Mahi

I sat in my room with my sketch book and ipad, as I tried to draw a few new designs for our brand launch in India. With just a few weeks left for the launch, my team and I have been working tirelessly.

The door of my room pushed open and Navya bhabhi along with Aditi bhabhi walked in.

They signed as their eyes fell on me.

“ Mahi….” Navya bhabhi called, i glanced at her and raised a brow. “ Tumhare hone wala sasural Wale aaye hai, aur….pati bhi.” She said With a mischievous smile.

Aditi bhabhi approached me and gently took the pencil from my hand. “ We know, you are hiding here Mahi. Just go and talk to bhaiya.”

Navya bhabhi nodded agreeing to her.

“ Haa Mahi. You were so confident when you made the decision, then why are you hesitating now?”

It's true that I've been in my room since morning. It's not that I'm scared of his reaction because I already know he would be shocked. I don't know but there is something that is scaring me.

I know I made the decision to marry Aditya for Ivaan but why am I feeling like if I do Marry him, what if it turned out to be more dangerous for that child?

Earlier in the morning, I was nervous about how I would tell Aditya about my lactation process but now why am I feeling like I shouldn't have done it in the first place?

Why am I feeling so negative, all of sudden?

I glanced at both of my sister-in-laws.

“ I don't know bhabhi.” I said, my voice low.

“ What if it's a wrong decision? I am feeling like I made a mistake or something like that.”

They both looked at eachother then me, their faces softened. “ Mahi, jab Shaadi ho rahi hoti hai naa, tab sab ko yahi lagta hai.” Navya bhabhi said.

Aditi bhabhi nodded, “ Haa, mujhe bhi yahi lagta tha, but Mahi things are different for you. You are not just becoming someone's wife but also a mother. So I think it's just pre wedding anxiety.”

“ Don't think much of it, bacche. Everything will be fine. We trust you.” Navya bhabhi Said with a smile and pulled me in a hug.

Maybe they are right.

Ever since I received that message on my birthday, to be honest I started to feel insecure but now I think at least for the time being I should feign innocence.

At least for the child.

Because right now nothing is more important than Ivaan and Aditya to me.

I pulled back, breaking the hug.

“ Bhabhi, can you tell Aditya to come to my room along with Ivaan. It's been days since I last saw him.” I said and I'm sure they understood why I was calling him to my room.

They nodded, and left, leaving me alone.

I stood up from my bed and walked to the balcony. I was dressed in a lavender cord set, my hair in a messy bun which I made while drawing the design.

As I stepped outside the hot sunlight hit my face along with the cold Breeze. I inhaled the fresh air and closed my eyes. The weather these days is so good. Living in Delhi is a disaster but there are very few times when I enjoy the climate here.

As I stood at the railing, I heard a sharp knock followed by a deep voice, which instantly sent shivers down my spine.

“ Mahi??”

I turned around and saw him standing at the half-open door. My jaw dropped to the floor, seeing him in formals.

What the actual fuck?

Aditya Kapoor in formals?

Yes……

He was wearing a baby blue shirt paired with white pants.

The way his baby blue shirt clung to his body gave him an effortlessly sharp look, and that single earring matched perfectly, adding just the right touch of bold charm.

I don't know that he looks so delicious in formals?

I gulped when I realised that I was ogling him. God, please don't let him know I was ogling him.

I looked away, “ Come in Aditya.”

Aditya pushed the door and walked to me with Ivaan in his arms.

Wait…

Did I ignore my son because of his father?

sorry my baby. I couldn't do anything when my heart, which waited years to see him like this, reacted suddenly. I wasn't able to do anything but admire your father more.

Aditya approached me and nodded, while Ivaan squealed with joy the moment he saw me.

Ivaan lunged forward making Aditya scowled.

My lips curved at the end seeing his reaction and I took Ivaan from him. I looked at the little baby who looked weak yet he grinned toothlessly at me.

He curled in my arms, burying his head in my shoulder.

My baby.

He must've missed this feeling.

The feeling of being with a mother.

“ Did you miss me baby?” I patted his back. I glanced at Aditya whose eyes softened seeing his son.

“ I don't know he would be this happy seeing you.”

I don't know either at first.

But now I do.

After that we didn't say anything. Just stood there, looking outside. I was patting Ivaan and he soon fell asleep. I didn't bother to tell Aditya and kept holding him. Aditya on the other hand was lost in his thoughts.

I walked back inside and laid Ivaan on my bed. Then covered him with the baby blankets I bought a few days ago. I turned the AC off and secured the pillows around him. Once I felt like he was safe and was in deep sleep. I walked to the balcony where Aditya was.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever awaits.

