The next morning wasn't a pleasant one. Natasha was having a quarrel with Peehu. Ram came to Peehu's room as he could hear them arguing for a long time.

"What's going on here?" asked Ram looking at both of them.

"Bhai, Peehu is refusing to go to school." Natasha exhaled deeply. She was worn out trying to make Peehu understand.

Peehu was angry and had a grumpy frown on her face.

"Bhai now you talk to her. She is not ready to listen to me." Natasha said resting her hands on hips heaving a deep sigh.

Ram nodded his head moving towards Peehu who stood stubbornly. Peehu was a little afraid of her father moving towards her with a displeasing expression.

Ram held her tiny palms in his hold.

"What happened, Peehu? Why are you not going to the school?" asked Ram sitting on the edge of the bed.

Peehu turned her face away from him, clearly mad at Ram.

Ram knew why Peehu was being stubborn. He moved his eyes from Peehu to Natasha who gave him a helpless look.

Ram took a long breath before turning his gaze at her Peehu.

"Listen Peehu, your Priya miss left the school so stop thinking about her. You should go to your school and your new Miss is a very good teacher." Ram said, making her look at him.

"No, I only want Priya Miss. She is my mother, I know." Peehu said stubbornly.

Ram closed his eyes to control his anger.

"Peehu, She. Is. Not. Your. Mother." Ram said stressing each word controlling his anger.

"No, you are lying. I know, she was my mother. I have seen her photo in your phone too." Peehu was determined and not ready to accept what Ram said.

"Shut up, Peehu. You are becoming stubborn day by day." Said Ram losing his patience.

He took his phone out unlocking it with face recognition, he stopped scrolling when he found Priya's picture in his mobile. Closing his eyes for a moment, he started saying. "This one, right! You are talking about all these things because of this very picture so I am deleting it right now." Saying this Ram deleted the pic in his phone before throwing it on the floor.

Peehu looked at Ram terrified. Ram gripped Peehu by shoulders.

"Now, listen to me carefully, I don't want to listen to anything about your Priya Miss. Don't even take her name in front of me. Now, go and get ready for the school; Papa will drop you." Ram's words scared the hell out Peehu.

Peehu did not see this kind of rage in his father ever before.

"Can anybody tell me what's going on here? Ram and Peehu skipped their meals yesterday. I could hear loud noise till downstairs. Tell me, what's happening in the house?" Krishna asked as she was worried and unaware of the things going on between the other three people in the house.

"I will explain to you later, Maa. Right now, Peehu is very stubborn and not willing to go to the School." Ram said out of anger.

Krishna frowned and then looked towards Peehu. She gently held Peehu's chin and turned her head towards her.

"What happened Peehu?" asked Krishna with a soft voice.

Peehu looked at her blankly. Krishna noticed an edge of desperation on Peehu's face.

"Dadi, I want my mumma." Saying this Peehu hugged Krishna tightly and started weeping badly.

Krishna looked at the vulnerable state of Peehu and turned her face towards Nuts and Ram.

"Raam.." Krishna started only to cut short by her son.

"Maa, please. Not now." He said before storming out of the room angrily followed by Nuts.

Krishna Kapoor had a tough time to console Peehu to not to cry anymore.

"I will talk to your Papa regarding this. You have not eaten much since yesterday so let's go and have breakfast now." Krishna took Peehu along with her.

After Breakfast, Ram took Peehu to the school. She was not happy and Joyful like she used to be when Priya was around. During the ride, Ram constantly looked at Peehu but Peehu sat quietly with a sad face.

They reached school without speaking a word with each other.

"Bye Peehu." said Ram with a smile but Peehu did not reply. She left ignoring Ram's words adjusting the school bag on her tiny shoulders.

Ram stared at the retreating figure of Peehu till she entered inside the school.

In the evening, Vikram and Neha came to meet Ram.

"You wanted to tell us something Ram" asked Vikram curiously.

Neha and Vikram waited for Ram's response patiently.

"Yes, I have news for you guys. Not for you but everyone in this house." said Ram with a cold aura.

Natasha and Krishna scrunched their brows. Everyone looked curiously at him.

Ram paused for a minute before clearing his throat. "I have decided to get married." Ram declared to his people.

There was a silence in the room except for the surprising gasps.

"Yes, you heard me properly." Ram stated again seeing the puzzled look on their face.

Their face brightened with delight as Ram finally wanted to get married and settle down. Only Natasha was aware of Priya's re-entry so everyone else were happy with Ram's decision and Natasha was happy too.

"What are you saying, Ram? You are ready for marriage." Vikram went to his side and hugged him. Ram nodded passing a half smile.

Ram was not completely happy but the feeling of bringing a smile to his loved ones made him happy.

