Chapter 23: Chapter 23

"What happened to Ava??" The cold tone reverberated in the room

Armaan stiffened when she saw his ex lover's sister

"An allergic reaction. Bee sting allergy." Armaan said

"And you have been careless enough to let that happen " the question was shot in the direction of Janani and Armaan froze

How dare she come here and blame the person who had been taking care of Ava all these days

"I'm sorry" he heard the shake in Janani's voice

She was already guilty and blaming herself for what happened. There is no need to add on to it

"It was not her fault" Armaan said flatly

"Who is she???" The woman asked

"I'm her nanny" Janani said even before  Armaan could respond and he looked at her jerkily

"Shreya Iyyer. Ava's aunt" The woman introduced herself

"Janani Trivedi" she said in a low voice

"Shreya,Was Ishana allergic to anything??" Armaan asked straight to the point

"You mean you didn't know?? She gave birth to your daughter and you don't even know about her medical histories??" Shreya asked mockingly

"Shreya....this is not the place and time for a verbal war. We need to know your sister's medical history" Aadesh said

Shreya sighed

"Akka was allergic to bees. I will mail her medical reports" she said stiffly

"We will be in the waiting room" Aadesh said pulling Shreya along not before she bent down to give a light kiss on Ava's forehead

"Don't take her words to heart. She is still bitter at the fact that Ishana mentioned my name in her will to take care of Ava" Armaan said

"Ofcourse. You are the father. Who else would she give that responsibility to" Janani said and Armaan sighed .He didnt want to talk about Ishana. He is too tired for that now. Maybe sometime in the future he might. He is not ready yet

Meanwhile in the waiting room Shreya paced to and fro making Aadesh sigh

The woman is one stubborn horse

"Calm down will you" he asked only to get a hostile stare in return

"My niece is suffering and you want me to calm down??" She asked

"She is alright now" Aadesh pointed out

"I knew something like this would happen. I knew your brother is not the right person to take care of Ava" Shreya said and Aadesh stiffened

"What do you mean by that?? My brother is a wonderful father" Aadesh defended his brother

"And where was this father when Ava was born?? Where was this father when my Akka was pregnant and alone??" She asked vehemently

"Your anger is misdirected Shreya. It's your parents who disowned your sister when she needed someone the most. Not my brother " he argued

"He is the one who got her pregnant. And he should have been there with her. He should have been there to provide for them . If he did ,my sister would have been alive now"

"And he would have ,if he had known about her pregnancy. It's your sister who kept him out of the loop" Aadesh reminded

"And whose fault is that if she couldn't trust him enough to confide in him"

"What had he done to earn that mistrust??"

"He refused to marry her Aadesh. So don't support him"

"The whole nation knows about Armaan's commitment issues. And if she had still gotten into a relationship with him ,then she sure did walk into that with her eyes open. You can't blame my brother for something he never promised "

"My sister loved him . She was pregnant with his child. Wasn't that enough for him. They could have been happy" Shreya said her voice breaking with every word. She missed her sister

"And you think your sister would have been happy with someone who didn't love her" Aadesh said his heart reaching out for the woman in front of him

She might act rough and tough in front of them

But he knows deep down she is hurt

Hurt at losing her sister

And what he feels for her would never be reciprocated

"So she was good enough to sleep with. But he couldn't love her" Shreya said venemously

She hates Armaan Verma and whatever she feels for the man sitting in front of her will always be overshadowed by that hate

"You come from a very conservative Brahmin family Shreya. You don't understand this world. Your sister was a model. She understood this world. She knew what Maan was. He never promises anyone anything."

"I wish she hadn't gone against Appa to pursue her modelling career. If she hadn't she would have never met your heartless brother and I would have never lost her." She said

"I know you miss your sister Shreya. But that doesnt gives you license to say whatever you want about my brother " Aadesh has had enough listening to her bad mouthing his brother

"Truth hurts Aadesh. Your brother is a heartless monster who uses woman as per his wishes and throws them away when -" he put an end to her angry tirade the only way he knows

He simply kissed her

Its was neither gentle nor passionate

It was an angry kiss

The anger and  frustration running through their veins poured itself into the kiss

They sprang apart from each other when they heard a surprised gasp and looked up to see Janani looking at them with her eyes widened

Aadesh cleared his throat putting an end to the awkward silence

"You wanted something Janani??" Aadesh asked

"Nothing. I just came to tell you it's better you go home. And also give me a video call once you reach home. Advi would make a fuss if he didn't find me any longer" Janani said awkwardly

"Who is Advi??" Shreya asked

"Advi is my son" Janani looked up to see Armaan standing besides her

"What took you so long??" He asked looking at Janani and she just nodded a nothing in return

"You have a son??" Shreya asked in disbelief

****

They brought Ava home from the hospital the next morning .The second they entered the house Advi began to squawk.

Thinking he was tired of Shanthima and was missing her ,Janani rushed to him and took him in her arms

But Advi kept squawking

Until Armaan walked over with a sleeping Ava

Advi patted Ava's face and cooed making Shanthi Seth gasp in delight

"Isn't that adorable. He missed her"

"I never thought about it" Janani said as she held Advi close enough so that he could pat Ava

"He was a little fussy last night until he saw you in the video call. Then he slept like an angel. But this morning he was crazy" Shanthi Seth said

Janani smiled happily

"He missed his sister.But right now we need to put her to bed. She is still sleeping" Janani said

Armaan caught her gaze "maybe we could put them for a nap together "

She smiled and nodded "that would be nice"

They placed Ava on the bed and let Advi cuddle with his sleeping sister who fell asleep promptly making a smile appear on his dada's and mama's face

They placed pillows around them creating a wall so that the kids wouldn't fall off the bed

As they came downstairs they saw a dull Aadesh sitting in the living room

"Where is Shreya??" Armaan asked

"In your guest house" Aadesh replied making Armaan frown

"I know you don't like anyone going over there. It's your retreat. But yesterday she simply lost it after hearing that you have a son. She is terrified you are going to ignore Ava. God knows what nonsense she was talking. So I thought it would be better if she calms down a bit before she sees Advi." Aadesh said

"Fine" Armaan simply walked out

He doesn't care what Shreya thinks about him

He loves both his children

He doesn't have to prove it to anyone

Janani sighed and sat down next to Aadesh

"So you and Shreya??" Janani finally asked the question Aadesh had been dreading since the moment she caught them

"Its nothing" Aadesh said evasively

"It didn't seem so" Janani said

"It wouldn't work out. There are so many barriers Janani. Logically me and Shreya being together is impossible" Aadesh said heavily

"Aadesh,dil ke pass dimaag nahi hota, aur jo dimaag se ho, wo pyaar nahi hota. Logic doesn't comes in love Aadesh. Follow your heart" she said ruffling his hair fondly

(Heart doesnt have a brain of it's own. And what you think with brain can never be love)