Days passed, and Suman's bond with Tara and Anirudh blossomed beautifully.

Tara treated her like the daughter she had always wished for, doting on her with affection and care, while Anirudh's quiet but unwavering love for Suman filled their home with warmth.

The Shekhawat household was no longer just a house; it had transformed into a home for Suman, filled with laughter and shared moments.

Amay, watching from a distance, was overjoyed by the way his parents had embraced her.

He loved seeing Suman’s joyful interactions with them, especially when she teased Tara or helped Anirudh with his gardening.

Amay’s heart swelled every time he saw her smile, but a part of him still hoped that one day she would be able to see the love he carried for her.

He was patient, knowing that their relationship needed time to grow.

She was slowly letting him into her life, and that was enough for now.

Meanwhile, in the Agrawal household, things were far from peaceful.

Meena, once thrilled at the prospect of Tina becoming her daughter-in-law due to her wealth and status, was now drowning in regret.

Her greed had blinded her to Tina's true nature, and now she found herself saddled with all the household responsibilities.

Tina, rather than helping with anything at home, was fully engrossed in her business.

She was always working alongside her father, managing his ventures and expanding her influence, leaving Meena to juggle the entire household on her own.

Meena’s frustration had grown over time, especially because Tina’s attitude had only worsened.

She treated Meena with disdain, her arrogance evident in every conversation.

If Meena tried to ask her for help,

Tina would snap back with sharp words, always reminding Meena that her priority was her business, not the housework.

Meena cursed herself for ever agreeing to this marriage, but there was nothing she could do now—she was trapped in the chaos she had helped create.

In the midst of this turmoil, Ayush began to notice a change in Tina.

The sharp arrogance she once carried seemed to have faded.

The woman who had once been filled with pride and self-importance was now quieter, almost subdued.

She had stopped pestering him about her love or asserting her claim over him.

Instead, Tina gave him space, speaking to him less frequently and with a calmness he hadn’t seen before.

Ayush found himself wondering what had caused this shift.

Despite everything, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, realizing that he might be responsible for Tina’s change.

He knew she had loved him deeply, even if he had never reciprocated that love.

Now, seeing her like this, he felt regret—not for the lack of love he felt for her, but for not being able to give her even a small portion of the love she deserved.

Tina, for all her flaws—her stubbornness, her spoiled nature—was undeniably intelligent.

She was a smart businesswoman, and despite her earlier behavior, her love for Ayush had always been genuine.

Pure, even.

And now, Ayush could no longer ignore the depth of her feelings for him.

He saw the sacrifices she was making, the quiet acceptance of their strained marriage, and for the first time, he began to acknowledge the woman behind the stubborn façade.

In the middle of these reflections, Ayush was also trying to focus on his work.

His company had officially started the project with the Shekhawat Legacy, a deal that was crucial for his business.

Despite his reluctance, knowing that this project linked him directly to Suman and Amay, Ayush knew his company needed this to stay afloat.

His feelings for Suman had been complicated for a long time, but seeing her that day, holding Amay’s hand and the way Amay had looked at her with possessiveness and protectiveness, Ayush finally realized that his chapter with Suman was closed.

The way Suman had clung to Amay’s hand, the tenderness in her eyes—it was something Ayush had never seen in her before.

It was clear that Suman had started to develop feelings for her husband, even if she hadn’t fully realized it yet.

Ayush felt a strange sense of relief, mixed with regret.

He no longer felt love toward her; instead, he wished her happiness.

Amay was a good man, and Ayush knew Suman would be safe in his hands.

As for Tina, Ayush was beginning to see her in a new light.

The space she had given him, the change in her demeanor, and the way she had quietly stepped back from her demands—he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Somewhere, in the midst of their fractured relationship, he found himself wanting to understand her better, perhaps even make things right between them.

Amay and Suman were sitting on the terrace, side by side on the cozy sofa.

The night sky above them was scattered with stars, and the soft glow of the moon bathed the surroundings in a peaceful light.

Amay glanced at Suman, who was engrossed in her own thoughts, dressed simply in a plain saree.

To him, though, she looked absolutely mesmerizing.

His subconscious mocked him, "Suman looks beautiful every day; there’s nothing new."

And he couldn’t help but agree.

A smile crept onto his face as he watched her, feeling a sense of calm wash over him.

All the stress and burden he carried seemed to fade away just by being near her.

He knew she hadn’t fully accepted him as her husband yet, but there was a small glimmer of hope in his heart that one day, she might.

As he continued gazing at her, lost in his thoughts, Suman suddenly looked up and caught his eyes.

For a moment, neither of them looked away.

Their eyes met, and it felt as if time had slowed.

Suman found herself drawn into the depth of Amay's gaze.

His eyes, filled with unspoken emotions, made her feel beautiful.

The way he looked at her—raw, unguarded, and sincere—sent a shiver down her spine.

It wasn’t just his gaze; it was the respect and trust he had always shown her that made her feel special, like the most important person in the world.

They continued staring at each other in silence, an invisible current passing between them.

Just then, a cool breeze swept across the terrace, brushing against Suman’s face and making her shiver slightly.

She looked away, breaking the spell, her heart beating faster than before.

Amay had an urge to pull her closer, to cradle her in his arms, but he controlled himself.

Instead, he smiled softly and asked, “Do you like to watch the stars and the moon?”

Suman smiled back, nodding. “Haan, I do,” she replied, her voice soft.

She raised an eyebrow. “Aur aap? Aapko pasand hai?” she asked playfully.

“Pehle nahi tha," he said, looking up at the sky. "But now… yes, I do.”

His voice was calm but carried a deeper meaning, one that Suman could sense but didn’t dare to explore further.

She blinked, surprised by his response.

There was something in his tone that made her heart flutter.

