*Kalpana Pov*

"Good morning, Sir." I greeted him walking inside his cabin holding the notepad.

"Good morning! How are you?" he asked, glancing up from the system.

"Fine, Sir!" I replied, nodding and walked towards the coffee maker.

He didn't utter a word and I followed his before walking near to his table with the coffee.

I sat down in the chair opening the notepad and waited for him to give any instructions for the day.

He took a sip and stared at me before shaking his head. He took a file from the table and started giving instructions what to do with the clients in the file.

"I will take care of it, Sir." I said, nodded and stood up holding the file.

"How about some coffee?" he asked making me stop from moving towards the door.

"Uhmm... I don't think it is a good idea, Sir." I replied to which he smiled.

"I will not say anything but just have some coffee. It's not like I am preparing it for you. So it will be not inappropriate." He suggested and I couldn't help but walk back towards the coffee maker.

Inside I wished to spend some time like this and how can I walk away just thinking about office behavior. It's not like there is anything inapporiate like he said even though he crossed it a few times in the office already.

Like he said he didn't talk, but just enjoyed his coffee and I did the same, but not before glancing at him from time to time.

Maybe if I keep on staring at him at intervals I can understand him. I still can't believe he called and sent Jhanvi.

After finishing I stood up, but he glanced at me smiling before saying, "Ms.Pallavi is also not in the workplace. Why don't you have lunch with me, here getting the food from the canteen?" he asked and I just stared at him.

"There is still so much time for lunch, Sir." I replied ignoring his request.

"I am taking an appointment. You may be busy." He said with a serious face, but I can see the amusement in his eyes.

"I will check my schedule and let you know." I said and he laughed, shaking his head while I smiled heartily at him.

"Good! I hope you will really get time from your busy schedule." He added and I shook my head before walking away still smiling.

I finished the work he gave before handling the calls and tried to start the work pending because of my absence.

"Thanks!" I mumbled to the cafeteria staff and started walking away holding the tray ignoring the surprise looks from a few but they shrugged before continuing.

"I must feel rewarded that you really got time." He commented the moment I walked inside.

"Sir!" I said in a low voice throwing a glare at him before walking towards the couch.

If someone had said I would give him glares or tease before a few weeks, then I would have laughed until I have gone mad. But now seems like I really god mad feeling this comfortable with him.

"I hope you like this curry." He said sitting beside me opening a box.

"You are hoping too much today, Sir." I commented before glancing at the food.

"No formalities at lunch hour." He said and I gestured to the curry saying I like it.

"Well, then have a taste." He immediately said, offering me the box.

"Why are you so eager?" I asked mumbling and took a bite feeling the curry pieces melting in my mouth literally.

"Wow! I would want to kiss on the chef's hand." I mumbled smiling.

"Well, here it is." He sad forwarding her hand.

"I don't believe you." I said, staring at his amused eyes.

"Good! I will let her know you love it." He said shrugging.

"Her?" I asked, frowning and felt myself moving away from him.

"Yes! Before you get too many thoughts. It is my Mother." He replied with a smirk and seems like ready to laugh any moment.

"Okay!" I mumbled shrugging as if I didn't feel anything tugging me just a few seconds back.

"It's good to know someone feels jealous for my sake." He commented and I immediately stared at him.

"Jealous? Me? No way!" I replied and felt my voice raising.

"Okay! Have your lunch." He said, gesturing the food and I did trying to stop the questions in my head, which started to question my feeling when he said 'Her'.

"So, how is Sudhir? I miss that kid." He said when we kept silence for a few minutes.

By Sudhir's topic raised we both started talking about him and fell into comfort, leaving the awkwardness from before.

"What are you doing?" I asked, feeling my smile slip away the moment I reached home along with Sudhir while Jhanvi already walked to her house with Harsha.

"I brought proofs." He replied, but his gaze was on Sudhir.

"Move!" I mumbled and immediately opened the door, ignoring the curious looks from Sudhir for him and his happy and amazed looks towards Sudhir.

"Sudhir! Go inside and wait for me." I said, opening the door.

"Who is he, Mom?" Sudhir asked, staring at Jay.

"Sudhir!" I said sternly and he walked away nodding.

I turned around to see Jay frowning at the door and me. He then asked, "Why didn't you tell him that I am his father?"

"Can you hear yourself? You want me to tell him with a big smile that 'He is your daddy!'?" I asked him not able to keep the sarcasm away.

"You are right! I am the reason he is asking you who am I." he replied looking away before he turned back to stare at me.

"Here are the reports." He added passing a folder.

I sighed and opened them looking at all the reports which I am not understanding much but I can see that these are cancer patients.

"You can ask that friend of yours so that she can see everything clearly before passing a judgement and not just by a few things." He mumbled frowning.

