Neil rubbed his eyes ,stretched his arm to get hold of Sam but found the bed empty. He panicked and sat up to relax immediately finding her standing leaning against the door, her back to him as her body shook in mirth. He quickly joined her, ''What makes you this happy?''

She pointed out to the drama in the hall. Anya kept running in circles around the table with Radhika in tow, the girl was smart enough to dodge her mother every time she was close, ''WOW ! She is smart for her age.''

''This comes with lot of practice, and Anya mastered it.'' She then pointed towards Arjun who rocked Anusha loving waking her up. ''I thought he is putting her back to sleep.'' Neil joked.

Radhika passed by them and lightly slapped Anusha's butt, ''Up now, I don't want you to be late for school.'' Anusha blinked, she looked at Arjun who gently rubbed the place patting her back on his as she rested her head on his shoulder. Turning to Anya Radhika warned, '' And you, inside the room before I pull your ears.''

''Mommy , no school today. I want to play with Sammy.'' Anya stomped

''This happens every time I am here.'' Sam informed Neil

Anya dodged her mother again and ran to Neil this time surprising all, ''How did this happen?'' Neil gathered her not letting radhika close

''I explained them he is a good man and my best friend.'' Arjun explained pecking Anusha's forehead

''Chashni, it's just one day'' Neil tried to reason

''Sam will be out for her assignment and you will accompany her. What are these 2 going to do at home? Above all, no bunking of school.''

As she took Anya from Neil, the little one dramatically screamed for help, ''Good boy save me.'' Neil smiled, Arjun's daughters had stirred something in him. He too wanted to be a father, a kid whose tantrums he wanted to tend to.

After half an hour, the duo were ready to have the breakfast looking all dull, something Arjun couldn't stand, ''Fine, no school today.'' The girls squealed jumping on him. He held them lovingly as they poured all their affection on him, ''Go play.''

His eyes met his angry wife's, ''What ? Its fine, it's not like that they will have to write boards that they can't miss a day.''

''You are spoiling them.'' She pointed her forefinger at him.

''You are a hitler!'' That came from Neil who looked agitated at her anger towards the kids. ''They are so innocent, how can someone be angry at them.''

Sam rubbed his back, ''You don't know those little devils. And chashni, I will be at home so don't worry about them.'' Radhika smiled at Sam and slapped Neil's head for scolding her.

***

Nandini smiled at the visitor who stood in the main hall staring at the family pictures on the walls, ''How are you Rajeev?''

Rajeev turned, returned her smile with his, ''I am good, long time.''

''Not so long, we met when I was in Singapore.'' She replied gesturing him to sit

Rajeev waited for the staff to leave after placing the refreshments, ''So what have you thought about us?''

Nandini fidgeted , though friends with him for long she had never thought of developing romantic feelings for him, yet she did. They had been in relationship for past 1 year, they both had decided to keep it secret with no commitments for now, but Rajeev had developed a strong attachment to Nandini.

''Rajeev, let it be the way it is.''

''I want to marry you''

''What will our families think? Marriage at this age.'' She was sceptical

''What has marriage to do with age? One should marry when they are ready and find a good partner.'' He reasoned

Nandini was quite, Rajeev quickly sat beside her, taking her hand in his he explained, ''I don't want to force, but I have a question? Do you really feel anything about me?''

''Off course I do, if something which matters to me most after those little girls, its you.'' She kept her other hand over his.

''Then what is the issue?''

''I don't want to miss the growing up years of Arjun's daughters. '' She replied lowering her head, guilty about being selfish

Rajeev smiled, he lifted her chin up, ''I understand, so if you can't shift would you allow me to shift in, as a part of your family?'' For a moment Nandini was shocked, she then slowly smiled hugging him tight

''Who will tell Arjun and Radhika?'' She panicked again

''We will together, I am flying back today and will come back once they shift. We talk to them then.''

She smiled with a nod, she wanted her remaining years to be spend with Rajeev, but wasn't sure how her brother would react to it. Sighing, she decided to let life decide its own course.

***

''You made quite a good client base here'' Neil complimented Sam going through her Singapore based clients. She smiled, ''I did, the time I had spend away from you and here was the reason for it.''

He studied her for a moment, ''Only good thing about our fight.'' She nodded.

''Good boy , do you know how to play foot ball?'' Anusha stood opposite to Neil, her big black eyes focused on his face, ''Yes sweet heart.''

''then let's go to park.'' She pulled his arm

''Not now, first lunch.'' Arjun pointed towards the food on the table. Anusha scrunched her nose, ''Daddy, I don't want that.''

''Then what do you want.'' He asked mimicking her tone

''Noodles!!!'' That came collective. He huffed, ''These two will get me thrashed of their mother's hands.'' He quickly ordered them food and bought the cooked one for himself and his friends, ''Can I act like Anusha?'' Neil asked looking at the regular food.

''No, you are finishing this with me.'' Time and again Neil's eyes would go to the kids who bought the whole surroundings alive. His fatherly instincts started kicking in and he decided to discuss same with Sam and soon.

