Twisted Hearts – Chapter 28

Two months passed peacefully and Aditya and Pallavi arrived at the hospital for her monthly check-up. Carrying the scan reports carefully in his hand, Aditya walked beside Pallavi protectively as they entered the doctor’s room.

Both of them sat quietly while the doctor carefully reviewed the scan images, medical reports and her vitals.

After a few moments, the doctor smiled reassuringly and placed the reports back on the table.

“Everything looks good, the baby’s growth is perfectly on track. She is now fourteen weeks pregnant.” doctor said warmly.

Pallavi instinctively smiled while Aditya let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding.

“How is the morning sickness now?” the doctor asked gently.

“It’s much better, doctor. She still feels nauseous occasionally, but it’s under control.” Aditya answered immediately before Pallavi could speak.

The doctor nodded while making notes in the file. “That’s normal, the morning sickness should gradually settle down over the next few weeks. Just make sure she eats properly.” she assured them.

“I have added a protein supplement as well. Give it to her on alternate days and follow the updated medicines regularly.” doctor said further and the couple thanked the doctor and left the hospital together.

By the time they reached their new flat, the workers had already started decorating the place for the housewarming ceremony scheduled in two days.

The apartment looked warm and beautiful, every curtain, piece of furniture, light and decoration had been chosen carefully by both of them together.

Pallavi stood near the entrance smiling happily while watching the decorators work.

“Two more days and this will officially become our forever home.” Aditya whispered while wrapping an arm around her shoulder and Pallavi leaned against him with a smile.

When they returned to their current house, both families were busy packing things for the move.

The moment they saw the couple entering, everyone stopped talking and immediately surrounded them asking about the hospital visit.

Excitedly, Pallavi showed them the scan report. One by one, the family members tried to locate the baby in the blurry image but failed miserably, making everyone laugh.

“Pavi, you must be tired. Go rest for a while. I’ll just invite my office friends for the housewarming and come back.” Aditya said gently after some time and Pallavi nodded obediently.

But instead of heading towards his office immediately, Aditya drove back to the hospital once again. He sat outside the neurosurgeon’s consultation room waiting anxiously.

When the assistant finally allowed him inside, Aditya greeted the doctor respectfully and handed over the latest reports for review.

“Aditya, her vitals are stable and normal. At present, there’s nothing alarming for us to worry about.” he said with a smile.

Aditya nodded slowly before hesitating. “Doctor,  actually this month she was supposed to undergo an MRI or CT scan for monitoring. I wanted to discuss that.” he said carefully.

The doctor immediately shook his head firmly. “No, MRI and CT scans are strictly avoided during pregnancy ” he replied.

Aditya’s face immediately tensed. “So what should we do now?” he asked anxiously.

“You’ll have to monitor her closely for any neurological or physical changes. She is currently fourteen weeks pregnant. If everything remains stable, we shall wait until at least twenty weeks  possibly even twenty-two weeks before reassessing the situation.” the doctor explained calmly.

Aditya thanked him sincerely before leaving the hospital. From there, he visited his office to personally invite his colleagues for the housewarming ceremony before finally returning home.

Two days later, the new apartment was filled with warmth, prayers and family laughter.

Aditya was dressed in a crisp white shirt and traditional white dhoti, while Pallavi looked radiant in a beautiful red silk saree that made her glow softly.

Surrounded by both families, the couple arrived at their new home for the pooja. Holding hands tightly, Aditya and Pallavi stepped inside together while the priest busily arranged the items needed for the rituals.

Soon, the pooja began. The couple sat side by side before the sacred fire and exchanged garlands while the priest chanted mantras.

At one point, Aditya quietly leaned closer and kissed Pallavi’s forehead lovingly before returning his attention to the rituals, making her blush softly.

From a distance, Deepika stood beside her parents silently watching them. The happiness and love between Aditya and Pallavi was impossible to miss. For a brief second, her heart painfully imagined herself in Pallavi’s place beside him but almost immediately, she forced those thoughts away.

“My sister and Aditya are happy. That alone should make me happy too.” she reminded herself firmly.

Trying to distract herself, she quietly walked into the kitchen, drank some water and composed herself before returning to the hall.

By then, the pooja had ended. The priest blessed the couple warmly before taking his leave.

Aditya carefully guided Pallavi towards the new couch they had chosen together and made her sit comfortably. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he suddenly knelt down before her.

Pallavi blinked in confusion and was about to ask what he was doing, but Aditya gently pressed a finger against her lips to stop her. Slowly, he pulled out a small ring box from his pocket and the entire family fell silent.

