XXVIII. All the best

Woman, a person whom society treats as a toy. Her enemy is the society and the people in it. They critize her and judge her for her actions but will she be given a voice? No never.

I salute to all those women who went after their heart and did everything on their wish.

I hate the damn society we live in, but unfortunately we are part of it and unknowingly we contribute our part in making other women feel degrading.

It is not our fault, it is because of the society we live in teaches us these things.

I here give you all a message, if your are a girl try to live by your heart and if your a boy try to accept the women's decisions and start supporting her.

I am also like this, when I have something in mind, I don't give a damn about others thoughts.

If this message offended you, I don't give a damn. The reason for it maybe beacuse you are the one person I am talking about.

So people, many members are loosing their lives from the criticism they face. You don't do it, instead become a person who will inspire others with your actions and words.

Between I mainly focused on women as the majority suffering from the society are women. There are men suffering from it and I wish you do the same and take a stand against society.

It is not an easy task, and I am not asking you guys to take a stand against everything. I am asking you to follow your heart without worrying about others.

Thankyou for hearing(reading) my rant, I don't even know what I wrote. I have this neverending frustration with society and others like can't they keep the thoughts to their own.

Anyway, enjoy reading your chapter.❤️❤️

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Life is an interesting puzzle with many different incidents completing the picture. Sometimes the picture can be colorful with life or only red with anger or dull with sadness but everything together creates a beautiful life.

I feel like my life has strong emotions. Some emotions ruled my life, sadness and fear were the emotions dominating my life. Some things never change in life we learn to adapt to them.

A constant fear, a companion in my life.

After my worst fear came true, I immediately got dressed without thinking much about the situation. Those were the fastest and most terrifying ten minutes of my life.

On a new day, with a new title, the day started as a disaster.

Abhi was shouting on the mobile, probably scolding someone for causing the incident to his house when I came out from the bathroom. I didn't want to face him when he is angry.

"I will get Diya." I rushed out after seeing him nod his head. I took a deep breath to compose myself. I have to be strong for my daughter.

"Hey, Avni. What are you doing here?" I lifted my head and saw Akky approach me with a small lazy smile on her face.

"I am going near Diya," I informed her and tried to escape from her. She is my friend, but sometimes she asks me questions that I will never answer.

"Wait! I am coming with you." Akky followed me and started ranting about something.

My mind has created various scenarios regarding the house fire. I started suspecting many members for the incident like my parent's murderer and Seema. There is another possibility in my mind that there is something fishy about the Goenka family members.

"Are you listening to me?" Akky shook me bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Yep, tell me." I tried to act nonchalant.

"I know you were not listening to me. But I will not question you further; I know that your mind is filled with thoughts about your honeymoon." She bumped her shoulder with mine playfully.

I stopped walking when I heard her words. It looks like my friend doesn't know about the change in plan.

"Akky, the honeymoon is canceled, we are going home now." Akky gaped at me. I started walking leaving her shocked behind me.

"What do you mean we are going home?" She shouted and ran to catch up with me.

I explained everything to Akky, the house fire.

I found Diya sleeping in Anu's room when I completed explaining everything to Akky. I slowly approached the bed ignoring Akky who started explaining the incident to Anu.

I moved the hair away from Diya's face, she was sleeping peacefully and I wanted to keep this peaceful look on her face. I kissed her on her cheeks.

"Wake up, princess!" I whispered in her ears and Diya started moving and slowly opened her eyes, her blue eyes were bright with some sleepiness.

"Mama!" She rubbed her eyes to remove the sleep from her eyes I smiled at the gesture. She inherited it from her father.

"Good morning!" I wished her when she stopped rubbing her eyes. She snuggled into me and tucked her head in my chest.

"Morning, mama." She mumbled the words into my chest. I slowly untangled myself from her hold after kissing her forehead.

