Pooja could see that Dhruv was drunk. He had the familiar glazed look in his bloodshot grey blue eyes, and he was swaying slightly as he tried to stand his ground.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" he demanded

"Pooja found she was able to breathe a little easier again as she realized with some relief that Dhruv didn't even recognize her.

But then it had been a while, and she looked completely different now than how she looked when she was with him thankfully.

But still she lowered her head and glanced around at Rani, managing to find her voice to reply and make most of this unexpected opportunity

"I am a friend of Rani's I have come to help her.. She needs to get to a hospital"

"Like hell she is!" Dhruv growled taking a step forward even the familiar sound of his voice and presence made Pooja start to quake a little inside, knowing it didn't take much to make Dhruv just snap.

"Who are you anyway? I don't remember seeing you with Rani before" he then demanded suspiciously, his eyes narrowing

"W-we just met recently," Pooja replied truthfully, "You have to let her get to the hospital, she could lose the baby," she then tried to reason with him, though knowing deep down it was probably useless.

Dhruv didn't seem to be listening to what she was saying. He was peering at her harder, making Pooja feeling even more uneasy.. She knew she had to get out of the place fast. But she wasn't not going to leave Rani behind. So she went over and helped Rani up of the sofa

"We are going now, and you are not going to stop us. The ambulance will be here any moment," she said with bravado she was far from feeling. Her legs were suddenly weak and shaking as she helped support Rani who was whimpering and still warily eyeing Dhruv to see his reaction, But his full attention was still on Pooja

"Wait," he stood in front of the doorway blocking their only exit, "I think I do know you from somewhere, and its nothing to do with Rani"

"Please, let us pass," Pooja said averting looking into his face. But suddenly he grabbed her chin in a hard grip, and forced her to look into his eyes. She flinched but couldn't move, her heart thudding in her ears, a realising by the expression on his face, that he had finally figured out who she was.

"Pooja Sharma," he drawled, "Well, well, it's been a while," he was smiling, but it wasn't a pleasant smile "Now this is a nice little reunion, one I was not expecting anyway. But what the hell do you think you are doing?" he snarled.

Pooja felt the old fear threatening to overwhelm her. But at the same time, anger at Dhruv, for what he had done to her and now Rani. It gave her the strength to overcome that fear, and pull away from his hold "I am getting Rani away from you, so can't do this to her again, or any other woman if I have my way" she stated defiantly

She had never spoken back to him before in such a tone, it threw him a little making his eyes widen.

Pooja tried to take advantage of the moment and get by him but he grabbed her arm preventing her.

"You are not going anywhere, neither of you," he informed them as he pushed them back none too gently, which made Rani start to cry

"I told you, the ambulance will be here any minute, and if you don't let us go they will get the police," Pooja warned trying to hide her growing alarm. She was trying to remain firm, but she didn't want to provoke Dhruv any further, perhaps the fact that the police might turn up would make him think twice about trying anything

"P-please just let us go - look if you want - I can give you money," she then attempted to plead with him in desperation

"Oh yeah?" a new glint of interest came into his eyes now, "I heard you were doing well for yourself now, and by the looks of it, you should be good for few quid"

"My purse is in my car outside, if you let us go; I can go and get it. You can have whatever is in it.. there must be at least fifty thousand.. its yours. Just as long as you agree to and let me take care of Rani to make sure she is ok" Pooja then hurriedly said praying he would take the bait

"Yeah, I will have your money," Dhruv replied easily as his eyes now looked Pooja up and down in a way that made her skin crawl, "And maybe I will have you as well, now you are here. Maybe a nice little threesome huh?" he leered

"You are disgusting," Pooja baulked at the idea, "don't you dare touch me"

"Please Dhruv, just let us go," Rani now whimpered pleadingly knowing Pooja's tone of disgust would not go down to well with him.

"Shut up!" he snapped, his face twisted in an ugly grimace. Angered further by Pooja's derision, he grabbed her arm pulling her towards him that she was forced to feel his breath on her face, making her inwardly shrink in fear. His grip on her arm was like like a vice, she knew if she attempted to struggle it would get worse for her

"Think you are too good for me now Pooja, is that it?" he sneered, "I think I need to take you down a peg or two, remind you exactly who you are.."

