At present,

"Where is Peehu?" Ram asked Natasha as soon as he came back home after dropping Esha.

"Bhai she is sleeping." replied Natasha.

"Okay, I will go check on her once." Ram was about to leave to Peehu's room just when Natasha hugged Ram.

"I am so happy for you bhai. It is a right decision for you and Peehu too." Natasha said as she tightened her hug. Ram gave a tight smile and remained silent.

Ram entered Peehu's room to check on her, realizing how rude he was with her. He could see Peehu had securely covered the duvet over her sleeping with her back facing towards him. Ram sighed, "She is just like me when angry." Thought Ram with a light chuckle. He slowly walked up to Peehu, making sure she did not wake up by any noise. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he watched her sleeping.

"I was very harsh on you today. I should have not done that. I am sorry." Ram said softly as he stroked her hair.

"I vented out my anger for Priya on Peehu." said Ram as guilt fondled him.

Ram realized his actions towards Peehu today was not right. He should have taken care of the situation much more delicately as Peehu still a small child.

While he continued stroking Peehu's hair, he noticed something different, Peehu was shivering. Ram was worried when he checked her temperature. He gulped worriedly as fear pelted him. He patted her cheeks calling Peehu but she was not responding. Peehu's flinched her face as if she's scared of something.

Ram was extremely worried seeing Peehu's condition. Just then Ram noticed Peehu was softly murmuring something. He leaned forward to hear what Peehu was murmuring.

"Mumma," called Peehu desperately. Ram pulled himself back out of shock.

"Peehu." Ram again called. Unfortunately, Peehu kept chanting about her Mumma continuously.

"Mumma, Mumma, where are you? I don't want to stay here Mumma. I'm scared. Please take me out from here. I want to be with you, Mumma." Peehu kept saying with her eyes closed. Ram was unaware what Peehu was going through. It pricked his heart when his little daughter didn't want to stay with him.

"Peehu wake up, see your dad is here. Wake up Rockstar." Ram called her.

Ram's body tensed as he realized Peehu's temperature had increased. He was agitated and became more worried about Peehu.

Ram then quickly called Natasha and Maa.

Natasha and Maa came running to Peehu's room. They were all vexed seeing Peehu's state.

"OMG bhai, what happened to Peehu?" said Natasha frantically.

"Don't know Natasha. When I came in, she had covered herself with the sheet. Then I noticed that she was running with high temperature." explained Ram hastily.

Krishna touched Peehu's forehead.

"Natasha, bring a cloth and a bowl of water please." asked Krishna.

"Meanwhile, I will call the doctor." said Ram and called his family doctor without wasting a moment.

"Doctor is coming in fifteen minutes." Ram said as soon as he finished his call.

Ram was holding Peehu near his chest. His heart had skipped beats seeing Peehu like this.

"Don't worry, Ram, she will be alright." Pacified Krishna as she pressed Ram's hand. She could feel the tremble on his hand.

Natasha came in. She put the wet cloth on Peehu's forehead. Natasha also sat next to Peehu taking care of her.

"Now you see what happens when you unnecessarily get angry at her? She is totally scared." Krishna scolded Ram.

Krishna continued. "Peehu is still a small kid. We should be careful and make her understand the things properly instead of shouting at her."

"Maa, I get it. I realized my mistake now." Ram agreed.

"Bhai, I think we should call Esha. Peehu is continuously calling for her Mumma." Natasha suggested.

"Shut up choti, you know who she is referring to." said Ram annoyed.

Ram silenced Natasha glaring at her.

After some time, the Doctor came and examined Peehu. Ram, Krishna and Natasha were standing there. Ram's anxiety was killing him from inside.

The Doctor turned back to them after her check-up.

"Mr. Kapoor, It seems like Peehu is suffering from anxiety and it looks like she is scared of something." said the doctor. Krishna shot Ram an angry glare. Ram looked down with guilt.

"Peehu is having a fever. There is no need to worry, it will subside soon. Give her these medicines." The Doctor forwarded the medicines to him.

They all heaved a sigh of relief. Ram cooled down a bit. Just when his heart had eased, the doctor asked Ram a question.

"Peehu is continuously calling her mother. Where is she?" asked the doctor.

Ram stood numb for a moment.

"She is not at home." lied Ram. The Doctor nodded.

"It will be good if Peehu's mother stays with her. Her anxiety will wear off. Definitely she is scared of something and I suggest spending time with her and keeping her a far distance from any order of stress. I will come tomorrow and check her health." concluded the doctor.

Ram escorted the doctor outside.

Krishna inhaled a deep breath in exasperation.

