''So finally you are in senses.'' Neil rubbed is tired eyes, the voice of his mother seemed distant. he felt disoriented. His mind couldn't register the surroundings nor the events that led him here.

''Thanks for making me famous overnight Neil.'' Prerna was beyond mad. She had been receiving calls since morning asking about Neil's well being. She had been going crazy answering everyone. The elite pub had many who knew Neil as the son of Billionaire Prerna Melhotra and the little drunk stunt made many curious and concerns started pouring in to get some juicy bites about the disoriented family.

''Mom, can you give me a minute. My head hurts.''

''Have a drink more and you will be fine. With a taunt she walked off. Neil pulled his tired paining body of the bed. Moving to the bathroom, he freshened up with grate difficulty. Every fibre and muscle of his body seemed to protest. Leaning on the mirror wall with an arm he wiped it with other hand. 

Who was the man staring back at him from the mirror? It was impossible for him to recognize the in the mirror. How has he reached to this point, the words from Sam's letter came back to him. Her empty cupboards, those left over gifts , no memories . She just didn't leave him, she left all of him. There past , the present and their future , who should be blamed for it, it was him. he went ahead and married her. She adviced him a number of time to first convince his mother, but he didn't. He was so sure about his mother's love that he didn't find it necessary to pay heed to Sam's suggestion and now he was paying. The reflection mocked him with a smirk. Walking backwards he stepped out of the room , ready to face his mother's interrogation

''Get something sweet to eat.'' Neil instructed the cook making the man worried and leaving his mother confused. 

''What's tat for?'' She asked

''To celebrate, you finally have what you wanted. Sam has filed for divorce.'' He smiled thanking the cook and pushed the plate to his mother.

Prerna stared at the plate and then then her son, ''Don't blame me if you are incapable  of handling your marriage.''

''Yes, you are right. I was incapable of handling anything. I am the one who failed all, first you by marrying my love and then her by dumping my frustration on her. But just answer this mom,  couldn't you be the one with bigger heart.'' His eyes started pooling with tears, wiping them he got up, ''for tow years I fought, begged  and prayed to have my mother back and now you just lost your son.'' He halted Prerna's flow of words, ''Don't you worry, I will always be around when you need me, but a part of me died mom. It died with my marriage. And she did this so that you can be happy, now I cannot even talk to her directly, if I want to, it has be through her lawyer, but I promise that won't happen between us. And mom, start searching for girls, I don't want you upset now.'' Wiping his wet face he quickly ran out of the house. He was definitely not coming back.

Moving to his car he dialled Sam, the IVR stated number being out f reach. With hesitation he called Jai, who wasn't rude but asked Neil to leave them at peace.

*** 

''Okay finish your homework or your mom won't allow you to play in the evening'' Sam tried to convincing the little energy ball, who had tied her mother's red stole into her neck like a cape and was running all over the house, pretending to be the super man. Sam smiled, Anya was like a butterfly a beautiful one. Anyone around her could forget all the pain, Sam was glad she decided to take this break. 

''Sammy when will Anusha be home?'' Anya asked innocently

''Mommy has gone to bring her back. let's make a card for her and between that we will finish your homework.'' Anya agreed on the condition of making the card, like her mother she was to the artistic one. Sam huffed, she wanted to have Anya her father, but then what about Anusha. Will Arjun be able to accept someone who was sharing her daughter's share. Anusha too was born on the same day, but to a female whose boyfriend ditched her and and vanished. Radhika had been meeting Anusha's mother on her doctor's visit and was left shattered to discover the her friend passed away birthing her baby girl. The girl was born with a broken leg, which doctors overlooked resulting in bone getting attached at a wrong place. Radhika couldn't bring herself to leave the baby in an orphanage, she bought Anusha home. Now at 4, doctor's decided to operate on her leg. She was getting discharged today and Anya was super happy about the home coming of her sister.

The sound of door bell made Anya jump in excitement. Sam unlocked the door and welcomed the little angel with a smile, ''Hi sweet heart.'' Anusha just stayed in Radhika's arms with her head on her mother's shoulder. She was still in pain. 

''I made you card.'' Anya's voice did make her sister smile. Radhika placed Anusha gently on the couch, ''Stay here, mom will be back in a minute''  Sam nodded to Radhika and started blabbering to divert the little girl.

When in night the both kids slept, the friends sat in the balcony to watch the moving city, ''Radhika, I understand your anger towards Arjun. but why are you punishing your family, do you know how broken they are. It ha been 5 years you took flight from there life, they deserve to know where you are. Just once, visit them. Let girls know they have  a family which will love them unconditionally like their mother.

Radhika thought, Sam was right. She was punishing her family for no fault of their's '' I will call them right away''

Sam snatched the phone, ''No, you are going to visit them. I am booking our tickets . We leave after girls are done with their mid term tests.''  After a thought she nodded. Sam took a deep breath, in heart she smiled. It was time she should let Nandini know about Radhika visiting India. 

