FIGHT AGAINST DESTINY-PreRishFF Thd#4 Ch-36 Pg-62 4thAug DTRem. P - Page 6

Meenu maine toh kitty ke pics bhi bhej diye ab toh update kar do 😔

I need a dose of the update, right now.

I read the last one again and I want to mention that the more I read, the more I like Menaka's character. And man you have that in most of your stories, how you bring the essence of Bajaj, even without him being present. You did that in I Am Home too. Bajaj nahi hoke bhi wahi hota hai. Love that a lot.

Can't wait for Prerna ki daant in next update as per the spoiler😃

Today before 2pm update will be coming @meenu ke readers. 😎

wowww....sare threads ki index kitni achchi lag rahi he...

Looking for update it's 1.21 pm 🆗😩 https://www.instagram.com/p/CCQ78XZAbXa/?igshid=10u5fhr981s7f

Hello Amazing People🤗

Finally next chapter..pheww!!! Finally.

Won't say much but expect a lot of Prerna- fighting a battle between her brain and heart, Menaka-Masi, Menaka's first realisation that she was in love, RB-Prerna (a little), Kukke's doubt on Menaka, Adi-Tanvi, a little glimpse into Ara, a long conversation between Masi-Prerna (I wanted to shorten it but it was suggested not to 🤭) and Mehra-Prerna of course.

So in short a lot of new information with present, and past (from both the show and additional characters)

Again I do not know how it is. You guys are the best judges.

I will be back in a while, my brain is 🤯

Thank you again for all your love🤗

Love❤️

Sunshine

"Shh… It's our little secret that no one would ever know" and she rubbed his back; soothing his trembles with little taps on his back. "You've had enough my baby, no one hurts you anymore. You don't need to protect me from anyone. You made a promise to save me and I almost lost you, now Mom promises to do whatever she can to give you a life you deserve" Rocking him slowly she hummed his favourite tune in his ears, putting him to sleep. She kept humming and saying things into his ears. He could hear chaos and sirens but it all faded as his mother's soothing voice filled his world and his body relaxed in her arms slowly letting go off of all his fears.

The grip on the sheet loosened and within minutes the monitors were back to normal. "Thank God!!" Rastogi took a sigh of relief.

"What was that?" Asked Prerna in shock, Masi stood next to her.

"Ya to iske pain meds wear off kar gaye ya fir he saw a bad dream. He is okay now. Don't worry"

"What's wrong? Maine nurse ko bhag ke aate hue dekha?" Menaka said as soon as she entered.

"Kuch nahi hua. All is good" said Rastogi.

CHAPTER 35

WEDNESDAY

8.55pm

Rastogi still checked on Rishabh, when Masi almost stumbled feeling dizzy, everything was overwhelming for her at that age. She along with Kukki had gone through a lot in less than 24 hours. Menaka was quick to hold her while Prerna was still fixed in her place near Rishabh's bed, recovering from what just happened and the conversation she had heard. Though she was sleeping with Kukki, she did hear everything shared between Rastogi and Masi, about his Mom and his childhood.

Menaka's voice brought her out of her trance. "Masi aap chaliye yahan se aur lounge mein aram kijiye; tabiyat kharab ho jayegi itna stress lengi to. Aap theek se soyi bhi nahi hain kal raat se. Please come with me" Menaka said, sitting next to Masi on the couch, making her drink some water.

Rastogi too agreed with her and tried to convince Masi to take rest as he checked the pulse on her hand. "Shardaji aapko aram karna chahiye"

"Hum dono bacchon ko chhod ke kahi nahi jayenge" Masi announced.

Prerna, who was still near the bed, looked at Masi and taking slow steps she reached the couch where Masi was. "Aap sab ko rest karna chahiye. Kal raat se aap sab yaha hai. Rastogi Unc.. I mean Dr. Rastogi.."

"You can call me Uncle" he said, lovingly keeping his hand over her head.

"Thank you!"

"Dr. Rastogi, Dr. Gupta wants to see you" said the nurse.

"Aap log aram kijiye, I'll take your leave" Rastogi followed her out of the room.

The door closed and Prerna continued "Rastogi Uncle ne abhi kaha hai ki kal tak Mr. Bajaj uthenge nahi, to please. I will wait here with him and Kukki" Prerna finished the last line with hesitation evident in her voice, as she waited for Masi's reaction to her request to stay back in the room. She had noticed she wasn't really very excited to see her, when they first met at the lounge.

Masi closed her eyes, as she didn't want to express her discomfort with Prerna around her family. At the same time she didn't want to say anything that'd raise any questions in Menaka's mind. Questions she didn't want to reply, not without Rishabh. Taking a deep breath she said in a calm voice "Thank you Prerna, but hum hamare bete aur poti ka khayal rakh sakte hain. Hum theek hain. Tumhe ghar jana chahiye, kafi raat ho gayi hai (Masi looked at her). Unki family hai yahan"

Prerna was quick to catch how Masi expressed that she wasn't a part of their family. 'Sach hi to hai. Isme galat kya hai? Just because papers par tum ab bhi Mr. Bajaj ki wife ho to kya wo kafi hai is family ka part banne ke liye. Value kya hai un papers ki? Agar tum bhool rahi ho to Mr. Bajaj tumhe divorce de chuke hain. Unki taraf se that marriage or should I say the deal was over the very moment he signed those papers. Why are you even here Prerna? (Her brain began to mess up again with her thoughts)" Prerna shut her eyes to put these thoughts away, that have been troubling her ever since she was back in Mumbai for the second time, especially after her conversation with her mother and Shivani. She was feeling worked up with the constant tassel going on between her brain and heart.

She took a deep breath and gathering her strength she said "I know Masi aap hain yahan, but aapki zarurat aur bhi zyada hogi jab Mr. Bajaj uthenge. Tab unki family sath hogi to, I am sure he'll be happy. Iske liye zaroori hai ki aap rest karein. I know I am an outsider (she felt an unknown pain in her heart as she said the word) but filhal ke liye main hi hu jo tired nahi hai (she lied, she had not slept herself last night. She was equally exhausted but she wanted to stay). Agar kuch bhi hua to I'll call you or Menaka" she waited for Masi to react.

Masi raised her head and looked straight into her eyes. This time Prerna didn't try to escape her questioning and doubting glance and said "You can trust me Masi"

Masi and Prerna had a conversation just with their eyes. They were the only one who knew what they had between each other. Masi was still unconvinced and almost refused to agree "Prerna hum.." but she stopped when she felt a squeeze on her hand. She looked down and it was Menaka still sitting by her side looking at her, like she wanted her to agree with Prerna and let her stay. Before Masi could even say a word, Menaka just whispered "Please Masi.."

Prerna who saw everything was happy that Menaka intervened and spoke in her favor but she could not understand what was with this woman that she had such an influence with almost everyone.

"What does she even?? (Her brain struck again)

(But her heart came to her rescue) Okay okay you gotta stop right there. Before you get one bad thought about her, just think that she had been here since last night. She took care of everyone including your girl. And don't forget she is a part of this family..'

NOO. not is..Was..

'haan haan was a part of this family. You can not repeat what you did back at Pune hating her, when all she did was help and she is still doing the same. Jab tumhe Kukki ke pass hona chahiye tha tab wo thi yahan'

'Par tumhe pata kahan tha jo tum yahan aati? Menaka ne kaha na Kukki tumhare liye pooch rahi thi, wo chahti to call bhi kar sakti thi. She is just playing games Prerna.'

'Games?? Really? Why would she play games? She doesn't know a thing about you. Your cunning brain is just cooking up stories to put you against her. Aur jahan tak baat hai call karne ki to wo kar sakti thi agar tumne gusse mein aake apna phone nahi toda hota to.'

'Ohh please, she could have called the office, if she really wanted to.'

'What if she called the office, weren't you out? Even if she didn't can you not imagine yahan kitna chaos hoga? In the middle of all this, you expect anyone to make extra efforts to reach you? Who are you anyway for her? Just an employee who works with AMRA? Kya wo kisi aur employee ko phone karegi jo tumhe karti? '

'Agar tum kuch nahi ho to ye bhi to koi nahi hai. All she wants is her place back in their lives. Something she lost because of her own mistakes. She was his wife, and now she wants it all.'

'She is not his wife anymore...'

'Wo to main.. (Prerna just mumbled that nobody heard)

'Hahaaa really, you can't even say the whole thing. Prerna Rishabh Ba ke aagey tumhari himmat nahi hoti kuch kehne ki. Tumhare liye Ba sirf 'BASU' hai 'BAJAJ' nahi. Jis haq se bina kisi rituals ke khud ko Anurag ki wife kehte nahi thakti thi, us haq se keh sakti ho that you are Mrs. Prerna Rishabh Bajaj? You are nothing but a stranger in his life, Prerna Sharma. If you are forgetting, you are here on a temporary visitor's access card. (She looked at her access card on the coffee table). If not for Mr. Mehra, you wouldn't have been allowed here. You wait and watch, Menaka sirf Mr. Bajaj hi nahi, Kukki ki life mein bhi jagah bana legi aur tum sirf dekhti reh jaogi'

'Aisa nahi hoga, never. Kukki ki Mom bas tum ho. Dekha na kaise tumse mili wo?'

'Jo Kukki tum jaise stranger mein apni Mom ko dhund sakti hai, imagine jab usey uski real Mom mil jayegi to tumhe poochega bhi kaun'

'Wo ab bhi tumhe hi apni Mom manti hai. Masi ne bhi kaha aaj bhi uski paintings mein tum hi uski family complete karti ho'

'Tum itni bewakoof kab se ho gayi Prerna? 'FAMILY'- is word ka meaning janti ho na. Usme sirf Kukki nahi Mr. Bajaj bhi aatey hain. Menaka hi hai jo har sense mein ye family complete kar sakti hai. Yaad rakho, almost 6 salon se Menaka in sab se dur hai, magar aaj bhi sab usko pyaar karte hain, uski baat mante hain. Kukki ho ya ab Masi. Dekhko kaise Masi uski baat sun rahi hain'

Prena looked at Masi, who was nodding in agreement to something Menaka said. Menaka had Masi's hands in hers. They looked like a mother and a daughter.