"Maa I think we should call Esha. Peehu is repeatedly calling for her mother and looks very frightened" Natasha blurted out.

Krishna nodded.

"I think you are right." Krishna said as she paused for a moment to think. "But, is it really the right time to call Esha in the middle of the night? Ram just dropped her just a while ago."

Krishna pointed out.

"Maa, you know how well she handled Peehu. Maybe Esha might fix this situation. I think we should call her. Right now, Peehu's health is more important to us." Natasha stated.

"Ok beta, I agree. Call her." Krishna finally agreed.

Natasha immediately called and informed Esha about Peehu's condition.

Esha was surprised. "I think I should quickly go before Peehu spills the truth about me. If that ever happens Ram will start disliking me and I will never be able to marry him." Esha thought.

Her blood boiled in frustration and anger.

"Are you there?" asked Natasha when got no response from Esha.

Esha came out from her trance "Ah! Yes, Natasha. I am just worried about Peehu. I will be arriving there as soon as possible." said Esha and quickly hung up the call.

Esha would not let Peehu ruin her chance with Ram. She quickly got ready and headed to the Kapoor Mansion.

Late at night, Esha reached the Mansion. Ram was shocked seeing Esha during the late hours.

"Esha? You here?" Ram was astonished as he was not aware that Nuts called her.

"Peehu is not well, how can I sit peacefully at home?" said Esha with fake concern.

"Who told you?" asked Ram questioningly.

"Natasha called me and told me everything. I am so thankful she did that." Said Esha.

Ram glanced over at Natasha angrily. Esha frowned at him.

"Don't stare at her like that Ram. What Natasha did is right. I told you Peehu is a part of my life now. I love her and care for her from the bottom of my heart. How can a mother stay silent when their child is in pain? I want to help Peehu whenever she is in need and want to be a part of her life as much as I do to you too. Do you have any idea how I felt when I heard about Peehu's condition? Ram, why did you not tell me?" Esha put up a worried face in front of Ram.

Ram did not say anything.

Esha went to look at Peehu. She faked love in front of Kapoors.

"Maa, you please go and take some rest. I will take care of Peehu." Esha assured Krishna with a smile who seemed very tired.

"Okay beta. I am so glad you came here even at this time of night. Now that you are here, I have nothing to worry about." Krishna said before departing to her room.

Esha then turned to Ram, who was sitting beside Peehu on the other end. He looked broken and guilty. The worry could be clearly seen on his face.

"Ram, you also go and take some rest. Don't worry. I'm there with Peehu. I will not leave Peehu's side and will stay with her till she feels better." assured Esha.

"No, Esha. I will stay with Peehu. You go take rest." Ram denied leaving Peehu's side.

"I insist, Ram. Go freshen up and sleep for some time. You look very pale." Esha insisted on Ram.

Ram smiled nodding his head. He kissed Peehu on her forehead.

"Don't lock the room. I will come and check Peehu in between." said Ram before going to his room.

Krishna's face was twisted in a saddened expression. Natasha looked over at Krishna with a concerned look.

"What happened, Maa? You look worried. What's running on your mind?" asked Natasha with worry, as she placed her hand on Krishna's shoulder.

Krishna sighed deeply.

"I am thinking about Priya." Krishna confessed "If everything is fine, she would have been with her daughter today."

Natasha cringed in frustration.

"Oh, please Maa! Priya moved on in her life. Did she ever think of Bhai? Did she ever realize how much it would hurt bhai?" Asked Natasha angrily.

Krishna placed her hand over Natasha's hand. She looked into her eyes.

"I know but did we ever think how Priya must have felt? She must be broken from what Ram did to her, we cannot forget that. If ever I meet Priya again, I will apologize to her for what she had gone through because of Ram." Krishna said determinedly.

Annoyance was crystal clear on Natasha's face.

"Come on maa, what are you thinking? Priya tried to come close to Peehu, so that she could separate her from Bhai." Said Natasha. It was bothering Natasha that her mother still felt concerned for Priya.

In the wee hours, Peehu was still running with high temperature. Her overall mental state was in a bad state too.

Peehu suddenly felt a chill of fright race through her body.

"Mumma" Peehu screamed as soon as she opened her eyes with horror. Just then her eyes find Esha. Peehu became startled and a shriek escaped from Peehu's mouth. She clutched the sheets tightly. It felt like the fear Peehu was hiding inside her was flowing out seeing Esha.

Esha jerked out from her sleep hearing Peehu's voice. She looked at her angrily.

"Stop this drama, Peehu! I know precisely why you are doing all this but let me tell you, your plan will not work. I will marry Ram at any cost and in any situation if that does not happen then I will kill you." Esha threatened Peehu.

