*Palak Pov*

"Let her sleep comfortably for some more time." Mrs. Anthony's voice reached my ears while they shifted from the bed.

I kept my eyes closed knowing well, it's already evening and I am supposed to have my snacks, but they decided to not wake me up.

When I heard the door closed behind them, I immediately sat up straight before rushing towards the washroom.

After walking out of the washroom, I sat on the bed finally feeling relieved after controlling my bladder for the past ten minutes while waiting for them to leave this room.

Before resting I just went along with whatever they were talking because of the situation, but when I woke up it was more than awkward for me and I didn't know how to act in front of them.

However, I know that whatever that happened is not because of these two and they could be the only ones who showed me their genuine feelings either be indifference or anything else.

Somehow I still can't be normal with them and I just don't want anyone near me. I can't hang on to that thought no matter what after taking their help for the past few weeks.

I will just try and I can't act selfish no matter what. I sighed, standing up before walking out of the room to find both of them sitting on the couch talking to each other.

"Shall I get you snacks?" Lakshmi Aunty asked after finding me standing near the door.

"I will be in the study room for therapy. I will eat them there." I replied before she can bring them out and walk towards the couch.

She gave a nod before walking into the kitchen while Jasmine walked towards me saying, "Can I accompany you?"

"Sure!" I mumbled, not knowing what else to say because I remember her request today morning.

We both walked into the room and found him working behind the desk while the other person is sitting on the couch working and they both glanced up hearing the door sound.

"Therapy?" James asked, closing his laptop before shifting away from the table and reached the couch while the person sitting on the couch shifted to the table exchanging their places.

I sat on the couch with Jasmine sitting beside me before holding his leg to start the normal therapy while he sat there with his eyes closed.

After that the whole room was filled with silence and I turned towards Jasmine, who is sitting nervously with no words coming out of her mouth.

The silence got disturbed when Lakshmi Aunty walked inside with snacks for everyone. She walked towards the table saying, "At least have the snacks."

"Why did you skip lunch, David? Didn't I ask you to join me?" James suddenly asked, frowning while I shifted to his other leg.

"I just want to finish this work soon and we don't have much time before the shareholders meeting. We need to kick him out but somehow we are still lacking." He mumbled sighing.

"We will try to contact others to grasp the shares. It's not like he has people who are supporting him except for the reason that he is the son of the CEO." James commented and I suddenly feel like this is something definitely related to my brother.

"My brother?" I asked, looking at James and he nodded.

"He is no longer a board member, but he is still a part of the company. A few shareholders are going to hold a meeting soon to kick him completely out, but it may not succeed. We are thinking of intervening and make sure it happens." He explained making me frown.

Before I can open my mouth, I felt her tapping my shoulder and I turned towards her while she whispered, "You spent more time on this leg than the first one. Do you want help?"

"What are you doing here? Don't you have exams coming up? Are you preparing well for them?" James asked, frowning at her while she stared at him with a blank look.

"She wants to spend time with you." I replied for her sake and he frowned more.

"When did you both become so close?" he asked, to which she calmly replied that she asked me to help her to spend more time with him and connect with him.

"Jasmine, don't trouble her like that. Just talk to him whenever you want." the other person mumbled while James stayed quiet.

"You are uncomfortable, Bhabhi?" she asked, turning towards me and before I can open my mouth James calmly stated the next statement which he shouldn't have.

"There is no need to involve someone else like this and I am still alive." I closed my eyes, hearing his words which I wish he didn't utter to her when she is still feeling the shock from morning.

"Bhai!" She shouted and I heard the door closing.

"Have you gone mad?" I mumbled, staring at him while he frowned at me.

"I know you have settled yourself with this news but she didn't and needs time. She was just trying to spend time with you." I pointed out and he sighed.

"She was not comfortable while sitting here." He pointed out and he is kind of right because she looked scared all this time.

"You should have given her some time. Even I cried thinking about your condition after knowing who you are and she is your sister." I continued and he shook his head before closing his eyes again while the other person shifted to sit beside me with his system to talk to James making him open his eyes again.

I managed to glance at the number of shares they have under their control after glancing at the notebook he is using and I know this will not be enough at all.

Then I felt him pushing a fruit piece towards my mouth using a fork while I was concentrating on the therapy after he finished his discussion.

I glanced towards the hand before glancing at his face, but he is working as if nothing is different. This time I turned towards James, ignoring the fruit, but he is staring at this scene with a smile.

"It's not good to leave them open like this for a long time." He mumbled from my side to which James lifted his eyebrows.

"Even the snacks Aunty brought for you shouldn't be left out." James pointed out towards him before glancing at me when the fruit piece is still there before my mouth for the past five minutes.

"Is this why you both sent her out?" I asked, frowning before taking the piece with my mouth as the work slowed down because of this.

