Abhay stepped inside his house and instantly took a U-turn seeing his whole family gathered in the living room, including Ramesh and Varun.

"Not again, Abhay!" he heard his mother, Sharadha's firm voice.

Abhay stopped and closed his eyes in dread. He had, successfully, avoided everyone to evade from the talk, and it looked like today wasn't his day. Sighing, he turned and faced everyone.

His mother sat on the couch, and his father was next to her with an arm around her shoulder. His sister sat in one of the two love seats, looking both pitiful and enjoying his dismay. His friends Ramesh and Varun were scattered across the living area, obviously enjoying the show that was about to be unveiled.

From his family's expressions, Abhay knew they were angry at him. Ramesh had filled them in with everything that happened with Aisha's missing. He was mentally plotting a murder plan on 'how to kill a police officer, slash his best friend and escape' when he heard his mother's voice again.

"How long do you think you are going to avoid talking with us?"

Feigning innocence, he walked towards them and settled himself in the other love seat. "Why will I avoid you, Mom?"

"Really?" Sharadha narrowed her eyes, "Then what are you doing for a week, skipping off to your office at seven in the morning and coming home at eleven at night?"

"Mom," Abhay placed a hand over his temple and surreptitiously hit his head for being caught. "It is just your illusion. This week has been tight with a new project. That's why I have been coming home late. See today, I am early," he said, stretching his hands wide, "I have been missing your food. When you all were in Kedarnath, Aisha and I couldn't eat Ramu Kaka's food. Come on... I am so hungry," he said, getting up but froze when he heard his mother's stern voice.

"Sit right there, young man," Sharadha said, pointing a finger at him.

Abhay plopped down on his seat and held his head while Ramesh and Varun snickered. Sharadha glared at them, and they immediately shut their mouths, looking everywhere but her.

"Look at me, Abhay," Sharadha said, and Abhay did, "What happened this week is not okay at all. I asked you before going. Will you be able to look after Aisha as you'll be busy with work? Which is most of the time," she sighed, "Then, what did you say to that?"

Abhay was silent.

"Abhay!"

"She's my daughter. I know how to take care of my daughter," he said silently in a low voice.

His mother was silent for a few seconds before she spoke. "Shekhar Ji... Don't you think he is missing something?" Sharadha questioned her husband as she continued to stare at her son.

"Those were his exact words, Sharadha," Shekhar said. Sharadha shook her head.

Abhay was confused.

"Confidence," Sharadha said, "That is what he is missing now."

Now, Abhay was starting to get irritated.

"I don't hear the same confidence that you had last week."

"What is your point, Mom?"

"You need a wife."

"Mom!"

"If anything, last week is proof," Sharadha said, "I know you are capable of moving the mountains for Aisha and us. But there is a limit. You cannot do everything all by yourself."

"Mom. Last week was the only time. You know I will never let anything happen to Aisha."

"That is what I am most worried about."

"What?"

"I am worried about you both, Abhay," Sharadha said helplessly. "I am happy that you love your brother so much that you accepted his daughter as yours. But Rahul didn't say that you shouldn't be happy."

Abhay's patience was wearing off hearing the repeated words. "Mom, we already had this discussion, I..." he stopped as he heard Aisha's voice.

"Daddy!"

Abhay shook his head at his mother, ending the conversation, and turned his head just as Aisha jumped on him. He opened his mouth, as usual, to ask how her day was when she asked.

"Where is Priya Aunty?" Aisha asked, looking everywhere around her.

He sighed. When did my daughter become so persistent? He wondered.

"There again," Sharadha chimed in, throwing her hands out in frustration, and saying, "Priya! Priya! Priya! Who is she?" She looked at her son expectantly.

"She..."

"Yeah, bhai," Anjali butted in, curiously leaning forward, and keeping her chin on her palm.

Abhay just frowned. "I am sure Ramesh filled you in with everything," he said as he ran his eyes over everyone and stopped his gaze at Ramesh, who was standing behind Anjali's seat. Ramesh just shrugged and leaned forward on the seat, balancing himself on his elbows.

"Yes," Sharadha said, "But not why my granddaughter is chanting a stranger's name continuously."

"She is not a stranger, dadi," Aisha said, with a cute frown on her face, "She is my Priya Aunty." Everybody stared at her with stunned silence, except Abhay. He had already faced the situation when he mentioned the same thing the morning after bringing Aisha home.

