*Kalpana Pov*

"Do you regret it?" I heard a calm voice and I turned back to see him awake lime me.

"No! Do you love me?" I asked, frowning and he smiled not even looking at me before nodding.

"I..." I trailed off not knowing what to say.

"I can understand, Kalpana." He said finally turning towards me.

"I really like you. It's just... just I don't know you too much. You may think bad when I stumbled to the bed with you even though I don't know you, but I feel I can't fight the attraction and to top of that I really like you." I said hoping he will not feel bad if I didn't say the words back.

"You raised my respect for you by not saying you love me, Kalpana. I know you may just say it based on attraction, but you didn't. And I want that honesty. So that..." he trailed off and for the first time I have seen the pain in his eyes, making me place my hand over his face.

"And don't worry so much because it is my fault that you don't know me. At the same time when I know you." He added playing with my hair.

"But you were always serious in the beginning when I started working." I mumbled tracing his cheek.

"That's because I didn't want to do this." He mumbled giving a small peck.

"At the first meeting itself?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"I may have met you that day, Kalpana. But I know you before only." He replied smiling.

"From the time I was working for you? It must be Mr.Girish, he seems to be gossiping too much even near me except about you." I mumbled closing my eyes.

"I... I want you to know me completely too. But..." he trailed off and I opened my eyes hearing his voice.

"But?" I asked him frowning.

"But you may not like it." He replied to which I frowned more.

"I don't think so." I said not accepting his words.

"Promise me! Promise me that you will give us a chance when you get to know me." He added nearly in a hurry with a little panic making me feel overwhelmed with all this.

He was so strong in his actions and words and here he is... he is so lost. I thought no one in this world is as sturdy as him, but here he is slipping.

"I promise!" I said, smiling and he nodded before turning to glance at the clock.

"I need to go, I guess." He said and I frowned.

"I want to stay here, but Sudhir may get confused. I come to care for him too much." He added the last sentence in surprise tone.

"Why is it such a surprise?" I asked, not able to stop myself when he is being so open this moment.

"After I realized I can't have my own kids, I stayed away from all of them whenever I see or had to greet them. But Sudhir... I don't feel the need to back away anymore." He replied, staring at me and I can see is amazement in his eyes.

"Be like this." I suddenly said before I can stop myself.

"Like what?" he asked frowning.

"Now, I can see what you are feeling and I am feeling more close to you. Don't mask your eyes again." I replied and he stilled.

"Sure!" he said after a few minutes.

"We will meet at the office?" he asked yawning.

"Sure, but only as your assistant." I replied teasing.

"I will never disrespect you again acting unprofessionally in the work place, Kalpana." He said frowning and I smiled.

"I know! You already said and I believe you." I said, hugging him and he hugged me back.

"Bye!" I whispered, hugging him again and closed the door before leaning on it.

Oh god! I thought, rubbing my neck and immediately remembered his words making me smile. Is it really me that allowed that was happening from the last few days?

If someone had said I will be like this, then I would have laughed at them. But now I am standing here grinning like an idiot with a little panic along with terror in the head.

"Hi!" I said, smiling at Jhanvi who entered the home in the morning holding a milk packet.

"I know you said you will be here by yesterday evening. However, I didn't see you and came here just in case you guys returned." She said smiling.

"Yeah! We reached late at night." I said and she nodded before asking how was the trip.

"So..." she trailed off.

"So?" I asked, stirring the milk.

"So, was there nay progress?" she asked and I chuckled.

"Actually, we had a pleasant time talking and roaming around." I replied and she sighed to which I laughed.

"But I can't say the same thing when we returned." I added and she screamed before sighing in relief.

"I was so scared that there will be disturbance between you two after the entrance of the past. But now I am happy. And don't worry about any other disturbance for at least a few days. I took care of it." She said smirking.

"And what did you do?" I asked frowning.

"For the first time I did something evil and let me enjoy it at least for a few days without spilling it." She pleaded and I let her be knowing well how much effect is her evil side.

"Good morning, Sir!" I said entering his cabin and he nodded back before I walked towards the coffee maker.

And then the day started like any other day except he indeed let his mask down from the eyes. But I can see it is back whenever he is talking to someone else, either on phone or direct.

"Kalpana!" he called when I informed him I will leave for my home in the evening.

"Yes, Sir?" I asked frowning.

"Invite me for the dinner." He said or I can see he ordered with a normal face, but his expression in the eyes is nowhere near normal.

I glanced at the clock to see it is past office hours. So, I smiled and shook my head in negative to which he gave a shocked look.

"Fine!" he mumbled, opening the last file he needs to sign.

"That's it?" I asked him frowning.