'Ab tak uske pass chance nahi tha Kukki ko pane ka par ab.. ab hai. Mr. Bajaj bhi aaj naraz hain par kal maan bhi sakte hain. Dil se na sahi but for the sake of his daughter. To agar tumhe lagta hai Kukki humesha tumhare pass rahegi to tum sirf ek sapna dekh rahi ho. Isse pehle ki tumhara ye stupid heart jo tumhe false hopes deta hai, wo toot jaye, ghar jaao packing karo, wapas Calcutta jake wait karo Anurag ka. The one you love.. your true love..'

"MAIN WAPAS JANE KE LIYE NAHI AAYI HOON YAHAN.. KAHI NAHI JAUNGI.. I'LL STAY HERE.."

Menaka and Masi looked at her surprised as she spoke in a raised voice, standing in front of them.

"Prerna, are you okay? Dheere, Kukki so rahi hai" Said Menaka, shaking her shoulders a little bringing her out of her trance.

"I am staying here. (It wasn't a request, she just announced this time) Aap log jake aram kijiye. I'll take care of both Kukki and Mr. Bajaj. Masi please ab aapko jake araam karna chahiye. Kukki ko pehle hi fever hai, if you also fall sick, Mr. Bajaj won't like it" said Prerna, in a stern voice this time. Masi looked at her puzzled as she could not really figure out why Prerna reacted that way. She spoke to them in a very authoritative manner, like she didn't want to leave scope for any further argument.

'Why is showing so much concern for all of us all of a sudden' thought Masi, still reading Prerna's determined face. Masi's chain of thoughts broke hearing Menaka's voice.

"Prerna, Masi mere sath ja rahi hain. Don't worry. And thank you for coming, it's a great help! I am taking Masi to the lounge, tumhe kuch chahiye to Chandu se keh dena or just call me okay?" Said Menaka, with a tired smile.

"Thank you! Take care of Masi and you too get some rest. You look tired yourself" said Prerna, returning the smile. But her smile faded as her brain struck back. 'Wow, so much concern for your competitor. Nice going Ms. Sharma. Jab tak tumhara ye stupid little heart tootega nahi, tab tak tum nahi manogi. No worries, I was just trying to protect you. Ohh shut up!! I don't need your protection' mumbled Prerna.

Masi got up with Menaka's support and looked at Prerna, "Hum tumhare upar trust karke apne bacchon ko yahan chhodke ja rahe hain. Ummeed karte hain ki tum usey todogi nahi"

Before Prerna could respond, Mr. Mehra entered the room and said, "Mam, please don't worry. I'll be here with Ms. Sharma. And I have taken care of everything, aap bilkul bhi tension mat lijiye and take rest"

"Thank you Mr. Mehra, kuch bhi ho to please humein bataiyega" she said and walked towards Rishabh on the bed. She caressed Rishabh's hair and kissed his forehead once and walked out with Menaka.

Prerna wanted to thank Mehra but he received a call. "Excuse me Mam, important call. I'll be back in a minute" Prerna nodded with a thankful smile and she sat back on the couch and she looked at Rishabh.

Her mind went back to the noisy beeps that scared everyone and then at the conversation she had heard about Rishabh's Mom, interrupted because Masi felt dizzy and she had to convince her to allow her to stay back. She knew Rishabh loved his Mom but the fact that he had to go through so much at such a tender age, just to protect her from her own husband, his father, was disturbing for her.

'How could anyone do this to his own family. To a 6 year old? For 3 years that monster kept torturing a kid for no fault of his own. He deserved to die' she said to herself feeling the anger for the man, she didn't even have a clue about. Based on the conversations heard she made a picture of a heavily drunk and wasted person in her mind, mercilessly beating his wife and son for no reason. It was enough to hate that person she didn't even know. 'Good he left this world'

She recalled Masi's words.

"Logo ne Rani ke upar hi shaq kiya ki kahi usi ne to us ghatiya insaan ko nahi mara"

'I'd have killed a person like that myself (she said clenching her fist). Did she really kill her husband? Nahi nahi aisa kaise ho sakta hai, Masi ne kaha na Mr. Bajaj aur unki Mom dono unhi ke ghar par the jab wo accident hua. Par agar unhone kiya bhi to bhi bhaut acha kiya. Tumhe pata bhi hai tum kya soch rahi ho? Killing a person is a crime. She commited a crime if she did that. Koi kisi ko is limit tak push karega to, aisa extreme step lene ke liye majboor ho hi jayega. Exactly, wo apne bacche ki life ke bare mein sochti ya us Monster ke? She probably killed a person Prerna Sharma! What's wrong with you? So what?? Noone gets to take law in their hand. She was protecting her family, her 9 year old child. Pehle to saaf nahi hai that she did it, even if she did, she was pushed to that limit. You are right, she wasn't a bad person, she loved her son.'

Prerna sat there debating the incident in her mind and her gaze fell at Kukki sleeping next to her, like a small ball wrapped up in a blanket. A faint smile formed on her face, but immediately turned into frown as she recalled Kukki's words, she said to her just a while back.

"Why can't you be friends with Papa and stay with me? He is not a bad person Mamma.."

"Is it because he tried to hurt your friend?"

That night played in front of her eyes, the night she had found herself locked in the room. When she came out she saw Anurag in Mr. Bajaj's grip with a knife in his hand.

'Agar unki Mom ke act jo justify kar rahi ho to phir ye kaise galat hua? Haina Prerna Sharma? Is hisab se to Mr. Bajaj ka Anurag ke upar attack karna bhi sahi tha, haina? Ab bolo ki jo Mr. Bajaj ne us din kiya wo majboori mein aake kiya ya he was pushed to do that? Kisne force kiya ye sab karne ke liye?' Her brain questioned her.

Prerna wanted to hear the voice of her heart, replying back to her brain, but she heard nothing. She felt confused.

"He made a mistake, Mamma, like you did sending him to jail. He was angry, like you were '

'He said sorry too'

Kukke's innocent words played at the back of her head.

"He must have done it because..." Prerna tried to answer the question that popped up in her brain. She couldn't understand how to find an answer. Not even her heart came to her rescue this time.

She sat with her head in her hands, lost finding the connection to why Rishabh did what he did that night, when she heard a knock on the door and Mr. Mehra entered the room. She got a much needed break from her never ending debate that was giving her a migraine.

Prerna was quick to thank Mr. Mehra as soon he came inside. "Thank you Mr. Mehra for the help. Masi shayad trust nahi kar rahi thi.." she said hesitatingly, recalling how reluctant Masi was to let her stay.

Mehra sat on the opposite couch and said "Mam she is also right, in her place. The way things happened back in Calcutta, it has left everyone scared. I am sure aap ko khud bhi time laga hoga to come out of.."

Prerna interrupted Mehra and said "I understand Mr. Mehra aap kya keh rahe hain. I know Masi is right in her place but she needs to rest. Now that she knows you are here, I am sure she'd be able to rest well. So thank you!"

Mehra just nodded and they both sat in silence for sometime. Prerna kept caressing Kukki's hair.

LOUNGE

10.00pm

Masi laid down on the couch and Menaka fixed a pillow and covered her with a blanket. Masi held her hand and made her sit next to her.

"Don't do so much Menaka, I don't want this to become a habit' said Masi.

Menaka smiled and caressed her face, "aapne hamein Mom ki tarah pyaar kiya hai. Adi ke jane ke baad jab Mom-Dad ki death ho gayi to aap hi to thi. It feels so good to be back with you after so long"

"Ek baat batao, tumne Prerna ko waha rukne ke liye kyu kaha?" asked Masi.

"Aap thak chuki hain, isliye Prerna ka rukna sahi tha. Kukki bhi uske sath comfortable hai. Kukki ko uske Papa se dur nahi sulana chahti thi, ab agar raat ko uthi bhi to Rishabh's presence will keep her calm. She has gone through a lot since last night. (She took a brief pause) I must say, she is very brave. Why am I not surprised" a hearty smile appeared on her face.

"Tum bhi to ruk sakti thi wahan.." asked Masi.

Menaka looked back at Masi "Wahi to nahi ho sakta Masi. Agar galti se RB uth ta to.. he is not in a condition ki itna sa bhi stress ho. And my presence will only cause him that. Soo.." Menaka was silent for a moment. "Masi" she spoke again with a bit of worry. "Kukki.. agar usne kuch kaha to? Humein Rishabh ke uthne se pehle Kukki ko samjhana hoga ki wo abhi kuch na kahe. Ek baar wo theek ho jaye to aap bata dijiye.."

"Tum hi samjha dena usey. Sunti hai tumhari to.." said Masi and gave her hand an assuring squeeze. With a hand gesture she asked Menaka to lie down next to her. Menaka followed and lied down with her back facing Masi.

Masi caressed the back of her hair and asked "Ek baat poochein tumse?"

"Hmm.." said Menaka, staring at the wall ahead.

"Kabhi move on karne ke baare mein socha nahi? Itne saal ho gaye hain" Masi kissed the back of her head.

"Nahi. Busy ho gayi thi life mein. Ab ye sab mein kuch nahi rakha Masi. Aap so jaiye please. Rishabh aur Kukki pehle hi theek nahi hain, upar se aap bhi to kaise chalega" said Menaka. She got up and said "aap aram se yahan so jayiye, main wahan samne wale couch pr hu"

Menaka moved to the other couch thinking, 'Move on? Kis se? RB se? He was and is my best friend, my first and only love. I fell for him, the day we gave that first presentation together and we won that national quiz. He was barely 21-22 but who'd say'

Menaka lied down, with her hands over her stomach she looked up at the ceiling.

After the quiz she was taking quick steps towards the washroom. She felt 'never felt before' feelings post presentation and she wanted to go a secluded place to make sense of what had happened to her within a span of 1 hour, she spent with him during the presentation. She had spent a week preparing for the quiz but everything was fine, but seeing him present did something to her.