"Are you really comfortable with her?" He asked in a whisper while continuing to feed me while James closed his eyes again.

"I have a way to get you a desired result from this meeting." I mumbled, ignoring the question and James opened his eyes again.

"Is it a good one?" he asked, frowning with a little irritation because he couldn't just close his eyes for a few minutes properly and I assured him that it is a good one.

"Why do you think I even know about the accident when they didn't tell me any news about after the accident? They must have forgotten because there was no change from before." I replied and he gave me a frown in confusion.

After that there was complete silence with James thinking while the other person still working along with feeding me and I just concentrated on the therapy.

I suddenly found him feeding the things even on his plate after finishing my one because of which I shifted to sit with my back towards him which finally stopped his moments.

"You should eat that and that's why she accepted your gesture." James commented seeing this when he felt me shifting.

I frowned at him while he just shrugged and I didn't even want to comment anything on that. After some time I stood up finishing it, but stood before him not knowing what to say or to even involve myself in this.

"They both need time." I finally mumbled and he gave a nod like he understand what I am trying to say.

"I know! I am just being selfish and I don't want them to be uncomfortable. And I know even you felt discomfort because of her request." He commented, to which I shook my head.

"It was not a discomfort and just awkward. But I know I can't involve in your family issues and I was just suggesting in a professional point of view." I mumbled before leaving the room holding the empty plate and deciding to really not involve myself with any of this.

****

"Bhabhi! You had to go to work even on Sundays now?" I got startled the moment Jasmine reached me when I stepped towards the kitchen after returning from work.

"Yes! As it is for just a few hours." I replied, still not used to this normal talking even though a week already passed.

Somehow, because of my actions from that day I have to talk normally with her and even respond to Mrs. Anthony with no way of ignoring them. And I am trying to be as natural as I can but she already feels that I am awkward except for Jasmine.

"I talked to Bhai for a long time today. As he is staying home all this time I tried to talk to him in between and he too tried. I heard you asked him to give me time and he said I don't look awkward anymore. But Mom needs some more time." She whispered the whole thing and I gave her a nod along with a smile as an encouragement.

After that, she continued to talk while I was finishing my lunch and Lakshmi Aunty smiled seeing this but didn't say anything. And Mrs. Anthony climbed down the stairs only to see this scene.

"She must be tired, Jasmine. Why are you disturbing her?" she asked, reaching the dining area and glanced at the study room before glancing back at us.

"Don't ask her whether you are disturbing her or not. She just returned from work and let her rest." She added when Jasmine opened her mouth.

She really knows her Daughter doesn't she? I thought, staring at them while thinking if my Mom would have known what I was going to say before I open my mouth if she was alive.

Then all this wouldn't have happened, right? She would have protected me from all this, right? I felt myself losing my control of emotions because of which I immediately stood up finishing my lunch.

"You are going to your room, right?" Jasmine asked in a hurried tone when I stood up to leave making me frown along with her mother.

"Yes!" I replied and she smiled, nodding, still sitting at that place, but when I reached the door, I realized I have to talk to James about my plan.

When I shifted my feet towards the study room, I heard Jasmine calling me, but I already opened the door only to stop in my tracks.

Both brothers sat behind the table with Shruthi before them while Mrs. Anthony asking Jasmine when did she come when she saw the same thing as she was standing just a few feet away from the door.

"Sorry for disturbing." Saying that I closed the door and turned to stare straight at their mother.

I gave her a nod before turning towards my door to leave that place, but the door got opened and I felt my hand being held tightly stopping me from taking another step.

With the way that hand is holding my wrist I already know who it is and I immediately tried to pull my hand, but he just carefully pulled me into the room before closing the door.

"Palak! Just listen to us once for the reason why is she here." He pleaded still holding the knob making sure I don't leave while I am standing between the door and him.

I glanced over his shoulder to see James and Shruthi staring at us in silence. I directed my question towards James asking, "Why does it matter what I think? It is not my business if you want to talk to her. She is your family friend after all."

"You are giving me too much importance, Palak. I already lost that spot and I am here by myself to do something to at least reduce some of my sins." She said looking at me.

"I already took over a few of your Dad's company shares and I wanted to pass them to these both which would help them with the meeting. I still have my people planted in that company and I know the list of people who are going to help them with this." She added.

"It is your revenge and not actually just to help them." I mumbled and she nodded sighing.

"Yes! But this time I am not going to involve any innocent party." She whispered and I nodded before glancing at the person's face who is kind of pressing me to the door even though only my stomach is touching his body.

However, he has this pale look like he is more than shocked. I frowned, thinking to push him away, but he already shifted to stand away as if shocked.

"Baby... baby kicked... I..." he must have placed his hand on my stomach when he pushed me to the door and within this time he even felt the kick somehow.

