Hello guys!

Sorry for the late update. It's my cousin's wedding on 14th and I'm hell busy with the rituals and preparations.

Anyways let's peep into the chapter.

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Author's POV:

Maya went to her room silently and stood under the shower. She let the water droplets erase her tears. Every word he said was echoing in her ears. She closed her ears with her hands and collapsed on the floor. The cold water droplets were sending chills down her spine. She sat there under the shower, silently weeping.

Avi, who came to the room after talking to the officials, didn't find Maya in the room. He heard the shower sound. He went near the bathroom and called her name, but she didn't respond. He found the door open. He slightly opened the door and saw her sitting on the floor under the shower. His eyes widened in shock. Her body was shivering, and she sat there hugging her knees close to her chest and with her head on her knees. He went in and switched off the shower and picked her up in his arms. He made her sit on the sink cabinet and started drying her hair with a towel. He removed all her jewellery and moved to the walk-in closet. He placed the jewellery on the table and picked up a night dress for her. He handed her the dress and told her to change the dress.

Meanwhile, Avi changed his clothes and went down to the kitchen. He took the warm milk with turmeric and moved up to his room. He saw Maya sitting on the bed, lost in her thoughts. He sighed and went to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, bringing her out of her thoughts. She looked up at him. He handed her a milk glass while she drank it without making any fuss.

He looked at her wide-eyed because milk and Maya are like the like poles of magnets which always repel each other. Seeing her drinking milk without making any fuss was something new. He sat on the bed and took her in his lap while she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I want a break, Avi. I'm tired of all the happenings. Take me somewhere where there will be only two of us", she asked him, looking into his eyes.

He pecked her head and nodded his head. Soon, both of them drifted into sleep, hugging each other.

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Sravya was standing on the terrace looking at the sky when she felt someone's presence around her. She turned around and saw Surya standing there with two cups in her hand.

"Hey!" Sravya greeted him.

"Not getting sleep." He asked her, handing her one cup.

"Hmm. Wow, hot chocolate is my favourite. How do you know that?" She asked, taking a sip of hot chocolate.

"Mia told me", said Surya.

"Oh!" Sravya mumbled.

Both of them stood there in silence, enjoying the cool breeze, the night view of the city and the hot chocolate. Surya looked at Sravya. Her face looked serene and happy. But what he doesn't know is that he is the reason behind that happiness. Sravya felt his gaze on her and looked at him. For a moment, she got lost in those dark brown eyes of his, but she quickly averted her eyes and looked away. She mumbled "thanks" and quickly ran away from there. Surya ran his hand through his hair and smiled, looking at her running figure.

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While in Sakshi's and Rishi's room Sakshi was sitting on the bed lost in her thoughts. Vyshali's words were echoing in her mind. Unknowlingly her hand went on to her tummy where she had carried Maya for nine months. Where her baby was nurtured. Few tears left her eyes. When did she become so hard? So hard as rock that she wasn't able to see her daughter's pain. She paid deaf ears to all her sufferings. Her heart twisted more in pain as she remembered Rajesh's words. She closed her eyes in pain. She was feeling suffocating. How could she trust some outsider over her family? Just then Nandan entered their room. He looked at his mother who was looking vulnerable. He made his way towards her and lied down on the bed keeping his head on her lap.

A tear fell on his cheek. He got up and sat taking her hands into his and asked her,

Nandan: What happened amma?

Sakshi: I'm sorry, Nandu.

Nandan looked at her confused as he didn't the chaos that happened in the house from the beginning. He just knew something was wrong. He tried to ask the others many times but they used to divert the topic.

Why amma?

I failed as a mother, Nandu. I... I with my own hands tried to destroy my daughter's marriage.

Nandan looked at her wide-eyed.

Nandan: What the hell, amma? What are you saying? Tell me, what happened exactly. He asked her sternly.

Sakshi told him what happened on that day in their home. How she believed Vyshali and Rajesh's words and slapped Maya and accused her. How she asked her to divorce to Avi. She told him everything to her son what happened till today.

Nandan looked at his mother in shock. He never expected this. Yes, he knew their parents were strict, quite busy with their work that they didn't have enough time to spend their time with their children. Suddenly, he felt guilty. He doesn't know what's happening in her life. He used to be jealous by seeing the bond between Arjun and Maya. She used to be free with him and share her every secret with him. But with him it's totally different. He knew she never neglected him. Maya always used to play with him, guide him, and used to narrate him bed time stories. After some time, he used to be busy with his friends, studies and sports. He loves sports especially badminton and foot ball. But Maya is not into sports. She loves painting. Infact, she won many awards for her paintings at a young age. And she loves music, she is a keyboard player. She always encouraged him to chase after his dreams. If he was pursuing law today then it's because of her. She argued with their parents and stopped eating for two days and didn't step out of her room for two days. When she left to Hyderabad for graduation, her visits to their home got reduced, which decreased the communication between them too. But she always used to send him gifts and letters. Her sister plays magic with the words on the paper.

