Ram went to meet Sid but no luck as Sid was not ready to utter any information about Riya. He didn't receive any positive response from the police either.

Ram then met Vikram with a defeated look as he couldn't find his daughter with time ticking so fast.

"I don't know how to face Priya. I feel so worthless about myself, what kind of father I am? I am neither a good husband nor a good father." Ram felt devastated.

"Ram, stop blaming yourself. You did no wrong. It's just that things are out of your control. We cannot just control everything around us all the time." Vikram tried to console his friend.

"Still, I should have been more careful." Ram said, fixing his gaze to the floor.

"I cannot even imagine what my daughter must be going through. How could Niharika & Sid stoop so low to take revenge on me? Riya is too small, and she doesn't deserve any of these struggles. You know what, I am dying to see my daughter and hold her in my arms. I just want to hug her and shower my love for her. I miss my daughter a lot. I would have given anything to Niharika & Sid but they are not ready to disclose any information about Riya. I just want my daughter to be safe & sound." Ram tightened his lips controlling himself to not to break down.

"I can understand what you are going through, Ram. You are putting in all your effort. Have some faith, we will find Riya very soon." Vikram said but he was also slowly losing hope.

"I don't understand how I can get my daughter back? I am unable to see Priya in this condition." saying this Ram broke down in front of his friend.

Vikram quickly wrapped his hands around Ram and continued, "You must stay strong, Ram. How would you handle Priya if you are not strong enough?"

********

On the other side,

Neeta (caretaker) came to Priya's flat.

Priya was still sitting in her room and the kids didn't know what happened to their Mom.

They wanted to go near their mom but were afraid of her as she was not talking to them yet.

Neeta knocked on the door, grabbing Priya's reaction.

Moving towards Priya, Neeta said, "Ma'am don't be upset. I feel that we will find Riya soon." She tried soothing Priya.

Priya's eyes welled up with tears and she somehow composed herself.

"What about the kids? What are they doing?" Priya asked in a faint voice.

"They are fine. Are they your kids?" Neeta asked.

Priya nodded her head and said, "Yes."

"They are so adorable. One of them looks like you and the other has your eyes." Neeta said, trying to get Priya out of her zone.

Priya smiled faintly.

"Why don't you come and talk to them?" Neeta asked.

Priya didn't answer her.

"Could you please prepare lunch for them?" Priya asked.

"Sure." Neeta replied.

"Ask them what they like to eat...because...I don't know anything about their likes & dislikes." Priya pursed her lips.

Neeta nodded at the left from there.

In the evening, Ram came back home, and Neeta opened the door.

"How is Priya?" Ram asked Neeta.

"She hasn't come out of the room since morning." Neeta replied.

"Did she eat anything?" Ram asked.

Neeta said, "No".

Ram shook his head sideways. Kids ran to him hearing his voice.

"Papa, where did you leave us alone?" Ayaan asked.

"I am sorry guys. I have some important things to do." Ram apologized.

"Did you have your lunch?" Ram asked them and they both nodded their heads.

"Did Mumma talk to you guys?" Ram asked them.

Ishaan & Ayaan nodded their heads in negation. "What's wrong with Mumma? Why is she crying?" Ishaan asked.

Ram settled in the sofa holding them closely.

"I must tell you something, listen to me carefully. Ishaan & Ayaan, you both have a baby sister as well." Ram started to reveal about Riya to his sons.

"Really?" Ishaan & Ayaan were elated hearing this.

"Yes." Ram nodded his head.

"Can we meet her?" Ishaan asked.

"Unfortunately, no!" Ram said.

"But why?" Ayaan asked.

"She is not well and that is the reason Mumma is very sad for her. Your mom will be better once your little sister is fine." Ram explained but he didn't let them know that Riya is missing because they are too small to understand all of these things.

"What happened to our sister?" Ishaan asked.

"Where is she?" Ayaan asked.

Ram didn't know what to answer but managed to say, "She will be back home once she's fine."

Kids nodded in understanding.

"What is her name?" Ishaan asked.

