"Stop going on and on about this!"

"I wouldn't have to if you did what you were supposed to!"

"I am doing what I should be doing. I cannot go on and on about it, justifying my actions to you everyday"

"You wouldn't have to justify it if it was right!"

"And what would be right? Only what you think is correct, right?"

Ria stood in the passage leading to the study. She was trying to figure out if she should step in. There were some matters that were private – personal between a husband and wife and no one had the right to interfere, not even a caring sister. But this had been going on for a few nights now!

She sighed. She knew what was coming up.

"You have changed!"

"I haven't changed. It is just that I cannot fulfill all your whims and fancies now. I have to work as well"

"You think this is my whim?"

"Shikha!"

The door banged and Ria saw Shikha walk past her in a huff, unaware of who or what was around her.

"Enough Lav!"

"Mom! Please stop badgering me"

"I wouldn't need to if you didn't make me"

"I am not making anyone do anything. Can you people not let me work?"

"Work is all you can see right now"

"Because this is my responsibility"

"And your wife?"

"She should be understanding on this. Like you were when Papa was making something for himself and for us"

"He didn't drive himself mad with silly rivalry so much so that he forgot eating or sleeping"

"I would eat well and sleep better if you let me finish my work and not do this drama every night!"

Ria stepped out of her room. She couldn't see them like this anymore.

As she walked towards the study, she saw her father standing quietly outside. He saw her and motioned her to follow him. They went to the small terrace garden on the top floor of their mansion.

"Papa" Ria said softly "We have to do something. I am worried"

Sharad sighed and patted her cheek "Parent and child's relationship is very delicate," he said with a serious look in his eyes. "Till the children grow up, you are their protector; you stand between them and world," he said looking in her eyes, willing her to understand it. "But then they grow up; you have to change and become their support instead. You have to let them face the world, become strong; all the while you are ready, standing behind them, to catch them if they fall"

"Papa" Ria said softly, seeing her usually fun father don a very somber look

"There comes a time when you have to see them free and let them fly. And that means letting them make mistakes as well," he said, not letting Ria interrupt him.

"What if instead of falling, the child is destroying themselves?" Ria asked softly

"Then you help them pick up the pieces and rebuild themselves," Sharad said

"Can you see Bhai breakdown?" Ria asked "Mom is already on tenterhooks. I am not sure if Bhai's marriage can take the strain either."

"A child never breakdowns alone. His parents' breakdown along with him," Sharad said

"I cannot see that happen," Ria said choking on emotions

"Your brother and you are strong individuals. I take great pride in seeing you both," Sharad said looking at her.

Ria looked at him confused. She wasn't sure what he was trying to say

"But that comes at its own price. If you force a strong person to look at things your way, against their wishes, they fight back harder," he told her

Ria remained quiet

"You Mom is emotional. That is the best quality about her. But like you, your brother will not bow down and go with her wishes or understand her concerns. He will go further away and thrown himself even more in what he will start thinking is a lone battle," Sharad said

Ria looked at him surprised.

"You don't think I believe that you were in all those different hotels when you went to check the property in Pedhe, do you?" he asked her.

Ria looked at him startled. Her heart beating a million miles an hour

"You think I don't see your need to prove yourself?" he asked her quietly "You are my daughter; my life blood. I know you well"

"Papa," Ria said, though she wasn't sure what she could tell him

"I will wait for you to tell me what really happened," he told her, seeing her struggle for a few minutes "I trust you. I was worried, worried to death, when there was no contact. But when you called Jaya, I was sure whatever was happening, you would handle and you needed to see it through yourself; for your own sake"

Ria felt her eyes prick listening to his words. She closed the gap and hugged him tightly "Papa," was all she could utter for a while

"I love you too," Sharad said patting her

They stood they quietly for a while

"Papa, I am really worried about Bhai," Ria admitted softly after a few minutes "He is heading to burnout; and fast"

"I know, Riyu," he said

"Can we not do something?" Ria pleaded with him "I cannot watch him like this. He is barely sleeping for 3-4 hours every night. He is either in the study, in meetings or in office all the time. He barely has time for food"

"He has been doing that for more than a month now," Sharad said quietly "If it was easy to change it, Shikha and Jaya would have done it by now"

Even though her father never said, not really hinted it either, but the hidden implication of his words was clear. Ria had never seen this before, even though it was happening almost in front of her eyes. She was lost in her own war with Shiv to notice what was happening.

Sharad patted her cheek again, with a soft smile. "All we can do is be there for him, show him we will stand by him no matter what the end result," he said before walking away.

Ria saw her father leave and went back her room as well. The house was quiet now. But the silence wasn't a peaceful one. She was somehow sure that Lav was still in the library working. Shikha was in her room, probably worried angry and worried. Her mom would be fretting in her own room; her dad trying to calm her down.

Ria sighed and laid down in her own bed. She fell into a restless sleep. One that left her dull and exhausted when she woke up.

"Ria!" her mother hollered from the dining area

Ria rushed down the stairs. "What happened? Is everything okay?" she asked in a rush

The events of last night were still floating in her head and she was worried that something had happened. Something like Shikha leaving. Her Bhai won't be able to take it, when it came down to it, despite their fights. She knew that.

Her mother looked at her pointedly. She extended a bag towards her. A Louis Vuitton bag.

"This just came for you," she said, eyeing Ria critically

Ria took the bag. Confused why she had received it. She didn't remember shopping at the store recently. She opened it skeptically to find a stole in it. One just like the one she had.

"Who is SK?" her mother asked her

"SK?" Ria looked at her confused before something struck her. Shiv! That idiot. It had to be him. She had almost forgotten about the stole. It has been 1 week already and the troubles at home kept her occupied.

"There was a card  with the stole with those initials," her mother said bluntly

"It is a friend of mine," Ria bluffed not wanting to explain anything about Shiv or what happened during the trip

"What friend is this? I haven't heard about this one," Jaya said raising her eyebrow

"It is a friend from NY, Mom" Ria said shrugging her shoulders even though her heart was beating fast.

She glanced over at the table to find her father and Lav looking at her. It wouldn't do to even let Shiv's name out in front of her Bhai. They would have another big fight right there.

"That is what I am asking. Which friend?" Jaya kept at it. Her mom was sticky as a chewing gum when it came to some subjects. After the situation with Lav, she had gone into an extra protective mode.

Ria pressed her mind for a quick answer. "Shiv--ani. Shivani!"

"Shivani who?" Her mom wasn't giving up

"Jaya, stop interrogating her. She said it is her friend," her father said quietly, trying to avert a blowup. Though he did raise an eyebrow at Ria.

"Shivani. Shivani Kalra" Ria blurted quickly

"And she is a friend?" Jaya asked again

"Yes!" Ria said confidently

"She had a weird way of showing it," Jaya said looking unconvinced.

"What do you mean?" Ria asked narrowing her eyes

"She sent a funny note with this," Jaya said

"What note?" Ria asked

"This one," Jaya said as she looked Ria in the eyes, even as she handed the note.

Ria read it. It was a hand scribbled note. It just said –

'It is brand new. I am sure you will check the bill to be sure.

Don't think that this changes anything.

-       SK'

Shiv! That idiot. Even his note reeked of attitude. She almost felt that she could treat him like any other normal business rival after that horrible trip. But no! He deserved his own personal spot right at the top of her stupid idiotic enemies list.

"Well?" her mother looked at her, expecting an answer to the stupid note.

She had one; one that she would want to personally deliver to him. If only she could share it with her mom.

Thanks so much for reading the chapter. I hope you are liking the story till now. If you are, please do remember to hit the vote button.

I would love to hear your comments on what you think.