Hi Everyone,

Wish you a very Happy & Prosperous Diwali to you & your family.

Stay Safe & Healthy!

Happy Reading.

With Love,

Sandy & Jo

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

Priya was getting anxious by each passing day. She doesn't know how to overcome the difficult phase in her life. Sleepless nights, losing appetite became her daily routine. She was unable to concentrate on anything and eventually stopped going to the institute and confined herself mostly in her room.

Everyone in the Sharma house became worried for Priya as they have not seen her in this depressed state anytime. Sharmas tried hard to understand what Priya was going through but she was not ready to share anything with anyone and told them she was fine.

Finally, the day arrived when her life was going to take a new turn completely. But before going for any procedure, Priya has to sign some documents.

Ram was waiting outside while Priya was inside the doctor's cabin. The doctor felt helpless as nothing was in her hands since Priya was also not opposing strongly.

"Priya" Doctor called her bringing her back from her trance.

"Yes, doctor." Priya looked at her.

"Please go through the papers once again before you sign on them. This is your last chance Priya, take a wise decision." Doctor said, squeezing Priya's hand gently forwarding the documents. Her eyes were moistened while her heart was thumping against her rib cage.

Priya took the papers with trembling hands. She was so scared that she could not even hold the papers properly.

"You know right, you will have no legal right on the baby." Doctor said.

"Yes, I know." Priya smirked hopelessly.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell on the documents.

Taking a deep breath, Priya signed on to her willingness for the legal documents. Priya wiped away her tears with her palms and composed herself in some time.

Then the doctor called Ram inside the cabin. Ram took the seat next to Priya and he was very happy and excited that his dream was coming true. Priya did not make eye contact with him.

"We can start the procedure at 8 AM tomorrow." The doctor announced and then gave some more instructions to Ram and Priya.

Priya reached home after the doctor appointment.

Entering straight into her parent's room, Priya directly made her way to her father who was sitting on the bed reading some book.

Sudhir smiled at Priya who just entered the room. Without speaking a word, Priya goes straight towards the bed and lies down keeping her head on her father's lap. Sudhir was taken aback by Priya's gesture and caressed on her hairs.

Priya just wanted this to be a bad dream but unfortunately this was her nightmare which has come true. She was breaking inside and having thousands of thoughts running inside her head.

Shipra entered the room and witnessed the father-daughter scene in front of her.

Sudhir gestured Shipra to not to disturb Priya. She also sat beside Sudhir and waited for some time.

"What happened Beta? Is there something you want to share with us?" asked Sudhir out of concern.

"Nothing. I just felt like spending some time with you." said Priya in a low voice. Shipra noticed something was wrong with Priya.

"Priya you look so worried. What is it about? I've been noticing you that from the past few days you look disturbed about something. You also have left your job and stopped going to take tuition classes." Asked Shipra softly as she wanted to know the truth.

Priya paused for a few seconds. She could not tell the truth to her parents.

"I-I did not like the job. Don't worry maa, I'll find a new one soon." Said Priya stuttering.

"Beta do what you think is right and if there is any problem, do not forget that we are with you." said Sudhir smiling at Priya.

Priya spent some more time with her parents as she was feeling warmth in her heart.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" said Priya softly.

"You don't need permission. Of course, you can sleep here." said Shipra and kissed Priya on her forehead.

Priya slipped between her parents like she used to sleep when she was a child. She knew that things were going to be changed and took a drastic turn when her parents came to know about her decision soon.

"Papa tell me the Prince's story which you used to tell me in my childhood. The one in which the Prince comes riding on a white horse." said Priya, remembering her childhood moments.

"Why? Why do you want to listen to your childhood stories now?" asked Shipra, smiling at Priya squinting her eyes.

"Maa please" Priya whined.

Shipra and Sudhir smiled at Priya.

"OK. OK. I'll tell you. Once upon a time there was a handsome Prince......" Sudhir started telling Priya's favorite story.

Hearing the word Prince, Priya's eyes became moistened thinking that this can't be true in her life after the extreme decision she took in her life.

After some time, tiredness took control over Priya taking her into a deep slumber. Shipra gently placed her head on the pillow and noticed tear stains near Priya's eyes. She wiped away the tear marks and kissed on her forehead.

