The room was softly glowing, lit with candles placed at every corner, casting a warm, romantic hue. Aman stepped into the room, a gentle smile playing on his lips as his eyes fell upon Shanti, who sat in the center of the bed with a large veil covering her head and face. The air was filled with the scent of roses and wax, and the silence between them was broken only by the sound of his slow, approaching footsteps.
Shanti's heartbeat quickened the moment she heard him. She clutched the bedsheet nervously, her fingers trembling. Aman slowly walked toward her and sat beside her on the bed, his presence soothing yet exciting.
Happiness radiated from both of them. It was written across their faces, in their eyes, in the air between them.
Aman gently lifted her veil.
Shanti lowered her eyes, blushing furiously as her cheeks flushed a deep red. Seeing her so shy, Aman leaned in and whispered softly, "Shanti, why are you blushing so much?"
Moving a little closer, his voice deepened with affection. "Shanti… do you like children?"
Shanti looked up, surprised. "What do you mean?"
Aman pressed further, his tone hopeful. "Tell me, do you like kids?"
She nodded, smiling shyly. "Yes… I do. But why are you suddenly asking this?"
Aman's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? You like children? Then… can we start thinking about having a baby?"
Shanti's cheeks turned crimson. She hesitated, then nodded again.
Aman smiled deeply and moved closer, removing her veil completely and gently taking off her jewelry one by one. He kissed her forehead, then slowly leaned toward her lips.
But just before he could kiss her—
Click!
The bathroom door creaked open.
Both turned abruptly. Aman froze in disbelief. A small figure emerged, adjusting his pants.
It was Aditya.
Aman's face turned pale. He immediately backed away from Shanti. She scrambled to cover herself with the veil lying on the bed, embarrassment flashing across her face.
Aditya walked toward them, completely unaware of the tension in the room.
"Aman bhaiya! What are you doing in Shanti didi's room?" he asked innocently.
Aman blinked, confused. "Shanti didi's room? What? This is my room!"
Aditya climbed onto the bed, shrugging. "No, bhaiya. Dimaa said this room is now Shanti didi's room. So you should go to your room. I'll sleep here with didi."
Aman was baffled. "What? Why would you sleep with Shanti? And when did you even get here?"
Aditya replied casually, "Because she tells me the best bedtime stories. I came here with Dimaa earlier. I had to go to the toilet so I went there." Then without warning, he rested his head in Shanti's lap.
Aman grew irritated. "You can't sleep here. Go to your Jipa's room."
Aditya looked up, startled and scared.
Shanti immediately caressed Aditya's head, and looked at Aman with pleading eyes. "He's just a child, Aman. Let him sleep here tonight. Do you really want to wake up Jai bhaiya this late?"
Her soft voice melted his frustration. He exhaled and nodded.
Eventually, Aman and Shanti lay on either side of the bed while Aditya snuggled between them.
---
Meanwhile, in Jai's room, Shivani was searching frantically for Aditya. She looked everywhere—in the closet, under the bed, behind the curtains—but he was nowhere to be found.
Just then, Jai came out of the washroom.
Seeing Shivani so tense, he rushed to her, made her sit on the bed, and offered her a glass of water.
Once she had calmed down, she asked, "Jai, where is Aditya? He's missing!"
Jai smiled gently and replied, "I know where he is. Don't worry. I'll bring him back." Without waiting, he walked out of the room.
Jai knocked on Aman's room door.
Inside, Aman was already irritated and unable to sleep. The knock made him even more restless. He opened the door with a frown, only to see Jai standing there.
"You? What are you doing here?"
"I came to pick up Aditya," Jai said calmly.
Aman narrowed his eyes. "How do you know he's here?"
Jai smirked. "Because I sent him here."
"What?!" Aman was shocked.
"Close your mouth before a fly flies in," Jai said, amused.
Aman quickly shut his mouth.
He carefully picked up the sleeping Aditya and handed him to Jai. Jai took him in his arms and gave Aman a teasing grin.
"Next time, don't mess with me. Got it?"
"I didn't mess with you!" Aman protested.
Jai chuckled. "Eat some almonds, brother. It might help." And with that, he walked away with Aditya.
Aman closed the door, muttering to himself. Then he looked over at Shanti, now fast asleep, and smiled. He lay down beside her, wrapping an arm around her as the candles slowly flickered out.
---
Days passed. Soon, it would be one month since Aman and Shanti's wedding.
But something bothered Shanti.
Aman had taken her to the hospital four times in the past month. She was tired of the frequent visits. Each time, he told the family they were going out for a drive, but in truth—they were going for check-ups.
Neither Jai nor Shivani knew anything about it.
One day, as Aman waited to take her again, Shanti quietly walked into Shivani's room.
"Bhabhi? You're here?" Shivani said with surprise. "Bhaiya's been looking for you. Aren't you going with him?"
"No," Shanti replied softly. "I don't want to go."
"Why not?" Shivani asked.
"Because we're not going out. He's taking me to the hospital again. He wants to check if I'm pregnant."
Shivani's eyes widened. "What?!"
Shanti sighed. "Yes."
"But what's the problem, bhabhi? If you don't get tested, how will you know if you're pregnant or not?"
"That's the problem, Shivani." Shanti looked down.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not pregnant."
Shivani was stunned. "How do you know that? Did you take a test?"
"No."
"Then how can you be sure?"
Shanti raised her voice slightly, frustrated. "Because nothing has happened between us yet. So how can there be a baby?"
Shivani was speechless.
She stared at Shanti, not knowing what to say.
But what they didn't know was that Jai had overheard everything.
Quietly, he stepped away and took out his phone.
He dialed Aman's number and said, "Meet me in the study room. Now."