*Nicole Pov*

"He seems to be really excited about this trip." Ali whispered after sometime while I was still reeling to the fact that they both forced me to be in this plane.

"It's a given reaction. He must be missing his Mother. It's been a few months since he visited her, right?" I asked not glancing at him, but stared at Harsha who is sitting before us while looking outside.

"And I still think I shouldn't be a part of this trip." I added and he completely ignored me.

"I want you to meet my Mom." Harsha simply said and I frowned at him.

Why does he want me to meet his Mom? Will it not be too awkward for everyone if I joined these two? If it is just his Mom, maybe it would be fine, but the plan Ali and I made was longer than that.

"You know everything and you are still fine with it?" I asked in a whisper so that Harsha will not hear.

"Actually, everytime we go for a visit I feel kind of a third wheel. And this time I have to explain something which would make them angry at me as my Father will not be before them. I don't want to go through all that alone." His words paused all the tension I was feeling until that moment.

"I need you to be present." He added and this time I made myself relax.

"Fine! I will think about only you if I feel awkward during any moment." I mumbled leaning back and closed my eyes.

After sometime I woke up to see both Harsha and Ali in a serious debate. I frowned and concentrated on the conversation to realize they are debating about the time they would need to reach the destination.

"It will take half an hour more." Harsha stated with confidence.

"Ten minutes!" Ali said with the same confidence.

"I always check time and I am sure about this." Harsha said frowning at him.

Then I realized how Ali is taking advantage of Harsha when he doesn't know everything. I cleared my throat and glared at Ali, who is trying to not smile at Harsha's frustration.

"You will believe me, right?" Harsha asked glancing at me.

"I believe that it will half an hour to reach the destination you have in your mind." I replied and he immediately smiled at me before glancing at Ali.

"Am I lying then?" Ali asked, glancing at me.

"You are right with the destination in your mind." I replied with a shrug and glanced at Harsha's confused face.

"Wait for ten more minutes." I added and we got an announcement to put our seat belts after a few minutes.

"I was wrong?" Harsha asked, looking at me.

"No! Your Dad was wrong to play with you." I assured him, but he just glanced outside.

"You are making me a bad guy here." Ali commented and I just rolled my eyes not having a chance to reply to see outside.

Harsha stayed quiet even after we were walking into the airport and reached the main entrance. I opened my mouth to explain why we are in different city, but he suddenly ran towards the people near the entrance.

"Mom!" he shouted again and reached a couple.

"Your wife?" I asked Ali gesturing the lady.

"Ex-wife! No one will be happy if you don't add Ex to that word. I don't want to get punched today." He replied making me chuckle.

"He punched you? You are like double his size, but he managed to punch you?" I asked not believing his words.

"I let him!" he shrugged and we both walked towards the couple where Harsha is still hugging his mother.

"I missed you so much, Harsha." She said hugging him tightly.

"Anyone would think you didn't see him for so long when in reality you actually met him last week." A comment was passed by the man beside her and we all paused.

She immediately stepped on his foot, making him curse and then he glanced at us with shock.

Okay! What is going on here? I wanted to ask, but kept quiet, seeing the guilty expression of Harsha when he glanced at me while the lady has the same expression towards Ali.

"Why don't we get going?" the man offered and took my bag before I can say anything and started walking while gesturing us to follow him.

"What do you mean by that, Mr...?" I asked about the matter along with his name.

"You can call me Jay. I know about you, Ms. Nicole. Harsha talked a lot about you." He replied, smiling and glanced at his wife who is glaring at him.

"Was he talking about video chat?" Ali asked when we reached a vehicle.

The lady stopped her husband from saying anything and glanced at Ali saying, "No! I visited Harsha last week. I visit him at least two times per month and stay with him for the weekend."

"From when?" Ali asked with a shocked expression.

"Two months after he joined I wanted to be near him. So, I started doing that." She replied, glancing at Harsha.

"Why didn't you say anything to me?" he asked still confused while I saw Harsha gesturing to the side.

"I was scared if you find out, then your Father will eventually find out. Then it would create too many problems and I will not be able to meet Harsha like before." She explained and they both continued to talk while I walked away with Harsha.

"What is it?" I asked him and he glanced at his Mom before staring at me.

"I promised my Mom that I will not tell anyone about meeting her. So, I didn't say anything to you." He replied looking down.

"Even after all that you were still excited to meet her." I mumbled surprised remembering his happiness.

