54.

“Ma, I am fine here. You can go," Siya nodded and walked inside with a smile.

Aaruhi again turned to kids playing around her. She smiles at them and watches them with adoration.

Today, she has a day off so Siya brought her to the orphanage so she won't feel alone in the house. And also Ryan is out of the country for two weeks due to some business.

“Aaru Di, catch us…" a little girl asked her, holding her hand while grinning.

She chuckled, seeing her joy and started running slowly to catch them. She laughs alone with them.

Their excited screams and laughter filled the whole garden. Pratibha, who was sitting in a chair under the shed , smiled lovingly.

“Hello, my heart…" Aaruhi smiles, hearing a deep soothing voice of her husband from the other side of the phone.

She walked onto the balcony and sighs, feeling a soft cold breeze caressing her skin.

“Hello, husband…finally got time to call your wife," she said playfully, making him smile.

“I called you in the afternoon but you didn't pick up. You can't taunt me always, Mrs. Ryan. I am innocent here, my lord,” she giggled at his words.

“Of course, Mr. innocent…" she teases him before sighing softly.

"Actually I was at an orphanage with Ma. And my phone was in my bag in Ma's office so I couldn't answer," she told him.

"No worry…so how was your day there,” he asked her.

"Amazing. I play with kids and really enjoy their company. I love them. They are really cute and naughty,” she said with an affectionate smile but by the end her voice turned sad and low.

Ryan sighs softly knowing what his wife must be thinking.

“Ruhi…please," he said in a low, requesting tone.

She blinked her eyes, feeling them burning slightly and smiled.

“Oh! I am not sad, Ryan…" she lied, trying to assured but he knows her better.

“Okay, tell me when are you coming back. You know I am missing you terribly," she instantly changed the topic not wanting to give unnecessary stress to him.

Ryan smile before saying,

“I am missing you too, love. My work will be finished by the end of this week. And the next moment I will be there with my beautiful wife,"

She smiled.

"Come back soon… ,” she whispered

"I will,..”

After talking a little more, they end the call.

While laying on the bed, Aaruhi turns and twists in the bed, unable to sleep. She turned to take her phone from the side table when her eyes fell on a small box and her heart clenched in pain.

Gulping her pain, she took the box and opened the lid and soon a soft longing smile formed on her face, looking at the tiniest pair of babygirl shoes.

Today, while shopping for Abheer, her eyes fell on these cute baby shoes and she fell in love with these shoes instantly. Don't know why, she bought them without a second thought. But now looking at them, her heart pained and felt empty.

Her thumb lightly strokes them and a lone tear escapes from her left eye. But she quickly wiped her tears and placed the shoes back in the box and then kept the box in the last drawer.

Now sleep is nowhere in her eyes. Alone in the big bedroom, she started feeling emotional. Staring at the ceiling with teary eyes, she remembered the words of the doctor and close her eyes.

Few days back

“There is nothing serious wrong, Aaruhi. You and your husband are perfectly fine. All I can say to you is just have faith and don't lose hope. It is just three years for your marriage and two years since you guys are planning for a baby. It's not like it's too long. There are couples who have babies after a decade of their marriage and even more," Aaruhi carefully listens to the doctor but she is not feeling any better.

“But doctor, Ryan and I are in our early thirties and with time it will be more difficult, is it?"

The doctor sighs and nods at her.

"I know, dear. And I can understand you. But still you can carry a pregnancy into your thirties and even into your early forties. There are some cases like that. And if you really want to get pregnant early in your early thirties then we can go for IVF or some other methods.."

"IVF…” Aaruhi whispered to herself.

"Aaru, why are you so worried, baby? Let nature and body do its work. It's not like you or Ryan are infertile. And I know IVF is a very great way to conceive but it is also very complex. And more than that, it can be a physically and emotionally difficult process. Why are you burdening yourself with so much stress?” Siya tries to make her understand as she is observing her being low and lost for a few days.

Aaruhi lookup at her with teary eyes,

“I am scared, Ma. What if I couldnt have a baby? I really want my and Ryan's baby. And also our age-" Siya sighs and cups her face gently.

"Stop overthinking, Aaru. You both are not that old, just in your early thirties. From this age only a couple start to think about babies. And you know what, I also have Aaravi almost 3 years after marriage. I have some issues with my health as well. Doctor even told us that maybe I could never conceive but then I got pregnant with Aaravi after 2 years. Just don't lose hope and be positive. And all I can say, just don't stress about things which are not in our hand,” Aaruhi who was listening to her carefully felt a little better and Siya's words calm her overwhelming emotions.

