*Mridula Pov*

"If you need anything, let us know." I said again to which she nodded before climbing the stairs along with her son Sudhir.

"Do you think she will sleep fine?" Nipuna asked standing beside me.

"I don't think so." I mumbled and we both walked back to the dining table where everyone is still sitting except Dileep and Tajwar.

"Why is he being late again?" Nipuna asked and I shook my head.

"Don't ask! He and I had a small fight and this is his way of coping. I will just leave him to it and I am sure he will be fine within a few days." I replied and she shook her head.

"I still can't imagine you managing with him." She said shaking her head again.

"So, will she be fine?" Mom asked staring at us.

"Actually, I think the damage is too worse." Nipuna replied and sat down while we stared at her frowning except Aahil.

"I explained to her how our granddad has taunted her mom mentally because of which she ran away from home, but she took them as he threw her out of the house." She explained.

"Like she was." I mumbled and she nodded.

"Poor her! She must still be loving him." Amrin said and I nodded, thinking if even after all these years it goes that deep.

"Yeah! Seems like she is unable to come up with something to handle his return." Mom said and we nodded.

"Just give her some time. She will talk on her own." Uncle said and I nodded sighing.

"The kid seems to be so calm." Aahil mumbled.

"Yeah! Its like he is in his own thoughts." Nipuna added.

"Maybe the change of place. Speaking of him, we should see to his joining in the school." Mom said looking at Aahil.

"I already called the principal. When the school children return from the tour, he asked me to bring him directly." He replied.

"When will this stupid tour end?" Amrin said raising her voice.

"And she begins. I think this Dileep wontedly left her here so that we can endure this torture." Nipuna said shaking her head.

"Stop it, Nipuna. She is worried just like you are by calling Aahna's teacher every two hours." Aahil said shaking his head.

"I am lucky that Urmi is still little to go to any of this tour and it's been just one day which you both spend going near Kalpana. Just two more days and they will return and I can say less than two days." I said, assuring her.

"Ok! I think it is late and we will call it a night." Mom said, standing up and they all left one after the other while I sat there.

After a few minutes, I shook my head and returned to my room holding a tray of food for him. Freshening up a little, I laid down thinking nothing has changed.

"Heard there is a guest in our home?" the question brought me out of my light sleep to open my eyes only to see him laying beside me staring at the ceiling.

"Yes!" I replied and turned around with my back to him.

"I am still not accepting." He mumbled and placed a hand over my waist.

"I am not backing away." I mumbled back, making him pull me back to him completely before we both drifted off into sleep making me think again that nothing will ever change with a smile.

The time we thought to give to Kalpana ended after two days when she literally broke down because of a simple unintentional question from Amrin.

"Didn't your boss said anything when you just left without giving two weeks notice?" that's been the question and none of us know why she just cried.

The weird thing is she did that after asking when can Sudhir return from the ice cream shop Uncle took him to and when we gave an hour time as they just left and there will be traffic.

"I still can't believe that he showed all that just because he wanted some revenge. How can he do all that?" she asked, staring at us still crying.

"Kalpana! We would wish if you tell us what is happening. Did Jay do something again?" Nipuna asked and she frowned at her.

"Jay? What does this have to do with him? I am talking about Manohar." She replied, accepting the tissue Amrin offered.

"Oh!" that's the sound came from all the four ladies sitting around her along with Aahil's who is a little away but hearing everything.

I gestured him to leave, but he shook his head and just sat there. I sighed and glanced at Nipuna to see her shocked expression.

"In the beginning when I felt the attraction, I pushed it completely back even though when he showed it way before I even thought about it making its presence known. Then... then so many things happened and he was so good. He was so understanding and he was good fro Sudhir too. So, I just started the relationship which made me feel I am alive again." She said covering her face.

"I don't even know why am I saying all this to you." She added shaking her head.

"It's okay! We are here for you only." I mumbled and didn't know what else to say.

Until now we thought she was upset because of the return of her ex-husband, but here the story is something else.

"This is all because of Jay." She suddenly said.

"Jay?" Nipuna asked, frowning and stared at us.

"Yeah! Because of him and his mother all this happened. If not for them, then Manohar would have never even seen me." She replied.

"Kalpana! We are unable to understand anything here." I calmly said and she nodded before explaining what happened.

