Yn entered inside Tahir's bedroom. She saw him sitting near the window with Tanishka in his arms. Tanishka was nestled against his chest and he was softly patting her back humming a soft lullaby in his velvety voice. The sight made a warmth spread through Yn's chest. He was wearing a simple kurta with his pajama pants. She was still in her bridal attire. She slowly approached them and sat on the bed beside him. He finally glanced at her for a brief moment before diverting his attention back to his daughter who was now looking at Yn with her doe eyes. Yn smiled at the baby and gently took one of her small hands in her bigger ones, caressing the soft skin with a newfound tenderness and motherly instinct. Tahir silently gazed at her. Tanishka grinned and started kicking her legs in happiness at the gentle touch, making Yn smile.

"Ye bohot pyaari hai.. bilkul aap par gayi hai..iski aankhein bhi aap jaisi hai..so cute." ( She is so lovely..she takes after you..her eyes are just like yours..so cute.)

He sighed and finally spoke to her, "Shaadi ke liye ha kyu kiya tumne?"

( Why did you agree for this marriage?)

She remained silent for a moment. She wanted to confess her love for him. She wanted him to know how much she loved him since the day she saw him. But she was aware of the fact that this was not the right time for a love confession. He was still drowning himself in his past and would not reciprocate her feelings. He needed time and she was ready to be patient with him. She decided to wait for the right time to pour her heart out. She took a deep breath and spoke softly,

"Aapko ek biwi ki zaroorat thi aur iss bacchi ko ek maa ki..aapki maa ne kaha ki unke khayal se mere alawa koi aur ladki nahi ho sakti jo aap dono ki zindagi mein ek biwi aur ek maa ki jagah le paaye aur uss zimmedari ko pura kar paaye...maine bhi socha ki agar iss shaadi se aapke zindagi mein wapas khushiyan aaye aur Tanishka ko ek maa ka pyaar dobara mile toh isme burai kaisi? Toh maine haa kar di."

(You needed a wife, and this little girl needed a mother… your mother said that in her opinion, there’s no other girl besides me who could take the place of both a wife and a mother in your lives and fulfill that responsibility. I also thought that if this marriage could bring happiness back into your life and let Tanishka receive a mother’s love again, then what harm could there be in it? So I said yes.)

He looked at her with his sharp and intimidating gaze making her slightly feel nervous.

"Tahir Singhaniya ko jhooth bolne wale logon se sakt nafrat hai." ( Tahir Singhaniya hates people who lie.)

She was taken aback. She was being told several times that after Aaradhya's death Tahir changed. He became cold and distant. He preferred to keep his emotions bottled up within his heart and that he doesn't think twice before speaking his mind out if something irritates him. But she didn't expect this kind of a straightforward response from him. It almost sounded rude.

"Aap kya kehna chahte hai main kuch samajhi nahi."

( What do you want to imply? I didn't quite get it.)

He got up and placed Tanishka on her crib, covering her gently with a soft blanket. Then, he turned towards Yn. His gaze cold and unfeeling. He then spoke with a calm yet intimidating tone,

"Bas yahi reason? Mujhe ek biwi aur mere bacche ko ek maa ka pyaar dene ke khatir hi tumne ha kar di? "

(Is that the only reason? You said yes just to give me a wife and my child a mother’s love?)

Yn nodded slowly and replied shortly with a 'yes' as she was feeling as if she was in a investigation room and Tahir was the police officer while she felt like a criminal, even though she didn't commit any crime. The questions Tahir threw at her hurt her.

"Aap mujhse ye sab baatein kyu puch rahe hai?"

(Why are you asking me all this?)

He turned his gaze away from her, looking out of the window.

"Mere liye bohot se rishtey aaye par jab unko mere bacchi ke baare mein bataaya gaya toh sab us zimmedari se piche hatt gaye. Ek ne toh ye tak kaha ki Tanishka ko kaamwali sambhal legi..she just wanted me as her husband. Toh main ye kaise believe kar loon ki tum bas usi reason ko lekar humari zindagi mein aaye ho."

(I had many marriage proposals, but when they were told about my daughter, everyone backed out of that responsibility. One even went so far as to say that a maid would take care of Tanishka… she just wanted me as her husband. So how am I supposed to believe that you came into our lives only for that reason?)

Yn sighed and nodded.

"Aapka shaq bhi jayas hai. Aaj kal ke jamane mein kaunsi aurat aisi zimmedari apne haathon lene ke liye aage aayegi? Par main ek baat kehna chati hoon. Aapko shayad pataa nahi par meri bhi ma bachpan mein chal basi.. papa har roz kaam mein busy the aur main akela ho jati thi. Vasundhara ma jab humare zindagi mein aayi toh mujhe wo khoyi hui khushi wapas mil gayi aur papa ko wo khoya huwa pyaar. Mujhe Tanishka mein mera bachpan dikha..main nahi chahti thi ki woh ek maa ki mamta se anzaan rahe. Janm dene wali maa toh devaki ka swaroop hai..par jo maa ungli pakarkar chalna sikhaye woh bhi yashoda se kaam nahi."

(Your suspicion is justified. In today’s world, which woman would willingly take on such a responsibility? But there’s something I want to say. You probably don’t know this, but my mother passed away when I was a child… my father was busy with work every day, and I would be left alone. When Vasundhara Ma came into our lives, I regained the happiness I had lost and my father regained the love he had lost. I see my childhood in Tanishka… I didn’t want her to grow up without knowing a mother’s love. The mother who gives birth is like Devaki… but the mother who holds your hand and teaches you to walk is no less than Yashoda.)

