Lavanya looked down at the beautiful little girl calling her mummy. Payal was her mother right, so why is she calling her mummy.
She was confused as to what was going on and looked up to see the others and saw them in the same state as her. Lavanya looked back at Akash and saw the distress in his eyes. Maybe Payal is dead that's why the little girl think she is her new mummy. Not wanting to hurt her feelings. She kneeled to Shivani's level.

"Hi princess.... How are you? " Lavanya asked with a beautiful smile exposing her dimples.

Shivani beamed in happiness because her new mother called her a princess something her mother didn't.

"Am fine mummy..." Shivani replied and blushed at the same time and Lavanya smiled at yer cuteness.

"And what your name princess? " Lavanya asked.

"Ma name ish Shivani.... But Aalu call me Shishi and now evelyone (everyone)  call me Shishi.... " Shivani replied shyly swaying in her frock with an infectious smile on her face.

"Wow.... Sure a beautiful name for such a beautiful princess... My name is Lavanya.... You can call me La or Vani. " Lavanya said and Shivani thought for sometime and shook her head no confusing everyone.

"No... I no call you La or fanny (Vani)..... I call you mummy... Okay. " Shivani insisted making everyone frustrated as they knew once she hold on to an idea she never let go.

"Shishi.... Let me talk to Lavanya for a few seconds ...okay." Akash pleaded.

"No" Shivani voiced out sternly with a cute frown on her face.

"No? " A confused Akash asked Shivani.

"You no call mummy Labana ( Lavanya)..... You call mummy baby like Nannav uncle call Tushi aunty.... Okay. " Shivani said and everyone chuckled. Akash with a smile on his face nodded at his daughter. While Khushi and Dadi glared at Arnav for calling Khushi baby which the kids now found cute.

Akash then gently pulled Lavanya aside and said.

"Am really sorry for this Lavanya... I told her I will surprise her today and since she has been insisting I give her a new mummy she thought it was you instead of the chocolate I bought her and Aarushi. " Akash nervously explained.

"Who is Aarushi? ". Lavanya asked.

" She is bhai and Khushi bhabhi's daughter." Akash replied.

"Okay and am sorry for your loss. " Lavanya apologized confusing Akash.

"What loss? " Akash asked.

"For Payal's death. " Lavanya replied and Akash shook his head confusing Lavanya.

"It a long story and Payal is not dead.... She is a fraud and she never truly cared about anyone but money and I just submitted my divorce and custody of Shivani to the court and was on my way when I met you..... I promise to tell you the whole story but please could you pretend to be her surprise for now..... Please Lavanya... Please. " The desperate father in Akash pleaded and Lavanya nodded.
She was about to speak when a baby voice beat her to it.

"It so okay daddy... I want to talk to mummy too. " Shivani said in an annoyed voice and was on the verge of crying.

Lavanya rushed over to her and picked her up and kissed her cheeks.

"Am so sorry princess mummy is here for you and we can talk all we want.... Okay. " Lavanya said to Shivani who nodded and the kissed Lavanya's cheeks.

Lavanya all of a sudden felt dizzy and was about to fall with Shivani when Akash held her together with Shivani preventing them from falling.

"Daddy ish Mummy okay?"
Shivani asked.

"No baby.... Mummy is not okay.... She is a little bit sick and needs to rest..... So am taking her to my room okay" Akash replied.

Shivani nodded and then got down from Lavanya's arms and called out to Hari Prakash. To bring food to her father's room as she and Aarushi trailed behind Akash who was carrying Lavanya.

After they disappeared everyone sat down.

"That was unexpected. " Arnav said.

"But a good unexpected. " Dadi said grabbing everyone's attention.

"What do you mean Dadi? " Meera asked.

"What mean is that girl will be a good mother to Shivani..... They will bound well because of the lack of genuine love they were deprived of..... " Dadi said.

"You are right Subhadraji.... She will make an excellent mother to Shivani and a good wife to Akash. "  Shashi said supporting Dadi.

"You all may be right but I still don't trust her..... She was in cahoots with Anjali. " Arnav voiced out not liking what he heard.

"Arnav beta..... We all make mistakes in life and I can bet she is a changed woman..... If you don't trust our judgement of Lavanya then trust that of your wife. " Shashi and Arnav nodded.

"Babuji let get you settled in since you will be staying with us from now on. " Rohan said breaking everyone's reverie.

He then took Shashi luggage and when to his room with him. The rest watched as they disappeared.  For a few minutes no one spoke. Meera getting bored of the silence spoke.

"Am soo bored..... But am in the mood for some torture. " Meera said with a smirk on her face.

