"Can I ask You something Arnav?" Ashima asked

"Anything Di" Arnav urged

"How'd you feel... If you get to know about the woman in Arvind Malik, Your father's life?" Ashima asked

"Di..." Arnav was caught off guard, Yeah, What would he do?? He didn't know... He couldn't know. He never thought he would ever face that woman

"I don't Know di... But maybe, Or surely I'll hate her?" Arnav stated more like a question

Ashima smiled "Sure.. Of course you'll hate her" Ashima supported his decision

"Arnav... Why is Arvind Malik and his personal life being mentioned in this house" Anjali asked from the door of the room

"Di... Woh" Arnav panicked and looked at Ashima who was calm

"Did you listen in?" She asked

Anjali nodded

"How much?" Ashima asked

"Pretty much from the start" Anjali said

"So, What would your reaction be?" Ashima asked

"We couldn't care less" Anjali said

"Still..." Anjali nudged

"I'd... Probably hate that woman, I mean... She's the reason my mom isn't here... How'd you react?" Anjali asked

"Exactly the same way... Having first hand experience does make me sure" Ashima said last part mostly to herself

"Are You... Do you know her, The woman I mean?".Arnav asked getting curious

"She... She was my... She was my mother" Ashima said in a barely audible voice

"Your... Mother??" Arnav asked shocked

Ashima gulped rather noisily

"Your Mother... (Anjali closed her eyes to control her anger) How dare you come in this house?? Do you even know how much my chote and I have suffered... And its all because of your mother!! And still you have the audacity to come here... And tell us... Tell us that it was your mother who ruined us... Who killed my mother" Anjali said angrily

"Anjali... Please listen to me, I know it's not easy for you to come over the fact, Your mom died because of Arvind Malik's betrayal, And my mother was an equal participant in whatever happened and I'm sorry for that" Ashima said sincerely

"But, Di aapki mummy toh... She's dead right? (But Di, Your mom is... She's dead right?)" Arnav asked unsure

Ashima nodded

"She deserved to die" Anjali said in a whisper sadly

"Anjali Di..." Arnav exclaimed

"No Arnav... Anjali is right, My mother was a *****... She was a home-wrecker... She did deserve what she got" Ashima said angrily

"She was your mother" Anjali and Arnav exclaimed

"Look I'm sorry, I reacted out of anger... But no one deserves to die.. No parent deserves death" Anjali said in tears, Remembering her mom

Ashima smiled sadly

"Look Arnav, Anjali... I told you this... Because you guys deserve the whole truth... Please don't misunderstand me..or my family.. Khushi is not a gold-digger Anjali, She's very naive and innocent, Please don't misunderstand her" Ashima said

"Defending her... Yeah?" Anjali asked amused

"She need not be defended, She's capable of doing that on her own... It's just that a girl like my Khushi doesn't deserve anyone's hatred. She deserves all the love in the world... She's the princess of Diwan House... Even a scratch on her hurts us... And what I've seen today, It just isn't the right thing... She's not worth what she's getting, Please... She owns everything one needs for a luxurious lifestyle, She needn't trap boys for that. She's here, Because she loves Arnav... Not because of anything else" Ashima said

"Di... It's Okay, She'll be fine" Arnav assured her

"I don't know.. But yeah, Everyone deserves a chance to explain. So I'll be patient maybe? And Try behaving nicely" Anjali said smiling softly

"She loves all of you very much, Especially you Anjali, She sees you like a big sister she never had, Please don't break her heart" Ashima pleaded

"Di... That wasn't the difficult part, Is there something else to the story?" Arnav pressed

"Arnav... Why do you want this thing?" Ashima asked defeated

"Please?... It helps" Arnav said softly

"My Mother's dead" Ashima whispered

"I know that Di" Arnav said softly

"My father shot her Dead" She stated blankly almost whispering

"WHAT!!" Arnav exclaimed. Anjali retreated a few steps horrified

"Ratna Aunty Papa ke liye behen se kam nahi thi Arnav... Ratna Aunty ke suicide ke baad, Papa ne matter mein closely investigate karne ki koshish ki... But he got to know left him heartbroken himself... He found that it was my mother, His own wife(Ratna Aunty was no Less than a sister to Dad Arnav... After her suicide... Dad tried to investigate the matter more closely, What he got to know left him heartbroken himself. He found that it was my mother, His own wife)" Ashima said

"What happened next?" Anjali asked in a whisper

"He confronted Ma... He asked her how she could do this to a woman, He asked her.. If she was even a woman... Ma said that Arvind was providing her with everything she ever wished for. And that Papa wasn't capable of... Doing anything for her. Maybe... She was even badmouthing Ratna Aunty... " Ashima said

"I don't know what happened exactly that day, I just heard a lot of commotion and then a bullet was shot! Till the time I reached she was dead, In a pool of blood! Dad was on his knees, Crying. He suddenly lost consciousness, He was never the same again. What I told you, The things about Ma saying Dad wasn't capable and all... Those were the only things we could get out of his memories" She said

"What do you mean?? His memories... Recover" Arnav asked confused

"He doesn't recognize anyone now.. Not even himself, He lost his memory.. Permanently" Ashima said

"Di..." Arnav whispered. Anjali kept a soothing hand on her shoulder

"The shock was too much for him... But he is living.. Though barely, But he's alive" Ashima said in a whisper... On the verge of crying

Arnav came close to her and pulled her into a brotherly hug and hell broke lose, She sobbed into Arnav's shoulder while Arnav tried to calm her down saying sweet nothings

"Dad... Or myself, *Sob*We never meant to hurt any of you Arnav... I'm sorry, *Sob*Because of my family, My mother... *Sob* You had to go through so much, I'm so... So ashamed at being related to a woman, Who could *Gulp* Stoop so low to get her wishes fulfilled." Ashima apologized

"Di... I understand, I know! Calm down Okay, No matter what happens, You'll always have your three right beside you! (Arnav Arjun and Khushi) If you think I would hate you, After this! Well then there's much.. Much more to outnumber just a little thing of past, You had no control over, I love you Di... I'll always continue to love you like a sweet sissy." Arnav said

Ashima smiled slightly

"You Know you could choose to hide it from us... But you told us yourself, It's q really brave thing to do, It requires tremendous courage to confess something so horrible... I'm sorry I shouted earlier... I really hope you understand" Anjali said slightly embarrassed and apologetic at the same time

"Thanks for understanding, Anjali and Arnav, The amount of pain you've gone through ("We're Even Di... You lost both your parents too" Arnav said) It's not easy. Well I should go now, I hope you take care of yourself and My princess Arnav Singh Raizada" Ashima said with a small smile

"I will, I promise! May I drop you?" Arnav asked

"Nah, I have my car! I'll manage" Ashima said

If there are any questions

Please feel free to ask.

Love

Vinny