Lakshmi sat back in her father's study . Today he had to go to court regarding some real estate work and registration . She mailed a couple of documents to the advisor and then shut her laptop .

She went back inside her room and changed into a saree .

She looked at Noor who has been dressed up like a rabbit and smiled as she lifted the little one up and snuggled her closer to her bosom , inhaling the baby scent , while making Noor giggle .

She placed the Quran in another room after folding the mat and her daughter Noor dragged the mat behind her to the empty room .

" di , let's go to shopping na

It's been loooong time !" Dhruti said while squeezing Noor's cheeks to her hearts content . She misses her sister's bubbly , sassy, smart and sarcastic kids very much .

Now she can only quench her thirst with this little one .

" let's talk about it when I come back home . okay ?

I have to go with dad to court ." Lakshmi said as her father waved at her to come fast . She rushed out with Noor and kept Noor's little body in her father's lap while pushing the wheel chair .

————————————

The hearing in the court has ended .

Dressed in black cladded coat , a man in his early thirties strode out from the court hearing while talking to his juniors , clearing their doubts regarding the case as a defence lawyer .

As soon as they left , he turned towards the parking area but stopped in his track when he noticed a young lady with a child in her arms .

He looked at the way she laughed and then how she squeezed the child in her arms while giggling softly . She is dressed in modesty . He slightly turned his face away as his heart swayed a little .

She is a married woman !

He told himself while he passed by the rows of cars .

He opened his car door but heard the huge sounds of metal smashing . He saw the same young lady trying to help an old disabled man inside the car . He subconsciously approached her and held the arm of the man while helping him inside .

Lakshmi looked up and saw a man who must be a lawyer . She lifted her head up and saw the face of the man . She was stunned for a second .

He looks.........

" yutiphul" (beautiful) Noor exclaimed from the front seat making Lakshmi nod absent mindedly but as soon as she heard a chuckle , she lowered her head feeling embarrassed .

" Mr. Aggarwal ?" Hari called out seeing the man who was picking up the wheel chair .

" Mr.Hari ! It's nice meeting you" Varun said politely while looking at the once strong man under whom his father used to work as a private legal advisor and lawyer . He smiled warmly knowing that time never waits for someone and not everything is eternal...

" it's nice to see that you have turned out to be gem of a man .

Come home when you are free young man .

Ask that old man in your home to at least call me if he is still not in his honeymoon phase" Hari said embarrassing the young man in front of him . He still remembers his father Ashok who used to be a legal advisor in his company for a couple of years .

" sure uncle , I will let father know" Varun said hiding the fact that his father is really on a honeymoon .

He looked at the young lady and remembered her . He was stunned when he tried to correlate her from when he saw her young to now....

His phone rang as he looked at the car which left the parking area .

He answered the call while sitting in the car .

As soon as he reached his home it was 9:00 pm . He washed up himself and then prepared to go to bed . He covered his eyes with his arm as he laid down on the bed . The young lady from the morning flashes through his mind as soon as he closed his eyes .

Though he knew that she is married , he couldn't get her out of his mind .

He first met her when she was in her 10th class . He came along with his father to the company and saw her sitting in her father's cabin with her hair tied up with lace on either sides , making him fascinated with the retro style in this generation . He listened to her reciting the contents of her textbook in her clear and crisp voice .

Seeing the same lady now did make him feel something that he can't point out.....

With those thoughts in his mind , he slept....

————————————

Lakshmi is carefully cleaning Noor's ear while Noor was wriggling to get out of her mother's hold because it was tingling.....

Almost everything came back on track and Lakshmi had a lot of free time on hand . Her father could handle work along Basheer and Antonio aiding him , with a fake identity for safety purposes . Making everything simple and easy .

" Noor beta

Don't move or it will hurt" Lakshmi said gripping noor's small head tightly in between her palms . Noor's hair was totally messed up in the little fight .

" di ! There are guests in the home

Mumma is asking you to come down" Sruthi screamed from outside the door and left . Lakshmi threw away the ear buds and took Noor for a bath .

After wearing appropriate clothes , they both descended down the stairs to catch a glimpse of the same man whom she saw a couple of days back . She saw him talking to her father and she slipped from the hall quietly while entering the kitchen . Her mother prepared snacks and tea for him and passed it on to my sister to serve .

Varun came to visit Mr.Hari regarding a project which had been dated long back , whose files were left behind with his father . He came to pass on those files .

He lifted his head and saw Lakshmi descending the stairs and disappeared into she the kitchen .

He then looked around the home casually , making sure that he was not too obvious with his gazes .

He looked around for her husband but understood that she might've come alone to her home .

Hari left for his study and asked Varun to stay for lunch .

Tej accompanied Varun while talking and went outside to the backyard filled with greenery and small vegetable plantations .

Tej's phone started ringing and he excused himself from Varun.