"Get up, we are going home." Diya reluctantly got out of bed. I ushered her to the bathroom and got her to freshen up ignoring the worried looks Akky and Anu sent in my direction

I ran a bathe for Diya while she brushed her teeth, she stated that she was a big girl and doesn't need any help. I left her to brushing and filled the tub with lukewarm water. I bathed her and dressed her in a simple gown.

Being near Diya helps me to forget about my worries; she grounds me and gives me positive thoughts when I stay near her. She is my anchor.

"Mama, I coming home with you?" Diya questioned me from my arms looking cute with a pouting face.

"Yes, baby. Your dada has some work so we are going home." Diya nodded her head understanding my answer. I took her to Abhi's suite, where the latter one was standing near the glass window standing in front of the bed and kept staring at the ocean.

// I just wanted to show you guys this picture as I can't keep this beauty with me. Hope you guys loved it.//

"Dada!" Abhi turned his head in our direction when he heard his daughter's excited squeal.

He approached us with slow and assessing steps. I avoided his gaze, but I knew that his blue eyes were fixated on me.

"Baby!" He took Diya from my hold. I looked at them; my focus was on the smiles formed on their faces when they started chatting animatedly. I came out of my thoughts and the smile on my face faded when he took my name.

"Baby, me, you, and your mama are going to your grandparent's house for few days." Diya scrunched up her nose in confusion.

"Why our house not dada?" She blinked her eyes innocently in question.

I looked in Abhi's direction, my gaze locked with his, and there he was staring at me with pain in his eyes. I do not know the reason for it; I immediately looked at Diya away from his intense gaze.

"Princess, we need to stay at your grandparent's for some days. So we are going there." I kept my focus on Diya trying to convince her.

Diya thought about it for a moment and agreed to it. "Ok, mama."

"Now let's feed your little tummy something." Diya laughed out aloud as Abhi tickled her stomach.

He placed Diya down after a moment. Diya sat on the couch and started playing on her tablet.

I kept my gaze down observing his shoes; he got dressed in a dark grey suit. I knew that his gaze was on me and it was unnerving me.

"Get me some toast, three plates of pancakes, and three glasses of orange juice." My husband ordered breakfast rather rudely.

"Geez, you could have told thank you. It is minimum courtesy." I said looking at him without a single thought. I could never catch my tongue when they show no respect for other people.

"Oh, then my wife is speaking with me." He stated it as a fact, it may have some truth to it but I am never going to agree with that.

"Who said that we are not speaking? Aren't we speaking now?" I folded my arms over my chest and gave him a glare telling him to drop the subject. But did my husband listen to me? Definitely not. He pounced on me, grabbed my hand, and dragged me away from Diya and into the living room.

"Diya, we have something to talk about, you play baby." I was only able to see Abhi's back and missed Diya's nod, I tried to wriggle out of his hold but the man tightened his hold on my wrist with my struggles. After Abhi got confirmation, he locked the bedroom door and pressed me into the door.

I gasped in shock from the sudden impact, Abhi's eyes filled with anxiety.

With his worry-filled eyes, he caught my face between his palms and spoke to me with the gentlest voice of his. "Are you okay?"

The gentleness and concern in his words shocked me. As I took time to answer him, the concern in his eyes increased.

I replied to him to ease him off from the worry. "I am fine." To prove my words I placed my hands over his and nuzzled into the warmth of his palm. I gave him a small smile and his muscles relaxed instantly.

"Are you fine after hearing about the fire accident?" I felt my eyes widen at his observation, he cut me off before I can give him an answer. "I am not asking you to explain, angel. When I told you about fire, you were tense and you did not look into my eyes. I will never ask you to explain anything without your consent I will never force you. I will tell this thing to you many times that you will remember it. I am here, and you can share anything with me. I will never judge you. You are my wife, my friend, and my partner. I will have your back."

My eyes filled with tears at the words, a lone tear escaped my eye-catching attention. He took the tear on his forefinger and observed it. The sunlight fell on the teardrop making it shine like a pearl.

"An angel never cries, and if she cries there must be a very strong reason for it. I will never give a chance for you to even think of crying." After hearing the words, there were no words left for me to say.