"You are right Meera.... It's high time we put those witches to work..... Come on guys let go to them... " Arnav said and the rest stood up and followed Arnav.

Arnav called out to HP to give him the bag and things he asked for and a bucket of water.

They then went to the basement to find the trio curled up in a ball sleeping. Arnav splashed the water on them making wake up.

"Rise and Shine.... " Meera said in a mocking tone and smiled seeing them shiver.

Arnav threw the bag towards them.

"This are your new clothes.... You will be wearing for your previous assigned works. " Arnav said with a smirk on his face.

Anjali opened the bag only to find torn saree and dresses which made them gag in disgust.

"Chote....what the hell is this? " An angry Anjali said and Arnav marched up to her and held her neck in his large hands choking her.

"Don't you dare you dare call me chote..... My mother and family are the only ones with the right to call me chote..... If I ever hear my name from your mouth then get ready to lose your tongue..... Understood....." Arnav barked in anger and a choking Anjali nodded.

Arnav let her go and she fell on the floor gasping for air. Garima and Payal stood at the corner not wanting to face the wrath of Arnav or be tortured by Meera.

"From now you will be servants and these clothes are discarded clothes belonging to Hariprakash's wife.... I know you are all still plotting against us but be warned we are watching your every move..... And CCTV cameras have been installed in every part of the house..... One mistake and Meera will make you bleed.... Won't you Meera? " Khushi warned and asked a smirking Meera.

"I will with pleasure..... Am already itching to torture anyone of them or all of them together. " Meera replied like a maniac.

"Now clean yourself up and get to work immediately. " Arnav yelled at them and they scrum out of there in fear.

Arnav and the others laughed out loud at their shock state and left there back to the main house. Immediately they got in HP informed them food was ready.
Akash, Shashi and Rohan got down to see the family at the table laughing at something.
They joined them and Akash asked.

"What happened?..... Why are you all laughing? "

Meera told them what happened a few minutes ago and they joined them in laughter but Shashi and Dadi were lost in thoughts which didn't go unnoticed by Khushi and Arnav.

"Babuji..... What is bothering you? " Khushi asked Shashi breaking everyone's reverie and they all looked at him.

"Am worried about you all..... Garima is a persistent person and maybe plotting something deadly against us.... She now has nothing to loose and this makes her more deadly and capable of doing really horrible things to any of you. " Shashi voiced out his fear.

"Shashiji is absolutely right.... We have to be more careful.... Even when she was exposed,  she still have the nerve to ask you to take care of her daughters.... I fear for all of you especially Shivani and Aarushi..... They are our strength and at the same time our weakness..... " Dadi said oblivious of the pair of ears and eyes listening to their conversation.

Everyone knew both were right. And promised to be more attentive.

"Babuji... Dadi... You are both right but don't worry.... I have taken every precaution not for them to hurt anyone of you.. CCTV cameras have been installed all over the house and their rooms. " Arnav said and Shashi and Dadi relaxed a little bit.

"Akashji.... It's time for dinner....Where are Shivani and Aarushi? " Khushi asked.

"Don't worry bhabhi.... They eat with Lavanya and fell asleep a few minutes ago.... I just put them in their room before coming down... It's strange how Shivani and Aarushi warmed up to her and today I saw a side of Lavanya I never would have believed existed..... I always saw her as a rude and arrogant person but when Shishi told her about how she didn't like Payal because she taught her bad words and never called her princess...i was amazed how she handled Shivani..... She is going to be a good mother and wife someday... And any given who marries her will be very lucky. " Akash said and everyone knew he was developing feelings for Lavanya especially the way his eyes twinkled when he spoke of Lavanya

"You are absolutely right.... She will make a good mother to Shivani and an awesome wife to you. " Shashi said teasingly and Akash realized he was caught lost him in Lavanya's talk when they only asked of Shivani and Aarushi.
To avoid being the target of any form of teasing and questions, he stuffed his mouth with food and looked away avoiding everyone's teasing gaze.
Everyone started eating when Meera yelled.

"OMG..... Tomorrow is Raksha Bandhan.... And our first together. " Meera squealed in excitement

"I totally forgot.... Arnav we have to make preparations... I just hope it's not too late. " Khushi said a little sad.

"Khushi bhabhi.... Don't worry Rohan and I have already made preparations for it and wanted to surprise the two of you but now I guess it's no more a surprise. " Akash exclaimed.

"Am so sorry Akash bhai.... I didn't know.... " Meera apologized.

"Don't apologize baby sis. " Akash said.

