One thing is for sure, I am going back to leave for a few days. I'll stay at my apartment for sometime that I had purchased a month back and go to work with my head held high because I'll be Shivanya Sharma then. No added burden, but before that I am going to give Abhimanyu the taste of his own medicine.

" I want to talk to you." I said as I saw him in the living room.

" I am sorry. I overreacted." He apologized.

" Guess what.....I don't give one fuck. I am not a housemaid who you pay for her services. I am a goddamn lawyer. I have no issues in doing work at home but I am not doing it at the cost of my self respect. I tried the best I can to fulfill my promise to Aditi di but it was supposed to be a two way road. I knew that I had signed up for a loveless marriage but I am definitely not throwing myself and my self respect out of the window for this. Yesterday night is was not my fault, today in the morning it was not my fault for waking up late and just twenty minutes back what happened with Sahil wasn't my fault either. It was an accident. I am not a rag doll that you guys can just use per your convenience and then toss me off. I am a goddamn person and I deserve to be treated like one." I shouted.

Bu this time, each and every member of the house was in the hall.

" I am leaving for now. When you understand that I too have some self respect and emotions, you can call me." I said.

Then I went to Sahil and bent down to his height.

" Champ. I know that you think I am your step mother and evil. I know that I am not your mother and will never be one but I can never hurt you. Maasi loves you." I said kissing his forehead and rushed to my room to get my luggage.

I took papa's blessings, hugged Diya and went out.

Then hailed a cab to my new house. 

" Shivi, you will need to do a lot of shopping now." I said to myself.

I then went out to a few furniture stores and bought everything I needed to make that place home.

I ordered everything on a priority basis so I was setting up by evening.

I took a two day leave from office and went on a shopping spree. By Tuesday, the place looked like home.

The best thing about these two days was that I had switched off my one phone. My New York sim was working and I was on it.

Then I called Lavanya and Reyansh to my house to tell them everything.

" Dude, your house is lit." Lavanya remarked.

" Thanks Lav." I replied.

" Now tell us what happened." Reyansh demanded.

I nodded and told them everything.

" Shivi, I think you should switch your cell phone on. What if they have already realized their fault and want to talk to you? Also, your family would be worried." Lav said.

" Lav, I've just done this house. Let me live a week here before talking to them!!" I whined.

" Shivi, she is right." Reyansh said.

Guys, I need to get to work. I'll meet both of you in the afternoon. CCD?" I asked.

They nodded. Our workplace is like 700 meters away.

I quickly got dressed and took a cab to work. I needed to buys car too.

I was handling a very high profile case. It was one labour union suing the company for hazardous work environment. The company was our client. I was meeting the CEO today.

" Good morning sir." I said as I walked past the managing partner of my firm.

He wished me back and asked to me go to conference number 3 where the CEO and his lawyers were present already. I had no time to read about the company so I was totally unprepared.

Walking in, I saw papa and Abhimanyu sitting there.

" Shit." I muttered to myself but tried to be professional.

" Good morning gentlemen. What seems to be the issue?" I asked, grabbing everyone's attention.

My eyes locked with Abhimanyu's but I was the one to break it.

Then my junior, Kritik briefed me about the complete situation.

" How much are they suing for?" I asked.

" Three million." Came Abhimanyu's reply.

" Is every precaution available in the workplace as instructed by the labour laws?" I asked.

" I'm your attorney. It is me you tell everything." I added.

" Yes beta. Everything." Papa replied.

" Then we are not going for out of the court settlement. We defend in front of the court. They don't get bullshit." I replied.

They nodded.

" Kritik will get back to you soon regarding some documents and dates. Now if you'll just excuse me." I said, attempting to get away.

" Shivanya, can I have a word with you in private?" Abhimanyu asked.

I was tempted to say no but held my tongue back.

" Sure Mr. Singhania. My cabin is this way." I said, stepping out.

As we entered my cabin, he shut the door.

I raised an eyebrow.

" Yes Mr. Singhania? What is it that you want to say?" I asked in a very professional way.

" Where is your phone and where were you these days?" He asked, showing a slight irritation.

" Mr. Singhania, I like to keep my personal and professional life separate so I'm not talking to you about this right now." I said politely.

" Shivanya, do you have any idea how scared all of our family was? You were unreachable and no one knew about your whereabouts!" He said.

" Where I was is none of anyone's concern. I'm not a child that I need to tell anyone about my whereabouts. I live my life on my terms." I shouted.