As his face closed in further towards her Pooja found herself overwhelmed with an old terror, that robbed her of her power of speech, she felt herself mentally trying to curl up to escape what was coming next, expecting to feel the punches or even worse his horrible mouth trying to kiss her as he forced himself on her.

Then a new fear of realisation hit her, and it was for the child she was carrying and its safety. She let out a little cry of protest starting to struggle wildly

"Leave her alone!" Rani cried in alarm, but at the same time she was too frightened and weak to physically stop him

She let out another little exclamation of alarmed surprise when another burly figure stormed into the room. He grabbed Dhruv from the back and with great force pulled him back. Taken by surprise and stumbling backwards, Dhruv released his hold on Pooja, who just sank to the floor her legs suddenly feeling too weak to hold her up,

But realising Dhruv had released her rather ubruptly, she looked up in bewilderment and found it Kabir with a murderous expression on his face as he had the shocked Dhruv pinned up against the nearby wall.

Everything seem to be happening at once, as Mandira and Kavita also made an appearance. Mandira went over to help Pooja up, asking her if she was alright. Shakily she manage to nod, and turned her attention back on Kabir, noticing his had grabbed the dazed Dhruv by the front of his coat so that Dhruv's his feet were dangling a few inches from the floor as Kabir still had him against the wall

"So you like hitting pregnant women do you? maybe its time someone give you a taste of your own medicine," Kabir snarled raising his fist.

"Go on big man, do your best. I will have great pleasure in suing you for assault," Dhruv drawled tauntingly

"Believe me, it will be worth," Kabir replied through gritted teeth. But Pooja hurried over to him grabbing his arm stopping Kabir's threatening fist touching Dhruv

"Don't kabir! he is not worth it," she exclaimed realizing this could turn into a disaster for Kabir if this whole thing became a public court case and Dhruv became the victim, it was the last thing they needed.

"Pooja is right," Mandira hurriedly joined in "Let the proper authorities deal with him now"

At that moment the blue flashing lights flickering into the open door in the hallway told them that the ambulance had finally arrived. It had the effect of calming Kabir down a little, and he reluctantly released his hold on Dhruv, realizing Mandira was right

Pooja just let out a small sigh of relief, feeling Kabir's arms going around her, his brown eyes filled with concern, she sagged against him her legs still shaky from the whole experience

"Are you alright?" he then asked

"Yes, I think so," she nodded, " But w-what are you doing here? How did you know?" she then asked in slight bewilderment

"I tried to get through to you on your phone, but there was no reply. So I phoned Mandira and she told me what was happening, and that she was worried about you. Of course I ended up coming along once she told me.. And just as well, so it seems," Kabir replied grimly

"Yes," Pooja managed to reply faintly, "I was trying to get Rani to the hospital and Dhruv came back.. she then attempted to explain and glanced around to see that the ambulance man and Kavita were taking care of Rani. "I hope she is going to be ok" she then finished anxiously

"Well right now I am more concerned about you," Kabir stated, "Come on, I am taking you home." his firm tone told her there was no point in arguing. But she just wanted to get as far away from Dhruv and her surroundings as possible, so she happily agreed.

Pooja was feeling a little bewildered. She expected Kabir to be relieved and glad she was alright and that everything had turned out ok. But as they got home, she had the distinct feeling he was angry with her. He had been mostly coolly silent on the drive home, answering her in curt syllables.

It was only when she got through the front door of the apartment, she decided to tackle him and find out what was troubling him.

"Kabir, are you mad at me?" she queried tentively, "I am just getting this feeling you are not very happy for some reason

"Well I am still angry about Dhruv first and foremost, I really wish I had punched him now" Kabir replied frowning,"but yes, I am not exactly happy with you either, for getting yourself in that situation in the first place," Kabir he then admitted

."I don't know why, I mean things turned out alright, didn't it?" Pooja pointed out

"Yes, but they might not have," he reminded her. "How could you do it Pooja? Going there by yourself, you could have waited for Mandira or kavita like they wanted you to, then you might not have been in that situation"

"There wasn't time, and I was worried about Rani's baby." Pooja protested

"And what about our child? didn't you care that you put it in danger too?" Kabir then demanded.