"There will be mother-in-laws like that too? I thought I was worse, but seems like I am an angel before her." Mom said I tried my best to not laugh at her comment but Nipuna gave out a small chuckle.

"We don't know what to say and we fear it will take some time for us to sink in all this. But is there anyone whom you could talk to? Someone who could give comfort?" Amrin asked sniffing.

"I have two best friends. One recently went far away to be with her husband while the other is on the campaign, which will be finished but..." she trailed off.

"But?" I asked and she sighed.

"She is one of the employees of his company. I can't dump all this on her." She replied.

"I am sure she will feel hurt if you made her stay away for that reason. Just give her a call and let her know where you are. She can at least visit you." Mom said and she slowly nodded.

"Now, why don't you drink the tea?" Nipuna pointed out and she did calmly.

*Kalpana Pov*

Oh god! I am feeling like a small kid with everyone just sitting there in silence. What was the need for me to burst out like that?

They are strangers as far as I know them, but they were very helpful people too, making me feel I am one of their family members.

I never thought these many people live in the same house. There are still two men missing along with the children, except the little baby and a small girl.

Why is it still hurting too much to think about the betrayal from Manohar? It isn't like I love him then why? I thought and sighed.

"Dad will be here within a few minutes." Suddenly Nipuna announced after Sudhir returned.

"You mean... now?" I asked and she nodded.

"I don't think..." I trailed off not understanding why am I not wishing to meet him.

And then suddenly there was little anger burning inside when he stood there before me with Nipuna beside him.

"You look just like your mother." He said smiling and moved his hand to touch my head but I moved back.

"I... I am sure all this is a shock with we all suddenly entering your life." He added giving a small smile.

"I am fine with them." I mumbled frowning to myself.

"Are you angry at me for not finding you soon?" he asked and I don't even know what to say.

"You threw her out." I mumbled.

"I didn't and even dad didn't do it. He vented out his anger which was completely wrong, but we didn't throw her out." He said frowning.

"You didn't give her a reason to stay too." I said and he sighed.

"Yes! I never expected her to just... and I tried to find her, but it felt like she disappeared from the face of the earth." He mumbled and sat down.

"I am sorry if I am being rude, but for now I can't think anything about this." I said with no space in my head to think logically about anything.

"I can understand." He said, nodding and then gestured for Sudhir who walked near to him after I nodded.

After he left, I sat down in my room holding the phone while Sudhir slept off having dinner early with all the kids that returned from the tour.

Finally taking a breath, I switched it on and ignored all the messages before calling Pallavi and waited for her to lift.

"Oh, thank god! I don't know what I would have done if you had not lifted." Those are the words I heard from her when she lifted the call.

"I shouldn't have scared you but... but stuff happened." I said sighing.

"Where are you now?" she asked and I told her.

"What are you doing there?" she asked after a few minutes.

Then I explained to her about Nipuna and her family along with my Mom's story but nothing about Manohar.

"I have returned from the campaign. Can I come there?" she asked and I bit my lip not knowing what to say.

I wish her to be here, but this is not my house to just invite her. Then again, I couldn't pass on the opportunity of finally talking to her to leave the burden and accepted.

I climbed down the stairs to see Mridula and Nipuna arranging everything on the table and smiled at me when I reached.

"I called my friend and she said she will be here tomorrow. Is it okay?" I asked and they both nodded.

"Of course! This is your house too." Nipuna said, waving me off.

"Can I do something to help?" I asked and they nodded before Nipuna started walking off.

"I still don't like this house work." She mumbled making Mridula laugh.

"She just dumped her work on you." Mridula explained.

"She is my cousin so she has every right to be my plus one." Nipuna said back without looking back.

I smiled and started helping Mridula. She didn't say a word and I too didn't and thanked her mentally. I got so used to live alone that all this seems to be different.

Yeah, I conversed with Jhanvi and Pallavi but at home I used to stay alone and just talk with Sudhir which changed in the past so many days because of him but... I trailed off in my thoughts not wishing to go back thinking about him.

"Pallavi!" I said the moment she walked inside the next day morning and she rushed off towards me and hugged me.

"I am so glad that you let me come here." She said.

"I didn't know you would be here so soon, but I am happy." I mumbled hugging her back and we moved apart with tears in both of our eyes.

