Hai ..
Hello ..
Happy reading .
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Arjun's POV
I could feel the weight of what I was about to tell Abrahm sitting heavily in my chest, like a stone pressing against my ribs. The dim lights in the room flickered slightly, casting long shadows on the walls. Abrahm sat across from me, unaware of the storm of emotions about to unfold. His eyes held that usual strength, the protective brother who always vowed to shield those he loved. Today, that strength would be tested in ways he couldn’t yet imagine.
My voice felt like it was crawling out of my throat, rough and slow, as I began, "The first time I suspected something was wrong, it was when I saw Pallavi’s childhood photo at Simi Maasi’s house. Every year they celebrated Dussehra there, and on the wall, there were photos of Pallavi from each year—every single year, except before she was five or six. I couldn’t help but wonder... where were the photos from when she was younger? That was the moment I knew—there was a backstory, something hidden, something we were all missing."
I watched as Abrahm's brows furrowed. He wasn’t quite sure where this was going, but I could see the unease beginning to creep into his eyes. I swallowed hard and continued,
"That’s when I started digging deeper, and everything began to unravel."
Before I could go further, Aman, sitting beside me, cut in. His voice was steady, but his eyes were shadowed with the same heaviness I felt.
"When I went to Amritsar to investigate Avyansh, I found out something else. Pallavi... isn’t Mr. Krishnan’s biological daughter."
Abrahm blinked, his jaw slightly tightening, but he said nothing. His lips thinned as though trying to hold onto a thread of control.
"That’s when our suspicions turned into certainty," I added softly, feeling the weight of my own words hit like a hammer.
Abrahm shifted in his seat, and for the first time, I saw the vulnerability creeping in. His eyes, usually so sharp, so determined, were clouded, his mind racing to catch up with the flood of revelations we were throwing at him. A part of me wanted to stop, to protect him from this truth. But it was too late. The truth was already sinking in, and I could see it in the way his hands trembled slightly, resting on his knees. His heart was breaking, even if he hadn’t fully realized it yet.
" And 4 years back Avyansh Khanna tried to molest ..... " My words died in my throat, how can I say to a brother about her sister's trauma, especially when it comes to her dignity ??
He always spoke with such pride. “I’m her big brother. Protecting my little sister isn’t just my duty, it’s my right.” Those words were like a mantra for him. But little did he know, Pallavi, no our Aaradhya , didn't need protecting. She was a lioness, a fierce, fiery spirit who could fight her battles alone. But telling him that now? It felt like taking away a piece of his identity.
Aman and I both stood up then, almost instinctively, and we pulled Abrahm into a tight hug. His body was rigid at first, like he didn’t know how to react to this level of vulnerability. Then, I felt the slight shudder in his shoulders. He was breaking, piece by piece, as the reality sank in. We held onto him, letting him process the truth in silence, our hug a temporary shield from the brutal storm of emotions we’d just unleashed.
After what felt like an eternity, we pulled away. I knew the hardest part was yet to come. What I had to say next would shatter him completely.
"The day we got the DNA results back... Aman and I wanted to tell you. We wanted to celebrate the fact that Pallavi was your Aaradhya. But..." I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. How do you destroy someone’s world with a single sentence?
"But what, Arjun?" Abrahm’s voice cracked as he spoke. I could hear the fear in it, the desperation for answers. I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. I couldn’t do it. Not to him. Not like this.
Aman sensed my hesitation and took the lead. His voice was calm, but there was a tremor beneath the surface. "The day we found out that Pallavi was Aaradhya... was the same day you married Janvi bhabhi. I was in Canada at the time, and Arjun took Pallavi back to the Khurana mansion. That night, Pallavi had a faint flash of memory, but she collapsed soon after."
Abrahm’s face fell slightly, his mind piecing together the events. He gave a slow nod, as if remembering that night, but not fully understanding its significance.
"That was the night Gautam uncle did all of Pallavi’s tests," I said softly, the tension building in my chest again. My hands felt cold as I prepared to say the next part, the part that would break his heart. "Gautam uncle discovered something..."
