PATHS OF HEART

24 (the most awaited- She finally forgives him)

Anuj stood outside their bedroom door, his heart beating heavily in his chest, a rhythm that mirrored the storm inside him. He had been wandering through the house for what felt like hours, debating whether he should talk to Anupama. They hadn't had a real conversation in weeks, and each passing day felt like another step toward a future he feared—one where they were no longer "them." He couldn't bear that thought any longer. Tonight, he needed to speak to her, to try one last time. The silence between them had become unbearable, suffocating him.

He rested his hand on the door handle, feeling its coolness under his palm. Behind the door, he could hear the soft murmur of Anupama's voice as she read a bedtime story to their daughter, Anika. The sound tugged at his heartstrings, filling him with both love and a deep sense of guilt. He had hurt her, and in doing so, he had hurt himself. But what weighed on him most was the thought of hurting their unborn child, of Anika growing up sensing the tension between her parents.

With a deep breath, Anuj pushed the door open slightly, peeking into the room. The sight inside melted his heart and shattered it at the same time. Anupama was sitting on the bed, her back propped against the headboard, with Anika lying beside her, snuggled close. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm halo around them, creating a scene of pure serenity. Anika's tiny hand rested on Anupama's growing belly, a gesture so innocent and loving that it made Anuj's throat tighten.

He stood there for a moment, simply watching them, before he finally found the courage to step inside. He closed the door gently behind him, not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the room. His movements were slow, tentative, as though he were afraid of breaking something fragile.

"Anu..." he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with the weight of everything he had been feeling.

Anupama looked up from the storybook, her eyes meeting his. Her expression was calm, but there was something guarded in her gaze. She didn't speak, just observed him quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Anuj swallowed hard, his heart pounding louder in his chest. "I—I don't even know how to start," he said, his voice shaky. "I've been trying to find the right words, but nothing feels like enough."

He stepped closer to the bed, his eyes never leaving Anupama's. "I've said sorry in my head a thousand times. I've played this moment over and over, but when I'm in front of you, it all falls apart." He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated with himself. "Anu, I know I've hurt you. I know I've made mistakes—mistakes that I regret every single day. But I love you, and I love our family. I don't know what to do without you."

Anupama remained silent, her gaze softening slightly but still unreadable. Anika, sensing the shift in the room's energy, looked up from her mother's lap. Her wide eyes flickered between her parents, curiosity evident in her expression. But even at her young age, she seemed to understand something was happening, something important.

Anika, with her innocent heart, leaned down and pressed a kiss on Anupama's belly, her tiny lips brushing against her mother's skin. "Baby," she whispered sweetly, her small hand patting Anupama's stomach. "I love you, baby."

Anupama smiled down at her daughter, her hand gently caressing Anika's back. Anuj's heart clenched at the sight. His daughter, their unborn child—they were the most precious things in his life. And yet, here he was, standing on the edge of losing everything because of his own actions.

Anupama finally broke the silence, her voice calm but firm. "Anuj," she said softly, "I forgave you."

Anuj blinked, not sure if he had heard her correctly. "You... you forgave me?" His voice trembled with a mix of hope and disbelief. He had been waiting for this moment, but he had never imagined it would come so simply.