"Hey??" She heard his voice from behind, her heart skipped a beat and she stopped in her tracks. Hugging her laptop close to her chest she turned on heels to look back.

He came running, his tie loosened and jacket & laptop in his left hand. He wore white shirts before but it never felt like this to her.

She had no idea when he was right in front of her. She snapped out of her thought when she heard him again "Hello Partner! Where are you lost?"

"Partner?" She could only do much to control her uneven breathing. She feared if he could hear her heart beating erratically. His infectious smile reaching his ears, his deep dimples, did make her go mad. She felt happy seeing him happy. He had worked really hard for this.

"Of course, you've been a dream partner. We wouldn't have won if.." he was interrupted by Menaka.

"I just helped you with the presentation, the ideas were all yours. And you were amazing out there" said Menaka.

"Exactly, even great ideas don't connect if not presented well. Your presentated reflected my mind, like you read it. Secondly, I wouldn't have been able to do this without your help, without missing classes" he said and gave her a light hug "Thank you!". This wasn't the first time he had hugged her. In the past 3 months since he joined the college, they all had come close as a gang. He took them all as his family and never hesitated in expressing his love and gratitude, for the 3 people who he always found by his side when he had no one.

'This is not his first hug Menaka, then why does it feel different today" she thought.

Rishabh broke the hug and said "Thanks Adi for the laptop and his suit. He was right, clothes did make a difference. I felt like a different person"

'You did. This looks great on you' she agreed, in her mind.

"I'll return it by evening.. you take care" he took a few steps away and came back. "You are my permanent partner now. See you all after classes" he said and left for his classes. She stood there glued in her place, with a huge smile on her face.

'Permanent Partner' Menaka had a huge smile on her face lying on the couch. She turned on her side to look at Masi 'I am not even sure if moving on is even an option here Masi. Us din wo, wo Rishabh nahi tha jiske sath hum time spend karte the. He was Rishabh Bajaj, unknown to any fear. It was hard to take eyes off him. Even the jury was impressed. I had seen him in a different light. Us idiot ko to pata bhi nahi tha that Menaka Adhiraj had fallen in an unplanned love with Rishabh Bajaj that very moment. Jab pyaar karna mere hath mein nahi tha, to move on kaise?' Turning the lights off, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

RECOVERY ROOM

10.30PM

Mehra was checking some emails Nidhi had forwarded from the office, when Prerna's voice tore the sound of monitors that had settled down in the room.

"I told him.." she said, looking at Rishabh.

Mr. Mehra didn't really get what she meant and he questioned "I am sorry, I didn't catch you.."

"I told him about the marriage and Anurag missing since that night" said Prerna.

Her words got his immediate attention and he slipped his phone back in his jacket. "What did he say?" Mehra sat straight, curious to know about his boss's reaction.

She chuckled and looked at Mehra. "He asked me, if I want him to look for Anurag"

Mehra took a deep sigh and leaned back on the couch. 'When will he learn?' He thought. But all that came out of his mouth was "Do you?" Mehra was quick to realise he shouldn't have. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright Mr. Mehra. You don't have to say sorry. And answer to your question is that I do want to find out about him but it has to be the police, not Mr. Bajaj or you" she said, determined with her decision.

"Did you tell him about the divorce papers? That you two are still legally married? What was his reaction on that" asked Mehra.

"No. I did not, I could not.."

"Why?" Mehra was puzzled. 'Why wouldn't you tell him that? (He screamed in his mind)

Prerna recalled the entire conversation and everything he had said about her finding peace in Kukki in absence of her own child. "Mr. Mehra, things didn't go down very well, kuch aisi baatein hui ki (sorry I can't tell you about our child- she said to herself).. he didn't look very well too.. bhaut kuch ek sath ho raha tha, divorce papers ke baare mein batane ka na to meaning tha aur na hi sahi waqt"

'He was telling me to move on over Kukki, that he'll move back to London. How could I have talked about divorce papers, Mr. Mehra' she thought.

She took a deep breath and continued, "aur batake fayda bhi kya hota. I have lost everyone's trust, if I had gained any in the first place. Shayad Kukki hi thi jisne tab bhi mujhe trust kiya aur aaj bhi. Par kab tak I don't know (Menaka's presence had churned up a fear inside her)"

"Mam, I can't say about anyone else because I have little involvement in family matters and Mr. Bajaj and I prefer it that way. But it's not just Kukki who trusted you. (Prerna looked at him intrigued). Bacche to jahan pyaar mil jata hai wahan attach ho jate hain, but adults only trust when they have weighed all pros and cons"

Prerna only got confused and asked "I am sorry Mr. Mehra but I don't think I am following you."

"Mam main bas ye kehna chah raha hu, Kukki jo filhal bina kisi fikra aapke paas so rahi hai. She means more than life to someone, she is someone's only reason to live. Her being with you, don't you understand who trusted you and to what extent? Probably that trust still remains intact, because no matter what happened back then, you were never and still not stopped from meeting and spending time with her, are you?" Said Mehra.

Prerna just sat there looking at Mehra waiting for him to say further but to her surprise he got up from his place and moved towards Rishabh's bed. 'Aapko kisi aur ke trust ki zarurat nahi hai Mrs. Bajaj, jiske trust ki zarurat hai wo aapke paas humesh se hai. Only question that remains is, DO YOU TRUST HIM? That's the question you need to find an answer for' He thought as he stood there for a few moments and then looked back at Prerna

"Please take care of him, Mam..." he said and walked towards the door.

"Mr. Mehra, don't you want to complete the conversation?" She felt a bit restless not hearing the whole thing.

"Meri baat khatm ho gayi Mam, take care. Kuch zaroorat hai to call me, I am right outside."

He knew Prerna was thinking in the direction, he wanted her to. She looked down at Kukki lost in her thought, and then at Rishabh, when Mehra stopped outside the door, looking at her through the glass opening. 'Kuch cheezein aapko khud samajhni hongi Mam. Ye samajhna hoga that Mr. Bajaj trusted you with his life, his daughter. Last time aapko kuch samjhne ka chance hi nahi mila tha. I can understand it must have been difficult for you to make sense of things with Mr. Bajaj and Mr. Basu under the same roof. Is baar koi influence nahi hai, there is no deal, no compulsion. You are free of any bonds be it related to Mr. Basu or Mr. Bajaj. Aap khud samajhiye ki aap Mrs. Bajaj banke yahan rehna chahti hain ya wapas apni life mein jana chahti hain, because ab aap sirf Kukki ki Mom banke nahi reh payengi. Last time shayad aapko decide karne ka chance hi nahi mila tha, but this time the choice is all yours. I am 100% sure once you've made your choice, you'll carve you way too" he walked away to the waiting area leaving Prerna behind with her thoughts and to what he always believed "Her Family"

Malnad, Karnataka

Around 246 km and a four and a half hours drive away from Bangalore, Aditya and Tanvi visited a village in Malnad. Heavy rains had caused landslides; around 1800 electricity poles were uprooted, causing a power crisis in around 7 nearby villages, bringing havoc to normal lives. Along with this, heavy damage was caused to houses and livestock, no power for the past 10 days made everything difficult. Government officials in association with NGOs were trying to restore things for the villagers. One of the NGOs had approached BI for financial assistance and they got them both to the village to see the damage for themselves so BI could help them. For Aditya, this was a great opportunity for creating partnerships for AMRA to work on future projects as they worked on this one.

10.45pm

"I can't believe people have been without any power here for past 10 days" said Tanvi lying on a jute cot with no matteress, constantly scratching her hands and feet looking up at the sky. "Ohh God, these mosquitoes.." (spat)Tanvi had no idea how many mosquitoes she had killed. She made faces feeling disgusted removing the dead mosquito off her hand, everytime she killed one.

Aditya laid on the adjacent cot, his head rested over his arms, looking up at the sky full of stars rarely visible back in Mumbai. He always felt at peace under the open sky, away from the chaos of crowded cities.

"You know I love when I get to see so many stars. I don't remember when was the last time I saw so many stars" he spoke, still looking up.

His words grabbed Tanvi's attention, a good break from the irritating humming sound of mosquitoes around her ears.

"I don't think I saw or I must say even heard, so many mosquitoes ever in my life" she said, with frustration in her voice. "How do people even survive this mosquito attack? How does this place even have a human race existing, when it is so badly ruled by these flying creatures" She heard nothing from him.

"Are you even listening, Aditya?" Aditya was oblivious to his surroundings, as he was taking in the sound of insects. "Aditya.." she called him again. Frustrated Tanvi sat up straight on the cot and said in a raised voice "Adi.."

Aditya sat up in a quick movement, coming out of his world "What? What happened? Are you okay?" He asked, looking at her with concern.

"I am NOT, these (spat- she killed another one). If there was a punishment for killing mosquitoes, I'd have been hanged multiple times by now.." she said with a pout, still scratching her hand. She was almost on the verge of crying. Soon her eyes glistened with a thin layer of tears. "I didn't sign up for this" she said, crying.

Aditya couldn't help but smile at her antics "Are you crying? (He chuckled) You are such a kid! What's wrong?"

"After a long village tour I thought I'd get to sleep but I can't. I am sleepy and tired but I can't sleep" tears rolled down her eyes.

Aditya removed his handkerchief and gave it to her. "Don't cry. Mosquitoes pareshan kar rahe hai to you should have told me earlier. Wait here I'll be back"

Tanvi wiped her tears with his handkerchief and she noticed letters embroidered at one of the corners. She brought it near the oil lamp by her side on the ground to see closely

A2

'A-square as in Aditya Adhiraj.. Personalised handkerchief.. that's kind of cute. I like it" a smile broke on her face and she wiped her tears. Because of recent rains and the open area of the village the weather was pleasant but mosquitoes made her life hell.

Within minutes he was back with a small bag, she had seen in their car. He removed an ointment and gave it to her "Pehle put this on your scratches, it'll make you feel better. And try not scratching, it makes it worse." Tanvi quietly followed and the cooling effect of the ointment on her skin did make her feel good. He removed a net like a thing from the bag and a villager who was helping them around came with 4 sticks and fixed them on 4 corners of her cot.

