It was evening around 7 when Avni woke up on the bed alone. First she got shocked seeing her back in the mansion but then remembered that Neil bought her here. Sighing to herself she got up only to find herself in her husband's shirt. She walked toward inside the washroom to freshen up. After doing her chores , she walked toward the closet to find something decent to wear only to get shocked. It was all still the same that how urgently she left to her mother house after fighting with him. Everything was all the same, taking a deep breath she took out a light weight chiffon saree along with her cotton blouse and was going to close the closet when suddenly some document fell down along with some photos.

Sighing to herself she picked them up and was going to keep it back when her eyes fell on the photograph it was her ultrasound pic seeing it her eyes starts to turn teary then she opened the document it was ultrasound report. Her baby was nearly 4 months old. Her hands started to tremblem but then controlling her emotion she kept it back inside but not before caressing and kissing the pic. It was one of the most valuable and painful memory of hers which she can never forget. And somewhere in her heart she still find Neil the culprit of her child's murder. If he would have trusted her and didn't have send the divorce paper then she wouldn't have been depressed and wouldn't have caused the miscarriage.

She knows that a mother is very close to her child, even she herself loved for her mother dearly but one should know the difference between loving and blindly trusting someone. Loving is a different thing but being taken advantage of the same love is different and he didn't pnly loved his mother instead he blindly trusted her totally ignoring pleas of hid wife, even after knowing deep in his heart that his mother didn't liked her.

Taking deep breath she quickly changed herself and walked out. She needed to talk to him.

The dining hall was wrapped in a peaceful silence, broken only by the soft sizzling sound coming from the kitchen.

Avni descended the stairs slowly, her fingers clutching the railing. Her eyes immediately landed on Neil, who stood in front of the stove wearing a simple black T-shirt with an apron tied around his waist. His sleeves were rolled up as he carefully stirred the vegetables in the pan while another pot simmered quietly beside him.

For a brief second, she simply stood there watching him.

Neil sensed her presence and turned around. The moment he saw her standing there in the light blue chiffon saree, his breath caught.

She looked beautiful...

Not because of the saree.

But because she was standing inside their home again.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"You are awake."

Avni nodded silently and slowly walked toward him.

"I... I wanted to talk to you."

Neil looked at her for a moment before switching off the stove.

"Khana pehle kha lete hain... baatein kahin nahi jaa rahi."

(Let's have dinner first... our conversation can wait.)

Without waiting for her reply, he pulled out a chair for her.

"Sit."

She quietly obeyed.

Within minutes, Neil served dinner on both their plates. There was dal, jeera rice, chapati, paneer curry and fresh salad.

Avni looked at the food in surprise.

"You made all this?"

Neil chuckled softly.

"I had six hours."

For the first time in days, a tiny smile appeared on Avni's lips before disappearing just as quickly.

The two started eating.

Most of the silence was broken by Neil.

"So... how was your sleep?"

"It was okay."

"Headache?"

"No."

"The saree still suits you."

She simply looked down at her plate.

Neil smiled to himself.

"So... I guess my cooking hasn't poisoned you yet."

That made Avni look at him.

"I never said your cooking was bad."

"There..."

Neil pointed at her with a grin.

"You argued with me."

She frowned.

"I wasn't arguing."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

She sighed.

"You are impossible."

Neil smiled victoriously.

"Thank you."

"I wasn't complimenting you."

"I'll still take it."

For the first time, a genuine smile escaped Avni's lips.

Neil's heart felt lighter.

That tiny smile...

It was worth every effort.

...

After dinner, Neil insisted on washing the dishes despite Avni offering to help.

When everything was cleaned, both of them walked into the living room.

Avni took a deep breath.

"I want to leave."

Neil's smile faded instantly.

His hands clenched.

"No."

She looked at him.

"I can't stay here."

"I said no."

"Neil—"

"I cannot lose you again."

His voice cracked.

"I survived once after you left..."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"I won't survive the second time."

Avni lowered her gaze.

"I can't forget everything."

"I know."

"I can't forgive everything."

"I know."