The accusation stung her deeply, "Of course I care, I just didn't think Dhruv was going to come back again," she protested indignantly

"You didn't think at all." Kabir said, "I can't believe how stupid you have been. Just think what might have happened to you or our child if we didn't arrive when we did?"

"And goodness only knows what would have happened to Rani if I hadn't turned up when I did," Pooja shot back

"It was still a reckless act, no matter how you try and justify it!" Kabir argued, "You could have phoned the police and let them sort ot out, but instead you put yourself in a very precarious position. A fine lot of good you would have done for Rani if Dhruv decided to beat you to a pulp too, and you ended up in hospital in God only knows what state"

"Well I didn't!" Pooja snapped back defensively. She was suddenly feeling annoyed that she was having to justify her actions to him, he didn't understand the situation she had been in, " And I am fine, aso you don't have to worry, your heir is fine too. That's what this is really all about isn't it? In case anything happened to it and you're your precious business ends up in your stepmothers hands" she then accused

He looked across at her sharply, "You know that is not true"

"Isn't it?" all her earlier resentment from the afternoon suddenly came flooding back "I was surprised you were not too busy with work to even bother trying to come and find me. That's where you have been spending most of your time lately after all. You were not worrying about me or our baby yesterday evening or the evening before that when you couldn't even be at home" she threw back at him

"You really think that?" Kabir's brown eyes narrowed, his expression becoming stony

"What else can I think, when you are never around lately, all you care about is your damned business" she replied resentfully

"Well for your information I wasn't thinking about business, In fact I was-" Kabir broke of there, not bothering to finish what he had to say. Instead he shook his head, and rubbed the back of his neck, "Just forget it.. It doesn't really matter now anyway." he told her with a small bitter laugh before turning and walking away .

"Kabir, where are you going?" Pooja demanded with a mixture of annoyance and dismay

"To my study," he replied not turning around to look at her, " I need a drink, and I think we both need to cool down before we both say something we really regret"

"But Kabir-" Pooja started in protest, not wanting to leave it like this

"Go to bed Pooja, I think we both have had enough drama for one night." Kabir interrupted her meaningfully, then he went into his study slamming the door shut behind him

Pooja reluctantly obeyed Kabir, and went to bed. Her stubborn pride made her decide she would not go after him into his study. If he didn't want to speak to her, fine!

But as she lay in bed, she spent most of it just tossing and turning. Her mind was going over the horrible day, and not understanding quite how it had ended this way

Why could Kabir not see she that she had been left with no real choice in the matter? When Rani had phoned her up asking for help, Pooja was only to aware of the kind of treatment she might have suffered at Dhruv's hands. Which was why she knew it had been of the utmost urgency to get to her, and try and help her. How could she have refused, or done anything else?

Anyway, she had thought it had been alright at the time with Dhruv not there. All she had wanted to do was make sure Rani was ok. Kabir didn't have a clue what it felt like being a victim of an abusive partner, if he had perhaps he might have been at least a little more sympathetic and understanding she found herself thinking resentfully Anyway she didn't think Dhruv would come back so soon, she had hoped to get Rani out of the place before he returned, it was just lousy timing

Pooja found herself wondering what had gone through Kabir's head when he had seen Dhruv with her like that? When he had him up against the wall the look on Kabir's face had alarmed her a little, she had never seen him so angry, she had been scared that if he had started punching Dhruv, he might never had stopped. Which was why she had intervened

Of course she could understand he had been worried for her and the baby, and even she realised the folly of her actions when Dhruv had arrived on the scene. Her first thoughts of what he might do to her and that he could harm her child. Which had given her the strength to try and fight him of. But she wasn't sure how successful she would have been if Kabir hadn't arrived on the scene. And she found herself having to reluctantly admit that Kabir had a point, and she couldn't really blame him for being upset with her.

She lay in bed waiting, almost hoping he would come to her. But the hours stretched on like forever and a cold despair set in. She knew she had really upset him with her accusations about only caring about his business and she suddenly felt a little ashamed.

