*Jay Pov*

"Again!" I mumbled, looking at the sticky note attached to her door with the notice of her going for dinner taking Lakshmi with her.

I walked to the couch and sat down feeling the energy drain out as if that single paper has such power to do it.

Why did they come when everything was going fine? I thought and immediately cursed at my thoughts.

How can I be selfish here? How can I be a hypocrite? Didn't I expect the same from Kalpana to just come with me forgetting everything?

At least this man has the sense to return fast, but still I can't help but feel he shouldn't have come at all.

However, I know how sad Jhanvi would be all the time if she didn't have Harsha with her or at least have good terms with him.

But I am feeling suffocated every time they go for dinner, which started last week. I am feeling more irritated with Lakshmi being present fro all this.

What if everything goes well with time and Jhanvi decides to leave with them? And take Lakshmi with her?

Well, I can't do anything about it now can I? I gave my word that I will back away whenever she wishes me to and I will.

But still that prospect is killing me inside and that is not just a prospect anymore with the way they are meeting literally every alternative day.

In no time Harsha will accept Lakshmi and I am sure Ali will also do that. Then a perfect happy family! I thought bitterly and yet again cursed myself.

You don't get to be wishful, Jay! You had your chance and you screwed it long back. Did you really thought you will be given a second chance with a family? No! Just forget about it and be supportive.

But what should I be supportive of? Everything is going well on its own and all I need to do it just watch everything happen.

Maybe I thought too soon because the next minute, Jhanvi is walking inside holding Lakshmi and I can see both are crying.

"What happened?" I asked and reached them hurriedly.

Lakshmi immediately moved her arms towards me and I took her from Jhanvi before rubbing her back feeling the worry reach more with Jhanvi just standing there with tears streaming down.

"Come here!" I mumbled, taking her hand and took her to the couch before settling myself and her with Lakshmi on me.

"Please tell me you both are not harmed." I said, placing my free hand on Jhanvi's shoulder, pulling her near to which she laid her head on my shoulder but didn't stop crying.

"We both are fine." She assured me, but I glanced at Lakshmi to see her sniffing.

I shook my head and kissed her cheek to which she laid her head back on my shoulder. I sighed and turned towards Jhanvi to see her eyes tightly closed.

"Did you have dinner?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Okay! First, we will have that." I said, but she shook her head.

"I cooked it only for you." She said but I shook my head.

"And we three can eat it. I am not that food maniac." I said standing up and pulling her up to her feet before dragging her to the dining room.

After seating her, I walked inside and brought the plate to the table and sat beside her instead of my usual place.

"Here!" I said moving a bite to Lakshmi's mouth as she is sitting on my lap and she had it.

"You too eat like this good girl." I said when Jhanvi shook her head as I moved the bite to her.

Then she took it and I finished making both of them eat before eating the remaining myself when they said they can't eat anymore.

"I failed her." Jhanvi whispered when I returned to the dining room after washing my hands.

"Do not talk and take some rest." I said pulling her up to her feet and dragged her to her room before making her sit on the bed.

"Lakshmi is going to be here with you." I added when she stared at Lakshmi sleeping in my arms.

"No! I failed her." She said covering her face.

I sighed and sat beside her on the bed and calmly asked, "What actually happened?"

"I... I thought everything was going well, but then Lakshmi suddenly pushed the food making the food fall on the table. Ali scolded her to which I... I scolded him back. Then suddenly Harsha threw the plate on the floor shouting. Shouting that I always scolded him when he makes a mess, then why can't I scold Lakshmi. Then he continued his shouting, saying that I forgot him and now I have Lakshmi and do not need him. He..." she trailed off crying and leaned her head on my shoulder, hiding her face on it.

"What is it?" I asked, placing my free arm again on her shoulder.

"He said that he did a right thing by choosing his father because I don't love him at all." She replied and cried more.

"He is a kid, Jhanvi." I mumbled, but she shook her head.

"I can recognize hatred when it is shown. Why does he hate me so much? When all I did was to love him." She asked and I stayed silent, not knowing what else to say.

"Where are they staying?" I asked and she gave the address with a confused tone but slowly drifted off into sleep.

After some time, I laid Lakshmi beside her and moved her to lay properly. I stared at both of them before standing up and left the room knowing well what to do.

"Yes! I wish to speak to him. Can they be notified?" I asked the receptionist and she nodded before calling the room.

"He wants to talk to you." She said, passing the phone and I took it.

"What is it, Mr.Jay?" I heard the question.

"I need to talk to Harsha." I replied simply.

"He is upset!" he mumbled.

"I know! I just need a few minutes to talk to him in private." I said and after a few seconds of silence he asked me to reach the room.

"I know this is an odd time, but I had to do this." That's all I explained when he opened the door and I entered to see Harsha sitting on the bed staring at me.