She hug her tightly and close her eyes. Siya smile softly and wrap her arms around her and started patting her head and kiss her temple.

“Everything will be better, Aaruhi. We all are with you, bachcha," she whisper lovingly, making Aaruhi smile slightly feeling warmth and solace in her words and her motherly embrace.

The same evening Aaruhi is baking chocolate muffins to keep her mind distracted and also baking calms her down and make her feel happy.

And she also made hot chocolate to go with muffins. She smile in satisfaction and click few pick and selfies. Then send them to Ryan.

‘So delicious, right😋😉’

She giggle to herself.

And instantly she got a reply which made her whitish skin turn red,

"They are, darling. But the most delicious one is you, my love😉😌,"

She smile biting her lips. And with a eyes roll emoji as reply. She shake her head looking at her phone after that and keep her phone in her flare pant pocket.

Keeping two muffins in a tray and a cup of hot chocolate in a tray, she went to the garden where Ruhaan is doing some work.

“Dad,.." She call him making him look up and smile at her.

"I made muffins. Please taste them,” she said, placing a tray in front of him on the table.

“Sure beta ji, sit…" he said, taking a muffin from the tray.

Aaruhi sat on the chair beside him.

He took a big bite and sigh at the taste. She grin when he gesture her it was awesome with his hand with a mouth full.

“Super delicious as always.." he said.

He instantly finish them and now sipping the hot chocolate as they talk about their work.

After a Ruhaan look at her and pat her head lovingly,

“We are so blessed to have you bachcha..," she smile, hearing him.

“Stay happy like this,” he softly said, making her heart felt warmth of his love.

“Why won't I be happy after having you all. It's me who is blessed to you all as my family, Dad,” Aaruhi said softly as she always have respect and admiration for her in law.

“Siya told me about you. Bachcha, I am saying this as a father that having a baby is a very beautiful part of a couple life but it is just a part of a life. Don't let it effect your and Ryan's marital life. I know by my experience Aaru, just don't let your overwhelming emotional control you and your life. After doctor told me about Siya will not being able to conceive. I don't want to have baby after seeing her so effected by the news. Even there were chances, but I don't want to try for baby, knowing if we couldn't conceive she will be heartbroken. I saw her depressed and found her crying hiding from me. It was really heartbroken for me. Any caring husband don't want to see his wife in that condition ever. I don't want to see you and Ryan like that. I hope you are understanding, Aaru. Babies are beautiful blessing. I have a feeling we will soon have little feet running around our house…maybe it's not a time yet," Aaruhi nodded and smile with teary eyes.

“Shh…I don't like it when my kids cries,” he hug her and kiss her head lightly. She place her head on his chest and silently cry in his embrace while he softly caress her head.

She close her eyes feeling so blessed to have these loving and caring in her life. She can't thanks God enough for giving her so many people who cares and loves her.

At that moment, she decided to cherish and be happy with everything that she have instead of feeling sad and crying for something she didn't. She can't be selfish and ungrateful for beautiful things that happened to her.

Back to present.

But sometimes she fall weak infront of her emotions. Her stupid heart get overwhelmed seeing babies. Like today, seeing baby clothes and cute little thing for them she couldn't stop herself from buying these pretty baby shoes. She just can't stop feeling like she don't care anymore all of the sudden, right. It will take time.

Aaruhi sigh deeply and close her eyes to sleep and after a hour of twisting and turning, she finally doze off around midnight.

Next day, evening

(Aaruhi's saree look)

Cladded in a plain simple black saree, Aaruhi is talking to someone on her phone while pacing around in her room balcony. And that when she saw her husband’s car entering the huge iron gate.

Excitement rushed through her body seeing a glimpse of her man through car window.

She quickly conclude the call and cut the call and about to run out to see him. But she stop in the middle, thinking something before biting her lips as her mind is thinking something mischievous.

On the other hand, Ryan entered inside the house and Siya rush to him and welcome him by engulfing in a hug like always.

He smile wide and hug her back.

Pulling back from the hug, he meet his family who is sitting and chilling in the living room except his wife.

He look around for her but couldn't find her. Everyone smile seeing him searching Aaruhi when Kritika voice reached to his ears,

“Aaru is in the room,.."  he look at his Chachi who gave him teasing smile.

He smile at her and stood up, making his way upstairs.

Siya chuckle at his son, shaking her head lightly.

Opening the door of his bedroom, a frown appeared on his face seeing the room's light dim. He roam his eyes around the room, looking for his wife but couldn't find her.

“Ruhi?!" He called her softly walking further inside the room.

Suddenly a soft clinging of bangle reached to him and his eyes went towards the balcony. He smile when he again heard a soft sound of her anklets. Chuckling at her act, he walked towards the sound.

