Neil recalled Zubin's words as he drove home rashly. He couldn't believe that his mother asked his love to leave his life. He banged the steering hard, he felt like child who was incapable of making a decision and that made everyone in his life to make on his part. He knew proposing Soniya was a mistake and he realised it the day he made it. he had plans to talk to her but Prerna put him into a fix. 

Neil parked outside his house, staring at it. He pondered whether to go in  not to. Deciding against it, he drove off to Arjun's place.

Arjun wiped his damp hair with towel  as he walked to answer the front door. Neil walked in without a greeting, ''hello there bro.''

Neil crashed on to the couch with his arm over his eyes. Arjun watched him for a moment, ''Hey buddy, speak up.''

Neil grabbed him by neck, ''Why the hell did you come in our life? Why the hell did you make Sam fall for you? Why Arjun?'' Arjun stayed calm. He gently rubbed Neil's arms and Neil dropped his arms holding his head, ''Sorry!''

''I totally deserve it. Coffee?'' Neil nodded. Arjun made a cup for each and sat beside Neil. ''life sucks''

''It does and just too much.'' Neil replied before turning silent. After a moment he asked, ''Can I stay here for some days.''

''Sure!''

''You will not tell anyone that I am here.''

''Even if I tell they would laugh it out on my face. Neil at Arjun's place, they will call me mad.'' Arjun replied with a shrug. 

Neil smiled sipping his cup, ''When are you going back to your babies.''

''Don't know! I am scared that my wife would kick my butt hard.''

Neil chuckled, ''tell me about it, I am being kicked from all sides and by women.'' They shared a laugh.

Arjun's phone pinged and he smiled looking at the message, ''Its Daddy time right now. Make yourself comfortable and stay away from the neighbor, she is trouble.'' Neil gave him a thumbs up as Arjun walked off to get ready.

***

Mala helped bath the girls as Radhika watched keenly memorizing everything. She watched how her mother kept talking to little babies who answered in their own way.

''Choti, I must say none of you were as cute as they are.'' Radhika rolled her eyes. Mala wanted to bring the topic of Arjun up but then thought about Nandini's words and dropped the idea for the moment. She had decided to put some sense into her daughter's head about being grateful to the woman who decided to stand by her and not her brother.

''Radhika, I will take Anusha to doctor now. '' Nandini walked in all ready to take the little Anusha to the doctor.

''I will get ready then.'' Radhika said

''You can't, you need rest.'' Nandini tried dissuading her as Arjun was accompanying  her. 

''Nandiniji is right, you need to stay back as Anya won't be able to stay without you.'' Mala agreed with Nandini and latter took a breather. Radhika gave up the idea, she dressed her little girl and then wrapped her leg with a bandage carefully. She gently handed Anusha to Nandini, ''Di, please tell me if she needs me.'' Nandini nodded engulfing the little girl in her arms.

Nandini walked into the multi specialty hospital with Anusha wrapped in a soft cloth, moving to the reception she inquired about Rajeev and was directed to his room. 

''Nandu!'' Her steps halted hearing Arjun who walked to her, his eyes just on his daughter. He gently took her in his arms staring down at her lovely face, ''How is my princess doing this morning.''

Anusha responded to his voice making a small sound. ''She recognizes me!'' He said overwhelmed

''Yes, may be by your touch and voice. Her vision will be clean after few weeks and then she will slowly start reconsigning us by face. Now, lets get in there, Rajeev must be waiting.'' Arjun nodded pulling his daughter to his chest  letting out a content such.

***

Sam pulled her hair up in a bun, ready to  leave for work. Jai watched her from the door smiling at the fact that his baby sister seemed to have grown up. Sam caught him smiling at her, walking to him, she knelt to come down to his level, ''What bhai!''

''You look good!'' The reply came in a whisper

''Have to, I am the sister of Jai Khanna.'' 

He smiled, ''You are hiding something.'' Sam blinked, how could she forget that Jai could read her like an open book. She smiled , came to her feet and pecked his forehead, ''Its nothing important or I would have told you. And Manu called, she wanted to speak to you. Don't forget to call her back.'' Jai nodded, he still kept his eyes locked with her , conveying his support. She gently squeezed his hand, ''I promise we will talk.'' He nodded as Sam walked past him to leave for work. The issues between her and Neil were now taking toll on her mind and body. She  wanted to get free of everything but somehow wasn't able to.

''Sam, have your breakfast.'' Piyali called out as Sam walked past them greeting them

''I will have it in office.''

''You are worrying me Sam. You have not been eating properly and now its showing on your body.'' Piyali expressed her  concern.

''Then don't worry Mom. I have not been eating properly for past 2 years, when you didn't bother then please don't bother now.'' Sam reminded Piyali of the neglect she faced after Jai's disappearance. Sam did regret her tone immediately noticing Piyali's fallen face but she refrained from apologizing. She wanted to be left alone for sometime. 

Sam made her way into the office, walking straight to her cabin. She didn't notice Zubin who wanted to alert her on the visitor waiting for her. 

Sam froze finding Prerna and Soniya in her cabin. She shut her eyes ones and stepped in taking a deep breath. Taking er chair she sat opposite to them waiting for the reason of visit.

''I won't beat around the bush. Where is Neil?''

