*Nakul Pov*

I couldn't help but feel relief inside staring at the ceiling while Maheshwari is already asleep in my arms. I thought this feel would never be near me again with only guilt inside.

But James made sure to remove it with evidence. I closed my eyes smiling thinking about the way I left to his office in between dinner not understanding his urgent call.

"James! What is this about?" I asked, reaching his room and saw another guy with him shaking James hand.

That guy nodded at me and left the room while James had this grin on his face before turning the system towards me and typed something making the picture of me driving the car fill the screen.

"Why are you showing me this?" I asked him frowning.

"Look closely, Nakul. There is someone in the car." He replied and I stared at the pic more closely to see he is right.

"Mom!" I whispered and I should have remembered her being in this accident too leading her death but this is too much.

"I forgot about her." I mumbled and glanced at James to see him nodding.

"Because all we could see was only you but..." he trailed off and I stared at the pic back.

"She is behind me and... and in the driver's seat." I finished and felt the relief start but saw me holding the steering too.

"Still, I am holding the steering wheel." I added and he clicked something else making the blur go off a little and zoom more.

"Along with someone else's hands." His comment made me stiff and stare at the picture in shock.

"She is holding it too." I whispered and sat down feeling lost, but kept on staring at it.

"The guy just helped me to zoom it, but with clearance. Now, do you understand?" he asked, but I frowned.

"I am still holding it." I pointed out, but felt him sitting beside me.

"Yes! But there could be many reasons than the one we are thinking. Your Mom must have lost control of the wheel and you are helping her or something wrong with your Mom. Or anything else but not just you being the reason for this accident." He explained and I closed my eyes, hearing his words before opening them, realizing he is right.

"You are right!" I said and glanced at him to see him nodding with satisfaction.

"But this must be somewhat a deliberate act of sending the pictures which would hide Mom completely." I added and he nodded again with a frown.

"Yes! If it was from the other side, then we could see her immediately. Why would someone wants to frame you like this?" he questioned and I shrugged not knowing what to say.

"We have to find this person then." I mumbled and he nodded before taking out the paper making me remember another thing.

"What happened to that driver's family who died in this?" I asked and he stiffened before shaking his head.

"Couldn't find anything about it." That's all he replied making me frown.

"It's Okay, James! We can't find everything we need and is they are somehow involved then we will know for sure." I said, realizing he must be feeling bad not getting the information.

"I think the kidnap and all the accident attempts occurred in states is also related to this only. So, we will start from there and I will ask the details which the officials noted to be sent here. We will start from the beginning and we need to crack this, Nakul." He said writing whatever he is saying.

"And if your Grandpa tells everything, it will help too." He added making me frown at him.

"He knows something?" I asked and he nodded, making me pick my phone and call him immediately but as usual he didn't lift it.

"Try again tomorrow and just give me the names of your top rivals in business and also your Dad's. Let's start from that." And we both sat before getting the names of them.

"Within two days we will be able to find I anyone has a hand in this." He added when we finally finished with their details.

"Okay! Let's call it a day." I said, standing up and smiled at him.

"Relieved?" he asked and I nodded.

"I owe you so much, James." I replied and he shook his head.

"You fought your nightmare of being enclosed in a small space and saved me when we were kidnapped. Maybe this is payback time." He said shrugging.

"Like I always say, the same kidnapping was because of me." I said, shrugging back and we both laughed before walking out of his office to reach our homes.

I pulled her more into my arms hugging her tightly and tried to drift off into sleep still smiling. Yes! My Mom could be the reason for Sweety's Mom's death, but I am sure it is not a deliberate act.

"I never saw anyone this excited to go to work." She commented for the second time of the day.

First when I woke her up and now when I actually rushed past her to have a bath before her but stopped hearing her words.

"We both can save the time." I said not closing the door while she stood there and blushed realizing what I was suggesting.

"It's okay! I will prepare breakfast in the meantime." Saying that she turned around but I held her wrist before pulling her back to me.

"Are you sure?" I whispered and she just nodded before walking away after tugging her hand from my hold.

"Now, this is the Nakul I remember. You were so quiet these two days, but now you seem to be fine." Grandma commented and I smiled at her.

"My wife knows how to bring me out of my bad mood." I said, grinning and laughed along with Grandma when Maheshwari coughed having her food.

"Where is James?" I asked her and glanced at Sweety who is sitting calmly not uttering a word.

"He said he has some work and wish to finish it before you are ready." Grandma replied while I stared at Tina to see her frowning at Sweety.

