Prerna came downstairs, hoping to fix herself something sweet. She was expecting ice-cream in the fridge, and just the thought of some delicious chocolate ice cream had her mouth watering, and her eyes shining.

"Baby loves Ice-cream it seems", she kept her hand over her stomach and talked to her unborn child, a genuine smile spread across her face. Rummaging the fridge, she settled on a huge tub of ice-cream, and was about to exit the common kitchen and go back to her room, when Mohini Basu's shrill voice reached her. Frowning, she walked out to the drawing room, more than surprised to find her mother and sister standing, and Mohini shouting at them.

"Who allowed them to come? It's my house and I don't allow betrayers to enter here. All they do is eat up my family's happiness!", Mohini threw her hands in air and yelled loud, shooting draggers at Veena Sharma, who stood rooted, looking down.

"Maa!", Prerna called out, and keeping her ice cream down, she walked in fast steps to reach her mother, happy to see her here for she had been missing her family so much.

"Sure, only you were left, Mrs. Gold digger", Mohini snickered, "The entire family has sworn to ruin my peace. God knows what did I do to invite such vile people in my life, I can't even stand the sight of these low life creatures!", Mohini Basu continued to scream, and insult the Sharmas, and when Prerna reached near her to cross over to her family, Mohini pushed her, wanting to throw her out to.

Veena gasped at the audacity, and Shivani stilled, but before Prerna could fall down, Rishabh's hands held her steady, helping her stand on her feet, making the Sharmas release the tense breath they were holding. Prerna stood mortified, tears in her eyes, the fear gripping her. What if the fall hurt her baby?

Protectively pulling Prerna behind his back, as if protecting her from all the negativity, Rishabh stood like a wall in front of her, his eyes glaring at the Basu lady, his hands fisted by his side.

"Mrs. Mohini Basu, I think you are getting really old. Memory issues, yeah?", Rishabh's smirk made Shivani smile, and Mohini a bit more angry.

"You-", she pointed a finger at him, but was cut off by his shaking of the head.

" Don't. You have already made a huge mistake by handling Mrs. Prerna Rishabh Bajaj in the wrong way, and to say, she is the lady with much more money worth than you, for that's the language you understand", Rishabh's words took Mohini by surprise, but Prerna and her family weren't any less astonished.

" I had told you this very clearly before, and I am repeating again. Do not manhandle my wife, or her family. If you are going to see monetory worth, Prerna, being Mrs. Bajaj stands at far more worth than you do or your family does. Her family, are my people, and I don't tolerate disrespectful behaviour towards my family. I will file a case against you, trust me, if this is ever repeated, Mrs. Mohini Basu. Prerna has a heart of gold, I don't. Remember that and now apologize!", Rishabh's voice sent chills through her, his eyes raging fire at her.

Having no other option, Mohini threw a sorry towards the Sharmas, and stomped her foot before leaving.

Rishabh turned to a desolate Prerna, who was still shocked to hear her name from him, because she had noticed how he would never call her 'Prerna' but always Mrs. Bajaj.

"They won't respect you until you respect yourself Prerna. Stop being treated like a door mat, by them. Being an elder is not a copyright for throwing insults. Having a good heart isn't a flaw, but people like you, make it seem so!", Rishabh reprimanded her softly, and shook his head at her. He absolutely hated the way she let people treat herself, when she deserved the best otherwise.

Greeting Veena politely, he asked them to go upstairs, with Prerna and himself moved to the study. Prerna held Veena's hands, and Shivani followed them, to Prerna's bedroom.

Silence prevailed until Veena sighed and placed her hand over Prerna's who immediately broke down at her mother's warm touch. Veena hugged Prerna, and Shivani smiled, holding her hand tightly.

"I know I have always preferred Anurag, Priyu, but I have to say, Mr. Bajaj stands for you like Anurag never did. He cares for you and your comfort more than you", Veena's words solidified what Prerna herself was feeling, and even Shivani could not deny the same. She remembered how he had shown the Basus their place in the hospital too, when they had tried to blame Prerna for Anurag's accident.

Before Prerna could respond, the door was knocked and a servant entered with two cups of tea and cookies. Before Prerna could ask for another cup, she was taken aback to see her tub of ice-cream she was craving, and it wasn't the one which she left downstairs for that would have been melted by now.

Both Veena and Shivani noticed that and smiled.

"Despite how much I am against your actions Priyu, I am glad you have someone who cares for you and takes so much efforts for you, here!", Veena patted Prerna's head, who said nothing but lay down in her mother's lap.

They spent the next hour, chatting and happy. Veena would feed Prerna the ice-cream and Shivani would crib about how she wasn't fed, and Veena would laugh at her crazy daughters. Prerna hadn't felt this good, happy and relaxed in a long time. She could feel herself relieved of all the stress that otherwise clouded her mind time and again.

A while later, Kuki's thought striked her and she sat up, alarming Veena.

"Maa, I will just check on Kuki once. It has been more than an hour and she hadn't come to me", Prerna rushed out, and Veena nodded, asking Kuki to bring her here too.

Prerna walked fast paced to Kuki's room, and was pleasantly surprised to find her laughing as Mr. Bajaj played with her. He had kept his coat aside and rolled his sleeves up, and was making cute faces as he talked to her teddy bears and barbies.

Kuki laughed at her father and signalled about Prerna, asking her whereabouts and that halted Prerna. She wanted to see his reaction.

" Mumma is with her mumma, like you love your mother, she loves her mother", Rishabh tickled Kuki, and diverted her mind. He wasn't sure if the Sharma family was going to accept Kuki and she was too little to understand rejection.

Embracing Kuki tight, Rishabh sighed. Nothing in the world was more relaxing for him than his daughter.

Prerna watched them for a while and then walked inside, smiling. Rishabh broke the hug, and Kuki leapt out of his hold and ran to Prerna, hugging her legs, that's was the maximum height she could reach.

" Missed me?", Prerna laughed, and Kuki spread her arms wide, letting her know how much.

"Aww, me too. And now let's go meet Nani and Maasi", She cooed Kuki, aware of the tensed lines on Rishabh's face, but she raised her eyes to look at him, and blinked, in assurance.

Prerna's assuring gaze did the work and the frown lines disappeared. Walking upto them, he patted Kuki's hair and stared at Prerna.

"You should keep smiling like this, looks good on you", he left the room, leaving Prerna with a flush on her cheeks.

She realised being happy wasn't that difficult as she was making it to be!

Note : Caps credit @humare_bajaj On Instagram.