"Princess," Abhay said, turning Aisha towards him, "What did I tell you? When she is free, she will come."

"Tell her to be free," Aisha whined, jumping up and down in front of him.

"We cannot decide that, baby..."

"Why not?"

He sighed tiredly. "Princess, I am tired. If I am tired, then she is double tired. When she is well-rested, she'll come."

"But I want her now."

"She cannot come. But you can talk with her on the phone."

Aisha's face fell, but she nodded. Smiling, he kissed her cheek and took out his mobile to dial Priya's number. As he did so, Aisha stared at him eagerly while the others gawked at him.

"What is happening, Shekhar Ji?" Sharadha whispered as she leaned back on her husband's arm and continued to stare at her son and granddaughter.

"Don't know," Shekhar replied, who was also in wonder.

Sharadha slapped his chest, saying, "You don't know anything."

"Here," Abhay said, handing Aisha his phone with Priya's number dialed.

"Thank you, Daddy," said Aisha as she took it and sprinted upstairs, making Abhay stare behind her.

"Why will Priya be tired if you are?" Anjali asked.

"I appointed her as my assistant," Abhay said simply.

"You didn't say a word yesterday in the office, bhaiya," Anjali said.

"How do you know Priya?" Varun asked.

"I met Priya yesterday at the new merger.."

"What's the big deal?" Abhay asked, "You know my previous assistant was fired. I needed someone."

"Why her? When you know,,," Varun stopped as Ramesh held his hand to stop him. Varun realized what he was going to say and gulped as saw Abhay glaring at him. "I mean... Since when does Abhay Sinha need someone?" he asked.

"And... since when did Abhay Sinha start caring whether his assistant is tired or not?" Ramesh put in.

Abhay gave a blank look.

"You met her?" Sharadha asked Anjali.

"Yes, Mom," Anjali replied, "You guys know, when I entered office, Bhai..." she paused when Abhay, wide-eyed, started to shake his head in a warning. She grinned.

"What?" Ramesh probed curiously.

"Nothing," Abhay tried to intervene, but Ramesh waved his hand at him and raised his eyebrow at Anjali to continue.

"Bhaiya and Priya..." she's cut off by a loud shrieking voice.

"Hi everyone!"

Abhay's eyes darkened with one glance at the person, and he shared a look with Ramesh.

∞∞∞

Meanwhile, Priya slumped down on the couch, flat on her stomach, and sighing, she brought her hands together to rest her head. Her stomach growled, and she just moaned in annoyance. The day was tiring, and she had to admit her boss was hell on wheels.

A sigh escaped her lips, thinking about him. Though he was overbearing, he was also understanding and caring. When she had a hard time grasping the way AS organization works, which was different from Sharma's, he took the responsibility to train her by himself. Her skin tingled pleasantly when she recalled the way his front touched her back as he stood behind her chair and leaned forward to show a document in the computer. It was hard to concentrate on work when he was close to her, and her heart was doing a strange marathon. She mentally berated herself and reminded again and again that he was married. At that reminder, she tried to keep at least a six feet distance between them.

She spent half the day reorganizing her cabin and the other half running behind her boss. Whenever she tried to get acquainted with a few colleagues or someone approached her, he'd come in the middle of the conversation and take her away. That frustrated her a lot. Also, she hated to admit it, but Abhay Sinha has a fan club. She lost count of how many times she rolled her eyes whenever a female employee glared her way. She wondered how Mrs. Sinha was coping.

Another sigh escaped her lips, thinking about Abhay, Aisha, and... an imaginary Mrs. Sinha together. She envied that woman's perfect life, and she was curious about the mysterious Mrs. Abhay Sinha.

Was she beautiful?

Priya was almost dozing off with these thoughts when she felt a hard smack on her bum, making her groan.

"Priya," Indira called, "What is this? Behave like a lady. Get up and sit properly," she admonished.

"Maa," Priya whined. "Please... Just a few minutes. Let me be."

"I'll let you be after you fresh up," she felt her mother hover over her and then slap her rear again, "Get up!"

"Aargh!" Priya sat up lazily and glared at her mother, "I hate you," she muttered.

"Hate me all you want later," Indira put her hands on her hips and said firmly, "Now, get up before I give another on your bum."

"Maa," Priya scoffed, "I am twenty-six."

"And still a child," Indira retorted, and then she narrowed her eyes, "Now, don't make me say it again."

