" Get out of this house, now "  Mr Kapoor shouted at her and granted she should have expected this would be his reaction when he got to know the truth in the worst possible way. 

But Priya can't do as he wanted even if he thought she was shameless. She can't leave the house. Because she won't leave Pihu alone in the house with the vultures. 

" I will leave with Pihu then" Priya answered back feigning a calmness she didn't feel at all. 

"You are not taking my daughter away from me. You already stole five years of her life from me. Not one more minute. Got it Ms Priya Sood." Mr Kapoor shouted at her as she expected, this had always been her worst fear losing Pihu and surprisingly when it happened she didn't feel the fear as she used to do so the past five years. 

Because the man who standing before her and shouting at her was the same man who asked they should be a family irrespective of Pihu's paternity one day ago. 

"In that case, No. I won't be leaving this house and You can't make me leave either " Priya replied back, she knew that she was the last person he would want to be around, but Pihu needs to be protected from his family. 

"How dare you? Do you want me to push you out by force. I will do that if that is what it takes  " Shubham spoke up and Mr Kapoor halted his brother in tracks with one look asking him to not interfere, but also protecting her from his brother's violence. 

"And I would go straight to the first TV station and give an interview that would ensure you will get escorted by police to jail. The Minister will cancel the deal when I tell the world the truth. Do you want me to do so Shubham. From someone who had been to jail, I am pretty sure you won't like the experience" Priya spoke up to him, she knew it would make Mr Kapoor more angry with her, but it was the only way she could stay back, Blackmail. 

"You wouldn't Priya" Mr Kapoor spoke up showing his trust now on matters he didn't need to trust her on because she indeed would do anything for Pihu. 

"I would Mr Kapoor, if you made me leave Pihu. I would cross any line. So no, I won't leave this house" Priya answered back and marched inside the room and locked the door. 

Only under the confines of her room did she break down because just when she was beginning to hope things would get better, her dreams got shattered all over again. 

"Ms Sood, Are you crying ?" the sleepy voice of her daughter got her attention as she got up to give Priya one of her treasured hugs and then went back to sleep after Priya assured her that she was fine.  

Priya couldn't even cry in her room because she can't have Pihu worry about her. But as she lay awake at the bed the whole night, she knew staying back is not the victory. 

It would mean more taunts from Mr Kapoor and his family would already be planning to oust her from the home. But they underestimated Priya will to fight, they assumed they already won over her. 

They didn't know she still would fight to reveal the entire truth. The odds are not in favour, Mr Kapoor may hate her, but she would make sure he got the whole truth before she let him make a decision about their life. 

If after knowing the truth, he still wanted her out of his life. She would walk away from his life but not from Pihu's life. For that to be a possibility, Mr Kapoor needs to know the whole truth. 

Right now the battle wasn't just about Mr Kapoor, but for her rights as  Pihu's mother as well.  

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

Priya knew if Mr Kapoor found out she was meeting Krish early in the morning. He would feel more betrayed, he already assumed she lied to him because she wanted to be with Krish. 

But Krish was worried about her and she needed to assure him that in spite of everything, Priya was fine and Mr Kapoor wouldn't kick her out. She also needed to talk to him about her plan to expose Nandini Kapoor and Shubham. 

Once she told Krish, her plan. He raised valid concerns and hurdles in the plan she already knew, but she had to find a way to work around it. 

"You do realize, Ram need to go along with your plan. After last night, there is no way, he would listen to you" Krish spoke up and she was aware of it, but it was the only way she could make it work. 

" I would find a way to make him accept. Because there is no other way. Even if I told him the entire truth, he won't believe me, Even If I told him that he was wrong and that I never cheated on him in the first place, he won't believe me now. Not after, everything that happened last night. But I need him to know the entire truth and this is the only way." Priya spoke up and turned to leave as she came face to face with Mr Kapoor and she had no idea how much he overheard either. 

"What Plan and What truth? Tell me now. I would like to see what you have come up with after thinking the whole night. " Mr Kapoor asked her angrily. 

" Tell me, you would believe me then I will tell you the entire truth. "Priya asked him, still hoping he would have some trust on her. 

" No, I am sure you would only lie to me. I can't trust anything you say" Mr Kapoor answered back as she expected. 

"It is why, I can't tell you the truth now, Mr Kapoor. Because you won't believe me. You would  expect proof from me. Give me few days, and I would get you the proof you need to believe me" Priya replied back because it is the only way she could prove herself. 

" Oh the great big Plan, you were talking about just now. But you did say that you need my help. How can you make it work without my help? So tell me what is your big plan " Mr Kapoor asked her instead. 

So she told him and she knew he would taunt her about it, but she only hoped he would go along with it as well even if he was skeptical and didn't believe her. 

"I don't get it, how will doing as you say prove anything?" Mr Kapoor asked Priya. 

"I won't ask you trust me, since it isn't possible. But I will assure you that if the plan failed I would leave you without a protest. Can you do as I ask just to be get rid of me as you wanted " Priya asked him and he agreed. Though it hurt to know he wanted her to leave, she was glad that incentive made him agree to go along with her plan. 

"Mr Kapoor, Please don't tell anyone about the plan" Priya told him as he turned to leave because her plan would fail if he told his family. 

"But you can tell Krish, right. Never mind why do I care and I won't tell anyone" Mr Kapoor answered back and left her. 

Now Priya could only hope her plans works out in spite of the odds. 

                    *****************

Priya was waiting for Adi to arrive as planned earlier. At the sound of raised voices she knew everything was going as planned then she heard Mr Kapoor call out for a doctor and Priya feared that his mom would yet again manipulate him with her fake illness. 

