One and a half year later

"No, cancel that appointment. I already informed you that I am not taking any cases for now."

Not again.

"So, what if it's the sixth case that I have rejected? It doesn't matter to me. Just do what I say," Arjun shouted at his assistant over a call.

After messaging about something to Adi Anna, I carefully sauntered towards the bed and closed my eyes before adjusting myself into a sleeping position.

I felt him sleeping beside me when he placed his hand on my shoulder and asked me in a worried tone, "Are you okay, sweetheart?"

I just nodded at him and shut my eyes. He sighed and slept while holding me in his arms.

The next morning, I woke up and saw that he was coming out of the washroom only with a towel around his waist.

If it were some other time, I would have admired the masterpiece in front of me but today neither I was in a mood nor I had the heart to admire him.

So, I slowly stood up from the bed and he immediately rushed to my aid. I let him do whatever he wanted to do because even if I protest, he would never listen to me.

After completing my chores, I came out of the washroom. He was arranging the breakfast on the table. I went to the table and started having breakfast silently.

"Daksha, what happened? You are behaving so weirdly since yesterday. Are you feeling unwell? Should I call Yuktha?" he asked me with much concern but I chose to ignore his questions because if I opened my mouth, it would only hurt him which I didn't want to do. So I chose to stay silent.

Suddenly, a knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. I turned my head and saw that Ammu was standing at the door.

"Vadina, your Anna is here!" she said with a confused look on her face.

I nodded at her and had my breakfast in a hurry. After that, I grabbed my suitcase and placed it on the bed before starting to arrange my clothes in it.

Arjun immediately snatched those clothes from me and closed the bag.

"Will you tell me what the hell is happening here?" he asked me in a slightly angry tone.

"Nothing, I am going to my mother's place," I told him calmly.

"What? You can't go there. I won't agree." He immediately retorted.

"Since I am already in my last trimester, it's already decided that from next week I have to stay at my mother's place as a part of our tradition. So, what difference will it make if I go now?" Saying this, I again opened the luggage and arranged my clothes in it.

"Are you serious? Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you in any way, unknowingly?" he asked me in a defeated tone.

I closed my eyes to hide my tears and I didn't have answers to his questions as he never hurt me intentionally or unintentionally but how could I tell my views to him when he never tried to listen to them?

"You did nothing. I am just missing my parents," I said in a low voice.

Saying this, I went to the table and ate my medicines. After that, I was about to go outside as I couldn't face him.

"I am sorry if I hurt you in any way. You can go to your Mom's place but behave normally with me," he said while hugging me from the back.

I turned around and pecked his lips before nodding at him and went downstairs with him trailing behind me with my luggage in his one hand and another one on my shoulders.

After going downstairs, I informed Athayya about my departure and she gave me a surprised look

"What! Did he do something? Did you guys fight?" she asked me and I shook my head at her questions.

"Then why are you leaving today when it should be next week that you leave?" she asked and I just pursed my lips, not willing to answer her questions.

Understanding my reluctance, she glanced at the gloomy Arjun who was standing beside me and nodded at me.

"Okay. Take care of yourself. I'll visit you daily. Adi, you better prepare a room for me in advance because I may surprise you all with my visit anytime." She instructed my brother and he nodded at her with a smile.

Soon, Arjun helped me in getting inside the car. I refused to look at him even when he was looking at me desperately.

Only when Adi Anna started driving, I dared to look at his figure longingly from the rearview mirror.

"If you are so reluctant to part with him, what's the need for doing it?" he asked me while giving me the side glances.

"Sometimes, it's necessary to do the things even when you don't have the heart to do it," I told him calmly.

"Okay. I know you must have a reason for this sudden decision. So, I won't probe you any further. Just don't stress yourself too much," he said and I couldn't be more thankful to him for that.

When we reached our mom's place, we both went inside. Mom and Vadhina welcomed me inside and hugged me one after the other.

After inquiring about my health, Vadhina and Adi Anna left for their room when they heard the bawling of their one-year-old daughter.

I forgot to tell you that Adi Anna was now happily married. Well, it was a story for another time.

Though he faced some problems initially, at last, he finally succeeded in moving on in his life.

Teju would always be irreplaceable in our lives. Now we remembered her with a smile on our faces. I was happy for Adi Anna as he found his true love at last.

Mom sighed as she was pretty much used to the antics of her granddaughter and took me to my room.

After she left, the tears which I was holding until now, started falling continuously. I didn't want to leave him and hurt him like this but I didn't have any other choice.

While taking care of me, he forgot to look after himself and started neglecting his own health.

When he came to know that he was going to be a father, he was on cloud nine. He took care of me very well and didn't even let me do anything.

Though initially, I enjoyed his pampering, eventually, it started suffocating me.

It reached another level after he came to know that I was facing some complications with my pregnancy.