"I am sorry that she is not well. But still I will not be near you or her and Sudhir is out of question." I said folding my arms.

"I know you, Kalpana. You will feel guilty if you don't get him to meet her." He said sighing.

"If you know me so well, then why didn't you believe me all those years back?" I asked finally not able to keep the anger at bay.

"I let everything rule me except my mind and heart." He replied and took a step forward but I moved back immediately.

"Just think about it. I left my mobile number in the folder." He mumbled and turned before walking away.

"Everyone deserves one last wish before they die just like in prison. Think of her as a criminal and do it." He suddenly said without turning.

Before I can understand and ask him about the statement, he is completely out of sight. Who asks anyone to think of their mother as a criminal? I thought, shaking my head.

"Well, the reports say that she is in critical condition. There is no chance of survival." Jhanvi finally said, keeping the file aside.

"But! There is a but, right?" I asked, seeing her expression.

"You said he have a lot of money and what if he bought these files?" she asked.

"He will not stoop so low." I mumbled frowning.

"Come on! He stooped lot of low by throwing you outside and if someone does that to me, I will kill them." She said fuming.

"I know! If not for Sudhir, maybe I would have done that." I said nodding and we both burst out laughing.

"You seemed to be so happy in the evening and he again disturbed." She said sighing.

"Well, I can always call Manohar to get that smile back." I said before I can think what I am saying.

"Oh! Now I understand." She said with a teasing glint while I mentally slapped myself.

"He is just... he is so nice. I mean not gentlemen or anything else. It's like he is there for me only. He is weird at times. Maybe even many times, but he is something." I mumbled and she smiled.

"I am so happy for you. So, now you forget about all this and just think about everything with this boss of yours." She said standing up.

"What if she really is ill?" I asked holding her hand.

"She pushed him to remove you from the house as far as you said from the incident." That's all she said and walked away waving at me after Harsha reached her.

"What should I do?" I asked the only person who is giving me all the right suggestions these days with his weird thoughts.

"What will you feel if she is really ill and died?" he asked leaning forward.

"Too much guilt." I mumbled, feeling my stomach churning just thinking about it.

"From yesterday I am thinking about this only. One second I am feeling anger and then guilty." I added before covering my face with my hands.

"You should go, Kalpana." He suddenly said and I sighed uncovering my face.

"But... but entering the same house." I mumbled shaking my head.

"You will not be able to enter into your own house with your feeling if she dies without meeting Sudhir." He commented making me stare at him in surprise.

"And you are too good for the company. So, I can't let you lose yourself in guilt. For that I am ordering you to meet her keeping the company's best interest's at heart." He added and I smiled at his words.

"You are too... too something, but not wrong." I mumbled.

"What does that even mean?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"I will let you know when I get to know." I replied and he laughed.

"I am sure you are something though." He mumbled, staring at me with a look which made my stomach churn like before but this churning is feeling really good.

"If you need me, call me." He added when I entered his cabin to say I am leaving.

"Sure! I will meet you after the weekend or maybe between." I said smiling.

"Actually, I am going out of station this weekend. So, after the weekend only we will meet." He said smiling back.

"Oh! When will you leave?" I asked frowning.

"After you returned from their house." He replied, making me stare at him in surprise.

"Do you think he will hurt me?" I asked him frowning.

"I don't think he will. But I am just being over the top." He replied, shrugging and looked away with an embarrassed look.

"Don't! That over the top is feeling good for me. Maybe more than good." I said, making him look surprised and I left smiling.

"Sudhir!" I said the moment we reached home.

"Yes, Mom?" he asked, staring at me.

"The man... the man who came yesterday is your father." I replied and waited while his eyes widened.

"Mine?" he asked and I nodded but he kept quiet.

"You have a grandmother and she is ill. She wants to meet you, Sudhir." I said after a few minutes of silence.

"Did you cry, Mom?" he asked with a worried expression and I let out a small laugh before pulling him into a hug.

"No! When I have you, why will I cry?" I asked tickling him.

"Will you meet her?" I asked with him still on my lap.

"I don't like them." He suddenly said and I turned his face brushing his hair away.

"They love you." I said, smiling, but he just nodded.

"She will go near god?" he asked and I felt surprised hearing his answer.

"Who told you that?" I asked him frowning.

"My classmate's father went near god after being ill." He explained.

"Yes! She will go near god and wishes to meet you before going so that she can say very good things about you. Then God will always be with you, helping you and fulfilling your wishes." I explained.

"Okay! I will meet her." He said after a few minutes.

"Good! Go and wash your face and hands. We will eat something before leaving." I said and he nodded rushing off.

"Hello!" I heard his voice with him lifting the phone to the second ring.

"We both will come today." I said not giving any greeting.

"I will come there to pick you both." He offered.

