"You are parents now you have the right to decide everything but I want you guys to listen to me this time." Badi maa explained with a stern face as she sat across from us on the couch.

"We will. Even though we are parents we are still children for you." I smile at her.

"I want you to remember what you said now." She gave me a pointed nod.

I nudge Abir who is busy eating sweets.

"I'm listening." He nods as he puts Gulab jamun in his mouth. "Very tasty, Badi maa." He compliments devouring it.

"Thanks." She smiles at him, I roll my eyes when he grins and reaches up for another one.

"Okay, listen to me carefully." Badi maa cleared her throat. I sit up straight as I hear the seriousness in her tone.

"Wait. I'll just increase the TV volume there." I get up and walk to Arya and Aryan. They laugh watching the cartoons and I increase the volume. Though Aryan seems occupied in it there's no guarantee he won't eavesdrop.

"Mumma, here." Arya offers me her half-eaten chocolate, I take a bite of it before I kiss her cheek and get back to Badi maa.

"Okay, let me begin?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Yes, please." I look at her curiously. Abir sits up straight as he gulps the glass of water before looking at Badi maa probably understanding the seriousness.

We both look at each other and shrug when Badi maa takes a deep breath before she lets out, "I want you guys to stop working as an undercover cop."

There's a moment of silence before she speaks again. "Listen to me before you argue."

"Badi maa you know I have worked hard for it." I couldn't resist saying that and my shoulders slump.

"Mishti, you have also worked hard to have a family." She gives me a pained look. "That's enough, stop it now. You have a family, take care of it. You go out for months and you never know when your child needs you the most. You never know what responsibilities you miss when you are not around. You never know what's going to happen with you, there are no hopes."

"But Badi maa-"

"Don't interrupt." She shakes her head. "I want you to remember what you said a few minutes ago."

We will. Even though we are parents we are still children for you.

"This is very risky, Mishti. I let you do what you choose because you needed distractions. I was damn scared to let you go. Think of your children. They also have just got entire happiness, do you want a case to destroy it?"

"But they are very understanding," I say quickly before she cuts me off.

"How understanding will they be when they found out something happened with you?" She looks at me appalled. "Remember you once were hospitalized and it was not easy for me and they are children."

I let out an exasperated breath as I look down at my hands.

"Abir, don't you think what I am saying is right?" I look up at him as she asks him.

"Badi maa, I don't know who is right or wrong here." He shrugs. "I want Mishti to do what she wants and I am willing to help her with it."

"What about you? You still want to be an undercover cop, right?" I look at him.

"Don't think I am asking you to stop working but I think whatever Badi maa said has a point." He looks away from me as he lets out a breath. "I started to work as an undercover cop because I wanted peace and I got that by helping people and keeping myself busy."

"Honestly saying I wasn't able to take care of Arya and Aryan. Just coming back home, talking and sleeping with them." I hear his voice getting sluggish in the end and I instantly feel sad for him.

"Everyone in my family took responsibility to take care of them. It was when I came to Mumbai I started taking care of them and I couldn't do it best without your help, you know that."

"You are the best father," I say as I run my hand on his back.

"I think, you guys should know that I didn't mean to question how good you are as a parent." Badi maa looks at us with a sad face. "Honestly, I love the way Abir has grown two kids without a mother, even though you had your family helping you it was still you who fulfilled their needs."

"I just want you guys to understand that two lives are depending upon you and they are having a lot of expectations from you now so, please don't let anything rupture it."

I let out a sigh as I look down clasping my hands. We all stay silent and I wonder what's going in Abir's mind. I look up at Arya and Aryan, their eyes are glued to the TV screen and they look quite interested in whatever they are watching.

Now, whenever I have to do something I keep in mind I have my kids and husband and this is new to me, to understand it I took a break from my work.

It gives happiness to kids when they have both parents with them. I know the value of parents and the pain of losing them and I sure don't want my kids to go through that phase.

I have been hospitalized four times but I made sure Badi maa never gets to know about it. The first time she came to know about it and seriously she was adamant and asked me to leave the duty and that she doesn't want to lose me.

I even made my mind to leave the duty because I couldn't see her cry but what would I do if I leave it?

All I would do is sit, cry and overthink. That would also make her worry about me, if I don't work I will be living with her and I didn't want her to see my sad face every day.

Life with Sam and Shreya took me to another world. A world where we worked hard together. One moment sharing deep thoughts, another moment me and Sam arguing and Shreya solving it.

"What do you think I should do if not an undercover cop?" I look up at Badi maa.

"That's simple." She shrugs. "What you always wanted, working in companies, doing business."

"It was my interest during college days." I shake my head.

"It is your interest." She nods remarkably. "Start it and you'll know it."

