Zevah stood rooted on her place and waited for him to speak with baited breath. What was he thinking? And did he really know why she was denying her feelings all this while?

Aditya stared at Zevah's back for a minute before he got down and stood behind her. She was nervous and he could make out from her stance. As he leaned forward, she tensed further but didn't push him away or say anything.

"So you don't want to acknowledge my feelings or even yours just because of our caste difference right?" He whispered in her ear and she gasped lowly because he was right. That was one point as well among the others but now what was he going to do?

"Turn around, Zevah." His voice was commanding and she slowly turned around before looking at his eyes which were hard at the moment. He looked merciless and totally different from the funny, jovial guy she had known. It felt as if the man standing infront of her right now was someone else.

"Am I right?" He questioned raising his eyebrows and slipping his hands in his pockets as he waited for an answer. She swallowed hard and looked here and there nervously because honestly his behavior was starting to scare her off.

Annoyed by her silence, Aditya gripped her chin and made her look at him catching her off guard. His eyes bored into hers and she couldn't even look away because of his grip.

"Ad-Aditya, you don't understand that this-"

"So I am indeed right." He scoffed leaving her chin and moving away. He clenched his jaw before giving her a pointed look which made her flinch.

"That is such a pathetic excuse, Zevah." He hissed and now this made her angry as she glared back at him.

"Well then, leave me alone." She spat angrily and took one step further to leave but the next second her arm was gripped by him and she was spun around to face him. She felt herself go breathless because of their close proximity, their noses almost touching.

"Ad-Aditya," She nervously started but he wasn't having it as his hands went around to grip her waist which caused her to gasp.

"I'm never going to leave you alone, Zevah. Keep that in mind. You'll find me everywhere you go, be it around you or in your mind, but I'll be there." The way he spoke caused her to have goosebumps all over her body as she shivered slightly in his hold.

She breathed heavily as he leaned closer, brushing his lips on her jaw and up to her ear before he whispered, "Zevah, this time, you are going to ask me to be yours but guess what-" He stopped purposely causing her to squirm as he blew air over there.

"-I'm already yours." And then he left her with a smirk but seeing her shocked face he couldn't help but chuckle. As he left in his car, she still stood rooted on her place for another two minutes.

"He's mine?" She questioned herself in a daze and blinked but it still felt unreal to her so she pinched herself and hissed immediately rubbing the part before grinning to herself.

"He's mine!" She squealed lowly and felt giddy from all the happiness but then the reason why she was avoiding him came into her mind and all her excitement died down.

────────

Sahil had been feeling restless for the first time in so many years. Why? He had no damn idea and so he couldn't even concentrate on his work. He had asked Rohit to leave him alone for a while and now when the feeling didn't go away he picked up his phone and dialed her number.

"Hello?" She croaked out and he sat up straight unconsciously being more attentive.

"Mr. Malhotra?" She called out again snapping him out of his daze. She started coughing and he sprang out of his seat grabbing his blazer and moving out of his cabin. Rohit stood up immediately as he watched Sahil coming out of his cabin in a hurry.

"Cancel all my meetings for today and reschedule them for another day." Sahil ordered him keeping his phone a little away and Rohit only nodded before he was out of his sight. His boss had changed in a short span of time and he knew it was all because of the two new addition in his life. He only prayed for him to get all what he deserved.

When Sahil got in his car, he resumed his call with Srishti who had went silent as well and coughing occasionally.

"What happened to you?" He questioned wondering why was he rushing home all of a sudden. Was it because of her? NO. He's only concerned for Ayaansh. Yes, that is what it is.

"Nothing, I'm fine. Its just a flu." She informed with her croaky voice lying on the bed. Soon she felt small fingers on her arm and she opened her eyes only to find Ayaansh beside the bed, staring at her with his big eyes. He slammed his hands on the bed before trying to get on it but failed which caused him to let out a cry.

"What's wrong? Why is he crying?" She forgot he was still on the line and smiled sensing the panic in his voice.

"Don't worry, he's just upset that he can't get on the bed on his own." She chuckled at Ayaansh who was still trying hard.

"Ayaansh, baby don't come near Mumma right now or you'll get sick as well." He heard her saying sweetly and just then the car stopped making him realise that he had reached. He cut the call and marched inside and as he got near the bedroom, he heard Ayaansh's cries and Srishti's laughter.

When they were in his view, he leaned on the door and watched as Ayaansh kept his left leg on the bed and pulled the bed sheet with both his hands to get up but every time instead of getting on the bed, he slid down because the bed sheet would come undone and he would let out a scream.

His eyes then went on Srishti who was smiling looking at their son laying on the bed. She was on the other side, away from his reach. So he then walked inside and pushed Ayaansh's bum so he was on the bed. Srishti watched him in shock whereas Ayaansh after getting on the bed, turned around and smiled at the sight of his father.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with her eyes wide as he sat on the bed and took Ayaansh in his arms who was more than ready to be with his father.

"Did you take the medicines?" He avoided her question deliberately and smiled at his son who grinned back showing off his four teeth. Soon he got busy in playing with his father's tie and Sahil glanced at Srishti's pale face.

"I did." She coughed again and then froze when a hand landed on her forehead. Her heart started beating crazily and she cursed herself for behaving like a teenager.

"You're still warm. I'll call the doctor." He said and before she could say anything, he was already on his phone. When he was done, he set the phone aside and looked back at Ayaansh who was already crawling towards Srishti.

"Mr. Malhotra, please keep him away, I don't want him getting sick as well." He heard her panicked voice and sighed before picking Ayaansh who started wiggling in his arms and wailing loudly. Srishti sighed tiredly closing her eyes knowing he would get cranky.

"Why is he behaving like this?" Sahil questioned with a frown as Ayaansh was still struggling in his hold so he put him down on the floor. This caused him to wail more loudly and he immediately stood walking to the side where Srishti was. Srishti quickly got up and shifted closer to where Sahil was and he watched her in amusement.

"Srishti, stop running away from your own son." He teased and she glared at him before looking at Ayaansh who was now crying with his hands forwarded in her direction. He wanted her to pick him up. He wanted to be close to his mother but what could she do? She was helpless as well.

"Just pick him up." Sahil said impatiently watching his son crying so much. Even Srishti was dying to pick him up but she was more worried about his health. She hesitated and looked at Sahil with a helpless face.

"He won't get sick, Srishti, just take him in your arms." He said and she sighed moving towards a crying Ayaansh who was now hiccuping as she took him in her arms. Almost immediately Ayaansh curled into her, resting his head on her chest and hugging her close. She sighed hugging him back and Sahil stared at them for long.

The way Ayaansh cocooned himself in his mother's arm, the way she hummed to him as his drooped, the way she softly patted his back, everything was serene and he couldn't keep his eyes away from them even if he wanted to. A child's relationship with her/his mother was the most special one but he never got to experience that.

"Mr. Malhotra?" He looked at her and realized Ayaansh had already fallen asleep, so he carefully picked him up and placed him in the crib. At the same moment, a knock on the door disturbed them and he allowed the person in, knowing it must be the doctor.

Ten minutes later, the doctor prescribed some medicines to her and told them that it was a common flu. She gave him a look saying I-told-you-so and he just rolled his eyes.

After the doctor was gone, Srishti turned towards Sahil and started,

"Mr. Malhotra-"

"Sahil."

"Huh?"

"Don't call me, Mr. Malhotra, it's annoying." He declared and she could only gape at him in shock. What was up with him lately?

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