“Aur tumhe kya kya pasand hai?” he asked, curiosity tugging at him.

She frowned and asked, "Why are you asking?"

He leaned back a little and shrugged his shoulders casually. “Just general knowledge,” he said, teasingly.

Suman giggled softly, her laughter ringing in the quiet night. “General knowledge, huh?”

Amay looked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Let’s play a game,” he suggested suddenly.

“A game?” Suman asked, intrigued.

He nodded. “I’ll say a random word, and you have to tell me the first thing that comes to your mind. No thinking, no pauses—you just have to answer instantly. Like a rapid fire.”

Suman grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Amay leaned closer, his smile deepening. “Alright, here we go. First word… ‘rain.’”

Without missing a beat, Suman responded, “Dance.”

Amay chuckled. “Interesting. Okay, next one—‘chocolate.’”

Suman’s eyes sparkled. “Happiness!”

“Of course,” Amay said with a laugh, knowing her sweet tooth all too well. He continued, “Next one… ‘beach.’”

Suman thought for a split second, then said, “Peace.”

Amay nodded, impressed by how effortlessly she was playing along.

She then smiled and said, “Okay now I will ask…”

Amay nodded and says "As you say Ma'am!"

She giggled at him, "Okay! Peace."

He without any beat says "Family!"

She smiled. "Work"

"Business"

"Annoying"

"Papa"

She laughed hearing this anwer and says, "Haww this is so bad papa is not annoying!"

He looks at her amused and says, "Well that's because you haven't seen his possessiveness and love for my Mother, he is totally whipped"

She laughed and nodded because she also seen the love and care Tara and Anirudh share even after so many years of marriage.

She admired them.

Seeing her laugh Amay felt at peace his heart started to jump in happiness.

His subconsicious mind again mocked him, "As if you are not a whipped cream for your wife!"

Suman continued the game and says, "Okay now last one!........Love"

This time, Amay paused for just a fraction of a second, feeling the weight of the word hang in the air.

But before she could change her word, he looked directly into Suman’s eyes and softly said, “YOU.”

Their eyes locked again, and the playful atmosphere shifted to something deeper, more profound.

The way he said it, the way he held his gaze—it stirred something in Suman.

Suman felt her heart skip a beat.

She sensed it that Amay has feelings for her but she didn't expected him to admit it this easily in the pretext of a mere game.

Her hearted thudded in her chest as if hammering her and she felt that her heart would leap out from her chest.

She somehow control her emotions and just looked at the sky.

Amay knew that she needed time but he can't keep his feelings in his heart now he needed to express it so with this he expressed it.

Although not completely but he just dropped a small teaser of his feelings and seeing her like this all flushed he just smiles inwardly thinking what will happen when he will confess his feelings.

The game had brought them closer, and for the first time in a while, she felt comfortable and happy in his presence.

And as they sat there, under the stars, the unspoken connection between them grew a little stronger.

The clock struck midnight, and Ayush was still working, the soft glow of his laptop screen illuminating the dimly lit room.

His eyes were tired, but his mind was restless, engrossed in the financial reports that demanded his attention.

The silence of the night wrapped around him like a heavy blanket.

Meanwhile, Tina, who had been lying in bed, noticed the time and saw Ayush still immersed in his work.

Concern flickered in her eyes.

Without saying a word, she quietly slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen.

The house was silent, the only sound being the faint hum of the fridge.

She busied herself making a cup of tea, the faint clink of the spoon against the cup echoing in the empty kitchen.

Once it was ready, she took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, and walked back to their room, the tea in hand.

Ayush didn’t notice her at first, too absorbed in his work.

But he felt her presence as she stood silently in front of him.

He looked up, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“What’s this?” he asked, his voice hoarse from the long hours.

Tina handed him the cup. “Tea,” she said softly. “You must be exhausted. Your dark circles are proof enough that you need rest. But… I know work is important to you, so I thought this might help.”

Ayush was taken aback by her thoughtfulness.

He hadn’t expected her to do something like this, especially when their interactions had been so distant lately.

For a moment, he just stared at the cup, then slowly took it from her hand.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice laced with genuine gratitude.

Tina only gave him a small nod, not lingering, and turned toward the bed.

She crawled under the duvet, her back to him, giving him space.

As she lay down, she glanced over at him from time to time, watching him sip the tea.

A small, bittersweet smile tugged at her lips.

She knew he probably thought his mother or sister had made the tea because, in his mind, Tina didn’t know how to cook, let alone make a simple cup of tea.

And she didn’t correct him.

She stayed silent, holding onto the moment.

Deep down, she feared his rejection again.

The fear of being pushed away, of being told she wasn’t enough, gnawed at her heart.

She had made peace with many things, but Ayush’s rejection was something she couldn’t bear.

She regretted forcing this marriage upon him, not because she didn’t love him—loving him was never the regret.

It was her heart’s constant truth.

But marrying him like this, against his will, felt like a weight she couldn’t shake.

As she watched him drink the tea she had made, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

She quickly wiped it away, not wanting to dwell on the pain of unrequited love.

She knew Ayush didn’t love her, not the way she loved him.

But her love for him remained unwavering, a constant flame in her heart, no matter how dim things had become between them.

Tina’s eyes fluttered closed, and slowly, she drifted into sleep, her heart still heavy but at peace knowing she had done something for him, however small.

Ayush, meanwhile, sat there with the empty cup in his hands, glancing over at her sleeping form.

He thought about calling out to her, to start a conversation, maybe even ask how she knew he needed the tea, but he stopped himself.

The words stayed trapped in his throat.

Instead, he sighed quietly and turned back to his work, though now the distraction of Tina’s thoughtfulness lingered in his mind.

There was a shift in her lately, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

She had changed, and maybe… so had he.

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