I was ready to wage war.

......

Ruhi's body shook with sobs as she buried her face in her hands. The pain of her miscarriage still felt like an open wound, a constant reminder of her loss. She had been so excited to become a mother, to hold her baby in her arms and shower them with love. But fate had other plans. Ruhi's tears fell like rain as she thought about the baby she had lost.

 She felt like she had failed as a mother, like she hadn't been able to protect her child. The weight of her grief was crushing her, making it hard to breathe. Ruhi's mind was a jumble of emotions, a mix of sadness, guilt, and regret. She didn't know how to heal, how to move on from this pain. All she could do was sit on her bed, surrounded by the silence of her room, and weep for the baby she had lost.

"Ruhi," Rohit's voice was soft and gentle as he called out to his wife. Ruhi turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears as she buried her face in his chest. "Why always me, Rohit?" she sobbed, her voice shaking with emotion. "Why does God always take away my happiness?" Rohit's arms enveloped her, holding her close as she poured out her heart.

 "First, God took away my Papa," she whispered, her voice cracking with pain. "Then, I lost my Matashree... my Poppy... my Billa boy... everyone I loved." Ruhi's body shook with sobs, her grief and anguish pouring out of her like a torrent. Rohit held her close, his heart aching with sympathy and love for his wife.

 He could feel her pain, her anguish, and her despair. He knew that she had been through so much in her life, that she had faced one loss after another. Rohit's eyes dropped, his gaze falling to the floor as the weight of his secrets bore down on him. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of guilt, suffocating under the pressure of his own deception. He had lied to Ruhi, told her that their child was dead, when in reality, he had given their baby to Abhira and Armaan to raise. The memory of that day still haunted him, the pain of his decision still fresh in his mind.

but now, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake. Ruhi's tears, her anguish, and her grief were all a reminder of the lie he had told, the truth he had kept hidden. Rohit's heart ached with regret, his mind consumed by the what-ifs. What if he had told Ruhi the truth? What if he had found another way to protect their child? The questions swirled in his head, taunting him, reminding him of the secrets he kept hidden.

Ruhi's tears slowed as she looked up at Rohit, her eyes searching for answers. She saw the sincerity in his eyes, the regret etched on his face. "I'm sorry, Ruhi," he repeated, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm sorry for not being able to protect you and our child." Ruhi's gaze lingered on his, and for a moment, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She believed him, believed that he was truly sorry for his perceived failures. But little did she know, Rohit's apology was only a half-truth. He was sorry for not being able to protect her, but he was hiding a much bigger secret, one that could shatter their relationship forever.

Ruhi's voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes welling up with tears. "Every time I see Abhira's baby, I'm reminded of our own child," she said, her words barely above a whisper. "It's like a knife to my heart, Rohit. That little one's smile, his laughter... it all brings back memories of what could have been. I find myself wondering... what if our child had lived? What would our life be like now?" Ruhi's body shuddered as she sobbed, her grief and longing pouring out of her like a river.

Rohit's heart skipped a beat as he listened to Ruhi's words. He felt like he had been punched in the gut, his breath knocked out of him. He couldn't meet Ruhi's eyes, afraid of what she might see there. He knew that he had to keep his secret hidden, but it was getting harder and harder to do so. Ruhi's words cut deep, reminding him of the lie he had told her. 

He felt like he was living a double life, torn between his love for Ruhi and his duty to keep the truth from her. "Ruhi, I..." he started to say, but his voice trailed off. He didn't know what to say, how to comfort her without revealing the truth. All he could do was hold her, trying to offer what little solace he could. But deep down, he knew that he was just making things worse, that his secrets would eventually tear them apart.

Ruhi's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I don't hate Abhira's child, Rohit. I swear, I don't. It's just... seeing him reminds me of what I've lost. What we've lost. Our own child, our own family... it's all still so raw, so painful." Ruhi's face contorted in a mixture of sadness and desperation. "I want to be happy for Abhira, I really do. But it's hard, Rohit. It's hard to see her with her child when I'll never have that with ours."

........

Rohit stumbled out to the garden, the cool night air a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside him. He collapsed onto a bench, his body wracked with sobs as he finally allowed himself to release the emotions he had been holding back for so long. The weight of his secrets, the pain of Ruhi's grief, and the guilt of his own deception all came crashing down on him like a tidal wave. He cried for Ruhi, for the pain he had caused her, and for the life they could have had.

 He cried for the child they had lost, and for the secrets he had kept hidden. And he cried for himself, for the burden he had carried for so long, and for the fear of being discovered. The garden, once a peaceful sanctuary, was now a witness to Rohit's shattered heart.

Rohit's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face the person who had wrapped their arms around him. He was met with the familiar face of his brother, Armaan. Armaan's eyes were filled with concern and understanding, and Rohit felt a lump form in his throat as he gazed at his brother.

 For a moment, the two brothers just held each other, the only sound being Rohit's muffled sobs. Armaan didn't ask any questions, didn't try to offer any words of comfort. He just held his brother, offering a silent understanding that only came from sharing a deep and abiding bond.

Rohit's voice cracked as he spoke, his words laced with regret and anguish. "Bhai, I thought I was doing the right thing... giving you and Abhira bhabhi our child. But now I realize, I wronged Ruhi. I took away her chance to be a mother, to hold for child."

Armaan's eyes filled with tears as he listened to Rohit's anguished words. He could feel his brother's pain, his regret, and his sense of betrayal. Armaan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You saw Abhira's pain, her desperation for a child, and you wanted to help her. But in doing so, you forgot about Ruhi's pain, her loss, and her grief." Armaan's arms tightened around Rohit. "You're not a bad person, bhai. You're just a person who made a mistake. But it's never too late to make things right. You need to tell Ruhi the truth, Rohit. You need to give her the chance to heal, to forgive, and to move on."