Sam could feel her nerves tensing up, she controlled and replied in a flat voice, ''How would I know? He is your son and Soniya's fiance and as far as I am concerned I have already broken all ties with him.''

''Don't bluff Sam, I know he came to see you.'' Prerna screamed banging her palm on the wooden table.

Sam's eyes moved from her palm to her angry face. Sam locked her eyes with that of Prerna's and leaned back, ''He visited, I didn't invite him just as I didn't invite you.''

''Have you forgotten your manners.Have you forgotten how he helped you when you boat was sinking?'' Prerna sounded mad

''No,  I haven't forgotten anything. Neither the way Neil helped me nor the way my parents helped you when uncle expired.'' That statement was intentional. After a minute she added, ''I have been good to all but people started taking me nothing better than a piece of shit. When I have moved out of your son's life, who gave you the right to march into my premises and question me. If you cannot control your son, don't just come and waste my time. Please leave.'' Sam pointed to the door, she had decided not to take any negativity from anyone. If Neil wanted to create a drama of being missing, she would now just ignore it focusing just on her work and Bird Song. There was no way she was going to give Soniya the pain she had been taking in for so long.

Prerna walked out and Soniya followed , her eyes locked with Sam. She looked confused and pained. Sam pitied her, it wasn't her fault to be caught in the mess.

***

Nandini watched Arjun flinch every time his daughter wailed. Rajeev had decided to put a cast for a month after the checkup and Anusha cried every time the doctor touched her. ''Arjun, it will  be fine.''

He didn't utter a word, instead he kept quiet shaking vigorously. Nandini knew it took lot of control for him to sit and hear his daughter cry. 

Rajeev walked out with wailing Anusha in his arms , ''Come back after 4 weeks. She should be fine by then.'' He handed Anusha to Arjun stroking her cheek and that made her wail louder, ''She hates me.'' Ranjeev concluded. Arjun walked out hugging his daughter leaving Nandini with Rajeev.

''How are you?'' She asked her childhood friend and one of the best doctor in the country.

''Coping up! Work keeps me sane.'' Rajeev replied. he had lost his wife and son in an accident and now had buried himself in work to escape the pain. Nandini rubbed his arm, ''Call me if you need a friend.''

''I will! For now go and help Arjun. Anusha will stay cranky as the cast will make her little uncomfortable.  Just make sure that you make her comfortable while she sleeps or is in your arms.'' Nandini nodded walking out.

She smiled when her eyes fell on the father-daughter duo as he held her to his chest rocking her with her tears flowing from his eyes. After good 15 mins, Anusha stopped crying as her focused was now on her father's words. 

''I know sweet heart its painful but I promise this going to be last one.'' He promised his daughter. 

Nandini rubbed her chest, she knew Arjun had accepted the baby just like Radhika still she a niggling feeling in her head. She quickly pushed the thoughts aside moving to Arjun, ''Let's move.''

Arjun held his baby and refused to give to Nandini till they reached the mansion. ''Keep a pillow under her leg and hold her in a way that she doesn't feel something extra on her leg.''  Nandini nodded, she too wanted Arjun to come back but with Radhika's will.

Mala walked to the balcony of her room to take a break. Her eyes fell on Nandini talking to someone and it didn't take her a minute to realise it was Arjun. She watched mesmerized as Arjun cuddled his little girl. She now understood why Nandini's discomfort in taking Radhika along. Mala smiled when Arjun pecked his daughter's palm and then face. She decided to take the first step. She felt obliged to Nandini for supporting her child instead of her brother and now it was time to return favor.

''Why are you restrict Arjun to see his children?'' Mala asked Radhika who was bust talking to Anya.

''I have never restricted him from seeing Anya.'' She replied not caring that her answer would raise brow

''You mean Anya and Anusha.'''

''Just Anya. Anusha is mine.'' Her statement left Mala taken aback, she was about to confront her daughter when Nandini walked in with Anusha. ''he will be fine in a month.'' Nandini handed the baby to Radhika.

''Answer me Choti, why just Anya and not Anusha.'' Arjun's name agitated Radhika, she was beyond mad at him. She was about to bursts when Nandini answered for her, ''because its his fault that Anusha is in this condition.''

Radhika turned silent realizing she was about to blurt something which she had vowed to keep to herself.  Nandini squeezed Mala's shoulder offering a small smile. The latter just nodded, but she had made a decision to bring Arjun back, if not for Radhika then for the daughters.

***

Neil swayed along the music as he cooked in Arjun's kitchen. The sound of door bell made him leave his aromatic creation as he walked out to answer the door.

''Neil?'' Mala asked shocked

'Neil blinked not sure what to say but he moved away allowing Mala in. ''I will call Arjun.'' Mala was still trying to figure out about Neil's presence when Arjun walked in with a guilty expression.

Mala watched his lowered head for sometime and then passed the order, ''Pack your stuff. You are moving back.''

''I want to but not against Radhika's will.'' Neil gave Arjun a you are dumb look before slapping his head.

''Its just not Radhika now. You are responsible for your daughters too. About the issue with Radhika, solve it yourself. Pack you bags , we are leaving now.'' Neil didn't wait for Arjun to answer dragging him in, after about 30 mins. Arjun walked in with his luggage , Neil gave him a thumbs up as he followed Mala out.

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Happy weekend friends. I am planning to add a little drama ;) lets see how it shapes up.