"What is this?" Asked Tanvi.

"Don't tell me you haven't seen a mosquito net in your life?" He said, fixing the net along with the helper.

"Of course I have seen a net, but why are you fixing it just around my cot? What about you?" asked Tanvi and she got up from the cot.

"That's because it fits only a single cot. I have been solo travelling for years now, so I just have one. Next time whenever you visit remote places, carry one of yours even if you don't need it, hardly weighs anything"

"What about you?" She was quick to ask.

"I am used to all this, haven't used the net for a long time. I just have a habit to carry. Aaj tumhari wajah se it got a chance to come out of the bag" said Aditya, done fixing the net. He thanked the helper and looked at Tanvi "Here it's ready. No more mosquitoes.." he said and sat back on his cot.

"But I can't. You will sleep in the open and I sleep inside this? Not fair" said Tanvi, standing by his side scratching her feet lifted up in the air.

"Tanvi, honestly I am good, go sleep. Kal subah jaldi visit ke liye jana hai. I know the day was tiring so just get some sleep" he said and laid back on his cot, putting the sheet under his head.

Tanvi turned to walk back when she heard him again "Good Night! And stop scratching". She looked back at him, he had turned in the other direction "Good night" she couldn't contain her smile. 'He is so sweet' she thought.

She entered the little tent over her cot and there were no more flying creatures to rob off her sleep. She laid on her side looking at his back facing her and whispered "Thank you!" She looked at the handkerchief and moved her thumb over the embroidered letters, with a smile adorning her face.

Aditya on his side was looking at the picture of him and Ara in his wallet. 'You'd have loved this place'. Removing the picture from the wallet he turned it over and moved his thumb over the faded scribbling.

Ara + Aditya = A2

'Wish I had a chance to tell you what A2 meant to me. You always, rather everyone thought it was my name, but for me it was more than that. I wish I had never left that day' sadness took over him as he recalled the worst day of his life 10 years ago. 'Things could have been different if I heard you.."

"Adi, listen to me please!" Ara followed him as he moved back and forth between his Almirah and his open bag on the bed in his studio apartment.

"Tum sab kuch aise chhodke nahi jaaa sakte ho, sit and talk. Running away is not a solution. Tumhare parents ke sath misunderstanding hui to you left family business and home and came here. Ab is misunderstanding ki wajah se hum sabko chhod ke chale jaoge?? Are you listening, Adi?" He didn't care that she was following him, pleading to hear her out.

"I know you were hurt and so was Menaka, but let's just talk and sort out things. Jaise un dono ne apne matters resolve kar liye, tum aur RB bhi kar lo. I'll call him, tum baat to kar lo. Aise chale jane se kya Menaka khush hogi?" She tried everything to make him stop for a second and listen to her.

"ADI STOP!!" she screamed, throwing all his clothes from his bag on the floor. "LISTEN TO ME!!" she said in a commanding voice this time, she was done pleading and following.

Aditya looked at her with his red angry eyes. "WHAT??? You want me to talk to that (he minced his teeth, not wanting to take Risbabh's name). He did what he wanted. He wanted WebFlix back, today he took it away. And what are you doing here defending him"

Meanwhile Menaka had also come. Looking at the two, she tried to intervene and said "Adi just listen to her once, please. Ek baar baat to sun lo please"

Aditya shook his head in disbelief. "Menaka you too, I can't believe this is happening. RB ne tum dono ko samjha ke yahan bheja hai?"

"Usey pata bhi nahi hai hum yaha hain, wo to ab tak auction venue se wapas bhi nahi aya hai" said Menaka.

"5 saal se I was running that company. He came and took it away just like that and now you both want ME to talk to him?"

"You put that company for auction, he bought it. What is so wrong about it Adi? Wo kisi ajnabi ke paas jaye usse kahi acha hai wo uske paas rahe jisne usey banaya. Don't you think so?" questioned Ara.

"Wo company kisi ke pass bhi jati, I don't care but uske paas nahi." Said Aditya.

"Uski mehnat thi wo. Raat raat baithke usne us startup ko set kiya tha, that too along with his classes, bhool gaye?" said Menaka this time.

He faced Menaka and said, "Kiske sath tha wo un raaton ko? Kisne raato ko jagke uske liye wo app create kiya? Now you are telling me ki maine kuch kiya hi nahi? What magic has he done on you two, jo dono hi uski side se baat kar rahe ho?

He walked towards Menaka, standing right in front of her "Aur Menaka tum, 5 (2005-06) saal pehle, you hated him and I took away WebFlix from him tab sab theek tha. And 5 years down the line tum uske side se baat kar rahi ho? I can't believe two people who meant the most to me, are taking his side, leaving me all alone"

"Humne apne misunderstandings clear kar liye the Adi, isliye ek saal pehle I moved out of WebFlix, because I realised it was wrong. Aur ye mat bhoolo I was only the reason that you took away WebFlix from him" Said Menaka, looking deep into his eyes. She saw his eyes go soft for a moment before his anger was back.

"Aur pichle ek saal mein ek flourishing company reached a stage of auction. Tum jante ho Adi ye sab tumhare liye nahi bana hai. Jiske liye tum bane ho, no one can beat you there. Main development sector mein humesha se interested thi, Dad ki death ke baad na chahte hue bhi I had to take his place and even got elected to represent the constituency. But tumhare bina ye sab adhoora tha. You are meant for this, same waise hi RB is meant for that world. WebFlix is in safe hands Adi. Jo hua wo bhool jao aur.." Ara couldn't complete.

Aditya held her by her arms and almost screamed "AUR KYA? Haan aur kya? Ussey baat karu jisne.." His voice was so loud that Ara shuddered under his gaze, his fingers digging deep into her arms. She felt frightened for the first time ever around him. She had known him from childhood, but this wasn't the Adi she had known.

"Jisne kya Adi? Tumne apne dimaag mein bas ek kahani bana li hai, jisse bahar tum kuch dekhna hi nahi chahte ho. Tum se zyada samajhdar to Menaka aur RB hain. Age mein chhote hai but fir bhi cheezein maturely handle karte hain. Tumhara ye gussa hi hai jo tumhara nuksan karta hai, jo kisi ko ye dekhne nahi deta that how good a person you are.." she had tears in her eyes as she spoke, his hands still holding her by arms.

'Tum sab apne apne decisions le leto ho aur main mante aya hu. Not anymore. I am no more going to waste my life on you all. I am leaving"

Menaka got a call and she stepped aside while Ara read his eyes looking for her Adi but all she found was an angry man standing right in front of her. She wasn't going to beg or plead to a person who stood so close to her.

"RB wants to speak to you Adi, just talk to him once" Menaka extended her phone in his direction, looking at him with hope.

"Just tell him to get lost and celebrate his take over.." said Aditya and he took the phone and threw it away on the bed. Menaka stood there stunned.

Ara removed his hands off her arms and stepped back without saying a word. None of them removed their eyes off the other one. Still staring deep into Adi's eyes Ara said "Menaka, go be with RB. He also needs someone by his side. What he did wasn't easy for him, like Mr. Aditya Adhiraj thinks. Mr. Mehra ne bataya how disturbed he was for doing all this" she looked angrily at Aditya and Menaka was quick to leave.

She bent down and picked up all his clothes from the floor and put them on the bed. She folded them one at a time and arranged them in his bag. Aditya looked at her quizzically following her every move.

"What are you doing?" He said, breaking the deafening silence between the two.

"Packing your stuff" she said, and continued folding each piece of his clothes with utmost care. "Tum sab chhod kar chale jana chahte ho na. I'll help you with packing"

"Don't you want to defend him anymore?" He asked.

"Not anymore. I got my answers" she said and walked to his cupboard to get more of his stuff.

He held her by the wrist and stopped her. "What do you mean?"

She was quick to jerk his hand off her wrist. "Nothing, I thought I came to talk to my childhood friend, one person who cared so much for me, who promised to support me no matter what, but he is not here. I'll wait for him to be back and then maybe we can talk and he'd listen"

"So you want me to go?" He asked.

"I want you to stay, isiliye yahan ayi. But now there is no point in asking you to stay back. Maybe one day when you've realised what you are doing, then we can talk again. You got us all together Adi, but you want to abandon then, it's your decision. But I'll hold us all 3 together till you decide to come back, if you ever do"

She took a few steps in his direction. Cupping his face in her hands she placed a kiss on his forehead and said "GoodBye Adi. I know last 5 years mein you yourself have gone through a lot. You think RB is at fault, but he isn't. Because if he is then all of us are. You deserve to find your peace, hope you find the peace you are looking for. Agar hum sabse dur jane se tumhe sukoon milta hai to jaao. Forgive me for doing any wrong that I did to you, if I did any. I have no plans to abandon them and I won't at any cost. Also I promise to always take care of Menaka and RB, because no matter how much you deny and hide it behind your anger, fact is they mean the world to you" She further closed the distance and hugged him for one last time "I hope you come back soon and we, I get to see you again. Bas itni dur mat chale jana ki wapas nahi aa paao. Ara will wait for Adi"

She wiped her tears and walked away from him but he held her hand and stared at it. A metal band he had gifted on her 18th birthday still adorned her finger. He recalled how that band had only fit her ring finger and then it stayed as a memoir of their friendship. But then he felt her pulling her hand away from his, like he was losing everything in that moment.

Looking at the band in her hand she said "No matter what, this stays where it is till I am alive. Nothing, absolutely nothing will change your place in my life Adi. I'll take your leave now, my people need me" Her last words to him before she vanished out of his sight.

Aditya played with a ring in his hand as he re-lived an old memory, his last memory of her. Their last conversation. "I went too far from all of you. Itna dur ki.. (he stared at the ring) I wished to replace that metal band on your hand with this, but destiny had something else written for us. Wish I had heard you with an open mind and spoke to RB that very day, maybe things would have been different. You'd not have left, I'd not have wasted 10 years of my life hating the person I loved as my younger brother, running away from you all because I failed to face the reality or should I say, I refused to accept it. I dunno if you'd ever be able to forgive me? I wish you could come back to me to say that you forgave me, just once' he put the picture & the ring back in his wallet. Keeping it under his sheet that he used as a pillow and he kept staring at nothing, sleep was nowhere near him.

