MUMBAI

Aryamann Mehrotra’s pov!

"No? What the hell do you mean by no! Damn it Rey!. It has been three years. Three bloody years" I yelled at Rey, who was standing in front of me with his head hung low!

Three years! Three years since Bhumi went missing!

"Aryamann," I turned around to see Daksh and Gaurav, my brothers.

"Relax, Arya. There is no point in yelling at Rey." Daksh said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Relax? Really Daksh? Bhumi is missing and you expect me to relax?" I looked at him in disbelief.

"Aryamann, Bhumi is not missing. She left. Do you hear me? She left you." Gaurav said, poking my chest with his index finger.

Daksh was his elder cousin brother and Gaurav his younger brother.

"And do you know why she left? Because you don't deserve her. Stop searching for her. Let her be happy wherever she is. Maybe she might find someone who is actually worthy of her," Gaurav added and I raised my fist to punch him.

How dare he say that?

She is mine! Only mine!

"Don't you dare Gaurav," I said, stopping just before my fist touched his jaws.

"Why did you stop? Come on. Punch me. Even if you try to kill me, I would say the same thing as long as I can breathe," he said glaring at me.

This is how Gaurav talks to me ever since Bhumi left.

He says I chased her away.

Which is true actually. 

"Gaurav. That's enough." Daksh warned.

"What Daksh bhaiyya? You are going to defend him now?" Gaurav asked in disbelief. 

"I am not defending anyone, Gaurav. What Arya did was wrong. I agree. But what matters is that he regrets it. And he would do anything to get Bhumi back. You will, won't you Aryamann?" Daksh said the last part focusing on me.

"I will," I said with absolute determination and Gaurav narrowed his eyes at me.

"Now come, let's go to Adani mansion," Daksh said, urging me to walk forwards. 

"Why there? What is the occasion?" I asked, not very interested in going there.

"There is some prayer organised there. For their ancestors and all those deceased people of their family. Ishitha has warned me to be there on time, but it seems like the prayer time is already over. But I need to at least show my face once," Daksh said.

"You guys go. I am not in the mood for any gatherings!" I said, trying to scoot from this family gathering.

"No, you are coming with me, Aryamann. You didn't accept the invitation for the last two years either. This year, you have to come. Also I am going to blame you for me being late. Otherwise Ishitha will kill me." Daksh said and I rolled my eyes.

"She is not a big fan of me either," I said sadly.

I used to share a good bond with Ishitha. But, after what happened with Bhumi, Ishitha started maintaining a polite distance from me.

She had absolutely adored Bhumi and blamed me for Bhumi leaving. Well, I can't blame her for that. She is also right. 

"That's the point, Aryamann. She is angry with you anyways. So let me just put this blame also on you," Daksh said cheekily.

"Fine. But I won't stay long" I said, agreeing helplessly.

*******

BANGALORE

Bhumika Basu’s pov!

I sighed when I heard the shrill cry coming from the living room.

I simmered the fire of the stove, wiped my hands on a washcloth and walked to the living room, where my little boys were supposed to be sitting inside the play yard and playing.

Haa! Who am I kidding!

They are nearly three years old now. Just five months short on three.

And they are the fastest and quickest toddlers ever in the world.

"Sammy, Abhi. Mommy told you to play inside the play yard. Didn't I?" I asked, placing my hands on my hips as I watched Sam trying to get up from his fallen position. 

Two identical faces looked up at me guiltily.

"Abhi go out. Sammy also," Samarth, the younger one among the twins, pointed a chubby little finger at his twin, as a fat tear rolled down his eyes.

I went down on my knees and wiped the tears from my baby's face.

Abhay Basu, lovingly called Abhi, is the leader. And Samarth Basu, lovingly called Sam or Sammy follows heartily.

"Abhi. What did mommy tell you?" I asked, looking at my naughty elder one.

"Sholly mommy," Abhi said with an adorable pout and I melted into a puddle at that sight.

I guess he has inherited that quality from me. Both the boys have, actually. 

They only have to look up with their puppy eyes and adorable pout to melt anybody.

"Mommy has to go to college now. Maggie aunty will come now. Be good for Maggie aunty. Don't trouble her," I said and their lips jutted out. 

"Mommy no go!" They said in unison and I couldn't help but gather them both into my arms and kiss all over their faces. 

They giggled feeling my kisses on their faces and this is one of our favourite games.

The boys absolutely loved being pampered like this.

"Mommy has to go. I will bring chocolates when I come back," I said and they clapped their hands in excitement. 

Soon, they got back to playing with their lego set.

I sighed as I watched them.

They are the most precious gifts in my life.

And they remind me of their father, each and every second of their life.

Because they are xerox copies of their father.

With dark hair, dark brown eyes and olive skin tone, they are in and out Aryamann Mehrotra.

They had even inherited their father's physique. They are taller and more sturdy than the other three year old boys. 

It has been nearly four years since I last saw Aryamann. And he doesn't matter to me anymore.

All that matters now are my little boys.

And if I still feel a gaping hole in my heart, then I am absolutely mad.

I heard the doorbell ringing and opened the door to find the babysitter Maggie. 

She is a college student like me, doing baby sitting as a part time job.

I would have done the same too, but Ansh was adamant on not letting me do that.

Who is Ansh? It is a story for another day. Anyways, he forced me to stay at an apartment he bought in Bangalore for me. He set up a fund for me and my babies.

When I refused, he asked me only one thing. And I agreed.

'Do you want your boys to grow up without your warmth, Bhumi? Do you want to be an absentee mother, who is trying hard to make ends meet and end up being a stranger to her children. Do you want that, when you actually have an option here?' He asked and I didn't want my children to grow up like I did. 

I wanted them to always have me around. My college hours are six to seven hours a day. 

And the remaining hours of the day, I enjoy with my boys. Taking them out to the park, cooking them their favourite foods, playing with them and reading bedtime stories for them.

And once a month, Ansh flies over for a visit and the boys will be over the roof, happily meeting their Anch Mamu.

My life is perfect now!

We don't need you Aryamann Mehrotra. 

We don't need you anymore!