Peehu frightened and started sobbing slowly. She dug her face in her blanket to avoid looking at Esha. The vision of hate before her is nothing like she had ever experienced before.

"Now stop crying and go to sleep, now." Esha said with a tone of warning.

Peehu trembled with fear.

*********

Next morning,

Ram entered in Peehu's room. He saw Esha sleeping beside Peehu holding her near.

He went near Peehu and checked her temperature. Temperature was still above normal. With the touch of Ram, Peehu opened her eyes. She hugged Ram tightly weeping badly. Esha also woke up with the noise.

"What happened, Peehu? Why are you crying?" Ram patted her back.

Ram became terrified seeing Peehu crying. He tried to console but Peehu nodded her head negatively and clasped Ram's kurta tightly in her fists.

"Mum...ma...Mum...ma" Peehu stammered. She became unconscious due to tiredness. She drained herself completely.

Ram shivered and laid her on bed before calling the doctor.

"Did Peehu wake up in the night?" asked Ram worriedly. Sweat beads formed on his forehead.

"No Ram, she slept peacefully." Esha replied.

"Relax Ram, she will be alright." Esha said to him, keeping her hand on his shoulder.

"Esha you go and freshen up in my room." said Ram.

"No Ram, I will stay here" replied Esha quickly.

"I know that you are worried about Peehu. But please go to my room and freshen up, till then the doctor will also come. I will stay with Peehu.''

Esha nodded and left the room.

Upon entering Ram's room, she looked at the biggest room in the mansion.

"Would be Mrs. Esha Ram Kapoor." Esha said and turned around, closing her eyes and spreading hands in air.

"I don't believe this! Very soon I'm going to rule this house." Squealed Esha in excitement. She looked over the room by detail as she was drawn by the beauty and then went to freshen up.

Natasha and KK entered Peehu's room.

"Any improvement, bhai?" asked Natasha concerned.

"Fever is still above normal but..." Ram paused.

"What bhai?" asked Natasha curiously?

"Peehu is asking for her mother. She is not listening to me and is stubbornly holding on to it. I couldn't tell her anything. She had that need and want in her eyes, I couldn't do anything with her desperate look." Said Ram dejectedly.

"Can you go and convince Priya once to come and look at Peehu." asked Krishna quickly. Ram's body flinched hearing Priya's name. It felt like his voice got stuck in his throat for a second.

"What are you saying, maa? All this commotion was caused by Priya in the first place and now you want to call Priya to take care of this situation. No way, that's a bad idea. By the way, Esha is here anyways, why we should call Priya. Also, what will Esha think? Do you have any clue about what you suggested?" Said Ram opposing Krishna's suggestion.

"Ram, I know what I am saying." Krishna replied firmly and calmed herself down. "Right now, Peehu is more important than your problems with Priya. Set aside your differences and call Priya once." said Krishna stressing her point.

The Doctor came and checked on Peehu. She called Peehu. Peehu opened her eyes and looked at everybody as if she was searching for somebody.

"Hi Peehu" said the Doctor with a kind smile. "Who are you searching for?"

Esha came inside the room after freshening up.

"I want my Mumma." the words left Peehu in a whispering tone. Krishna and Ram looked at each other.

"Rockstar, look your Mumma is right here." said Natasha pointing at Esha.

"I want 'my Mumma'." Said Peehu with a stretch of firmness in her voice. "Please take me back to Mumma. I want her." pleaded Peehu weeping badly.

Ram fisted his hand out of anger thinking about Priya.

"Ok, Peehu, we will take you to your Mumma. Don't worry darling. Stop crying. See your father is very worried for you." The Doctor pacified Peehu by patting her on the back with assuring words.

"I only want my Mumma." said Peehu repeatedly.

"Ok darling, we will take you to your mother" said the doctor calming her.

The doctor turned towards Ram "Mr. Kapoor, I want to talk with you alone." said the doctor seriously.

***********

"Mr. Kapoor, Peehu's problem is not the fever. She wants her mother very desperately. I strongly recommend that she stay with her. I still have a feeling that Peehu is fearing something. That is why staying with her mother is the best choice right now. May I know where her mother is?" asked doctor

"Doctor we got separated. We don't stay together anymore." Ram informed the Doctor.

"I only suggest one thing: keep aside all the differences and bring Peehu's mother home. Peehu is desperate for her mother. This should be done ASAP or else the situation might turn difficult for us. Peehu could develop deep anxiety and loneliness. Please, she needs a mother more than anything right now." suggested doctor.

Ram nodded, controlling his anger.

P.S:

I know, I know there is no Priya in this update but the above scenes are needed for the story.

Thanks for the 10K + reads.