"That was for my sister. Mom couldn't bring Lakshmi with her except for a few times. And it's been a few months since I saw her. So, I was excited to meet her." He explained calmly.

"We thought to surprise you, but you gave us a surprise. It's okay! I have a better surprise for you." Saying that I held his hand and walked towards the vehicle.

"I was feeling guilty all these months that you both couldn't meet. I am actually happy that you were not distanced because of my Father and me." Ali said smiling at her.

"But it must have been expensive to travel like that." He added glancing at Jay.

"Don't look at me! I didn't pay a single rupee for all that. She is working and receiving salary only for this reason. I thought she will stop working but she is actually doing overtime these days. It's a good thing that you called us here for vacation. She will rest at least during this time." Jay chatted while putting our luggage inside and gesturing us to get in.

"Stop all that! We have a special guest here. You must be Nicole on whom my Son has a crush. I am Jhanvi!" her words made me stare at her in shock.

"What?" Ali and I asked her at the same time.

"Mom!" Harsha called her in shock.

"What? You are like talking about her non-stop. I even felt jealous about her from time to time." Jhanvi said, shrugging while Jay continued driving trying to hold his laugh.

"You have a crush on me?" I asked Harsha, who is sitting beside me.

"No!" he replied, not glancing at me.

"Better!" Ali mumbled.

"Seems like someone else is jealous along with me." She mumbled and I smiled looking outside.

"Is this your first time to visit India?" she asked and I shook my head before explaining about Nev and when I visited Kolkata for her wedding.

"It will be kind of different from that place." She said after hearing me.

"Why are we here?" Harsha asked, but we all kept silent.

"Is this really a big surprise?" he asked with excitement.

Everything was fine, but I can see that he is still hesitant with Ali. I thought it was because he was staying away from his Mom for so long, but this big reveal showed that it is not the case. Then what actually happened?

"We are here!" Jay announced and we all got out of the car.

I moved excitedly along with Harsha to see his reaction and glanced around to see many cars are present.

Aren't we just meeting one family? Why are there too many cars and what is this place? I asked myself and realized there is at another surprise for me for sure.

"Sudhir!" suddenly Harsha shouted the name and ran towards a boy who is younger to him and hugged him.

I smiled seeing this reunion, but then paused, looking at the people surrounding them. Who are all these people? Harsha talked about this boy and the boy's parents.

"Are you feeling fine? You must have missed him a lot too." Jhanvi asked Jay, who is looking at the boys with emotional look.

He must love Harsha, as his own too. I thought, smiling, and it slipped when I realized he is looking at Sudhir and not at Harsha.

"What is going on?" I asked Ali, who has the same baffled expression.

"I am not sure. But I know that Jay had a son with his Ex-Wife." He replied and I gave him a nod even though it is not clear.

"Jhanvi!" a lady walked towards us and hugged her.

"Thanks for letting me stay too." Jay commented to that lady.

"I let go of my past long ago. It was your brother who was hesitant all this time to let you involve in Sudhir's life. Even I thought you should stabilize your new life before involving him. Now, just let go of it." She said kind words, but they were told formally too.

"Did she say brother?" I whispered to Ali.

"I think so!" he whispered back.

"Are you both gossiping?" Jhanvi asked, looking at us.

"She is Sudhir's Mom Kalpana." Ali introduced the lady.

"Hello! I am Nicole." I introduced myself.

"How can you be in a relationship with him?" hearing those words I frowned at her.

"Kalpana!" Jhanvi scolded her and gave me an apologetic look.

"What? He made you wait for all those years and took your son away. Don't tell me you forgot all that." Kalpana asked her and I felt anger hearing those words.

"So, it's him?" Another lady walked towards us along with other people and I searched for Harsha.

I don't want him to be a part of this so that I can act on my anger. I felt relief when I saw that he is with a few other kids and is getting introduced with each other.

"Not you too, Nipuna." Jhanvi groaned.

"Guys, don't forget that he planned this reunion." Jay commented.

"You recently got all the forgiveness from this family. Do you really want to talk as a support for him?" a guy asked, standing near Kalpana while holding her hand.

"Manohar!" Jhanvi warned him and glanced at everyone.

"Don't forget that kids are here. I want to introduce Lakshmi to Nicole." She added and smiled at me.

"I know so much has happened and I am not asking anyone to forget that. I just don't want this to be a bad memory for Harsha." Ali requested, but they didn't seem to be backing down.