Recovery Room

11.45pm

Prerna was thinking about everything that was happening with her in the past few months, pacing near Kukke, when she heard curtains being pulled, a nurse entered closing the curtains on the door. Within seconds Rastogi too came in. While Rastogi was busy checking him, Prerna walked to the nurse and asked "All good?"

"Yes, he is stable. Dr. Rastogi needs hourly updates on him, that's why" said the nurse and got busy reading the monitors and making notes on her tab. Prerna smiled at the nurse and then looked at him from so close for the first time since she arrived in the evening.

He was less pale than he was about a few hours back when the monitors got all noisy. He was still on a blood transfusion and other drugs. 'I wish I had not stopped Menaka that night'

"If there is any problem please call me immediately. I'll be in the room" said Rastogi to the nurse, breaking her chain of thoughts.

Kukki shifted and Prerna was quick to reach her. She was mumbling in her sleep, calling for her dad. She reached Rastogi and asked "Uncle is it okay if I made Kukki sleep on his bed, it's quite big and I promise I'll keep a safe distance between them"

Rastogi walked back to Kukke to check on her temperature and lovingly caressed her hair. "She is a brave child" He looked back at Prerna and agreed. "Dhyaan rahe koi bhi instrument wires ya tubes disturb na ho. Can I trust you with that?" Asked Rastogi, with a tired smile.

Prerna nodded with a huge smile on her face. "Thank you!"

"Okay take care, the nurse will check almost every hour. Kuch bhi hai to bata dena. Okay?" He said and left.

"Mam, do you need all the lights?" Asked the nurse, interrupting her thoughts.

"No.. I am good" said Prerna.

As the nurse left, she turned most of the lights off leaving a few smaller ones. The ambience changed within a second. Nurse had closed the curtains on her way in and that blocked the lights from outside. Everything was calm and serene, most of the illumination was because of the monitors around his bed.

Prerna brought Kukki to his bed and made her lie next to him and covered her with her own blanket. Kukki opened her eyes a little and found Prerna right in front of her eyes (her back facing Rishabh). "Mamma, Papa?" She asked with heavy eyes.

Prerna kissed her and said "Us taraf dekho. Papa to aapke paas hai. But abhi hum unke paas nahi ja sakte, nahi to aapko Papa se dur couch pe sona padega"

"I won't disturb, I promise" Kukki turned and looked at his IV free hand on the bed, between her and him. She turned to look back at Prerna, who knew what she wanted. Prerna took her hand and carefully kept it over his. She couldn't see Kukki's face but she didn't need to; to know how happy Kukki must have been. She kept her left hand around Kukki's waist to stop moving towards him in sleep and tapped her head with the other one. Tired Prerna too laid her head over the bed, right next to Kukki's as her sleep ridden eyes felt heavy and the monitors beeps that scared everyone a while back, now beeping at a consistent rate with his heart felt calming, putting her to sleep.

As soon as Prerna's hands stopped tapping Kukki opened her eyes and looked at 3 hands right in front of her eyes. Hers on her dad and Prerna's next to her chest, creating a barrier. She lifted Prerna's hand and kept it over her father's hand. With a smile she looked at the two hands of her parents and thought 'See Mamma, it's not that difficult. You be his friend and stay with me' she kept her little hand protectively on the top and closed her eyes.

THURSDAY (NEXT DAY)

RECOVERY ROOM

7.00am

Prerna woke with a jerk, and found herself in the room with Kukki sleeping right in front of her eyes. She yawned and then her gaze laid at Rishabh still sleeping unaware of the world around. Unknowingly a smile creeped on her lips as her eyes kept shifting between Kukki, her face away from her and him.

She placed her right elbow on the bed rested her head on her hand, not ready to look at anything else. She moved her left hand to tie her hair up, but she felt it was stuck. She removed the blanket and Kukki had a grip over her hand, she smiled and that's when she realised her hand was on top of another hand, 'his hand'. Her smile just vanished. She tried to pull her hand but Kukki shifted a little. She let her hand in under hers not wanting to wake her up so early.

'Oh my God, what if he wakes up? What? You are worried about him wake up? Is it okay to keep it there if he doesn't wake up? It's just a hand. Haven't you danced with him. Kukke will wake up, let the little girl sleep for a while. Right, it's just a hand. We did dance, yeah. It should be alright (she took breath, staring at three hands together) Just look how protectively Kukke is holding your hand. Hmm (Prerna smiled) There she goes again!!

After a long doubtful stare to subsiding awkwardness, slowly she curled her fingers around his palm and clutched his hand under him and sat there for sometime confused of, what she felt. She was not comfortable but she wasn't uncomfortable either. Did she have a word for that feeling? NO.

She looked at his face and thought 'Get well soon Mr. Bajaj. This is your worst look, doesn't suit you a bit. You looked your best when you gave it back to Shetty's, that was smooth' she smiled remembering the entire conversation.

"See he doesn't bite, does he?" Prerna jumped off the stool she spent the entire night on and quickly pulled her hand startled by a sweet sleepy voice. She looked down at Kukki and she stared at her with a drowsy smile.

"Kukki you scared me, baby!!" Prerna's heart was ready to break out of her chest. she felt like she was caught stealing.

"I told you he is a good man. He doesn't hurt. Now you'd be his friend?" Asked Kukki sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes open.

Prerna shook her head in amazed at the perseverance of a soon to be 6 year old. "You don't forget things, do you?" She asked Kukki and kissed her forehead.

"Will you be his friend then?" Asked Kukki again, cupping her face in hers.

Prerna held both her hands in her hands and said "We'll see"

"That's good for me" said Kukki, confusing Prerna a bit.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't say NO. So there is a chance right? I am not going to give up on you so soon" Prerna chuckled and asked "where do you learn all this from?"

Kukki looked back at her father and Prerna didn't have to wait for her words. Kukki turned and got on her 4 limbs and carefully crawled to reach his pillow. The tube running across his face broke her heart. She turned to look back at Prerna like she was seeking her permission.

"It's alright, you can kiss him" said Prerna and Kukki didn't wait even for a second and lowered her lips on his right cheek with utmost care not to touch the tube. "Kukki loves you the most, Papa.."

Prerna had moved closer to take Kukki away as she was too close to the wires but she stopped right there seeing slight movement in his eyes. She was bent over the bed with her head right behind Kukki's. Both Kukki and Prerna's eyes were glued at his, barely inches apart, waiting to see if he was waking up. Kukki's hand reached his face and she just whispered "Papa"

Rishabh opened his eyes little to a blurry image of his daughter, he could recognise even with closed eyes. 'Hey Princess' he said to himself. He felt Kukki's kiss on his chest and felt some weight; he knew it was his girl resting her head on his chest and then his eyes met another blurry face hovering over his. His eyes were threatening to close but he made some effort to stay up for a little while. He could see light behind a face, eyes looking at him, he wanted to clear the vision but it wouldn't.

Prerna was frozen in her place as her eyes scanned his face. It felt like he was trying to recognise something or her.

'You are here..' he said to himself in his mind, as the blurry face was replaced by a smiling one, he knew that face. He struggled to keep his eyes open. 'Go back to sleep, you are tired' words echoed in his ears and he felt a hand caressing his face.

Prerna hesitatingly had kept her hand over his face worried a little as she couldn't understand if he was feeling any pain or wanted to say something.

The touch was the most calming, one he had missed for years. 'Stay' he said in a mumbling voice this time still staring at the smiling face.

Worried Prerna heard it this time and her eyes widened as she felt a weak grip on the wrist of the hand that was still on his face. It was not even a minute but felt like the world was moving at jet speed around Prerna.

To her surprise his lips stretched a little into a smile for a moment, before he closed his eyes again. His smile faded and grip on her wrist loosened within seconds and his hand slipped by his side over Kukki's back who still laid on him.

Prerna came out of her reverie and hit the call button by his bedside. She stood straight; still shocked, she took a few slower steps back. "This is the same as he did when he was in the back seat of his car, when we all drove him back from Pune. What do you mean? The smile. He smiled exactly the same way. Why does he? Is it for me? Wooahh hold on to your horses right there. Why would he smile at you? I know, he has never smiled that way, not even for Kukki. It's different. I have never seen it. Who is it that he sees? You? But why? I am not sure. I don't even know if he couldn't even see anything but blurred images being on high drug dosages. Us din bhi he was not in his senses and it's the same today."

Nurse had arrived within a minute to check on him. Prerna stood there paralysed trying to make sense of his smile.

'You answered your own question, it could just be the drugs messing up. Don't read too much into it' she heard a voice from inside her brain. 'You are sleep deprived and overthinking' I think I have to agree with you for a change, I am over thinking about everything. It's just the drugs or maybe he was dreaming. But he said 'Stay'. Did he ask ME to stay??" Her chain of thoughts was interrupted by Kukki's voice..

"Papa tried to wake up" said Kukki, replying to the nurse, when Prerna didn't reply even after 2 calls by the nurse. Prerna felt weight around her legs and looked down at Kukki. "Where are you lost? Nurse is calling you"

"He woke up and went off to sleep" said Prerna, still staring at his face, now tilted a bit away from them.

"It's okay Mam, I'll inform Dr. Rastogi" said the nurse and left.

"Everything okay?" Kukki pulled her hand to grab her attention. Prerna gave a weak smile and immediately came down on her knees. She cupped Kukki's face and asked, trying her best to stay calm. "If Mamma asks you something, will you tell her truthfully"

Though Prerna did her best, Kukki noticed her restlessness. "What is it? I promise I'd say the truth"

"Did you see your father smile and say something?" Prerna looked at Kukki with a questioning glance.

"No I did not.." said Kukki. Prerna felt disappointed and got up to get on her feet.

"But he smiles sometimes when.." both Kukki and Prerna looked at the door as another voice completed Kukke's sentence.