He was happy when his sister told him she bagged a job in campus placements. But that happiness didn't last when their parents told her to quit the job after her graduation. He knew her sister always used to give her best. And when she didn't pass her civil examination, they started searching alliances for her. He asked his mother wasn't it too early for her to get married. But she told him that he didn't know anything and to stay silent. Deep down in his heart he used to fear about the groom though he knew that their parents would choose the best. And his fear flew away when he came to know that Avi was going to be his bava (brother-in-law). He felt content when he saw her happy face on her engagement day.

He looked at his mother and asked her,

Nandan: Why maa? Don't you have enough trust in your children? What if some day one girl comes and tells the same about me? Will you believe her too? Don't you know about us? He stopped for a moment and told, I forgot, how would you know about us when you both don't even have time to spend with us. Then how you would know what's going on in our lives? He smiled sadly. Okay, let us keep this thing aside. Didn't you find it fishy? I mean, they could have told us before the marriage itself. But why did they choose to tell us after the marriage when they have enough to inform us before the marriage? Leave all that maa, do you really think that my sister would stoop too low to take revenge? If she wanted to take revenge, then she could have destroyed Chytra's life at the snap of her fingers, but she didn't. I never thought you guys would do something like this, amma. And what nanna was doing then? Doesn't he think a thousand times before doing something? Then what happened that day? And why are you guys behind her life, amma? First, you didn't let her fulfill her dream even after knowing how much it means to her. Then, you made her quit the job. As if it was not sufficient, you started searching for a groom for her. When she was finally getting her happiness, you were about to snatch that too. Didn't you see her happy face on her engagement day?

You always used to taunt her about her body, but do you know she is having breathing problems? Do you know she has low B.P. Leave all that, do you at least know she gets cramps badly during her periods, and she used to faint too?

Sakshi looked at him horrified. She felt a pang in her heart listening to him. She knows Maya gets cramps but she has never known that they are that severe. Her son knew this, whereas she didn't. The guilt is increasing with each passing second. Her heart felt heavy. She badly failed as a mother.

I just told what I knew. There are many things which neither you nor I knew. Saying that, he went from there with tears in his eyes. He wanted to ask many things, but for now he didn't have that strength.

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Avi woke up and saw Maya sleeping peacefully in his arms with a cute pout on her face as her hair strands were falling on her face. He chuckled at her antics and pecked her lips. She smiled widely in her sleep and snuggled more into him. He pecked her forehead and tucked the hair strands that were falling on her face behind her ears. He looked at her face and caressed her cheeks.

He got down off the bed and went to the bathroom. He came out drying his hair with a towel. He wore a casual dress after messing up his whole closet. He moved down to the kitchen and started cutting fruits when he felt someone hugging him from the back.

Avi: You woke up. He asked while continuing his work.

Hmm.

He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. He picked her up and made her sit on the cabinet and handed her fruits. She made a face looking at the fruits to which he glared at her.

Maya: Who eats fruits early in the morning?

Avi: Sit silently and eat. Now I'll make breakfast.

Maya: No need. You go and sit, I'll prepare.

Avi: Okay, I'll help you.

But.

Avi: No if's and but's; either I'll prepare it alone, or let me help you.

Maya sighed. She ate the fruits silently while he was preparing juice for everyone.

Soon she joined him. She was searching for semolina in the cabinets but sighed as she was not able to reach that. Avi looked at Maya who was jumping to try to reach the container. He let out a chuckle seeing her struggle and lifted her in his arms. She smiled widely at him and picked up the container and pecked his forehead.

Vani and Anjali who entered the kitchen looked at the couple who were lost in their own world. They looked at each other and left from there though they wanted to tease them a lot.

While Avi and Maya were lost in their own world. Avi looked into her eyes and caressed her cheeks with his thumb. He eyed at her lips and looked at her intensely making her melt under his gaze. Suddenly, he took her lips into a soulful kiss, making her go weak on her knees. He made her sit on the kitchen counter. His hands moved inside her shirt. As soon as his cold hands touched her naked skin, she felt a shiver run through her spine. His hands were caressing her waist while she was caressing his hair. He moved his hands upwards, making her gasp. Taking it as a chance, he entered his tongue inside her mouth. Their tongues fought for the dominance. After some time, he broke the kiss when he felt she couldn't take more and joined his forehead with hers. A sweet smile was playing on their lips.

Hope you liked the update.

I may not update till 16th as I'll will be busy with the marriage and post wedding rituals.

And I want to ask you guys a question.

Did you feel the story childish and irriated with the telugu language in between?

If you feel I should make some changes then you can tell me.

Anyways, keep smiling and take care.