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The air was thick with tension as Aakriti and Avinash rejoined the gathering after the incident in the garden

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The air was thick with tension as Aakriti and Avinash rejoined the gathering after the incident in the garden. Aakriti's face was pale, her forced smile barely hiding her inner turmoil. Avinash, though fuming inside, did his best to maintain his composure.

"Lo ji, dono bacche aa gaye," Avinash's mother announced with a broad smile, her joy evident.

"Here, both the children have arrived"

"Aao baith jao dono," Aakriti's mother added, gesturing to the two.

"Come sit down both of you"

Aakriti's dadi, with a sly grin, chimed in, "Toh phir dono ka han hai na?"

"So then both of you are ready?"

Before Aakriti could open her mouth, Avinash quickly responded, "Haan dadi," leaving her no choice but to nod and follow with a tight, forced smile.

"Yes dadi"

Avinash's dadi, her face now serious, said, "Panditji ne bataya ki shaadi ka subh din agle mahine hai. Warna agle saal kaafi late ho jayega."

"Panditji told that the auspicious day of marriage is next month. Otherwise it will be too late because next date is on next year."

Aakriti's dadi, with a reassuring smile, responded, "Arey, subh kaam ke liye der nahi karte. Agle mahine ki date fix kar do."

"Why to wait for good things. Let's fix next month date".

Aakriti's mother joined in, her face beaming, "Haan maa, jab bacche tayar hain, toh intezaar kis baat ka?"

"Yes mother, when the children are ready, then what are you waiting for?"

The conversation flowed, filled with laughter and plans, but Avinash and Aakriti were lost in their own worlds, their expressions betraying the happiness around them.

Later that night, as Aakriti locked her room, she crumbled to the floor, holding her knees tight to her chest. "Why, God? Why is it always me? Why do you choose to hurt me like this?" she whispered, her voice cracking between sobs. Her tears flowed endlessly, recalling the humiliation and the emptiness she felt after today's events. The weight of it all pressed down on her until she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning, Aakriti awoke with a pounding headache and swollen eyes, remnants of the night before still clinging to her. She went through her morning routine in a daze, trying to shake off the emotions. As she reached the hospital and was about to step inside, she felt a sudden tug on her arm.

"Tu aaj hospital nahi jayegi!" a voice commanded, and before she could register, she found herself face-to-face with a very serious-looking Priyanka.

"Pri! You scared me!" Aakriti exclaimed, her hand on her heart.

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