Lost and unveiled, feelings sometimes stay hidden and remain unfound. But do they really fade? Eventually, they're unearthed. Exposed to the vulnerability of reality, trying to find strength in someone's assurance, care, trust, and love.

You can't lie to yourself. And if you do, until when can you? Emotions never betray.

But if it's safe to stay in shell, why to come out? Emotions never betray but the one you invest them in, does. Rivaah is scared. She's scared of coming out of her shell. She's not the same anymore. Her wings clip themselves now, caging their own freedom, stopping her from wandering into an unknown territory. Because when she once did, what did she received? Instead of home, it was hell. Instead of love, it was hatred. Instead of smiles, it was tears.

Promises in her life were always left hanging from the other end. Their strings were never held strongly. Everyone just tore them apart without even thinking twice. So it's not a mystery anymore that she no more believes in those words.

Because she knows the power of them. Words, empty for other, might be everything to the one they're told to. Words, that may no held any meaning for someone, but for the other, they might be the last flame of hope. And so she's abandoning herself from that world. Where one word carries the power of either breaking you, or making you.

Words can heal you. But they have the power of reopening your healed wounds. So why to render yourself powerless that few words can break you? And so she's hell bent on creating herself so strong, that nothing can hail the power to break her walls.

But will this be enough. After all, she's waging a war against her own heart. And is unlikely to win.

"Mommy, where's Chachu?", She flinched before her lost gaze settled on her son. He was smiling again. And it was more than enough to give peace to her unsettled heart.

"He isn't here-"

"And who said that!?", Everyone turned, surprise evident on their faces. No one had expected his sudden join to the unplanned get together.

"Chachu!", Reyansh jumped from Pooja's lap, running towards his favorite chachu. Or the only Chachu. But he's still favorite.

Everyone smiled as Aarav picked up his nephew and smothered the little boy with kisses all over his faces. He was still in his business attire, meaning he took a direct flight here after his office hours.

Kabir felt slightly guilty. He was supposed to carry this burden. But he knows Aarav is desperate to prove himself. And he very much deserves that.

"How was your day in office, Aarav?", Anaya asked as she came forward with a glass of water. She has decided to pay equal attention to all her kids. Yes, she was biased with her affection. Because, even if her elder son appeares strong in exterior, he was just much fragile inferiorly. Not all five fingers are same. Some are weak and needs special attention. But she never wanted to neglect her other two kids while doing so. Unfortunately, unknowingly she did. And she wants to make up for that.

"It was fine.", Aarav struggled to drink as Reyansh was trying to climb on his shoulder. "Oye, chimpanzee! Slow down. Let me drink.", He said and received a slap on back.

"Don't call me chimpanzee!", Reyansh growled.

Kabir laughed. When Rivaah glared at him, he shut his mouth.

"That's not the way you behave with elders, Rey. You don't slap your elders. Say sorry.", Rivaah chastised.

"But he called me chimpanzee, Mommy!", He said, mere attention on his mommy and focused on sitting down on the shoulder. He threw his one leg around Aarav's shoulder and then climbed a little to situate his body comfortably. Now he was seated sideways, with both legs hanging on the either sides.

"Still. Say sorry. And get down from Chachu's shoulder. He must be tired after his flight.", Rivaah said strictly. Reyansh sighed heavily.

"Yes. And come back to my lap!", Pooja patted her thigh excitedly. She had anticipated Reyansh's attention, but when Aarav looked at her raising his one brow playfully right when she slapped her thigh, her cheeks quickly reddened and she snapped her eyes to look somewhere else.

"No. Your lap is no fun!", Reyansh snorted.

Pooja got up and scurried to kitchen.

"See! You made Maasi sad.", Ahana said with a sad pout.

"Did I?", Reyansh asked innocently. Guilt evident in his onyx eyes.

"Hmm hmm. You did. Now get down and go apologise to her.", Rivaah joined the lie to get her son down from the tired man's body. He honestly looked so exhausted.

"Okay. Take me to her, Chachu!", Reyansh patted Aarav's head. Kabir snickered. His son is smart.

Aarav adjusted Reyansh in way that now he had his legs hanging on both shoulders. "Hold me tight!", He said patting Reyansh's butt.

Rivaah sighed in exasperation. Never in this life time will she win an argument against Raichand men.

"It's okay, Bhabhi. Where's the kitchen?", He asked Taila and she pointed at the direction. He nodded once before heading towards the kitchen.

"Maasi!", Pooja was filling herself a glass of water from purifier when Reyansh's chirpy voice stopped her. Placing the glass on kitchen counter, she turned, keeping her eyes down, expecting the little guy somewhere near the door. But instead she saw a pair of firm legs, dressed in tight trousers.

