The next morning, Ram walked into his office, feeling the usual buzz of energy around him, but today, something was off. The entire floor was eerily quiet, a stillness hanging in the air that made him uneasy. As he made his way to his cabin, he noticed the side glances from his employees, the hushed whispers that ceased the moment he passed by. Shrugging off the odd atmosphere, he entered his cabin and settled into his chair, ready to dive into the day's work.

But before he could even open his laptop, there was a knock at the door. Ram looked up to see Anaya, one of his junior employees, standing there with a strange look on her face—a mix of anger, hurt, and something he couldn't quite place. She stepped inside, her hands trembling as she held a crumpled newspaper.

"Sir, how could you do this to me?" Anaya's voice was choked with emotion as she approached his desk. Her eyes were wide, brimming with tears. "I was expecting this to happen ever since that lady came to meet you, but I never thought you would actually..."

Ram blinked, utterly baffled by her words. "What are you talking about, Anaya?" he asked, his tone cautious as he tried to piece together what she was referring to.

With a trembling hand, she thrust the newspaper in front of him. Ram's eyes fell on the front page, and suddenly, it all made sense. The photo of him and Priya, the headline that screamed of scandal and intimacy—it was all there, laid out for everyone to see.

As he stared at the image, trying to formulate a response, Anaya's soft sobbing filled the room. "I—I love you, sir," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you felt the same way. But now... after seeing this, I don't know what to think."

Ram's mind raced. He had always been professional with Anaya, perhaps a bit too friendly on occasion, but never had he imagined she would misconstrue his actions. "Anaya," he began, trying to keep his voice calm and measured, "please, don't create a scene here. What exactly has upset you so much?"

"What's upset me?" she echoed, her voice rising. "Sir, I thought there was something special between us! You've driven me home, you've been kind to me, and now this—this picture with another woman. I can't believe it!"

Ram sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the situation. "Anaya, I'm sorry if I ever gave you the wrong impression. But dropping you home a few times doesn't mean I'm in love with you. You're a valued employee, but that's all there is between us."

Anaya's face crumpled as she struggled to hold back her tears. "That's enough, sir. I can't work here anymore. You've broken my heart." With that, she turned on her heel and hurried out of the office, leaving Ram sitting there, dumbfounded.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Ram leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "What a crazy head," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. The situation had spiraled out of control, and now, not only was his personal life splashed across the tabloids, but it was also causing chaos in his professional world.

He glanced back at the newspaper, the image of him and Priya staring back at him like a ghost from the night before. The day ahead suddenly felt a lot more complicated than he had anticipated, and he knew he had a lot to sort out—not just with Priya, but with everyone else who was now caught in the web of his unintended actions.

Ram's phone buzzed on his desk, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw Priya's name flashing. With a deep breath, he answered the call.

"Can we meet now? I need to talk," Priya's voice was soft, yet there was an urgency beneath her words that made Ram's heart skip a beat.

"Sure, I'll be there in a couple of hours," he replied, knowing that whatever she had to say would be important.

After a few hours, Ram finally arrived at the park, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the grass. He spotted Priya sitting on a bench, her posture tense, her eyes focused on the ground as if deep in thought. Ram walked over and sat down beside her, trying to gauge her mood.

"Hi," he greeted, his tone light, as he tried to break the ice.

Priya looked up at him, her expression a mix of concern and confusion. "You look so relaxed," she remarked, almost in disbelief.

Ram chuckled, leaning back against the bench. "Why not? I just had a trip with you. It was... refreshing."

Priya's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ram, haven't you seen the papers?"

"Yes, I did," he replied, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That picture is amazing."

Priya stared at him, incredulous. "How can you be so cool about this? Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid? Of what?" Ram's brow furrowed as he turned to face her. "That picture... it's real. We're in love with each other, Priya. Now everyone knows it. And honestly, I think it's time we moved in together. I want to stay with you."

Priya blinked, taken aback by his straightforwardness. "Really?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

Ram reached out, taking her hand in his. "Yes, truly," he affirmed, his gaze steady and filled with sincerity.

Priya looked down at their intertwined hands, her mind swirling with thoughts. "But... how will our kids react? I don't know, Ram..."

He smiled softly, squeezing her hand. "We'll think about that later. First, tell me—are you sure about this?"

"About what?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

"Marrying me, of course," Ram replied, his tone serious but laced with a hint of mischief.

Priya hesitated, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. "No, not yet," she admitted. "This would be my second marriage, and after living alone for so long... I'm not sure how to adjust."

Ram's smile faded slightly as he searched her face. "Are you joking with me right now?"

Priya sighed, her tone softening. "Why don't we just be like this? I mean, just a couple."

Ram's expression turned stern, and he shook his head. "No, not allowed. I want to go to bed and wake up every morning with you. That's not negotiable."

A small smile played on Priya's lips as she teased, "These things happen only in films, Ram. They're not real."

He frowned, visibly annoyed, and looked away. "Let's not talk about it then," he muttered, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Priya chuckled, unable to resist the sight of his frowning face. She reached out, gently cupping his face with her hands, forcing him to look at her. "Look at your frown. I was joking, but... I'm just a little worried."

Ram's expression softened as he took her hand and placed it over his heart. "Stay with me, Priya. We can make it through anything together."

For a moment, Priya said nothing. She simply looked at him, her heart warming at the sincerity in his eyes. Slowly, she rested her head on his shoulder, letting out a soft sigh. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their small bubble of contentment.

And in that moment, under the setting sun, they both knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, hand in hand, heart to heart.

Arjun walked out of his school, his mind swirling with frustration. The teasing from his friends about his dad's rumored affair gnawed at him, leaving him on edge. He tried to shake it off, but the whispers and taunts clung to him like a shadow.

As he approached his car, eager to escape the day's torment, a familiar voice called out, "Arjun!" He paused, turning around to see his mom Anisha standing there. The sight of her caught him off guard, her presence both a surprise and a small comfort amidst the chaos of his thoughts.

That night, as Priya entered her home, a weight settled over her heart. She had sensed this moment coming, and when Arohi's voice called out, "Mumma, stop," it felt like a tremor of inevitability. Priya paused, her breath catching as she turned to face her daughter. Arohi stood there, her expression a mix of hurt and determination. "We gotta talk," she said firmly.

Priya nodded, trying to steady herself. "Should I freshen up first?" she asked, hoping to buy herself a little more time. But Arohi shook her head. "No, let's talk first. Mumma, why did you hide this from me? Didn't I always want you to find someone good and date him? And now, I'm hearing these things from others? Why didn't you tell me about him?"

Priya's heart ached at the disappointment in Arohi's voice. "It wasn't easy, the way you think, Arohi," Priya began, her voice trembling with the weight of her own uncertainties. "I wasn't sure how to..."

But Arohi cut her off, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Didn't I tell you I never wanted a dad? But I wanted someone by your side, so I encouraged you to meet new people. But then, to find out this way, to be teased at school today... it was disheartening, Mumma."

Priya's resolve crumbled in that moment. She could see the pain etched in her daughter's face, a reflection of her own fears and regrets. Without another word, she pulled Arohi into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around her daughter with all the love and sorrow she could muster. "I'm sorry, Arohi," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I should have told you everything. I didn't want to hurt you."

Arohi's arms tightened around her mother, her small frame trembling slightly. "I just wanted to know, Mumma. I just want us to be okay," she murmured, her voice softening as she leaned into Priya's comforting embrace. They stayed like that for a long time, holding onto each other as if to mend the rift that had opened between them, seeking solace in the warmth of their bond.