Manorama felt that was very humiliating.

Why wouldn't she? After all, it was the first time someone from her past appeared in front of her and spilled out her secrets.

Raizadas looked between Manorama and Garima as Garima kept sending the glares her way.

Devyani was mortified. She, in the heart of her heart, never thought Manorama could try to break a family.

Yes, it is true when her son, Manohar wanted to marry Manorama, she did think it was Manorama's trap. And her son fell for it.

But as time went on, she abhorred Manorama for her sharp tongue and for forgetting the place from where she came.

After all, Raizadas were rich then. Although not enough to live for generations lavishly. They were rich and when Akash was born, she reduced her abhorrence towards her seeing her loving her child, Akash.

And when Arnav wanted to start a business, she gave her jewelry, this somewhat made her feel Manohar wasn't completely wrong.

That doesn't mean she accepted her as someone suitable for their family. Her behavior has always made her feel cheap. It wasn't something she appreciated. She always wanted to cut-off ties with her so-called club gang. She always wanted her to appreciate people for who they are. As years passed, she realized Manorama was more of a show-off.

But she never thought her daughter-in-law could be a home-wrecker, just like the other woman in her daughter's married life.

"Is it true, Manorama?" Devyani questions. Looking at her face, anyone could say she was nervous. And when someone's nervous, either they did wrong or they did great.

"No, Sasu Ma, she is lying," she says looking around, not meeting the eyes of Devyani.

"Am I?" Garima asked, amused.

"Ha..an," she stammers.

"You know we have proof and we're about to hand you over to the police for theft, forget it so soon?" She reminds her of the past.

"Manorama, if whatever she's saying is false, swear over Akash and tell the same," Manohar gulps as he asks that.

Manorama widens her eyes. If there was anyone in the world she loved wholeheartedly, it was her son, Akash. She just can't swear on him and lie. And she was a thief once upon a time, the situation made her like that. And maybe that made her think senselessly and break someone's home. But she's a changed woman now.

"Swear on Akash, Manorama," he grits his teeth.

Akash looks shaken. It wasn't very often you find someone blaming your mother as a homewrecker. Anjali is on the verge of crying. Arnav was sitting on a volcano and it can burst at any time.

Lavanya's smirk was gone. She widened her eyes in shock.

"I swear on Akash, whatever Garima has said is true. But I'm a changed woman now," she says crying.

Yeah, she's a changed woman, in a totally different way, gone was the thief in her, gone was the homewrecker in her. After all, she has everything now. So, there's no need for theft. She has a husband, a rich one at that. So, there's no need to desire any more money from someone else.

She's a woman who hates chores, even if she's from a middle-class family. She always hated chores and without her choice, had to work as a maid. She did things to avoid her chores, and to live a carefree life. One of them was theft. When she was a maid in Khushi's parents' home, she has stolen valuables so that her days could pass without doing much. That wasn't enough for her. So, she tried luring Khushi's father and she was kicked out, was about to have a police case on her when she pleads with them and apologizes. They forgive her but didn't allow her anywhere near them any time. This was in Kanpur. So, she shifted to Delhi. And started working at Raizadas, though this time, she hasn't tried to trap anyone and worked, Manohar fell in love with her. And her guilt was gone as she totally removed the Kanpur incident from her mind. Settled with Manohar and had a child, Akash. Since they were rich enough to hire a maid, she lived bossing around and that wasn't liked by Devyani. Although she wasn't the woman to eye other's husbands anymore, coz she has a rich husband; she didn't stop loving laziness, loving status, and loving money more than emotions. So, when she found out Arnav could give her more Money, her Akash could live lavishly, she gave him her jewelry, with some greed and with some emotion. And she got to show off this to her kitty party friends. She's a woman who failed to recognize what's hard work and opted for easier options, even if they were foolish and wrong. So, when she saw someone who she thought belonged to her category, she thought they would trap her sons, just like her. And since she loved bossing around, showing off her status, and using her not-so-needed tongue, she would taunt middle-class and low-class, people who are lower than her. Equal to her either doesn't need a richness as they're already one or they're fashionable, someone who would be the perfect one to show off to the world and raise her level above others.