" Look, I'm sorry for everything that has happened in those three months. I can't undo it but I can sure as hell make it up for it. Just come home." He sighed.

" I already live in my home." I replied.

" Don't lie. You were not at your home." He said.

" I was and I'm saying nothing further. I am not explaining anything to anyone." Were my words.

" Please Shivanya. Mom is ashamed of what she did. Dad feels guilty and Diya blames all of us." He said.

" Okay, I'll come back." I agreed.

" Sure?" He asked, as if not wanting me to get back.

" If you are saying that everybody has understood what they should have at the very beginning, then yes. I'll come back after three weeks." I said.

"Three weeks?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes.

" I have done so much hard work on my home, I deserve to live there for atleast three weeks." I replied.

" You bought a house?" He asked, surprised.

" Why are you surprised?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

" I am not surprised. Just wasn't expecting this. Aditi was never into house all all." He replied.

" I am just the opposite to Aditi di. If she was east, I am west. Also, the other day, the dress was not hers. It was mine." I clarified.

" I know that. Aditi had the same dress so I reacted without thinking. I am really sorry for that." He replied.

I nodded.

" So when is the grah pravesh?" He asked.

" There is nothing." I replied.

" You should. Mom will be very excited to arrange for a puja." He added.

" I doubt. Maa hates me." I said, sadly.'

" She does not. She is really sorry for her behaviour. Come home in the evening today and sort everthing out with her." He said.

I nodded, agreeing.

" Shivanya, hurry up. We need to leave for the court in ten minutes." Vedansh, my colleague said, entering the cabin.

" Sorry. I had no idea that you are with a client." He said and exited.

" I'll see you in the evening. Before going, leave the documents with Kritik. He will hand them over to me. I have to go now." I said.

" Thank you Shivanya and sorry." He added again.

I gave him a soft smile, took my court which was lying on the couch and left.

I had no problem in giving maa and him another chance if they were willing to change their attitude towards me.

It was a long day and by the time I was completely done, it was 9.

" Shit! I should leave for home right now." I muttered to myself as I gathered my stuff.

Taking a cab, I reached home within like 20 minutes and rang the bell.

Diya opened it.

" Hii bhabhi. Thank god you're okay." She exclaimed taking me into a hug.

" I am okay Diya. Now let's go in." I said.

There maa was in the kitchen.

" I am sorry beta. I was out of line the whole time and shouldn't have treated you like that. I am really sorry. It's just that I was so used to Aditi following my orders that I forgot that you are not her. " She said, as soon as she saw me.

" It's okay maa. And I am sorry too for being rude to you. I was out of line too." I said, taking her into a hug.

We was not bad. Maybe it was just her way of getting over Aditi di's death. 

" Maa, will you arrange a grah pravesh puja? I had bought a new house last month." I asked.

" Of course Shivanya. I would love to." She said happily.

I was glad that things were finally changing for the better.

" Beta, your papa has called you right now." Dad said.

" Shit! I am dead. Papa, please tell him that I'm not here." I asked, begged.

" And upset him more than he is? No. Abhimanyu is taking you to your house right now." He said.

" No no. I will go on my own." I argued.

" Please Shivanya. Just come." Abhimanyu said, who was a silent spectator till now.

I sighed, nodding.

" Sahil, you wanna come for a drive?" I asked him.

He nodded his head positively.

" Let's go." I said, more to myself than to anyone else.

Soon we were at my house. I rang the doorbell. Badi maa opened the door and slapped me hard.

I was shocked. Could not react. I was just recovering from the slap when another one landed right across the second cheek.

" Maasi, did you do some mistake?" Sahil asked me.

I looked at him cluelessly and then looked at maa and badi maa.

" What was that for?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at them.

" For scaring us to death." Badi maa said.

Then I was lectured by everyone in the house in respect to how irresponsible I was. Sahil was having his laugh and Abhimanyu looked on, SMIRKING.

" I am going to sleep." I said, walking towards my bedroom.

" Oh! You and Sahil go home." I said, turning back to Abhimanyu.

" Abhi, beta you stay the night here with Sahil too." Badi maa insisted so much that he could not say no.

" Wonderful. I'll send a night dress for you Abhi." Maa said.

" Maa, you show them the guest room. I am damn sleepy. Goodnight." I said and started walking again.

" Shivanya, why will your husband and son sleep in the guest room and not in yours?" Badi maa asked sternly.

" Shit!" I muttered.

I am absolutely not sharing my room with him. Moreover, my room has no couch!!