"I was told you are a fashion designer. Can I see your work?" she suddenly asked making Sweety glance at her.

"No!" with that single word she stood up and walked away while everyone stayed silent.

"Don't mind her, Tina." Grandma said not at all upset with Sweety's behavior.

"Well, I liked that actually." Tina said, smiling at her and got a smile back while I felt more confused.

Nakul! You have enough confusions in life and there is no need for you to fall for this women's confusion too and think only about yours.

"So, that's why Sweety behaved like that." I said in an understanding tone when Maheshwari explained everything as I couldn't stop my curiosity.

"Yes! I don't know what went inside James but he is acting like someone else only." She commented frowning and I pulled her in my arms.

"He is busy with work and that is my work. Don't mind his behavior." I pleaded with her and she gave a thoughtful frown before nodding with a sigh.

"Acting as if I am asking you to not eat your favorite food." I said, pinching her cheek and she pushed my hand away to rub it.

"You are because I am angry and you are asking me to let go of it. So, you need to buy me some ice cream in the evening." Saying that she stood up to pack our lunch while I smiled at her back.

"I want both of you to not go anywhere without letting me know." James suddenly ordered making me raise my eyebrow because he never does that with me.

"We don't want what happened last time to happen again and I am taking charge of this." He added answering my gaze.

"Did you hear Maha?" he asked when she didn't reply anything even after reaching the company, but she just got down and walked away.

"Seems like all the women we know are angry at you. When will you take charge of clearing this?" I asked him grinning and he glared back.

"I don't care! If they want to be angry, then let them be and I am not living for any of them." He replied with his knuckles turning white while holding the steering wheel.

"Well, make sure that is what you want." Saying that I too walked off leaving him to his thoughts.

I tried to cover up for everything I missed, but it was not much with her looking after everything in my absence. It's like she can be the next CEO but it would need trucks of a pushover for her to accept it.

I leaned back, rubbing my eyes and glanced at the glass wall separating our cabins. Taking out a post-it, I wrote asking for a lunch date seeing the time and walked there to press it on the glass before tapping there.

"Again started?" I heard the voice when I was opening my box to see her walking towards me with a smile.

"When did I stop? Why? You don't want me to do it anymore?" I asked and she chuckled before sitting beside me.

"If you stop, then I will stop looking at your cabin every second too." Her reply made me push the box away before pulling her into my arms.

"Sometimes your words take my breath away." I complained and she laughed, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"You started that and I am following your lead." She said, shrugging and we had our lunch before moving back to our work to finish it.

After two days, Grandpa finally called me saying, "This time I was really busy and know you were fine so couldn't contact you back."

"Were there times when you are not that busy?" I asked and smiled at her when she is arranging our clothes properly in the cupboard.

"Leave all that and tell me what you want to say." He replied and I sighed before glancing at her again with a frown.

"One minute!" saying that I walked out of the room, ignoring the curious look from her and reached the first floor, knowing well it is empty with James taking Grandma and Tina to somewhere else like a stupid with Sweety at her work.

"I went to meet Mr. Sathish and got some pictures from him based on which he decided I was the reason behind the accident." I said directly and met with silence.

"And?" he finally asked and I explained how the pictures were with me actually holding the steering wheel.

"But a few days back we found out that Mom was holding it too. Just tell me if you know something to make me come out of this blame." I continued and heard him sighing.

"Like we said she was the reason and you are not to be blamed. This is my mistake to allow your Dad to marry that woman. If not, then none of this would have happened. It is your Dad's fault too for being stuck to her when he could have let her walk away. But no! This family legacy with no divorces and madness caught him not doing anything like that." He continued to blast without pausing for a second and when he finally did, I repeat his words.

"You didn't like Mom?" I asked him and he stayed calm.

"No! And it doesn't matter now. All I want is you to forget all these things and live your life with that wife of yours. Leave everything to me." He replied and hung up while I just stood there thinking about his words.

How can I leave everything when all this is happening because of me somehow? And why each day something or the other is coming out to light?

"Always work?" I heard a voice and climbed down the stairs to see these three returned with Grandma already scolding James.

"Look, I took you around all this evening and now let me work." Saying that he walked off while she shook her head.

"You liked the city, Grandma?" I turned around to see Maheshwari walking towards us with a smile.

"Yes!" she got the reply and they glanced at me making me realize I am frowning, but I am just thinking maybe she heard the phone conversation but she is calm so mustn't have.

