Sorry guys for the late update.

I'm busy quite busy with my cousin engagement preparations.

I hope you guys enjoy the update.

And the chapter is not an edited one, so please bear the grammatical mistakes.

Author's POV:

Avi is sitting on the swing in the garden, lost in his thoughts. He looked up at the sky. The morning sunbeams are peeking through the clouds, casting a rosy hue across the morning sky. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The cool breeze hit his face, and he could hear the faint chirping of birds. But nothing helped him to calm the storm inside his heart. He came out of his thoughts due to the continuous ringing of his mobile.

He answered the call and said, "Hello, Arjun. Tell me."

"I'm on my way to pick you guys up," said Arjun.

Avi just hummed and cut the call and made his way to their room.

He went inside and saw Maya sleeping, clutching his pillow tightly in her arms. He went to the washroom and came out after having his shower. He put on his clothes and came and sat on the bed beside her. He caressed her hair slowly and, as if sensing his touch, a small smile appeared on her face.

"I promise you, bunny, I'll make sure that Rajesh and Chytra face hell. How dare they hurt my bunny? And I'll make sure everything falls into its place." He said, kissing her forehead and woke her up.

She lazily woke up, sat on the bed, and wished him good morning. He nodded his head and left for the kitchen. Maya looked at him with sadness, but quickly composed herself and left to use the restroom.

She came down and saw Avi making coffee and upma in the kitchen. She went and hugged him from the back. He took her hand in his hand and kissed it. She closed her eyes and stood there, absorbing his presence. After a while, both of them sat at the dining table eating their breakfast. He was feeding her and also having his in between while she was looking at him with all the love. Her eyes pooled with tears. She blinked her eyes to control her tears. She was about to get up from the chair, but he glared at her, making her sit back silently. Both of them had their breakfast silently. No words were spoken between them, but both of them could understand what the other must be going through.

*******************

Maya stood at the door and looked at her parents talking to Vani and Gayatri. She felt weak all of a sudden. Yes, she might have challenged them and acted all strong. But now, looking at them, she felt weak. What if they do something to separate her from her Avi? She wouldn't be able to live without him. She won't lie; she would die without him in her life. She was lost in her thoughts when she felt someone rubbing her tears off. She looked up and saw Avi rubbing her tears. She didn't even realise when the tears left her eyes. She saw Avi blinking his eyes, giving her an assurance that no-one could separate her from him. She hugged him tightly while he picked her up in his arms and made his way to their room from the garden. He looked at Arjun and told him to manage, to which he assured him.

Avi put her on the bed and was about to leave, but her grip on him became tighter. He sighed, removed his shoes, and lay beside her. He drew her into his arms and kissed her on the lips. She looked into his eyes and got lost in those dark brown eyes of his. She kissed his eyes, nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. Finally, she placed her soft lips on his. He closed his eyes, feeling her lips on his. The kiss was slow but passionate. She kissed him, pouring all her love for him. Soon, they broke the kiss and joined their foreheads. She hugged him tightly and broke down in his arms.

He let her out with all of her pain. He whispered sweet nothings in her ears, and after some time, he felt her weight on his. He patted her slowly and kissed her forehead. He was about to get up, but she hugged him tightly as if he would disappear. He sighed and messaged Arjun that they would come down for lunch. He also slept hugging her.

*******************

Maya woke up, looked beside and saw Avi sleeping peacefully. She looked at the time in her mobile and saw it was 11:30 am. She got up from the bed and went to freshen up. She went to the washroom to freshen-up. She went to the closet and changed into a saree.

She went outside and saw Avi standing on the balcony and talking to someone. She set the bed and sat on the bed waiting for him. Soon both of them went downstairs. Maya went to the kitchen while Avi went and sat in the living room. His father-in-law greeted upon seeing him while he gave him a small smile. He sat there, but his mind was somewhere else. He excused himself and went to the garden. He called Anitha who picked-up immediately.

Hello, Kittu! Is everything okay? Maya is fine, right.