"When he is dreaming" said Menaka, standing at the half open door. 'Thank God he didn't wake up. I need to talk to Kukki before that' thought Menaka standing at the door.

"Dreaming?" asked Prerna.

"Yeah, meet Rishabh- the Dreamer" said Menaka, with a smile. Her look was enough for Prerna to know that she had seen it happen. "And if he is sick ya medicines ka effect ho to even more. Because then he fails miserably to keep up his Mr. Bajaj thing going on"

"What does he dream about?" Prerna was curious to know who that smile was for.

"College time pe mostly about his mother. He misses her a lot"

It did make sense to Prerna. 'Right, maybe he saw his mother. Makes so much sense, missing her warmth and care. He loves her..' Prerna could not complete her thought when she heard Menaka again.

"But you never know, it could be anyone, any memory. Adi, Kukki, Me.. (she paused) or even you Prerna. I am sure 3 months is good enough a time to give someone a reason to smile. Right?" Said Menaka and stood by his bed.

"How do you know about this?" Kukki asked and walked up to Menaka.

Menaka came down on her knees and said "I know a lot of your dad's secret. But I can only share if you come with me, Dadi Masi is waiting for you in the lounge. Freshen up hoke, eat something. Tab tak Prerna ko yaha rukne do. Baad mein Masi aur aap jana and Prerna can take some rest. Works?"

"You'll tell me about more secrets." Asked Kukke.

"Of course. Funny secrets. Prerna did you tell Kukki about the horrible Pizzatta shake?" Kukki looked at her curiously. Prerna just shook her head a little.

"So Prerna ne ko aapko nahi bataya. Chalo then I'll tell you. Shall we go?" Kukki nodded with excitement.

Kukki ran towards Rishabh and said "I'll be back Papa" and then she said to Prerna "and you think about the friendship"

"Friendship??" asked Menaka.

"It's our secret" said Kukki and winked at Prerna.

Menaka took her in her arms and kissed her "not an issue, baby. Prerna thodi der yaha baitho then you and I can go for a coffee or a tea. Abhi Masi aur Kukki ko kuch khila dete hain. Kabse Masi yahan aane ki zidd kar rahi hai, mushkil se roka hai(Prerna nodded) Let's go" said Menaka and left.

'She is right, it was his mother. He misses her a lot. Ye to maine Basu Badi mein bhi feel kiya tha'

'It could be you too Prerna. I am sure 3 months is good enough a time to give someone a reason to smile. Right?' Menaka's words rang like a bell inside her head.

"Did I? Was there any moment that I could make him smile? Something he'll dream about? I was just busy running after Anurag, caring for the Basu family more than my own family. I was busy misunderstanding him, telling him how wrong he was even when he helped Maa, tab bhi I had just accused him. Ohhh God! Kuch sahi bhi kiya tha kya tumne Prerna? She had no idea when she had reached the couch on the other side of the room. She covered her face and sat back on the couch. 'What have you done with your life? It's okay you were in love. Pyaar karti thi par apne aas paas ke logo ko hurt karke hi pyaar ho sakta tha. He definitely saw his Mom. Could be anyone but me. I can only be his nightmare, not a memory that's bring him any happiness"

Lounge (rest room)

8.30am

"He really did that?" Said Kukki and broke into a loud laughter, as Menaka wrapped her in a towel after giving her a quick shower.

"Ohh yess, he did that. It was yuckyy" Menaka picked her up and made her stand on the bench outside the shower cubicle. Kukki couldn't stop laughing as she heard about the disgusting drink, her father made and finished it too.

"I didn't know he likes Cassatta. He just enjoys choco chips flavor, that too when I feed him. What else, tell me more" said Kukki.

"Umm he likes music a lot. The very first gift I gave him was a walkman"

"Walkman? You gave him a man?" Asked Kukki.

"NOO. Not a real Man, baby. These days you get ipods and little music players. During that time we had walkmans, a portable music player. He loved it" said Menaka.

"Ohh. Where is it? I never saw him listening to music. Dadi Masi said he used to sing me to sleep when I was a little baby. He just sang a song for me when we had gone to a hotel, I had fallen sick in school. I think he was sick because of me" Kukki's smile faded.

Menaka remembered the conversation she had heard between Rishabh and Kukke's school counsellor.

"No it's not true. Wo to Papa had so much work at the office. It was not you baby. He is very careless, it's not you" Menaka kissed her. "Chalo ab jaldi se change and then breakfast"

Menaka began to put fresh clothes on her and Kukki asked "How do you know all this about him? Were you friends?"

Menaka looked at her and said "We were best friends. Bestest friends" she had a smile on her face as she made Kukki wear her T-shirt.

"Adi uncle bhi and aap bhi? Why don't you two talk then? Adi uncle comes home, why don't you?" Asked Kukki.

Menaka just paused with her shorts in her hands. "Because Papa is angry with me" she said in a low voice. Kukki held her by her shoulders for support and put her leg in the shorts.

"Because I failed to be a good friend. I told you no that I failed" Menaka finished.

Kukki noticed repent on her face and cupped her face. "Don't worry, you can say sorry. Wo maan jate hain. I do it all the time"

Menaka fixed her clothes and said with a smile "I am not you. Nobody is you. You are too special, more than you even know" she kissed her and hugged her close to her heart.

Kukki broke the hug and said, "You are very nice. I like you a lot. Jab tak Papa aapke friend nahi bante I can be your friend" Kukki raised her hand in front of her.

Menaka's eyes glistened, wondering at her innocence. "Thank you baby, but if your dad gets to know, he won't like it. I told you no, he is very mad at me. And you little angel, never hide anything from him. I did that once and I lost everything"

"Don't worry, I never hide from him. I have my own way of telling him things"

"Like leaving notes inside the books in his study that he finds later?" Asked Menaka and looked at Kukki with curiosity. "Do you?"

"No not notes, but drawings. I share it in my drawing books. Aur jab wo aapke friend ban jayenge then, you can tell him"

"That sounds like we have our own little secret too. Don't we?" Said Menaka.

"We do but not for very long. Now that we are friends, what do I call you?" Asked Kukki.

"Hey Partner" she recalled Rishabh's word.

"You can call me partner"

"Done. Big Partner"

"And you are my Baby Partner. Give me a minute and then we go out" Menaka began folding her clothes to send them away for wash and Kukki's eyes kept following.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Hmmm" Menaka picked up the towel from the bench.

Before Kukki could ask anything Masi appeared at the door. "What are you two upto? Bahar ane ka plan nahi hai. Kukki come fast then we go to your dad's room. Chalo jaldi"

Kukki walked out holding Masi's hand but she kept looking back at Menaka as she put her clothes in a bag. 'She is Papa's friend, knows about him. She likes me, takes so much care of me just like Prerna Mamma. Can she be my Mom? Are you my Mom, Big partner?' A doubt, a thought had seeded in Kukki's mind.

10.00am

Masi had left Menaka with Kukki and came to see Rishabh as soon as she was done. She found Prerna was standing outside the room looking all tired and phone next to her ear.

"Prerna, tum room ke bahar kya kar rahi ho?" Asked Masi, puzzled.

"Masi I was calling Menaka only, andar doctors are attending him. Wo abhi uthe the but kafi pain tha. I immediately called the doctors and abhi aapko hi call kar rahi thi ye batane ke liye ki Kukki ko yaha abhi na laye"

"You are right" said Masi and immediately dialed Menaka to keep her occupied till they heard from the doctors.

Masi had Rishabh's phone in her hand too that she had called from home. It rang in her hand, school counsellor flashing on the screen.

Masi was quick to receive the call.

"Hello, Mr. Bajaj?"

"No this is Kukki's grandmom" said Masi and went aside.

"Kukki's teacher told me she has not come to school yesterday and aaj bhi nahi. I just called to see if all is okay. I hope you know Mr. Bajaj and I have been in conversation regarding her and her well being"

"Hum jante hain. I am very sorry, I should have informed but baat hi aisi hui ki hum bhool gaye " Masi apologised and regretted not informing.

"Mam, all okay? You sound a bit disturbed. Is Kukki okay?" Hearing silence from the other end she continued "Please don't worry we have signed a non-disclosure agreement and being a counsellor I assure, nothing goes out"

Masi felt assured and said "Kukki is fine, her dad is hospitalised. Isliye hum usey school nahin bhej paye aur inform karna bhi bhool gaye"

"Ohh. I am really sorry, I hope he gets well soon. How is Kukki doing with all this? Last time she blamed herself and Mr. Bajaj and I had a long conversation about it. She is way too attached with him."

"Wo theek hai, we are all here with her." Said Masi taking a seat.

"Good, but I'll suggest keep her distracted and if possible send her to school from tomorrow. I'd like to talk just to make sure she is all good. I hope you are getting what I am trying to say?"

"Hum samajh rahe hain. Hum koshish karenge kal school bhejne ka. Thank you!"

"Please don't thank me for doing my job. Just keep her occupied and I hope to see her tomorrow. Wishing Mr. Bajaj a fast recovery" Ms. Jain, kept the phone on the table and thought 'More than Kukki, it's Mr. Bajaj I need to talk to as soon as he is better" she sighed and focused on her laptop.

"Rastogiji, theek hai na sab?" Aksed Masi, as soon as he came out.

"We suspect a minor rebleed and it's not uncommon. Taking him for the scans and then back to ICU" said Rastogi. While he was instructing a nurse, that's when he was moved out of the room.

"Aap log aram se lounge mein jayiye ya yahan wait kijiye. This is something we were expecting. Kal there was so much blood inside blocking the visibility that we could have missed a small lesion. Aap tension mat lijiye, we are prepared for it. Just give us sometime. Prerna andar le jaao inhe aur ghabrane ki koi baat nahi hai. Okay?" Prena nodded and held Masi by her shoulders and took her inside the room.

3.30PM

While post scans, Rishabh was taken away for the urgent followup endoscopy, Prerna and Masi were still in the recovery room. Masi sat in silence, with her hands folded across her chest. Though Prerna was pacing right next to her but Masi didn't say a word.