"I will start dinner preparation." She said looking at Tina and Grandma.

"I am not hungry, Maha. I ate this chat outside and my stomach is full. I will just go to sleep." Tina replied and got a nod in return.

"James just forced her to have two actually." Grandma said, shaking her head and I glanced up hearing a sound to see Sweety walking into the house with James following her.

"I am asking you something." His voice reached us, but she didn't utter a word while staring at Tina.

"Actually, today dosn't cook for even me along with James and Swathi." Grandma announced making everyone frown at her.

"Why?" Maheshwari asked making Grandma smile.

"Because Swathi is going to cook for her family." She replied and I raised my eyebrows, hearing this while James coughed and Sweety frowned.

"Grandma! I told you she doesn't know how to then why this stupid conversation. I will order something if you want." James said breaking the silence.

"No! She is my daughter-in-law and it is her duty along with right to cook for me. If you are not interested then order for yourself." With those words she smiled at Sweety who is still frowning.

"I can help her." Tina offered and immediately added looking at Sweety's expression, "Just help with cutting and all. Not with main cooking."

"You will end up cooking everything, trust me. Even though we are fine to have food you made, you said you are tired, so no need to take stress." James said and I felt Maheshwari stiffen beside me along with Sweety while Grandma frowned this time.

"I don't want any more discussion on this as if we are discussing politics and not some cooking. I don't care how it is but I will eat the food she makes." Grandma said in a final voice and James took a breath in.

"Fine! At least give her some gloves or cloth or something and make sure you are present near her." Saying that he glanced at Sweety before started walking away shaking his head.

"I will not poison anyone." Sweety finally opened her mouth and he stiffened stopping in his tracks, but then after a second he continued to walk.

Tina left for her room while Grandma walked off to reach the James house and Maheshwari walked towards her sister. She hugged her mumbling, "Show him and make him eat his words."

"I am not going to do anything." Sweety said and walked off while my wife turned around before hugging me.

"I am not liking James anymore." She whispered and I smiled hugging her.

"He is in tensions because of me only. Just wait for a few days and everything will settle." I whispered and she moved back nodding.

"Okay! You do your work while I will cook something special for just two of us." She said, grinning and walked off while I stood there staring at her until she walked into the kitchen.

I closed my eyes still smiling, but it slipped remembering Grandpa's words. Why? Why did he say all those and was there some problem with my parent's marriage?

It is time to find some answers and better to begin with this. With that thought, I turned around and started climbing the stairs to reach the first floor.

I don't remember why I stayed away from here, but I did with a complete mind, though, as if this is a forbidden place. Now, it's time to cross everything.

I took a deep breath and walked to my parents room before placing my hand on the door knob only to feel my hand shaking and that in turn made me frown.

No! You have to do this and I did opening the door before switching on the light only to step back feeling fire coming from everywhere and screamed.

"No! Mom!" I shouted and covered my face feeling it burning, but then suddenly felt someone holding me.

"Nakul! What is it?" I heard the frantic voice and opened my eyes to see Maheshwari standing before me with a worried face.

"The... the fire... fire..." I struggled for the words, making her look inside the room while I followed her holding her hand tightly to see that everything was normal.

"There was a fire!" I said with a forced voice when she turned to glance at me.

"Okay! We will go to our room." Saying that she walked out of the room and dragged me with her to the second floor and then to our room.

"Just lay down and close your eyes." She whispered before helping me with the blanket.

"Stay with me!" I whispered back and she nodded, but asked me to wait for a few seconds to turn off the burners in the kitchen.

"I am here, Nakul." She whispered after a few minutes laying beside me while I hugged her tightly.

I closed my eyes and it felt like something blasted in my head, making me open then to see her staring at me with worry.

"I remember!" saying that I slowly sat up and moved to get the water jug before drinking a little water.

"My old room was also on that floor and one day when I returned from school, I saw smoke coming out of my parents room. I immediately rushed there to open the door and saw..." I stopped taking a deep breath.

"What did you see?" she asked, holding my hand.

"The bed... the bed was on fire and... and Mom was standing near it just staring at it with a smile. I screamed for her to come near me but she just stood there making me walk into the room. I held her hand and tried to drag with my hands, but being a thirteen year old didn't have much strength while she just stood there." I replied and felt the grip tighten on my hand.

"Then I think I was coughing and then suddenly I fell down. And that's all I remember, but I know I never stepped into their room." I added closing my eyes.

"You shouldn't have done that now also." Saying that she hugged me and I hugged her back lost in my thoughts.