"Okay," Priya said with annoyance, standing up and muttering while passing, "At home, you... at the office, that Monarch."

Indira frowned, hearing Priya's words, and before she could question, she saw Priya closing her room door. She shrugged, deciding to ask later.

A half-hour later, Priya came out freshened up, and since it was cold outside, she dressed in a full-sleeved cream-colored woolen top and cream pajamas with maroon polka dots on it. Her hair was wet and loose, and she was ruffling her hair to dry. As she did so, Bobby reached her for his daily treat, and Priya bent to his level, caressing his fur and pecking his head. Then, she walked to the kitchen, with Bobby following her, to find her mother cooking.

Priya opened the refrigerator and took out a water bottle when Indira asked, "Is Vijay Sir making you work a lot?"

Taking a gulp of water, Priya said, as she closed the bottle cap, "Not Vijay Sir but that Monarch. Gosh! He's a walking human robot."

"Monarch?" Indira asked, confused, taking the cooked dish into a bowl.

"Oh, no!" Priya slapped her forehead, "I didn't tell you, right... I am talking about..." she laughed as she turned to place the bottle back in the refrigerator, "Abhay Sinha."

When Priya turned back, she found her mother swiveling around sharply and asking shocked, "Abhay Sinha?"

Priya nodded.

"Isn't he Aisha's father?"

Priya smiled as she came to stand next to her mother and took the bowl in her hands, "Yes, he is." She started walking to the dining table to place the dish when she again heard her mother ask, almost demanding.

"What is he doing in your office?"

"You mean... his office."

"What?" Indira asked, confused.

"He's my new boss."

"What!" Indira exclaimed as she joined Priya at the table.

Priya frowned at her mother's reaction. "Yes, Mama," she replied, as she occupied a chair and shouted for her brother, "Adi! Come for dinner."

When Priya glanced back, Indira looked pale.

"Maa, what's wrong?"

"How can he be your boss?"

"Oh, that's a big story," Priya grabbed the plate, placed at the center of the table, "First food. I am so hungry. What did you make?" She asked, opening the dishes.

"What story, Di?" Aditya asked as he joined them.

"Later! I am hungry... Maa!" Priya called, turning to her mother, and frowned, seeing her deep in thoughts and a worried expression on her face.

"Maa?" Priya held Indira's hand, and Indira jumped, looking down at Priya.

"You are not going to the office anymore," Indira announced, making Priya's eyes go wide, and Aditya's hand froze from serving himself a roti. They both stared at their mother.

Priya suddenly burst out laughing, saying, "You are joking."

"I don't want you to work anymore," Indira said again firmly.

Priya stopped and looked at her mother, shocked. "Maa, that is not possible."

"I don't know, Priya," Indira turned away, giving her back to her kids, "Don't argue with me."

"Why do you want me to resign? How do you think we will survive without me working?"

"You don't need to work. We'll go back to our hometown and there I will see a nice boy for you. We will leave from here."

Priya blinked as her mother continued to blabber.

"What are you saying–"

"Yes, that will be right. I will call your Papa's friend and talk about seeing a nice alliance for you."

"Maa, stop!" Priya shouted, standing up and Indira turned towards her, "You think this is easy. If I resign now, I should pay the company compensation as per the contract. Do you think I can pay that amount for them? And what about Aditya's education? Do you want him to just drop out of medical school? Like me? Do you want him to also break Dad's dream? What happened now that you want to leave here again?" She was screaming by the end.

Indira's eyes widened and turned glossy with slight tears.

Aditya noticed and tried to stop his sister, "Di –"

"No, Adi," Priya cut him off. "I am not letting this happen again. Before, I wasn't in my senses... Or else, I wouldn't have let us shift in the first place. Our lives are here. We don't have anything in our hometown, except for saying that our family came from there. But we have our lives built here. This is our home. Without a strong reason, I am not going to leave our home," she said firmly, looking at her mother.

Indira didn't respond. Just stared at her daughter blankly.

"Do you have that reason, Maa?" Priya asked.

Indira shook her head instantly.

"Do you want to speak about why you suddenly spoke about leaving?"

Indira again shook her head.

"I expected," Priya said sarcastically, "You don't speak. And you expect us to nod our heads to your every whim."

"Di!" Aditya exclaimed, holding his sister's hand, "Stop it. It's enough now."

