You Do not Have a Choice

The moonlight filtered softly through the bedroom curtains, casting a serene glow over the room.

Saanvi lay on the bed, her hand resting lightly on her six-months-pregnant belly. Aditya sat beside her, his eyes fixed on her with quiet admiration.

"It's strange," Saanvi murmured, her voice tinged with awe. "I've felt tiny flutters before, but tonight…" She paused, her hand pressing down slightly.

"Aditya, I think the baby is moving again. I felt a real kick!"

Aditya's face lit up with excitement, and he moved closer. "Really? Let me feel." He placed his palm gently over her stomach, his fingers spreading as though he wanted to connect with every movement.

They waited in silence, the room filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, there it was—a tiny but unmistakable push against Aditya's hand. His eyes widened, and he laughed softly, the sound warm and joyful.

"That's incredible," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Our baby is already making their presence known."

Saanvi smiled, but her expression quickly turned pensive. Aditya noticed the change and leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "What's wrong?" he asked gently.

"It's just…" Saanvi hesitated, her gaze dropping to her belly. "Feeling the baby move makes it all so real. I'm excited, but I'm scared too. What if I can't handle labor? What if something goes wrong? What if I'm not ready to be a mother?" Her voice cracked on the last word, and she blinked back tears.

Aditya reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Saanvi," he said softly, his tone steady and reassuring. "You're not alone in this. We're a team, remember? You've already been so strong, and I know you'll be an amazing mother. And when the time comes, I'll be right there with you, every step of the way."

Saanvi looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "You always know how to calm me down," she whispered.

"That's because I love you," Aditya replied with a smile. "And because I know how much you love this baby. We're going to do this together, Saanvi. All three of us."

A quiet moment passed as they both absorbed the weight of his words. Then, another kick startled them both, and Saanvi laughed despite her earlier anxiety.

"Looks like someone agrees with you," she said, her smile returning.

Aditya leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her belly. "Hey, little one," he murmured. "We're already so proud of you. Be nice to your mom, okay?"

Saanvi's heart swelled with emotion as she watched him, his tenderness easing her worries. She placed her hand over his, feeling the warmth of their shared moment.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," she said softly.

"You'll never have to find out," Aditya promised, looking into her eyes.

As the night deepened, they lay side by side, their hands still joined over the life they had created together. In that moment, the world outside didn't matter—only the love that surrounded them and the tiny miracle growing within Saanvi.

The golden hues of dawn crept through the windows of the Verma mansion. Shourya, impeccably dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, stood before the mirror, adjusting his tie.

The intensity in his eyes mirrored the weight of the day ahead. His focus was on the crucial meeting that could potentially redefine the trajectory of Verma Industries.

Vedha, approached him hesitantly. "Shourya," she began softly, "Can you drop me at Pooja's place on your way to the office?"

Shourya turned, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure you want to go? You didn't seem very excited about this yesterday."

Vedha smiled, though there was a flicker of nervousness in her eyes. "She sounded a little down last night. I just want to check on her."

After a pause, Shourya nodded. "Alright, but call me if anything feels off," he said, his protective nature surfacing.

As they drove through the bustling city streets, Shourya's mind wandered to his meeting, but a small part of him couldn't shake the unease he felt about Vedha's visit to Pooja's place.

When they arrived at Pooja's apartment, Vedha leaned over, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't worry about me," she reassured him. "You've got a big day. I'll see you later."

Shourya watched her enter the building before driving away, his instincts still prickling with unease.

Vedha stepped into Pooja's modest living room, which was eerily quiet.

Pooja stood by the window, her shoulders hunched and her usually vibrant expression replaced by a somber one.

"Pooja, what's with the long face?" Vedha teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Did someone finally manage to outwit the great Pooja Sharma?"

Pooja turned slowly, her eyes filled with a strange mix of guilt and sorrow. "Vedha, I... I wanted to tell you something."

Vedha tilted her head, sensing the tension in her friend's voice. "What's wrong? You're scaring me now."

Before Pooja could answer, she abruptly walked to the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she said, her tone hollow. Then, to Vedha's shock, Pooja stepped outside and closed the door—locking it from the outside.

"Pooja!" Vedha called out, rushing to the door and rattling the handle. "What are you doing? Open the door!"

The sound of footsteps behind her made her freeze. Slowly, she turned around, and her heart dropped.

Dhanush was there, leaning casually against the wall, a smug, predatory grin spreading across his face.

"Hello Vedha " he drawled, his tone dripping with malice.

Vedha's breath hitched as fear clawed at her chest. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

He didn't answer. Instead, his gaze locked onto hers with an unsettling intensity.

Vedha stood up, her body instinctively retreating from him. "I don't want to be part of whatever this is," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, though her pulse was racing.

Dhanush ignored her words. "You don't have a choice," he said, his voice smooth, almost mocking.

Vedha instinctively stepped back, her body tense with fear. Her hands found the door handle, but it was locked—there was no way out.

"Let me go," she pleaded, her voice shaking now. "Pooja will be back. You'll get in trouble."

But Dhanush didn't seem to care. "Trouble? Who's going to stop me?" He moved closer still, his presence suffocating.