A lone tear escaped his eyes. Only if her parents had showered their love on her today, she wouldn't have been this devastated.

Avi: Everything is fine, aunty. I just wanted to ask you, Arjun told me that Maya had dyspnea. It's not a serious one.

Anitha: She has a mild dyspnea, Avi. Dyspnea means shortness of breath. And she is getting when she cried for a long time or when she had a panic attack. We had done all the tests. It's caused due to anxiety conditions. We have prescribed her medications. She should be away from stress and some breathing exercises would help.

Avi listened to each and every word clearly.

Avi: Thank you so much, aunty.

Chal, now you will say thanks to me.

Okay, bye, aunty. I'll see you tomorrow. And please come early not late as you do every time.

Okay, baba. Bye.

**************

With that, he moved inside and directly went to the kitchen. He saw her feeding to Varsha and Vansh. She was making funny faces at them and making them eat sambar rice. He went and stood beside the breakfast bar countertop where Vansh and Varsha sat and opened his mouth, gesturing her to feed him too. Arpita and Sravya laughed looking at him and gave Maya a teasing glance. Maya fed him too while feeding the twins.

Avi: It was bland. He said pouting.

Maya: Do you expect them to eat spicy? He throws up if he eats any spicy food, and she runs away.

Whatever, feed me too.

Maya hit her forehead mentally and continued feeding three of them. If anyone who doesn't know them sees this, they will think them as a perfect family.

They look like a perfect family, vadina. She whispered in Arpita's ears. To which Arpita nodded her head with a smile.

After the feeding them, she cleaned their mouths and gave them water. While Avi was checking all the dishes they prepared making the others hit their forehead.

Even my kids won't do that, Avi. She said looking at him who was busy in scrutinizing the dishes they had prepared.

Whatever. There is no favourite dish of mine. He said pouting like a kid.

And still you will eat everything like a kumbakaran.

Rest of them chuckled listening to her. Avi went out of the kitchen stomping his feet taking the twins with him.

Arpita and Sravya folded their hands and asked Maya with a mischievous glint in their eyes and asked her,

Sravya: So, Mayu, what are you preparing for my Anna?

Arpita: You see my maridi (brother-in-law) went out stomping his feet like a kid. So, what are you going to prepare to impress him?

What you guys have prepared?

Pulihora(tamarind-rice), Bhendi fry, Mush-room and kaju curry, Tomato chutney, Sambar and rice.

He eats everything, and also pulihora is his favourite only then why he said that there is no favourite food his.

Dumbo, he wants you to cook something for him. That's why he did all this drama, she said hitting her forehead.

While Maya nodded her head and pouted at them. They decided to make sweet pongal and gulab jamun. Maya was preparing sweet pongal while Sravya was kneeding the dough for jamuns while Arpita preparing the syrup. Avi peeped into the kitchen while they were cooking and left from there. Soon they completed cooking and started arranging the dishes on the dining table.

All the elders and the boys settled on the dining table. While Sravya, Maya, Arpita and Siri are serving them.

Siri, you go and sit. We will serve.

But akka.

You sit and eat Siri. If we need any help, Laxmi aunty (maid) is there, right.

Maya was about to serve their parents but stopped her and asked Arpita to serve. Avi's got angry seeing this.

Why did you stop her, attayya? He asked controlling his anger.

Rishi: Because we don't want to eat food served by her.

Avi: Oh! Okay, but why is that?

Maya went near him and placed his hand on his shoulder trying to calm him down.

You, wait Maya. What's wrong if you serve them?

Maya: Avi, please, calm down. Everyone is eating. They won't eat after hearing them. Please, at least think about our grandparents. She whispered in his ears.

He nodded his head in understanding and all of them continued eating. But everyone know, they are going to have a tough day ahead. They understood that Maya had told him everything by seeing his behaviour around Rishi and Sakshi.

To be continued....

Precap: A huge argument between Avi and Maya's parents.

Keep smiling and take care.