*Kalpana Pov*

"I thought everything is going perfectly and this disaster had to knock on your door." Jhanvi said the moment both kids left to play in Sudhir's room.

"I was so excited today morning." I mumbled closing my eyes.

"You didn't tell him that you like him, did you?" she asked and I shook my head still closing my eyes feeling tired with all the crying.

"But why? It's not like you are going back to that douchbag." She said, making me chuckle at her curse.

"When did you start cursing?" I asked, to which she shrugged, still having a serious expression.

"It didn't feel right when today morning I spent on thinking about the past after he visited. What if I hurt him by now moving forward and later backing away? I thought I moved on, you know, but the hurt is still there." I explained.

"How can you know whether you moved on or not unless you date other person? You didn't even look at someone with interest except this boss of yours." She said shaking her head.

"Who said I am not dating?" I asked her frowning.

"What? You are dating someone and I don't know?" she asked covering her face.

"You know him and he just dropped us." I replied and she gave a confused look.

"The whole last week I felt like I am dating, like I am this special person in his life. We talked and talked so much along with sharing the views. He took so much care that I don't think it would have been that special if we had gone to some restaurant." I explained.

"You don't like him." She suddenly said, making me frown.

"I mean, you like him more than just like him." She immediately added and I sat repeating her words.

"I don't know! Now most of my brain is filled with questions regarding his appearance. What is he doing after all these years? I never contacted him and after that uneventual day before my delivery day, I never even tried. What the hell he wants now when I am finally taking another new step?" I asked to which she shrugged but frowned.

"Do you still love him?" she asked with a sudden horror look.

"I... I don't know! Because now I only have hurt and anger related to him." I replied honestly which I was thinking from morning.

"Ok! Let us hope he is not going to bring some tornado and leaves soon. I am rooting for Manohar by the way." She said, grinning and stood up calling for Harsha.

But before she could leave my phone rang making me walk near to it. I lifted it and normally said, "Hello?"

"Kalpana?" I heard the voice and stilled.

"How did you get my number?" I asked fisting my hand and felt Jhanvi's presence beside me.

"Hear me out, Kalpana. I just need to meet you and talk to you. Just meet me once." He pleaded and I glanced at Sudhir to see him staring at me making me realize I am fuming.

I gave him a small smile before finally saying, "Fine! Come to my home tomorrow morning nine o clock. And if I ask you to leave, then you should leave."

"Okay! I will be there by nine." He said and I immediately hung up.

"Are you sure?" Jhanvi asked and I nodded, knowing well he will not back away until he does what he wishes to.

"How stupidly I asked, how you got my number? When he can know where I live then of course he will know this too right." I mumbled shaking my head.

"You were not expecting his intervention today anymore. So, that must be the reaction." She said, assuring me.

"By eight we can leave to drop them at school and then I will return back to deal with him. I don't want this in a public place if suppose we shout or do anything humiliating thing." I added.

"Your boss will not be happy." She pointed out.

"I am my own person." I pointed back, to which she sighed and left after assuring me everything will be fine.

"So, are you hungry, Sudhir?" I asked, turning towards him and he nodded smiling.

"Let's go make dinner and I am going to get my son's help today." I added tickling him and he laughed before we both walked towards the kitchen.

"Hello, Sir?" I asked when he lofted the call.

"There is no Sir here." He replied back making me smile.

I sat down on my bed before getting comfortable and mumbled, "Manohar!"

"That's right!" he mumbled back.

"I will not be coming tomorrow too." I said leaning back.

"Okay! You already took two weeks when you got hurt and there are still two more days in that leave." He explained making me smile.

"Are you going to meet him tomorrow?" he asked when I stayed quiet.

"Yes! He will be here at nine o clock tomorrow." I replied and waited for him to object, it and then I will say the same thing I said to Jhanvi.

"Okay!" he simply said and I sat straight frowning.

"Okay?" I asked and felt my voice raising.

"Yeah! Should I say something else?" he asked chuckling.

"No! It's... just... it's just that you asked me to meet him in a public place." I explained.

"I didn't ask, but requested you, Kalpana. Hearing it or not hearing it is your decision and I should not force you to do something." He explained back.

"Okay!" I mumbled relaxing, but shook my head, smiling at his yet another weird nature.

"Okay? Are you not going to fight because I didn't fight? I felt you are going to hearing your voice." He teased making me chuckle.

"I don't think there will be a fight so soon between us." I said grinning.

"Really? And why is that?" he asked with a curious tone.

"Because your weird behavior will not make any place for a fight to happen." I replied and he immediately laughed.

"We are back to that?" he asked after a few seconds.

"We are always at that and I never asked how do you know I think like that about you?" I asked him frowning.

"Somewhere!" he replied vaguely.

"Did you put any microphone near me or what?" I asked teasing him.

"Maybe!" he mumbled and I laughed before we hung up saying 'Good night'.