She blinked as his cologne sent shivers of realization down her spine. What is wrong with her? It's not her first time seeing him. Then what has changed now? May be seeing him cladded in a light ivory colored suit changed her prospect of him from a guy next door to a mature, responsibile businessman.

"Maasi, I'm here!", Reyansh waved his hand, in order to get her attention.

Skipping the pair of intimidating brown eyes, she immediately looked up. Locking her eyes with Reyansh's enthusiastic ones.

"Hmm?", She smiled.

"I'm sorry. Are you angry?", He asked with a slight pout.

"No, darling. It's fine.", She chuckled, waving her hand dismissively.

"But everyone is saying that you're angry.", Reyansh's doe like eyes widened.

"I'm not.", Pooja breathed out. May be the small space was suffocating her. She was suddenly feeling breathless.

"Then come and give me kiss.", He leaned front over Aarav's head, forwarding his cheek for a kiss.

"Come down so I can give it.", Pooja said in a whisper.

"Maasi!", Reyansh groaned. "It's difficult to get up again. You come here and give me a kiss.", He demanded.

What is wrong with this kid!? He's up there on this six feet tower and he wants me to kiss him on cheek. How!? I'm just 5.4!

"It's fine. I'll pass.", She said with a strained smile.

"You're angry.", Reyansh mumbled as his eyes casted down sadly.

"No! Okay fine.", Pooja huffed.

Aarav watched with amusement as she took baby steps until she was close. Reyansh leaned down, but she couldn't jump enough on her feet to kiss him.

Pooja blushed in embarrassment.

"Come closer, Maasi!"

Taking in a struggled breath, she closed her eyes for a fraction second before opening them back determinedly. She stepped front, completely invading his private space. Her head tilted up, meeting his intense pool of brown eyes gazing strongly at her. Her shaky hands reached up, lightly settling down on his biceps. Her breath hitched as his muscles contradicted under her touch. She pushed herself up on her tip toes, her eyes still connected with his before she snapped them away and kissed Reyansh's cheek. Her soft mounds ever so softly grazed against his clothed hard chest.

Pooja quickly stepped back and created a five feet distance between them.

"There.", She whispered breathily.

"Don't you want to kiss her back, Reyansh?", His husky voice ignited a new, uncalled fire in her body. She stood dumbstruck, as he smirked at her.

"Yes!", Reyansh cheered.

The chilled smirk on his sinfully gorgeous face widened before he shrugged. She gulped.

"That's not needed!", She said annoyedly.

"I think she's still angry, Rey.", Aarav said with a nod of agreement.

"Really?"

"No, I'm not!", She hissed.

"Then come and kiss.", He challenged. "Him.", He added when she looked incredulously at him.

She sighed in defeat. Just as she was about to step front, Aarav slightly bent down bringing Reyansh to her level. She gasped.

This cheater!

She walked front and let Reyansh kiss her on cheek before returning to her previous position.

When they left, she breathed out as if her crushed soul was released. What is wrong with her? Why is she behaving like this suddenly!? Damn his manliness is doing wonders to her virgin body. Feeling her throat dry, she turned around and grabbed herself the glass of water that she had previously filled. After taking few gulps, she carefully slammed it down.

"Can I get a glass of water?", Hearing his voice, as if her brain stopped working and went in a dreamy mode.

"You-You just had.", She mumbled pathetically.

"When?", Aarav frowned.

"Your Mom handed a glass to you just as you came.", She pointed out.

"So? Am I not allowed to get thirsty again?", He questioned as he leaned against the jamb of kitchen entrance. The way he said thirsty, enlarged her eyes to the size of tennis ball.

"You- You are.", She stuttered. "I'll just get you one.", She said, quickly turning around. She was about to bend down to grab a glass from cabinet when he intruded her action by stepping right before her. "Uhm?", She stumbled back.

"I can just take this.", He said grabbing the half filled glass from kitchen counter.

"That's- That's mine-", before she could complete, the edge of the glass was already enveloped between his plump lips. He took slow sips, his eyes on hers.

"I love peaches.", He whispered huskily before keeping the glass down and striding out.

She stood flabbergasted. Until her eyes fell on the glass and she saw her lipstick mark at the rim of the glass half wiped.

Her lipstick is peach flavoured! He drank right from the spot where she did.

Instinctively, she bit on her bottom lip.

What the hell just happened!? I didn't came here for this. Was he flirting with me? So suddenly!?

Unaware of, a new chapter was starting in her life.

_

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It was now late in evening. The dining table could not accommodate this many people so they decided to sit down and eat like a normal common Indian would do. The ladies clambered inside kitchen, but the men did not do what a stereotype expected from them. "Give it to me.", Vihaan said as he pushed his wife aside and took the job of making chapati.