“ Aditya, I wanted to say something to you.”

he turned to me, his face blank.

“ Me too,” I raised a brow, hearing him.

he have something to tell me?

That's new.

“ Go on then, tell me.” I said.

Aditya leaned back on the railing and looked at me, his gaze neither sharp nor soft.

“ Why did you do it?”

I frowned, “ what?”

“ I'm asking why did you undergo lactation?” he asked, his voice suddenly turning serious.

My eyes widened hearing him. I took a step back, caught off guard.

How did he know?

I made sure to keep it a secret.

Then how?

“How…?” My voice caught in my throat. I clenched my fists and looked down, my heart pounding. “How did you know?”

“ I was at the hospital that day, I came to discuss the donors with Mrs Verma and I happened to hear everything by mistake.”

I looked down,” I am sorry to keep it a secret but it wasn't my intention to keep it a secret. I was going to tell any—” I was cut off, not sharply but firmly.

“Why did you do it, Mahi? You knew I was going to look for a donor—then why?”

I looked up at him, and our eyes met.

I felt butterflies in my stomach but for now I decided to ignore them.

“Why?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “Because he’s my son too, Aditya. And about the donor? How long would you have kept searching?”

I took a step forward, my voice firm now.

“Ek bacche ko kam se kam teen se chaar saal tak maa ka doodh chahiye. Itne saal tak kaha se donors laate? And on top of that—not everyone’s blood matches with Ivaan.”

Aditya's jaw tightened.

He looked away, I saw him hitting the railing with his fisted hand.

“ Why Aditya?” I asked, my voice lower.

“ Why are you Angry? When it is something I want to do for Ivaan.”

“ I just…” he started, his voice low. “ Don't want you to go through the pain.”

What?

He was worried for me?

No way.

And Pain? No, it's painless.

“ It's a painless process and please, it's something that I wanted to do to that child as his mother, so please let me do it.”

He glanced at me, our eyes met again.

Again butterflies fluttered in my stomach but ignored them again.

“ Mahi.. I'm already indebted to you for becoming Ivaan's mother. Please don't make me feel more guilty.” he said, his eyes flickering with something.

Indebted?

What nonsense.

“ Aditya you are not indebted—” I was cut off by him.

“ I am mahi.” He said, his voice calm but filled with emotion.

“You don’t know what you’ve done for Ivaan.”

He paused, his eyes fell on Ivaan through the glass window.

“Ever since he met you, he changed, Mahi. He started to smile more. He laughs now. He sleeps better. He… he looks for you when he wakes up. He’s happy. I can feel it.”

My breath caught.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak.

Because deep down, I had seen it too—those tiny changes, the way Ivaan clung to me, how he giggled in my lap, how his eyes lit up every time I went to Kapoor mansion.

But I never thought Aditya noticed.

And certainly not like this.

“You gave him a mother’s love,” he said, taking a step closer.

“And you didn’t have to. But you did.”

I lowered my gaze, my throat tight.

He didn’t know that every time I looked at Ivaan, a part of me healed.

But another part of me broke too.

He had noticed all of this then not once he saw my love for him?

“ I didn't do it for gratitude, Aditya.” I said my voice firm. “ I do it because….my heart wanted to, because he heals a part of me.”

Aditya froze.

“ That day when we decided to get married, it was the day I became his mother and I want you to let me be his mother too. Because without your acceptance my heart won't feel at peace.”

Aditya opened his mouth to say something and at the same time, we heard a sharp knock.

“ Mahi, Adi bhai.. if you are done talking let's eat. Everyone is waiting.” We heard Krish.

“ Coming..” I yelled loud enough for him to hear and Ivaan to stir in his sleep.

I ran inside and patted Ivaan slowly, so that he could go back to sleep.

I titled my head and looked at Aditya through the glass.

“ It's okay, we still have time so, tell me on the wedding day or night. I will be waiting.”

*

Author

The lunch went smoothly, with the talks of business and the wedding preparations.

All of them were happy and excited except Aditya and Mahi.

Aditya walked away the moment the lunch was over while mahi returned back to her room with Ivaan's milk bottle in her hand.

The families noticed the sudden change but chose to ignore it thinking that there might be a small pre marriage conflict between them but Arjun clearly seemed disturbed seeing his sister's face. So he did what he thought he would never, he followed Aditya outside to have a talk regarding Mahi and their upcoming marriage.

Outside in the garden, Aditya sat on the bench and stared at the grass. To the outside he might appear calm but inside? He was a mess.

His mind was a mess, so was his emotions.