“Pavi, today is the beginning of a new chapter in our life, and I want this day to remain unforgettable for us. I should have proposed to you properly before our marriage. I never got the chance to love you the way you deserved before you became my wife.” he began softly and his eyes filled with emotion.

Pallavi’s eyes slowly filled with tears hearing his words and seeing him open the ring box.

“So today, I want to correct all my mistakes. I love you, Pavi. Be my wife not just in this life but in every life that comes after this. I’m proposing to you in advance for all my births. Will you marry me and stay with me in every lifetime?” he proposed looking into her eyes.

Before he could say anything more, Pallavi threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I love you too, Aadhi. I’m only yours and you are only mine. Today, forever and in every birth.”  she whispered emotionally and smiled through her tears.

“You can never escape me.” she said and Aditya laughed softly through his own emotions before gently pulling back from the hug.

Carefully, he slid the ring onto her finger and kissed it tenderly. Then he cupped her face with both hands and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead while their families watched them with emotional smiles and teary eyes.

Everyone around them adored the couple and lovingly warded off evil eyes, touched by the depth of their love and affection for each other. But Deepika stood frozen, unable to move past Aditya’s words.

“I want you as my wife in all my births” those words echoed painfully in her mind.

“Did he really love her this much? Then what about my love? Will I at least have a chance in another birth?” she thought and her chest tightened. She remained lost in her thoughts until she felt a gentle pat on her shoulder.

“Deepika, please agree to get married someday. We want to see you happy like this too.” her mother said softly.

Deepika forced a faint smile but said nothing. Quietly, she walked into the guest room’s bathroom to clear her mind. She splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror for a long moment.

“Stop overthinking, Deepi. There is nothing called another birth. And even if there is… who knows whether we’ll be born into the same lives again? Aditya, Pallavi, even I… none of us would remember anything from this life. I’m just being stupid.” she whispered to herself and let out a tired breath.

Composing herself, she walked back outside. By then, the guests invited by Aditya and Pallavi had started arriving one after another.

Aditya barely let go of Pallavi’s hand. Whether he was greeting guests, speaking to relatives, or introducing people to his wife, he always kept her close beside him.

At one point, Deepika suddenly felt irritated watching them together constantly. Without saying much, she walked towards Pallavi and pulled her away gently.

Aditya immediately looked uncomfortable seeing Pallavi being taken away from him.

“Stop glaring at me, I’m not stealing her from you. I want to spend time with my sister. And let me remind you, she’s my sister too. I have rights over her.” Deepika said with annoyance in her voice.

Aditya clearly sensed the irritation behind her words but he didn’t want to create tension and spoil the occasion, so he remained silent. Instead, he quietly searched for Rani and gave her a subtle nod. Rani immediately understood and followed Deepika and Pallavi carrying fresh juice for both sisters.

After waiting patiently for some time, Aditya finally walked into the guest room. Deepika and Pallavi were sitting together chatting while sharing a plate of sweets.

“Pavi, come help me with the return gifts for the guests.” he said looking at his wife.

Before Pallavi could rise, Deepika quickly held her hand again and Pallavi looked confused at her sudden behavior. Honestly, even she wanted to stay beside Aditya and help him greet the guests properly. So she slowly got up to leave with him but once again, Deepika held onto her hand tightly.

This time Aditya’s patience wore thin.

“Deepika, what’s gotten into you?” he said firmly but calmly and took a step closer.

“Today is special for us and Pavi has to stay with me to greet the guests. It would be disrespectful if she doesn’t meet them properly. You can spend time with her after everyone leaves.” he said and without waiting for another argument, Aditya gently took Pallavi’s hand and walked out with her.

Deepika stood silently at the doorway watching them.

Aditya had his hand resting protectively against Pallavi’s back while introducing her proudly to everyone around them. The happiness on his face whenever he looked at her was painfully obvious.

Finally, after the guests had left, Aditya made Pallavi sit comfortably on the couch and served food onto a plate for her himself. Ignoring everyone around, he started feeding her patiently while she smiled shyly between bites.

Meanwhile, Rani and the helpers Aditya had hired were busy cleaning the house after the function ended.

Aditya made sure Pallavi got enough rest since she had been exhausted after waking up early for the housewarming ceremony.

The rest of the family relaxed in the hall after the long and emotional day. Aditya lay stretched across the couch with his head resting on his mother’s lap while she gently caressed his hair. He closed his eyes peacefully, relaxing under her affectionate touch.