"Vihaan, it's fine.", She said embarrassed, as everyone looked at them teasingly.

"No. Go and help, Rivaah. She's pregnant.", He said. He wanted them to retain the bond they once had.

"Take this!", Radha said thrusting the bowl of unpeeled peas in her husband's hands. "Help me!", She ordered. Pratap mocked a salute as he got down to work.

"I'll do this.", Kabir said as he tried to take the knife from Rivaah.

"Kabir, shut up.", She snapped.

"Let me do something! Everyone is helping here.", Kabir whispered angrily.

"Then help Aarav. Look he's crying because of the onions.", She said gesturing towards the man who resembled a living curse machine as he continued chopping onions.

Kabir's face twisted in disgust. He can't make himself go through that torture.

"Why am I the one who always gets these kind of tasks!?", Aarav groaned.

"No. I'm fine by your side.", Kabir said shaking his head.

"Then keep quiet!", Rivaah ordered.

"Where's Ahana!? Why is she not here!?", Aarav demanded as he turned around pointing the knife threateningly. But poor guy couldn't even see clearly, threatening someone was a lost story.

"She was in a bad mood when we came here. Let her stay out with Reyansh and Pooja.", Anaya said without paying him much attention.

"Ma'am, please see if this much spicy is okay.", Taila said catching Anaya's attention. She nodded and approached her amid the mess.

Aarav wanted to point out Pooja's absence but he couldn't. Whether he was shy, uninterested or didn't want to bring her in this chaos was unknown.

They finished preparing dinner and everything was arranged neatly on the floor of living room after Kabir and Aarav pushed the couches and other interiors away. Everyone sat down, and served themselves.

Reyansh insisted to sit on his father's lap, wanting to share the same plate. Rivaah was a little jealous. It is as if he has completely forgotten her existence.

Kabir noticed. And he frowned.

"Rey?"

"Hmm?", Reyansh looked up at his father.

"Why don't you offer first morsel to Mommy? She made this especially for you.", He said pointing at the bowl filled buttered herb pasta.

"Oh okay.", Reyansh quickly picked up his fork and twisted the pasta through the slots before getting up and raising it up to his mother's mouth.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Eat, Mommy.", Reyansh nodded. She smiled warmly before holding his wrist and eating the pasta. "Thank you for making this for me.", He said before he sat down on his father's lap and continued to eat.

After dinner, everyone enjoyed a cup of tea as Verma family was little hesitant to have wine.

"I think you all should stay. It's already ten.", Rivaah said, worried lines deeply engraved on her forehead.

"No, Rivaah, we should leave now. Pooja has college tomorrow and I've office.", Her father said as he pulled her in a hug.

"It's her last year and one day bunk doesn't matter.", She tried to push her luck.

"We've to leave, Rivaah. They came with us, so it's our responsibility to drop them back home safely.", Vihaan said and she sighed. She couldn't say anything to him.

"Say something!", She elbowed Kabir on ribs. He startled.

"Ye-yeah. Stay.", He mumbled weakly.

"My bachha!", Anaya cooed as she cupped his cheek. "Don't worry, we'll come soon.", She assured.

"Okay.", He nodded.

Rivaah shook her head.

"Ahana, share car with Aarav so we all can sit comfortably without getting cramped.", Vihaan said as he fished out the car keys.

"Take my car.", Kabir suggested.

"No, Kabir. The less cars, the better. And also, who'll drop your car back?"

"My driver-"

"It's fine, darling. We can adjust for one day.", Anaya said with a smile.

"I'm not sitting with that monkey!", Anana yelled as she stomped to her father's car and stood beside it, waiting for it to unlock.

"Mr and Mrs. Verma, you should sit in Aarav's car. Don't worry, I trust him as a driver. You'll be fine.", Vihaan said as he patted his son's back.

"Okay. C'mon Pooja.", Radha yelled and Pooja was quick to stand beside her. "You sit in the passenger seat, we'll be fine in the backseat.", She said and Pooja gasped internally. Her wide, nervous, eyes found Aarav and she saw him trying to hide his smirk.

As they left, Rivaah waved them goodbye with a small smile on her face.

"It's over, Mommy. They're gone.", Reyansh said tugging at her jeans.

"The way you say it, makes me worried!", She breathed out a chuckle.

"We should go to sleep. We've office tomorrow.", Kabir said grabbing her attention. She nodded and they all headed inside.

As like some common ideal household, the lights went off after few minutes and eerie silence enveloped the night.

Only if the family was not separated by a wall, then it wouldn't have made them different than any other ideal family.

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Janata Curphew