But it had been a reactionary response, and the only thing she could throw at him at the time, because he was trying to make her feel bad about helping Rani, and making her feel guilty about not caring about their child. Unable to bear it any more, and needing to talk to him, and try explain to him she got out of bed. Outside dawn was breaking, bringing a glimmer of blue into the dark sky as Pooja went in search for Kabir, hoping he had not left the house.

She found him in his study, he was slouched in his chair, not too comfortable looking, but sleeping, an empty glass sat at his desk in front of him, making Pooja wonder how much he had drank. And the thought she had reduced him to this state made her feel worse

Mustering up boldness, she wasn't exactly feeling, she approach him. Putting her hand on his shoulder and gently shaking him awake "Kabir?"

He woke with a start, seeming a little confused by his surroundings, then his brown eyes focused on her for a few moments, and his mind started to clear of sleep, recalling the events of the night before.

He moved and sat up in the chair in an attempt to make his stiff limbs more comfortable, and shake of the grogginess and the slight headache he was feeling

"Are you alright?" he then asked anxiously when he seen the tense expression on Pooja's face, suddenly worried that Dhruv had hurt her physically someway, and she was suffering from some sort of after affects. He realized a little guiltily he shouldn't have really had a go at her either the night before, after all she had been through.

It was amazing the way the light of morning suddenly gave you a whole new perspective on things.

"No not really," Pooja replied, " I need to talk with you. The things we said last night, I think we really need to sort it out"

"I agree," Kabir concurred rubbing a hand wearily over his face, "I guess the both of us got a bit overheated about it all"

"Yes," Pooja said quietly "But I wanted you to know I understand why you were so upset with me, and I guess my actions did put me and our baby in danger, and I feel really sick about that now" she admitted miserably

Kabir's brown eyes studied her contrite countenance for a moment then he sighed

"Look I understand your intentions were good, and even why you did it. Even if I had trouble figuring out your method of going about it. But I should not have had a go at you last night, you were probably traumatized enough after the event, and I am sorry about that, I guess just lost it because I was so worried about you," he told her.

"I know that," Pooja said, "And on reflection your reaction is understandable and I can see why you are angry with me"

"I am not angry with you any more Poo," Kabir admitted his brow creasing in perplexity, "The truth is I am more surprised, and I am still trying to figure out the reason for your accusations last night about me not being around enough for you.. I had no idea that it mattered that much to you"

Pooja had the grace to blush and shift uneasily, "I shouldn't have said those things, I guess I just wanted to hit back at you with something because I was angry with you"

Kabir continued to study her face intently for a moment, "Are you sure that was all it was?" he then enquired. Pooja found herself unable to reply, suddenly finding it difficult to look him in the eye.

Kabir sighed heavily again.

"Why didn't you tell me before that you were feeling that way?" he then asked, sounding more curious than irritated

"Because I didn't want to sound like some harping possessive wife that you would come to despise" Pooja replied, "But I guess my actions lately I have screwed all that up really good now.. So I quite understand if you find you would prefer to divorce me after the child is born, because I don't think I am suitable as your wife, after all" she then said stiffly, to hide her own internal emotional turmoil

This little speech only caused Kabir to frown, his brown eyes piercing into her, trying to figure out if she was being really serious or not.

"You really think it would be that easy now?" he then demanded, "You think I could dismiss everything that has happened between us..? Is that what you want?"

"No," Pooja replied unsteadily looking flustered now, "I don't know what I want, or what to think.. Does it really matter?"

Kabir got up, coming around to stand before her, his expression incredulous

"Of course it matter's Pooja," he told her, then frowned again "I am beginning to realise you don't understand how I feel about you at all"

"H-How do you feel about me?" Pooja now looking into his face, letting him see the threatening tears

"I care about you a great deal Pooja," he told her softly, then suddenly looking decisive, he continued, "Do me a favour, get dressed and come with me, I want to show you something"

Pooja stared back questioningly, "Why? What is it?"

