Ram came back home and went inside Peehu's room. She was sleeping holding her teddy near her chest. Ram smiled caressing her head. He jumped into trance thinking about Peehu's sudden questions about her mother. He let out a deep sigh not knowing how to make her understand.

Ram shrugged away the thoughts and covers Peehu with the duvet properly. He kissed Peehu on the forehead before leaving the room.

"Hey Choti" Ram called Nuts who is in the living room.

"Did Peehu have her dinner?" Ram asked.

"Yes Bhai" Natasha nodded.

"And what about you and maa?" He asked.

"Yes Bhai, Go freshen up and come for dinner till then I reheat the food for you." Natasha said affectionately.

"No Choti, I am not hungry at all, I am tired, and I want to sleep". Natasha saw disappointment on his face.

"How long will you hide Bhai, one or the other day, you have to tell about Priya and I am sure Peehu will understand soon." Natasha said in a serious tone.

Ram chose to be silent.

"Bhai I don't know why, but Peehu is being punished for your mistakes. I still can't digest that you did wrong with my best friend." Natasha vented out her anger.

"That's true Natasha; I don't deny that I made many grave mistakes in my life. My way of living was completely different altogether. I admit it, I did wrong with Priya. I took advantage of her helplessness, but I never separated Peehu from Priya. She herself left Peehu and me. It's been more than three long years; I do not know anything about her." Ram tried to explain his point. Ram was never comfortable whenever this topic came up, he felt guilty and ashamed of his own behavior.

"Exactly bhai you took advantage of her helplessness. Priya is away from her parents because of you. You must have heard this saying 'Jaisi karni waisi bharni' it is happening here. You are the sole reason that Priya is away from her family and now Peehu is away from motherly love" Natasha sighed in disappointment.

"One minute Choti, don't put all the blame on me. I love Priya with all of my heart. We would have lived happily together as a great family if she did not choose to disown us. I would have helped her to be on good terms with her parents again by some or other way but what she did is also not acceptable Choti." Ram pissed off remembering his past.

"I don't know how I will react if she ever comes in front of my vision. I will never forgive her for abandoning Peehu, how could she do that?" Ram fisted his palm to control his anger.

"Bhai, why don't you understand whatever was between you and Priya was not more than just a deal. Once the deal finished, she left us. Are you not the one who made her realize about the deal every time? Why are you bringing emotions in all this? Please Bhai move on, the way Priya did". Natasha tried explaining Ram. She wanted him to move on and forget about the past.

"It's not only a deal between us choti, it is much more than that. We were just not parents but also lived like husband-wife and suddenly one fine day, she left me and Peehu without even saying a word". Ram said, raising his voice. Ram was stuck, he wanted to move on but his past always pulled him behind.

Natasha could feel the pain of her brother. Directly or indirectly, she was also responsible for this situation. She just caressed his arm.

"Bhai Priya is gone but we have Peehu. We will explain that her mother is never going to come back. Irrespective of your relationship between you and Priya, we have to explain Peehu everything very carefully." Natasha tried to calm down her brother.

Ram smiled "You know what choti, I did not realize when did you grow up and talk maturely than me."

"Yes, because I have to handle Peehu and you also." Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Hey, don't say anything to my Peehu." Ram warned her.

"Bhai, tell me one thing, did Peehu get your habits or Priya's habit. I am sure she has all your habits and resembles more like you." Natasha playfully said.

"Oye shut up choti, what do you mean? Peehu is my daughter so obviously all her habits she got from me only." Ram said proudly.

"Ok bhai, I agree but now please go and change till then I reheat the food". Natasha said and went to the kitchen.

Ram nodded and left.

Next day in school,

"Good morning everyone" Priya greeted the students.

"I will check your homework so everybody take out your notebook". Priya said walking towards the students.

Priya is checking one by one and she goes to Peehu. Peehu kept her head down.

"What happened Peehu? Have you finished your homework today?" Priya asked.

"Sorry miss, I forgot to do my homework". Peehu said apologetically.

"Why Peehu?" Priya inquired.

"Yesterday bua took me to the park and when I came back, I was very tired and fell asleep," Peehu told her reasons with an innocent face.

Priya smiled seeing her innocence.

"Peehu, you could have finished your homework before playing or going outside. Moreover, it will not take much time. See how simple it is and you can do it on your own without anyone's help." Priya explained to her.

Peehu looks down, feeling guilty.

"It's ok Peehu, don't get upset, I will not punish you but next time do your homework. Is that clear?" Priya made her understand.

"Ok miss" Peehu said smiling. Priya smiled seeing her happy.

During break,

"So Priya, how are you finding this job?" one of the teachers asked.

"Yes, school is big, paying well, I don't have any issues so far." Priya replied by taking her lunchbox from her bag.

"Yes they are paying well but these children are actually headache, they are rich spoilt brats. They never listen to us and most of them are mannerless. In addition, there is a strict order from the management that not to punish children." Teacher said, making faces, throwing out her anger.

Priya smiled seeing her.

"And that is why we are here to make them better" said Priya, sharing her point.

"Without punishment they are not going to learn anything?" the teacher replied.

"So Priya, where are your kids studying? Didn't you enroll them in this school?" another teacher asked.

"School fees here are more than my salary. This school is for rich people only, not people like us". Priya said, putting the morsel of roti in her mouth.

"Priya you are highly qualified then why are you teaching here?" The teacher asked curiously.

"I am taking MBA classes twice a week in the evening time." Priya answered her question.

"Why don't you look for a job in any MNC? They will pay you well." Other person curiously asked, looking at Priya.

