Life outside had normalised a lot in this decade. Women could think of things other than the household. However, when it came to the families living inside, this was hardly the case.

Responsibilities were clearly split. They had no scarcity of maids and servants. There was a clear hierarchy. Mahamaya was at the top of the hierarchy, but that also meant criticism passed out, especially from her daughter-in-law. Viraj's mother was thankful for how things changed when Viraj took over. However, her ears were soon filled with hateful whispers. Soon, Aabha, Viraj's mother, was wondering if she still had power.

Truth was, she did not have any power when she should have. Now, it was something she was craving. So, she went to Mahamaya's room, finding Mahamaya playing with Tara. Her heart filled with love, seeing the bond between the two. Mahamaya was playing ludo with Tara.

However, she was still determined to make sure that her position as the boss' mother was undeterred. She entered the room, as Mahamaya got up and covered her head with the saree, walking forward to welcome her to the room. Aabha had lived in this room before. This room used to be her home. However, she could see how the room appeared brighter with the way the lights were used now.

She liked how her daughter-in-law came forward, as if to serve her. The burden on her chest lightened, as she threw away all the garbage the other ladies told her about. Viraj was fortunate to have a wife like her. She smiled and asked, "What are you doing?"

Mahamaya smiled and gestured to the ludo board, "I was teaching Tara how to play ludo." Now, Aabha had heard the word before. However, she did not know what it looked like. She looked at the board, trying to understand it.

Mahamaya remembered what her husband had told her about Aabha. She smiled gently and asked, "Do you want to come and play with us? I would like that." She slowly guided the older woman into the room and on the bed, where the setup was kept.

She then sat Tara on her lap, as she said, "I will help your Aaji (grandmother) with the game. Meanwhile, you tell her all the strategies you can think of, alright?" Tara nodded her head excitedly. Mahamaya had made sure to tell Tara about the game but she had left out strategies. She wanted the young girl to come up with her own strategies while she played.

The next two hours, the three of them played. Aabha started feeling happy, being with them. She had an image to uphold with others. However, with Mahamaya and Tara, she did not feel the need to assert her position. It was clear that the both wanted to be with her. 

Aabha did not care that Tara was not really her granddaughter. She disagreed with many of her late husband's decisions. However, nobody really asked her for her opinion, so she kept it all in. Seeing the little girl, making fun of Mahamaya as she knocked over one token of Mahamaya, talking about how smart and lucky she was, Aabha felt like if Mahamaya played her things right, if Viraj changed the gang enough, Tara could even guide the next generation.

Viraj was very stressed. He had a particular bad day as he was wondering where to get finances from. His gang was going through a major structural change. He did not wish to do anything morally wrong, and this was a problem. The women living in the brothel were also a problem.

They had lady bosses or Bai, and they were not liking how Viraj was adding changes to the area. It was a power struggle. Since the women worked under the Bai and could face implications if they went against them, they were siding with their Bai, even if they did not wish to. It was a very difficult struggle, not something anybody would want while they were still being tested for being an able ruler.

He came home, going directly to his room. Only the beautiful face of his wife could help calm him down. Maybe she could even offer solutions. He entered his room, as he saw Tara giggling and dancing because she had won. Mahamaya had edge of saree over her head as she and her mother were laughing at her dancing. 

Soon, they were pulled for dancing too and Mahamaya played zingaat song as the three were dancing, laughing, having fun. Virat laughed, joining them, dancing, having fun with them. He could not remember the last time he had seen his mother laugh so much. Unlike always, this time, she did not seem stiff. She seemed relaxed instead.

As the three were tired from dancing, they could see Tara continue to dance, which was her way of jumping up and down. Tara had changed a lot since she came home. She was not the same abused child anymore. After Tara had calmed down, the four started playing ludo again.

Tara said, "The number of people playing ludo changes difficulty levels a lot. When it was only you two, I had to look out for only you two's tokens. Now, there is one more." Mahamaya nodded and said, "Yes, and there are different strategies depending on the number of players too."

Tara nodded her head. As Viraj was going to knock down Mahamaya's token, he asked her, "What will I get if I don't do that?" Mahamaya's eyes widened, as she looked at him in shock. She blushed, hiding her face more with her saree, as she asked, "What do you want?" Viraj hummed, as his mother squirmed, uncomfortable to see such a change in atmosphere.

Viraj tapped his cheek, as Tara felt surprised. In front of his mother and daughter? She squeaked, as Viraj forwarded his cheek. Mahamaya gulped, before she said, "You can take over my token, I don't mind." She pouted, as Tara giggled and his mother laughed. They somehow completed the game, and as soon as it was over, Aabha made an excuse and made a run for it.

Viraj saw it and laughed, as Tara giggled and kissed Mahamaya's cheek instead. Viraj playfully pouted, as he said, "See? She got the kiss but I did not. Your mom definitely likes you more than me. She allowed you to kiss her but me? I am not allowed." Mahamaya glared at him, as Tara said, "Mom, you should allow him too. He is a good boy."

Viraj was amused, seeing Tara call him a good boy. He grinned, liking that. Mahamaya huffed, as she said, "Alright, he can, then." Viraj did not even let her complete her sentence, before holding her chin, looking in her eyes.

He could hear his wife's breath hitch, her beautiful lips waver, wobbling, as she looked in his eyes. She slowly bit her lip, before Viraj groaned and crashed his lips on hers, taking her by surprise. They had never done this before. Viraj pushed her lips with his tongue, before she allowed him entrance, and he entered her mouth, exploring it, before they heard Tara saying, "But didn't you say cheek."

Mahamaya gasped and pushed Viraj behind, before she glared at him and pick Tara in her hands, as she said, "Yes, he did say cheek, but he seems to have lost his mind." She huffed, walking to Tara's room to drop her, leaving Viraj smiling to himself, having tasted his wife's mouth for the first time.