The conversation he had with Mahi was still on his mind, he wasn't able to think of anything else but it. The words she said replayed in his mind making it hard for himself not to feel guilty.

Ever since she accepted to marry him, he wasn't himself. He didn't have a blink of sleep thinking that a girl, whom he will never be able to accept as his wife, is going to ruin her life because of him and his son.

He was guilty.

Guilty of ruining her life but what can he do?

It was her, who first wanted to marry him.

And after he overheard her conversation with Emma in hospital, his guilt increased making it only suffocate him.

He looked at the sky, tears gathered in the corner of his eyes, as he mumbled.

“ Only if you didn't let us,

Only if you didn't abandon us.

Only if you didn't break your promise and die, this all wouldn't have happened.”

He gulped the lump in his throat.

“We would have been happy with our son. And Mahi… wouldn't have to do all this.”

He closed his eyes, and wiped off his tears harshly.

Unknown to him, Arjun stood there and heard every word he said. He fisted his hand, and clenched his jaw.

He exhaled, letting his anger go before walking up to Aditya and sat beside him.

Aditya opened his eyes, feeling a presence beside him. He glanced at him,

“ What are you doing here?”

Arjun didn't reply but stared at the little fountain in the garden. A few minutes passed, but Arjun didn't say anything. It looked like he was controlling himself, so he won't hurt Aditya with his words.

“ Adi, are you sure about this alliance?” Arjun asked all of sudden , making Aditya startled.

“ Answer me, thinking of me as your finances brother not your bestfriend.”

Aditya looked down at his hands, his jaw tightened.

He knows he can be honest with Arjun, as he is someone with whom he grew up but now he can't. Because now at this moment he realised the person sitting there is not his best friend but his soon to be wife's brother.

“ Honestly..” he started, “ i don't know if I am doing the right thing or not. It's been just five months since I lost my wife but with Ivaan condition like that I can't help but bury my sorrow and accept this marriage.”

Arjun fisted his hand on the side.

“ I know as a brother you are worried for your sister and I can understand you as a brother myself. But Arjun, I can't promise you anything except for her safety.”

Arjun clenched his jaw hearing him. He already knew this marriage was hopeless. It had no love. No future. Nothing.

He knew Aditya too well. His friend could never love Mahi. In fact, love was far from the picture—Aditya couldn’t even care for her, not truly. He couldn’t treat her like a wife. Not in the way she deserved.

What made Arjun even more angry was the truth he couldn't ignore:

Even after knowing all this, his sister still chose to marry him.

She still said yes—knowing she was walking into a loveless marriage.

Aditya looked at Arjun, silent, his throat heavy with unspoken words.

Arjun’s eyes were full of emotions—pain, love, and worry.

“She deserves better, Adi,” Arjun repeated softly. “I know you can never love her… but at least trust her. Try to get to know her. Make her feel like she belongs. Like she’s part of the family.”

He turned to fully face Aditya now, his voice turning more personal.

“Aditya, my sister is everything to me. She’s not just my sister—she’s like my child. I held her when she was born. I protected her through everything. She’s my baby before my kids ever came into this world.”

Aditya blinked, his heart aching hearing that.

“I know love is not easy,” Arjun continued. “But at least… become her friend. So that when life gets hard, you don’t feel alone. So that instead of waiting for someone to understand you—you can turn to her. Or she can come to you.”

Aditya looked away, jaw tight. He had no answer.

His heart was already heavy. But now… it was heavier.

He knew Arjun wasn’t asking for much.

He wasn’t asking him to fall in love. Just to try.

To try something.

Aditya finally spoke, his voice rough.

“I can’t promise to love her, Arjun. But maybe… I can try to be her friend.”

Arjun smiled, even though his heart still ached.

“Please do, Adi… because just like my sister, you are precious to me too. I can’t let you drown in pain either.”

Aditya looked at him—his childhood friend, his brother in every way that mattered.

Until now, he had believed that no one really thought about him… that no one truly saw what he was going through.

But hearing Arjun speak like that… something shifted inside him.

Maybe he wasn’t as alone as he thought.

He swallowed hard, emotions rising in his chest.

“Thank you, Arjun,” he said quietly. “For reminding me that someone still cares… for me”

Arjun nodded with a soft smile.

“No matter how broken life gets, Adi,” he said, patting his shoulder, “there’s always someone holding a piece of your heart safe—until you’re ready to carry it again.”

For the first time in days, Aditya felt a flicker of hope.

Maybe this marriage wouldn’t be perfect.

Maybe it wouldn’t even be close to what others have.

But maybe… just maybe… it could be something real.

Something that started with understanding.

And maybe, with time… even healing.