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Flashback: Gautam’s Diagnosis
The hospital hallway was eerily quiet, the hum of machines the only sound that broke the silence. I remember sitting there, feeling numb as Gautam uncle approached, his face a mask of concern. He had spent hours running tests on Pallavi, trying to understand why she had collapsed.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low and grave. "Arjun, ... I’ve reviewed Pallavi’s case thoroughly. When she had that accident years ago, it caused significant trauma to her nervous system, particularly her hippocampus and temporal lobe. The injury was severe enough to affect her memory retention, specifically her episodic memories."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a kind of sorrow I hadn’t seen before. "In medical terms, her synaptic connections in the regions responsible for memory encoding were damaged. If she tries to force those memories....her past, who she was......it could lead to a complete nervous breakdown. And if that happens, she could suffer from retrograde amnesia, forgetting everything, even the present. Or... she might not survive the neurological strain."
I felt the world spin around me, the air thick and suffocating. "So... she’ll never remember being Aaradhya?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping for some sliver of hope.
Gautam uncle’s face softened with sympathy. "If her brain decides it’s safe, she may recover parts of her memory. But it’s a risk. A risk we can’t afford to take."
End of Flashback
I blinked, bringing myself back to the present. Abrahm sat in front of me, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
"So... if she tries to remember... she could lose everything? Or worse...?" His voice was small, almost childlike in its fear.
I nodded, my heart breaking for him. "Yes, Abrahm. That’s why we’ve kept this from her. She’s not just Pallavi, she’s Aaradhya. But if she tries to force herself to remember... we could lose her."
Abrahm’s tears spilled over, and he didn’t try to stop them this time.
"I couldn’t protect her from this... I couldn’t protect her from any of it," he whispered brokenly.
I reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "You don’t need to protect her, Abrahm. She doesn’t need protecting. She’s stronger than any of us. But she does need us to stand by her. And we will. Together."
For the first time, I saw Abrahm break completely, his sobs filling the room as Aman and I held him, silently vowing to keep the pieces of our broken family together, no matter the cost.
***************"
After talking to Abrahm for a while, I headed back home. Of course, every now and then, I checked the CCTV footage of the house. It’s not like I’m stalking her or anything. I respect her privacy, but the truth is, I can’t get through the day without catching a glimpse of her. She has become that important to me, that integral to my world.
So, I found myself glancing at the footage, watching as Adit and Anant busied themselves with preparing for this surprise party. There was something so chaotic yet endearing about it ... two grown men running around like excited children, making sure everything was perfect. It was almost laughable. But it also reminded me of something deeper.
When They say a home is held together, or broken apart, by the woman in it. And they’re right. My mind drifted back to my maasi , or should I say, Mrs. Srivastav now. There was a time when this house was whole, when it felt like a home. My maasi Ragini ji used to come over just to see me, showering me with attention and love. Mumma would always argue with her about it ,, she thought she was spoiling me too much. And maybe she was, but as a kid, I loved it. My world was simple then, full of love from both sides.
Then, everything changed.
Mum passed away. Along with her, my unborn baby sister was taken too, before she even had a chance to live. It broke Dad. And in that shattering of our family, I saw my maasi change too. She became distant, colder. And then, as if life hadn’t already thrown enough at us, Dad married her. She got pregnant, and before i knew it, Adit and Anant were born ,two twins who brought chaos and joy into the house.
In the midst of all this, that small, innocent version of me , the young Arjun, was lost. Buried under the weight of grief, confusion, and change. The only silver lining was the twins. They were the only good that came out of all that mess. In them, I found a connection to the sister I never got to meet. I searched for her in them. I never accepted my maasi as a mother figure, but when it came to Adit and Anant, they had a place in my heart that no one else could ever fill.
Pallavi often tells me, "Ram and Lakshman weren’t born brothers by blood, but if you want to talk about true brotherhood, they’re the perfect example."
I’m no Ram. Far from it. But Adit and Anant? They’re my Lakshman. My protectors, my brothers. No matter what.
They’re 22 years old now, and sometimes they still act like kids. But today, I saw something different in them. A sense of responsibility. They were handling everything on their own, not letting Pallavi lift a finger. Watching them run around, taking care of every little detail for the party, for their bhabhi, made me realize something.