Her plan was simple. At first Priya truly believed Nandini Kapoor wanted her out of Mr Kapoor's life because of Shivi, but now she knew it was because she wanted to use Mr Kapoor and control him. 

It was the reason she wanted to keep Pihu away from Mr Kapoor. And Priya could only conclude her reasons were fear that Pihu would end up with Mr Kapoor's wealth instead of her and Shubham. 

Hence her plan, if she made Nandini Kapoor believe that her worst fears are coming true then she would retaliate again. This time Priya would make sure to expose her with evidence. 

Priya asked Mr Kapoor to make it look as if he was naming everything under Pihu's name and make Priya guardian until Pihu grew up if something happens to him. 

Priya always knew his family react harshly be it 5% in Shubham deal or when Mr Kapoor wrote Priya in the will and now they would react just the same when they realise Pihu would get everything. 

So she wasn't surprised to hear his mom raised voice saying Priya can't be named guardian or Shubham calling Mr Kapoor, sautela for betraying him. But she was surprised when Mr Kapoor shouted for a doctor making her believe Nandini Kapoor resorted to pretend illness when things weren't going her way. 

Priya feared Mr Kapoor would shutdown her plan now. Because he wouldn't risk his mom's health. Priya knew the odds weren't in her favour, but hoped for a miracle and ended up getting disappointed.

                 *******************

Ram Kapoor knew he shouldn't have went along with Priya's plan. He shouldn't have risked stressing his mom out and he wanted to call it off. 

Ram wanted to protect his family, but he couldn't do so. After overhearing Priya talking with Krish, and hearing her say that she never cheated on him. Ram felt confused more with her lie, but she refused to tell him the truth because he won't believe her. 

Ram was selfish enough to want those answers that cost him five years of life with his daughter. He wanted to know why she lied to him and after his initial anger had subsided he wanted the truth. 

It was the reason he didn't ask Priya to call it off.  It was also the reason he argued back with his mom right now. 

"Ram, I understand you wish to name everything for your daughter. I get that but why name her as guardian. You got your family Ram to protect Pihu" his mom asked him and awhile it was a valid question he knew that he couldn't tell her the truth either. 

"Priya is Pihu's mom and I can't change that and Shubham would have his own family someday and I can't put another responsibility on him. Priya is the best choice mom, you are already stressed out and I can't add more stress on you as well " Ram answered back and asked her to rest and left the room. 

Ram knew he was lying to his family, but he wanted those answer and felt he deserved them as well. So he hoped  that all the lies would lead to the truth. 

The truth came to him in the middle of the night. When Priya knocked on his door. He hadn't been really sleeping because his mind was filled with way too much thoughts of what transpired earlier that day.  

"You wanted Proof right, Mr Kapoor. Here is your proof" Priya spoke up as she handed over her cell phone to him. 

In was an audio file of recording between Priya and his mom. What he heard in it was too shocking for him to believe as he heard his mom threaten Priya to leave or else she would snatch Pihu away from Priya forever. 

Ram could almost believe that his mom had best intentions even if her actions were wrong until he heard the last part of the conversation. 

"Take Pihu and leave tomorrow. I would make all the travel arrangements. I would keep Ram from following you back, he would stay back by my side if he thinks I am sick enough. So go away at first light tomorrow and never return if you know what is good for you. " his mom told Priya and the fact she would ask Priya take his daughter away from him shocked him. 

"This isn't like five years ago. Mr Kapoor knows Pihu is his kid. He won't ever give up searching for her or I can't lie to him again because you asked " Priya spoke up and there was no denial from his mom making it clear that it had been her who asked for it in the first place. 

"Then you better hide well enough if you know what is good for you" his mom words were the last on the audio file. 

"Why? Why would she do it? I don't believe it. I can't believe it" Ram spoke up and he knew some part of him believed it already because if not he wouldn't be feeling this  betrayed. 

"At first, I thought she was protecting you from me five years back. Not that it excused me keeping you in the dark. But now, I can't have you know only the half truth. If you still can't believe me. I am not sure what else can I do Mr Kapoor. " Priya spoke up and walked away. 

Ram had too many questions to ask Priya, but he also needed to see it with his own eyes this time around. So he asked Priya to exchange places with him as he waited for his mom. 

And she did walk inside the room at first light. No longer sick and Ram realised Priya had been saying the truth about that as well. 

"Here you go Plane tickets for you and your brat. Leave soon before Ram wakes up and never return. " Mrs Nandini Kapoor spoke first before she noticed him and just like that all his questions were answered as he starred at a shocked Nandini Kapoor. 

"I would ask Adi to book plane tickets for you and Shubham instead. Never ever return back if you know what is good for you. " Ram spoke up and walked away from the room. 

As Ram walked back to his room, Priya was waiting anxiously for him. While his daughter slept soundly not aware of her surroundings. She didn't even wake up when Ram carried her to this room, but she did  wake up now as he entered his room and broke down. 

"Mr Khadoos, why are you crying?" Pihu asked him and then looked at her mom for answers. Priya looked back at him helplessly and then his daughter got up from the bed and walked towards him to give an hug. 

"Ms Sood used to say that my hugs makes everything alright and when I hug her, she no longer feels like crying. " Pihu spoke up as she hugged Ram. 

Priya was indeed right because Pihu's one hug was enough to make him forget everything else as he held his daughter in his arms. If all the pain and betrayal he faced led him back to his daughter, then Ram believed it was worth it. 

P.S:" The End. Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks. Hit the votes if you liked it "

Juanita Reid