"I still blame you for our baby."

Neil shut his eyes as unbearable pain flashed across his face.

"I blame myself too."

Silence spread between them.

After a long pause, Neil slowly walked closer.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me today."

He knelt before her.

"I'm not even asking you to trust me."

His eyes had become moist.

"I'm only asking for one chance."

Avni shook her head.

"No."

"I'll earn your trust."

"No."

"I'll wait."

"No."

"I'll do anything."

"No."

Her answer never changed.

Minutes turned into nearly an hour.

Neil tried every possible way.

He apologized.

He reasoned.

He promised.

He begged.

But Avni remained firm.

Finally...

Neil whispered,

"Ek mahina..."

(One month...)

She looked at him.

"Bas ek mahina mere saath reh jao."

(Just stay with me for one month.)

"If after one month you still want to leave..."

His voice became heavy.

"Main khud tumhe wahan chhod kar aaunga jahan tum jaana chahogi."

(I will personally take you wherever you wish to go.)

"I won't stop you."

"I won't force you."

"But until then..."

He held out his hand.

"Please."

Avni stared at him for a long time.

Her heart wanted to refuse.

But another part of her wanted to see...

Could people really change?

After several minutes...

She finally nodded.

"...One month."

Neil closed his eyes in relief.

"Thank you."

The next second, without thinking, he gently pulled her into his embrace.

This time...

Avni didn't push him away.

She simply stood there.

Neil rested his forehead against hers.

"I'll make these thirty days enough to erase years of pain."

(Main in tees dinon mein saalon ka dard kam karne ki poori koshish karunga.)

She didn't reply.

But she also didn't step back.

That alone meant everything to him.

---

Days slowly turned into weeks.

Neil kept every promise he had made.

He never forced conversations.

Never questioned her silence.

Every morning he prepared breakfast before she woke up.

Every evening he took her for long drives along quiet roads, never asking where they were going because he knew she simply wanted peace.

Sometimes they watched old movies together.

Sometimes they played board games.

Sometimes they sat on the terrace doing absolutely nothing while watching the stars.

Whenever Avni had nightmares, Neil silently sat beside her until she fell asleep again.

When she forgot to eat because memories overwhelmed her, he patiently fed her.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

The emptiness inside Avni began to lessen.

She still remembered her child every single day.

She still cried.

But now...

She wasn't crying alone.

Neil cried with her.

And perhaps that was the beginning of healing.

By the end of the month, their conversations had become easier.

Sometimes she even smiled without realizing it.

Neil treasured every smile as if it were the most precious gift in the world.

---

The final morning of the month arrived.

Sunlight streamed through the dining room windows as both of them sat across from each other, sharing breakfast.

Neil was teasing her about adding too much sugar to her tea while Avni rolled her eyes in response.

For the first time in months...

Their home felt alive.

Just then—

"Neil!"

A familiar voice echoed through the mansion.

Neil's eyes widened.

He immediately stood up.

Turning around, a huge smile spread across his face.

"Mom!"

He hurried toward the entrance and hugged his mother tightly before embracing his father.

"Dad! You both came without telling me?"

His father laughed warmly.

"We wanted to surprise you."

Meanwhile...

Avni remained frozen in her chair.

The moment she saw Neil's mother...

Her breathing became uneven.

Her vision blurred.

The image of the tiny life she had lost flashed before her eyes.

Unknowingly, tears gathered in her eyes.

Neil's father noticed her sitting silently.

His expression softened with genuine affection.

"Avni, beta..."

(Avni, my child...)

"So... you've finally come back home."

His fatherly warmth made her throat tighten.

She stood up respectfully.

Before she could say anything, Neil's mother walked toward her with an overly affectionate smile.

"My dear daughter-in-law!"

She wrapped her arms around Avni in a hug.

To everyone else...

It looked full of love.

But the moment her lips neared Avni's ear, her expression turned venomous.

"Toh wapas aa gayi tu..."

(So you've come back...)

"Bahut besharam hai tu."

(You have no shame.)

"Bilkul apni maa par gayi hai."