"It's been years and I don't understand which company is going to hire me now." I roll my eyes.

"I will-" I look at Abir, he stops and sits straight as he coughs. "Sorry, continue."

"He is so dramatic." I slap his arm. "Did you just mean to say I will hire you?"

"Before." Badi maa clears her throat. "Before you guys plan things in your mind I want to make clear Mishti will not be working in Rajvansh Corporations."

"Why?" I frown.

"You'll be working in Maheshwari Enterprises for a few months learn everything again and take my position." She said each word carefully making sure I understand it. "The Head of Maheshwari Enterprises."

"That's not happening." I shake my head. I sure don't want to get a name that I got a company easily.

"That's happening." Badi maa nods. "This is all I have to go give you and I want you to take it."

"And I hope you start collaborating with us again." Abir looks at Badi maa.

"I am sorry, Abir." She looks at him apologetically. "The only reason I didn't sign any contracts was it used to hurt me to see you helpless and it used to turn worst when I realized I couldn't do anything about it."

"I came to your company whenever I was free and the receptionist would give you a call and you said to her you were busy." He looks at her. "One day I even waited outside but it really amazed me you didn't come out till I left and your PA would come out see if I am there or not then go report you."

"I know, I also knew you were aware of it. I felt weak when I saw you sad." I see the tears in her eyes and my eyes welled up.

"And I thought about getting some strength after talking with you." He gave her a sad smile. "And why did you stop meeting Arya and Aryan?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. "Soon after I understood Mishti's situation I thought that was the right decision. If I kept meeting you all I had to answer Mishti who were you all and then she will start thinking about it."

"Though I was in touch with your mom and masi who sent me photos and all."

"Gone is gone." Abir sighs. "Let's not make her cry anymore." He chuckles slowly as he pulls me to his side. I sniff as I run my fingers under my eyes wiping my tears away.

One incident and so many people suffered in different ways. It wasn't just me or Abir, it was the entire family and friends.

Life is all about happiness and sadness. If we never get sadness we would never recognize the value of happiness.

I silently make a promise to myself to get back this happiness in my and everyone's life.

It's time I should prepare myself to meet my old friends and build that strong bond again. I am a bit nervous because I don't know what they expect me to do when I meet them and I don't know how to react when I meet them.

But then I reckoned they loved me because of who I was and that's what I have to do, just be normal.

I guess, things get simpler if we decide not to stress over it and just go with the flow.

"What are you thinking about?" Abir looks down at me as Badi maa walks into the kitchen.

I pull away from him and my eyes roam over his face, I reach out to keep my hand on his cheek before I trace his jaw. "That how attractive my husband is."

"And before that?" He chuckles holding my hands in his before he glances at Arya and Aryan.

"Uh, I was wondering why do you smell so good." I inhale deeply just to give weightage to my sentence but he smells so good that I couldn't resist myself from inhaling furthermore.

"You don't want to answer, right?" He rolls his eyes, he doesn't look mad about it and I love that he understands me.

"Yeah," I say shortly as I look into his eyes.

It's not that I don't want to share my thoughts with him, it's just he had enough of the past, it's done, it's over. There's no use in repeating it again and again, we should start with the present and prevent discussing the past unnecessarily.

"Mishti." Badi maa calls from the kitchen. I move away from Abir and walk to the kitchen.

Badi maa asks me to join the company from tomorrow but I say her I'll start it from next week. I need to let Sam and Shreya know about it and I also want some time.

"Please get the curd from the refrigerator." Badi maa says as she arranges the ingredients.

"Yeah." I nod and walk to the refrigerator. I see apple juice in there as I grab curd. It instantly makes me smile and I couldn't stop thinking about the times we used to go to a cafe after jogging.

I look at Abir sitting in the hall between Arya and Aryan who are literally trying to sit over him as they laugh at something.

I hand crud to Badi maa before I grab my phone and text Abir.

He laughs when Arya says something as he pulls his phone from his pocket. I fold my arms resting my back on the wall and watch the smile spread on his lips before he tilts to look at me.

I raise my eyebrows at him, he laughs softly shaking his head before looking back at his screen. Arya and Aryan curiously look between us as Abir types something on his phone. Though I am aware of what answer I will get, I still get excited to read his text.

I guess this will always remain the same between us and I totally love it.

You can expect 'same to you' from me.

❊❊❊

And I know you all love that dialogue between them so, I can expect 'same to you' from you all, right?

Welcome back to me, lol.

Well, I cannot say when I'll update next but as soon as I can I will. Studies are getting a bit complicated for me, I have my exams in February or March and I am way behind in preparations.

All the best to me and everyone preparing for exams.

Let's rock!

Who are excited to meet Sara?

Let me know what do you think Sara's reaction will be.

Just curious! 😂