Adwait stood silently infront of Mann singh, he didn't feel like apologizing to the old man nor he ever thanked him. Mann singh looked at the young boy who got lost during his early 20s, a trap which would have been impossible if Rayaan and Keyur hadn't approached him to look into. If love can be given by parents is considered as eternal what about the love we experience from the siblings?

"What is it boy?." Mann singh asked him looking at Keyur who was leaning against the wall holding Sevya's hand. He smiled at his younger brother.

"Nothing. " He answered holding Srida in his arms who started glaring him. He composed himself before looking back at his brother Keyur.

"I..thank you. " Adwait spoke smiling at Srida. For her he would do anything. She was the one who fired on him for not standing up when Mann singh said shit, now she's the one who forced him to stand infront of same person. Mann singh smiled at him.  He is aged to even say anything now. How and Why he behaved has no reason behind it.

"Young boy, you are lucky to have brothers like these and a wife who is sensible. She keeps you grounded. You chose well just like your brothers." Mann singh spoke looking at all three brothers. He never complimented anyone nor he received some. Being in mafia made him act like brick but he knew some day his dear girl will break into it.

"You have ghosts of past on your head still. This time, you three need to know it's not like how we dealt when Adwait went spiral into it. " He continued looking at Rayaan. Srida was confused. Radha promised her she would tell what happened to Adwait but they never got chance to gossip about anyone.

"What?." Srida whispered looking at Adwait.

"Little one, that's a long story. I would like to start with my apology first. Whatever I did, however I behaved it was to just show that I loathe you all and protect my daughter. I trust my life with her husband and his brothers but not the parents. Especially Prataps family. If Adwait likes me to talk, I am sure to tell you whatever you wish. But then, sensing your condition I don't advise you to dwell into it. " Mann singh spoke in puzzling manner. Keyur observed the old man, he never interacted with him other than work which was serevered when he commented on Radha. Rayaan was too furious to even think what all this old man had done to get Adwait out of shit. Now if he thinks a about it,  he had done it for the sake of Radha.

"Why are you suddenly helping us?." Keyur questioned him.

"I didn't. Radha came to me." Mann singh replied.

"You could have denied entry, give out information about these three to my parents or whoever related to them. Lay a trap for us. What is your motive behind this new face?." Keyur asked. Radha was silent. She figured out her father but then, Radha knew what kind of games he can play to safeguard himself first.

"I have no intention to fight or let anyone fight with my daughter and her family." He answered looking at Radha who had no expression. Rayaan didn't feel like speaking. He knew Mann singh can only harm with words. Never attacked them nor reverted back when Adwait kicked him.  Keyur has every right to question the person who not only insulted them but stayed with his parents who were too toxic for anyone to even sit with.

"Why should I trust you?." Keyur asked him. Mann singh had no words to defend. Adwait did not like that they had to take this man's help.

"I can only give my apology,  protection for your ladies and a word that my intentions were never to harm you. I was into dangerous bussiness just like you were. No way out nor knew a life where I slept without fear of not waking up next morning or seeing my family alive. Radha is my priority,  Rayaan I hope you know what I am talking about?." He said looking at Rayaan who just nodded his head. The conversation they had before his marriage is still raw to him.

"If you think your ladies are not safe here, you are free to go.  I won't loose anything, maybe my daughter?." Mann singh spoke looking at everyone. Radha liked the fact that he is openly acknowledging her presence. She always lived in the shadows of his love and protection which were carried out by her husband after marriage.

" I don't have problem staying with you. But I would like to eat specific food. Can you take that responsibility? Also i am planning to leave all the office work or whatever work I have for next six months." Srida beamed sitting comfortably in the chair opposite to Mann singh, the old man chuckled at her mood swings. He nodded but saying a word.

"But I do like to know what Adwait my dear husband did ?." She asked him. Adwait wanted to stop her but Radha gestured him to be silent. It's better to know from her father rather than anyone else. After all, he's the one who made him get into trouble.

"Your in laws that is Pratap asked me if I can help him in the bussiness, you know behind the doors one. We wanted peddlers to deliver our messages, on the night when biggest deal was going to get cracked, someone from other party informed police. We were ambushed but successfully came out. In order to hide our work, we assigned Adwait." Mann singh started.  Rayaan clenched his fists tight while Keyur had no expression.