(You're exactly like your mother.)

A cruel smile curled on her lips.

"Par fikar mat kar..."

(But don't worry...)

"Main tujhe phir waise hi nikal phekungi mere bete ki zindagi se..."

(I'll throw you out of my son's life once again...)

"...jaise pehle pheka tha."

(...just like I did before.)

Avni's entire body stiffened.

Her fingers curled into tight fists.

Her nails dug painfully into her palms.

The peace she had slowly gathered over the past month...

Shattered in a single moment.

And standing only a few feet away, smiling happily at his father...

Neil remained completely unaware of the storm that had just entered his home.Neil's mother slowly stepped back from the embrace, her face once again adorned with the mask of a loving mother-in-law.

She gently cupped Avni's face and lovingly caressed her cheek.

"Apna khayal rakhna, beta."

(Take care of yourself, dear.)

Avni merely nodded.

If someone looked at them from afar, they would have thought no mother-in-law could love her daughter-in-law more than this woman.

Only Avni knew...

The poison hidden beneath that sweetness.

Neil's mother smiled warmly before turning toward her husband.

"Chaliye, Praveen ji. Safar se aaye hain, pehle fresh ho jaate hain."

(Come, Praveen. We've just arrived. Let's freshen up first.)

Praveen nodded before smiling at Avni once again.

"We'll have breakfast together properly later, child."

With that, both of them walked upstairs.

The moment they disappeared from sight...

The smile vanished from Avni's face.

She stood rooted to the floor.

Her ears still echoed with those cruel words.

"I'll throw you out of my son's life once again..."

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Her breathing became shallow.

She had promised herself...

Never again.

Never again would she let herself become the reason behind another tragedy.

Not after losing her baby.

Not after surviving that pain.

"Avni?"

Neil's voice broke her thoughts.

She looked up blankly.

He frowned.

She looked as though someone had drained every bit of life from her.

He walked closer.

"What happened?"

She stared at him silently.

"Avni?"

Her lips finally moved.

"Today... one month is over."

Neil smiled softly.

"Yes."

"I want to leave."

The smile disappeared instantly.

His expression froze.

"What?"

"I don't want to stay here anymore."

Neil blinked in disbelief.

Just ten minutes ago...

She had been smiling at breakfast.

Now...

She wanted to leave.

"Avni..."

He took a careful step toward her.

"Did something happen?"

"No."

"Did someone say something?"

"No."

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"I just want to leave."

Her voice remained emotionless.

Like a machine repeating the same sentence.

"I want to leave."

Neil ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Avni, at least tell me what happened."

"I want to leave."

"You were happy this morning."

"I want to leave."

"You smiled."

"I want to leave."

"You promised me you'd talk instead of running away."

"I want to leave."

Every answer...

The same.

Like a broken recorder.

Neil closed his eyes.

For several seconds, he simply stood there.

Then he exhaled heavily.

"...Okay."

Avni finally looked at him.

"I'll let you go."

There wasn't even a hint of anger in his voice.

Only heartbreak.

"But before that..."

He looked straight into her eyes.

"You owe me one answer."

She remained silent.

"If you answer honestly..."

He swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I won't stop you."

After a long pause...

She gave a faint nod.

Neil quietly picked up the car keys.

"Come."

Neither of them spoke during the drive.

The silence inside the car felt suffocating.

Neil's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

His mind kept replaying the morning.

She had laughed.

She had smiled.

She had looked peaceful.

So...

What changed?

Within thirty minutes, the car stopped outside the hotel where Avni had been staying before returning to the mansion.

Neil stepped out first and opened the passenger door for her.

She quietly got down.

They walked together toward the entrance.

Avni picked up her small suitcase from the back seat.

As she turned to leave—

"Avni."

She stopped.

Without looking back.

Neil spoke quietly.

"You can go."

His voice was calm.

"I promised that if after one month you still wanted to leave..."

"...I'd never stop you."

"I'll keep that promise."

There was a brief silence.

"But first..."

He stepped closer.

"Answer my question."

Slowly...