The only thing she worried was Anusha, would Arjun be able to accept Anusha like Nandini and her. Sam sighed, looking at Radhika's attitude things wasn't going to be easy. Arjun will have to work hard and she wanted him to. But Anusha was the real test,  every time she tried her to talk about forgiving  Arjun, Radhika had questioned back Sam if Arjun could love Anusha? and how would Anusha react knowing she had a mother but not a father like Anya . 

Sam pulled her hair, whatever it is. It was now time that Arjun met his daughter. She had forgiven him long back and now wanted her friend to have a beautiful life. She had no plan in her mind to bring them together for now, but she knew she would figure it out once they were back in India.

***

Arjun stared at the night sky, it had been exactly 5 years since she left him. There not has been a moment when he hadn't thought of her. But he never he had lost the hope of her return, he knew one day they will cross the paths again. But he didn't knew it was going to happen soon.

Taking a deep breath he decided to call Nandini and check on her. he knew that all replies will be in monologue , but her voice gave him strange peace. He dialled the Mehra mansion and phone was being answered by the caretaker who update Arjun that Nandini had taken ill due to blood pressure fluctuation. 

A worried Arjun made hi way to Nandini's place and found her in deep slumber on reaching her house. He smiled and watched her with tenderness, taking the chair next to her bed he caressed her head, ''I am sorry Nandu. For everything.'' She seemed to be in deep slumber. He kissed the top of her head, today he just wanted to watch her sleep. he blamed himself for her loneliness. 

Nandini stirred and curled up, he touched her forehead and found it cold. Not finding a blanket near her. He slowly made his way to the cupboard to find one. He looked around and smiled able to find one on the top shelf. He pulled it and with the quilt came down a set of pictures that lay scattered all over the floor. Arjun's  heart started beating bad, those pictures were of Nandini with Radhika...and Sam. His throat dried as realisation dawned on him, Nandini knew where Radhika was. They had been in touch, and yet she never informed him. He wiped his forehead, for a moment his brain had stopped working. He understood that she had kept these in a hurry and there must be more

 His sister who always did all to make him happy had now left him to suffer. Nandini moved again, Arjun quickly moved and covered her with the quilt. Moving back to the cupboard, he now thoroughly searched the top shelf. He found more documents, but no address. He decided to check on her travel details, he was aware he traveled a lot but wasn't aware of the location. He called her agent who told him that Nandini had travelled to Singapore for at least thrice in every year. He thought, he was aware of Nandini's school friend running a publication house in Singapore, Rajeev Sikand.

All dots started connecting, publication writing travel. His Radhika was in Singapore. He smiled, he wasn't angry at Nandini, infact he was happy that Radhika was fit and fine. Placing another peck on Nandini's forehead he walked out of the house with an intention to come back and talk to Nandini.

Unlocking the door of his apartment, Arjun ran to his room. He quickly switched on the lights opposite to his bed, she smiled from the picture t him, ''I know I messed up. I will do all to get your forgiveness, just come back once. It has been so long, Please Radhika come back.''

Radhika jolted up in the middle of night. Her body was sweaty and cold, she checked the time. It was half past 2 in the night. She turned at Sam and found her in deep sleep. Leaving the bed, Radhika walked out into the adjacent room to check on girls. She smiled, they looked like dolls. Gently closing the door, she walked to the window and stared at the sky, she knew he called her out. She could still feel it, but forgiveness looked impossible.

***

''You Rejected all the 3 manuscripts'' Rajeev questioned Radhika all shocked. 

''Yes, and trust me I did you a favour, they were all crap.'' She replied unaffected. He smiled, his youngest editor would only for settle was perfect words. He too appreciated it, but these little fights enjoyed it a lot. He was thankful to Nandini asked him to hire Radhika, the girl proved an asset. 

''Rajeev, I need a month's leave. I am going home''

He smiled, ''Finally, go on you already have accumulated leave of 3 years. So when are you travelling.''

''This Saturday, after girls are done with mid term.'' Rajeev nodded, ''he had been a guardian angel for Radhika in Singapore. The initial days in the alien land were full of nervousness, but Rajeev bought the best out of her. In the beginning she was scared to face him, now she boldly stood infront of him and argued bluntly. 

Rajeev wanted Radhika to start a column, but she was happy being on the editorial desk. She read, corrected and selected the manuscripts good to be published. Many older colleagues envy her, old Radhika would have befriended them but new one hardly cared. She had changed and lot.

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Rajeev Sikand- Apoorva Agnihotri

Done with one more. Do let me know your views and don't forget to vote.

Next- Radhika in Hrishikesh.

I made a mistake of making Anya into Arya, changed it sorry!