The Second Bloom • 18+

10. Unfurling of truth (Malini's POV)

Votes target - 500✿

🤍🌙🪞🦢✨

As soon as his mother left the room, a heavy silence filled the air.

My heart pounded, my palms felt damp, and my breath caught in my throat.

I had heard the words.

I was awake, fully aware when Dai-Maa announced that I was pregnant. I was fully awake when Maa-ji celebrated, giving her sweets and money, and tears rolled down my eyes uncontrollably.

I was fully awake when Maa-ji announced to him that I was pregnant.

But what shook me more was Varun's face.

He hadn't said a word, but his eyes—the softness I had grown accustomed to—had hardened.

His brows furrowed in confusion, maybe anger.

I could see it, clear as daylight, and fear coiled inside me like a cold knot.

I knew this moment would come eventually after Dai-maa announced it, but not like this, not in this abrupt, terrifying way.

I sat up slowly, propping myself against the headboard.

My movements felt stiff, mechanical, as I tried to steady myself. He was still sitting at the edge of the bed, his back to me, his hands clenched in his lap.

I didn't know what to say or how to explain. My mind spun with everything we hadn't said to each other, all the nights we shared this bed but never crossed that invisible line between us.

And now this...

"Varun..."

My voice came out barely above a whisper, but he didn't move.

The tension in the room was suffocating. I swallowed, feeling my pulse quicken, and tried again.

"Varun..."

He turned slowly to face me, his eyes filled with so many emotions I couldn't even begin to untangle them—hurt, disbelief, confusion, maybe even a trace of betrayal.

"Aap pet se kaise ho sakti hai, Malini?"

His voice was calm, too calm, but there was an edge to it that made me shiver.

"Jab humne abhi tak kuch kiya hi nahi aapke saath..." He trailed off, as if he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

I lowered my gaze, my fingers gripping the bedsheet.

He slowly held my hand,

"Unhe galat fehmi toh nahi? Achhe se dekha tha unhone?"

I gave him a nod.

He ran his fingers through his hair,

"Aapko... Aapko ehsaas tha... Ki aap pet se ho sakti hain? BILKUL SACH KAHIYEGA MALINI."

A shiver ran down my body.

I shook my head, whispering,

"Tabiyet... thik nahi.... aur kuch dinon se jee m-michla Raha tha.... Ult—"

"Hume toh kuch nahi bataya aapne Aisa?" His gazes were sharp enough to pierce my soul.

"Kyuki.... Hume nahi... Nahi laga tha ki hum... Pet se... Ho sa—"

He stood up from the bed in somewhat angry face,

"Aapne Maa ko bataya ki yeh," he pointed towards my belly angrily, "humara nahin hai?"