"I will talk to you later." I mumbled glancing at James before leaving the room without saying anything else and found both Mrs. Anthony and Jasmine standing near the door.

"Are you okay?" she asked before Jasmine can open her mouth.

She understood that I was not fine seeing her here? I gave her a nod before returning to my room still shocked not just with Shruthi's presence but also because of his words.

I caressed my stomach realizing baby must have kicked, but I didn't think much about it at all. I closed my eyes, trying to forget the shock and amazement, he showed in his face.

****

Am I really going to do this? I thought, standing before the door while checking my phone to check how long should I stay here.

Do I really want this revenge? Yes! But they are my family. Are they? I thought closing my eyes before taking a deep breath and finally entered the room where the discussions are going on.

I already found James and him sitting together with an empty chair between them and I know everyone are already uncomfortable with their presence.

But with their own work and Shruthi's help they are able to be here while I didn't tell them much except for saying even I can attend the meeting.

They thought even I have shares as this is my Dad's company, but didn't ask much. I calmly walked towards the empty chair before sitting down carefully.

"Palak! What are you doing here?" Dad asked, frowning at me while I just ignored him knowing well he is hate me completely from this moment.

"Let's start the voting as we already wasted time with the useless discussion." One of the shareholder said while glaring at my brother how is sitting carelessly on his chair.

Seems like he is confident and he would have won this too, but even he doesn't know the details except for Dad.

After the voting is counted, the result is announced and that is my brother being completely dismissed from the company's director position.

"What? This can't happen. Dad! What is going on?" he asked, frowning when he saw the difference as the votes against him is too high.

"Palak! I trusted you and gave you those shares. You are a part of this family." Dad mumbled with a disappointed look.

"What do you mean? She was always against us and it is not the important matter. She just has a few shares." My brother waved his comments.

"She has your shares too. I gave her to them when you got arrested that time." He finally explained and his face paled listening to this.

"You said you gave them to someone who will never betray us." He literally whined finally realizing what went wrong.

"She is our family and she wouldn't..." My Dad couldn't continue because I already did that just now.

"Why didn't you take them back even after so much time passed? The case settled immediately, right?" he shouted, looking at him.

"They were just in her name but she also gave her power related to that to me and I can decide instead of her. So, I was not in a hurry." He mumbled and even I forgot this matter so I don't blame my Dad.

Well, it doesn't matter whether I blame him or not right because my brother started cursing towards me while I felt my hand being held tightly by him while on other side James just stared at my brother.

"You! How dare you?" he shouted crossing the whole table to reach my side while holding the other empty chair closer to us in his hands and lifted it as if to hit me, but he already stood before me to stop my brother from doing that while James opened his contact list ready to call someone.

"Get lost before you return to jail." James warned him when his brother was ready to punch my brother.

"This is not over." Saying that he walked off realizing there are too many people while I closed my eyes holding my hands together which are shaking with the way he approached me.

"Are you okay?" he knelt before me while holding my hands and I don't have the strength to push them away.

"My Dad called me at that time while asking whether he can transfer a few shares and I asked him again and again the reason because of which he told me what happened but just briefly like it was a small accident. I was fine with the transfer, but didn't want the duty to come to the meetings as the share percentage is high. So, I decided to not deal with all this and even forgot, but then I remembered." I don't know why I am blabbering or to whom but the words are just pouring and after so many days I am talking this much.

"Palak!" Dad called me from my side and I can see even he is shocked with my brother's behavior right now.

"I am still not interested with the business matters. I will be transferring these to James's family." I mumbled and felt my hands being rubbed in a comforting manner and my heart is still beating fast.

He is my brother, but he didn't hesitate to actually harm me. What if he succeeded and then my baby... I shivered just thinking about it as the chair was actually really huge.

"Let's go!" he whispered, and I stared back at him who is still rubbing my hands ignoring everyone around me.

Why? Why did you all this? If you hadn't then... then I could have just held you right this moment and feel comfort and secure immediately, right? Why?

I want to ask all these things, but in the end just closed my eyes to compose myself and finally opened my eyes before taking my hands away from his hold.

I turned towards James only to panic seeing his condition. I immediately turned towards his brother, saying, "Call the ambulance right now."

He immediately saw his brother before calling, but James already lost his consciousness and I rushed his chair out of the room, ignoring everything else and we rushed out hoping the ambulance can reach soon.

"I will just drive." He stated helping James into the vehicle and I sat beside him before starting towards the hospital. I should have realized he was not feeling fine. That's the only thing I thought while his brother said that out loud while driving as fast as he can.

--------------------

I am late... sorry about that... Somehow for this part i had to like write once and delete and write again to get the feel... So, i hope it is fine by the end... I will not say anything about the next one and try to show it in my actions...

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...