"And even I realized my mistake. I should have fought more for my son, but I gave up too soon. So, it is also my mistake which I realized. He can't be blamed alone and I am happy with my present life. If I cause any harm right now, will it not be like I didn't let go of my past?" Jhanvi asked.

"I know Kalpana is my cousin and you and I are not blood related. But you are also our family. He has to know what mistakes he has done no matter what you say. How can we just forget the fact that he separated a mother and child by playing something with Harsha?" the lady whose name is Nipuna asked her.

"That's it! I think you all have to stop right now." I said glaring at everyone.

"You guys don't even know the facts and are like attacking him. I am sure Jhanvi is lucky to have you as her family, but I will not hear another word about Ali." I added moving to stand before him.

"You are his girlfriend?" That Manohar guy asked looking at me.

"That is not the matter here. And for all your information, he didn't separate Jhanvi and Harsha. It was all a plan of Ali's Father. Even Harsha knows about it." I stated and they all looked at us in shock.

"Plan?" Jhanvi asked and I gave her a nod.

"Yes! He played a mind game saying you will stay back if Harsha will chose Ali and made him do that. The moment Ali got suspicious, he immediately fought with his Father and made sure to bring Harsha to you." I explained and she glanced at the kids who still don't know what is going on.

"And he didn't abandon..." before I can continue, Ali placed his hands on my shoulder stopping me.

"You heard her, right? And please go ahead and scold him. But only if you are sure, you have never done something you regret in your life." Another lady asked frowning at everyone.

"Mridula!" Nipuna called her in shock.

"What? We all heard her, right? It's not like with this Jhanvi and he will get back together. They both have their own lives and they are fine with their past. We shouldn't get involved." I definitely like this lady's thought.

We both have similar thinking. She must have modern thinking than all these people. What was her name again? Mridula!

"You all heard my wife. Let's just go inside. They travelled all the way here and we are definitely disrespecting our guests. Amrin! Show them to their room." A guy informed and another lady nodded at him before gesturing us to follow.

"Do you guys want separate rooms?" Amrin suddenly asked when we were away from all those people.

"Yes!" Ali and I replied at the same time.

"Single room it is." She said in a teasing tone, choosing an opposite option from the one we replied.

"I was joking." She added, smiling at us.

She walked us to another building behind the one we saw and gestured to our rooms before leaving.

I smiled assuring him and stepped into the room, but he too walked into my room and closed the door.

"What happened?" I asked him, frowning when he stared at me in silence.

"Are you thinking about all of that? They don't know everything and were behaving emotionally for Jhanvi's sake. Don't take into your heart." I said, placing my hand on his cheek.

"I kept quiet understanding that." He said still staring at me.

"Then what happened? Is there something else?" I asked, to which he smiled.

"I love you!" saying that he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

"When you were fighting for me, I wanted to kiss you right then." He mumbled after releasing me.

"I would have been happy if you had done that." I mumbled smiling.

"Maybe next time." I hugged him tightly, hearing his words.

*Ali Pov*

"She is my sister." I glanced at Harsha, who is busily introducing his sister to Nicole.

"He definitely likes your girlfriend." I glanced to my side where Jay is sitting to see everyone is looking at the children and Nicole.

"I didn't realize until Jhanvi talked about it. He immediately felt close to her and spent more time with her when he visited the palace. I just thought it was because he was angry at me." I said smiling at him.

"Looks like my son is following Harsha's footsteps." Manohar commented.

All the men were talking normally and even a few women except for Kalpana and another Lady Nipuna. But at least they are not glaring at me like before.

When they served lunch to our rooms, I thought they would be distant, even in the evening but it was not the case. At present everyone is sitting in the garden and of course, staring at the children who are meeting Nicole.

"He is meeting all the children today, but still introducing them to her." Jhanvi said the moment all the women walked towards the area where we are sitting.

"She is not from your place, right? Will she return after work? Harsha was talking about that, but was not sure." She asked looking at me.

"She has to return after two weeks." I replied and she frowned at me.

"Then what will happen to you guys?" Amrin asked and I saw all the ladies frowning at me.

"I am making plans for her to stay back." I replied and they all seemed relaxed hearing that.

"They are just dating and you guys are forcing him too much. Let him enjoy his life." Dilip who is the youngest son of this household commented.

"Like you?" His wife Amrin commented.

"Did you guys apologized to her?" Mridula asked, looking at Kalpana and Nipuna.

"Do it before Mom and Dad return." She added and called the children over.