Raizadas who heard Manorama accepted stood shocked. Somewhere in the corner of their hearts, they expected it to be false. Well, expectations don't fall on one's feet, even if they're rich.

Arnav's face was worth watching. His Manorama Mami was someone who was equal to another woman in his Mother's life. Akash and Anjali were shattered. Devyani expected that so she was

"So, was it true, like Ma thought, that you trapped me?" Manohar asks gulping his tears.

"No, I didn't trap ever try to trap you. I swear on Akash. After you started approaching me, I started liking you, neither was love nor was a trap. I wanted lavishness and you already loved me and liking you back made me take the opportunity and we were married. I never trapped you," she says wiping her eyes.

Manohar sighs sadly.

"Divorce papers will be delivered to you soon, Manorama. I know you love money and status but somewhere I thought your love for this family and me is more than your greed. Turns out I was wrong." He gulps.

"Aisa mat kariye. Don't do this," Manorama cries.

"We'll discuss this in the home. For now, let's start with this puja," Devyani puts a stop.

Payal rolls her eyes.

"Everything is happening because of this phati-" she was cut off by Payal.

Who's shameless now? Even after blurting out the truth from her own mouth, she still has the guts to blame someone innocent.

"Someone who themselves was a thief and homewrecker once, shouldn't behave the way you're behaving with some low-class people especially when they're the daughter of your ex-boss," Payal says, having enough of their drama.

"Forgive us, Garima-ji," Devyani folds her hands.

Garima nods nothing to do with them anymore. Manorama doesn't apologize, though, as if diamonds will jump from her neck to theirs.

"We've nothing to do with her anymore. She did wrong to us and she will always be a homewrecker in our eyes, we don't how she's with you or others." Garima clarifies and Devyani nods.

They go back home after the pooja. Well, Lavanya was rudely cut off by Arnav who was in a bad mood, so Lavanya was out without completing her fast.

When they were back home, Garima, Payal, and Khushi just remembered the happenings and they had nothing to discuss. For them, Manorama was invisible and doesn't exist, especially when she tried to blame Khushi and Payal even after confessing how she is herself.

Arnav only said one thing to Manorama, looking at her straight in the eye, "I can't give you the respect anymore. I will have to hate you but I can't. Unlike you, I show gratitude, at least to the family."

Although he didn't consider her his mother, he had respect for her to support him with her jewelry, and now when he knows that it was for her own benefit, he couldn't help but feel angry and helpless. He wanted to hate her for being someone like a second woman in her mother's life. But gratitude stopped him. He couldn't hate her yet would never allow her in his life. He wasn't any less when taunting low-class people, especially Khushi in Arnav's matter. The difference was he did it because he hated Khushi for invoking feelings in him and taunted her more than anyone and Manorama did it because it's her nature, especially Khushi because she felt insulted when Khushi called her a servant by mistake in the first meeting.

"I never expected this from you, Ma/Mami," Akash and Anjali say at the same time. Their tears were flowing. Oh, there was no Shyam so Anjali couldn't break her fast and her thoughts weren't revolving around Shyam anymore.

Manorama was left alone heartbroken after a disapproval look from Devyani and Manohar. Her son doesn't approve of her anymore. Her husband doesn't need her anymore. She's left alone as she cries. She was being ignored by everyone.

And after a few days, she did get a divorce notice and her world was shattered. Good at least now she'll know the value of hard work, that is if she chooses to. 

Okay, so, here's the second one as requested. Hope it was justified.

Let me know what you think!

And yes, for people, who like Ananya Sainj from Cybeevaar and Nikhil Nair from Asur, I'm writing a crossover between them, a crime thriller. Nirvana. If you are interested, you can check it out.

Also, I've announced I'll be competing for all of my stories one at a time.

ANC is done. What do you want me to complete next? I'm thinking of Invisible  Murder, but again let me know what you think. Depends on the Majority!