Avni turned around.

Her eyes were already moist.

She gave a slight nod.

Neil searched her face for several long moments before asking the question that had been tearing him apart ever since she asked to leave.

"Tell me honestly..."

His voice almost broke.

"Kya tum mere saath nahi rehna chahti..."

(Do you simply not want to stay with me...)

"...ya iske peeche koi aur wajah hai?"

(...or is there some other reason behind your decision?)

The question hung heavily between them.

Neil waited.

Holding his breath.

Praying that somewhere, somehow...

There was still a reason he could fight against.Neil's question lingered in the air.

"Do you not want to stay with me... or is there another reason?"

For several moments, Avni remained silent.

She lowered her eyes, her fingers tightening around the handle of her suitcase.

Neil didn't rush her.

He simply waited.

Finally...

She spoke.

"If I tell you the reason..."

She looked straight into his eyes.

"...will you believe me?"

Neil frowned.

"At least tell me."

Her lips trembled before she finally asked,

"If I say... your mother doesn't want us to be together..."

"...will you believe me?"

Neil's eyes widened.

"What?"

"If I say your mother hates me..."

"...will you believe me?"

His face reflected pure disbelief.

"Avni..."

He shook his head slowly.

"Why would you think that?"

"My mother has always treated you with love."

"She cares for you."

"She always says you're like her own daughter."

Hearing those words...

Avni laughed.

It wasn't a laugh of happiness.

It was a laugh filled with helplessness.

A laugh that came after crying for far too long.

Neil's heart tightened hearing it.

Slowly...

The laughter faded.

Her face became expressionless.

"You know the problem, Neil?"

She looked at him with tired eyes.

"You've only seen one side of your mother."

"The side..."

"...that she wants you to see."

Neil stood speechless.

Avni continued,

"She hates me."

Her voice cracked.

"She hates me like no one else."

She took a shaky breath.

"Do you know what she whispered to me today?"

Neil unconsciously clenched his fists.

"She called me shameless."

Then, almost word for word, she repeated the poisonous whisper.

"Usne kaha..."

('She said...')

"Toh wapas aa gayi tu... bahut besharam hai tu..."

("So you've come back... You have no shame.")

"Main tujhe tumhari zindagi se waise hi nikal phekungi jaise chhe mahine pehle nikala tha."

("I'll throw you out of my son's life once again, just like I did six months ago.")

Silence engulfed them.

Neil's mind refused to process what he had just heard.

His mother...

The woman who had always appeared kind, gentle and caring...

Could she really say something so cruel?

He wanted to deny it.

He wanted to tell Avni she was mistaken.

But...

He remembered the tears in her eyes.

The trembling of her hands.

The fear on her face.

Could someone fake that much pain?

Before he could say anything—

Avni smiled sadly.

"I knew it."

Neil looked up.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me."

"There is no point talking anymore."

She picked up her suitcase.

"Goodbye, Neil."

Without waiting for another word...

She walked away.

Neil remained standing there.

Motionless.

Watching her disappear.

For the first time in his life...

Doubt entered his heart.

He trusted his mother.

But...

He trusted Avni's tears too.

And the two truths could not exist together.

If one was innocent...

The other had to be lying.

Closing his eyes, Neil made a decision.

"I won't choose blindly this time."

"I'll find the truth myself."

He hurried after her.

"Avni!"

She stopped.

He stood before her, breathing heavily.

"Come back with me."

She frowned.

"I won't force you forever."

"Just ten more days."

She stared at him.

"I won't ask you to trust my mother."

"I won't even ask you to stay with her."

"But let me find the truth."

He looked into her eyes with complete sincerity.

"If my mother is innocent..."

"I'll know."

"But if she's guilty..."

His voice hardened.

"I'll leave that house myself."

Avni searched his face.

For the first time...

She saw no blind trust.

Only determination.

After a long silence...

She gave a small nod.

"...Ten days."

Neil silently thanked God.

---

The next ten days changed everything.

Neil stopped believing appearances.

Instead...

He started observing.