Prerna was pacing around waiting to hear from the doctors. Though doctors expected and were ready for it, rebleed incident made them all tense. Thankfully Kukki was with Menaka. Considering what counsellor said, Menaka took her to a small library in the children's ward at the 4th floor of the same building to divert her mind, till Rishabh was back.

Prerna took a deep breath and broke the silence between them. "Masi, can I ask you something?"

"Poocho.." said Masi, still looking at the floor.

"Kal raat jab Rastogi Uncle Mr. Bajaj ki Mom ke baare mein baat kar rahe the tab aap logo ki baaton se I woke up and heard the conversation. I am sorry.."

"Hmm.." said Masi.

"Masi, kya aapko lagta hai Mr. Bajaj ki Mom ne hi unke Dad ko..?" Prerna couldn't get to complete the sentence.

Masi didn't react for sometime. As soon as Prerna thought it was a wrong move to ask, she heard Masi's voice and she immediately looked in her direction.

"Hum ye manne ko tayyar nahi hain ki Rani ne aisa kuch kiya, lekin agar ek baar ko maan bhi lete hain ki usne wo sab kiya to bhi uski kya galti thi? Uske bacche ke sath wo sab hote hue kaise dekhti aur kab tak? Wo ek hi dost thi hamari aur Rishabh humare bete ki tarah tha, samajh sakte hain agar Rani ko majboor hokar aisa karna bhi pada to. Waise bhi wo ab humare beech nahi hai.." said Masi. Prerna could notice Masi genuinely missed her friend.

"I agree Masi, she must have been pushed off to that limit to take such an extreme step. I can feel her anger and need to protect her family, her only son" Prerna spoke calculatively.

"Masi kya Mr. Bajaj ab bhi dreams mein apni Mo.."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Chandu entered with juice and snacks and kept them on the coffee table.

Prerna was restlessly around thinking if she should ask Masi the question she was about to ask before Chandu came in. She looked at Masi who was sipping juice lost, in her own thoughts. Prerna's gaze fell on a newspaper peeking out from under another newspaper under the coffee table. She could read just a read the headline. The entire conversation they had on the beach played back in front of her eyes.

"Such politicians should be exposed on the front page of the newspaper headlines" Prerna had said to him.

"I don't know about them but I can already tell you a headline you'll read the day after tomorrow" Rishabh had replied.

She looked at the Newspaper date and it was a day (Monday) after they spoke about it. 'It's yesterday's newspaper' she thought.

"Ruthless Bajaj the owner of Bajaj Infragiant, pressurised Political lobby to grab a prestigious land deal in Bangalore?"

"Something like this but more creative" he had told her what to expect.

She read the headline again.

LEGAL PERMISSION OR CUNNING MANIPULATION?

Bajaj Infragiant snatched another prestigious Bengaluru land deal from their competitor? Is all well with this deal? We hear from our sources, Bengaluru political lobby was pressurized, were they?

'Creative Indeed' she thought as she re read the headline.

"And mind the question mark at the end so it's open to interpretations, speculations, accusations and no one can question them"

Her finger involuntarily traced the question mark at the end of it. 'He was right' she thought. She felt a wave of anger inside and her expression changed within seconds.

Prerna threw the newspaper on the coffee table, surprising Masi a bit, muttering things in anger "Jo mann mein ata hai bakwas print kar dete hain. Jab pata nahi to pooch lo na. Their job is to seek the truth, not cook up stories.. All rubbish!!!"

Masi kept the glass on the table and grabbed the newspaper and read the headline. 'Fake news just for publicity. Another failed attempt to bring him out in public and comment. Nothing new!' said Masi and continued reading the other news.

Prerna was surprised, how Masi showed almost no reaction to what seemed like an attempt to malign BI and more importantly the owner.

She quickly sat by her side and said "Ye jhooth hai. Those politicians were at fault not BI". She gave her an explanation like, Masi needed one. She was angry and a little worried.

"Hum jante hai" said Masi and continued reading and drinking her juice.

"Jante hain? To kuch karte kyun nahi? Someone should tell them the truth. A press conference or a press release maybe" Prerna was quick to reply. 'Aise kaise sabko jhoot accept karne de sakte hain?" She thought.

"Aur ussey kya hoga?" asked Masi, still unaffected.

"Logo ko sach pata chalega. They say all crap about Mr. Bajaj all the time. They always project him in the wrong light. Jo wo hain hi nahi." She said, feeling a bit disappointed that Masi didn't even think, something needed to be done about it.

"And you really think, humare ya Rishabh ya kisi ke bhi keh dene se wo sab maan jayenge?" Masi asked, turning the page.

"Kyun nahi manenge, jab hum I mean jab BI ki taraf se sach bataya jayega to people will beli.."

"Tumne believe kiya tha?" Masi closed the newspaper and looked at Prerna.

Prerna creased her brows, taken aback at the suddenness of the question.

What is she upto now?(a voice in her head popped up again) Just hear her out, sun to lo wo kis baare mein baat kar rahi hai. Shayad koi misunderstanding hogi to, you can clear it out.

"Did you believe when I kept telling you and your family, ki Mr. Basu ka accident Rishabh ne jaan boojh ke nahi kiya tha. When Tanvi and I, both of us were trying to tell you, that wasn't an attempt to murder but an accident?

Just like a super computer Prerna's brain was quick to retrieve the whole incident when Masi and Tanvi tried their best to convince her to trust them and bring him back from jail.

"Ek taraf Mr. Basu ne tumse kaha Rishabh is nothing but a 'White Collar Criminal' and he tried to kill him on purpose. Aur dusri taraf hum jo baar baar tumse keh rahe the ki wo galti se hua ek accident tha. Kiski baaton pe yakeen kiya tumne? Humein bhool jao, khud Rishabh jo chahe sahi ho ya galat kabhi kisi ko koi explanation nahi deta; usne bhi tumhe baar baar kaha ki wo galati se hua, yahan tak ki wo khud aya tha tumhare paas confess karne accident ke baad, did you beleive him? No, in fact you let him go to jail"

"Yaad hai tumne jab hum baar baar request kar rahe the"

'Mana ki ussey galati hui, galati kisse nahi hoti Prerna. Ussey accident hua hai, wo murderer nahi hai Prerna, murder nahi hai' Masi said, when Prerna and her family refused to stand by him.'

"Ye kehte rahe ki Rishabh ko jail se le aao kyunki wo sirf isliye gaya tha ki tumhe lagta tha ki wo galat hai"

Hum tumse request kar rahe hain Prerna, Rishabh ko kaho ki wo bail papers pe sign kar de aur ghar aa jaye.. agar hum galat nahi hain to tum humein tok sakti ho. Wo ghar nahi ana chahta kyuki tum usne doubt karti ho? Prerna Rishabh ko tumhara bharosa chahiye. Please!'

"tab tumne kya kaha tha humse?

'Masi bharosa jeeta jata hai, thopa nahi jata'

"Tumne humein sirf ye jataya ki kaise tum chahti ho ki jo galat hai usey saza milni hi chahiye. Tumne to ye verdict de hi diya tha ki wo guilty hai. Wo na jane kya hua jo wo tumhare sath wapas aya after spending a whole day in jail"

Prerna remembered how she had heard Anurag and Anupam's conversation about their plan to frame Rishabh. How Rishabh had known about Anurag's plan even before the accident happened, but he went to jail because she wanted him to serve the punishment. Prerna closed her eyes in guilt. Dekha galti to thi hi. Tumne suna bhi nahi tha. She heard Masi again.

"Tumne uske sath rehke uske upar beleive nahi kiya aur tumhe lagta hai ek press conference karke duniya ko batayenge to wo log believe karenge jo usey jante bhi nahi. Kehna asan hai Prerna, but reality is always a bit bitter than imagination"

Prerna just sat there as words left her alone. She had nothing to say, no reasons, no explanations this time. These thoughts have been troubling her for the past so many days but coming from Masi they felt like sharp daggers dipped in poison and she had no way to escape either.

"Ab chup kyu ho gayi? Kya soch rahi ho Prerna? Shayad hum jante hain, yahi na ki Rishabh ne us din Mr. Basu ka accident nahi kiya lekin, Durga Pooja ke akhiri din to khud unke upar attack kiya tha to shayad hoga wo criminal, logo ko maar dene wala, theek waise jaisa Mr. Basu tumhe humesha kehte the…."

Prerna was taken aback as the same thought had crossed her mind early in the morning but she couldn't answer the questions that her brain threw at her. She had forgotten about it but when Masi mentioned it again, she didn't want to hear it.

"Nahi Masi main aisa kuch bhi nahi.." Prerna couldn't finish and Masi walked towards the area where Rishabh's bed was before he was moved in the morning.

"Abhi tumne kaha na ki Rani ne extreme step liya because she was forced. Theek waise hi Rishabh was pushed, every single moment in Basu Badi. Like Rani, he also did it to protect his family that he had built for Kukki. Ye nahi keh rahe ki usne sahi kiya, jo hua bhuat zyada galat tha, bas batana chahte hai ki kyu kiya, shayad tumhe khud samajh nahi ayega."

"Tum to apni life mein busy thi, Mr. Basu ke aaage shayad tumne kabhi notice hi nahi kiya ki aas paas kya ho raha hai? Ye bhi mante hai shaadi ka tareeka galat tha, par tum husband-wife to the hi na. Usne tumse Kukki ki Mom se zyada kuch expect nahi kiya because you promised your loyalty, but were you really loyal Prerna? Did you keep your part of the deal? Kya kabhi usne aisa kiya jo ek husband ko nahi karna chahie?" Masi's gaze bore deep inside her.

Masi walked ahead and leaned against the wall "Humne dekha tha usey khud ko control karte hue, jab har baar tum har chhoti si cheez ke liye Mr. Basu ke paas chali jati thi, he still trusted you. Raat bhar tum Mr. Basu ki sewa mein lagi thi, tab bhi nahi roka. Rok sakta tha, haq banta tha uska; par nahi roka"

"Har baar Mr. Basu usey kisi na kisi baat ke liye frame karte rehte the. Parking mein chhota si baat ho gayi to sare guests ke samne blame kiya that he wanted to kill him. Us raat success party ke baad bhi unhone khud goons hire karke khud par attack karwaya aur blame kise kiya? Rishabh ko. Wo peeche nahi hata because uski galti thi nahi."