Why did my Mom just stand there like that and ignored me? Why didn't I remember all this until now? Is this the reason for Grandpa to not like her? Is there anything else behind it? And how could a bed caught fire like that?

*Swathi Pov*

I stared at her with my folded arms and she did the same just leaning on the wall. I looked away, ignoring the pain and anger seeing James taking Tina everyday out, of course with his Grandma's presence, but she is the same one who wishes Tina as her Grandson's wife.

"By just standing there dinner will not be prepared." Her comment brought me out of my thoughts.

"By just standing there, dinner will not be prepared by me too." I retorted and she sighed.

"What is the problem to do it?" she asked frowning.

"I don't want to do it is the problem here." I replied shrugging.

"No wonder my Grandson has become crazy." She mumbled, but I stiffened hearing it and she smiled.

"What will you lose if you cook for your husband's family?" she asked raising her eyebrow.

"What will I gain when not even two months are left for losing the same family." I replied and she frowned.

"And you can ask your precious Tina to do it as a practice from now onwards." I added this time not able to keep the irritation from showing.

"Are you promoting James to have a second marriage?" she asked shaking her head.

"I am not doing anything which I haven't thought my anyone here. You want it, he wants it and Tina wants it, then who am I to say anything." I replied with a shrug.

"Because you are his wife and you will be if he gets a brain from some place." She stated and smiled but immediately let it slip.

"Are you just going to back away without a fight? You should fight for what you desire." She added with a disspointed tone.

"When you were not here, while I was doing that stepping out of my line and ignoring everything I was until then to not go that low, I did but then you brought the wonder girl who is his plan too. So, why should I do anything else? I am not giving up, I am just letting go." I said fisting my hands and she walked near to me before hugging me while I just stood there.

"This is not to prove anyone, Swathi. Do this for yourself and will that be okay?" she asked, stepping back and I nodded before turning around to start ignoring her presence.

After some time, I stepped back to see her still in the kitchen and helped me to place everything on the dining table and at the same time James entered the house.

And his words were, "Was there any incident or anything? Should I bring some burn..." he didn't finish his sentence looking at the table while Grandma grinned at him.

"Go and order for yourself, James. We both are going to have this food." Saying that she sat down and gestured me to do the same.

"She did all this? I mean..." he trailed off again when I held the spoon with a tight grip.

"Yes! I was beside her all the time." Grandma stated and I glanced at her.

"To check up on me?" I asked and she shook her head.

"No! For his sake." She replied and served on her plate while I did the same after her.

He too calmly sat down and served himself before glancing at me which I ignored. We had the dinner in silence before I stood up finishing mine first.

I freshened up in the washroom and opened the door to step out, but stopped in my tracks when he blocked the door with folded arms.

"Are you ready to talk now?" he asked which I ignored as if I am not listening.

"What happened to you, Swathi? Before you never let me stay away and now you are running away." He pointed out.

"That was my mistake." I simply said making him frown and step forward which made me step back.

"You actually cooked all that." He said, frowning and continued to move while I continued to move back and suddenly I am pressed to the wall.

"Thinking that I cheated your Grandma and brought food from somewhere?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"No! Thinking that you lied to be before about not knowing how to cook and acted." His reply gave the same pain and I immediately pushed him away but he held my wrists before pressing me more to the wall.

"Got a reaction, didn't I? Do you know I always hated, if someone acted or lied their feelings? Why? Tina whom my Grandma brought actually acted to be in love with me all those years back thinking I am the key to escape the island. But then realizing I am just going for a dangerous work and after that will settle in the island she confessed. I was angry like completely." He suddenly started explaining about everything while I froze in my place.

"She expected me to forgive her and then eventually moved away but tried to apologize whenever she can. I forgot about all that and now she thought there is a chance to make wrong to right so she is here. And I am glad she is because I finally forgave her." He added and stared at me while I looked at the point over his shoulder.

"And that is because... anyway, when did you learned to cook?" he asked and I finally glanced at him.

"Whenever you stay away from me when I was taking care of you. I asked Maha and she taught me. I learnt thinking to surprise you showing my seriousness, but... but it doesn't matter anymore." I replied and felt him froze this time before his hold reduced.

Seeing that as a chance I pushed him before walking away to reach the room and laid on the bed as usual pressing myself to the wall. I ignored him laying beside me too.

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Hey guys!!! this weekend i may not be able to update... but... before that if possible will try one more and again no promises...

so, once again asking you all is it boring or am i dragging???

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...