"You are the boss outside the office." He replied, shrugging, not even looking at me.

I stared at him feeling the heat rise over my cheeks. God damn it! Why am I even blushing? I thought taking a deep breath.

"Would you like to have some snacks with me, Sir?" I asked and he looked up to stare at me.

"With pleasure!" he replied and I shook my head walking out to pack my things.

"Shall we?" he asked when I finished with my packing.

"I will come on the bus. I need to go and pick Sudhir." I replied staring at him.

"Okay! First we will go there." He said shrugging.

"Don't think much! I behaved too good this whole day." He added when I just stood.

"Fine! It doesn't feel like I am boss outside the office." I mumbled realizing I am getting along with each of his plans.

"I wonder, maybe that's why I don't feel I am boss during office hours." He said following me.

"Please! If it is in your hands, you would hold a board with that word over your head." I said to which he chuckled.

"Really? Then what did you say?" I glanced at Sudhir and Manohar who are having a serious discussion over the snacks.

"I told them I will bring pictures to show that I was at the wheel." Sudhir said proudly.

"Very good! You will show the picture to them." Manohar nodded.

"And where will he get them from? The pictures need to be developed right?" I asked, raising my eyebrow walking out from the kitchen, remembering the photos I took using his camera.

"No problem!" Manohar replied and took out his mobile before talking in a low tone.

"They will be here within two hours." He added and Sudhir immediately grinned before moving from his chair to hug him.

I stilled looking at the way Manohar stilled, but then slowly hugged him back. I smiled when he closed his eyes.

"Thanks for the dinner." He said his common dialogue when I walked him to the door.

"Will you say that every day?" I asked him smiling when he just continued to use the same words from the past four days.

"Every day!" he replied, smiling and placed his hand near my neck before pulling me for a kiss.

"I will miss you tomorrow." He said and I nodded, knowing well I will also miss him and for the first time I am not liking the weekend.

"You can come for lunch or dinner." I pointed out, but he shook his head.

"This is the time for you both. I don't want to disturb it. Anyways, if I had food, even during the weekend's here, then I will not fit through this door." He joked and I laughed shaking my head.

"Simple, don't come for dinner even in normal days." I said shrugging.

"I can't do that." He simply said, smiling and walked away.

After he left, I closed the door and started removing the dishes smiling. When he first asked me to invite him for dinner, I thought he planned something else after that.

However, all he did was sat having dinner and left. He asked every day to invite him and I did. We three sat everyday just conversing before Sudhir slept off and then he leaves after I read a story for Sudhir.

"Jhanvi?" I called knocking on the door for the second time when she didn't open it even after five minutes.

"Yes?" someone said, opening the door and he is in some kind of robe.

"Jhanvi?" I asked, not knowing what to say.

"She is in the shower." He replied, not moving a muscle on his face but just stared at me.

"Who are you?" I asked little rudely feeling worried for Jhanvi.

"I am Prince Ali." He replied nodding.

Prince? I thought, frowning and then glanced down at Sudhir who is staring at him with wide eyes. I don't blame him, he is too big guy.

"Aunty! Did you meet my Dad? I told you he is Prince right?" I heard an excited Harsha's voice when he rushed to stand beside this Prince.

"I just did, Harsha." I said, smiling and saw his Dad smiling at Harsha.

"Will you call your Mom?" I asked, to which this supposed Prince frowned.

"Sure!" Harsha said, walking away and I heard him shouting to Jhanvi saying I have arrived.

"I informed you about her shower, Miss." He said and I frowned at him.

"Kalpana?" I heard Jhanvi voice and he moved away, making me walk inside.

"Who is he?" I asked her immediately.

"My husband! I told you he will come, right? See, he is here." She said smiling and I opened my mouth to say yeah, after more than ten years but closed my mouth.

"I can see." I said, giving her a smile.

"Come on! I have to tell you something." She said, dragging me to her room while Suhdir walked towards Harsha near some new play things spread in the living room.

"What is it?" I asked when she paced before me.

"I am leaving today." She replied.

"Where?" I asked her frowning.

"To his island!" she replied smiling.

"Jhanvi! You don't know that man." I said frowning.

"Of course I know him, Kalpana. He is my husband." She said smiling and I opened my mouth, but she cut me off.

"I know you feel weird about everything regarding him, but I love him. He returned like he said even though late, but he did. I don't want to waste any more time to be with him. Harsha already missed a father in his life and I don't want any more loss in his life." She said pleading me.

"Okay! But you have to call me if you feel anything wrong." I said and she nodded hugging me.