After placing the phone aside, the smile slipped away from my face, dreading the meet with him. Why? Why now? And what should I say to Sudhir? I thought, frowning and just stared at the ceiling.

"You will be careful, right?" Jhanvi asked when we were waving to our kids.

"Yes! You do not worry and go to work." I replied, giving her an assuring smile which I am not feeling inside.

"Where were you?" I heard a voice making me glance up from the action of closing my purse after finding the key.

"It's already nine?" I asked myself and glanced at my watch to see it is past ten minutes to nine.

"There was too much traffic." I mumbled even though I didn't feel to explain myself.

"I was here nearly banging the door when the door was not opened." He mumbled back and I gestured him to move before unlocking the door and walked inside with him following me.

"Don't close the door." I said when he moved to close it.

"Are you... are you having a doubt that I will hurt you?" he asked in a shocked tone.

"I really don't know you now, do I? It's been so many years." I replied back and settled on the couch before gesturing him to the other chair which was beside to the couch was now opposite to it for this meeting specifically.

"Where were you? And..." he trailed off, looking around like searching for something maybe someone.

"I went to drop my son at school." I said and he immediately glanced at me.

"I saw his photo. He has my eyes right?" he asked smiling.

"Why would he? He is not your son, right?" I asked back and he closed his eyes wincing a little.

"Look, just tell me what do you want to say." I said, clutching my palms together to make them not tremble due to a whirlwind of emotions.

"I know it's been too many years and I just got to know the truth a few months back." He said opening his eyes and stared at me.

"What truth?" I asked and he glanced away.

"That everything was a devised plan to separate us and they succeeded. I... you may think that the photos were the only things they did, but so many things happened before that. There were bouquets coming on your name with... some... some disturbing messages and those messages were thrown in the dustbin. You remember I asked you about the bouquets? And you simply said they came without anything to it. But then I see these torn messages. I kept quiet thinking maybe someone was harassing you and Mom was also not there in our house for those two months when all this happened." He started explaining and I sat still remembering each event.

"I used to get statements of you dining at restaurants paying too much but you always used to say you stayed at home only." He added and sighed.

"And?" I asked with a voice steady which I am not feeling right now.

"And... there were so many incidents and I just lashed out seeing those photos with you and him in such..." he didn't finish.

"And?" I asked him again.

"And I felt hurt, Kalpana. I thought I gave you everything and you were cheating on me. I felt anger and too much. I acted out on that anger and I couldn't see anything else. But... but I got to know the truth and trust me, I never felt so hurt even though I thought I will never after thinking of you cheating on me." He replied and leaned forward with now a little distance between us.

"Please forgive me and come back to me, Kalpana. Already too many years got wasted. I don't want to miss any more time." He added and moved his hand to place on my interwined hands.

"Did you ever got a thought of asking me the proper question than inquiring about me? Did you ever think maybe I should keep at least a little bit trust on my wife than some random things? Did you?" I screamed the last part making him move away.

"You don't understand, Kalpana. Mom..." he started, but I shook my head.

"All this time I thought that was just the moment and you reacted worstly. But it is not true is it? You were thinking wrong about me all the time and having calculations." I said feeling my voice tremble suddenly.

"Who is it? Who did all this?" I asked, staring at him.

"Ruchi!" he mumbled and it felt worse.

"I told you that your ex was making comments and threats, but you never took me seriously, right?" I asked leaning back and closed my eyes.

"All my pain is because of an ex?" I asked laughing humorously.

"I wish!" he mumbled and I opened my eyes to stare at him.

"What?" I asked him not hearing the words properly.

"I wish all this has not happened." He mumbled covering his face.

"Come home with me, Kalpana. We three will be happy and I will make it up to you. I will never hurt you again and I will hurt myself before thinking to do it." He said standing up and took a step but I showed my hand stopping him.

"That cannot happen. I am happy in my life and we both definitely do not need you and will never. I need you to leave my home." I said standing up.

"But... but you know how I was with all these situations, right? Didn't I tell you how my Dad left my Mom and cheated on her and then came back only because she got money?" he asked and it felt like his confidence gone a little.

"Yes! You told me several times how he hurt you and your Mom with his actions and how you hate him and that woman. So? How can you think me in his place? You know so well, that if I had not married you then I would have gone for my further studies. Why would I cheat on you and be with you for money?" I shouted and pushed him away with my trembled hands when he moved towards me.

"And don't you dare say anything else. Do you know I came to meet you once to see maybe you would want to be at least there when I give birth to my son? I wanted someone with me and didn't want to do it alone." I asked, folding my arms and he gave me a shocked look.

"I got the address of you being in a hotel and came there only to see you kissing someone else laughing and... and leaving the hotel together. Did it take only those few months to move on like that? The divorce finalized only a month back right?" I asked and he shook his head.