"Good night Beta. We love you." Sudhir and Shipra wished for Priya's happiness. They knew that Priya is not the one who will share her sadness to anyone irrespective of how much they try to know. They wished for Priya's happiness.

The next morning, the turning point in Priya's life.

Today, Priya's life was going to change completely. Taking a deep breath, Priya looked herself in the mirror plastering a smile on her face so that her family does not come to know about anything so soon.

"There is no turning back now" She knew that.

Priya left the apartment and noticed Ram was waiting outside for her already. Priya quietly sat in the car without uttering anything. She was getting more anxious when they were reaching near the hospital.

"Are you fine?" asked Ram after observing her for some time.

Priya glared at Ram angrily. Priya shook her head in negative gritting her teeth annoyed by Ram. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. Ram chose to stay quiet sensing her mood.

They reached the hospital and waited outside until Priya was called inside the Doctor's cabin. Priya jumped in her skin and her mouth went dry. With much difficulty, Priya walked inside the cabin and fidgeted with her fingers sitting in front of the Doctor.

Doctor greeted Priya and asked her to lie on the bed after changing the dress.

Priya's breathing went erratic and her total body trembled. The doctor was heavy-hearted seeing Priya's condition.

Doctor checked her BP and like last time it shot up due to her anxiety.

"Relax Priya." Said doctor.

"Your BP is very high. We can't start the procedure if you have high blood pressure." the doctor said and Priya looked at the doctor and shook her head in negative.

"I can't do this doctor." Said Priya softly while a pool of tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She raised up on the bed and covered her face with her palms letting out a muffled cry.

The doctor gently pats Priya's back, consoling her.

"Priya if you are not ready, we will do this another day. We can't continue the procedure if the patient has high BP or you can think through about this decision again. But once the procedure starts, we can't do anything and you will have no option." The doctor said sympathetically looking at Priya.

Priya took a few minutes and no other option than this came into her mind.

"Relax for some time." said the doctor. Priya nodded her head.

Ram was waiting outside the doctor's cabin after he finished his medical procedure.

He quickly rose up from his seat seeing the doctor coming out.

"We will start the procedure after some time. Priya has high blood pressure." Said the Doctor.

"Can I meet her?" asked Ram impatiently. The doctor nodded her head and allowed him inside leaving the cabin. Ram then without wasting a minute barged inside the cabin. Priya was sitting on the bed keeping her gaze fixed to the floor. She looked at Ram who was standing near the door.

Priya felt uneasy with his presence in the room. Ram went near her and sat on the chair facing her.

"Priya," Ram called her but she did not budge.

Taking Priya in surprise, Ram took Priya's hand in between his palms. Priya quickly withdrew her hand from his hold and looked at him in an annoyed expression.

"Okay sorry." Ram apologized seeing her reflex reaction.

"If you are not comfortable today then we can postpone this to another day if you want." said Ram kindly looking at Priya. Priya looked at Ram in surprise as for the first time he was showing some concern about her willingness but it looked fake to her as he can't afford to back off from this at any cost. She stared at him blankly for some time.

Ram then opened his mouth to say something but Priya interrupted him showing her hand.

"No, don't worry, I'll do it today." Priya scoffed.

"Are you sure Priya?" asked Ram again.

Priya nodded her head in affirmation and Ram thanked her before leaving the cabin.

Priya composed herself and made herself strong while Doctor finished the procedure.

Ram was called inside once the procedure was completed.

"How is Priya?" asked Ram without waiting for the doctor to speak up first.

"She is fine. The insemination is done successfully. Though she has a little pain, she will be good in a while." The doctor said.

"Normally in 2-3 weeks, the patient can see the changes." The doctor continued.

"Thank you, doctor" said Ram happily. Ram's happiness has no bound as his wish was going to be fulfilled soon.

"When can I take Priya?" asked Ram.

"There are some tests still left to be done. You can take her after that." the doctor said. Then she paused as she wanted to say something to Ram. She hesitated but she decided to talk to Ram.

"Mr. Kapoor, I have one more thing to talk with you" the doctor said, clearing her throat. Ram looked at her in confusion.