"No! I know the address." I said and hung up when he fell into silence.

You will be fine! I chanted to myself when the taxi turned to the corner of the house. I glanced at Sudhir who is looking outside at the big house we are nearing.

"It's scary!" he suddenly said and I came out of my thoughts of him thinking this is a really nice house.

"You don't like it?" I asked him frowning.

"No! It is scary." He replied in a whisper and I felt good, even though I know I shouldn't.

"Thank you for coming." I heard Jay's voice when I was busy paying for a taxi.

"It is for her." I mumbled and turned around holding Sudhir's hand.

"What would you like to have?" he started rambling while I was busy staring at the door dreading the steps.

Here is the place I begged to be let in and here is the place I cried my heart out but no one cared. Here is the same place where my Son was taken away from his rights.

"Where is she?" I asked, stepping in remembering I should be strong.

"We will meet, but first you sit down." He replied, gesturing the couch but I shook my head.

"I need to return soon before it is very late." I mumbled he sighed nodding.

"Does he know?" he asked in a whisper after gesturing me to walk towards the stairs.

"Yes!" I replied and pulled Sudhir closer to me.

"And?" he asked and I can see he held his breath.

"And nothing! He was ready to meet her." I replied and continued to climb the stairs.

"That's it?" he asked and I just nodded before we reached her room.

"I will let her know." He mumbled sighing and walked inside.

"Mom! He is here." I heard his voice.

"Really? Bring him in." I heard another weak, but familiar voice after which the door is opened completely.

I started walking with a small flash of memory pushing its way before my eyes, making me stop for a second.

"What are you doing here?" I heard a voice and glanced up from the ground to see his Mom standing near the door fuming.

"Please tell him that I am not like that. You know me too, right? You know my Mom too." I said pleading her.

"I should have known I was making a mistake hiring a woman who has no one except a child. I should have known my family will be brought down for giving leniency to you and allowing you to stay. If I had stopped you then we all would have been happy." She said each word with so much hatred that I stumbled back.

"If you come here again, I will get the police here to arrest you saying anything that comes to my head." She warned when I didn't move.

"Go before I come again." She added, slamming the door and I cried holding my stomach.

"Name?" the same hatred voice from then, which is sounding too little to be audible brought me out of my thoughts.

"Sudhir!" I replied, not able to keep the anger from my voice.

"Go!" I added, making Sudhir walk near to her.

"Your eyes are like Jay." She said after a few minutes and I shook my head.

"My grandson!" she added, pulling him into her arms and hugged him.

"How are you?" Sudhir asked when I gestured him to after he gave a frown to me.

"I am fine, dear. Now everything will be fine before I leave only." She replied, making me shake my head.

"You need to rest, Mom." Jay said and she nodded before releasing him from hug but held his hand.

"You both will stay here only, right. I can spend as much time as I can with you." She suddenly said and I stilled before glancing at Jay who is staring at her.

"You will see how your Dad can take care of you." She added, smiling and I immediately walked near to them.

"Sudhir!" I mumbled and held his other hand before pulling away, but she frowned shaking her head.

"Where are you taking my grandson?" she asked, frowning more at me as if I am doing something which I don't have a right to.

"He is my son." I replied, not wishing to say anything, knowing she is already ill, but at the moment she is saying something which I will not accept for a second.

"But he is Jay's son too as he is my grandson." She said and coughed making her hold loose and I immediately pulled Suhdir away.

"She can't take him." She continued coughing and I started walking away feeling the fear still present which started hearing her words.

"You need to rest, Mom." Jay said instead and I immediately walked away rushing downstairs before walking inside the kitchen still holding Sudhir's hand.

"One second!" I mumbled placing him on the platform before taking a glass out and took water.

I can't stay here anymore! I thought and took out my mobile to dial for the person who asked me to call if I need to.

"Kalpana! Why did you walk away?" I heard Jay's voice and turned to see him walking inside the kitchen.

"She was talking rubbish." I simply replied and moved to hold Sudhir protectively.

"She knows she doesn't have time and is rushing. I know that you need time and I will never say all that disturbing you." He said and walked more towards us.

"I don't need any time, Jay. I have already told you my answer." I said, frowning at his words.

"You are still angry at me which means you still care for me, right?" he asked smiling a little.

"Who ever said that notation is so wrong, Jay. We all feel hurt when we see some wound on our body, remembering the experience." I replied, feeling anger for his arrogance and confidence that I will just play happy family with him just like that.

"You don't mean that, Kalpana. Don't you remember how much we enjoyed when I was making you accept my proposal? You were against it, but accepted, right? Think how happy we were." He said and placed his palm over my cheek.

"Jay! Step away." I said, remembering those moments with him repeating them, but at the same time the anger is increasing for discarding me because of a few things even after we shared all those.

