Author's POV :
Akshatha held her tight, whispering reassurances in her ear. Her touch was warm, her words a gentle reminder that she wasn't alone. Meanwhile, Vivaan's father, Ashwin, stepped into the room, his eyes searching for his son. He looked at the scene before him, his heart aching for the young woman who had brought such joy and chaos into their lives. He approached Vivaan, placing a firm hand on his back. "You're doing the right thing," he said, his voice gruff but filled with love. "We're all here for her."
Vivaan looked up, his eyes red-rimmed with unshed tears. He nodded, his throat too tight to speak. Ashwin's presence was a reminder that he had a family who would stand by him, no matter the scandal or the cost. He took a deep breath, his resolve strengthening. He would do whatever it took to help Aradhya, to be the man she deserved.
Shreya felt Akshatha's embrace like a warm blanket, wrapping around her and offering comfort in a world that had suddenly turned cold and frightening. She had never expected this kind of support from Vivaan's family, never dreamed that they would be the ones to stand by her in her darkest hour. Her sobs grew quieter as Akshatha's gentle whispers filled the room, the words of encouragement and love a gentle lullaby that seemed to soothe not just her, but Aradhya as well.
The doctor returned, his face etched with lines of concern. "We need to start the tests immediately," he said, his voice firm but kind. "I know this is difficult, but we need to know what we're dealing with."
Akshatha released Shreya, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "We're with you," she said, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands. "We'll get through this together."
Vivaan stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Aradhya's face. "Do whatever you need to," he told the doctor, his voice tight with emotion. "We'll be right here."
The doctor nodded, his gaze flicking to Vivaan and then to Shreya. "We'll take good care of her," he assured them, his eyes holding a promise that he would do everything in his power to save the little girl.
The tests were a blur of needles and machines, the beeping of monitors a constant reminder of the battle being waged inside Aradhya's small body. Vivaan held Shreya's hand, his grip tight and reassuring. He was there for her, a pillar of strength she hadn't realized she needed.
Ashwin stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes never leaving his son. He knew the weight of the lie they had told, the secret they had kept to protect Aradhya and Shreya. But in that moment, it didn't matter. What mattered was the love he saw in Vivaan's eyes, the fierce determination to be there for this child who had stumbled into their lives.
As the hours ticked by, the hospital room grew quiet. The only sounds were the steady beep of the machines and the soft whispers of Shreya and Vivaan as they talked about anything but the fear that loomed over them. They talked about work, about movies they hadn't seen, about the little things that made them laugh. It was a strange kind of normalcy in the midst of chaos, a lifeline thrown to each other in the storm.
Shreya felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in a long time. With Vivaan by her side, she didn't feel so alone. And as she watched him with Aradhya, she knew that she had made the right choice in letting him in.
Finally, the doctor returned, his face etched with exhaustion but also something else. Hope. "The tests are back," he said, his voice measured. "It's not meningitis. It's a severe case of the flu, but she's going to be okay."
The room seemed to fill with light as the tension drained from their bodies. Shreya let out a shaky laugh, her eyes brimming with tears of relief. Vivaan's grip on her hand tightened, and she felt his body relax. Aradhya stirred in her hospital bed, her fever finally breaking.
They had faced their first real crisis together, and in doing so, they had discovered something new about each other. A bond that went beyond friendship, beyond attraction, and into the realm of family. As they watched over Aradhya, sleeping peacefully now, they knew that their lives had been irrevocably changed. And for the first time, it didn't feel like a burden. It felt like a gift.
The days that followed were a whirlwind of doctor's appointments and sleepless nights, but they faced it all as a team. Vivaan had never felt so alive, so needed. He saw the trust in Shreya's eyes and knew he would do anything to keep it there. And so, when he finally found the courage to ask her to stay with him, to let him be a part of her and Aradhya's life, the words spilled out of him like a confession.
Shreya looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise and something else. Something that made his heart race. "Marry me," he said, his voice steady despite the tremble in his hands. "Let's do this together."
For a moment, she was silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Then, she nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Yes," she whispered, and it was as if the world had stopped spinning for a brief, beautiful moment.
The wedding was a simple affair, a blend of their two worlds coming together in a celebration of love and new beginnings. Akshatha had insisted on taking charge, her eyes gleaming with joy as she fussed over every detail. Aradhya was the star of the show, cooing and smiling at the guests, blissfully unaware of the monumental shift in her life.
Moving into Vivaan's sprawling mansion was a culture shock for Shreya, but she quickly found her footing. The house was filled with warmth and laughter, the kind she had never experienced in the cold walls of the orphanage. Akshatha and Ashwin doted on her, their love for Aradhya a balm to her weary soul.
Vivaan watched as his parents interacted with Shreya, their hearts swelling with pride and love. He had never seen them so alive, so invested in someone outside their own family. It was as if Aradhya had breathed new life into them, and Shreya had become the glue that held them all together.
As they settled into their new life, Shreya couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the turn of events. She had gone from a struggling single mother to a wife and part of a loving family in the span of a few short weeks. And as she watched Vivaan play with Aradhya, his eyes alight with joy, she knew that she had made the right choice.
In the quiet moments, when the house was still and Aradhya slept in her crib, Shreya would look at Vivaan and see the man he had become. The playboy CEO was gone, replaced by a devoted husband and father. The sight of him with their daughter filled her with a warmth she had never known before, a love that grew stronger with each passing day.
And as they lay in bed at night, their hearts beating in sync with the soft snores of the baby in the next room, she knew that no matter what challenges life threw their way, they would face them together. Because in the end, that's what family did. They stuck together, through sickness and health, through fevers and financials, through love and fear. And as she drifted off to sleep, her hand in his, she whispered a prayer of thanks for the strange twist of fate that had brought them all together.
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