Priya sat down sulkily and said, "Oh, yes. It is enough. I am hungry," she announced and started to serve food on her plate, "I was on my feet all day and I don't have any more energy left in me to argue about my marriage or shifting places. I am done. Forever," saying that, she tore roti and brought it to her lips. But stopped.

Sighing tiredly, she looked up at her mother and saw her still standing there, looking down at her hands.

"Maa," Priya said softly.

Indira didn't look.

"Maa," Priya said again, holding Indira's hand with her free one and making her sit in the chair close to hers. "I am sorry, Maa... I..."

"No, Priya. I should be sorry," Indira said, bursting out into tears.

"Maa," Priya got up from her seat and engulfed her mother in a tight hug. "Please, Maa. Don't cry. I am very sorry."

"You are right, Priya. I wasn't a good mother. In my fear of something happening to you, I made you sacrifice a lot."

"I don't understand, Maa," Priya said, hearing the quiver in her mother's voice, "Why will anything happen to me?"

"You will not understand."

"Then make me understand."

"I..." Indira trailed off as she looked up at Priya and sighed, "Because your-" she was cut off by a loud ringtone.

Priya glanced at her mobile on the table and frowned, seeing the name 'monarch' flashing on the screen.

"Why is he calling me at this time?" Priya muttered. She left her mother and answered the call. A small smile came on her lips, hearing Aisha's voice.

"Hi, Aunty!"

"Hi, my Angel. What are you doing?" She mouthed 'Aisha' to her mother and brother, and Indira stared helplessly.

"I am missing you."

"Aww," Priya sat down on her seat, "I miss you too, baby."

"Then, why didn't you come?"

"Your daddy made me work so much that I am so tired."

"Really! Liar Daddy. He said you are tired and need rest. But did not tell me he made you tired."

Priya laughed, forgetting about the argument with her mother, "Don't say anything to him. He is not that bad."

"Come here."

"I'll come on Sunday. We will have lots of fun that day..."

"Hmmm..." Aisha was silent for a few minutes, and then, Priya's heart almost dropped when she heard Aisha's scream.

"Aisha!" Priya called anxiously, and Indira stared confused, seeing the tension on her face. Priya didn't hear Aisha's response, and then there was a loud beep. Priya stared at the phone, anxious, and hurriedly stood up, walking to the front door.

"Priya!" Indira called out as Priya grabbed the keys on the way and started opening the door.

"Maa, Aisha is in trouble. I must go. Don't be up late. I'll be fine," saying that, Priya rushed out of the house, leaving her mother to stare behind her helplessly.

∞∞∞

Pressing the doorbell of the Sinha's house, Priya waited for someone to open the door. Joining her hands, she silently prayed for everything to be alright with Aisha. She looked behind her and saw Abhay's car and four more posh-looking cars plus a jeep parked in the driveway. She looked at her blue Nexon parked behind a red Audi and visibly cringed. Thanks to Tyagi, who recognized her and ordered the watchman to open the gates for her. Or else the security wouldn't have allowed her inside.

Looking away, she waited. When there was no response from the other side, she again pressed the doorbell. This time with more force and continuously.

"Coming..." a voice was heard from inside. The door opened a few seconds later, and Priya instantly recognized the old man, Ramu.

"Who are you?" Ramu asked, frowning, "Why are you ringing the bell like that?"

"It's me. Remember? That day at the temple..."

Ramu continued to frown for a while, and then it struck him. "Yes. Why are you here?" he asked suspiciously.

"Aisha," Priya said, "Where is she? Is she fine?" she asked as she peeked inside the house to find Aisha.

"Wait," Ramu held his hand out, "How did you get this address?"

"Uncle," Priya said impatiently, "Please tell me she is fine... I..." she trailed off when there was a loud scream, and the next second, she was running inside dodging Ramu's hand.

"Hello Madam Ji!" Ramu called. But Priya ignored him and followed the voice, climbing up the stairs. When she reached up, she looked here and there and hearing another scream coming from a room, she ran there. She opened the door, and the first thing she saw was Aisha on her bed, hiding her face behind her tiny hands and crying.

"Aisha," Priya called and hurried towards her, oblivious to the people in the room, and started to climb up the bed. Hearing Priya's voice, Aisha looked at her and her face beamed with happiness. They both instantly embraced each other.

"I was so worried about you," Priya said, hugging Aisha tightly.

"What are you doing here?"