"Stop doubting everything, Kalpana. Just remember no one is perfect and they make mistakes. I know he shouldn't have taken this much time, but I accept his reason. I want to be happy and you too be happy letting your happiness take first place in your head and heart along with Sudhir's." she added and I nodded not knowing what else to say.

"We will meet and I will send you the details of how to reach me when I settle there." She said when we both walked out of the room and I hugged Harsha tightly.

"Keep her happy." That's all I said to her husband before leaving the house feeling tears threatening to fall.

Am I going to lose my best friend? I thought, sniffing to keep the tears at bay holding Sudhir's hand.

"He is going away." Sudhir said in a small voice the moment we walked inside the house and I hugged him.

"I know! But he is going to be with his father." I said and wished I didn't.

Even Sudhir didn't have any father figure and is there emptiness in his life? Of course, there will be but I hope it is not too much.

"Hello?" I said, lifting my phone sitting on the couch with Sudhir sitting beside me watching the television in silence.

"So, what am I missing today? I am about to have some sandwich as lunch." I heard a teasing voice.

"I didn't cook anything." I said and my voice cracked.

"I will be there." That's all I heard before he hung up.

"What happened?" I heard the voice after some time making me realize I didn't even locked the door.

"She is leaving!" "He is leaving!" Sudhir and I said at a time and he frowned before walking near to us after locking the door.

"Okay!" he said, placing a cover on the table before sitting beside me lifting up Sudhir and made him sit on his lap.

I calmly explained that Jhanvi is going to leave today along with Harsha or that's what I tried with tears falling slowly.

"He is my best friend." Sudhir said, sniffing over Manohar's shoulder.

"I am sorry!" I mumbled realizing how awkward it must be for him to be here with two nearly crying people.

"Don't be!" he mumbled placing his free arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him making me lay my head over him shoulder.

After sometime laying like that, he opened the cover and took out boxes of take out he brought while coming only.

We three had the lunch there on the couch watching the television and then I glanced at him to see him patting Sudhir on his forehead.

I felt a small tug, but just stayed silent. In the evening we waved at Jhanvi and Harsha walking outside when she called saying they are leaving.

And like that the whole day passed with both of us sitting on the chairs after dinner while Sudhir already slept off in his room.

"I will miss her." I said, staring at him.

"She will miss you too." He said and pulled me up before walking me to my room before laying me on the bed.

"Stay!" I said when he moved to walk out and he did by lying beside me.

"Your day got wasted." I mumbled, staring at him while trailing my finger over his cheek.

"No! I am glad to be here and do something for the first time for you both." He said smiling.

"You have done so much indirectly, for the past seven years." I said, remembering how much helpful it was to work in his company.

"Then let me say I did something for you both openly and directly. I should thank you for allowing me to be there." He said, tugging me towards him and kissed me.

"Do you have to go?" I asked him yawning.

"Yeah! It is still new to shock Sudhir by staying overnight. You don't know how much I wish to be here." He replied and I couldn't help but sigh.

I should be thinking all that, but here I am asking him to stay back without thinking. I walked him to the door, seeing that it is just ten.

"I will come tomorrow." He said and kissed me lightly, but I pulled him more for a stronger kiss.

"You bastard!" we heard a shout and we both released each other before glancing at the source of the voice.

"Jay?" I asked, frowning.

"It should have taken two more days for you to be back home, according to the length of your vacation, she said, but I thought of checking once and you are here." He said walking towards us.

"You found only him to be with, Kalpana?" he asked, growling at Manohar while I glanced at Manohar to apologize only to see his closed off expression.

"How dare you come near her? How dare you, Dear Step brother?" Jay asked, holding Manohar's collar and I gasped.

"Wh... what?" I asked in a low whisper.

"He didn't tell you? He is really a bastard then." Jay asked, shaking his head.

"I was fine with everything but I will not leave you for this." He added and swung his hand to land a punch making me scream and close my eyes but I opened them to see Mnaohar holding the hand tightly.

"It is late, Kalpana. Go inside and lock the door. We will talk tomorrow." He said, turning towards me with a blank expression.

"Tomorrow!" he added while I struggled to open my mouth.

I closed the door immediately and took deep breaths before releasing a sob still feeling the terror when I saw Jay swung his hand.

And... and... what does he mean by step brother? Manohar didn't reject the words too. What is all this? I thought walking towards the couch after checking twice whether I locked or not and sat down.

I thought everything will be fine from the past few days and here it seems another storm is ready is appear before me and all I can do is wait for tomorrow.

----------------------------------------------------

i know she just closed the door but she was scared... and here is the face off which i know is small but there will be many...

and all.... like all the things will be revealed in the next chap completely... and i know it took too long to reach this point and the reason for it i dont know... :P

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...