Ayaan sat quietly, his gaze fixed on Zara, unwilling to look away even for a moment. An hour later, she stirred faintly in her sleep. Her lashes fluttered before her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft light in the room.
She saw the family standing at a distance, their anxious faces immediately coming into view. Then she felt a familiar warmth, a gentle hold around her palm. She turned her head slightly, and the moment her eyes met Ayaan’s, she froze. He was sitting beside her, watching her with tear-filled eyes.
Ayaan’s hands trembled, afraid she would turn away. Vaishu and Reyansh moved closer to the bed, forcing a gentle smile despite the worry in their eyes.
“How do you feel, Zara?” Vaishu asked softly.
“I’m good, Mama,” Zara replied weakly, her voice was barely above a whisper. She felt a light squeeze on her palm and her heart clenched.
“You’re still weak, the doctor advised you to stay here for a few days, but we’ll decide that later. For now, we’ll wait outside.” Vaishu said, brushing Zara’s hair back tenderly. She gestured for Reyansh, Ishaan and Pari to follow, leaving the couple alone.
Zara kept her eyes fixed on the door, refusing to look at the man beside her, but silent tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.
“Look at me Zara… please. I don’t deserve forgiveness not from you, not from anyone. But I’m weak when it comes to you. I shouldn’t have left. I should’ve answered your messages. I was a coward, too ashamed to face you after the way I broke you, made you feel less. I’m sorry, wifey. You don’t have to forgive me now. I’ll earn it… the way I should have done from the beginning.” Ayaan whispered, his voice trembled and cracked.
He placed his other hand gently over her abdomen. Zara froze, confused by his sudden action.
“Please look at me once, You won’t regret it, I promise Zara.” he whispered, almost pleading and Zara finally turned her head toward him and met his tear-filled eyes.
“We’re having a baby, you’re carrying our baby.” Ayaan said softly and her lips trembled as he guided her hand to rest on her abdomen. Ayaan placed his hand above hers.
“Our baby…” he murmured and a sob escaped her, but her lips curved into a faint smile.
“I’m not an orphan anymore,” she whispered through her sobs.
Ayaan’s heart shattered hearing her words. “Don’t say that. You have a family. You have me, we all love you. ” he said, wiping her tears that rolled down from the corner of her eyes.
But Zara shook her head. “You left me. We don’t leave the people we love,” she said, pulling her hand away from his hold.
“I’m a fool, a coward. I thought leaving was the only way to protect you from me. I thought if I stayed, you would suffer more. I thought you needed space to decide our future. More than that, I couldn’t face you knowing you might think I see her in you. But she was my past, you’re my present, my future and my everything. I meant every word I said that night. I love you wifey… I really do but I m so stupid and only mess up at every chance but not anymore. ” he confessed as tears rolled down his cheeks..
Zara lifted her gaze and looked at his eyes. “Would you have come back if not for the baby?” she asked him.
” I had already planned to return tonight. I swear, you could ask Sameer too. And I didn’t know you were in the hospital until I got here, but yes, I would’ve come. Where else would I go, if not to you? You’re my home.” he said honestly, moving to sit beside her. He wiped her tears again. “I heard from everyone how weak you are… and it’s my fault. But I’ll take care of you. Please, don’t shut me out. I’ll do anything you ask, You could punish me however you want and I will wait however long it takes for you to forgive me. Just let me stay Zara, I beg you. Give me one last chance, I swear not to mess up. I will die without you. Please let me stay ” he pleaded her.
Zara said nothing, only nodded faintly, ” Don’t expect anything else after what you have done and we aren’t done talking. I don’t want to stress now bringing all those discussions ” she said and Ayaan sighed in relief. Maybe, just maybe, they could start to heal he thought.
A knock on the door broke the moment. The doctor walked in greeting them and checked Zara’s vitals. After a few reassuring words, she reminded Zara to eat and left. Vaishu served a plate of food and Ayaan reached to feed Zara, but she quietly took the plate from his hands. Before she could protest, Vaishu got the plate and with a smile began feeding her gently.
“Keep your worries away, Zara. You need to be strong for your baby. That’s what matters now.” Vaishu said softly and Zara nodded with a small smile.
Reyansh stepped forward. “We’ll talk to the doctor and get you discharged in two days. You’ll come back to the manor. We have a full medical team there. You’ll be cared for around the clock.” he said and Ayaan looked at his father.
” Dad, I know Zara needs a better environment for her mental well-being. With the family and kids around, she’ll definitely feel better. And yes, we’ll return to the manor soon but before that, I want us to fix things between us. I don’t want her to feel that I’m doing anything just because the family is watching or that she has to endure things only to keep you all from getting hurt. I want us to be real and face what we’ve broken. Just give us a few days. I promise, I won’t mess it up this time.” Ayaan said earnestly and turned to Zara. “They won’t believe my words, but you can tell them… we just need time. I won’t force you. I’ll give you all the space you need. They can visit you every day, just give me one chance to fix us…. for us… for our baby ” he said and Zara looked between Ayaan and the family.
Reyansh sighed, “You don’t have to say it, Zara. We already understand.” he said quietly, glaring at Ayaan before he walked out of the room.
At night, Ayaan served dinner on a plate and patiently fed Zara. When he noticed her eyes growing heavy, he helped her lie down, tucked the sheets around her and held her hand, gently patting the back of her palm until she drifted to sleep. Then, he turned to his family who had stayed by her side all the while.
“I’ll stay and take care of her. You all should go home and rest.” he said softly and Vaishu nodded.