Every morning he deliberately announced,

"I'm leaving for the office."

Then...

Instead of actually leaving, he entered through the back entrance and quietly watched from places where no one could see him.

Sometimes he remained hidden in his study.

Sometimes behind the staircase.

Sometimes on the terrace.

Still...

His mother behaved like the perfect woman whenever anyone else was around.

Neil almost began doubting himself.

Until one evening...

He secretly installed CCTV cameras in the living room, kitchen, hallway and garden without informing anyone except the security technician, instructing him to keep everything confidential.

Now...

He no longer needed assumptions.

He needed evidence.

Days passed.

And slowly...

The masks started falling.

The woman who lovingly served Avni breakfast in front of everyone...

Was the same woman who later threw away her untouched food and mocked her.

The woman who affectionately called her "daughter" in Neil's presence...

Would taunt her the moment he stepped outside.

"Kab tak mere bete par bojh banke rahegi?"

(How long will you remain a burden on my son?)

"Tumhari wajah se uski zindagi barbaad ho gayi."

(His life has been ruined because of you.)

Neil watched every recording.

Again...

And again...

And again.

His hands trembled.

His heart shattered.

Every video destroyed another piece of the image he had built of his mother since childhood.

He wanted to believe there was an explanation.

But cameras...

Never lied.

One afternoon, Neil left for work as usual.

At least...

That was what everyone believed.

Inside the mansion, only Avni and Neil's mother remained in the living room.

Standing outside the house after quietly entering through the back gate, Neil watched the live CCTV footage on his phone.

His heartbeat grew louder.

Somewhere deep inside...

He knew.

Today...

He was about to witness something that would change his life forever.Neil stood silently in the hidden security room, his eyes fixed on the CCTV monitor streaming the living room.

His palms had become damp.

His heart prayed that everything Avni had said would somehow prove false.

He wanted to be wrong.

He wanted to believe that his mother was still the woman who had raised him with love.

Outside, in the living room, Avni was arranging fresh flowers in a vase.

A few moments later, Neil's mother entered.

The sweet smile she always wore in front of others disappeared instantly.

"So..."

She folded her arms.

"Still here?"

Avni remained silent.

Neil's mother walked closer.

"I thought you would have understood by now."

"There is no place for you in my son's life."

Avni continued arranging the flowers without answering.

That silence irritated her even more.

"What happened?"

"Have you become deaf?"

Finally, Avni looked at her.

"I don't want any arguments, Mother."

Neil's mother laughed mockingly.

"Mother?"

"Don't call me that."

"I was never your mother."

"You trapped my son."

"You took away his happiness."

"And even after losing your child..."

She leaned close to Avni's face.

"...you still have the courage to stay here."

Avni's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Please..."

"Don't bring my baby into this."

Neil's mother smirked.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"If you hadn't entered this house..."

"My grandson would never have died."

Those words pierced Avni's heart.

"You know what?"

Neil's mother continued mercilessly.

"I was the one who sent those divorce papers to your mother's house before Neil even knew."

"I was the one who kept telling him that you were lying."

"I made sure he doubted you."

"And when you left..."

"I was happier than ever."

She laughed.

"I thought you would never return."

Avni stared at her in complete disbelief.

"So..."

"It was you?"

Neil's mother proudly nodded.

"Everything."

"I separated both of you."

"I made my son choose me."

"And if I have to..."

"I'll do it again."

She grabbed Avni's wrist tightly.

"This house belongs to my son."

"Not to you."

"Get out before I throw you out myself."

Suddenly—

A loud clap echoed through the mansion.

Both women turned.

Neil stood at the entrance.

His face was pale.

His eyes were filled with tears.

But they were no longer tears of confusion.

They were tears of betrayal.

Neil's mother froze.

"N-Neil..."

He slowly walked toward her.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

"You..."

His voice trembled.

"It was really you."

She immediately tried to compose herself.

"No, beta..."

"You're misunderstanding—"

"Enough!"

Neil shouted so loudly that the entire mansion fell silent.

For the first time in his life...

He had raised his voice at his mother.