"What is it that you want to talk about, Mr.Jay?"Ali asked but I shook my head.

"In private!" I replied, to which he frowned, but then nodded before gesturing the balcony.

"Harsha! Go with him." He said and the boy calmly followed me in there before we settled in the chairs present opposite to each other.

"So, you hate your mom because she got a daughter now?" I asked and he stiffened.

"I don't have to answer to you." He replied.

"Of course you should hate her. I mean, she is the one who didn't choose you, right?" I continued ignoring his words.

"Who are you?" he asked, frowning and looked away.

"She was supposed to just sit in this city waiting for the time you finally decide to meet your Mom. She was supposed to think one day my son will come and I have to wait. She was supposed not feel any heartbreak with her own son whom she looked after for so many years didn't want her." I said and he stiffened.

"I love my Mom." He said with tears in his eyes.

"Do you? Didn't she have enough of fighting for her life that you are making her feel pain?" I asked with stern tone.

"I don't understand." He said, frowning and I explained calmly what happened to her from the time I met her.

"We met Lakshmi when we were giving away the money your father gave her as a gift for you being given to him. She hated the money and we gave off but in turn got a wonderful girl who had no one and was completely sad." I explained.

"Now, that little girl is happy because of her. Now that little girl has someone before of your Mom. You know how amazing your Mom is and she is giving the same for that girl. Do you really think that little girl deserve your attitude?" I asked, showing the anger for the first time.

"I... I didn't know!" he whispered and covered his face crying.

"I know it's too much to be thrown at you at this age, but I can't let her go through this pain everyday." I mumbled softly.

"Does she hate me?" he asked, but I smiled.

"Never! She loves you too much to hate you. But she needs you and your support." I replied and he just sat there in silence.

After a few minutes, I stood up and walked away to see Ali standing near the main door folding his arms.

"My work is done except a small thing." I said, reaching him and punched him in the face before he could react.

"Don't you dare shout at my daughter again." I warned him and walked out of the room flexing my arm.

I returned to the house and peeked inside her room to see them still sleeping before walking to my room to get some rest.

The next day, I got ready and climbed down the stairs to see them both walking to the dining room but stopped hearing the door bell.

Jhanvi opened the door only to get engulfed in a hug by her son. She stilled in shock before hugging him back and brought him inside.

"I am so sorry, Mom. I will never do all that again and will listen to you. You can come whenever you wish to." Harsha said and moved towards Lakshmi, who is giving him wide eyes filled with fear.

"I am sorry! My name is Harsha and I am your brother." He said forwarding his hand and she glanced at Jhanvi before at me and then took his hand.

"Dad said we need to leave now, but we will come back tomorrow." He added and glanced at the door which we all followed to see Ali with a small bruise on his face.

"What happened to your face?" Jhanvi asked and I stilled thinking how could I forget she may see him and questions about it.

"Nothing! So, we will meet tomorrow for dinner now that even Harsha wishes to get to know his sister. I am sure there will be no problems." He replied and Jhanvi slowly nodded before glancing at Harsha.

After a few minutes they left and we three were about to move towards the dining room, but again got interrupted by the bell.

Jhanvi again opened the door and returned with a man and woman in tow. Then we got to know they are here to check regarding Lakshmi.

"We were about to have some breakfast, why don't you join us?" Jhanvi invited them and in no time we are sitting down with Jhanvi beside me and Lakshmi beside her.

Jhanvi was smooth with answering everything along with feeding Lakshmi. She even managed to be a good hostess making me admire her more with her capability.

So, I ended up staring at her while she continued to talk to them, but then she glanced at me with a question in her eyes before clearing her throat.

"They are asking what are you feeling about Lakshmi?" Jhanvi repeated and I glanced at the people.

"Truth to be told if not for Jhanvi I would have been lost. She is an amazing mother, but I made a promise to myself that I will not sit back if someone made my daughter cry. Just yesterday it happened and I settled it." I said, but then remembered they may not like what I actually did but they didn't ask anything else.

After they left, we both sighed in relief, but I stopped my steps when Jhanvi turned towards me with narrowed eyes.

"You hit him didn't you? You asked me their hotel address yesterday." She asked and I nodded folding my arms.

"She cried and I can't let anyone to scold my daughter." I stated and her eyes widened before she looked away.

"Were you worried when they came?" I asked, changing the topic.

"No! Actually, I am waiting for them to come and finish all this soon with later visits. Then it will be easy for me." She replied and walked away while too much got dumped in my head.

Easy for what? Easy to leave and return with them? Is it the only thing that is stopping her from returning to their place now that even Harsha is fine with Lakshmi?

Then... then after they give clear check, she will leave? Taking away Lakshmi with her far away from me? I will be losing a family again? I closed my eyes feeling the thoughts pushing themselves even more with each passing second.

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will be busy in the evening, so here it is an early update...

let me know how is it???

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