"Riya." Ram replied with a smile.

"Yayy! We have a little sister." Ishaan & Ayaan got happier.

Ram smiled a bit.

"We want to meet Riya soon, Papa. Can we play with Riya when she's back?" Their question made him quiet. Ram was unsure when it could happen considering the situations around him.

***********

After a while, Ram went to Priya's room and found the room completely dark.

Switching on the lights, Ram looked at Priya who was sitting on the bed holding Riya's photo in her hand.

"Priyaaa!" Ram called her, bringing her back to her senses.

Priya looked at him silently.

"How long are you going to stay like this?" Ram asked a bit seriously this time.

Priya took a deep sigh.

"I will be back in 5 mins, join us for dinner." Ram said.

"I am not hungry." Priya replied.

Ram sat on the bed in front of her and cupped her face.

"Priya, we are getting nowhere like this. Please try to understand, you can't be sitting & crying like this forever. You are spoiling your health. How will you take care of Riya once she's back home?" Ram tried to make her understand.

Priya was not looking at him directly.

"Think about Ishaan & Ayaan too. They are too small to understand our situation. Just try to be normal and spend some time with them or else they will get upset." Ram asked her while rubbing his thumb on her stained tears.

"Moreover, I cannot see you like this. Please!" Ram added.

Priya was still silent.

After a couple of seconds, Ram said, "Get freshen up and come for dinner." Saying this he left the room.

************

Days passed and Ram kept trying to find Riya and failing to convince Sid to help him.

Ram got pissed off with himself and even scolded Police for not getting any leads about Riya.

One day, the doorbell rang, and Neeta opened the door.

Before Neeta could ask anything, Ayesha barged inside the flat.

"Ma'am, who are you? Why are you entering the house without permission?" Neeta asked.

Ayesha's eyes were red with anger and gave a sharp look to Neeta.

"Where is Priya?" Ayesha asked.

"Ma'am, please go out first." Neeta asked.

"I want to speak to that murderer right now." Ayesha yelled.

Upon hearing the noises, Priya along with Neha came out to the living room where Ayesha was present.

Neha quickly asked Neeta to go inside the room along with the kids who were frightened seeing Ayesha very angry.

"Ayesha, what are you doing here?" Neha asked.

Priya stood there blankly looking at Ayesha. She knew why Ayesha must have come here.

"Neha, just stay out of this. I need to talk to Priya." Ayesha roared.

"How could you do this to me?" Ayesha cried. "My husband died because of you." Ayesha blamed Priya.

"Ayesha, don't be crazy. It's your husband's fault not Priya's." Neha replied sharply.

"Just shut up." Ayesha yelled.

"You don't know what Ashwin did." Neha said.

"I don't want to hear anything from you guys. I knew that Ashwin liked her but he didn't deserve to die. She's the reason for his death, I lost my husband and my son has become fatherless due to her. I will not forgive her." Ayesha glared at Priya angrily.

Neha tried to say something when Priya grabbed her hand.

"You know what, it's good that you are paying the price for it. You will never find your daughter." Ayesha spoke venomously.

Priya's heart skipped for a moment hearing her sister's bitter words.

"Stop it, Ayesha. You are crossing the limit." Neha intervened.

"She will suffer for taking my husband away from me." Saying this Ayesha left from there.

Priya ran to her room and burst into tears. Neha followed and hugged Priya, rubbing on her back.

"It's not your fault. Please don't cry, Priya." Neha said.

"No, she's right. It's all happening because of me." Priya couldn't hold back her tears.

Neha exhaled deeply as Priya couldn't come out of her guilt no matter how much they tried. On top of it, Ayesha's words made her sad once again.

Priya couldn't bear the thought of not seeing her daughter ever again. Ayesha's words pierced her already aching heart.

************

Priya was in grief and unable to come out of it. Her situation was going out of control with passing time.

Ram was getting angry with himself for not being able to find his daughter.

Every day, he goes out to find Riya but comes home failing miserably. Ishaan & Ayaan were getting distressed for not being able to experience their mom's love.