"Seems like my little wife is in playful mood today,” he said and he can imagine her grinning at that moment.

“That’s not how you welcome your husband, Jaan. Here I was imagining my wife would come running to me, like Bollywood heroine, at the door before kissing me,"

Aaruhi who is hiding behind curtains bite her lips hard to stop herself from giggling.

She peak from the side of curtain but a surprise gasp escapes from her lips when a hand snacked around her bare waist and tug her back against his chest.

“Got you.." he huskily whispered in her ear, touching his lips on her ear shell.

A shiver run through her body feeling his hot breath on her skin. She turn her head and bite her lips while smiling through her eyes.

She let out a loud giggle when his fingers tickle the side of her waist. He smile mischievously.

"RYannn!! Haahahahaa!! ….st..stop..it..pl..lea..easee, hahaahaha!!” she laugh, wiggling in his arms.

He also chuckle before finally stop tickling her. She still laugh leaning into his chest before swiftly turning to him and started hitting his chest and bicep with her palm.

“You are so bad. What if I have died due to your tickling, huh?" She asked narrowing her eyes at him.

He perk her pouty lips lovingly and tighten his arms around her waist.

“You will not, wifey. I won't let you…” he softly and lovingly staring at her face.

“You got more beautiful in this two weeks, Jaan. How?!" She giggle at him and hug him tightly hiding her face in his neck.

“The reason is my husband's love,…" she reply and place her lips lightly against his neck making him sigh at the feeling of her soft delicate lips on his skin.

He smile at her reply and nuzzle his face into her hair, inhaling her floral fragrance after two weeks. He missed his Ruhi.

After dinner, they are getting ready for bed. Aaruhi is doing her skincare routine in the bathroom. Ryan is looking for a book to read tonight alone with Aaruhi.

As he open the last drawer to search for his book when his eyes fell on a small box.

He take it out and open the lid and soon his eyes widen in shock looking at a little cute babygirl shoes.

He snap his head hearing the washroom door open and saw Aaruhi.

“What ha-" Aaruhi ask but halt seeing those baby shoes in Ryan's hand.

He is looking at her in surprise. She gulp knowing what he is thinking.

“Ruhi..are yo-” he began in excited yet emotional tone but his face fell and his word stop in middle when she shook her head.

“No, I am not.." she told him giving a weak smile.

Seeing her dull face, Ryan quickly hold his emotions and stood up placing the shoes in the box.

She gulf looking away from him and sat on the bed.

Ryan watch her freeing her hair from a bun, letting her long silky lock fall on her back coving her bare shoulder and back as she is wearing a night gown with thin straps.

She felt him slightling her hair on her left shoulder before he place his warm lips on her shoulder blade making goosebumps arises on her body. She sigh softly and slightly tilt her head on the oppose side when he move lips in the crook of her neck.

“I love you…" he whispered near her ear before kissing below her ear, her lips curve into a soft smile.

“You know you are very precious to me, Jaan…" he whisper lovingly and kiss her temple.

She turn to him and rest her face on his chest, wrapping her arms around his midriff.

“I know, Ryan. And I love it,.." she whisper softly looking up into his eyes.

He smile softly and kiss her forehead. She smile and close her eyes.

"Don't ever let this beautiful smile ever fade away,” he whisper and softly gaze her cheek with his thumb.

Her smile widen and she hide her face in his chest hearing his heartbeat which is soothing her soul.

Silently, they sat against the bed headboard, holding each other. Enjoying the warmth of their closeness and getting go of their every worry and sadness.

Few months later,

Aaruhi is watching some vedios in her phone and chilling on the couch in her bedroom.

She scoll down and suddenly a vedio come with catch her attention.

She watch the vedio with full attention but suddenlyly she realised what is she watching and why.

It's a video in which a lady who is claiming herself a religious guru, telling ways to conceive by some superstitious ways to those who are childless and struggling to conceive.

Aaruhi quickly close the vedio but her words are roaming in her head. She again open the video and heart is telling her to try once. She bite her lips feeling contemplating her decision.

Her same mind is telling her not to believe in superstition. And from when she herself started believing in superstition. She was not somene to believe in these stupid things.

But then her heart is telling her give it a try. It's not it is harming anyone. Ever after knowing, it is difficult and may harm her. Blame her weak emotions and desperation.

The next day, very early in the morning Aaruhi wake up and get out of the bed slowly not wanting to distrub her husband's sleep.

She saw the time on her phone which is showing 3 am. Taking her clothes, she went to take a bath.

