As promised, Sahil took Srishti and Ayaansh out the next day and they roamed around to Srishti's content. She was in love with Berlin and there was no denying to that.

Much to Sahil's dismay, Ayaansh still hadn't said 'Dadda' as he continued to only call his mother. He was getting impatient but knew that Ayaansh was closer to his mother.

When they returned home the day after, the first thing Sahil did was order Rohit to gather all information about Vishal Saxena. The man was suspicious and he wasn't going to ignore the alarm bells.

Aditya and Zevah came to visit them, mainly because both wanted their best friends and also missed Ayaansh.

"Finally, you both are back. I mean I don't care about you both but I missed Ayaansh the most." Aditya said grinning at Ayaansh who grinned back at him.

Sahil rolled his eyes and Srishti chuckled but she noticed Zevah standing quiet, lost in her thoughts. Something was wrong and she knew that.

"Well, whatever. Now let me and my buddy take rest. You get out." Sahil said picking Ayaansh in his arms but one look at Aditya's face and he knew something was bothering him.

"Excuse us," Zevah announced and dragged Srishti all of sudden and Sahil raised his eyebrows at Aditya who had a blank look on his face.

"Let's go to my study." And the three men were off to Sahil's study.

"What's the matter?" Sahil asked as they sat down and Ayaansh was on his lap. He didn't seem to like it because he immediately wriggled out of his hold and slid down on the floor.

"I fucked up." He whispered making sure Ayaansh was away from them.

"Alright, what else?" Sahil asked and Aditya glared at him causing him to smirk.

"Do you want to listen?" Aditya snapped and he shrugged in response.

"Do you want to share?" Aditya groaned knowing he was deliberately doing this. He took deep breaths before he revealed everything to him.

"So you asked her to marry you and she denied." Sahil repeated seemingly surprised with the news. Of course he knew that his best friend had feelings for his wife's best friend but didn't know it was this serious.

As for Aditya, he skipped the part about her parents doing and just kept it short that they weren't the nicest of people. It wasn't his story to tell after all.

"That's what I said. I mean I know it was impulsive of me to say that but her parents are being too fucking annoying by practically forcing her to get married. And I'm not going to let that happen." There was a determination on Aditya's face and Sahil knew he was going to be by his side no matter what.

────────

"So he proposed that you both get married?" Srishti couldn't believe that Aditya would do something like this.

From what she heard, he said it so that Zevah's parents won't bug her anymore and that itself opined a pity case.

"I can't believe Aditya would say something like that." Srishti was beyond pissed. Looks like both the best friends had a weird way to rather demand for marriage.

"I just ─I don't know why he's doing this but I don't want any of you to get into trouble because of me any more." Zevah hated being the cause behind Srishti's miseries and somehow she wished she could go back in time and change things.

"You are doing nothing, Zevah. Your father is the cause of all this and not you. So don't you dare blame yourself." Srishti warned and Zevah smiled.

Soon all four of them were out in the living room to discuss the issue.

"You proposed." Srishti narrowed her eyes at Aditya as if accusing him.

"For marriage." Sahil completed with a nod approving it.

"That is not the way to ask. It is called ordering." Zevah huffed looking away.

"I just want to help." Aditya sighed.

"That is not called helping. It's called pity." Srishti threw her hands in the air.

"How so? Her parents are forcing her for marriage and Aditya already has feelings for her. So what's wrong if they get married? She'll be free from the constant pressure and he'll get to be with the person he likes. It's clearly a win-win situation." Sahil shrugged and Srishti glared at him.

"This is not a business deal, Sahil. Its about her life. What about her choices? What does she want? Whom does she like? Did you even ask her for once?" She directed the question towards Aditya who looked away guilty.

"Clearly. You men only think about what you want. Women don't have dreams or a say because they are ought to follow what the man says, right?" She choked and Zevah immediately held her hand.

Sahil stared at the tears in her eyes and clenched his jaw. Aditya couldn't be more guilty because he had made both the women upset. The only two who mattered to him.

"Sri─"

Before anyone could say anything, they heard a cry coming from Sahil's study. All four rushed to the room only to find Ayaansh sitting on the floor and crying.

Srishti's eyes searched for any injuries and she found the left side of his forehead swelling a little. She immediately ran to him and picked him up, rubbing his back and mumbling sweet nothings in his ear.

Sahil was by her side trying to know what had happened and seeing the little swelling, his heart clenched. He cursed himself for leaving his son all alone.

"Is he alright?" He asked hesitantly when his crying subsided to soft whines. Srishti continued swaying him and turned towards Sahil.

"I think he just bumped his head against the door or something. I'll just put ice on it, he'll be fine." She said calmly but he was still worried as he tried to see Ayaansh's face which was hidden in Srishti's shoulder.

"Ayaansh, baby look Dadda is calling you." She tried to make him look at Sahil but he won't budge. He would let out a whine if anyone tried touching him and snuggled more close to his mother.

"He'll be fine, don't worry." She blinked his eyes and he sighed nodding his head.

Srishti asked Zevah to bring ice as she walked towards their room. She made him lay on her lap before placing the bottle in his mouth. Soon, Zevah came in with the ice and she applied it on his swelling. Ayaansh would whine in between, pushing her hand away because it would hurt and feel cold but being distracted in drinking, it was easier for Srishti. He fell asleep soon after and Srishti took the bottle from his hold, keeping it aside. The swelling had reduced as well, much to Srishti's relief.

"Zevah, I think it's best if we leave this discussion here today. You go home. I'll meet you tomorrow and we'll see what we can do. Okay?" Srishti said and Zevah smile nodding her head.

"Just don't worry too much okay?" Zevah kissed Ayaansh's forehead and a quick hug to her before she left.

Few minutes later, Sahil walked in and shut the door behind. His eyes were fixed on Ayaansh as he walked closer and Srishti could clearly see the guilt in them.

"Aditya left as well." He informed quietly, his eyes still glued to his son.

"He's fine, Sahil. He wasn't hurt that bad and the swelling has reduced as well. So stop worrying and don't blame yourself. Kids tend to get hurt." She explained softly and he looked up at her.

"But if I wouldn't have left him all alone then this wouldn't have happened." He sighed sitting beside her and caressing Ayaansh's cheek.

"Sahil, it's okay. Look, when I was just three years old, I banged my head against a tree just because I wasn't looking where I was running. That doesn't mean Maria was the one at fault because she didn't take care of me." She decided to divert his attention and it did.

"Maria?" He frowned.

"The owner of the orphanage who took me in." She cleared and he nodded in understanding. Although he had never asked her about her past, some part of him was curious to know it.

"Where is she now then?" He asked cautiously and a sad smile overtook her face.

"She passed away when I turned eighteen." Her eyes grew distant and she looked away trying to blink away her tears.

"Sorry. We should sleep now." She nodded thankful that he didn't pry further.

She placed Ayaansh in between them and slept on her side whereas Sahil chose to stare at her. The emotions that poured out of her in anger today were like a reality check of how he has been treating her.

It was all about him and it has always been like that. He couldn't care less about anyone else but why did it matter now? Why did her tears matter? Why did her smile matter?

Was he really developing feelings for his own wife?

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