"Mom! He does not believe that I am a princess." A little girl walked towards Nipuna but Dilip took her into his arms.

"Who dared to say that?" he asked and she pointed Harsha.

"I am a Prince and I know she is not a Princess." Harsha replied sitting beside Jhanvi holding Lakshmi.

"My sister is a Princess." He added, smiling at his sister.

"Uncle! You are Prince, right? You tell him that I am a Princess." She is really about to cry.

"You are a Princess to all of us. Ignore him! He is very young to understand." he advised, but she is still down.

"Dilip! He is a kid." Amrin said, shaking her head.

"Leave all that! We know Dilip is a kid even at this age and he will fight to the end with Harsha for this word itself." Nipuna commented teasing him.

"I am supporting your daughter." He said frowning.

After a few minutes all the kids again left us to play, but Nicole stayed back. I can see Harsha a little hesitant with the other kids except for Sudhir but as he is older than all of them by a few years, he is taking care of them properly.

"Nicole! How did you first meet Ali?" Mridula asked, looking at us.

"Well, there was this one girl who was introducing him as her future husband to our team. I saw him then for the first time and he was digging the land alone." She replied and even I was shocked hearing that.

"Who was that?" I asked her frowning.

"You must have ignored her." She replied, waving off as if it is not important.

"What happened to that girl?" Jhanvi asked, staring at Nicole.

"She was bitchy a few times and created a few problems, but now settled with a rather nice guy." She replied smiling.

"Why was he digging the land?" Jay asked frowning at us.

"That's all he did all day until he went back being Prince." She replied and we both stilled remembering one important detail.

"What do you mean by that? He was normal Prince when he came to India and even at his later visits." Jhanvi asked frowning.

"That means she met him before he came to India to your side." Nipuna replied instead of Nicole and immediately silence fell upon us.

"You guys know that he was kidnapped by rivals to the kingdom, right?" I immediately stood up hearing Nicole.

"Leave it!" I said, holding her hand after reaching her.

"Yes! And he came to India after being released." Jhanvi said nodding.

"But he met her and was digging the land before coming here for you?" Kalpana asked frowning.

"Let's not talk about the past." I said and tried to drag Nicole away.

"How can you say that now? They are again thinking it in the wrong way. You didn't tell her everything?" she asked, frowning at me.

"It's not important." I replied and moved towards the house, but she shook her hand off from me.

"It is important. They are important to Harsha and he is important to you. You all are connected. If they still think wrong about you after knowing the truth, then we can't do anything but they have a right to know." She said walking back towards them.

"Because of that kidnapping incident, he lost his memory and he doesn't know anything except to dig the ground. That's how we became acquaintances, but after he regained memory, he cut off all the ties with me. So, please don't misunderstand him." She said looking at them.

"He lost his memory?" Jhanvi asked in a whisper.

"Yes! I was there when he slowly started uttering words as he completely stopped talking too." Like that she continued to explain.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Jay asked, walking towards me.

"Why are you lying too?" we all heard a voice and turned to see Harsha demanding that from Nicole. When did he come here?

"When did I lie, Harsha?" she asked, walking near to him but he stepped back.

"You are lying to everyone." He replied with tears filling his eyes.

"It was true, Harsha." But he shook his head.

"No! He was not kidnapped by any rivals. It was all a lie and I heard that from Grandpa's and his mouth. They were talking about how everyone still believes him to be kidnapped by the rivals who doesn't exist." He continued to talk and my mind went blank.

I remember when I decided to take Harsha to India to meet Jhanvi I had a fight with my Father and it involved even the kidnapping incident. He must have heard those words then. Did he mistake the situation and thought I stayed away as I wish from him?

Is this why he was distant? I already know the answer to that question looking at his expression.

"Ali! Tell him it is not a lie." Nicole said, looking at me with worry.

I can see that everyone is waiting patiently for me to reply and I glanced at Harsha to see him staring at me directly with anger.

He is just a little kid and he had all these thoughts hidden in his mind. How much burden it must have been? And I didn't even know all that. If not for Nicole I wouldn't have known there was even a reason for his distant behavior. But what should I say now?

"He is not wrong. There were no rivals who kidnapped me." I said, looking at Harsha and then at Nicole, who stared back at me confused and stepped back when she realized I am not lying.

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hey guys its a long break i know and i will be finishing this story today itself... wait for the remaining chaps to be published soon by today...

how is it???

comment plz and vote...