“Aadhi, Pallavi is already three months pregnant now. I think she can safely travel by flight to Chennai. Let her stay with us for some time.” his mother said softly.

Aditya immediately opened his eyes and sat up.

“Amma, how many times should I repeat this? It hasn’t even been a day since we moved into our new home and you already want us to live separately?” he asked stubbornly.

“Pavi will stay only with me. We now have two guest rooms here, so all of you are welcome to stay with us as long as you want.” he said in a soft voice but his firmness remained unchanged.

Aditya’s mother looked towards Pallavi’s mother, expecting her support. But instead, she quietly shook her head.

Ever since learning about Pallavi’s actual medical condition, guilt had been consuming her every single day. She constantly blamed herself for asking Pallavi to stop taking her contraceptive pills. In fact, she had even argued with her husband for hiding such an important matter regarding their daughter’s health.

From that day onward, she had made a firm decision that she would never interfere in anything concerning Pallavi without Aditya’s or her husband’s knowledge.

And if Aditya believed Pallavi would be safest in Delhi, then she would no longer force them to return to Chennai. Still, she made sure to visit them once every two weeks.

Each time she looked at Pallavi, her heart silently trembled with fear, but she hid all her emotions behind a smile.

Aditya, too, reassured her countless times that he would protect Pallavi at any cost.

That night, after dinner, the family retired to their respective guest rooms while Aditya and Pallavi finally entered the master bedroom of their new home.

The room looked elegant and warm under the soft golden lighting. Everything about it felt peaceful and intimate. The moment the door closed behind them, Aditya wrapped his arms around Pallavi from behind and buried his face into the crook of her neck.

“Are you happy? Tonight is our first night in our own home.” he whispered softly.

Pallavi smiled shyly and slowly stepped away from his embrace and entered the bathroom. Aditya sat on the large bed watching her disappear inside with a smile.

Unlike before, he no longer worried excessively about her using the bathroom alone. Every floor had been carpeted carefully, and anti-slip mats were placed everywhere to keep her safe.

A few minutes later, Pallavi stepped out wearing a soft blue silk nightdress that reached just below her knees.

Aditya immediately propped himself up on one elbow and whistled dramatically at the sight of his wife. Pallavi rolled her eyes playfully and sat before the vanity mirror, applying moisturizer carefully to her arms and legs.

Aditya groaned softly watching her deliberately tease him without even realizing it. Trying to hide her smile, Pallavi tied her hair into a loose bun, exposing her neck and the deep curve of her back.

That was enough for Aditya. He immediately got off the bed, walked towards her and scooped her effortlessly into his arms.

“You are such a tease, wifey. Time to celebrate our new home and our new bed.” he whispered near her ear.

Carefully, he laid her down in the middle of the bed. Pallavi chuckled seeing him hurriedly discard his T-shirt before leaning over her. Without wasting another second, he captured her lips in a deep, loving kiss.

Pallavi wrapped her arms around his neck while his hands held her gently, careful and protective in every touch.

At one point, his palm rested softly against her abdomen. Aditya slowly pulled away from the kiss and lowered his head to place a tender kiss over her stomach.

“Sleep peacefully, baby. Daddy has to take care of mommy.” he whispered lovingly to their unborn child.

Pallavi instantly turned red hearing his words.

Later, after their quiet celebration, they lay tangled together beneath the blankets, enjoying the comfort of each other’s warmth.

Pallavi absentmindedly drew random shapes over Aditya’s chest while he lazily played with her fingers. After a moment of silence, she tilted her head slightly.

“Aadhi, you said we would love each other and marry in every birth. But what if, in another life, you fall in love with someone else before meeting me ? Or what if I meet someone before you?” she asked softly,

Aditya immediately lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.

“Just believe in us, Pavi. If we are born again, we will still find each other somehow. No matter what circumstances separate us, we’ll fight every obstacle and come back to each other.” he whispered and kissed her forehead gently.

“But for now, stop worrying about another birth and live this life with me. Every moment with you feels beautiful, Pavi. I’m the luckiest man alive.” His fingers brushed through her hair lovingly.

Pallavi smiled warmly at the sincerity in his voice and kissed his chin lovingly before resting against him again.

As she slowly drifted towards sleep, Aditya tightened his hold around her.

“If I ever get a chance to go back in time. I wouldn’t leave for New Zealand or I would save you from that accident no matter what. I would rewrite our fate for us.” he thought and closed his eyes.

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