It was three in the morning, and the cold wind was nipping wherever it touched bare skin. The village was quiet, except for the hooting of night owls and the distant howls of wolves from the mountains. The sky was inky black, and apart from the streetlights, it was dark all around. Rajiv pulled his jacket tightly around himself and looked at Surjith, who seemed comfortable, being used to the mountains.

"It's a bit cold," Surjith said to Rajiv.

"A bit?" Rajiv asked.

They had lined up two cars in front of Teena's house. Both her and Sunaina's luggage were loaded in the first one, which was to be driven by Surjith, while they would travel in the second one with Rajiv.

The jingling noise of a keychain made them turn to the door, where they saw the mother and daughter dressed warmly for the cold. Teena locked the door, and they stood there for a few moments, staring at their fairy tale house. Finally, Sunaina murmured, "Mumma," clinging to her mother, overcome with emotion.

"We were nomads without a fixed home for so long until we came here. This house holds strong memories, dear, but it's time to go," said Teena, tears gently rolling down her cheeks.

They both walked toward Rajiv, and after drying her eyes, Teena said, "Rajivji, there is a Mata's temple nearby. It won't be open now, but we would like to pray there before we leave."

"Sure," said Rajiv. He turned to Surjith and said, "You go ahead, we'll follow in some time."

Surjith nodded, got into his car, and drove off. Rajiv got into the second car, with Sunaina in the front seat and Teena in the back, and they headed to the temple. The gates were closed, but under the streetlight, they could see the edifice. All three got out, and Teena and Sunaina prayed for a few minutes. Then Teena turned to Rajiv and said, "It's a new beginning for my daughter and me. We had to seek blessings. I've also prayed for your family, Rajivji."

Rajiv nodded in reply.

They got back into the car and started driving. Both Teena and Sunaina were lost in thought about their uncertain future, while Rajiv concentrated on the map on his phone to follow the route. After a few minutes, Sunaina said, "Uncle, is that car following us?"

By now, they had left the city and were in the deserted outskirts of the town.

"They've been behind us for quite some time. Are they also going to the airport?" she asked.

Rajiv glanced in the rearview mirror, a sense of dread creeping up on him. He accelerated, and the car behind them did the same.

"They're following us. How did your brother find out?" Rajiv asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I don't know, but please hurry," begged Teena.

They drove as fast as possible on the dark, winding mountain roads, but the car behind was gaining on them. Finally, at a small clearing on the side of the mountain, the pursuing car shoved into theirs, forcing it off the road into the dirt. Teena screamed in terror while Sunaina sat wide-eyed. Rajiv's hands clenched the steering wheel as he hit the brakes, stopping the car just before it launched into the mountain wall. Both Sunaina and Rajiv were saved by their seatbelts. The car behind stopped, and three men got out. Rajiv struggled to get out of the car but grabbed the gun Surjith had placed there earlier and discreetly tucked it behind him. Teena and Sunaina also staggered out of the car.

One of the men moved forward and in the light of their car, Rajiv and the others saw the cruel yet smiling face of Pankaj.

"Hello behena (sister), long time, no see," mocked Pankaj and Teena glared at him in return.

His eyes then traveled to Sunaina and said, "Oh wow, you have grown up so well. The last time I saw you, you were just three years old, holding onto a dolly. Now look at you, so grown up. Teena, you did a good job raising her."

He walked a few steps forward and asked Sunaina, "Do you know who I am?"

Sunaina looked at him derisively and said, "Kans mama" (Kamsan, the evil uncle of Shri Krishna).

Pankaj started laughing loudly and said, "So does that make you Krishna?"

Sunaina scowled at him.

"And who are you?" he asked Rajiv.

"Someone who's life you have almost ruined," replied Rajiv.

"Well then, there are too many of you out there," he said and then turned back to Teena. "I know you sold all your husband's properties, and I want the money from that."

"I am not giving you even a single paisa," said Teena though her insides were shaking with fear.

"Well then you are twisting my arms then," said Pankaj and he turned to his men and said, "Incapacitate that guy first, we can deal with these two later."

The two men got to Rajiv, but he was quick and before they could react he punched one of them squarely on their face and kicked the chest of the other and he did it with such force that they both did not get up.

"Why you..." screamed Pankaj and whipped out a pistol from his pocket, but then Sunaina got down and grabbed a piece of rock from the ground, hoisted it above her head and threw it with all the force she could muster shouting, "Ye le Kans mame" (Take this Kamsan uncle). The rock landed right on his chest knocking air out of his lungs and he collapsed onto the ground. Rajiv quickly ran to him and gave a swift kick to his face, pried the gun out of his hands and the phone from his pocket.

"Quick, get their phones and weapons," Rajiv said to Teena and Sunaina, who took them from the incapacitated goons and handed them to Rajiv, while he grabbed Pankaj's car keys. He took everything and tossed it down the gorge.