"Just trust me, perhaps it will help you realise how important you are to me" was his only reply

Kabir refused to reveal where he was taking her once she was dressed. Remaining mysterious as he took her out and told her to get into the car.

She didn't know where he was taking her, but they seem to be going more out of town and into the countryside. She was still feeling too emotionally raw to converse with him much, and spent most of her time looking out the window at the passing scenery trying to figure out what Kabir was up to.

He finally pulled into a driveway that led to a white washed Victorian styled house

The fact there were no blinds or curtains on the windows told Pooja it was vacant, and no one lived in it.

As Kabir brought the car to a halt, she turned to him a little puzzled, but he just smiled at her. Then got out of the car coming around to open the door for her to get out also.

"W-why are we here? what is this place?" Pooja demanded

"This is going to be our new home," Kabir replied "I realized our apartment, it isn't very family friendly," Kabir held out his hand to her.

After a moment of hesitation, Pooja put her hand in his, her heart suddenly hammering in her chest with a certain amount of trepidation as he led her towards the house. He pulled out the key to open the door

"It has five bedrooms, so plenty of room for our growing family hopefully," Kabir replied cheerfully as they stepped into the hallway.

Pooja took a sharp intake of breath. Although there was no furniture in place she could see it had been refurbished and done tastefully, with many of the old Victorian features remaining or replaced. With its tiled floor in the hallway and the polished wooden floors , At the same time it was large and airy and light. The kitchen although modern appliances had the feeling of a country kitchen.

Then Kabir led her up the stairs, "All those nights you thought I was working late, The truth was I have been here," he then confessed ruefully "I wanted to get the place finished before the baby was born and surprise you. And because it was going to be our home it was special to me, I wanted to do a lot the work on it myself instead of leaving it to a bunch of my contractors"

Pooja just stared at him, letting what he was saying sink in, "So last night, when you said you were not working with your business and you were doing something else.. It was this?" she realised suddenly, the final piece of the puzzle over his abrupt conversation the night before finally clicking into place

"Yes," Kabir looked a little sheepish, "I want to show you this room in particular" He opened one of the bedroom doors.

It didn't take Pooja long to figure out what made this room special judging from the small pastel lemon blues and pink teddy bear patterns on the wall

"I thought this would be nice as the nursery, do you like it?"

Pooja found she couldn't speak, she was too busy recalling her words the evening before, when she accused him of not caring or thinking about her and the baby. Suddenly she felt terrible and guilty as she discovered that it was the complete opposite from the evidence in front of her eyes"

"Oh Kabir!" she finally manage to choke out, and felt the tears well up in her eyes, overcome with remorse.

"Like I said I haven't bothered with furniture I was going to leave that up to you. This is your home too Pooja, I wanted you to have a part in it as well.. And as I said, I wanted to surprise you. Which was why I didn't mention it.. But maybe that wasn't such a good idea, as you thought I was neglecting you" he finished with a rueful frown.

He glanced around at her and noticed the tears openly streaming down her cheeks now.

"Poo don't cry" he told her in slight dismay, putting his arm around her and hugging her tight, "I brought you here now, so you could see that you and our child are very important to me. And I don't mean because of my stepmother and the business" he hastily added then squeezed her tighter to him, kissing the top of her head

"You are both very precious to me, that was why I got so angry last night. The thought of anything happening to you is unbearable.. When I walked into that house last night and Dhruv had his hands on you, I wanted to kill him, because if I lost you, I don't think I could handle it. You have come to mean more to me than even my business... I would gladly give it all up as long as I had you, that's what I wanted you to understand" he then confessed his tone husky with emotion that Pooja had no doubt in her mind that he meant to it.

But it only made her cry even more, because it was only now she realised how much she also loved him back

"Oh Kabir I have been so stupid" she hiccupped, "I didn't realise how you really felt for me, and in truth I never even tried to really. I was so convinced you couldn't love me that much, then I said those terrible things last night, and you were so worried about me... I swear I will never do anything like that again, I will sit at home knitting bootee's if you want me to.