He stopped going to his work to look after me and made sure that I was taking my medications properly.

I should be happy about getting such an understanding and caring person as a husband, right? Of course, I should be but only if he wasn't overbearing.

He restricted me from going outside. I had to follow the strict diet and I even had to go for a walk only in his presence. So unable to bear it, I decided to come to my Mom's place.

I didn't know when but I drifted to sleep while crying. In the afternoon, Mom brought lunch to my room and fed me with her own hands.

"Where is Dad?" I asked her while nibbling on my food.

"He didn't know that you were going to come today. So, he went out with Aarna's dad. I already called and told him about your visit. He said that he will come by this evening," she explained and I nodded at her in an understanding manner.

After she completed feeding me, she went into the washroom to wash her hand whereas I took my medicines.

"Now tell me what's the matter?" Coming out of the washroom, she asked me while wiping her hand with the edge of her saree.

"Nothing."

"I'm your mother and I know you very well. So don't dare to lie at my face, young lady." She insisted and having no choice, I told her everything and she just laughed at me in return.

"Is it a matter to laugh at? Here, I told you about my problems and you are laughing at me. How to mean you are." I huffed at her and turned my face to the other side angrily.

"Okay. Now don't be angry. When I saw your face earlier, I thought it's something serious but I didn't expect this to be the reason," she said and I rolled my eyes at her, "Now listen to me. I don't want to take anyone's side because you both are correct in your places. Have you ever tried to talk with him? Just like how you had some fears about being pregnant, he too has some fears.

"He has an additional responsibility to take care of along with you. He has to make sure that you both are doing well because he is your husband and this little one's father. That responsibility comes with some fears." She held my hand and continued softly.

"Fear of not being able to take care of you both well. Fear of something might go wrong in his absence. Fear of disappointing you if anything happens. See… with these many thoughts, how can he concentrate on his work?

"Men are different from us. They won't express anything openly. We have to understand it through his actions. Just like you, Arjun has his own set of insecurities. He is afraid of not being a good father, a good husband.

"That fear increased even more after hearing about your complicated pregnancy. He is afraid of losing you both. So, his protectiveness came out as a little overbearing. You are his wife. I thought you would understand him well.

"I can't blame you though. I know how this pregnancy is taking a toll on you. So, just talk with him nicely and tell him your views. He will understand. Just don't shut him off completely. You need him with you at this time," she said and that was when I understood what an idiot I was.

I really failed to put myself in his place. I failed to understand him. All I had in my mind was his overbearingness and failed to notice his fears and insecurities.

At this thought, my eyes brimmed with tears.

"Ma, my actions must have hurt him a lot. What do I do now?" I asked her and she just shook her head with a smile before wiping my tears.

"Silly girl. Don't worry. He is a mature person and won't sulk over this little matter. I agree he must be hurt by your actions but if I am correct, he will definitely want to clear the air between you both. So, he will come to visit you for sure by night." She assured me and I sighed in relief after hearing her words. "Now stop fretting over it and rest for a while."

Soon, night came by. I spent my time with my Dad and with my little princess and retired to my room.

Now, I started regretting my decision of leaving him because I was missing him too much.

Suddenly I remembered something and opened the wardrobe that had my dresses which I used to wear before my marriage and started searching for something.

After finding it, I slowly took it out and held it with my hands. It was the shirt that he gave me to wash it when his mother was hospitalized.

I forgot to give this shirt to him at that time and with all this marriage stuff and all the happenings after my wedding, I completely forgot about the existence of this shirt.

Who knew it would come in handy at times like these?

I hugged his shirt and sniffed at it slowly. Though it didn't have his scent as it faded away over time, still, it filled me with warmth and made me miss him even more.

I went to the bed by placing a hand on my belly and slept by turning to the side while hugging the shirt closely to my heart and started to ponder over my thoughts.

As for what my mom had said, he should have been here by this time but he still hadn't come. Was he angry at me for leaving him? Did he not want me anymore because of my continuous tantrums?

With these thoughts, my eyes filled with tears and I immediately wiped them away.

Damn, Daksha! You are becoming a cry baby!

I was still in my thoughts when a pair of hands pulled into the embrace from the backside and immediately the familiar woody scent hit my nostrils, making me want to squeal in delight.

"I see, someone is already missing me a lot." A teasing voice drifted into my ears.

I came out of his hold and sat upon the bed before turning around to look at him. I saw that he was sleeping on the bed with his hand under his head and was looking at me with a smile.

Seeing him, still smiling at me even after the morning's stunt that was pulled by me, I started sobbing to myself by covering my face and he immediately sprang up and sat in front of me before pulling me into his arms.

"Shh. Don't cry." He said softly and hearing this, I started crying even more.

"I am sorry," I mumbled slowly in between my sobbing mess.