Tahir looked at her with an unreadable expression. His features slightly softened. He spoke with a tone which was a little different from his earlier one.

"Agar sachme tum sacche dil se iss shaadi ke liye manzoor huyi thi..toh main nahi jaanta ki main tumse kya kahu. Par ek baat.. Tanishka ab mere liye mera sab kuch hai. Aaradhya ne jaane se pehle..humare pyaar ki nishani jaisi Tanishka mere haathon saupi thi. Tanishka ko takleef pahuche toh mujhse bardaasht nahi hoga. Woh roti bhi hai toh main toot jaata hoon. Ye shaadi maine uske khatir hi ki hai...taki wo ek maa ki kami mehsoos na kare. Par main tumhe tumhare pati hone ke naate kabhi kuch nahi de paaunga..na mera pyaar..na meri humdardi. Ye baat maine pehle bhi kaha hai aur aaj bhi kahunga ki Tahir Singhaniya sirf aur sirf Aaradhya se pyaar karta tha, pyaar karta hai aur hamesha karta rahega. Uske alawa main kisi aur se dil lagane ke baare mein soch bhi nahi sakta. Toh tum mujhse woh expect matt karna jo ek biwi apne pati se karti hai."

(If you truly agreed to this marriage with a sincere heart… then I don’t know what to say to you. But one thing—Tanishka is now my everything. Before she left, Aaradhya entrusted me with Tanishka, the symbol of our love. I cannot bear it if Tanishka suffers in any way. Even when she cries, I feel shattered. I married only for her sake… so that she would not feel the absence of a mother. But as your husband, I will never be able to give you anything… neither my love nor my affection. I have said this before, and I will say it again today—Tahir Singhaniya only loved, loves, and will always love Aaradhya. I cannot even think of giving my heart to anyone else. So don’t expect from me what a wife expects from her husband.)

Yn felt something inside her breaking as his words pierced her heart. She felt like crying then and there itself but she stopped the tears by blinking them away. Her eyes stung but her heart stung more. She knows that he is saying these things because he was not out of the grief caused by his late wife's death. But still his words managed to hurt her. She remained silent and kept her gaze downcast.

"Meri baatein karwi hai.. I know..but..yahi sach hai"

(My words are bitter… I know… but… this is the truth.)

He walked towards the bed and took the pillow, making his way towards the couch. She looked at him and spoke softly,

"Aap bed par so jaaiye..mein couch mein adjust kar lungi."

(You sleep on the bed… I’ll adjust on the couch.)

He shook his head and layed on the couch.

"Koi baat nahi..tum so jao.. baatein me karwi karta hoon par insaan utna bura nahi hoon. Change into something comfortable and sleep."

(It’s okay… you go to sleep. My words may be bitter, but I’m not such a bad person. Change into something comfortable and sleep.)

She smiled a little and went inside the bathroom to change. Moments later she came out wearing a comfortable salwar and sat on the bed. Her gaze went to the crib. Tanishka was not asleep yet. She was playing with her feet and fingers. Yn got up and slowly approached her. Tanishka looked at her with an innocent expression. Yn smiled and gently picked her up cradling her. Tanishka cooed and babbled happily. Tahir opened his eyes and looked at the scene unfold.

Yn gently layed on the bed with Tanishka on her chest and gently started patting her back.

"Woh raat ko thori restless ho jaati hai.. mujhe utha dena agar pareshan kiya toh."

(She gets a bit restless at night… wake me up if she troubles you.)

Yn gave him a small smile and spoke,

"Koi nahi..baby hai..thora toh active rahegi hi..main sambhal lungi...aap tension matt lo"

(It’s okay… she’s a baby, she’s bound to be a little active… I’ll manage… you don’t worry.)

Tahir nodded slowly and turned his back on her looking out of the window, gazing at the stars. A tear rolled down his eyes as he thought to himself,

"Kar liya dusri shaadi..humare baby ke khatir..pataa nahi kyu but aisa lag raha hai ki maine tumhe dhoka diya..humare pyaar par daag lagaya..mere paas aur koi chara nahi tha... mujhe maaf kar dena..tum jaha bhi ho mujhe maaf karna..khush rehna... Tanishka ke khatir mujhe maaf karna.. main wada karta hoon ki humesha tumse hi pyaar karunga... I love you Aaradhya... I will always love you."

(I got married again… for our baby’s sake… I don’t know why, but it feels like I’ve betrayed you… put a stain on our love. I had no other choice… forgive me… wherever you are, please forgive me… be happy… for Tanishka’s sake, forgive me. I promise I will always love only you… I love you, Aaradhya… I will always love you.)

He could hear silence in the room after sometime, meaning that Yn and Tanishka had fallen asleep. He turned to look at them. Tanishka was peacefully sleeping on Yn's chest and Yn's hand was still subconsciously patting her back. Tahir kept looking at them for a long time. His mind racing with thoughts. He knew that Yn was something different. She was not being hideous. Whatever she told him, however she acts, it's not a pretence but it's her genuine nature. He knew this was dangerous. He knew that she has the power to pull him close and today he felt an ounce of it, even though he didn't let her see through his facade. He didn't want to be pulled closer. He wanted to stay as far as possible because he could not violate the purity of the vows he had taken with Aaradhya. He cannot just throw them away because of the vows he had taken today. Nothing changes the promises he made to Aaradhya. He reminded himself that this marriage was a duty, not desire and he will continue it in that way. The vows he had taken today were vows without love which holds no significance for him.

That's it guys... chapter 2 is out. Please don't be a silent reader and show some love and follow me for the updates.