***

Radhika walked back into the apartment complex after paying the cab driver. She couldn't help but smiled recalling Arjun's expression each time the girls wore a dim one. He looked as if bearing immense pain, he had even requested her not to go too strict on them but Radhika knew better. Though, she was proud of her kids , she knew how naughty they were. They very well knew how to get things done from her or Arjun and she felt in long run they might turn stubborn if not controlled. Smiling, She took out her keys to unlock the door.

Anusha was done with her pending homework as Arjun conversed with their teacher to know what should they be taught for the day they missed. It was now Anya turn who was doing all but her work, Arjun tried all to lure her, she kept dancing all around the house calling herself all possible super heroes, ''This one is exactly like Radhika, too difficult to control.'' Neil said

Arjun hugged Anusha, ''And she is like me , a good girl.''

Sam tried to get her hands on Anya, but the girl easily slipped off. Nothing seemed to work until the main door clicked open. Radhika rose a brow looking down at Anya who had now frozen in surprise, she quickly took a u turn and hugged Sam's leg, ''Sammy I love you so much.'' Her attempt to bribe Sam so that she doesn't complain to Radhika

Sam shared a look with Radhika, trying hard not to laugh, ''Show me your homework Anya.'' Radhika asked. Anya took a flight and landed on Arjun's lap, ''I am doing mommy.'' Arjun looked from his daughter to wife, not sure what to say at the sudden change of environment . The one opposite to him looked like a Army veteran and other in his lap was naughtiest kid he had ever seen.

''We are planning to go back in a week. We have to close the case.'' Sam informed

''That's great. I am happy you guys are back to senses.'' Radhika replied

''Same pinch Chasni!'' That earned Neil a punch, ''I have few questions.'' He added, his eyes on all the three. ''First Sam, how come you started supporting Arjun.''

She smiled, ''After Radhika walked out on him, he went crazy. He wasn't ready to believe that I was innocent. Then I started throwing proofs at him which Radhika collected, Nandini didi too helped. She pushed him to meet the real culprit and when the man confessed about his crime, it was then he let things go off. It took time, one day I got to know that sudden success of BS wasn't alone my hard work. Someone secretly kept helping me in pulling it out of hell hole.'' She concluded on how they slowly started warming up

Neil's eyes turned to Arjun, ''Why were you searching for me?''

''I felt alone. She walked out and that earned me hate from everywhere. Even my sister refused to see my face, Radhika's family was a far thing. I would sit in dark and think about my past actions, my anger and its repercussions. Every time I recalled my anger, it reminded me of your advice about controlling it. It helped me in controlling it in future, giving me a hope. A hope that if I find you, my life would fall into place. I wanted a friend with whom I could share all.'' Neil gave Arjun a tight hug

''Your turn Chashni. Why did you hide about the girls? Even if you were angry, he had the rights to love every moment of their growing years.'' Neil looked serious

''I was scared. When I got the news of my pregnancy, I called him but disconnected when he picked up . I was scared of his anger, scared that he might take away my child and that made me over protective about Anusha. I was aware that some day he would find us, I prepared myself to tell him that he just had one and Anusha was just mine. But my hopes crumbled, she was the first one he saw and accepted her even before he could learn the truth.''

''So you were never worried about him not accepting her after knowing the truth? That was all a story'' Sam asked gaping at Radhika

Radhika nodded, ''yes, I knew he would never deny Anusha, but I wasn't ready to face him and you were onto my back.'' Before Sam could jump on her a cushion landed on Radhika's head, ''What's that for Neil?''

''I was your friend too, but you just left me as if I wasn't ever there. Had you stayed in touch, may be the difference between all four of us could have sorted long back. You could have helped me and Sam . And you guys could have bought the kids together.''

Arjun lifted his palm to silence all, ''I guess all this would have never happened if Radhika wouldn't have left. I would have never searched for Neil, may be never accepted that Sam was innocent and above all, I would have missed the biggest treasure, My Anusha. So, I have no complains.''

''Arjun Baba ki jai!'' The three mock hailed him, joining their palms and bowing to him.

***

''You should visit your parents once.'' Ankush advised Manya

She froze, her back to him she just stayed like that all silent. Ankush walked to her and turned her around, ''I have no ill feelings towards Shruti, she means nothing to me now. She is past I have left behind, its you whom I care about and I want you to have every bit of happiness.''

''I still hate her for giving you pain.'' She replied in child like voice

He cupped her face,''I don't. In fact, I want to thank for her giving me that pain or else I would have never found you.''

''Do you mean it?''

''Every bit of it. Now, I have booked your tickets for next week and return after 10 days, I want you to shop for your family and have a good time with them.'' Manya hugged Ankush tight, she too missed her parents but didn't wanted to hurt Ankush in any way. Today, she felt all her missing pieces falling into right places

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One more done, few more to go. I will be giving final closure to all characters and then an epilogue. Hope you like it, don't forget to vote and comment