Since Pallavi came into my life, this house has started feeling like a home again. It was just a structure before ,, empty walls, hollow rooms. But now, with her, it’s warm. It’s alive. She’s brought light where there was only darkness, laughter where there was only silence. And seeing Adit and Anant today, treating her with so much care, I knew they felt the same. She’s woven us all together in a way that no one else could.
As I watched them through the screen, a soft smile crept onto my face. I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am. How Pallavi, without even trying, has changed everything.
This house wasn’t a mansion anymore ,, it was something much more. It was a place where love lived again.
“Wait, what? Is she blushing?” I muttered to myself, watching Pallavi as she tapped her cheeks in a futile attempt to hide that faint red hue spreading across them.
Meri kurafhati biwi (my mischievous wife) is up to something again. I can practically see the gears turning in her head, that little smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, the one she thinks I don’t notice.
When I was on my way home, something clicked. The CCTV footage went dark for about 15-20 minutes. Really, Adit? How many times have I told him to stay away from hacking? But this time, it only confirmed what I suspected .. a surprise is waiting for me.
As soon as I stepped inside the house, everything was pitch black. Not a single light in sight. But there was this faint, sweet fragrance of scented candles lingering in the air, drifting through every corner of the house. I could hear balloons faintly bumping into one another in the distance, their soft thuds creating a strange, anticipatory rhythm.
They’re definitely planning something. A small smile crept onto my face. My instincts were right.
“Surprise!!”
Suddenly, the lights flickered back on all at once, flooding the house with brightness, and there it was a full-blown party setup. Balloons, streamers, a cake at the center of the table, and every familiar face staring at me, waiting for a reaction.
But I didn’t give them one. No dramatic expressions, no wide-eyed surprise. I just stood there, taking it all in. Pallavi’s face fell for a second, that adorable pout appearing on her lips.
“At least pretend to be surprised,” she complained, her voice filled with a mix of playful irritation and hope. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Leaning down, I pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.
She looked so cute when she did that ...complaining to me about me.
As I turned to the rest of my family, I saw Adit and Anant covering their eyes dramatically with one hand.
“Bhai, no PDA!” Adit chimed in, his voice dripping with exaggerated horror.
“Yeah, Bhai, what kind of example are you setting for us?” Anant added, still shielding his eyes.
I raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in my eyes. “I’m setting a great example. If you’re not afraid to love, why be afraid to show it?” I stated firmly, glancing over at Pallavi, who was trying hard to hide her amusement.
“Alright, alright,” Dadi stepped in, her voice filled with fondness. “Pallavi, take your husband upstairs and get ready. The guests will be arriving soon. Both of you hurry up.”
Dadi smiled warmly before walking away, leaving Pallavi and me to head toward our room. I could tell Pallavi was pretending to be annoyed, but the way her steps were light and her heartbeat felt erratic against my arm ,,, I knew better. Butterflies weren’t just in her stomach, they were in her whole body.
As we climbed the stairs, Pallavi glanced at me, trying to hold onto her faux frustration. “ aap ithna besharam kyu ho ?” she asked, with a pout , though her eyes twinkled with affection.
I smirked, leaning in a little closer. “You’re talking as if I’m the only shameless one here. You, my dear…” But before I could finish, she gently clapped her palm over my mouth.
“Shhh,” she hushed at me, reminding me that everyone downstairs could still hear us.
I grinned behind her hand, pulling it away softly. “Biwi, I’m not good with words when it comes to showing love. I’d rather let my actions do the talking. After all, actions speak louder than words, don’t they?” I murmured, watching as she bit her lower lip to hide that blush I had grown so fond of.
As much as she tried to mask it, her reactions always betrayed her. And I loved it.
In that moment, it wasn’t about the surprise party waiting for us downstairs, or the noise and excitement of the evening. It was just us, a quiet exchange of emotions, without the need for grand gestures or elaborate declarations.
Because in our world, we didn’t need words to understand each other.
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Pallavi's POV:
As we entered the room, he immediately wrapped his arms around me from behind, nuzzling into me, inhaling my fragrance deeply. I could feel his breath on my neck as he whispered softly, "You know what, I missed your fragrance all day." His voice was low, tender, making my heart flutter.
