Ritvik pulled back when he realised he'd been hugging her too long. He wasn't supposed to get too close to her. He loved Yakshna. And he'll always love her.

But something in Yukti pulled him towards her and he felt like he was cheating on Yakshna whenever he was with Yukti. She made him forget all his worries and pains.

"Ab chaliye! It's too late. Let's sleep."

With that she pulled him into the room and he silently followed her, feeling conflicted with his own feelings.

The next day Yukti didn't tell anyone it was her birthday. Her mother had called in the morning but she didn't pick up. She didn't want to talk to her.

Her mother and father-in-law left for the chauki at the relatives place by 6. The function was to start at 8 and it was quite far from their place.

"Late hi ho jaayega hume. Chaabi le kar jaa rhe hai. Tum so jaana time se."

They told Ritvik and Yukti who nodded and wished them safe journey.

Ritvik then went to the room to do his work while Yukti went to the washroom to freshen up.

While she was in the washroom, her phone rang.

"Yukti tumhara phone."

Ritvik called but then shook his head remembering that she was in the washroom. He peeked at the screen to see the caller id.

It was her mother so he picked it up.

"Namaste mummy."

He said and heard his mother-in-law's voice.

"Umm-namaskar Ritvik ji. Wo-Yukti se baat krni thi."

"Jee wo abhi washroom mai hai. Kuch zaruri tha kya?"

"Nhi nhi. Bas usse birthday wish krna tha. Subha bhi milaya tha pr usne uthaya nhi. Mujhe laga shayad kaam mai busy hogi."

Ritvik was surprised to know it was her birthday today. Why didn't she tell anyone? Was it because of his breakdown last night?

Just then Yukti came out of the washroom.

"Umm-wo aa gyi. Mai baat krwata hu."

He forwarded the phone to Yukti who looked confused.

"Your mom."

He mouthed and saw her expression harden. She took the phone from him and placed it over her ear.

"Hello....thankyou..... busy thi.....jee....thankyou....umm mai baad mai baat krti hu kuch kaam tha."

That was the conversation she had and then she disconnected the call. Ritvik frowned seeing her rough conversation with her own parents.

"Hey! Idhar baitho! Kya baat hai? You didn't want to talk to them?"

He asked when he noticed her face and saw that she looked like she wanted to cry. She didn't look up and shook her head at his question.

"Kya hua? Idhar dekho!"

He asked gently lifting her chin to face him and saw tears in her eyes.

"I-I don't want to talk to them. Aap...aap sab jaante hai na. Aap bataiye! Kya galti sirf meri thi? Uski thodi bhi galti nhi thi kya? Maine mana mujhe maa papa se ye baat nhi chhupani chahiye thi lekin pyaar kia tha maine usse. Dhoka toh usne dia na. Phir maa papa ne mujhe aise kyu treat kia jaise saari galti meri hai."

She burst out as tears fell from her eyes. The pain and the hurt she had been carrying inside her since months finally burst free.

"Aisa nhi hai! No one's blaming you-"

"Nhi! Aap nhi jaante. Mai sirf ek hafta thi iss ghar mai lekin.... lekin dum ghutne laga tha mera...mere apne maa papa mujhe aise dekhte the jaise maine kitna bada gunha kr dia. Meri...meri galti thi ki maine uss aadmi pr vishwas kia...usse pyaar kia...lekin usne bhi toh mere saath galat kia na...toh phir saza sirf mujhe kyu mili?"

He cupped her face and shook his head while she sobbed and sniffed like a baby.

"Mere paas baithke mujhe samjhana toh dur, pyaar se gale lagana toh dur, mujhse ye tak nhi puchha ki 'Tu thik hai na?'. Balki mujhe aise dekhte the jaise ki mai kitni badi criminal hu. Apne image aur reputation ke aage bhul gye wo log ki unki hi beti hu."

She cried and he took her in his arms rubbing her back. She clutched his shirt and hid her face in his chest.

"Meri...mero galti nhi thi na...sirf mai toh galat nhi thi na."

"Nhi meri jaan! Shh! You were not at fault. Ab bas! Tabiyat kharab ho jaayegi."

He kissed her head and rubbed her back and her cried faded in sniffs slowly.

"Aap...aap dobara unka call mat uthana."

She complained like a child and he smiled.

"Achha thik hai. Nhi uthaunga. Lekin tum ab rona band karo. Aur tumne bataya kyu nhi kisi ko ki tumhara birthday hai aaj?"

He asked pulled her away making her face him. She bowed her head and mumbled softly.

"Aap pehle hi upset the. Maine socha ki-"

She didn't complete and he held her chin gently.

"Toh tumne kisi ko apne life ke itne bade din ke baare mai bataya bhi nhi? Crazy woman! Mai maanta hu I was upset about Yakshna and I missed her. But that doesn't mean that you're not important to us. Just because aaj uska bhi birthday hai doesn't mean we would have devalued your day. Anyway, let's not waste anymore time and celebrate the remaining hours of birthday. Jaldi se ready ho jaao. We're going out!"

He said tapping her forehead and she sat there blinking her eyes.

"Go Yukti!"

She immediately brightened on realising his words and ran to get ready for whatever he was taking her. Her wardrobe contained only sarees. It was her mother who shopped for her before her marriage and she didn't have any cloth other than sarees and nightwears.

She wore the prettiest saree she owned and even put on some makeup. She giggled looking at herself in the mirror. She looked so pretty.

Ritvik had taken his and Yaksh's clothes to the other room letting her look be a surprise for them.

She got ready and gave herself a final look. Satisfied with the way she looked she made her way outside.

Ritvik, who was making reservations at the restaurant, stopped short hearing the voice of heels clicking softly and was stunned. Did he marry an angel? Cheesy it may be, but it felt true.

"You look beautiful."

He couldn't help but whisper making her already brightened face flush red.

"Mummaaa! Happy tuyu mumma!"

Yaksh squealed the phrase Ritvik had been telling him since the past five minutes. Yukti chuckled and kissed his little cheeks.

"Thank you mera bacha!"

He prompted for Yukti to hold him and transferred himself from his father's arms to his mumma's.

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