"I can't afford to give my full time to the job. Sometimes we might need to work overtime in those organizations, which I cannot afford right now, as my kids are small. There are no such restrictions in this job and less working hours and on top of it, I like teaching kids." Priya explained her colleagues.

An attendant entered to inform Priya that the principal is looking for her. Priya nodded and quickly finished her lunch before leaving for the Principal's cabin.

The moment Priya left, other teachers started back bitching about Priya.

"I heard that Priya is unmarried and her boyfriend left her when she was pregnant and now, she can't even go home so she is staying alone". One of the teachers murmured and others nodded in surprise.

After finishing the work, Priya is sitting on the bed beside Aryan and Amaira who were in deep slumber. Priya takes the dairy from the side shelf and flips the pages. She stops at a particular page, which has a picture inside; she holds it in her hand. It was a pic of Ram holding her baby. Tears flow freely down from her eyes. She caressed the picture before kissing it dearly. She covered her mouth trying to control her sobs.

"I'm sorry Pari, mumma had to leave you. There is not a single day when I do not think about you. I miss you so much 'my princess'. You must have grown big, mumma don't even know how you look like but I am sure you have grown just like your papa golu golu". Priya chuckled. "I don't know if I will ever be able to meet you".

"Next month is your fifth birthday. I am sorry Pari I will not be able to celebrate the birthday with you but I am always with you and my blessings are with you as always." Priya said, trying to control her sobs.

"I am sure papa will celebrate your birthday grandly and organize a big party for you." Saying this Priya kissed the photo one more time.

"Pari you know these two are your little brother and Sister Aryan and Amaira." Priya said, showing the sleeping kids.

Aryan and Amaira (showing the pic). "He is your father and she is your big sister, Pari." Said Priya smiling faintly.

"I don't know if we will ever meet each other or not." Priya cried silently.

"Ram would not even know that he has two more children and I don't want him to know either. If he ever comes to know, he will snatch them too. He took advantage of my weakness. Knowing what he did to me, I still fell in love with him. People say I may be suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Knowing the man, who hurt me badly but I still fell in love with him with all my heart. I trusted him, but he broke my trust and crushed my feelings." Priya could not control anymore and cried uncontrollably.

Ram is sitting on the bed scrolling on his mobile and going through the pics. He has a secret folder in his mobile where he has all pictures of Priya and Peehu. He stops at one particular pic. It is a pic of Priya holding Peehu for the first time. He still remembers her glowing face when she held Peehu for the first time after delivery. Her eyes sparkled and filled with moisture looking at the bundle of happiness.

Priya had a big smile on her face that used to make him smile. He arched his head back and inhaled deep breaths. He closed his eyes and remembered his memories from the past.

Flashback: Six years back,

It was a beautiful morning. Ram was awake and went to Natasha's room to wake her up. Natasha was sleeping side-ways hugging her pillow.

"Choti, Choti wake up lazy bones." Said Ram nudging Natasha. Natasha groaned and turned to the other side of the bed in annoyance.

"Chotti, what is this. It is 9 o'clock and you are still sleeping," asked Ram.

"Bhai please, let me sleep. Please" said Natasha in her sleeping mode. "I slept really late last night."

"Choti, how many times I have told you that I don't like your fashion designing, join business with me.," said Ram taking the duvet from her.

Natasha gets irritated and gets up. "Bhai, fashion designing is my passion. I have no interest in business, you can handle that a lot better than me." Said Natasha convincing him.

"Also get married soon and don't disturb me every morning. You can disturb your wife in the morning and don't wake me up." Said Natasha pulling the duvet on top of her head. Ram made a face 'she is never going to learn'.

"First of all you know that I will not get married. Also you are going to wake up early every day and my marriage has nothing to do with this," said Ram making faces. Natasha ignored it pretending to be asleep.

"Also I have made a decision, you are going to take MBA" said Ram in a serious tone. Natasha got up and turned to Ram. Her shocked expression was enough for Ram to understand that she does not like the idea.

"Bhai, what are you saying. I do not want to study MBA. I like fashion designing." said Natasha.

"You will do an MBA and that is final. I know you do not have time for MBA because of your fashion designing and that is why I have talked to the biggest institute from this area. They will send the best tutor to our home only so no more discussions." Said Ram finalizing his idea.

"Bhai try to understand, I am not going to do this. In addition, whoever is coming please send them back because I will not do an MBA course. Natasha Kapoor has only one goal in her life and that is to become India's No.1 fashion designer," declared Natasha.

"Natasha you can do whatever you want to but before that you will listen to me. So, no more arguments on this topic, please." Said Ram.

"But bhai"Natasha tried convincing him.

"No buts, now go get ready, your tutor is coming soon. Also I will get late so I am going to get ready to my office," said Ram glancing at his watch. Natasha made faces but nothing was going as per her wish. She had to take MBA tuition classes and that was final.

"I will call you later. Bye Nuts" said Ram before leaving the room.

After a while, there was a knock on the door

Bansi kaka opens the door. The person asked for Natasha. He let the person come inside and asked the person to sit.

"Please wait till then I call Natasha Baby" said Bansi Kaka. The person nodded with a soft smile.

She glanced at the huge mansion, rich interior with classic antique pieces and beautiful paintings hanging on the wall.

"Yes?"-said Natasha

"Hello Natasha. I am Priya Sharma, your MBA tutor" the person exchanged a handshake.

"Oh" said Natasha, not at all interested.

"Hello Ms Sharma." Natasha said.

"You can call me Priya." Priya replied with a pleasant smile. Natasha smiled back.