At school, it was lunch time when Priya sat beside Peehu.

"Look Peehu, what I have prepared for you today. Palak Paneer!" Priya said smiling at her.

"Palak Paneer! Peehu doesn't like Palak. Peehu likes only 'Aaloo ke Paranthe'." Peehu said pouting.

"Don't you get bored eating Aloo Paranthe everyday? You should eat everything including leafy vegetables. Peehu it is good, you should at least try it." Priya suggested.

Peehu pouted her face again.

"Just try once, open your mouth, and let me feed you." Priya insisted and fed Peehu.

Priya took one more morsel of chapati and dipped it into the curry and fed her.

"Wow Mumma, this is really very yummy." Peehu said with wide eyes licking her lips with tongue.

Priya's body stiffened and heartbeat skipped for a moment. She did not know how to react and rooted to the spot.

She was feeling happy inside when Peehu called her 'Mumma'.

Peehu became confused why her Miss froze.

"Miss, what happened?" asked Peehu puzzled, breaking Priya's trance.

"Peehu, what did you just say?" Priya said with a cracking voice. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

"I said Palak Paneer is very yummy" Peehu repeated.

"No Peehu, before that." Priya was hoping Peehu would call her Mumma again.

Peehu for a second was confused, not understanding what Priya was pointing out. Then she realized what she said, Peehu bit her tongue.

"Sorry Miss I said Mumma by mistake." Peehu said looking down with a pale face. Priya placed her hand on Peehu's shoulder.

"No need to say sorry, Peehu. Please repeat what you said." Priya became desperate to hear Mumma from Peehu.

"Mumma!" Peehu said slowly, looking hesitantly at Priya. Priya became overwhelmed hearing this.

"Say again." happy tears slipped from Priya's eyes.

"Mumma" This time Peehu said a little louder with sparkle in her eyes.

"One more time Peehu please." Priya pleaded, wiping her tears.

"Mumma." Peehu said, smiling at Priya. She felt peace at heart with a kind of satisfaction but she was desperate to hear that word from Peehu every day.

Priya could not hold her emotions any longer and hugged Peehu tightly near her chest. Priya caressed her hair holding possessively near her heart.

After some time, Priya composed herself and broke the hug.

Peehu did not understand why her Miss behaved strangely with her for a few days.

"Miss, why are you crying?" Peehu asked innocently.

"I am not crying, these are happy tears." Priya said smiling through her tears.

Priya's happiness has no bounds as she heard the word from her 'Pari' which she was longing to hear for so long.

"Princess, will you listen to me?" Priya asked.

"Ok". Peehu said cheerfully.

"Whenever you and I are only there, will you call me Mumma?" Priya asked cautiously.

Peehu thought for a while before saying "Yes". Peehu was also thrilled that she can also call someone 'Mumma' whom she loves the most.

Priya took Peehu in his arms and kissed her on her cheeks.

"Thank you Peehu."Priya said. Peehu's presence was soothing her wrecked heart.

"Miss" Peehu said and bit her tongue.

"Oops sorry, Mumma, Peehu is hungry, feed me more. Peehu's tummy is not yet full". Peehu said innocently, caressing her tummy.

Priya chuckled seeing her actions. "Ok, come." Priya said and fed her lunch.

Peehu and Priya had a good time and both were happy spending time together.

In the evening,

Esha came to Ram's house for dinner. She looked around and awe-struck with the interiors and sophisticated look of the house.

"Ram your house is really beautiful." Esha said.

"Thank you. Will you please come inside Madam?" Ram said, breaking her trance.

Esha smiled along with Ram entering the hall where KK and Natasha were already present. They warmly welcomed Esha inside the house.

Esha then saw a small girl wholly engrossed in coloring the picture.

"Who is this cute bubbly girl?" Esha asked, breaking Peehu's attention.

Peehu smiled gently looking at Esha.

"My name is Peehu Kapoor." Peehu said proudly.

"Ok so Peehu what you are doing?" Esha tried to become friendly with her.

"I am coloring the pictures". Peehu said and showed her drawing book.

"Omg Peehu, you draw beautifully." Esha praised Peehu seeing her drawings.

Peehu smiled and said "Thank you".

"Ok who is this, sitting beside you?" Esha asked, looking at the dolls.

"She is 'Happy' and she is 'Tiger'. Peehu said excitedly, pointing to her favorite toys.

"Wow very nice names". Esha said.

