It was a few days later and Prema was in the kitchen managing things when the house phone rang.

"Ji, Mr. Bajaj," Prerna greeted.

"Ms. Sharma, main ne batane ke liye phone kiya tha that I have to go to the U.S tonight for a conference. Toh, aapko Kukki ko school se lena hoga."

"But Mr. Bajaj, aap ne Kukki se promise kiya tha ke..."

"I know, bohot last minute hai. Maybe she'll give your some trouble. But Kukki loves you, to shayad ziyada tang mat kare. You can always call me if she's giving you too many problems."

"It's okay. Hum manage karlenge. Aap be fikr jaein," she assured him, but still she heard him sigh. "Aur kuch?"

"Uh, Kukki ko really accha nahi lagta jab main akele jaata hoon, woh..." Prerna knew why, and realized it was probably difficult for Mr. Bajaj too.

"It's okay. Main usse distract karloon gi. Aap bus, koi gift le aana Kukki ke liye."

"Right. Of course. Thank you. And uh, anything for you?"

Preena giggled. "Nahi, I'm fine thank you."

"O-okay, we'll talk later, then. Bye."

"Bye, Mr. Bajaj. Have a safe trip," she hung up the phone and wrapped her kitchen duties.

"Ms. Briganza, aage aap dekh lena, main Kukki ko school se lene jaa rahi hoon. Pata nahi mood kaisa ho madam ka, toh shayad dair hojaye gi. Main aapko phone karke bata doon gi."

"No worries, ma'am. I'll take care of everything here. Aap araam se jao," Ms. Briganza nodded.

Prerna smiled and went to get ready to pick up Kukki. As expected, she was waiting for her dad to pick her up, and was disheartened to see Prerna alone.

"Hi, Kukki!" Prerna cheerfully greeted her, but Kukki asked for papa.

Prerna kneeled down beside and pouted. "I know aap papa ka wait kar rahi thi. Aur papa ne promise bhi kiya tha. Lekin, main aapko ek secret bataun?"

Kukki leaned in close. "Papa ne aap ke liye aik bohooot bara gift order kiya tha. Aur woh akele to plane mein aa nahi sakta. Toh papa khudi gaye hain aapka gift lene."

Kukki was happy to hear that but Prerna frowned. "Lekin papa ne kaha tha ke yeh secret hai. Mujhe aapko nahi batana chahiye tha...!"

Kukki zipped her mouth and put a hand over her heart, promising to keep the secret. Prerna hugged her happily.

"Good girl! Abh, hum... mall chalein? Girls day out?!"

Kukki nodded excitedly and Prerna lead her to the car and the girls went to the mall. They went to all the popular spots first before getting something to eat at the food court.

"Yeh bacchi tumhare saath rehti hai abh, kya?"

Prerna turned towards the familiar voice to see Nividita behind her.

"Nivi di! Aap? Yahaan?" Prerna got up to hug her friend.

"Haan, voh, hamara baahir khaane ka mann kar raha tha toh main idhar se khaana lene ayi thi," Nivi explained.

"Toh aap order kar letin," Prerna suggested as they sat down.

"Actually, mera ghar yahaan se ziyada door nahi hai, toh khudi aa gayi. Socha khane se pehle kuch exercise bhi ho jaye gi,"

Prerna was happily surprised. "Aap, move ho gayin!?"

Nivi smiled and nodded. "Haan. Anupam ne yahaan kareeb hi ghar liya hai. Aur yeh cutie kon hai?" Nivi stroked Kukki's face.

"Nivi di yeh Kukki hai, Mr. Bajaj ki beti."

"Accha!"

They talked until Nivi's food arrived and they went their separate homes.

At night, Kukki was still buzzing from excitement from the day, so she forgot all about Rishabh and his promise. But a good night's sleep brought it all back.

"Baby, aap breakfast kha lona please!" Mrs. Briganza pleaded, but Kukki vehemently shook her head.

Prerna came from her room and smiled at the scene. "Oh ho, Mrs. Briganza. Aap ko pata nahi hai? Kukki papa ke baghair khaana nahi khati. Hain na, Kukki?"

Kukki smiled and nodded. Prerna sat beside her and pulled out her phone.

"Toh phir papa ko call karein?" She asked, checking the time.

Kukki nodded and got in Prerna's lap.

"Alright. Hmm, America mein abhi dinner time ho raha hoga. Let's see if papa answers." They called him three times but he declined. Kukki got madder.