"You have taken a very good decision Ram." said Krishna while her eyes brimmed with happy tears.

"Ok, tell me who is the lucky girl?" asked Vikram impatiently.

"Wait, she will be here in a short while." Ram replied.

"It means you have already planned everything." Vikram is mystified.

"There she is ...." saying this he turned his face towards the entrance.

Everybody turned their gazes towards the door. Esha was walking inside the house smiling brightly.

There were happy smiles in their faces. Neha doubted looking at Esha. She felt something off about her but shrugged it off and joined everyone in welcoming her inside the house.

"Omg Ram, you are marrying Esha...I mean, I don't believe this. You and Esha!" Vikram said with astonishment on his face.

Ram said "Yes, Vikram, I am marrying Esha."

"I am grateful to you Esha. My son has finally agreed to marry. I'm so happy for both of you." said Krishna with tears in her eyes.

Esha held Krishna's hand and wiped her tears and said "No Maa, Actually, I am thankful to Ram who considered me so worthy to be a part of his life. Ram is a part of my life now and Peehu too. I am so happy for the privilege to be called Peehu's mother. I know how much Peehu means to Ram." Esha said smiling at Ram.

Krishna looked at Esha with a hearty smile. Before she could say any response to Esha, a voice came from behind.

"No!! Esha aunty is not my mother. Priya Miss, she is my mother." Peehu shouted with desperation.

Everyone else but Ram and Nuts looked at Peehu with a puzzled expression.

Peehu walked towards Natasha and said "Bua, Esha aunty is not my mother." Peehu said with a frown.

Natasha bent down to Peehu's height and said "Peehu, don't say that, we will talk about this later." Natasha tried to calm her down.

"No Bua, only Priya Miss is my mother." Peehu looks unconvinced.

"Peehu!!!". Ram shouted and went near her. Peehu trembled with his loud voice.

"Listen Peehu, this is not a way to talk. I already told you Priya is not your mother. Whether you like it or not, Esha is going to be your Mother. You misbehaved in front of everyone. Say sorry to everyone right now." Ram yelled, scaring Peehu.

Peehu frightened and ran to her room crying badly.

"This is not the way to talk with Peehu." Neha said, literally unhappy.

Ram was upset and angry at the same time.

"What was she saying, Ram? How did she get to know that Priya is her mother?" Krishna asked out of shock.

"Maa, I am not in a mood to speak anything about Priya right now." Ram dismissed the topic while Krishna looked very displeased with Ram's behavior.

"Peehu is small. We have to make her understand in a sober way. We need to handle her maturely. In this way she will never understand." Neha explained Ram.

Ram clenched his jaws angrily while Esha stood beside him rubbing his arm to cool him down.

"Let me talk to Peehu and make her understand." assured Neha.

Neha turned to go to Peehu's room when Esha stopped her.

"Neha, you wait here; I will speak to Peehu." said Esha.

"Are you sure?" Asked Neha skeptically.

"Yes, Neha, I'll talk with Peehu and I am sure she will understand." said Esha confidently.

Neha agreed and Esha walked upstairs to meet Peehu.

Esha entered Peehu's room. She saw Peehu was sitting on the bed crying holding her favorite toys in her hand.

Peehu saw her coming inside and turned her face to the other side. Esha sat on the bed facing Peehu. She smiled looking at Peehu.

"Today my friend is very angry with me." Esha initiated the talk.

"I am not angry with you Esha Aunty" Peehu admitted.

"Then what happened to my Peehu" asked Esha with a sugar dipped voice.

Peehu said nothing.

"Ok, tell me one thing, don't you like me" Esha asked as she holds Peehu's wrist with her hands.

Peehu looked at her and said "I like you, but you are not my mom. Priya Miss is my mom". Peehu said clearly.

"Why are you saying this? Did your papa tell you that Priya Miss is your mother?" asked Esha seriously.

"Priya Miss told me that she is my mother. I also saw a pic in papa's mobile where Priya Miss holding me in her arms when I was too small." Clarified Peehu.

Esha glared at Peehu.

"Peehu, let me tell you one thing." Said Esha as she tightened her grip on her hands. Peehu winced in pain. "Whether you like it or not, I am going to marry Ram. No one can stop me from doing so."

Esha clutched Peehu harder this time.

"Aunty, leave me. You are hurting me." Said Peehu trying to get her hands free from her grip.

"I am also not looking forward to being your mom. I only want Ram. If you say a single word to Ram, I will not leave you." Said Esha gritting her teeth while looking at Peehu in hatred.

Peehu became very scared and started sobbing. Esha jerked Peehu to look at her. Peehu looked at her horrified.

"Now, stop your drama and come with me. Don't you dare speak anything about this? Keep your mouth shut or else you will be in big trouble. Go, clean your face and come down with a smile on your face." Ordered Esha.