The family quietly left the room and Ayaan remained seated beside Zara, holding her hand and watching her peaceful face until sleep finally claimed him too.
The next morning, he was the first to wake. After freshening up, he sat next to Zara and placed his palm tenderly over her abdomen. “Thank you for coming to us, baby,” he whispered with a faint smile.
As Zara stirred awake, he quickly helped her sit up and brushed a few strands of hair from her face.
“I’ll take you to the washroom, is that okay?” he asked gently and Zara nodded ok, feeling the urgency to relieve herself. Ayaan carefully scooped her into his arms and carried her to the washroom. He left the door slightly ajar and returned to the room to lay out her clothes.
“Are you okay, wifey? Do you want me to come in?” he called out, making sure she was comfortable. Zara replied softly that she could manage on her own. A few minutes later, she stepped out in her robe, picked up her clothes and went back in to get dressed. Once she was ready, Ayaan called the doctor, who carried out the routine check-up and recommended a few additional tests.
Vaishu and Reyansh arrived shortly after. Ayaan immediately served Zara her breakfast, but after only two bites, she turned pale and covered her mouth. Before she could move, Ayaan swiftly carried her to the washroom and held her hair, gently pat her back as she threw up. Watching her, his heart twisted painfully.
” Is this how she suffered all alone when I left her? ” he thought and cursed himself silently.
Once she was settled back in bed, he gave her some juice before feeding her small bites of breakfast slowly.
“Ayaan, you will have to be careful, her cravings will change often and her mood swings might be unpredictable. Be patient with her.” Vaishu advised softly and Ayaan nodded obediently.
“Go back and rest, or take care of your work. Mama and Papa are here to look after me.” Zara glanced at him and said quietly,
Ayaan hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. He looked at his parents with gratitude before stepping out of the room. Pulling out his phone, he sent a quick message to Sameer before leaving the hospital.
Vaishu sat beside Zara on the bed and Zara leaned gently on her shoulder, seeking comfort like a child.
“Mama… why is love so complicated?” she asked softly.
Vaishu let out a warm, knowing chuckle at the question.
“We humans rarely value anything that comes easily, sweetheart. Think about it…….. would we treasure money if it came without effort? Precious things demand effort, patience and sometimes pain. And emotions… especially love… is the most valuable of all. We often love deeply, but we forget to value that love until the fear of losing it wakes us up. Most people learn too late. Some value everything they have… but those people are rare, not the rule.” she said and began stroking Zara’s hair.
Zara listened quietly, her heart tightened as the words sank in. She closed her eyes, realizing just how true those words were. Both she and Ayaan had loved each other fiercely, yet they had still let fear, insecurity, revenge and pain overshadow that love.
They had loved each other…but neither had known how to protect that love. And now they were learning, the hard way, how fragile it truly was.
“Forgiving isn’t simple just like loving, right?” Zara asked softly, absently playing with Vaishu’s fingers.
Vaishu smiled gently. ” If we speak about someone who isn’t related to us, we could forgive and move on but when we speak about the person we love its entirely different. In such situations, forgiveness only exists where love exists, Zara. If we truly hated someone, we wouldn’t even think about forgiving them……. we would simply stay in our hatred and walk away. The very moment the thought of forgiveness appears, it means there is still love… and hope… tucked somewhere inside. But remember, love alone can’t fix a relationship. Love is the heart of it, yes… but honesty, loyalty and respect are the bones. Without those, love collapses. A strong relationship needs all four.” Vaishu said brushing a strand of hair from Zara’s cheek,
Hearing that, Zara immediately sat up and turned fully to face Vaishu, her eyes wide, her emotions stirred as if she had heard a truth she had been searching for all along.
“Mama… do you think Ayaan and I have a love strong enough to forgive each other? Do you think we’ll survive this?” Zara asked earnestly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Vaishu cupped her cheek gently. “Zara, don’t let anyone, not even me influence your mind or decide what your heart wants. Rest for now. Take all the time you need. Think about what you both shared, what went wrong… and most importantly, imagine your life without him. Only then will you know your answer.”
Zara swallowed hard as her eyes brimmed.
“Now stop thinking for a while and rest. The doctor will be visiting in the afternoon with your blood reports.” Vaishu added softly.
Zara nodded and lay back on the bed, her thoughts spinning quietly as Vaishu’s words echoed in her mind.
Late in the evening, Ayaan arrived at the hospital in fresh clothes and paused at the doorway, a smile tugging at his lips. Zara was licking her fingers, enjoying her snacks with a little streak of sauce on the corner of her lips.
“I should start making a mental note of every snack that makes you smile like this,” he said, pulling the chair closer and sat beside her.
“How are you feeling?” he asked and Zara nodded lightly, still chewing.
Ayaan met the doctor soon after and learned that her vitals had stabilized, though she remained weak and needed special care. He informed the doctor to arrange for a home nurse and requested Zara’s discharge for the next day. When he returned, he explained everything to her in detail.
Later that evening, Zara got off the bed to use the washroom but suddenly felt the room tilt. Before she could fall, Ayaan caught her firmly and lifted her into his arms. Her palm landed on his chest out of reflex and Ayaan hissed sharply as if in pain.
Zara panicked at his sound. “What happened? Are you hurt?” she asked but Ayaan only smiled through the sting.
“No, I’m fine. Your touch just sent a spark through me,” he said with an exaggerated wink before carrying her toward the washroom.
Zara rolled her eyes, but a quiet concern settled in her gaze. His hiss hadn’t felt like a joke yet she didn’t press him further.
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A/N:
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