"Yeh kya baat hui!?" Prerna was frustrated as well. "Mujhe toh keh rahe the kabhi bhi phone kar loon. Abhi dekhte hain," she scrolled for Mr. Mehra's phone number and face called him.

He picked up on the second call. "Ji, Mrs. Bajaj. Koi emergency hai?"

"Mr. Bajaj kahan hai?"

"Sir meeting mein hai, ma'am. Koi message ho to bataein?"

"Aap Mr. Bajaj ko phone dein zara," Prerna demanded.

"Mrs. Bajaj, main ne aap se kaha hai. Sir abhi meeting mein hain. Woh abhi..."

"Aap phone deinge ya main kisi aur ko phone karun? I know woh aapke saath hi hote hain. Aap Mr. Bajaj ko phone..."

"Mehra, give it to me," Mr. Bajaj's voice said.

Kukki and Prerna smiled excitedly.

"Ji, Mrs. Bajaj. Any issue?" He asked, his attention on the paper on his table.

"Mr. Bajaj, aapko pata hai na aap ke bacche aap ke baghair khaana nahi khaate?"

Rishabh turned his attention to the phone. He was about to scold Prerna when he noticed Kukki was on the screen too.

"Hi, princess! Good morning. Aap uthte saath hi trouble kar rahi ho mumma ko?"

Kukki shook her head and demonstrated that she was waiting for him to eat too.

"Kukki keh rahi hai pehle papa will eat dinner, then she'll eat breakfast. Aur vaise bhi. Aapne apni evening medicine bhi leni hain, uske liye aapko khaana chahiye."

"Is that Mrs. Bajaj?" A familiar voice said.

Rishabh directed his attention off screen. "Sorry, Mr. Jones. My daughter just woke up, she wanted to say hi."

"May I?" Jones asked and Rishabh handed him the phone.

"Prerana, so nice to see you," Jones greeted.

"Mr. Jones, so sorry to bother you in your meeting."

"Oh, never apologize for this! You're a wife, it's your nature!"

Rishabh and Mehra looked at each other.

"Now if I've understood correctly, you're worried if Rish has eaten tonight?"

"Yes, sir," Prerna blushed, embarrassed.

"Well rest assured. His accommodations are on me. I'll personally make sure he is well fed before I send him back to the slaughter house!" He joked.

Prerna laughed. "Thank you so much, Mr. Jones."

"You're most welcome dear. Now, if we may..."

"Of course, please. Carry on."

"Thank you. Here, I'll give the phone back to Rish."

Rishabh got the phone again. "Toh abh, aap dono satisfied?"

Kukki nodded. Rishabh smiled.

"Great. So, I'll call you guys before I go to sleep tonight," he gave them a kiss. "Bye, jaan!"

Kukkk kissed him back and Prerna waved. "Bye, papa!"

The phone hung up.

"Chalo ji! Papa toh dinner kar rahe hain. Abh hum breakfast kar lein? Please?"

Kukki nodded. They had breakfast, then Prerna unpacked Kukki's bag while the girl played. After lunch Prerna and Kukki decided to play together around the house.

It was a really big house, plenty of space to play hide and seek inside and outside. They played two rounds each, and now it was Prerna's third turn to seek.

She had looked all inside the house but couldn't find Kukki. This time, Kukki had run to the backyard to hide. She was hiding in the pool maintenance when she met a friend.

"Hi, sweetheart!"

Prerna had started to come outside, worry rising in her chest. She asked the workers if they had seen Kukki, but none of them had seen her recently. They all joined the search for their boss's daughter.

"Kukki? Aap kahaan ho?" Kukki heard Prerna's voice and giggled. Her friend made the shushing hand to keep her quiet.

"Dekho, abh game bohot lambi ho gayi hai. Abh baahar aa jao aap."

Her friend said no, so Kukki stayed sitting.

"Accha main cheating nahi karungi. You win. Aap jeet gayi. Abh baahar bhi aa jao!"

Kukki wanted to get out but her friend held her down.

"Kukki!" Prerna's voice was getting closer and Kukki was starting to get restless.

"Accha ji. Main na, baahir ice cream khaane ja rahi hoon. Aap ao gi mere saath?"

Now Kukki really wanted to go.

"Aapne suna Kukki? Mama jaa rahi hain," Prerna announced, praying that Kukki was okay. "Mama Kukki ke baghair chali jaein phir? Okay, bye!"

"Mumma!"