I pulled him down with his collar and him a long kiss, to which he responded a second late overcoming his shock.

We broke the kiss to get some air. He kept his face above mine, gazing intently into my eyes. "That's the best kiss I ever had, maybe I should give you some long-ass speeches to get this kiss." He smirked in my direction.

I smacked him on his shoulder. "You are a pervert." There was still a small smile playing on my face and there was satisfaction present in Abhi's eyes.

He placed his hands near my head and leaned down, our faces were close. He towered me with his 6 feet and I tried to stand tall to match his height with my 5'6".

When he spoke, his lips touched my forehead making me shiver from the feather-like touch. "I am your pervert, angel." The huskiness in his voice spoke volumes.

I raised my toes; he got my intention and bent his neck. Our lips were about to touch when the door on my back vibrated with a knock.

"Dada, open the door." Abhi sighed at his daughter's antics, which made me laugh.

He glared at me in mock anger. I moved away from the door and Abhi opened the door and stared down at his daughter.

I came to his side and found Diya with hands on her hip, a frown on her face and a glare directed at her dada.

"What you doing to mama?" Abhi sighed after glaring back at Diya.

Abhi raised his hands over his head in frustration. "She is my wife you know." And a debate started between them about me.

Abhi's words played in my mind. I wanted to confess everything to him. I have carried a huge weight in my heart and it started to ache, there were still many things I wanted to share with him.

I made a promise to myself, that I will tell everything him when this incident settles down.

"Mama, come." I snapped out of my thoughts when Diya called me.

We shuffled to the dining table present in the living area where the breakfast was. We sat in our chairs, I filled Diya's plate with pancakes and added chocolate syrup on it. She stated that she was a big girl and that she can eat her own breakfast.

I filled Abhi's plate and passed it to him, he gave me a small smile and accepted it. I filled my plate with pancake and toast.

"We will leave in an hour," Abhi stated once we started eating our breakfast.

I nodded my head. "I saw Anu and Akky in the morning are they coming with us?" I questioned him in between the bites.

He nodded his head and spoke without lifting his eyes from the food.

"Yes, along with them mom and dad will accompany us."

"What about Aarav, Aunty, and Uncle?" I stopped eating breakfast and stared at his head waiting for a reply.

"They left yesterday after the wedding. Dadi was not feeling well, so they took her home." He replied looking into my eyes.

I left the topic returning my focus to my food.

There is something strange about it.

🥞 🥞

It has been five days since we returned from the Maldives, we were staying at the Goenka mansion. The reason for the house to catch fire was electrical wires. It started with fire on the wires which spread to the entire house was left in smoke, thankfully, there was no one at the house and there is less property damage.

I didn't believe the reason but later believed it when Abhi confirmed it.

My life is back to normal, everything was the same in my life except for living in a different house. Anu and Kalyani dadi left for visiting the pilgrims.

"Diya, you are getting late for school? Hurry up now." I try to wake my daughter so that she can go to school, after she wakes up I get her ready and drop her off along with Abhi at her school and leave for the office.

Evening, we both come home together and freshen up. Then we spend some time with Diya, after that some dinner and sleep.

The same thing happens every day. It may sound boring but I like it.

I bathed Diya and took her to the dining room to have breakfast.

We were the first ones to arrive, I make Diya sit and fill her plate with food. I sit beside her and start feeding her.

"Morning baby." Abhi kisses his daughter's forehead in greeting and turns towards me.

"Looking good wifey." His eyes rake my body and they lit up with amusement.

I was in a pair of jeans with a formal black shirt tucked into the pants and a white blazer.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "You too hubby." He nodded his head satisfied with my comeback.

We became close in the past 5 days and it became our routine to greet each other with corny names.

Abhi filled his plate with food and started having breakfast.

"Angel, Diya will leave without us. We need to stay sometime in house." I looked at him in question but he blinked his eyes indicating to believe him without any question.

I fed Diya and ushered her to James, who was dropping her at school. I returned to the dining room to have my breakfast.

