In the evening, Priya decided to check on the kids and make sure they had something to eat after their long day at preschool. Quietly entering their room, she found Aryan and Amaira fast asleep, curled up on the bed. Priya approached them with a soft smile, gently calling out their names to rouse them from their slumber.

"Aryan, Amaira, wake up," Priya whispered, her voice tender as she tried to coax them awake.

Aryan stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he rubbed his eyes. In his grogginess, he immediately inquired about his father, his voice tinged with hope and excitement. "Is Papa back?" he asked eagerly, scanning the room for any sign of his father's presence.

Priya's heart sank at his question, uncertainty clouding her thoughts as she struggled to find the right words to respond. With a heavy sigh, she gently brushed a hand over Aryan's hair, silently wishing she could give him the answer he longed to hear.

"Aryan, let's go have some milk," Priya suggested softly, hoping to distract him from his disappointment for the time being.

As she turned her attention to Amaira, who was just beginning to stir, Priya masked her own emotions, determined to keep a brave face for her children's sake. "Amaira, sweetheart, it's time to wake up," she said, offering her daughter a reassuring smile before guiding them out of the room.

"Have some milk, and then we can go out to the park today," Priya suggested, hoping to divert their minds.

The absence of Ram loomed large, casting a shadow over their young hearts. Their sadness seemed to deepen with each passing moment, their minds consumed by thoughts of their father. Persistent in their longing, they turned to Priya with voices tinged with both yearning and frustration.

"Mumma, I want to meet Papa," Aryan pleaded, his eyes pleading for the comfort of his father's presence.

Amaira echoed her brother's sentiment, her voice trembling with the same longing. "I want to see Papa too," she added, her small hands clutching onto Priya's for reassurance.

Priya, feeling overwhelmed by their constant inquiries, tried to dodge their inquiries by diverting their attention back to the milk.

"Stop talking about it and drink the milk," Priya insisted, her tone was firm.

But Aryan remained adamant, refusing to comply. "No, I won't drink until Papa comes," he declared.

"Aryan, enough!" Priya scolded, her patience wearing thin. "I've told you repeatedly, your father is not going to come here anymore. You need to understand that and stop asking."

"But Mumma..." Aryan persisted; his voice tinged with frustration.

"Aryan, stop it," Priya interjected firmly, pushing the glass of milk towards him and Amaira.

Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Aryan's anger boiled over, and he slammed his milk glass onto the floor, the contents spilling across the tiles. Tears welled up in his eyes as disappointment engulfed him.

Priya's frustration reached its peak at his action. In a moment of desperation, she lashed out and slapped Aryan across the cheek, the sharp sound reverberating in the room. Amaira gasped, her eyes wide with shock and fear.

Aryan and Amaira were startled by their mother's sudden display of emotion. Conflicted and confused, they yearned for their father's presence but couldn't bear the thought of leaving their mother.

"Face the reality, Aryan and Amaira. Papa and Peehu won't be returning," Priya asserted, her tone unwavering.

Aryan's voice choked with tears as he uttered the words, "I hate you, Mumma," his heart heavy with sorrow and frustration.

Amaira, frightened by the sudden turn of events, quietly took Aryan's hand and led him inside their room, seeking solace in each other's presence.

Priya stood there, her hand trembling, realizing the gravity of her actions and the need to mend the rift between them.

Priya stepped out of her apartment in the evening to clear off her mind.

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

Meanwhile, in the Kapoor Mansion, Peehu's determination to meet her mother grew stronger, causing a challenge for Natasha and Krishna to manage her.

"Peehu, sweetheart, please calm down," Natasha pleaded, her voice tinged with concern.

But Peehu's resolve remained unyielding as she continued to insist on seeing her mother, her body trembling with determination. "I want to go to Mumma's house. I do not want to stay here."

At the same time, Ram returned from the office, greeted by Peehu's adamant behavior, which only seemed to escalate.

Ram noticed Peehu's persistent demands echoing through the house. Natasha and Krishna stood nearby; weariness etched on their faces as they tried to reason with the determined little girl.

Ram sighed heavily as he approached them, hoping to reason with her. Ram went close to her and sit in front of her. "Peehu, darling, I understand you miss your mother, but you have to listen to us." he urged, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Dadi and Bua love you so much and they care for you. You need to listen to them and do not trouble them." Ram added.