"I need to talk to you." She suddenly said in a desperate tone.

"Sure! We can go upstairs." I said and she nodded before looking around with wide eyes.

"Hi! I am Pallavi." She introduced and I looked around to see everyone is here.

They all did introductions while I stood there feeling the anticipation to tell her what all happened so that she can give me some insight.

"Where is Sudhir?" she asked me frowning.

"He is babysitting our children." Nipuna said making me smile.

"Okay! Can we talk? And it will be better if someone is present with us." Pallavi requested making me frown.

"Why?" I asked her not understanding.

"Trust me!" she mumbled and I glanced at everyone.

"I will come with you." Mridula said, sighing when Nipuna seemed to be uncomfortable while Amrin is resting on the couch with her feet up and their Mother-in-law shook her head.

"I don't understand your request, Pallavi." I mumbled climbing the stairs with two of them.

"Someone is needed to be there if you need." She mumbled and I felt like something is wrong.

I calmly sat on the bed while Pallavi paced before me and Mridula is standing at the corner. Finally, after a few minutes, she stood before me with a worried look.

"I hope you will not hate me too much." She mumbled.

"I should have known something like this would happen and I just ignored all this." She continued.

"Why would I hate you?" I asked her frowning.

"I am our boss's sister." She replied and I sat still.

"You are joking, right?" I asked, staring at her.

"No! And I am not like blood sister. Actually, he adopted me." She replied.

"Adopted?" I asked her frowning still the word sister ringing in my ears.

"I used to stay in the area where he and his Mom used to stay so many years back. I was with the couple whom the adoption agency chose. They have enough money, but... but their treatment was never good. Bhai used to always save me from their anger and then he took me away from them when he got the money. So, I became his sister and he love me like one too. If not for him, I don't know how long I would have bore all that." She replied and took a breath while I just sat there.

"Then one day he told me about you after Sudhir has born and his idea of giving you a job in his company. He requested me to be near you so that you don't have any problem with anything. He told me what your ex-husband did and I already know his story. Then after a few days I got to know about his plan when I probed him about the lavish room, he is making for the kids to keep but we were already close. I couldn't say anything not wishing to lose the friendship." She added.

"Stop!" I mumbled, not able to bear the revelations, but she shook her head.

"You don't understand, but I can see you think he got involved with you to get the handle on Sudhir. However, that was not the plan at all." She said and I frowned.

"He will kill me if I he knows I told you, but I have to. He... I mean we thought if he somehow managed to make you understand his side, then you would have given a small consent for Sudhir to be as his family. However, he wanted you to be protected from any wrong things. So, he made sure any person who could be bad for you or Sudhir to be removed from your proximity. He made sure only the good guys are around you so that... that if you ever chose someone to be with then it can't bring any harm. Even then he thought of talking to you after a few years. In the meantime he tried to help you if we feel you need anything." She added.

"Like what?" I asked, but I don't know from where I got the strength from.

"Like if there was some problem with money, then he used to make sure to conduct the programs which can give promotion to potential employees. Everything was fine, but then he finally thought to make you as his assistant when he felt you were good at the work but he was not sure to do that. Then I know for sure Kiran was interested in you and I thought you will be with him. However, Bhai suddenly sent him away when Kiran was the best kind of man. I didn't understand him until he said he likes you may be more than just like. That's why his behavior was odd from the time you became his assistant." She replied kneeling before me, but I felt all numb inside hearing her words but not able to think them.

"He fought with himself, Kalpana. One thing about the medical reason and another he knows you will hate him if you know the truth. But... but he just couldn't fight much. He really loves you, Kalpana. He has become like a ghost searching for you and... and I didn't want to add any more anger you may have on me. So, I didn't tell him, but he really loves you." She said pleading me.

I sat there trying with each breath to keep every word within hoping I do not say anything that can do more damage.

"Did you both thought yourselves as gods to see who is around me and who is not? Or did you both thought I was so useless to take care of myself and my son?" I asked, staring at her and she sat still and the room got filled with silence.

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confusion! confusion! i have heard enough of this word, so let me know is it about the old characters or about kalpana's story only and based on that will be the next chapter... dont leave me in confusion about your confusions and plz state what is actually the confusion... uff too many confusion ;)

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...