As Adhya walked into her home, her mind was consumed by thoughts of the recent events and memories of the past. She couldn't shake off the feeling that her father's happiness was deeply connected to her mother, but her own fears of being ignored and abandoned again held her back.

She didn't hate her mother, but the pain of being abandoned five years ago still lingered, and the memory of her mother choosing Pari over her in the accident still stung.

Just as Adhya was lost in her thoughts, Shruti's warm voice broke the silence. "Adhya, you're home! I've made your favorite pancakes." Shruti's eyes sparkled with a warm smile as she set the plates on the table, filling the room with the sweet aroma of freshly cooked pancakes.

Adhya's eyes widened in surprise as she asked, "Why didn't you tell me Anupama Maa is here?" Her voice was laced with a mix of shock and accusation.

Shruti's calm demeanor was a stark contrast to Adhya's agitation. "She's here to open a new restaurant, it's purely professional," Shruti explained, her tone soothing.

But Adhya's anxiety only intensified. "Poppy still loves her, Shru," she said, her voice trembling with a hint of panic, as if she was desperate to deny the obvious.

Shruti's response was unexpected, and it shook Adhya to her core. "Then let him be happy, Adhya," Shruti said, her words simple yet profound, leaving Adhya stunned and searching for a any hint of lie.

Adhya's tears flowed freely as she poured out her emotions, feeling betrayed and hurt. "Why do I always have to adjust? We were never her priority," she sobbed, her voice cracking with pain.

But Shruti's response was not what Adhya expected. Instead of comfort and validation, Shruti's words cut deep, forcing Adhya to confront a harsh reality.

"Why does Anuj have to sacrifice his happiness, his love for you or anyone? Because you are his daughter?" Shruti's question hung in the air, piercing Adhya's defenses and striking at the heart of her insecurities.

Adhya's sobs faltered, and she looked up at Shruti, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. The question echoed in her mind, forcing her to confront the possibility that her father's love and sacrifices for her lead to him to live in pain.

Shruti's voice was laced with warmth and wisdom as she spoke, her eyes filled with compassion.

"Even if Anuj marries someone else, he won't be happy, Adhya, because his happiness is with his Anu, whom he loved for more than 30 years - double your age, Adhya," Shruti said, her words piercing the fog of Adhya's misunderstandings.

Shruti's hands reached out, and she began to caress Adhya's hair, her touch warm and comforting. "I'm not asking you to forget about the past, but just to talk to your mother. Because no mother will hurt her child knowingly," Shruti said, her smile warm and reassuring.

She looked up at Shruti, her eyes searching for answers, and slowly, she began to see things from a different perspective "I will, thank you Shru" Adhya hugged her.

The car's engine purred smoothly as Anuj navigated the roads, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Beside him, Anupama sat rigidly, her gaze directed out the window, her profile a mask of calmness.  Both Anuj and Anupama seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact, each lost in their own thoughts.

The only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the occasional passing of cars outside, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside the vehicle.

Anuj's eyes widened as he read the message on his phone, his heart skipping a beat. "I want to meet Anu maa, bring her home," the message from his daughter Adhya read.

Without realizing it, Anuj's leg pressed down on the car brake, causing the vehicle to slow to a sudden stop. Anupama, seated beside him, looked up in surprise, her eyes meeting Anuj's.

"What happened Anuj?" Anupama asked with concern looking at his shocked face.

"Adhya, I mean choti Anu wants to meet you" Anupama's heart tighten hearing him. She gulped all negetive emotions which threaten to come out in form of fear.

"Why? And how she knows that I'm here?" She clutches her hand bag's handle feeling anxiety yet somewhere she is excited to meet her daughter after long time.

Anuj without answering her started the car hoping for best "hope this is not another storm but our new beginning"

Adhya was eating popcorn while watching TV when Anuj and Anupama entered the house. Both were nervous about the upcoming conversation with thier daughter.

"Hai poppy, finally you both are back" Adhya smiled at them but parents can sense the hidden pain behind the smile.

"Adhya, bacha..." Anuj began, but his words were abruptly cut off by his daughter's stern voice.

"Poppy, I only want to talk to Miss Anupama Joshi," Adhya said, her tone firm and unyielding. The hall fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.

Anupama's eyes locked onto Adhya's, and she felt a pang in her heart as she heard the accusation in her daughter's voice. "Why are you back in our life? To leave us again?" Adhya's words struck like a dagger, piercing Anupama's soul.

But it was the next question that shattered Anupama's composure. "Why did you choose Pari over me? Didn't you love me? Is that because I'm not your biological daughter?" The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Anupama felt her heart break into a million pieces.

Tears pricked at the corners of Anupama's eyes as she gazed at Adhya, her mind reeling with the pain and hurt that her daughter had endured. She took a step forward, her hands reaching out, but Adhya's expression remained anger and hurt.

Adhya's question was laced with hurt and betrayal, and Anupama knew she had no defense against it "Why you always choose Shah family whenever I needed you?" There was a desperete attempt to hate her but Adhya knows she don't hate her, she never did.

Adhya's voice cracked as she continued, "I cried due to nightmare but you were not there. I saw my poppy always sad but you were not there for him either. Where were you when my friend's mother came to pick them up in school and asked about my mother? Where were you when I won best students award in school? Where were you when I participated in my first dance competition? Where were you when I craved for your food prepared by YOU? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED ALL THESE YEARS?" Adhya's words ended in a heart-wrenching cry, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Anupama's eyes welled up with tears as Adhya's words pierced her heart like a dagger. The pain and longing in Adhya's voice were palpable, and Anupama felt her own grief and regret rising to the surface.

Anupama's face contorted in agony as she watched her daughter break down. She felt her own heart shatter into a million pieces, and she knew she had to find a way to make things right, to heal the wounds of the past and prove to Adhya that she was truly sorry for abandoning her.

Anupama's eyes filled with tears as she reflected on her past mistakes. She knew she had wronged Adhya by leaving her, and that she couldn't blame Anuj entirely for the rift between them. While Anuj's accusations and doubts had hurt her, she acknowledged that she too had made mistakes.

As a mature adult at that time, she should have known better than to prioritize the Shah family over her own. By doing so, she had created an opportunity for others to manipulate and plant seeds of insecurity in Adhya's young heart.

Anupama's heart ached with regret as she realized that she had punished Adhya for Anuj's mistakes, rather than being a source of comfort and strength for her daughter. She knew that she had to make amends, to prove to Adhya that she loved her and was committed to being a good mother to her. The question was, could she find a way to heal the wounds of the past and rebuild her relationship with Adhya?

Anuj's heart ache seeing his daughter's breaking down. He always thought Adhya hate Anupama but never knew she too craved for her mother's love. Maybe he was way too occupied in his pain and anger on his wife failed to realise what his daughter really wanted.

Both looked at each other promising themselves to give their daughter the family she truly deserve.

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Precap: YEH DIL LAYA HAI BAHAR
               APNO KA SAATH KYA KAHNA

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