Ram, Natasha and KK were watching Esha and Peehu with a smile on their faces.

"What is your name?" Peehu asked

"My name is Esha. I am your father's close friend. Will you be my friend?" Esha said and forward her hand.

Peehu smiled and shook her hand with Esha.

**********

"How come you are here? You were in Dubai." asked Ram curiously.

"I got divorced and came back to India 6 months ago." said Esha shrugging her shoulders. Ram feels bad.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I did not know that." Said Ram apologetically.

"Come on, that's okay. It is a closed chapter of my life." Said Esha coolly.

"By the way, I saw Peehu but where is her mother?" asked Esha impatiently. Ram sighed looking down.

"She left us when Peehu was small." said Ram.

Before Esha could continue asking, KK came.

"Dinner is ready, come down." Said KK.

Everyone came and sat at the dinner table. Peehu was sitting beside Ram and Esha was sitting opposite to Ram.

"Do you have any connections with our college group" asked Esha, interacting.

"Not everyone, just Vikram and Neha". Said Ram

"Hey, Vikram and Neha were love birds, right?" Esha recalling.

"They are married and have three children now" Ram chuckled.

"Oh, that's nice. I want to meet them." said Esha enthusiastically.

"Oh, right now Vikram is not in town. He is out of station to attend some meetings with clients. We'll meet them when he comes back." said Ram. Esha just nodded.

They continued talking for some time recollecting their college memories. Natasha was serving food. She opened the lid of the bowl and it was Palak Paneer.

"Palak Paneer! Bua I also want some." Peehu requested. Natasha squinted her eyes with a puzzled face.

"Peehu, when did you start liking Palak Paneer?" asked Natasha suspiciously. "You never eat it"

"No Bua. Today my Miss brought Palak Paneer and fed me and it was yummy" said Peehu, recalling the incident. Natasha and Ram looked at Peehu. Natasha understood who Peehu was talking about.

"Your Miss fed you lunch she prepared? Peehu do you share your lunch with your Miss?" asked Ram with a hint of anger in his voice.

Peehu bit her tongue. She remembered how her Papa resisted her to finish her own lunch. Peehu kept quiet and looked her head down.

"Peehu, Papa is asking you something. Do you share your lunch?" Ram asked angrily. Peehu did not say anything and continued looking down.

"Peehu what did I say? I told you to not have food from outside. You should finish your own lunch!" Ram said clearly angry and not content with Peehu. Peehu became scared seeing angry Ram.

"Bhai enough. I can handle this. You are being too angry" Said Natasha defending Peehu.

"No Natasha. I think Peehu should understand this and tomorrow I'm going to meet her Miss" Ram said irritated and angry. Natasha's eyes widened in shock hearing him.

"No Bhai. You won't do anything like that. This will just cause more issues. I'll go and talk to her Miss." Said Natasha in a bit of a panicked tone.

"Natasha I'm going to talk to Peehu's class teacher tomorrow." Declared Ram.

Peehu was all frightened and scared. Peehu ran crying to her room.

"Stop it Ram. What kind of way is this to talk to Peehu? She is small." Said KK glaring at Ram.

Natasha nodded her head." Yes bhai. Maa is right. You don't need to be so hyper on these little things"

"I need to talk to the Principal. This must end or I'll change Peehu's school." Said Ram angrily.

"Bhai, relax. This is not a big issue. I'll speak to the Peehu's teacher." Said Natasha making Ram understand.

Esha looked at them silently.

"I will go and call Peehu" Said Natasha, looking at the way Peehu ran off to her room.

"No Natasha, I will go and call her." Said Esha with a smile. Natasha nodded as Esha got up making his way towards Peehu's room.

Peehu was sitting on the bed with her head bent down. Peehu moved away a little when Esha entered the room and sat beside Peehu.

"A few minutes back, I made friends with a cute bubbly girl but now, she is not even looking at me." Esha said, pouting her face grabbing two toys from the bed.

Peehu peeped at Esha silently.

"Ok, then I am leaving. What is the use of staying here when my friend doesn't want to talk with me"? Esha said gloomily.

Esha put the toys back and got up from the bed.

"No, stop" Peehu finally said. Esha turned back and smiled.

"I am not angry with you. I am just angry with my dad". Peehu said grumbling.

Esha sat near Peehu and hugged her from the shoulder.

