As they came out of the office Sudhir threw the car keys at Sreedhar. Sreedhar looked at his brother. He looked distraught, an unexplained rage boiling within him.

" Sudhir Bhaiyya what happened. Is everything ok "

" Nothing is ok Sreedhar and I don't think it will be ok ever. I cannot drive the car. You drive it "

" What is it Bhaiyya. Tell me. Maybe I can help " told Sreedhar as they got in the car.

" Sreedhar if I tell you now, even you wont be able to drive the car , so you drive the car, I will talk to you after reaching home. First let me compose myself "

Sreedhar was perplexed as he drove the car. What is that worrying Sudhir Bhaiyya that can make him distraught also. Has it got something to do with Suman. Is it something to do with her father.

" Bhaiyya please tell does Suman have any problem, did you get any info on her father planning something"

Sudhir looked at Sree and gave a fragile forced smile " Sree can only issue related to Suman make you distraught. You don't expect anything else my brother. Well you wont also. For you it has been always the perfect world "

Now Sreedhar was in thoughts " If not related to Suman what it can be that can trouble him. There was nothing else" Sudhir was silent and Sree saw his brother looking outside the window and in deep thoughts.

Maheswari was perplexed for various reasons. First a worried and fidgety Renu. Second Suman has not come down till now. Usually after the students go she comes back within 15-20 minutes after the bath and pray in the pooja room and will come to kitchen to help. Now it was almost 1 hr and no sign of her. Vindhya also after coming back from temple was trying to talk but Maheswari could see she was distracted.

Just then Sudhir and Sreedhar entered and Suman came hurrying down the steps.

" Sreedhar I need some provisions. I have made the list. Could you please get this for me tomorrow itself". She moved towards him with envelope in her hand.

When she reached him one look at her face Sreedhar knew that envelope was something else and her lips told him " urgent" . He nodded " Yes Sumanji I will get these tomorrow itself "

Maheswari looked at Sudhir whose face looked as if a thunder has hit him and Sreedhar was also looking confused. Now Maheswari knew there was something all 5 of them knew one way or the other and it is troubling them. Meanwhile Rajasekhar came to the dining table and Renu called the kids for dinner.

One look at her husband's face Vindhya knew the news has reached him. She quickly followed him upstairs. Sreedhar entered his room, kept the envelope on the table and decided to get the bath and then open it.

As soon as they entered the room Sudhir threw the briefcase on the bed and slammed his fist against the wall

" Sudhir what are you doing. Please calm yourself. This is not the time to vent your feelings" came in Vindhya

" Vindhya I should have known, I should have known from Tilak Bhaiyya's silence to speak anything to me on Anu there was more to it than I knew. How can I keep quiet Vindhya when I know my father was responsible for destroying an innocent girl's life. How can I have peace when I know my family has did the character assassination of a girl intentionally. What value does my family gives to the sanctity of marriage when my bhaiyya married a girl, enjoyed Suhagraat with her and then threw her to the wolves when the symbol of their love came in her womb. Yes he can tell family pressure. Did he discuss with someone before succumbing. Did he call me. Ask me " Sudhir what can I do, is there any way to protect Anu" . No nothing. I know Dadu would have blackmailed Bhaiyya, but who asked Bhaiyya to succumb. I hate myself Vindhya. I hate myself for being part of this family. I don't know what more dark secrets my father holds. I am sure there are more" He sat in bed holding his head in his hands.

Vindhya went near him and took his hands in hers and sat beside him. He kept his head on her lap. She held his hands.

Sreedhar was drying his hair with towel as he took Suman's letter and opened it. First line itself held the warning " Sreedhar what you are going to read below can be very shocking for you. More shocking than seeing your Sumi as your brother's widow. But I don't want you to break down. I want you to swallow this bitter pill. Because if you break down we wont reach anywhere and lot of things can go haywire "

He started reading the letter. First the towel went from his hand and he held the letter with both hands. As he read tears started flowing from his eyes. His Papa was involved in the character assassination of an innocent girl. They had forced the girl to kill the first lamp of this family. The girl took the life of a widow to give dignity to her child as the father has not owned it. And that life killed her. It was too much, for Sreedhar it felt like the image he held of his father breaking under his feet. Papa could go this extend to protect traditions and Bhaiyya he succumbed. Now it was betrayal and anger growing in Sreedhar as he continued reading the letter.

" Sudhir listen to me. I understand your frustration. But at this point we have to make a choice and I am asking you what choice you want to make. Do you want to be Rajasekhar Varma's son, Tilak jethji's brother, Anusree's devar or Poornima's chachu"

Sudhir got up and looked at Vindhya. Her question had forced him to think in new direction and Vindhya saw Sudhir composing himself.

" Sudhir you cannot change what happened to Anusree. Tilak Jethji already has suffered day in day out with guilt. He believes he has blood of his child in his hand. Do you want to aggravate that feeling. Leave Papa for the time being. Just think about the girl Sudhir. What can Sudhir chachu do for Poornima now. Because in what he does lies not only the future of the girl but also the future of other kids in this family. Do we want Poornima to end up questioning everyone here or do we want Poornima to be integrated with this family. Make her accept Aakash, Adwaith and Nami as her siblings and make them accept her as their elder didi. Make Papa and Maa accept her as their eldest grand child. Think Sudhir what do you want to choose "

As Sreedhar reached the end of the letter Suman has put a choice for him " Sreedhar I know by this time you are distraught but I want to ask you one thing. Tilak Jethji and Renu Bhabi wants to accept Poornima in their life as their daughter. What does her Sreedhar Chachu wants to do to help the cause. Does he wants her within the family or he wants at this point to question the past "

" What have you chosen " asked Sudhir

" You very well know my answer Sudhir because I have seen the choice in your eyes "

" Sreedhar if you make the choice to be of Poornima's chachu come to the meeting in my room post Maa and Papa go for sleep. Renu Bhabi, Sudhir Jethji , Vindhya Bhabi and myself are planning to discuss what to do next "

As he folded and shred the letter Sreedhar knew his choice.

Maheswari observed Sudhir and Sreedhar when they came for dinner. They looked stoic and were just eating food absentmindedly. She decided to observe them.