Rema Kaki is the one who told me about Mr. Malhotra's past and Adi's birth-mother's truth...

From the very childhood, Manik's parents get themselves busy at work and only work, making a lot of money.

That time Manik has the only family; Fab5(Cabir, Dhruv, Mukti, Alya, & Manik) and Veebha(V).

Manik was in a live-in relation with Veebha, his long-time childhood friend and girlfriend.

Everyone liked her a lot but she turned out to be money-minded lady, who had been sticking to Manik because of his family background, his bank balance, his looks & his charm.

Then, she got pregnant!

Manik got happy and decided to marry her soon. Even she got happy as she will legally be part of so rich family.

But just a few days before their marriage, Malhotra companies went into crisis, even his Mom-Dad felt the crisis. They faced an internal betrayer in their office who leaked information to rivals...

But the loss was already done!

Seeing Manik's wealth status and how he has become penniless, Veebha decided to leave and she just left a letter and walked out silently...

Manik got broken!

He turned ruthless... He became a rude, arrogant, cold-hearted hardcore businessman who built up Malhotra companies once again within a year.

Even, Fab5 too badmouthed Veebha, whom they once used to loved and trusted a lot... Now, they curse their fate... and they never trusted anyone anymore, apart from themselves, The Fab5!

Each one of them has past that joined them to each other, forming the Fab5:

Mukti's parents who wanted a boy, not a girl, treated her as a trash and she ran out.

Cabir's mom couldn't accept his son being gay and disowned him.

Dhruv's dad murdered his mom & went behind the bars, leaving him alone.

And Alya is orphan who got accused of being playing around with boys and got thrown out of the orphanage even without her fault.

Each one of them has it's own pain which made them lonely and stone-hearted. They all stay at Mansion together.

They do love & care for Adi as Manik's son... but sometimes they just became rude thinking of V.

After a few months of Veebha's dispersal, she kept her baby boy in front of his house with a note. Manik was both happy and sad:

Happy seeing his own blood and flesh, his son and Sad remembering V's betrayal.

At that time, Manik's parents forced him to get married to me, Nandini, Raj Malhotra's trusted employee's daughter who helped him in crisis.

.

.

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Years passed and Adi grew up.

When he, for the first time, called me 'Mumma'... It was just inexpressible...just... I was in cloud nine...

That was the happiest day of my married life till date!

Then as he grew up, I slowly started my job from the very beginning...

It was difficult but I tried!

A break in career made my chances down but my talent never dies nor my passion for it.

I manage to get a job in a newly-founded company that was owned by my childhood best friend, Aryaman Khurana. He started his business in India and fortunately, I met him here.

I, initially, started my work from home only as Adi need my attention and care. But when Adi started to join school, I got his school hours for my job. As the company's Boss is my friend, I got leniency.

I've given everything I can:

I accepted Manik's ignorance and did as he said; not to interfere in his life.

I withstood Fab5's insult & hurtful words but didn't utter a word.

I loved Adi as my own.

I never asked for any money, any jewelry, any party... nothing!

I even gave 2nd importance to the work that I loved to my death...my passion, my job, my life.

But, aab Bas!

This is the limit!

I couldn't tolerate anymore... not anymore!

I dialled my only friend's number,

"Hello!... Is the offer still valid for me? Can I join you for the International Conference you're going?

Ok! Thanks, I'll meet you at the airport directly.

Bye!"

Now it's time for living my life, my passion...

✨"A life without passion is a slow way to freeze to death.

But now, I wanna escape this death."✨

I walked back to Adi who's sleeping on his stomach. I caressed his hair and looked at him enough for the days I'll be absent for him.

'You'll turn 5 yrs old in a month... I promise, I'll be back before that.' I promised him and mostly myself and placed a kiss on his forehead before leaving for my... Oh no!, Mr. Malhotra's room.

I packed my essential dressed & accessories and a few of my belongings in a suitcase. I turned to see Mr. Malhotra sleeping deep out of sense. I looked around at the room which was never mine, just.... I stay here.

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Next morning, I cooked for everyone as always and made cheese-cake, Adi's favorite. I packed Adi's tiffin and made him ready for the school. I had breakfast with Fab5 and Adi in silence, as always.

The only difference today is;

I'm ignoring Manik and he's staring at me from time to time.

"Adi! You go and wait for me in the car. Ask Driver Kaka to play some music for you, Okay!... I'll just come." I said Adi softly bending to his height.

"Ok Mumma" He ran out.

"Can you guys wait for a while?" I asked when they are about to move from the dining.

"What?" Dhruv asked rudely.

"What you want now?" Cabir added bored.

"Looks like she has something to ask more?" Mukti commented sarcastically.