"Why are you angry with your dad? What he said is correct. You should finish your own lunch and don't eat food from outside or strangers." Esha tried to make her understand.

"She is not a stranger. She is my Miss, my favorite one." Peehu defended strongly.

"But we don't know her personally right, so she is a stranger for us". Esha said carefully, trying to not hurt Peehu's feelings.

"Next time, if your Miss gives you anything then say 'NO'. Bua is preparing everything you wished for then why you are eating others tiffin. Bua feel bad na Peehu". Esha made Peehu realize her mistake.

Peehu looked apologetically.

"Its okay, Bachha. Go and say sorry to Bua and your dad too". Esha said.

Peehu cheerfully got up and ran. She suddenly stopped near the door and turned back and said "Esha aunty thank you."

Esha smiled and said "No problem dear".

**********

"Sorry Dad". Peehu said standing with an apologetic face.

Ram took her into a bear hug "Even papa has to say 'sorry'. I'm sorry Rockstar for scolding you."

Peehu then stood in front of Natasha.

"Sorry Bua". Natasha bent down to her level.

"It's ok Peehu, next time don't repeat this. Okay" Natasha sweetly warned her. Peehu nodded in agreement.

Esha walked towards them while Ram and Nuts smiled at her.

The same night,

"Maa did you like Esha?" Natasha asked.

"She is good. She studied with Ram, right?" Krishna replied.

"No Maa, I am asking how about Bhai & Esha as a couple?" Natasha said hesitantly.

"What are you saying, Natasha? Do you really think Ram will agree for the marriage?" Krishna questioned Natasha. She knew Ram would never agree to this and it's a sheer waste of time.

"Leave that to me Maa. I know how to convince him." Natasha said confidently. KK nodded and smiled at her.

"Then, I will be the happiest woman if Ram agrees to get married. I won't ask for anything more in my life if my kids get married and stay happily in life." Krishna said closing her eyes praying to the god.

"Hmm, the way Esha handled Peehu, I think she will be the perfect mother for Peehu." Natasha imagined the situation and smiled looking up.

"I agree." Krishna said hopefully.

Next morning,

After dropping Peehu, Natasha directly went to Kapoor industries to meet Ram.

"Chotti? Did you meet Peehu's teacher? What did she say? Did you talk to the Principal too?" Ram asked all the questions at once.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. One minute, Bhai." Said Natasha, calming Ram for asking all the questions at once.

"First things first, I did not come here to talk about Peehu, also, I did not talk to Peehu's teacher yet. I'll talk to her when I pick up Peehu from the school" Natasha said, clearing her point.

"Ok but what is that so important thing?" asked Ram sarcastically.

"It is about Esha" said Natasha without wasting time. Ram squinted his eyes.

"What about Esha?" asked Ram, raising his brows.

"Bhai, how is Esha?" asked Natasha and Ram got puzzled.

"What do you mean? How is Esha? She is nice and my friend." asked Ram puzzled.

"Uff Bhai, you are impossible. I'm asking you that how is Esha for you?" asked Natasha, raising her brows wishing Ram would understand what she meant.

"What are you saying Choti?" asked Ram in a serious and angry tone.

"Would you marry Esha?" asked Natasha which made Ram get up from his seat angrily.

"What is wrong with you Natasha? Are you gone mad? How can you even think like this? This can't happen. She is my friend and that's all!" said Ram, raising his voice.

Esha was standing outside the door overhearing the talk.

"Why can't it be, Bhai? What is wrong? She is nice and she is your good friend. You know each other well. Most importantly you saw how she handled Peehu yesterday." said Natasha trying to convince Ram. Ram pissed off with Natasha's point of view.

"We have a good friendship that doesn't mean we have to get married. This can't happen, Choti." Said Ram looking furiously at Natasha. Natasha did not give up.

"Bhai why not? You promised me that you will move on. You can't always stay like this. Please Bhai understand. It will be good for you, Esha and Peehu." Said Natasha more loudly.

"Chotti. How many times do I have to make my points clear to you? I am moving on. You must understand moving on doesn't mean to get married. Also, I know what is good for me and Peehu. I am not going to get married to anyone." Said Ram clearly.

"No Bhai. I'm going to talk to Esha about this." Said Natasha and stomped off Ram's cabin.

Outside, Esha was very happy hearing the discussion about her. She hoped that whatever Natasha was suggesting would happen soon and prayed to god that Ram should agree for the marriage.