Natasha entered the room after some time.

"What happened Peehu? All Ok? Befriended with Esha Aunty?" Asked Natasha

Peehu looked at Esha who was signaling her to not utter anything. She was startled and remembered her words. Peehu nodded her head half-heartedly.

"That's like a good girl. Come down now." said Natasha. She held Peehu's hand and took her down.

**********

Ram and Esha exchanged rings on the engagement day. Everyone one was engrossed in the celebration. Neha noticed Peehu who was standing away from the crowd.

Neha reached Peehu's side. "What happened Peehu? Why are you standing here alone? Go and take photos with your papa and Esha Aunty." Said Neha with a cheerful smile.

"No, I don't want to take photos." said Peehu petrified. Neha frowned at her confused.

"Why Peehu? Are you still angry with Papa?" asked Neha.

Peehu fixed her gaze to the floor.

"Look at me, Peehu and tell me what you are thinking?" said Neha as she made Peehu look at her.

"Did anything happen? Why are you looking so scared?" asked Neha out of concern caressing Peehu's hair.

Peehu looked at Esha and then at Neha "Neha Aunty..." Peehu stammered. "Esha aunty..." Peehu saw Esha coming near them.

"Yes, Peehu, Esha Aunty what?" Neha asked further but before Peehu could say anything Esha came.

"Peehu darling come, why are you standing here alone, let's take some photographs together. Come with me." Esha said, holding Peehu's hand. Neha smiled awkwardly at Esha sensing something odd in Peehu's behavior.

In the dinner table,

"When did you guys meet? I mean I wanted to hear how Ram ended up agreeing to marry." Vikram asked Ram and Esha.

"I will tell you everything, but before that let's have dinner." Said Ram smilingly.

Ram and Esha sat together. Esha made sure Peehu sat next to her.

"I'm not hungry Bua, I don't want to eat anything" said Peehu when Natasha served Peehu her favorite Aaloo Paranthe.

"What happened? Why are you not hungry" asked Natasha concerned. Ram was not happy with Peehu.

"Fine Peehu, if you are not hungry then go to your room and sleep." said Ram bitterly.

"Shut up fatty, this is not the way to talk with Peehu" said Neha angrily.

"Ok...Ok don't fight guys. I am sure if I feed her, Peehu will definitely eat. Right Peehu." Said Esha and served her food.

Rest of the people were making Ram understand that he should not shout at Peehu like that. Esha served her parantha and glared at Peehu when no one was noticing them. Peehu got frightened and ate her dinner without complaining.

After dinner, Ram went to drop Esha home. Ram was silent throughout the ride. Esha tried to start a conversation but Ram was keeping the conversation short. Soon they reached Esha's house.

"We have reached." Said Ram forcing a smile.

"What happened baby? Is everything all right? Asked Esha with a sugar-coated voice.

"No Esha, I'm fine." said Ram with a smile. Esha narrowed her eyes. "I just wanted to say sorry for Peehu's behavior. I think she did not accept you yet." Apologized Ram.

Esha smiled as she held Ram's hand and nodded in negation.

"What are you saying, baby? I did not feel bad at all. Now, Peehu is not only your daughter anymore, she is my daughter too. I love her more than anything else." Esha squeezed his hand assuring him not to worry.

Ram smiles and says. "Thanks Esha for agreeing to the marriage even after I told you everything. I wanted to marry because of Peehu. She needs a mother and I can't get her real mother in her life. I don't know whether I will be able to meet your expectations but I will definitely try." Ram said genuinely looking at Esha.

"I completely understand. You don't need to feel guilty about it." Esha said.

Ram smiled at her and they got down from the car.

Esha went to him and hugged him, taking Ram in surprise. "I am so happy that we are engaged now." She hugged him tightly.

Ram did not make any slight move standing like a rock with her sudden move.

"I think I should get going now. It's late, so I will see you later." Ram said stammering.

Esha nodded and left before Ram drove back to KM.

Peehu was started with the recent happenings. She was shivering and covered herself with a blanket. Whenever she tried to close her eyes, Esha's glaring face appeared, making her panicked. She was petrified and wailing. Peehu clutched the blanket tightly over her head in fear.

"Mamma" cried Peehu frantically. She closed her eyes tightly.

On the other side,

Priya struggled to sleep peacefully as her mind was anxious since morning. She even had a nightmare and jerked out from her sleep. Priya was missing Peehu like anything today. She did not know why she was feeling very restless about Peehu.

"Peehu," said Priya to herself. Priya felt like Peehu was calling her out for help.

Her eyes brimmed with tears unknowingly. She wanted to see Peehu a lot but she did not know whether Ram would allow her to meet Peehu.