*Jhanvi Pov*

I released Harsha and looked up to see Jay and Ali standing near the door staring at us. I brushed my tears away and glanced around for Lakshmi but then remembered her playing in her room.

"Jay!" I called him but he just stood there lost in his thoughts.

"Jay!" I called loudly, making him jerk out of his thoughts and he glanced at me with a frown.

"Aren't you getting late?" I asked and he just stared at me before nodding.

"I will go." He mumbled and stared at me for a few seconds before turning around to glance at Ali.

"Good day!" he greeted and left checking his watch.

I know he has an important meeting today with the shareholders and the day for his worried to over regarding his company. So, I hope he will reach soon.

"Mom! Come with us." Harsha said making me glance at him.

"Did you have breakfast?" I asked him smiling and he nodded his head.

"Come here." I said, dragging him to the couch and sat down along with him.

"Tell me how were you all these days. Are you eating too many ice creams? You are bathing with hot water, right?" I continued to ask while he nodded before hugging me again crying.

"You will come with us, right?" he asked lifting his head.

"I can't, Harsha!" I replied and he immediately frowned.

"But why? Dad and I are here to take you back with us. Why don't you want to come?" he asked frowning more.

"You didn't explain to him and want me to explain everything to him?" I finally asked, turning towards Ali, who sat on the chair beside the couch near to Harsha.

"He is right! Come back with us." He said and I stared at him like he is mad.

"We are divorced, Ali." I pointed out and closed my eyes, feeling the shaking because of the anger.

"He can't live without you." He said and I tightened my eyes more feeling the pain along with anger.

"Then leave him with me. He survived all these years without you and he can do it now too." I said, opening my eyes but he shook his head.

"You know he is no longer the resident here and he completely belongs to the kingdom." He said in a calm tone.

"Yeah! He chose you and I forgot that." I said and Harsha immediately held my hand tightly but stayed calm.

"Let's forget everything and go back to my place." Ali said and I laughed.

"Forget? How can I forget that after your appearance and our return, you so magically married me again making me think you were being romantic and wishing to clear away the absence. Whereas, it was a way to make the marriage recognized with your kingdom laws so that Harsha become legal. How can I forget that the moment, everything got settled, I was slapped with divorce papers?" I asked, raising my voice forgetting everything else and stilled hearing a small voice.

"Maa!" Lakshmi mumbled and her lips trembled.

"Come here!" I mumbled and she rushed to me with her doll.

"Shh... I am sorry." I whispered for scaring her and kissed her forehead, closing my eyes while feeling the anger go away.

"How can she call you that?" I heard Harsha's anguish voice and immediately opened my eyes.

"Harsha! Don't say like that." I said, sitting beside him and settled her properly before placing a hand on his cheek, but he stared at me like I betrayed him.

"I am everything to her now and she would be happy if you be a good brother for her." I said pleading him.

How should I make him understand? No one told me what to do in the situations like this. Oh god! These few days I don't know what to do anything at all and if not for Jay I would have been lost with my mind getting numb all the time.

"Harsha!" Ali said when my own son started moving away from me.

"Why don't we take time to adjust to everything?" he added while I frowned at him.

"He can't accept her immediately and he needs some time to get to know her." He explained.

I glanced down to see Lakshmi staring at both of them with wide eyes but still clutching me. What should I do? She really became an important part of me and it is hurting me to see the wariness between these two when they both are equal for me.

"Will you try to accept her as your sister, Harsha?" I asked, staring at me and he stared back, but nodded when Ali placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Great! Why don't we meet somewhere else outside like for dinner?" Ali said standing up.

"Why not here?" I asked him frowning.

"It is his house and it wouldn't be nice to disturb him with all of us, forcing upon him." He explained, but before I can open my mouth Harsha accepted for meeting.

"Why don't you stay for lunch?" I asked looking at Harsha.

"Let him get used to the idea and this little time is more than enough burden for him." Ali replied.

"Don't talk on behalf of my son." I said glaring at him.

"He is my son too." He mumbled.

"Son? No! Like you said, he is no longer a son to both of us, but a prince of the kingdom." I said moving near him so that Harsha can't hear it.

They both left while I sat back on the couch holding Lakshmi to myself when I heard a sound. I looked up to see the maid walking out of the kitchen reluctantly.

"What is it?" I asked her frowning and she opened her mouth, but immediately closed it shaking her head.

"Shall I prepare lunch, Madam?" she asked and I nodded before she rushed back inside the kitchen.

"Why all this, Lakshmi?" I asked, staring at the little girl.