One day, Neha & Priya were talking in her room and kids were outside the room.

Ishaan & Ayaan ran to their father as soon as Ram came home.

"Papa, can we go home?" They asked Ram.

"What happened?" Ram asked out of concern.

"Mumma doesn't talk to us at all. We don't want to stay here." Ishaan & Ayaan were upset.

Ram can understand the real reason behind their words.

"Papa, please take us home." Ishaan & Ayaan hugged Ram.

Ram hugged them back before walking towards Priya's room.

Ram overheard Priya & Neha's conversation.

"Neha, I don't know what's wrong with me. I am unable to focus on anything other than Riya." Priya said.

"Priya, just think about Ishaan & Ayaan." Neha said.

"I know Neha, but I am unable to take them close to me. I feel so worthless, what if I cannot protect them like Riya?" Priya replied.

"It's high time you break the shell you made around you. It's not helpful for you or anyone, Priya." Neha suggested.

"I am failing miserably, and I am unable to come out of the pain. Sometimes, I feel like...dying." Priya blurted out.

"What?" Neha was surprised.

Ram barged in immediately and looked angrily at Priya.

"Neha, please go home and ask Neeta to leave. I need to talk to Priya, privately." Said Ram, looking extremely serious.

Neha said, "Ram, please calm down."

Ram raised his hand and said, "Neha, please go home. I want to talk to Priya alone."

Once Neha left from there, Ram moved closer to Priya.

"You want to die?" Ram asked, looking directly into her eyes.

Priya stuttered.

"Really? Answer me." Ram asked again.

Getting hold of her hands, Ram pulled her closer to him. Priya was scared to even look into his raging eyes.

"You really want to die then die." Ram said angrily.

He continued, "You know what, you are just thinking about your pain alone. It's very easy to die but hard to live. If you ever loved your kids and me, you wouldn't think about ending your life." Ram released his hold on her hands.

He moved away from her a little.

Priya stared at him blankly.

Taking a deep breath, Ram moved closer to her again.

"Do you think you only love Riya and I don't love her at all? Just because I don't express my emotions doesn't mean I don't love my daughter." Ram glared at her.

"It's not what I meant." Priya tried to answer.

"Just shut up, Priya. She is my daughter too. I have been waiting for you to become normal but that isn't happening at all. I was trying to be patient with you even when you are not caring about our sons. How long do you expect me to be patient? Do you think your death solves every problem?" Ram's eyes were red with anguish.

"You were just trying to relieve your pain by ending your life. How could you be so mean, Priya? What about me? What about our sons? You know what, they asked me to take them back to Kapoor Mansion. It is not because they don't love you, but they think that you don't like them, and you don't want to talk to them. You met them after a long time, but you never really tried to talk to them. They will never be able to experience their mother's love if you keep on ignoring them. They should have a normal childhood unlike what they are experiencing right now. They don't deserve to be treated like this and I cannot see them sad." Ram was extremely unhappy.

"I didn't mean to hurt Ishaan & Ayaan, but I cannot live without Riya." Priya said.

"I am also equally worried about Riya. I am not expressing my grief doesn't mean that I don't love my daughter. I love her and I miss her so much. At least, you could spend some time with her, but I didn't get that chance as well. I couldn't hold her in my arms properly. Do you know what that feels like?" Ram's eyes welled up with tears.

"Ram...I..." Priya's words were cut off by Ram.

"That's enough! I don't want to hear anything from you. It's high time to move on. I cannot keep pressuring you to be normal and come back home. You have time till evening to decide what you want to do. After that, I am not going to force you with your decision." Ram said, strongly.

"Think about it till evening. I will take kids along with me to the Kapoor Mansion and they will never try to meet you if you are not coming with us." Ram moved out of the room, leaving Priya frozen to her place.

Bidding bye to the kids, Ram went out of the house. He glanced at Priya's door one last time before he took the elevator.

Ram felt bad for his harsh behavior with Priya, but it's necessary to make her realize what she's doing.