"I can't wait to tie rakhi on Arnav bhai, Akash bhai, Rohan  (staring at Aman) and on Aman's wrist. " Meera said with a smirk on her face and Aman who was sitting closer to Akash and drinking water spat the entire content in his mouth on Akash.

"What the fuck? " Aman said horrified at the fact that Meera will tie Rakhi on his wrist tomorrow and everyone laughed at his horrified state.

"Why can't I ....after all am tying it on the wrists of all my broth..... "

"Don't you dare complete that word..... I love you and I know you love me too and not as a brother. " Aman said cutting off Meera who was in shock that Aman confessed.
She knew he liked her but never knew it turned into love.
She was happy but then it turned to a frown and she stood up and marched up to Aman and he also stood up.
Meera then held him but the collar.

"How dare you hid the fact that you love me.... How dare you not confess it. " Meera barked at Aman making him scared and everyone muffled their laughter.

Aman looked at them for help but it seemed they are all in support of Meera.

"Don't you dare look at them for help because you are not getting any. " Meera exclaimed in anger breaking Aman's reverie.

"Am..am..am..sorry baby.... I just wanted to do it at the right time in a romantic atmosphere. " Aman said and Meera melted and let go off his collar. She then looked down in and Aman raised her chin up. "Am really sorry Mimi.... I wanted the proposal to be memorable that why I kept long...."

Meera blushed and Aman smiled  and held her cheeks and kissed her in front of everyone.

They pulled away hearing Khushi, Shashi and Dad cheering them up.
Aman turned with a smile but immediately gulped seeing the deadly glares from Arnav, Akash and Rohan.

"Whose permission did you ask before kissing our sister?" Arnav asked sternly.

"It's alright Arnav bhai.... He is my boyfriend. " Meera replied not knowing she was digging for trouble. She wanted brothers and now she will have to face the up and downs that comes with it.

"He can't be your boyfriend without our permission. " Akash said and Rohan nodded at a shocked Meera.

"Enough guys.... We will talk to Aman after dinner..... Aman.... Eat all you can because you are going to need the energy for the conversation we are going to have soon. " Arnav said in a threatening voice and a poker face making Aman gulp.

Aman immediately lost his appetite and excused himself.

"Dadi...... Babuji.... See.... They've scared Aman away.... " Meera said almost on the verge of crying.

"Don't worry Meera dear..... They are just doing their brotherly duties...... They are just looking out for you....Aman is a good man but brothers will always be brothers" Dadi tried to calm her down and it seems to work a little bit.

"Okay..... But if Aman dumps me...I  will never forgive them. " Meera warned.

And they all laughed and continued with their dinner while teasing Meera.

At the servant quarters, Madhumati who was back was sitting on her bed waiting for Mami to come out of the bathroom. After a few minutes she came out drying her hair with a towel.

"Manoramaji." Madhumati called out to Mami who looked at her roommate.
She then asked Mami to sit down and she did on her bed.

"I know you don't like me and neither do I..... But now we have a common goal..... And that's to protect our real family..... We lived our lives protecting the wrong people and even killed to make them happy and now we are all reaping the consequences..... Dadi is right about Garima and her daughters.... And it our responsibility to protect Arnav and the family from those three witches..... We have to do it without them knowing.... Do you understand what am saying. " Madhumati said and Mami nodded.

"Hello hi bye bye....I understand Madhumatiji..... My sons needs me now more than ever even if  they hate me.... I want to rectify my mistakes.... And what you suggested is the beginning of my rectification.... But am also happy Akash has found a woman he truly loves. " Mami said the last line with pure joy.

"How do you know he loves Lavanya when they just met? " A shocked Madhumati asked and Mami chuckled.

"Hello hi bye bye..... Don't be surprised.... Just because I ignored my son all these years doesn't mean I don't know him..... This is the second time Akash's eyes has twinkled his way, this only happens when he really likes someone.... The first person was Ratna, Arnav's mother..... And Lavanya is the second..... Real love doesn't take years to find but sometimes it takes a second. " Mami said shocking Madhumati.

"Wow.... I never knew you could speak like this. " Madhumati exclaimed shocked by the absence of pride and arrogance in Mami's voice.

"Hello hi bye bye....I have really changed Madhu..... And now see life is more clearly than my previous self and you have no idea how good it feels. " Mami said with a smile on her face and Madhumati nodded.

Both slept in peace and with a conscience clear as crystal and with a vow to protect Arnav and the family from Garima, Anjali and Payal.
Meanwhile in the basement of RM Garima was plotting on how to get back at Arnav and Khushi not knowing this time she will fail in every attempt to hurt them because they are more united now more than ever.

To be continued.

Here is another update.
I hope I didn't disappoint.

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