But Peehu's frustration only seemed to intensify at Ram's words. "No! I want to see Mumma now!" she protested; her voice filled with stubborn defiance.

Ram's patience began to wear thin as he tried to reason with Peehu, his attempts met with resistance at every turn.

Natasha exchanged a worried glance with Krishna, silently acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. Despite their best efforts, Peehu seemed determined to have her way.

As the standoff continued, Ram's irritation grew, his exhaustion magnifying the challenge of dealing with Peehu's stubbornness.

Ram ran a hand through his hair, frustration, and exhaustion warring within him.

Ram raised his voice, his words laced with exasperation. "Peehu, enough! You need to listen to us and accept the fact. We all will stay here like before and not going to Mumma's place." he admonished, his tone firm.

"But Papa." Peehu tried to talk.

Ram raised his hand and asked her to stop talking about the topic. "Your Mumma doesn't want us at her place and she doesn't want to stay with us. No more discussions about this, Peehu." Ram said strongly.

Krishna interrupted saying, "Ram, what are you saying to her? This is not the right way to make her understand."

"Peehu should know the truth that her mother does not want her in her life. I did what I can do but we cannot fulfill all her wishes, Peehu should understand this clearly." Ram disclosed it.

Peehu was stunned to know the truth.

Peehu was crying immensely and Ram left from there to his room. Natasha & Krishna started to console the little girl but she was only looking out for her mother now.

"Please Dadi, Bua, take me to Mumma." Peehu was crying badly while Natasha & Krishna looked at her helplessly.

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

Priya stepped out of the apartment in the evening and she was greeted by her friendly neighbors, who were gathered in the common area of their colony. Among them was Mrs. Desai, a cheerful lady known for organizing community events.

"Namaste, Priya!" Mrs. Desai called out warmly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Namaste, aunty," Priya replied with a smile, returning the greeting.

Mrs. Desai & Mrs. Gupta approached Priya, their expression filled with enthusiasm.

"Didn't know that you have 3 kids?" Mrs. Gupta asked.

"Yes, Aunty. She is my elder daughter." Priya replied.

"Good to see your husband. Why didn't you tell us that the business tycoon Ram Kapoor is your husband?" Mrs. Desai asked.

"Why are you staying here in this colony if you are married to Ram Kapoor? Is there any problem with your in-laws?" Mrs Gupta asked out of curiosity.

Looking at Priya's silence, Mrs. Desai interrupted saying, "Actually, we came to inform you that we are planning to celebrate Karwa Chauth in our colony this year, and we would love for you to join us." Mrs Desai invited Priya.

Priya's smile faltered slightly as she processed Mrs. Desai's words. She had not anticipated being invited to participate in the festival, considering her current circumstances. However, she did not want to offend her neighbors by declining their invitation.

"Karwa Chauth?" Priya repeated, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Yes, dear," Mrs. Desai confirmed.

"We all can gather in the morning for Sargi and story and in the evening for the puja and then break our fast together after sighting the moon. It's a wonderful way to celebrate marital love and unity, isn't it?" Mrs Desai explained.

"It will be good to celebrate with everyone." Mrs. Gupta added.

Priya's mind raced as she grappled with how to respond. She knew that revealing the complexities of her relationship with Ram could lead to unwanted questions and gossip. However, she also didn't want to mislead Mrs. Desai, Mrs. Gupta and the other neighbors.

"I... I appreciate the invitation, aunty," Priya began carefully, choosing her words with caution. "But, um, Ram and I... well, we're not exactly traditional in that sense."

Mrs. Desai's smile faltered for a moment as she processed Priya's words. "The invitation still stands if you would like to join us. It is not just about husbands and wives, after all. It's about celebrating love and togetherness in all its forms."

Priya felt a sense of relief wash over her at Mrs. Desai's words. "Thank you, aunty. I'll... I'll definitely consider it."

As Priya retreated into her apartment, she was stressed over the complexities of her relationship with Ram. She was also stressed about how to make the kids understand the current situation. On top of it, their neighbors assumed them as a married couple. Priya found herself grappling with the weight of their secret. While she longed for the comfort of sharing their truth with someone, she also feared the consequences of exposing their unconventional story to the judgmental gaze of society.

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

Will Priya keep fast on Karwachauth for Ram or not? What do you think?