When I returned to the room, others arrived at the dining table. "Good morning everyone." I greeted them as I sat beside Abhi.

I got few cheerful wishes back from mom (Meera), papa (Rudra), and Aarav. I got a not from Vinay uncle and Damini aunty did not acknowledge my presence.

It was the same, she didn't wish me or even acknowledge my presence. I tried to ignore her convincing myself that it may take some time for her to forgive me for hiding the truth from her.

But there was something else today, Damini aunty didn't lift her head from the plate not even initiating a conversation with mom. Vinay uncle also kept quiet, Aarav was the only one making the conversation on the table live.

"Avni and Abhi." I looked in papa's direction when he called me.

Papa took a deep breath and made an announcement. "Today we are hosting your reception party. After this event, I am going to take treatment for my cancer."

I placed my hand over Abhi's hand, he relaxed when I touched him. Abhi didn't look up from his plate but he squeezed my hand in support.

I looked at papa, he was looking happy and healthy. "We are glad that you are starting your treatment, papa. We hope and pray for your speedy recovery." Papa nodded his head agreeing.

I looked at Damini aunty and found Vinay uncle glaring at her and her pale face.

"Avni we are going shopping. Damini will you come with us?" Mom questioned her. But the latter one looked at her husband before answering.

"No, I have some work. I can't come, you both enjoy." There was something different about her today. I could not place a finger on it but Vinay uncle looked rather annoyed by his wife.

"Excuse me." Damini aunty stood and left from the dining table. Vinay uncle followed the suit. No one looked worried at their abrupt exit, it may be common.

"Mom, how is this dress?" I came out dressed in a party gown.

Meera mom and I were shopping, to find a dress for the party. Akky was working on party preparations for the past days in secret. Mom and papa wanted to surprise us with the party.

"No. It is light for your skin tone. We need to see some bright-coloured dresses for you." And mom started searching for the dress and me following her like a lost puppy, we were in one of the boutiques owned by Meevin.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" I asked her unable to contain my curiosity.

"Yes dear, go on." Mom replied without looking at me.

"It is about Aarav's mother and father," I asked with a little hesitance. Mom sighed and looked at me.

"I knew that you were going to ask this question. You are observant like your father; there are not many things which would go unnoticed by your father." She smiled telling me about my father.

"And about Aarav's parents. They had a difficult marriage, Damini was our friend in our college, she used to be foredoom and quiet, for some unknown reason she hated your mother. And when your papa and I married she stopped seeing us all and visited us rarely and after your parent's marriage she was boom, vanished from the earth." Mom said with her eyes wide relishing her memories.

"But then, after you were born she came back married with Vinay. They married secretly without our knowledge, they said that they loved each other and couldn't stay apart. We accepted them. They fight and quarrel a lot. Their characters clash, but they are perfect for each other." Mom completed narrating the story, which I couldn't believe. There was something in the story that didn't add up.

"Wow, this is perfect. Go and try it. "I came out of my thoughts at her squeal. I went back to changing room with the dress in my hand and a scowl on my face. It is going to be a long day.

I stood in front of the mirror admiring my reflection. My hair and makeup were done and I put my dress on. I dressed in a high low lace gown, the bodice of the gown was filled with golden lace. I wore 4-inch strap heels.

I heard a whistle; I whipped my head in the direction of the sound and found my husband with a white undershirt and black pants leaning near the doorway.

"Looking beautiful, angel." He complimented me.

"Looking handsome, husband." I turned my back towards him and looked into the mirror. I took the teardrop diamond earrings.

I heard Abhi approach me, my hands started shaking and I found it difficult to wear my earrings. He took the earring from my hand and he put them.

He kissed me just below the ear after putting on the earring, he did the same for the other one. Our eyes locked in the mirror and we held our eyes.

"Let me get your jacket." I moved out of his embrace and took the jacket placed on the bed.

"Here." I placed the jacket over his shoulder, I got a whiff of his signature smell. I came and stood in front of him. I adjusted the lapels of the jacket and placed my hand on his chest.