"The other two brothers were not informed about this. Adwait himself didn't know what was going on. He was just 20years old attending college. When he came back on break from New York. We made him work for our deal. Initially, it was harmless. When  the work is done I suggested Pratap not to involve this kid anymore. What we did was not dangerous but exposing a youngster to dangerous environment without proper training and knowledge can affect his future." He continued Srida was shocked to find out the truth. Adwait hid himself behind her seat. He is ashamed to think about what all she has to hear from this old man.

"When he went back for a year, Adwait was into studies . Gradually, Pratap Included him into deals outside India to earn more money. Adwait knew something was off but he thought that's how bussiness runs when Pratap informed him not to discuss deals with his other brothers." Mann singh said. Radha held Rayaan's hand. Keyur stood beside his brother looking extremely angry. Sevya couldn't say much,  Radha told her whatever happened when Adwait returned back to India.

"He was completely lost to drugs, alcohol. His grades were good, Adwait's prime time to achieve something on his own was lost to Pratap and Usha's greed. That's not it. " Mann singh looked down not able to describe.

"Enough!." Rayaan shouted. Srida flinched in her seat looking at him. He sat beside Srida holding her hand.

"My dear Srida, is this not enough? You are in no position to listen further. If something happens I will never forgive myself for allowing you to listen to this. Srida please this is enough to know how fucked up Adwait was and what your presence did to him. " Rayaan spoke in brotherly manner. Srida sat silently looking at her hands. If she doesn't show patience and courage to listen now, she will never have the heart to do it further.

"Please carry on Uncle, I am ready to know." She said Rayaan released a sigh. Holding her hand he sat back calmly.

"A deal went bad which Adwait was asked to check on. He got kidnapped and local media there announced him as wanted person. Rayaan and Keyur found out.  Keyur was recently married by that time. They both managed to get him out of there, planted proofs against the other party to get back his certificates which were confiscated due to criminal charges. When he came back,  Adwait was lost boy. He secretly delivered drugs, helped smugglers to irritate his father and get him into trouble. He had a name for being Casanova." The old man continued. Srida gasped in shock looking at Rayaan. Adwait didn't know how to approach her. He thought burying it will help him maintain good relation with Srida but now he can see what will be the consequences of hiding things from loved ones. Radha bhabi warned him not to be silent on this, Sevya bhabi suggested him many ways to break the news but he chose to ignore.

"That's when Radha and Sevya took up work to help Adwait. He couldn't say no to them nor lie as he was doing with his brother. They became his healers. Made him involve in charity work, expose to different cases of drug abuse. Although he was not into those things but still had connections which was not a good sign for our family. Especially to his future wife." Rayaan spoke.

"When he met you,  I could see the strong will to change for your love . After your marriage, he understood the importance of good partner. You balanced him without your knowledge." Keyur said bending on his knee. Srida stayed silent.

"Dear, take care. " Mann singh understood that he needs to leave.

Adwait sat beside his wife. Rayaan and Keyur left them alone. He didn't know how do approach his wife.

"You hid two things from me."Srida started.

"You were a drug addict and depressed before you met me. You had unhealed mental trauma." She stated. Adwait moved away when she labeled him as drug addict.

"Adwait. Why?." She asked not able to understand. She told him all her inner demons, shared a life so intimate for over an year yet he never made her guess his traumatic past. Adwait couldn't apologize, he just couldn't insult her by saying sorry.

"Don't tell me you are sorry. I understand if you never wanted to go back to that horrendous past but why didn't you tell me it was you who chose to continue even after knowing what's it doing to your life?." Srida asked.

"Guess am too hurt to even think rationally. Thankfully Mann Singh came to my rescue, he made sure none of the mafia contact me by striking a deal with them. Rayaan and Keyur were new to this world, our father lost everything by that time. Bhabi's were helping them to stabilize our company, so whatever pending work I had with smugglers, he made sure to fulfill them. " He spoke not proud of his life.

"You mean to say he risked his life to save yours?." She questioned him. Adwait nodded his head as yes but that time except his brothers no one knew how Adwait came out of it. He understood his brother might have threatened to expose his dirty work but today he understood its because of Radha bhabi, love for his daughter he decided to save her family.

"So.. does he still?." Srida a questioned. Adwait said no. They both were silent.

"Tell me Adwait. Do you love me for real or you feel I bring peace to you, an environment completely different from the one you came out of? Did you marry me to show that you will change for bhabi or you genuinely found me as your partner for life?." Srida asked.

"Why do you even ask that?!." He said.

"Because if you did really feel any tiny amount of love for me. You would have shared atleast a piece of all this. Either I am not worthy enough for you or you don't think me as your equal. " With that said Srida got up leaving him alone.

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Unedited.

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