RANISA-HIS FIRST WIFE

31.Light

Third person pov :)

Abhirath stepped into Dev's chamber, his voice soft but weighed down by emotion. "Please... be with Vedanti. She needs someone she can talk to, and you're that person, Dev." He turned, walking towards the door, but they stopped him.

"I'm sorry, brother," Dev said, the word "brother" sounding foreign but meaningful. For the first time, Abhirath heard that word from Dev, and he turned back with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. It was as if, in that moment, he found a thread to hold onto.

They made him sit on the couch, and Dev, with a heavy heart, began, "I apologize for treating you poorly. I never truly understood the depth of your pain. Maybe it was my own hatred or the negativity I carried that poisoned things between you and Vedanti."

Abhirath raised his hand to stop Dev mid-sentence. His voice broke as he spoke, "Whatever has happened, it's my karma. I've hurt her so much, and she never said a word, only forgave me over and over. But those wounds I caused... they never truly left her. This incident, it brought everything back. And now... I can't even call myself a king, not one worthy. I allowed myself to be manipulated. How could I trust Trupti? How could I marry her? Worse, how could I fail to protect my own child?" His voice faltered, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Dev placed a reassuring hand on Abhirath's shoulders, his grip firm but gentle. "You are an incredible king, Abhirath. For days, you've managed the affairs of three kingdoms on your own. Can't you see the strength you hold? But in matters of the heart... yes, you made mistakes. But remember, in a relationship, both partners need to contribute equally. Until now, Vedanti has been doing that. Now, it's your turn."

Dev's voice softened, "You must show her how truly sorry you are. Let her see your guilt, your anger at yourself. Show her that you're ready to fight for her trust again, to rebuild what's been broken. Everything between you two can be mended... it's not like what happened between me and Trupti. You still have a chance, brother. Don't lose it."

Dev tiptoed into Vedanti's chamber, where she sat on the bed, playing with the twins. The babies cooed and giggled, completely engrossed in their own little world. Ever the playful one, Dev decided to make a grand entrance. He leaped in the air, flailing his arms dramatically, but instead of landing gracefully, he bumped into the hanging lamp, sending it swinging slightly.

That was enough to catch the babies' attention. Their wide eyes followed the wobbling lamp, then turned to Dev, who grinned like a fool. "Ah-ha! Gotcha!" He crouched down beside them, planting a kiss on each of their tiny noses. The babies blinked, their little giggles now aimed at their goofy uncle.

"Alright, little munchkins, you're gonna call me 'Mama!'" (Maternal uncle) Dev announced proudly, as if he had just declared a royal decree.

Vedanti rolled her eyes, giving her baby brother a playful shove. "Dev, they're only a week old! How on earth are they going to talk already?"

"I know, didi, but when they do speak, I want their first word to be 'Mama,'" Dev said, completely serious, as if this were the most important matter in the world.

Vedanti laughed, shaking her head. "You're such an idiot. 'Mama' has *Ma* and *Ma* in it, right? So when they say it, they'll technically be calling for their *Maa*, which is me, not you!"

Dev's eyes widened in mock horror. "What?! No! That's cheating! I want the first 'Ma' to be for *me*! Come on, little dudes, don't let me down!" He leaned in, his face close to theirs, as if expecting them to speak right that second.