"Priya told me everything." Said the doctor. Ram looked at her in horror.

"Don't worry Mr. Kapoor, this will not go outside. I don't want to interfere but I want to tell you something. What Priya is doing for you is a very big thing. It will directly affect her whole life. She is not even married and it is not going to be easy for her at all. She will not even have rights to her first-born child. You should be grateful to her. I know you will do it but just remember you should take care of her future." Doctor made Ram understand.

"Yes doctor, I will take care of her, don't worry about that." Ram said confidently.

After a while, Priya came out of another room and went to the doctor's cabin after changing into her clothes. She sits beside Ram but not facing him.

"Priya how are you feeling now?" asked the Doctor. Priya nodded with a fake smile.

"Don't worry Priya, you will be fine. You might have pain so take some rest for a few days. If there is any problem call me anytime without any hesitation." Doctor assured her.

Both of them came out after the doctor gave them instructions about dos and don'ts and informed them about the next visit.

"Are you hungry, would you like to eat something?" Ram initiated the conversation.

"No, I will go home." Priya said little irritated.

"Okay sure. I will drop you home." Ram said, taking her along with him.

Ram was having difficulty speaking to Priya. Somewhere deep in his heart, he knew he was doing wrong with Priya but his mind overruled his heart convincing him.

"Thank you Priya. How are you feeling?" Ram broke the silence.

"Don't show me your fake sympathy and no need to act nicely in front of me." Priya said rudely. Ram said nothing and drove to her apartment.

When they reached near her house, Ram again said "No need to come to take classes to Natasha until you feel better. You can rest at home."

Priya said nothing and walked off without passing a glance at Ram.

Priya came out from her flashback and kissed on Peehu's photo one more time before keeping it back safely in the diary.

The next morning,

Priya cooked delicious food for Peehu. After dropping Aryan and Amaira to their school, she reached her school. Priya was early and desperately waiting to see her daughter.

Priya then heard voices and one of them definitely belonged to Peehu. It was Peehu walking along with Natasha, holding her hand. Both of them were walking down the hallway talking to each other. Natasha noticed Priya and just stared at her for a few seconds. Priya tried to steal glances from Natasha.

Natasha then knelt down and put her one hand on Peehu's shoulder.

"Peehu, study well and don't get attached to anyone, okay?" Said Natasha, making Peehu understand while eyeing on Priya. Peehu nodded her head.

"And remember you need to finish your lunch. If there is any problem tell me." said Natasha raising her brows. Peehu cheerfully nodded. She then kissed Peehu on her cheeks and waved good-bye and left.

Peehu then went inside the class.

"Good Morning Miss" greeted Peehu in her usual bubbly way.

"Good Morning Peehu. How are you today?" greeted back Priya.

"I'm fine, thank you" said Peehu cheerfully. Priya smiled at her but somewhere inside she was disturbed but for what she could not tell.

Peehu then seated in her place and Priya started the class after the assembly.

On the other side,

Ram had just finished a meeting and was heading home in a hurry. He quickly stepped outside his car on the way to get something. He was in so much hurry he bumped into someone.

"Sorry" said Ram and looked up. The person seemed familiar but Ram could not recollect who she was.

The lady looked at him with wide eyes out of surprise.

"Ram? You here?" asked the lady happily. Ram scrunched his eyebrows in a puzzled way.

"Sorry but I don't remember you?" said Ram trying to remember who the person was.

"Ram don't you remember me? It's me Esha." The lady introduced herself. Ram then widened his eyes.

"Esha? It is you? It is nice to see you again. How have you been? Where were you all these years?" asked Ram recalling Esha, his old friend.

"I've been doing well and how are you Ram? Yes, it has been a long time since we met" stated Esha happily.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Dubai" asked Ram.

"I just moved here from Dubai last week." Said Esha.

"What are you doing today?" asked Ram.

"Well nothing much, I was just finding me a new house to stay." said Esha.

"So how about you come to my house for dinner tonight?" asked Ram.

"Sure, why not?" said Esha.

"Ok, then see you at 7 PM tonight. You have my address right?" said Ram.

Esha nodded her head.