But Varun was too caught up looking at Lakshmi who was holding onto Noor who held a small kettle with her two small hands. 'heavy for those small little hands' he thought......

Lakshmi gripped the base of the kettle , allowing her daughter to water the vegetables .

Noor clapped her both hands leaving the handle of the kettle , making it slip from lakshmi's palm as it fell on the soil . She was about to bent down but stopped as soon as she saw an arm extending forward from the side . She turned to a side to see Mr.Aggarwal who had a smile on his face as he held the floral pattern kettle .

It looked funny to see a man in suit with a small floral pattern kettle in hands .

Lakshmi smiled and took the kettle . She placed it on the nearby table and sat down on a chair as Mr.Aggarwal too sat on the opposite chair facing her .

Silence....

It was pretty awkward for Lakshmi as she doesn't know how to communicate with 'strangers' who are close to her father . Talking out business is fine . But talking amicably with a stranger is......

Quite Hard .

" I'm Varun Aggarwal , criminal defence lawyer " Varun introduced himself and Lakshmi smiled almost mocking herself , mentally saying 'there is a big criminal sitting right in front of you !'

" I'm Lakshmi , doctor " she said and let Noor down on to the floor to let her play .

They talked formally regarding business and family.... it was a harmonious and peaceful talk until he asked something....

" What does your husband do ?" Varun asked congenially....

" He is also a business man" Lakshmi answered ambiguously as she didn't want to dwell on it further .

" oh , it would be a pleasure if I could meet him" Varun probed seeing her glum expression .

" well , that would be good" she said as she saw her father being helped out by her brother .

Lakshmi excused herself and allowed the men to talk while leaving with her daughter . She knew it very well that he was trying to probe about her husband . As soon as she reached her room , she texted Varun's name to Xia , asking her to get his information .

After a couple of minutes , Xia sent her his data as Lakshmi went through and through thoroughly. Making sure that he has a clean check .

Hari talked to Varun while still remembering the scene he had seen when he entered the backyard . His daughter and Varun talking with a smile on their face as the kid played around them near the table . It looked more like a happy family.....

" Varun , let me know if you know a better lawyer . The Rajputs have a higher status than us .

They wouldn't let her off and she can't fight alone" Varun was shocked as he heard Mr.Hari .

He didn't expect that Lakshmi wanted to divorce her husband . 'Was this the reason why she didn't want to talk about her husband with him ?' he thought.........

" uncle , if you don't mind , can I know the reason ?" Varun asked making hari's doubts clear... he saw the look in Varun's eyes which had been plasted on his daughter . Though he was angry in the start but after seeing them together , he had other thoughts swirling in his mind...

" she was abused there" Hari answered as he didn't want to dwell on this further . It broke his heart every time he thought about it......

" okay" Varun said knowing the discomfort uncle has been facing while answering the question . No father would like to talk about this matter .

He assured uncle with this matter as he left the villa while thinking about her .

He didn't know whether she is as strong as she seems or she is hiding it everything inside with a smile on her face..... as if everything is normal.....

Lakshmi rolled on the bed feeling..... nothing....

Bored at the most .

She took a flower from the vase and used it to tickle Noor's feet while the little one rolled on the bed and laughed .

She patted noor's back and took her down the stairs . She looked at her father and decided to talk about her decision now .

" nana , you've written an old farm house on my name right ? The one that the old couple sold many years back..... do you remember ?

I want to shift there.... maybe this week end ?" Mr.Hari was shocked listening to his daughter who wanted to leave the house .

" no !

You have to stay with us...

There should be someone to look after you .

You are not safe out there alone during this time ." Hari said trying to compromise his daughter who is still stubborn .

" are you still angry with us ?" He asked slowly as his wife too stopped for a second to look at her daughter while shocked that she wants to leave home.....

" nana ! Why do you still go back to past ?

Why would I be angry with you ?

It's just that I want to stay alone for a couple of weeks or months....

I will come back soon and I will be in touch with you people on daily basis . Okay ?" Lakshmi asked . It's not that she doesn't like to stay with her parents...

It's just that she is too much addicted to being alone in these past few years....

she never did think about returning to her life when she was young.....

having people who love and care for her out of a sudden started making her feel a little out of her track....

Ben passing away had left too much pain for her to cope up with...

Though his daughter asked to leave to stay in the farm house , Hari has already planned on visiting her at least once daily or maybe stay there a couple of days every week.....

As soon as she got the keys from her father , Lakshmi started sorting out everything . She took the property transfer papers which her sister bought in the evening to her room . She quickly hired a few cleaners to clean up the farm house which would take a couple of days , while she stayed back with her parents...

Druthi sulked while looking at her sister who wants move out of the home so soon.....

Three days passed by in a blur and all Lakshmi did was sit in the kitchen and eat while her mother cooked . She lazed around the hall in her nighty with her hair unkept as she was bored more than ever . She doesn't even want to apply for a job in hospital nor does she wants to go to her dad's company .