"I didn't know! And... and I was hurting, Kalpana. I took whatever way possible to overcome it." He said desperately and I laughed at him.

"I was in even more pain, Jay. I didn't do anything like that." I said and he closed his eyes.

"Please! I need you and him. I will make up for each and everything." He pleaded and moved placing a hand on my cheek.

"Really? That's why you actually cheated on her?" we heard a voice making me jerk away and I turned to see Jhanvi walking towards me.

"What are you saying?" I asked, brushing my tears away.

"You know the girl you saw him with is not the first woman. Before her were a few even though divorce was not finalized by then. And that is not the end. He has a parade of mistresses. Even before two or three months he had one. Ask him!" she replied, folding her eyes while he glared at her.

"I know that was too much, but I... you are the only one I opened up and loved, Kalpana. I couldn't bare the betrayal." He said, leaning his head back to stare at the ceiling.

"Leave my home, Jay." I said in a cold voice and he shook his head.

"I need to tell you something else." He said, but I shook my head and gestured the door.

"I will not stay back, Kalpana. Mom is dying." He suddenly said, making me frown at him.

"She got cancer and is at last stage. We can't do anything and she dies soon." He added.

"And?" I asked, feeling shock with the news.

"She wants to meet her grandson." He replied, making me glare at him.

"Don't try to manipulate me, Jay. I want you to leave right now." I screamed and he stepped back immediately.

"I will bring the proofs or you can check for yourself. She just wants to look at him once before she leaves the world." He mumbled and reluctantly walked away while Jhanvi closed the door at his back.

I fell on the couch before covering my face with the frustration I never thought I would possess. I screamed and pushed my hair back before sitting.

"Kalpana?" she asked calmly and sat beside me.

"Why did it have to be this complicated? Who would have thought some ex has that much power on a relation, right? Here, he goes on around with all the women and comes here acting he got hurt and all that nonsense. Then what did I go through, Jhanvi? An irregular nail cut?" I asked turning towards her.

"So, you joke when you are angry?" she asked back and I sighed, rubbing my cheeks to clear the tears.

"How do you know about all that women?" I asked and she sighed.

"I was worried for you when you were nearing to delivery date. So, I searched the records where you have given his name. I searched for him and found his adventures in magazines. Then, I decided it was better if he was not with you only." She explained.

"However, we get so many magazines for the hospitals that we keep up to the news like this all the gossips. And then one of his mistresses was my co-worker who was gushing about him. But then was crying within few weeks cursing him." She added.

"He was not like that at all. He used to respect me and everyone." I mumbled remembering the times when I used to visit Mom in holidays.

Even though we never talked much except greetings, but he used to treat everyone with so much respect.

"Well, people change. But tell me, how you don't know about all this? I thought you were hurt to bring about all this and I too kept quiet." she asked curiously.

"I know he will be in all these papers due to his business one way or other like in the past. So, I stayed away from the magazines and just read the news online regarding my work if needed." I said.

"It was in the beginning, but then I got used to it and never gave much thought." I added and she nodded.

"Thanks for coming back, Jhanvi. I don't know whether I needed someone with me or not." I mumbled smiling.

"Thank your boss." She suddenly said and I sat straight feeling confused.

"Boss? Why?" I asked her frowning.

"He called me and requested me to be with you when I nearly reached the hospital." She explained.

"Anyway, I need to leave now but if you want I can stay." She offered.

"I am fine! Just got too much information." I said, trying to smile and she nodded before getting up and left the house.

I took out my phone from my purse and immediately dialed his number. Within a few rings he lifted and greeted me.

"Why did you call Jhanvi and asked her to be with me?" I directly asked.

"I told you yesterday that I don't want you to meet him alone, right?" he asked back.

"But yesterday night, you said you will not force me." I pointed out frowning.

"I didn't force you. I just took other alternatives for my peace of mind. I didn't force you, did I?" he asked at the end.

"The day I understand you will be miracle day." I replied and cut off the call.

I wish that Ruchi is there before me right now so that I can wring her neck for doing all this and then this Jay's neck for trying to manipulate me using his Mom's name.

Why would she ask for grandson when she didn't even know I was pregnant while giving him an order to throw me out of the house with that disgust look?

She never liked me and compromised to his wishes. Then why would she wish to see my son as a last wish?

Is she even ill? Or am I right with him lying? God! I thought everything was settled in life and all my work is paying for my life with calmness. Why did he have to return opening up old wounds and adding new wounds to the already ones?

How can he ask me a chance, so easily as if nothing happened, as if we just had a lover's spat? Does he know how much I had to go through to come up to this peaceful life?

What should I do? I wish someone can write me some answers so that I need not think all this. I sighed rubbing my eyes hoping the tears will not come again at least for today and maybe never.

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uff!!! finally another update... i dont know how the story is going so you guys need to tell me from time to time :P

How is the chap???

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