"At least, he gave a chance to understand and is going to get to know you. He is a good boy and will be a wonderful brother." I assured her and she frowned, but laid her head on my shoulder, closing her eyes.

"Hey!" Jay said the moment walking inside the house while I was standing near the couch waiting for the clock to strike the time when they would be here.

"You are early." I mumbled frowning and he immediately frowned back.

"I told you right that will be here early so that we three can go out somewhere." He said and I immediately stilled remembering his words which I completely forgot.

I thought to just go off without any chance to tell him directly, but with a note attached to my door. Because I don't know what to tell him. I don't know whether I have to give any explanation or need not give any explanation at all.

But here he is waiting for me to talk and I did calmly saying, "There was a decision that it would be better to go for dinner to solve some issues and they didn't want to give you any irritation, so we are about to go for dinner in a restaurant."

I know I babbled, but I don't know what else to do because his face got so closed off that I wish I at least know should I feel wary or should I feel nothing.

"Okay! I will take care of Lakshmi." He said slowly nodding.

"Actually, this is mainly for Harsha becoming less wary of her and vice versa. So, she is coming with me." I explained and if his face was closed off before then it is something else now.

"Fine!" he said and walked away without giving me another glance, but added without stopping, "As you already have the second set of keys, lock the main door by yourself."

"Jay!" I said and he stilled on the stairs before turning around.

"Yes?" he asked, staring at me.

"I am sorry!" I replied and he frowned.

"For what?" he asked, but I don't have any answer for that.

"I don't know!" I replied, to which he nodded and walked away calmly.

"Here!" I said arranging the napkin for Lakshmi and then turned to do the same for Harsha who is silent.

"What do you want to have?" Ali asked, but I ignored him and asked Harsha what he wants before ordering his and the item which Lakshmi can have and mine.

"Is it nice?" I asked Lakshmi feeding her and then turned have a bite of mine only to still when I saw Harsha sitting there without having his food.

"What happened, Harsha?" I asked him frowning.

"Nothing!" he replied rudely and I just stared at him.

"Here! Have it." I said and placed a bite of his food near his mouth which he immediately ate.

And that's how I tried to feed these both with me having little food in the middle. I don't know why, but I felt I was in the middle of a boxing match while I was a referee.

"So, what are you doing these days?" Ali asked whom I ignored again.

"Look, it is better for kids too, if we converse normally." He added gently and I saw Harsha staring at both of us.

"I am working again as a nurse in the same hospital. I took the night duty so that I can take care of her." I said without looking at him.

We both had a brief conversation and in no time Lakshmi and I was ready to leave which turned out to be another problem.

"Come with us, Mom! Dad needs to go home by tomorrow." Harsha said, pleading me when we reached out of the restaurant.

"Stay with me then, Harsha. Until he can come back here." I said even though I am not being fair to him.

"If he will not come back with me then my father will bring down hell upon... upon everyone." Ali pointed out and I stiffened because I know too well what hell his father can bring down with a legal notice to my face.

"Please, Harsha! I can't come back." I said, pleading him.

"We will come again after my work finishes." Ali assured him but Harsha was reluctant.

He finally gave in before they both left and we both left to reach the house soon. After locking the door, I saw that he is nowhere to be seen.

So, I laid her on her bed before walking out of it only to see him climbing down the stairs. I just stood there staring at him.

"Did you both get a cab?" he asked and I nodded to which he nodded back before walking towards the kitchen.

I stood there for a minute contemplating before following him to see that he is getting food on his plate. I too got a plate and started placing food on it, to which he frowned.

"Didn't you guys go for dinner?" he asked, to which I smiled.

"It was more of a dinner. I was busy with these two kids of mine to get any food inside me." I replied as we both sat down and explained to him what happened.

"Give him some time." He said and I nodded because I know that's all I can do.

"Good night!" he said, finishing his food and I nodded, staring at his back while he climbed the stairs.

I walked inside my room and sat down for a few moments thinking about everything that happened today before pushing my pillow away.

Why am I being given all this treatment from my own son when I didn't do anything except falling for a person with immaturity? Why? I asked out loud in my head before leaning back to the bed closing my eyes.

When will there be peace? Will there be at all? I asked, changing the question and trying to drift off into sleep wishing Harsha can soon accept Lakshmi but I know I am expecting too much from a kid.

When an adult can't understand something, then how can I expect the same from a kid? Where should I put Jay in all these thoughts? That was the question that roamed before I drifted off into sleep.

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hey guys!!! uff so the next one would be in Jay's pov...

how is it??? let me know your thoughts...

comment plz and vote...