" this is the real you" tej said while looking at his sister . She is the most laziest person when she is bored .

" shut up" Lakshmi mumbled while grunting and sitting on the sofa with bowl of Cheetos with lemon , tomatoes and onion.... She wants to try something new.....

The little girl Noor sat beside her mother with her legs straight on the couch on either side while staring at the bowl of colourful big balls....

After having dinner , all of them dispersed to their rooms while her Hari and his wife stayed back in the hall .

Lakshmi patted noor's back as she laid on her tummy listlessly.

" baby

It's boring right ?" Lakshmi asked while twirling noor's hair .

" mmm" Noor mumbled as if she understood her mother...

Lakshmi stood up suddenly from the bed and kept Noor on the couch as the little girl stared at her mother blankly due to being lifted and placed on couch suddenly .

Lakshmi went towards her cupboard and took out a couple of clothes . She stuffed them in her bag and then took her bank cards . After making sure that everything is packed . She took her daughter and peeped out of her room to see her parents talking in the hall .

She entered her balcony along with a laundry bag tied to bed sheet and with Noor sitting in the laundry bag with a big sweater on her which almost drowned the little girl , while looking at her mom with Misty eyes . Lakshmi lowered the laundry bag slowly to the ground and then she got down quickly while holding the sheets .

She looked up at the balcony in the night and smiled triumphantly !

Because of this was one freaking thing which she failed miserably, she was in this situation !

If she would have escaped......

"Mumma" Noor called out while folding her hands around her tummy like an obedient kid . She looked at her mom whose nose was almost touching the sky.....

Lakshmi removed the sweater on Noor and wore it while kissing Noor . She covered the little one with a white soft woollen scarf . She walked towards the fence and moved the bush aside . She bent down and passed through the small hole . She then pulled out Noor and the duffle bag .

" yahooooo! My little apple !!!!!

Freedom ! Freedom !

Let's enjoy !" Lakshmi shouted happily....

Wait....was she that bored that she went mentally insane ?!

Lakshmi laughed out loud while running with Noor in her arms towards the auto stand . She booked a cab on her phone as she looked around at the people . An auto driver came to her , asking her to board the auto as she denied and stood a little far .

As soon as she reached the airport , she looked around not knowing where to go.....

" little apple ,

Mother will give you a chance to choose !" Lakshmi said earning weird looks from people around .

She Googled Indian map on her phone and showed it to Noor who instantly tapped her small index finger on the phone . It immediately got zoomed and it was......

"Thekkady it is then !" Lakshmi exclaimed....

" it's gonna be mummy and lil apple's trip !" Lakshmi said excitedly and bought the tickets for Kerala . They boarded the plane in an hour excitedly with another bag full of snacks .

———In Lakshmi's home———

Hari scrolled through the messages on his phone while his wife was arranging clothes in the wardrobe .

" what !!???" Hari exclaimed as he squinted his eyes through his glasses to make sure that he read it correctly .

Amala furrowed her brows as she looked down at the phone screen in her husband's hand. She was shocked reading the message .

Amala came out of her trance and laughed earning a glare from her husband .

" what are you angry about ?

She is an adult already , let her enjoy" Amala said with a smile as she poured water in the glass and handed it to him .

" but....but" Hari stammered .

"What but but ? Sleep now . Let's call her tomorrow morning" Amala said as she forcefully tucked her stubborn man under the sheets and went to change her clothes .

——————————

After travelling for a couple of hours , Lakshmi reached thekkady along with Noor in her arms . After travelling a couple of minutes into the forest , she reached 'hills and hues' resort . It was a Greece theme resort on top of a hill with an infinity pool and flowers all around . She took in a deep breath and then after checking in , she left for her room while Noor jumbled with room card in her hands .

After resting and changing into a maxi dress , she took a tour guide suggested by the receptionist .

The mother daughter followed the guide and reached a big waterfall . There were a few families in and around the waterfall . Lakshmi gave her phone to the guide as she entered the waterfall with Noor and the guide clicked the mother daughter pictures .

Well , it's one of the prickly jobs of the guide as he showed around the forest to the mother daughter pair and clicked their pictures in the same time.....

——————————————-

Arjun who has been working in his cabin suddenly groaned as he swept away all the papers and files in front of him . Rahul is going through another set of papers , gazed at Arjun for a milli second before back to his work . Though he wanted to spend his time with his wife at home , he knows he can't ignore his duties .

But that doesn't mean that he would sit for an eternity and read some files with a bastard who is going to get divorced soon . He needs to go back and pick up his wife from office and should pamper her .

" damn it ,

Why divorce !?

I could give her everything she needs !

Fucking damnit" Arjun mumbled as he laid back on his seat while gazing at the mahogany table .