This Act happens following the fiasco where Kavya gets the Shah house signed in her name by deceit.

As Vanraj had watched Anupama sit with Anuj in his car, his chest had clenched unnaturally. He continued to watch with pained expression, as Anuj made some remark and despite the situation, a smile found its way onto her features. And then Anuj stared at her, his face betraying the expanse of his feelings. That man cherished her while expecting nothing in return. And he realized it now,she was worth it. He had himself destroyed his happiness and he could blame none for it.

**************

She had been in the office then when samar had called her, and her features had been colored by shock. Vanraj had suffered heart attack. She had rushed out of the office in hurry then after informing him. He had wanted to offer her ride, but he hadn't. He was human after all. And he was in love with her. The last thing he wanted to see on her face was concern for her ex-husband. And he knew it would be there because she was that kind of person. And most importantly, he was afraid that if were to lay his eyes on Vanraj, he might as well curse the man to disappear for good from her life.

"Patience!"Anuj murmured as he took in a deep breath and leaned his head against the bedpost.

It was 10 PM now. Thankfully, it had been a minor heart attack and vanraj was to be kept under observation for the night and if his reports were to come alright,he would be due for discharge tomorrow.

And she would come back. To him.

Right?

*********

She was still in the hospital with Samar. She managed a slight smile as Samar offered her coffee and sat by her side. Her fingers circled around the rim of cup absentmindedly. So much had transpired these past few days. The news of Vanraj having a heart attack had shocked her, but looking back on it now, it didn't seem far fetched considering his extreme emotional tendencies.

And that brought her thoughts to Anuj. She wondered how he was holding up. He wouldn't tell her but he was just as emotionally taxed. She had felt it in his voice when he had called her an hour back.

"Wha— Tum abhi tak hospital main ho? But kyun?"

His voice was edgy.

"Samar hai na wahan? And where is that Paritosh?I mean why should you—

His tone was impatient.

"— I'm sorry Anupama. I didn't mean to...I..let's talk tomorrow. Apna khayal rakhna".

He had been infinitesimally tired as the call had been cut.

She had wanted to tell him that she wasn't staying of her own accord. Bapuji had offered to stay but she couldn't have him staying in the hospital in such a fragile state of mind. Baa had been hysterical too. Only when she had offered to stay, had the two of them agreed to go back home. And soon her conscious drifted into oblivion as sleep took over.

***********

"Baa.... Aap ye kya..." Anupama trailed, troubled.

As soon as Samar had taken vanraj inside his room, she was about to walk away when Baa had held her hand, tears pooling in her eyes as she requested Anupama to come back to Shah house.

Anuj was standing at door, his eyes hard. She met his gaze across the length of hall and could see his jaw tick. He wanted to speak, he wanted to rage but all he did was fist his fingers, gulp his heartbreak, spin on his heels and walk away.

She had extended her hand in his direction, his name had been at the tip of her tongue but baa's repentance was way louder. Seeing him walk away, Anupama had closed her eyes briefly and turned around to face baa.

"Main tujhe kabhi koi tana nahi doongi, tujhse akele ghar ka kaam bhi nahi karwaoongi...bas tu wapas aaja", Baa pleaded while Anupama just shook her head, her fingers surprisingly not reaching out to console the woman.

Pakhi stepped forward too, hugging her mother. "Yes, mummy. Papa needs you, please come back".

Toshu nodded in the background too. "Haa mummy, papa ki yeh halat uss kavya ki wajah se hui hai. Ab aap hi papa ka support hai".

Before Anupama could get another word in, baa folded her hands in plea and Anupama had to stop the woman midway.

"Tu maanegi na apni maa ki baat?" As baa asked, Anupama nodded, the sullen face of Anuj hounding her conscience.

"Main sab sambhal loongi, baa"

*********

Anuj was rebuking himself continuously. The cabin was empty, just like his heart and still he was looking at the door every time he would feel even the slightest tap against the floor.

He was expecting her, hoping against hope. But wasn't he expecting too much? Wait, was he allowed to expect? He was not! He had long since relinquished the rights to do so and now he had his words to abide by. To be with her forever and ever, in the boundaries of this wretched friendzone, while that douchebag once again basked in her love.

"Hell no!" Anuj screamed frustrated, banging his hand against the table. "Shit!" He cursed as he removed his spects and pushed his hairs back before scrubbing his face real hard.

He was meant to support her but his face had been a mixture of disappointment and disbelief when she had started to contemplate baa's plea.

Why was she soo....

Anuj groaned. His pain was presenting itself in the worst form as anger. What right did he have to feel betrayed? Anupama had never made him promises then why was he despairing right now? He had already lost his control last night. He was outraged still. Why must she look after Vanraj? Like what the heck!

Had he stayed one more second at the doors of shah house, he would have scolded Anu's head off for even considering returning to that hell hole. But how could he scold her? He could not! He had no bloody rights!

Anuj laughed mirthlessly. "Iss rishte main haq bhi tumhara hai aur manzoori bhi, bas dil mera hai".

He was bitter, so very bitter that he wanted to barge straight into Vanraj's den and shake the man out of his problematic state and deliver some home truths to baa.But he could not!

That relief, contentment, satisfaction and nada nada feelings that had washed over him after receiving Anu's reply to his confession were now threatening to drown him whole and choke out his air.

Was she even going to come back to the office? She must've moved back by now. Was she once again going to justify her service to vanraj because he was a good father,a good son?! Was she going back to her life as a doormat again?!

And he could do nothing! His hands were tied!

Anuj clutched his head. He was starting to feel anxious. Anupama uski nahi thi par kisi aur ki bhi nhi thi. He feared, if she would give in to the plight of her so called first love. He dreaded that she would no longer fuss over his eating habits, too busy in regulating vanraj's. He was afraid that they would no longer share those glances because she would be too enamored by his.

"F*ck!"

Anuj sprung from his seat and walked over to the window. He needed to concentrate and get his head straight. Allowing negative thoughts to take reign of his rationale was not a choice becoming of a man like him. He must keep his cool.

He settled down on the setee then and closing his eyes, started deep breathing. As he was starting to feel his temper coming to normal, he felt fingers sneak across his face and envelope his already closed eyes.