*Kalpana Pov*

"So, I was really angry and hurt with every revelation, I heard, but then I don't know why, I was too much angry with his decision." I started and immediately Amrin raised her hand.

"Whom are you talking about?" she asked.

"Manohar!" Mridula replied fro me.

"What is this meeting?" we heard and turned to see all men walking towards the couch directly.

"Kalpana is saying the reason behind her dates." Nipuna explained and they too joined in making me feel awkward with everyone just staring at me.

"So, you chose Jay because you are angry at Manohar?" Amrin asked and I shook my head.

"No! I do not know why, but I didn't feel the love I had for him again. He was talking everything from the past, but I just couldn't bring up the emotions. I thought of trying you know because we were already in love so why not chose him. However, I couldn't do it." I replied.

"If you don't like him, then why did you go for a date with him?" Nipuna asked frowning.

"There are two reasons. One is to tell him I will never be with him and the other is to have some proof." I replied.

"I am fed up hearing this word. Will you tell us everything completely?" Dileep asked, folding his arms.

"If you let her speak instead of disturbing her then she will." I heard Tajwar's voice and turned to see him entering the house.

"So early today?" Dileep asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Any problem? Now, continue Kalpana." He said turning back to me.

"So, Manohar said he will not do anything but will stay back and let me choose. However, I too want someone to fight for me." I said looking at Amrin and she smiled.

"But some of his words were repeating in my head. He said he will not interfere with Jay like he did with Kiran and that he will keep promises. I just wanted to see what he will do if I go out with someone else." I added.

"What did he do? Nothing, right?" Aahil asked frowning.

"I know him! He will not do anything directly, but makes sure whatever he wishes happens. That's what he did. He made a waiter throw soup on my first date while making the watchmen lie about the repairs in the park. Like he removed one employee by promoting him to another place as he was interested in me." I replied.

"However, with Jay he didn't do anything because he already promised himself he will not interfere with Jay matters from the beginning." I added.

"So, now you both are together?" Tajwar asked, but I slowly shook my head.

"I don't know! I still don't know why I did all this. I mean, yeah, I wanted to know what his words meant, but why did I even want to know? I don't love him, right?" I asked, turning towards him.

"You really don't love him?" he asked back.

"I don't know! What did any relation give me except anger and hurt? Now, I am fine living like this with nothing. Why to complicate everything and be vulnerable again?" I asked him and it felt like we both are only there conversing as I forgot about everyone.

"You are fine with being fine? Don't you want great or amazing? In every relation there are problems and there will be until you die. No one has only happy moments. See the people in this room only. We know how worse each one of us went before acquiring the person we love. But did we stayed with only happy moments? No! We are still fighting and hurting each other. However, we are putting the salve for each other too." He replied and I just sat staring at him.

"What?" he asked when I kept quiet.

"They all said you didn't talk much." I mumbled and then heard a round of laughters making me look around to see everyone laughing.

"He actually doesn't, Kalpana. It's been too long since we heard him talking like that as he used to when we were kids. Now, you have done an impossible thing." Dileep said, smiling, but has a shock look.

"Now, what is your plan?" Mridula asked who doesn't have a shocked look like others.

"I will just go with my daily life like I am doing from the past few days minus the dates." I replied and she sighed.

"At least call him this Sunday for dinner. He is here for so many days, but none of us talked to him." She said and I slowly nodded.

"Now, can we have some food?" Amrin said rubbing her bump.

"Just a few more weeks, Amrin." Nipuna said smiling at her.

"Everyone is saying the same words and I feel like I am hearing them for ages." She said sighing and we all laughed.

"Good evening!" he said the moment I reached near him along with Sudhir.

"Good evening!" I said, walking towards the bench and sat down while Sudhir and he talked.

I started checking everything I need to do tomorrow for the meeting along with keeping the reminders and was totally lost in my world until I felt the presence beside me.

"Where is Sudhir?" I asked, turning towards him.

"Some girl called him, saying she needs help with painting." He replied leaning back.

"The three kids seems to be too close." He added.

"You didn't see him with Urmi. She is in play school and she makes Sudhir do whatever she wishes to." I said smiling at the memory.

"He would be a good brother." His words removed my smile from my face.

"Then you should not put your name in the list I have to choose." I said sharply tired of him going to that way everytime.

"You are right!" he said and I stiffened.

"However, I don't think I can stay away and lose everything." He added before moving his head to place it on my shoulder.

"Then how will he be a good brother?" I asked, releasing the stiffness from my shoulders.

"I heard Aahil saying about his one year old son." He replied closing his eyes.

"When did he talked to you?" I asked him frowning.

"He talks everyday before you all reach here from the time he returns from work." He replied and I tried to observe it.

"Where is Jay?" he asked, changing the topic.

"Left!" I replied and continued to do my work.

"Mom is worried about him." He said and before I could say anything I heard soft snoring.

I turned my head to see him really sleeping just by laying his head on my shoulder. I bit my lip contemplating what to do and then sighed before relaxing.

I thought he will wake up after a few minutes, but for nearly an hour, he slept off. He woke up only to hiss holding his neck.

"You cramped it?" I asked and he nodded trying to rub the neck.

"I will be late for my flight." He mumbled moving his head and I replaced his hand with mine before pressing the spot where it is stuck.

"It's ok!" he said, stopping my hand, but I pushed it away before continuing the massage before turning to be side for him.

"I am feeling relaxed. We need to do this every day." He said after a few minutes.

"Neck massage?" I asked frowning.