"There is no need to say sorry. In fact, there is nothing serious that has happened between us to feel sorry about. Now, will you tell me what's bothering you?" he asked me calmly and I nodded at him slowly before wiping my tears.

"These days everything is damn irritating to me and being cooped up inside our room all day is making me fidgety. You even restricted me from going outside. It has started suffocating me. You are doing everything that I could ever ask for but it is making me feel like I am completely useless as I can't even do anything on my own with this big belly. I feel like I am troubling you for every little thing."

I looked at him to notice any hurt on his face but he was glancing at me calmly and probed me to speak further. I nodded at him and continued.

"The moment you came to know about my health condition, you shifted your entire focus to me and started neglecting your career which you have worked for all your life and even forgot to take care of yourself.

"Have you ever had a proper look at yourself in the mirror? See, how thin you have become! When is the last day that you have slept peacefully? Whenever I wake up in the middle of the night, I see you looking at me, and even if you are sleeping, any slightest movement from me was enough to make you wake up in a panic."

"You know, I should have to be your strength but here I am hindering you in everything. I started considering myself as a burden, Jun. You are such a good husband. After talking with mom it made me realize what a bad wife I am. I am thinking about myself only and failed to notice your worries and fears. I am so sorry, Jun."

"All I want to say is, just stop worrying too much. Nothing will happen to me. Complications are pretty common in pregnancies. Don't neglect your career for me. It's not about money or fame. It's about the hard work that you have put in, to become the person you are today. I don't want it to be ruined because of me. Everyone is here to take care of me. I am not stopping you from looking after me but just don't lose your focus on your career. "

Finishing everything that I wanted to say, I hugged him and buried my face into his chest. He kissed my hair and held me tightly.

"I will. Even Mom said the same. I am sorry for being so overbearing on you." He chuckled a little and continued, "Trust me. It's not my intention at all. Another thing, You are no burden to me. So, don't ever think like that. Remember this, in the future, stop keeping everything to yourself. Share it with me and tell me what's bothering you instead of throwing a tantrum and shutting me off, okay?" he asked and I nodded at him with a smile.

I snuggled into him and I suddenly remembered something.

"Jun, am I looking fat?" I asked while furrowing my brows.

"No, you are becoming cuter by each day. That's it. Why? Did anyone say anything?" he asked me.

"Aarna teased me that I was looking like a cow and started calling me Mama bear," I said with a pout.

"Hahaha..then I am a Papa bear," he said with a smile and kissed my lips lightly.

"Yeah. You are."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Three months later:

I was pacing in front of the labor room nervously. Every scream of hers was making my heart twist with pain.

How I wish I could share her pain and how I wish to be the one to bear it! It had been six hours since she went into labor. She had been holding up with that pain since then.

Everyone was assuring me that she would be okay but they didn't know that I was thinking about the pain she was enduring now.

After another hour of agonizing wait, Yuktha came out and announced that everything went well.

She congratulated me and said that both mother and the baby were safe and fine.

Meanwhile, a nurse came out holding a baby wrapped in a bundle and handed it to my mom.

"It's a boy."

Hearing this, I smiled in joy but without taking a look at him, I rushed inside to make sure that she was okay.

Going inside, I saw that she was in a deep slumber. Her face was so pale as if someone had sucked the entire blood out of it and there were teeth marks on her lower lips.

She might have bitten them down due to the labor pain and sweat beads were all over her forehead.

I went to her and kneeled on the floor beside her bed before holding on to her hand. I kissed her hand lightly and caressed her head lovingly.

I stayed in the same position for a while until Athayya came inside and handed my son to me. After that, she went out to give us a family of three a private moment.

Though I was pretty nervous to hold him for the first time, the moment I held him in my hands, happiness seeped through my entire body and I felt so proud to hold him so close to my heart.

This guy inherited his charcoal grey eyes from my Dad. I was glad that he had them as I could see my Dad's features in him.

He must be feeling hungry. So, he started crying while twitching in my hands. Hearing his wailing, a frown appeared on Daksha's forehead.

So, I immediately took him near the window and started coaxing him awkwardly.

"Little boy, stop crying. See? Your mom is so exhausted and she is sleeping but you are disturbing her by crying like this. So, don't cry anymore. In the future, you will be a little masculine man. You will need to protect mommy along with me, okay? Co-operate a little now. Wait for your mom to wake up and she will feed you then," I told him softly.

He stopped crying for a while and looked at me with his big eyes for a moment and again started crying.

"Didn't you understand anything that I said till now?" I sighed helplessly.

Suddenly, I heard the laughter of someone. So, I turned around and saw that Daksha was looking at us with admiration in her eyes while laughing at my awkward gestures.

She gestured to me to go near her and when I did the same, she asked me to show the baby.

Holding the baby with one hand carefully, I helped her in getting into a sitting position before placing our son on her lap.

"He is so beautiful," she gasped with a smile as her eyes were filled with happy tears.

"He is,"