Getting ready in a saree, she left her wet hair open to dry naturally as she didn't have time to use dryer and also dryer's sound would wake up Ryan, which she didn't want.

Taking a note, she writes, she is going out for a while. Will be back by after. And not to worry about her. Sticking the note on the mirror, she left the room.

Slightly moving his arm beside him, Ryan try to find her wife to hold her but all he felt is a cotton bedsheet. Lazily opening his eyes, he saw the space beside him empty and sigh before looking at wall clock.

It's 8 in the morning.

Turning on his back, he look towards the washroom and his eyebrows furrow lazily, seeing the washroom door open.

It's strange as he always wake up before her. And it's him who wake his wife up almost every morning, in their three and half years of marriage.

He sat up and look at her side of nightstand. Her phone is there. He sigh softly and look inside the closet but she wasn't there either.

Thinking, she must be downstairs for somework, he went to take shower and get ready for a day.

He walked near the mirror to set his hair that's when he saw a note sticking on the mirror.

Taking the note, he read it and frown in confusion.

“When did she left and where? And why didn't she take her phone?" He though as it's very strange.

Folding the note, he keep it in his trousers pocket and went downstair to ask anyone about her.

Kritika was going towards the kitchen when Ryan stop her while coming down the stairs,

"Chachi, Did you see Ruhi?” he ask her.

"No, beta…why?” she ask him.

"Nothing just asking. She is not in  the room…” Kritika slightly frown before expression change to realisation.

“She must have gone to temple. Yesterday, She was asking for few essentials used in worshipping," Kritika told him as she give her things from temple.

Now Ryan's expression relax as Aaruhi sometimes visit temple with Dadi and his mother. She loves going their and spending sometime there. Even they also go to temple on their free day and spend some time there and distributing food and clothes to poors and needy people.

“Hmm…" he nodded.

"I am making tea and bringing for you. Tell me what you want for breakfast,” Kritika said and ask about his breakfast.

“Just prepare Oats for me, Chachi. I am here in the living room," Kritika nodded and walked into the kitchen to prepare tea for him.

Whereas Ryan sat on the sofa and took the newspaper from the table and get busy in reading news.

Ryan look at his watch them at the entrance. It's going to be 11 am but there is no trace of his wife yet.

"Ryan, call her. Where is she till now?” Siya ask her son, getting worried as the time is passing.

Ryan's condition is no less. He didn't even go to office yet. As he ask Ruhaan and Vivaan to go today and that he will come after Aaruhi come home.

“Her phone is in the room, Ma.." he told her in a low voice.

Suddenly he started feeling anxious. Siya and Kritika look at each other, sharing a look of worry.

“I am going to temple to look for her,"

Getting on his feet, Ryan said and take his car keys from the table.

As he walked upto entrance, he stop in his way seeing Aaruhi coming from outside by walking.

“Where is her car? Didn't she take her car?" He thought as he watch her walking slowly while looking down.

Suddenly his breath hitch as his eyes fell on a blood footprints she is leaving behind on marbles floor of the porch area.

Feeling a gaze, she look up and her heart and feet stops, finding Ryan infront of her.

“Shouldn’t he be in the office?" She thought and gulp as he stare blankly at her.

But then his eyes went on her feet. She look down and still seeing her injured feet.

His blank eyes turned hard turning his attention on her face. She can see anger clear on his face.

He walked towards her and she stare at him and gulp feeling nervousness. She hold the pillar beside her feeling her feet paining.

“Ryan…" she softly call when he comes near her.

"How you get your feet hurt? And where are your sandals?” he ask her as slightly raised her saree, holding the pleats up as he check her feet and his heart clench seeing blood and cut on her feet.

She couldn't say anything fearing his reaction and stay quiet.

“Aaruhii.." she bite her inner cheek as he called her with her full name. It's is indicating his anger.

“I..i.temple,.." she stammered unable to form a sentence under his intense gaze.

Suddenly she feels herself falling back as the wave of dizziness hit her but she quickly hold his shoulder while Ryan's eyes widen in worry and he hold her waist.

"Hey..are you okay??” he ask as his hard expression softened.

She started feeling suffocated and light headed. Her face turn pale suddenly.

Before Ryan could say anything, she fell limp in his arms and her eyes started getting close.

“Ruhii!! Hey,..don't close your eyes," he try to wake her up by taping her cheek.

Her hold loosen around his shoulder and her hands fell on her side as she completely lose her consicousness in his arms.

Ryan's heart drop in the pit of his stomach in panic seeing her motionless and senseless in his arms.

Lifting her unconscious body in his arms, he rushed inside the house while his heart is thudding loudly inside his ribs.

_____________________________________

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