Kabir let out a small chuckle at this declaration pulling her away from him a little, "Well I don't think we need to go that far" he grinned "Although it does make a cute picture in my head"

Wiping her damp cheeks Pooja also managed a shaky laugh, then looked up at him, her hazel eyes still filled with remorse, "I don't know what I did to deserve you. I am sorry if I put you through hell yesterday, and I have learned my lesson, I will never ever accuse you of not caring about me again, if you can forgive me she sniffed.

"I have already forgiven you Pooja," Kabir replied softly with a small smile

"Oh God Kabir, I love you so much!" Pooja exclaimed her arms going around his neck so she could kiss him and show him, Kabir only too happily kissed her back

But then she jerked and moved away letting out a little gasp .

"What is it?" Kabir enquired in concern

Pooja laughed, taking his hand and putting it on her stomach, "It seems our child is kicking to remind me it's there, I think, he or she, is feeling a little left out"

"Hmm," Kabir felt the slight movement as his hand rested on her swollen stomach making him grin, " It seems we are going to have a little attention seeker then"

But he pulled Pooja back into his arms, "Well he or she needn't worry, they will get all the attention they desire once they come into the world. Which is why I think that now, you and me should make the most of our time together before we become a threesome." he suggested.

"I think that is very sound reasoning," Pooja agreed smiling up at him, deciding to seal it by resuming their kiss.

(Just over four months later)

" So, how is our new son doing?" Kabir enquired cheerfully as he stepped into the small private hospital room where Pooja was sitting up in bed, looking very serene as she glanced into the hospital crib where their two day old son, Jay was sleeping soundly

"He is doing great," she replied smiling

Kabir had been delighted and also very moved when she had suggested that they should name him Jay after his dead brother when they realised they had a little boy. And now Pooja could barely take her eyes from her son, marvelling at how small and perfect he looked. She could see signs of Kabir in his tiny features, even Kabir's father had remarked on it, when he had visited the day before.

Kavya, Suman and Vyom were apparently too busy to come and see the new addition to the Mittal family, not that Pooja cared anyway. But it reminded her Pooja she needed to know something that took her mind of their son for a few moments.

"Oh what was Kavya and Vyoms's reaction last night when you and your father told them you were thinking of letting them have a small share in the Hotel company at last.

Kabir grinned as he sat on the bed next to Pooja, "Actually Vyom was too stunned to say anything with our bolt out of the blue. As for my beloved stepmother, she recovered first, and of course not wanting to seem overly grateful, she remarked it was a nice gesture though not quite as generous as she had hoped for.

"She just can't give in graciously can she? even when you try to meet her halfway" Pooja sighed.

Kabir just shrugged, "That's her way, but she can't complain anymore, at least my father won't tolerate it as much because, in the end she has got what she wanted, even if it isn't as much as she hoped for. He knew it took a lot for me to even relent in them having that. So she will have to watch what she says and does more carefully now, or he just night get fed up with her and she could find herself with nothing.

"I hope so," Pooja replied, "At least you showed you were willing to compromise and I am proud of you"

"Well I wouldn't have done it, if it hadn't been for you. In a way I was trying to prove to you that my priorities have changed, and that you came first," Kabir said with a small smile

"You didn't have to do that, I do know it already" she reached out to squeeze his hand reassuringly

"Yes, but I still wanted to do it" Kabir told her, then remembered he had something to tell her, "Oh Mandira phoned back, she said she is not too happy that you waited to give birth when she was away, andshe said it was terrible that the first time she has went on holiday in over ten years, and she misses out an important event at home" he grinned

Pooja laughed, "She can make up for it when she comes home at the end of the week, I am sorry she wasn't here either. but I am glad she agreed to go with her friend to Spain on a little romantic holiday. It's great their friendship is finally blossoming into something deeper"

"Well you did keep throwing hints often enough little miss cupid" Kabir replied teasingly

Just then the baby stirred restlessly making a noise, "Oh dear I think someone will be wanting fed again soon" Pooja realised.

Kabir got up and went around to the crib carefully lifting his son up.

Pooja watched him with a smile on her face, recalling how when she had first agreed to this crazy plan of his she had her concerns about Kabir taking to parenthood, especially when his only reason for wanting a child was to keep his business out of his stepfamily's hands

The End.......