"I got a gift for you." He raised his eyebrows surprised.

"I am curious to see what you got me." I nodded my head and went into the closet. I took the box, which I purchased today while I was shopping.

I kept the box behind me and approached him.

"I don't know much about men's accessories. But I hope you will like it." I put the box in front of him. He took the box and opened it. A small gasp escaped him.

The box contained a photo frame. I filled with photos of Diya and Abhi.

"It may not be costly, but I noticed that you have many photos of Diya on your phone and I know that you miss her when you travel, so I got it for you so that you can carry that with you." He kept his face blank.

"It is lacking something." He said and left for the closet leaving the frame on the bed.

"You are a mad girl Avni, why did you bring him this. It is cheap, and you know that he may not appreciate it, but you went and got it. Now go and be sad for the evening." I scolded myself aloud. Abhi came out after I scolded myself.

"If you don't let like it, I can make changes to-" I stopped speaking as Abhi raised his hand.

He took the frame in his hand and removed the big photo of Abhi and Diya. Small photos of Diya are present around the big picture. He replaced the photo with another one and showed the result.

Tears well up in my eyes after seeing the picture he replaced. It was a picture of me holding Diya.

"Now this is perfect." I approached and hugged him tightly.

"Love you, Abhi," I mumbled the words into his chest and held him tight.

"Love you, my angel." He tightened his hold on me.

"I like this position but we have a party to attend." He reminded but he didn't remove his hands from me.

"I don't want to go. Diya will not be there, and it will be boring for me." I said remembering that Diya left for her friend's house to have a sleepover, we were not taking her to the party so we let her stay at her friend's house.

"I know angel, but this is our party. We will leave early, ok." I nodded my head.

We got downstairs holding our hands. "Did everyone leave?" I questioned Abhi noticing the absence of others.

"Yes, they left early." We got into the car and drove to the location.

I am telling everything to Abhi tonight, about my parents, the phone call from Seema, and my suspicions regarding the fire.

After today's party, I promised myself internally.

"I have something to tell you." He looked from his mobile at my question.

"Yes." He kept his mobile aside giving me his attention.

"It is about my parents. I will tell you about it after the party." He gave me a small smirk.

"Oh, I was thinking of doing something tonight. But I think we can do it after talking I guess." With a wink, he made my heart feel lighter than before.

"Pervert." I smiled and looked out from the car window.

We arrived at the venue, there was no clicking of photos or anything, I looked at Abhi inquisitively.

"This is a private event, no press." I relaxed at those words.

Abhi placed his hand on the small of my back and ushered me inside.

When we reached inside it became silent, and then the applause started. I gave them an artificial smile. We reached the stage placed in the middle of the room.

The guests attended to us and greeted us. We were speaking to some businessperson when there was a small commotion near the doorway.

A man in security dress approached us. "Sir, a woman is demanding to see you."

"Send her in," Abhi replied and excused us from the guests. We both got down the stage.

Abhi took a stance in front of me, shielding me. I looked at the figure of a girl approach us from his shoulder.

Abhi stiffened after seeing her.

"Abhi." With a cry, she threw herself in his arms.

"Seema." That word were enough to create terror in my heart.

Abhi didn't embrace her, but he didn't even ask her to leave.

And that broke my heart.

Seema placed her head on Abhi's shoulder and looked into my eyes, she gave me a smirk and mouthed two words, which proved my fears were true.

"All the best."

Unknown

"Avni Arya who is now a Goenka. A tornado entered your life, what are you going to do about it. It is not the beginning, I am going to make a swirl where you will be stuck in middle without a way out. It is your mother's place, she betrayed me. But look now your daughter will take your place and suffer my wrath." I let out a menacing chuckle.

Hello guys,

Sorry for the late update. I didn't find any time with a family ceremony.

Anyway, how was your day? Mine was good.

Ohh Seema entered the scene! What trouble is she going to swirl?

Please do tell me how you guys like the chapter?

And all is going down in next chapter.

Stay tuned.

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