"We don't know if he has anyone else tailing us. Get in the car, fast," Rajiv urged. They quickly got into the car and drove away. They didn't stop until they reached the airport, where Surjith was waiting for them.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

Rajiv quickly recounted what had happened, and they took their bags from him. Before leaving, Rajiv handed an envelope to Surjith and said, "Surjithji, this is your remaining fee, and it's more than what we agreed upon. You've been such a wonderful investigator, and in this short time, I've felt like I had a brother to lean on."

Surjith's eyes brimmed up and he said, "Rajivji, yeh baat to meri dil me lag gayi. Sochiye ke aapka ek bhai yeha hai."(Rajiv, what you told me had touched my heart. Consider that you have a brother here). They hugged each other and said their goodbye.

Rajiv, Teena, and Sunaina entered the airport and passed through the security check. Both Teena and Sunaina had the same flight to Delhi, which was scheduled before Rajiv's. Before boarding, Teena and Sunaina turned to Rajiv, and Teena said, "Rajivji, thank you so much for your help. And please tell Leena that I hope you both can make up for the lost years." Rajiv nodded in acknowledgment.

Sunaina's voice faltered as she spoke, "I'm so sorry that I received all the motherly love Leena Aunty had to give. Uncle, I've only known you for two days... but the way you cared for and protected us... It must be how a father would act, though I don't know that feeling. But your sons are blessed with a loving father. I really miss my own father after meeting you." She hugged him, surprising Rajiv, who hugged her back tightly and said, "Just like your aunt Leena, I will always be there for you."

They left shortly afterward, and Rajiv waited until his flight was announced. When he turned on his phone at the Delhi airport, he saw a text from Mahadevan: "I will come to pick you up from the airport." Confused, Rajiv tried calling Mahadevan, but there was no answer. He then called Leena, but she didn't answer either.

***

The day had arrived—the day of Leena's trial, the adulteress accused of seducing Rajiv, an upstanding family man with three sons. To protect him, droves of his relatives had arrived early at the house. Exhausted from a harsh bout of morning sickness, Leena gathered herself to face the taunts and accusations from Rajiv's family, hoping her children wouldn't grow to hate her. She was getting dressed in a demure saree when her phone rang—it was Sophie.

"Leena, what the hell am I hearing about you?" asked a very angry Sophie.

"Sophie, what's the matter?" asked Leena in confusion.

"Are you having an affair with your manager?" asked Sophie.

"What?" asked Leena, shocked that Sophie knew about it.

"One of Appachan's business partners told him that you are having an affair with one Rajiv Padmanabhan. And that you are pregnant with his child. Is it true? That partner is a family member of his," said Sophie.

"Uncle came to know about it?" asked Leena.

"So its true! Oh my God Leena, how could you have an affair with a married man. And Appachan is furious that you are pregnant and adding an heir to your property. You and your unborn child are in danger. Do something," said Sophie.

Shaking, Leena thanked Sophie and ended the call. The danger to her life had now increased several-fold. If it had been a few months ago, she would have left in the blink of an eye to protect Rajiv and the kids. But now, she knew what she had to do.

******

Rajiv came out of the airport with his luggage and found Mahadevan waiting for him.

"I'm really surprised you came to pick me up. What's going on with you?" Rajiv asked in mock astonishment.

"Your mother, that's what's wrong with everything," Mahadevan replied.

"What happened?" Rajiv asked, curiosity piqued.

"Your mother has called for a trial of Leena. She told everyone in the family that Leena is pregnant and has asked them to mediate and get rid of her," explained Mahadevan.

"WHAT?" Rajiv roared.

"I know. She's lost it, airing all the dirty laundry in public. By the way, be careful of Ravi—he looks like he's ready to burn the house down. People are accusing his mother of being a loose woman," Mahadevan said.

"Come, let's go," said Rajiv. They quickly got into the car and drove home as fast as possible.

Janaki had been asked by Gomati to escort Leena to the house where the relatives were eagerly waiting to see the so-called temptress. As they walked, Janaki said to Leena, "Keep faith, everything will be alright."

Mahadevan's car came to a stop, and Rajiv and Mahadevan got out and walked over to Leena. Finally, Rajiv reached her, seeing the love of his life—his exhausted wife, ready to face a barrage of insults from his family. He wasn't going to let anyone raise a finger at her.

"Leena, are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she nodded.

Rajiv sighed and said, "Everything went fine in Hamirpur. Teena and Sunaina have safely left the country."

Leena's face lit up with a smile. "Thank God," she said.

"Now I have to fix what's going on here," Rajiv said, looking toward his house.

"What are you going to do?" Leena asked nervously.

"I'm going to declare that you're my wife, the mother of all my children, and that the baby you're carrying is mine," Rajiv said.

Leena stepped forward, looked firmly into his eyes, and said, "NO."

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