"I heard everything."

His voice cracked.

"I saw everything."

He held up his phone.

"The cameras saw everything."

His mother's face turned white.

Neil looked at Avni.

Tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry."

"I failed you."

"I wasn't your husband when you needed me."

"I wasn't your strength."

"I became your biggest pain."

He slowly fell to his knees before her.

"I'm guilty."

"I trusted without questioning."

"I judged without listening."

"I accused without proof."

"And because of me..."

His voice broke completely.

"We lost our child."

"I don't know if I'll ever deserve your forgiveness."

"But I'll spend the rest of my life trying."

Avni's own tears flowed freely.

For years...

She had wanted these words.

Not because they could erase the past...

But because someone had finally acknowledged her pain.

Neil then turned toward his mother.

His eyes no longer held anger.

Only disappointment.

"I respected you."

"I loved you."

"You were my world."

"But today..."

"You broke me."

His mother burst into tears.

"Neil... I only wanted what was best for you."

"No."

Neil shook his head.

"You wanted control."

"You didn't lose your son because of Avni."

"You lost him because of your own choices."

His father, Praveen, who had witnessed everything from the staircase after hearing the shouting, stood frozen.

The truth had shattered him too.

He looked at his wife with disbelief.

"So all these years..."

"It was you?"

She lowered her head in shame.

Praveen closed his eyes.

"I failed as a husband..."

"...because I never saw what kind of person you had become."

He walked toward Avni.

With folded hands, he spoke,

"I cannot undo what happened."

"No apology can bring back your child."

"But as a father..."

"I ask for forgiveness for the pain you suffered in this house."

Avni immediately unfolded his hands.

"Please don't do this."

"You've never treated me badly."

Praveen smiled sadly.

"Yet I failed to protect you."

Silence settled over the mansion.

After several minutes, Neil spoke.

"Mom..."

"You will always remain my mother."

"I will continue to fulfill my responsibilities toward you."

"But from today..."

"Our lives will be separate."

"You are no longer welcome to interfere in my marriage."

His mother collapsed onto the sofa, finally realizing what her obsession had cost her.

She had succeeded in separating them once.

In the end...

She had only separated herself from her son.

---

Months passed.

Healing wasn't easy.

Some wounds never disappeared.

Neil and Avni began attending grief counseling together.

Instead of pretending the past had never happened...

They learned to live with it.

Some nights they still cried for the little life they had lost.

On those nights, neither tried to silence the other.

They simply held each other until dawn.

One evening, Neil took Avni to a quiet hill overlooking the city.

The sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and gold.

He handed her a small wooden box.

Inside was the ultrasound picture of their baby, carefully preserved inside a glass frame.

At the bottom were engraved the words:

"Forever our first heartbeat."

Avni's tears slipped down her cheeks.

Neil held her hand.

"We couldn't become parents to that little soul."

"But we'll always remain that child's mother and father."

She rested her head on his shoulder.

For the first time...

The memory no longer carried only pain.

It also carried love.

---

One year later...

The mansion was no longer filled with silence.

It echoed with laughter once again.

Not because the past had been forgotten...

But because forgiveness had finally found its place.

Standing before the small memorial they had created in their garden, Neil intertwined his fingers with Avni's.

He looked toward the sky and whispered,

"I couldn't protect you then..."

"But I promise..."

"I'll protect the family we have now."

Avni smiled through her tears.

"Our baby may not be with us..."

"But because of that little soul..."

"We found our way back to each other."

Neil kissed her forehead.

"Some people think love is never making mistakes."

He smiled softly.

"I think love is having the courage to admit those mistakes... and spending every day trying to become better."

Avni looked into his eyes.

This time...

She saw no doubt.

No blind trust.

No fear.

Only the man who had finally learned that love without trust is fragile, and trust without truth is blind.

She smiled.

"I forgive you."

Neil closed his eyes as tears of relief escaped them.

Not because the pain was gone.

But because hope had finally returned.

Above them, the evening breeze gently rustled through the trees, as if blessing two broken hearts that had finally found peace.

The End.