"Kalpana! Look how perfect we are together." He said and placed the other hand on my waist and closed upon both Sudhir and me.

"I said, move away." I shouted, pushing him away before hugging Sudhir to me.

He opened his mouth but got cut off hearing the door bell. After he left, I let my hands recover the shaking and walked out of the kitchen lifting Sudhir into my arms.

"What are you doing here?" Jay shouted at someone making Sudhir hug me more tightly around the neck.

"Your Mother asked me to meet us a few days back, but I got time now only." I heard a calm female voice.

"How can she call you?" he asked and when I reached near the door, I saw an older woman but seems to be younger than his Mom.

"Go and ask your Mom and if she says she didn't, I will leave right now." She replied as usual calmly and I reached the door completely making her glance at me.

"I will just be back. You stay here, Kalpana." Jay said, seeing me and rushed towards the stairs.

I turned back towards the woman and started walking away, but she held my hand, smiling however I frowned at her.

"You have a beautiful boy." She whispered, glancing at my shoulder making me glance to my side to see Sudhir glancing back at her.

"Thank you!" I mumbled and waited for her to leave me.

"I will not keep you here." She said smiling and left my hand, but placed a palm on Sudhir's cheek before stepping away.

I nodded at her and rushed away from the house, making me realize the place really feels scary now as if in a horror story with no life inside it.

"Hello!" he said, lifting the phone when I called him after getting inside the taxi.

"It's me!" I mumbled finally releasing the breath.

"I know! Are you okay?" he asked in a concerned tone.

"I just left from there and reaching my house." I replied, not knowing what to say.

"I will be there." He simply said, hanging up and I leaned back still having a hold on Sudhir.

Why was there not much than a small pity for that woman lying on the bed from my side? Yes! We never had a good relationship, but that doesn't mean that I feel like a monster towards her.

But... but she shouldn't have talked like as now we went there, that means we will be there forever. Both are very alike not knowing how their actions affect others, but expect a small moment from them to move mountains.

"You are hungry?" I asked Sudhir smiling and he nodded giving a small smile.

"Just two minutes and I will prepare some dinner." I mumbled and walked inside the kitchen after making him watch TV.

I kept on glancing at the door even while feeding Sudhir but there was no doorbell. I don't want to disturb Jhanvi when I know she must be already sleeping happily like every night before weekend to be with Harsha at every moment.

"Good night!" I mumbled kissing his forehead.

"He will not come here?" he asked in a scared tone.

"No!" I replied, to which he nodded and closed his eyes.

After a few minutes, I walked outside only to see Manohar sitting on the couch. He gestured the keys I gave him while he was taking care of me, but I never took them back.

"I forgot about them." I mumbled, sitting beside him.

"Put some sound." I added and he did as I asked.

I glanced at him before throwing my arms around him, to which he hugged me tightly. And then I let the tears come out which I blocked the moment the taxi turned to the house corner seeing that place.

"I don't want to go there again and I don't want Sudhir to be there." I said crying in his arms.

"We both will not live there." I added and he just rubbed my back.

"I am sorry!" I mumbled, suddenly realizing but he just tugged me making himself lay back completely and I am now over him.

"This is so not normal." I said after a few minutes.

"I know! But for now think about your own mindset and not about how is everything around you." He suggested and after a minute I hugged him back without hesitation moving a little to feel comfort.

After some time I remembered his words in the evening and I immediately moved my head to stare at him.

"You have to leave for somewhere, right?" I asked him frowning.

"Yes! I need to attend a small business meeting." He replied nodding.

"I am sorry for stopping you. I am fine now." I said moved to get away, but he shook his head not loosing his hold.

"Come with me." He suddenly said and I just stared at him in shock.

"What?" I asked him in a whisper.

"Come with me, Kalpana. We will take Sudhir too, and this may clear his mind. I can only assume how his mind must have been disturbed if this is your case." He replied and I just stared at him.

"I can understand this is not normal and I also know I am suggesting something that maybe not good as per the little time..." he continued talking but I placed my palm over his mouth.

"Okay!" I simply said finally feeling a small twitch of my lips.

"Okay?" his voice was muffled because of my hand.

"Yes!" I said smiling and then I felt his lips moving over my palm as if kissing it.

"Hmm... from forehead to palm?" I asked, pulling my hand away.

"Well, you are being stingy, not kissing me. So, I should settle for whatever held for me." He replied and I glared at him.

"You are so mean." I mumbled frowning.

"First weird and now mean! I never had those many achievements in a short period of time." He said, smirking and I just shook my head before placing my head back on his chest while he played with my hair making me smile more.

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okay, major issue is the chapter size is increasing more and more... what i want to know is, am i putting too much in a chapter? should i cut it into half or something and post? let me know, okay...

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...