'Agar main peeche hata to aisa lagega ki wo sahi hain aur main galat. So no, I am not going to back off'

"Tumhari nazaro mein tab bhi kaun sahi tha wo humein batane ki zarurat nahi hai. Chahe Mr. Basu kitna bhi karte rahe, tumhare liye to Rishabh hi bura tha'

'Main aaj raat is thought ke sath so sakta hu, ki aap samajhti hain main ek bura insaan hu'

"He never let go of an opportunity to instigate him, to tell him how you still loved him and how he was going to get you back. Aur Durga pooja.. us time to hadd hi ho gayi. Do you remember tumne Aarti kiske sath ki thi? Mr. Basu. Rishabh ne sab dekha wo stairs par hi tha humare sath, phir bhi kuch nahi kaha"

"Kitni baar usne tumne aur Mr. Basu ko itna close dekha jo koi bhi husband shayad bardasht nahi kar payega. Ye sahi hai wo apne dil se zyada dimaag ki sunne walo mein se hai but iska matlab ye nahi hai ki wo kuch feel hi nahi karta"

'I know Masi, he said it so many times but I was too blind to notice' Prerna was feeling all the way miserable by every passing minute.

"Humne jab usey akele aarti karte dekha tha tab hi samajh gaye the that his patience was wearing off, upar se Mr. Basu, Anupam sab baar baar usey kuch na kuch keh hi rahe the. Tumhari family ne usey kaise treat kiya wo sab dekha humne. Aur tum, tumhare bare mein to kuch na hi kahe to behtar hai. Ya to tumhe kuch dikhayi hi nahi deta tha ya tum dekhna hi nahi chahti thi. Ya fir shayad dekh kar bhi andekha kar deti thi"

"To jaise tumne abhi kaha Rani was pushed to take an extreme step to save her family, Rishabh too was pushed to that limit every single day. Aur aaj bhi usey afsos hai gusse mein wo kadam uthane ka.. Rishabh ne to phir bhi ek anjaan ke sath gusse mein aake kiya (she turned) par tumhe pata hai humne kya kiya? Humne apne hi bete ke upar.. (she stopped, recalling how she had planned the chandelier accident on Kukki's birthday)"

Masi looked up and tears rolled down her eyes as she thought to herself, 'Apne hi bete ko hurt kiya. Jiski wajah se humne jana Maa hona kya hota hai, usi ko... Rani ko kya jawab denge ye bhi nahi jante. Tumhare aane ke baad sab galat hua.. sab kuch'

Masi wiped her face and walked to Prerna. She held her by her shoulders and looked into her eyes "Hum tumhe pasand nahi karte the, hum chahte the ki jab bhi Rishabh move on karna chahe to wo Tanvi ke sath kare. Par tum aayi, dheere dheere tumhe accept karne ki koshish bhi ki. Jab bhi Basus ne tumhe kuch kaha to ek bahu ki tarah tumhara sath bhi diya, but you never accepted yourself as a Bajaj. To humein bhi laga ki tumhari jagah Tanvi hi sahi hogi. Kam se kam wo dhyaan to rakhti"

"Aur phir Basu Badi mein jo hua, tumhara har baar Bajajs ko chhod kar Basu's se sath khada hona, tumhara Mr. Basu ke liye humesha wo concern, humein kabhi acha nahi laga. Humne ussey kaha bhi, par Rishabh ne kabhi kuch nahi kiya. Wo tumhari side se bolta raha. Tab humein laga ki agar hum ye prove kar dein ki tum Kukki aur uske liye sahi nahi ho, jo sach bhi hai to shayad wo tumhe apni life se alag kar dega. Humne aisa bhuat kuch kiya jo ek Maa kabhi apne bacche ke sath nahi kar sakti, par phir bhi usne ek baar bhi tumhare liye ek bura khayal bhi apne ya Kukki ke mind mein nahi aane diya. Dheere dheere hum accept hi kar rahe the ki shayad hum galat hain aur wo sahi, par Durga Pooja pr sab khatm ho gaya"

"Samajh sakte hai wo shaadi normal halato mein nahi hui thi, par sab soch samajh ke tumne decision liya tha. Agar nahi rehna chahti thi us relationship mein to ek baar kaha to hota ki todna chahti ho wo shaadi, shayad Rishabh maan jata. Wo sab karne ki kya zarurat thi? Shayad wo sab nahi hota jo hua. Na tumne Rishabh ko chhoda aur na hi Mr. Basu ki taraf daudna band kiya, aur us raat wo hua jo nahi hona chahiye tha"

"Aur ab jab wo sab khatam karke yahan aa gaya to tum yaha kya kar rahi ho? Bolo Prerna? Ab aur kya chahiye? Why are you here Prerna? Usey ye jatane ki kaise wo zimmedar hai tumhari shaadi na hone ke liye, tumhari life ki problems ke liye? Physically jo uski halat hai uske liye tumhe koi dosh nahi denge because wo uski laparwahi hai. Jab usey apne doctor ke pass hona chahiye tha tab wo tumhare sath office mein tha. Wo shayad theek bhi ho jayega.

"Par jo guilt uske dimaag mein tumhari wajah se baith gaya hai ki uske jane ke baad jo kuch bhi bura hua tumhare sath uske liye wo responsible hai, wo kaise niklega. He thinks he destroyed your life"

'NO. He didn't' Prerna wanted to scream and tell her but words died inside her. Tears rolled down Prerna's eyes as she stood there stunned and buried deep under her own guilt and Masi's accusations.

Masi joined her hand "Tum nahi janti ho usey par there is a lot he had dealt with. Aise bhaut se baatein hai jinke liye khud ko responsible manta hai, ab aur nahi please"

Prerna held her hands in hers, worried to see Masi in such a state. "Maine aisa kuch nahi kiya Masi, please trust me. Main to unhe kuch batane wali bhi nahi thi, isiliye itne dino se kuch nahi kaha aur Monday subah Pune chali gayi thi. Trust me Masi"

Masi looked up at her and said "Theek hai trust karte hain tumhe. To nikalo uske dimaag se wo sab kuch to soch raha hai wo. Kar sakti ho?"

"HAAN!!!.." Prerna's loud voice echoed in the room, as she said with a determined face.

Masi looked at her amazed and removed her hands from hers.

"Main yahan Kukki ke liye aayi thi Masi, jo galat kiya wo theek karna chahti thi. Main kisi se ye kehne nahi aayi ki jo bhi aap sabke jane ke baad hua, uske liye aap ya koi bhi zimmedar hai. Jo hua wo meri khud ki wajah se hua, aap sab aur Mr. Bajaj to kahan the mujhe pata bhi nahi tha. Soch bhi liya tha ki kisi se kuch nahi kahungi, but us raat unke itna poochne ke baad mujhe batana pada, wo itna drink kar rahe the aur kuch sunne ko tayyar hi nahi the. Unhe rokne ke liye I had to tell him"

"Agar unhe aisa lagta hai ki that he is responsible then I promise Masi, I will do everything I can to get that thought out of his mind because it's not true. Bhaut galatiyan kar chuki hun. Bhaut hurt kiya hai maine un sabhi ko jinhone mujhe pyaar kiya, respect di. Phir chahe meri khud ki family ya aap sab, especially Kukki and Mr. Bajaj. I won't let any more wrong happen" said Prerna and stormed out of the room.

She was aimlessly running through the corridor to look for an open space to breath in some fresh air, as she had no idea about the building. She didn't even notice that she crossed Mr. Mehra.

"Mrs. Bajaj.."

She heard a known voice and stopped in her tracks. 'Mrs. Bajaj…' she whispered as she turned. There was a storm brewing inside her.

"Where are you going?" Asked Mr. Mehra looking at her with concern.

She took fast steps towards him and asked "Was he ever happy in those 3 months we spent tied in that marriage Mr. Mehra?"

Mehra's look was enough to say that he was a bit clueless.

"Was I any good as Mrs. Bajaj? Did I do anything right? Anything at all? How many times did he tell you that it was his biggest mistake to bring me to his daughter's and his life? I had told him that was going to be the worst deal of his life (she said in whispering voice). Did I… (she hesitated and looked away) Did I ever give him a reason to be happy?"

She looked back at Mehra with hopeful eyes to hear an 'Yes'. "Did I ever made him smile, even if it was just for a moment Mr. Mehra?"

Mehra was about to speak but she stopped him. "I know the answer Mr. Mehra. How would you know anyway. I need fresh air Mr. Mehra"

"The terrace" said Mehra, pointing towards the lift, on her right side.

"Thank you!" Said Prerna and dragged her feet towards the lift.

A content smile broke on Mehra's face as his eyes followed her walking in the opposite direction towards the lift. 'To answer your questions- No, he never wanted to break free from that marriage. You gave him more than just a moment of happiness or smile. You gave him the peace that has been missing in his life. You grounded him, like he was 5 years back. You have no idea Mrs. Bajaj, but you have no idea how your presence brought back the Rishabh missing for the past 5, now 6 years since he moved back to London. Wish you had heard him in the study that night or seen him when you got him out of jail. You didn't notice it then, but now you have all the time in the world. You are moving in the right direction Mrs. Bajaj'

Mr. Mehra came out of his reverie as his phone vibrated in his pocket.

New update is here 🥳

And it's soooo loooooonnnngggggg 🤗

😲 maasi kya classy way mein bajayi 🤣

Originally posted by: WaqtZaya

😲 maasi kya classy way mein bajayi 🤣

I know right. It was so much fun🤣

Okay. I have sooooo much to say. A lotttt..

But I have to reread it before I begin.

To begin with I loved what just happened with Prerna. It was awesome and Ara mannn, loved her in that little snippet❤️. Menaka's love for RB ❤️

I have a lot..