"Really? Should I feel flattered?" I teased, turning my head slightly to look at him. He just responded with a gentle ..
" Can I ask you something? " I added
"hmm," his eyes closed, his warm breath brushing against my shoulder. In that moment, he looked so innocent, like a child finding comfort. But I knew better,, he was anything but innocent. He and innocence were worlds apart.
"I like this romantic version of you, but..." I pouted a little, "I'm kind of missing the old version too. That khadoos , akdu , angry Arjun... I miss him," I said, hoping to get a reaction from him.
He tightened his hold on me and chuckled. "Trust me, my love, that khadoos version of me is still very much alive. In fact, I just came back after breaking your adha pagal bhai Abrahm’s face," he said, turning me around to face him. His eyes had that familiar glint of mischief, but there was also a softness in them, reserved only for me.
"But that grumpy man? He only exists for the outside world. For you, I’m just Arjun. The moment I see you, all my anger, my frustrations ,,, everything just vanishes," he added, his voice dropping lower as he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. The warmth of his lips and the sincerity in his voice made my heart swell with emotions. These moments, where he was just mine, were precious.
Arjun was everything I had ever imagined in a life partner. Strong, protective, yet gentle in ways I never thought possible. I had judged him wrongly at first, but over time, I realized that he was exactly what I needed, in all the ways that truly mattered.
"Alright, Mr. Not-So-khadoos Husband, go freshen up now. I’ll get ready too, and then we can head downstairs," I said, playfully pushing him toward the washroom.
But of course, he had to respond with his usual mischief.
"I have a better idea, my naughty wifey. Why don’t you join me for a bath? We’ll save water... and time," he suggested with a cheeky grin, wrapping his arms around my neck, pulling me closer.
I rolled my eyes, shy smile as I gave him a playful punch in the stomach. "In your dreams, Mr. Grumpy!" I pushed him into the washroom and quickly shut the door behind him.
"If you try being too naughty, I’ll lock you in there! You can celebrate your birthday alone while we enjoy the party outside!" I yelled, my voice filled with teasing.
I could hear him chuckling from the other side of the door, and I smiled to myself. This playful banter, this connection , it was everything I had ever dreamed of.
*****************
I stood in front of the wardrobe, my eyes landing on a red gown that I hadn’t worn in a long time. Arjun’s teasing words echoed in my head: "If you ever want to seduce me, just wear red. It’ll be easy for you."
A smile crept onto my face. I slipped into the dress, feeling the soft fabric hug my body perfectly. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but think, I hope Arjun doesn’t pass out when he sees me. I wasn’t one for heavy makeup, so I kept it simple. I was about to apply a light pink lipstick, but my playful side took over. Instead, I grabbed a bold red lipstick. Let’s see if he can resist this, I thought, smirking as I applied the color.
Just as I was finishing, I heard the door open. I turned to see Arjun standing there, wearing only a towel around his waist, drying his wet hair with another towel. The sight of him made my breath hitch. His muscles, still damp from the shower, gleamed in the soft light, and for a moment, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
"You are looking phenomenal, wifey," he said, his voice low and deep.
My face heated up, a blush spreading instantly. Arjun walked towards me slowly, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my heart race. When he reached me, he gently ran his thumb over my lower lip, sending a shiver through me.
"Would you mind if I smeared your lipstick?" he whispered, his thumb brushing over the red lipstick I’d just applied.
Before I could answer, he leaned in and kissed me, soft at first, then deeper. His lips moved against mine with a passion that made my knees weak. I melted into the kiss, my hands resting on his chest as I felt the warmth of his skin under my fingers. I didn’t want it to stop , every second felt like I was falling deeper into him.
When he finally pulled away, his lips were curved into a teasing smile. "Looks like I smeared it, and don't dare me again ever wifey " he said, wiping the lipstick from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
I laughed softly, my heart still racing. "You’re impossible," I murmured, still catching my breath.
He grinned, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "And yet, you love me for it," he said with a wink.
At that moment, wrapped in his arms, I felt nothing but pure happiness..
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So that's it for today i hope you like it..
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Precap : an unknown Strom coming in their life , or you can say the begining of their separation track 😩..
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