A Slice of Love, A Slice of Guilt

After feeding cake to Aditya, Shivani turned to Jai with a soft smile and offered him a piece. Then, with equal warmth, she shared cake with Aman and Shanti. Just as the moment seemed to settle, a second, much larger cake—about two and a half feet tall—was brought out for the celebration.

Aman gently took Aditya from Jai's arms. The little one was still busy munching on his share, completely immersed in his sugary delight. With Aditya now in Aman's care, Jai had the chance to stand beside Shivani. He stepped close, almost brushing shoulders with her as she prepared to cut the second cake.

Shivani sliced the cake gracefully, and as she turned to feed Jai the very first bite, something unexpected happened. From Aman's arms, Aditya suddenly lunged forward and snatched the piece from Shivani's hand, gobbling it up with a giggle.

Startled but smiling, Shivani quickly cut another slice and offered it to Jai. This time, Jai was visibly annoyed. He accepted the cake while glaring sideways at Aditya with narrowed eyes. In his irritation and distraction, Jai bit into the cake—and accidentally bit Shivani's finger too.

A soft yelp escaped Shivani's lips, low enough that only Jai could hear it. Alarmed, he quickly took her finger into his mouth to soothe the sting and stop the bleeding. Once the blood ceased, he looked up and murmured sincerely, "I'm sorry, Shivani."

But Shivani, brushing off the pain, gently said, "No… I should be the one to apologize. Aditya—"

"No," Jai interrupted softly, placing a finger on her lips. "Don't say anything. It was my fault. I was distracted. I should have been careful."

Before Shivani could respond, Jai pulled her into a heartfelt embrace, planting a tender kiss on her head. He rested his chin gently on her crown, holding her close. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Aman giving Aditya a playful wink and a thumbs-up.

That's when it clicked.

It was all Aman's mischief.

He was using Aditya to deliberately tease him. Jai remained silent, watching the scene play out. I see what you're doing, Aman. Ever since Shivani tied you that Rakhi, you've taken your brother-in-law role a little too seriously. Don't worry, one day my time will come… and then I'll show you what it means to mess with a brother-in-law.

A devilish smile tugged at the corners of Jai's lips.

Meanwhile, the guests were busy enjoying food and drinks when music began to play in the background. Slowly, the crowd turned toward the dance floor, drawn in by the nostalgic melodies from old Shammi Kapoor films — Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe, O Haseen Zulfon Wali, Mere Sona Re, Yeh Chaand Sa Roshan Chehra — all filled the air with charm and vintage romance.

Keeping Shivani's pregnancy in mind, Jai asked the DJ to lower the volume slightly. Married couples began to pair up, dancing softly to the retro tunes. Watching them, Jai and Shivani too joined in the dance.

Shivani's one hand rested on Jai's shoulder while the other gently circled his waist. Jai, holding her protectively, placed one hand around her waist and the other at the small of her back. Their eyes met—no words were spoken—just an unspoken connection that danced along with them in perfect rhythm.

On the side, Aman, Aditya, and Shanti shared a light-hearted, giggly dance together, filling the room with warmth and laughter.

And just like that, the party came to a beautiful end.

After the guests had left, Jai had all the gifts sent to the bungalow. But he had saved something very special for Shivani. With a quiet smile, he handed her the birthday gift.

When Shivani unwrapped it and saw what lay inside, tears welled up in her eyes once more—but this time, from overwhelming joy. Jai had transferred all of Abhay ji's property in her and Aditya's name. But that wasn't all.

Jai had founded a trust named Abhaydaan, which provided free meals, clean drinking water, shelter for the homeless, and full educational support for orphans and abandoned children. He had also built a charitable hospital called Asha Jyoti, where quality healthcare was offered at the lowest prices, and completely free for those who couldn't afford it.

And the most precious part of all—Jai had made Shivani the trustee and owner of both Abhaydaan and Asha Jyoti.

Shivani, overwhelmed with gratitude, threw her arms around Jai, hugging him tightly. Jai felt a deep sense of satisfaction bloom in his chest, a rare moment where he felt peace.

Back at the bungalow, everything seemed to settle.

Shanti had fully recovered from her illness. After Sanjana's death, Arushi had vanished without a trace. Jai and Aman had tried everything to find her, but she had seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth.

With Jai and Aman both busy at work, they constantly worried about Shivani's care during her pregnancy. But now that Shanti had taken over that responsibility with love and attentiveness, both men finally breathed easy.

Since her birthday, Shivani had started smiling again. The glow on her face returned. Her laughter filled the rooms again—and with her joy, Jai too began to find solace. Slowly, the weight on his chest had started to lift.

But even amidst all the happiness, one guilt lingered like a shadow in his heart: That one night… the mistake… the force… I ruined her life. And no matter how much I try to make up for it, that guilt never lets go. It clings to me like a black shadow, reminding me every day.

Shivani had now completed four months of her pregnancy. Jai had become even more attentive, taking extra care of her every need. Meanwhile, something sweet was blossoming between Aman and Shanti. Their friendship was deepening, slowly giving way to something more.

Both Jai and Shivani had sensed it.

So, they decided to talk to Aman and Shanti separately. Jai called Aman into the study.

Aman entered, casually asking, "You called me?"

Jai gestured toward the chair. "Yeah. Sit. I need to talk to you—something important."

Aman raised an eyebrow but sat down, nodding. "Alright. What's up?"

Jai, always straightforward, didn't beat around the bush. "Aman… what do you think about Shanti?"

Aman blinked in confusion. "Shanti? You mean… peace? Who doesn't like peace, yaar? Everyone wants peace in life!"

Jai frowned, slightly irritated. "I'm not talking about that kind of Shanti!"

Realizing his joke hadn't landed, Aman chuckled. "Bro, you're becoming a father, not a mother. Why are you having mood swings and snapping at me?"

That pushed Jai over the edge, and his temper flared...

(To be continued...)