"Oh! Your boyfriends weren't enough that you want more money from us?" Alya spilled venom.

'So, they all saw those pictures and share the same view.' I thought.

I just controlled my anger and moved to the kitchen when I kept my luggage and bring it out. I'd already told Rema Kaki and asked her to take care of Adi and everyone. She knew everything about me & pity me a lot.

But Alas! that pity is not what I want.

I opened my suitcase keeping it on the table while they stood there with confused and frowning faces.

"What are you doing?" Alya snapped.

"You can check the bag to see if am taking any of your money or jewelry!... See" I said picking my dresses and showing them.

"What nonsense!" Finally Manik opened his mouth.

"This is not nonsense Mr. Malhotra!" I yelled at him.

"This is my limit!

Limit to tolerate your ignorance; Limit to tolerate your hatred; Limit to keep quiet when you and your friends keep on insulting me; Limit to withstand every pain which I don't deserve...."

I shouted with my everything, letting everything stored in me come out today, at last, finally!

I could not help tears from flowing out of my kajoled eyes. I had decided to keep strong but again I couldn't help it.

They all stood silent hearing my outburst. I never spoke nor even answered back to anyone.

Not that I couldn't... I just didn't.

"You know, I really envy your friendship; the bonding you guys share; the care, the trust you have for each other. I respect you guys for this.

Even though you show the whole world what a cruel & stone-hearted people you are, but the soft, sweet, caring and loving one comes out when you guys are with each other." I voiced honestly from what I've experienced and seen by my own.

Their friendship; The Fab5, is worthy of every praise in this universe. Trust me!

"I just wanted a bit of care & love from you... Did I ask for more? Am I being greedy? Did I do any crime?" I paused looking at their shocked yet silent faces with my teary eyes.

"No, I didn't!

But you always treat me like an emotionless doll placed in this big mansion of yours. Didn't I deserve to be asked whether I eat or not; whether I'm happy or not; what I feel, what I want, what am I-... " My voice broke as the tears are making it difficult. I closed my teary eyes to control them from flowing helplessly.

"What made you think, you deserve our care?" I let out a bitter chuckle hearing Cabir's untrustful tone.

"Give me one reason, Only One. Why I don't?" I asked instead.

"You're the same as other girls who just want money and for that, they can stoop to any low levels." Mukti answered almost instantly. I turned to her with a disbelief look on my face.

'How can she generalise me with any other random girl?!'

"Do you know me personally?

No, right!?

Just because of one girl, you can't categorize all as gold-diggers and sluts." I voiced taking a pause.

"One can be the same; two can be same; many can be same... But not 'ALL'. Not all girls are the same.

Even you're a girl too! Have you ever thought, money coming between your friendship? Will you break your long-time friendship if you'd get one with more wealth?" I quizzed at her to put some sense into their 'junked-minds'.

"Nandini!" Mukti shouted at her top in anger as I questioned her friendship.

"No Mukti!" I myself replied the answer calmly.

" You won't break your friendship even when you'll be offered with all wealth of this earth. I know that... You know that; even your friends knew it." I kept my voice low and clear.

"But I am certified as a gold-digger!

Fine! You can check this bag to your heart-content and take out whatever you think is yours." I said pushing my suitcase towards them.

"And for keeping me in this huge palace of yours and feeding me enough to live; here is the cheque of 20 lakhs. If you think I ate more, then do tell me how much more I need to payback, I'll surely do." I said pulling out the cheque from my handbag and keeping it on the table in front.

"And ya! This... This is diamond, right?"

I pointed at the glittering gem beautifying my ring finger of left hand. The wedding ring!

I tried taking the diamond ring out of my ring finger but I didn't come out. I am so furious that I grabbed the oil from the kitchen slab and pour it over the ring and harshly taking it out leaving few scratches on my fingers.

"Here is your precious ring!" I exclaimed keeping it over the cheque on the table.

"What are you doing?" Dhruv asked looking at the drama I was doing; Or at least that's what they thought so.

"I'm leaving!"

I declared and they stood wide-eyed as if I dropped a bomb. I felt like laughing at their looks right now!

"Don't worry! I'm not leaving forever, just for a few days.

Whether you consider our marriage or not, I respect this bond. Even though I got only hatred, I always saw you with likings.

But not after what you called me yesterday night? Hun-I don't even know whether you remember it or not?" I turned to Manik and voiced it with a bitter teary chuckle.

He was just staring at me blankly. There's something flashing in his eyes, even though his face is all emotionless. Or maybe I'm imagining!

"I'm not going to leave you before you divorce me.

And ya! If you say again, I don't want any of your money as an allowance in divorce.

If you can, then give me permission to meet Adi sometimes." I added softly. I'm too attached to Adi to leave him.

"For now, ."