"No! Me sleeping on your shoulder." He replied and leaned towards me.

I held my hand over his shoulder for a second before moving away and stood up. He too got up and walked away after smiling at me.

The next day same repeated, but I had to call him for dinner to be on Sunday. He nodded, saying he will come before leaving.

"You called him?" Mridula asked on Sunday evening.

"Yeah! He said he will come directly for dinner so that he will not be too early." I replied and she smiled.

"What will happen if he comes early?" she asked shaking her head.

"He thinks he shouldn't spend too much time with me." I replied.

"His another attempt to let me choose without him putting any pressure on his." I added shaking my head.

"I think he feels a running race with only one participant is a fair competition." Nipuna said and I laughed hearing her words.

"Cut him some slack." I mumbled but smiled.

"Yeah! He is travelling to and fro every day. Who does that? He is such a weirdo." Amrin said smiling.

"That's what I thought all these years without missing a day." I said and they smiled.

"Hi!" I said when he came holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Nice flowers! For me?" Nipuna asked, walking beside me.

"For Kalpana." He replied directly.

"Good!" she said, winking at me and walked away.

"Everyone is in the living room." I gestured him towards it before taking the flowers.

"You will come with me?" he asked frowning.

"I need to help Mridula." I replied and he nodded before walking there while I returned to the kitchen.

"That was so evil of you to send him there between strangers." Mridula said but smiled.

"He already knows Aahil. Seems like they both are talking every day." I said shrugging.

And when we walked to the living room to inform about the food being ready, we saw everyone talking to Manohar while he is trying to reply to all.

The men are talking about the business while the women are asking about the city and his Mom.

"The food is ready." Mridula said, breaking them off and all walked to the dining area.

"You have a large family, Kalpana." He said walking beside me.

"Yeah! I am not direct family to everyone, but they treat me as one." I said, smiling at them while they are settling down.

"Can we talk after dinner?" he asked and I slowly nodded staring at him.

"Where is Sudhir?" he asked, looking around.

"The kids slept off. They were tried playing the whole day." Mridula replied to him and he nodded before sitting down while is at beside him.

The conversations continued, but I didn't say much except hearing him replying to whatever they are asking.

"Thanks for the lovely dinner." He said when we stood up finishing it.

"Thanks for coming here. It's good to know about you." Aunty said, smiling and he smiled back.

"I need to have a word with her." He said, staring at Aunty and Uncle.

"You can't!" Dileep said in a serious tone.

"Okay!" Manohar said and held my hand before dragging me towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Dileep asked.

"I already asked her and she accepted. I asked your parents as a formality." That's all he said and continued to walk.

"Weirdo!" I mumbled the moment we reached the garden, but completely away from the light.

"I am!" he said, stopping and turned, pulling me into his arms.

"You said you wanted to talk." I pointed out placing my hands on his shoulder while he tightened his hands around my waist.

"I just had a session of grilling like a family does for the guy who is liked by the girl of theirs. Shall I assume something here?" he asked, moving his head and pressed his lips to my neck.

"No! I... I am not sure." I replied circling my arms around his neck.

"Kalpana! I got not one, but so many hints today of you being mine today. I am still a human to ignore all that." He said hugging me tightly and I hugged him back.

"I am so confused and scared, Manohar. I know what I don't want, but I don't know what to do for the things I want or whether it is good to want them or not." I said and realized I was confusing myself even more.

"I think I can understand or will at least tell myself that." He said releasing me and moved to stare at me.

"Take as much time as you want to be sure." He added.

"I don't know what to say." I mumbled moving my hands away.

"It is becoming too hard to stay away from you." He whispered and brushed his lips to mine before walking away while I stood there staring at his back.

I shook my head and walked back into the house to see everyone already left for their rooms except Mridula and Nipuna who are talking with each other.

"What happened?" Nipuna asked, looking at my expression.

"I think... I think I know what I want, but I don't think I am accepting it." I replied.

"It's ok, Kalpana. It happens for everyone and I think he has more patience to stick around and wait until you accept." Mridula said smiling.

"I hope so." I mumbled and walked away saying good night to them.

"Jay?" I asked, lifting the call.

"Kalpana! I want to meet you and Sudhir one last time before having a chance at my life." He replied and I frowned.

"Jay..." I started saying, but he cut me off pleading, "Just once, Kalpana."

"Fine! I will come after Sudhir's school." I said and he accepted before hanging up.

"You go ahead. I have some work." I said when Dileep and I reached the school and kids walked near to us.

"I will drop you." He offered, but I shook my head.

"It's okay!" I said, smiling and he nodded before driving away.

I don't know why I didn't tell him. Maybe because I know he would wish to come with me like Aahil was sent that day until they became close. And Jay is just saying goodbye and he deserves privacy, right?

However, I already called Manohar saying we will be late as Jay wants to speak to me for a final time and he need not come today. He said fine and just asked me to call when I return.

"Hi!" I said, nodding at Jay when he stopped his car before us.

"Get in!" he said, unlocking the car and we both got in with Sudhir in the back seat while I sat in the passenger seat.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" I asked, placing the seat belt and turned around only to feel something pressed to my nose.

"Jay! What are you doing?" I asked and tried to push his hand away.

"Mom!" Sudhir called and I tried more, but Jay blocked my two hands.

"I will not lose my family." He said and then started driving while I felt so dizzy even after the cloth is removed.

I tried to move my hand towards the door, but then with his little effort he was able to move my hand away. And within a few minutes I fell completely into blackness.

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So... hmmm... well hope i can update soon...

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