The night was the longest Kaushiki had lived in months. She tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling fan that whirred endlessly. Her mind wouldn’t quiet down—hope and fear battled inside her chest with every heartbeat.
Ashwin lay beside her, eyes open in the dark, though he pretended to sleep just to keep her calm. Every time she shifted restlessly, he would place his hand gently over hers, silently telling her he was right there.
By early dawn, Kaushiki was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed with her dupatta nervously twisting between her fingers. Ashwin walked back into the room, holding a small paper bag in his hand. She looked up, startled.
“Tum… subah itni jaldi chale gaye the?” she asked softly.
Ashwin gave her a faint smile. “Tumhe tension mein aur zyada intezaar karne deta kya? Pharmacy se test kit le aaya.”
Her heart lurched. The bag suddenly looked heavier than the whole world. She swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she reached for it. “Main… kar lu abhi?”
Ashwin cupped her face, steadying her. “Haan. Abhi. Aur chahe jo bhi result aaye, hum dono usse saath face karenge. Okay?”
She nodded, her throat too tight for words.
Minutes later, she walked into the washroom, her hands clammy, her chest heavy. Time stretched unbearably thin as she waited, staring at the small stick on the counter. She closed her eyes, whispering a shaky prayer, remembering the tiny heartbeat she had once lost.
Outside, Ashwin paced the floor, every nerve pulled taut. For once, the calm, composed doctor inside him was gone—he was just a husband, terrified yet hopeful.
Finally, the door clicked open. Kaushiki stepped out, her face pale, lips trembling. She held the test in her hand but couldn’t bring herself to say a word.
Ashwin took it gently from her fingers, his own eyes falling on the result window. Two bold lines stared back at him. His breath caught.
“Positive…” he whispered.
Kaushiki blinked at him, tears filling her eyes, her voice cracking. “Sach mein?”
He looked at her, his eyes shimmering with a rare, unguarded softness. “Haan, Kaushiki. Tum pregnant ho.”
Her hands flew to her mouth as a sob burst out, a mix of relief and fear. Ashwin pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against his chest. Both of them shook in silence—because after all the pain, the emptiness, and the tears, life was giving them a second chance.
The morning light filtered into the Rawat mansion, spilling warmth into every corner of the house. But for Kaushiki and Ashwin, the glow wasn’t from the sun—it was from the secret they carried between them, beating like a fragile flame in their hearts.
At the breakfast table, everyone was in their usual chatter. Anita was fussing over Yuvika’s tiffin, Bhoomi Chachi was teasing Kushal about eating too much ghee, and Aakriti was buried in a medical journal. Kaushiki sat quietly beside Ashwin, her fingers fiddling nervously with the edge of her dupatta.
“Beta, namak pass karna,” Anita asked.
Kaushiki jumped slightly, almost dropping the salt shaker. Ashwin’s hand slid under the table, brushing hers to steady it. He gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze. She looked at him with wide, shy eyes—her secret written all over her face, but she couldn’t say it. Not yet.
Aakriti, sharp as always, narrowed her eyes. “Bhabhi, aap itni chup kyun ho aaj? Kuch hua hai?”
Kaushiki froze, her heart hammering. Ashwin smoothly intervened, his tone calm, “Bas thoda thak gayi hai hospital se. Kal raat late tak cases dekh rahi thi.”
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𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚
Romance"Marry me," he said. And just like that, my life became a rom-com gone wrong. Kaushiki Rajput-clumsy, loud-mouthed, and hopelessly optimistic-never expected her first encounter with Dr. Ashwin Rawat to involve publicly accusing him of child neglect...
