Hope you all are doing good.

Sorry for the late update. I'm stuck with some work and my mom is not feeling well.

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Author's POV:

Maya was lost in her thoughts when Avi asked her, "Why didn't you accept his proposal when you wanted me to move on from you? Why did you reject Ankit's proposal when his family came to ask for your hand in marriage? According to you, I deserve a better person than you, right? That's the reason you distanced yourself from me all these years, even after knowing your importance in my life. Why did you wait for me if you wanted me to forget you? You have options before you, right? You could have chosen one of them, and then maybe I could have moved on. Now don't tell me that I'm a better option than all of them." He shut his eyes in pain while saying the last line. He knows it hurts her badly, but it's needed at the moment.

Maya didn't understand what to answer him. Yes, she has rejected Rajesh because she loves Avi, but at the same time she wants Avi to move on from her. And also, with Rajesh being around, she never got any good vibes. Her heart and mind were always on alert whenever he was around. But never in her life did she think of Avi as an option. She considers him the best thing that has happened in her life, and the time that she has spent with Avi is always bliss. But now, as she listens to Avi's final question, a storm has formed in her heart.

"Do you really think you are an option for me, Avi?" Maya asked, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

"No, but it looks like the same," he said, maintaining a stern face.

She held his face in between her tiny palms and made him look at her and told him, "Keep this in your head, Avi. You are never an option for me. I have rejected Rajesh because I love you. I rejected Ankit's family proposal because I had realised that I couldn't imagine anyone in your place. I accept I was wrong, but tell me what you would do if you were in my position."

"Okay, I believe you if you say so. And if I was in your position, I would have definitely given myself a chance to move on," he said, averting his gaze away from her.

"So, you are saying that I'm still stuck with my past?" she asked him.

"Yes, isn't it obvious?" he said sternly, making her shut her eyes in pain.

"Avi!" she yelled, closing her eyes in pain as she listened to his stern voice.

He never talked to her like this. But she knew he was hurt. Her eyes pooled with tears. And isn't he correct? She is still struck with that past of hers, which haunts her every now and then. She looked down at her lap, trying her best to control her emotions.

On the other hand, Avi was trying to control his anger and not to breakdown in front of her. He knew he might be harsh, but at that moment he felt it was necessary. He wanted her to move on from that dreadful past of hers. He knew it was not easy to forget that pain, and on top of that, she was just 12 years old when that incident happened. If he had known about that incident before, he would have strangled that person to death. He knew his Adi mama might have made sure those boys got their deserved punishment. But he felt as if he had failed in protecting her. He understood that it was really uncomfortable to share it with him or Arjun. But at least she could have told him about Rajesh. He knew there was more to the story, which he didn't know yet.

He took a deep breath and continued, "Did you remember how you always used to approach me whenever something happened? I understood something was wrong with the change in your behaviour. So, I asked you a thousand times if there was any problem, didn't I? But you always shrugged the matter off and said everything was okay. You might not feel comfortable sharing what that bastard did to you. But at least you could have told me about Rajesh. Things would have been different then, Maya. Do you think it won't be possible for me to know what's happening in your life? But I have always respected your privacy. I thought one-day you, yourself, would approach me and tell me everything, whenever you feel, because of the situation."

"I never kept any secret from you and Arjun except my love for you. Do you know how I felt when Amma told me that a family came to your house asking for your hand for their son? I felt my heart shattering. I didn't understand what to do at that moment. I know you love me too, but your behaviour from the past few years made me think again. Thousands of questions ran through my mind at that moment. What if you had accepted that guy and felt he was perfect for you? Would I be able to live without you? Then I came to know that you rejected that proposal. I was on cloud nine. And I didn't even wait for a moment. I have told Nanamma (paternal grandma) that I love you, and I want to spend my whole life with you. At first, she was shocked, but then she jumped in happiness and scolded me for taking this long. And then, you know what happened next. Have you ever wondered why I waited till now?"

Maya nodded her head negatively in a trance.

"I wanted you to achieve your dreams and be independent. I didn't want my love to be a hindrance to your dreams. I have seen you working hard to make your parents proud, who never got satisfied with your achievements. I have seen you many times crying while holding your grandparents' photo in your arms in the middle of the night, sitting in a corner of a room when everyone is asleep. Only I knew how much I had controlled to take you in my arms. You don't know how much I have missed my old little bunny who used to smile whole-heartedly, who used to prank, who used to make everyone run behind her, who used to demand me. I used to wonder where my little bunny was, who would stick to me and make me laugh with her mischievous antics. I used to think about the bond between your parents and you, and also between you and Anju atta and Adi mama. Now I understand why you are close to Anju Atta instead of your mother. I saw that pain in your eyes whenever your parents praised someone else and compared you with that person. I didn't know what happened between you and your parents. But in these one and a half months, I have noticed you rarely talk about them, and even if someone talks about them, your face becomes pale. At first I thought you were missing them, but now if I connect the dots, I think there is something more to the story."

Maya looked at the man in front of her with adoration. This man is always full of surprises for her, even though she has known him for the past twenty years. She didn't know that he noticed so many things regarding her. He gave importance to her dreams and waited for her all this while. She thought only she was suffering, but now, listening to him, she understood she also made him suffer along with her. She thought he would get hurt if he came to know about her pain, but now she understood she made him go through more pain and hurt with her irrational decisions.

I know you guys might be scolding me in your minds right now.

But please bear me for now. I'll complete this past thing within two chapters. And also they will be lenghty chapters.

For now just enjoy the chapter.

:)