So let's start without any delay.....

It was five in the evening and the Shah House glowed in a warm orange tinge as the slanting rays of the setting sun fell on it.

There was absolute silence around and the only sound that could be heard was the flutter of the pages of a magazine that Kavya was flipping through as she sat on a chair in the porch waiting for her husband who had gone to meet their lawyer.

It had been more than a week since they had asked their lawyer to get them a deal from the AK Group but still there wasn't any progress and she wondered if there ever will be.

From getting Baa to emotionally blackmail Anupama.....to.....manipulating Toshu and Pakhi against their mother, Kavya had used every trick in the book to save herself from the case and now she was waiting for Vanraj to come back to know if any of them had yet worked.

However, she didn't have to wait for long because as soon as she finished flipping through her magazine, Vanraj entered from the main gate and went inside the house without even noticing her presence.

Nevertheless, she followed him into the house wanting to know how the meeting with the lawyer went.

Kavya:- V....Tum kaha the?.....mai tumahra kabse wait kar rahi thi.

She said as Vanraj picked up a glass of water from the dining table to drink.

Vanraj:- Maine kaha tumse mera wait karne ko?

He retorted in a cold voice before gulping the water down his throat.

Kavya:- Tum mujhse kabhi dhang se kyu nahi baat kar sakte ho?

She complained as she came and stood in front of him but he ignored her presence and moved past her to go and sit on the sofa.

Noticing him ignoring her, Kavya wondered if the meeting didn't go well and decided to ask him about it.

Kavya:- Accha.....anyways....yeh sab chodo....pehle batao ki tumahri lawyer se baat hui?.....kya kaha usne?

She inquired, taking a seat beside him on the sofa and he looked at her in exasperation.

He was already frustrated from the day he had and Kavya's questions were doing nothing but adding more to it.

However, he didn't want to start a fight at the moment because he was looking for some comfort and support that no one in the house can give him except Kavya.

So, he answered her honestly.

Vanraj:- Wahi jo itne dino se keh raha hai....."mai kosis kar raha hoo Mr. Shah....aap patience rakhiye.....AK Group jald hi jawab dega".

He replied, feeling tired of receiving the same explanation from his lawyer everyday.

Kavya:- Kosis kar raha hai to abhi tak kyu kuch hua nahi?.....court ki date aati hi hogi....aur yeh AK Group ko ek deal ke liye ready nahi karwa paaya.....kaisa lawyer hai yeh?

She whined about the lawyer's incompetence but Vanraj kept quiet knowing that they don't have a choice.

Vanraj:- Kavya.....Aab jo bhi hai....yahi hai.

He said, asking her to compromise but Kavya was in no mood to do that when her entire life was at stake.

Kavya:- V.....humari life ka sawal hai.

She stated, clutching his hand trying to convince him to find another lawyer but Vanraj had already tried everything.

Vanraj:- Jaanta hoo mai..... isiliye aaj pure din me kamsekam das lawyer ko visit kar chuka hoo......but pata nahi koi aur yeh case lene ko tayyar hi nahi hai.....samajh nahi aa raha chal kya raha hai yeh.

He explained and Kavya wondered if they really had no option left.

She was about to ask him to contact a few more lawyers but before she could, Baa interrupted.

Baa:- Vanraj tu kab aaya?

She inquired, walking into the hall and Vanraj turned around to look at her.

Vanraj:- Bas abhi thodi der hui Baa.

He replied as she made herself comfortable on the sofa beside him and started looking here and there for someone.

On not finding the desired person around, she finally decided to ask Vanraj about it.

Baa:- Pakhi kaha hai?

She inquired and Vanraj just shrugged his shoulders indicating that he doesn't know.

Vanraj:- Mujhe kya pata Baa....jabse aaya hoo kahi dikhi nahi.

He said in a nonchalant manner and Baa looked at him surprised.

Baa:- Kahi dikhi nahi ka kya matalab hai?.....Use to tu leke aana wala tha na school se competition ke baad?

She questioned and Vanraj was reminded of the entire incident that happened in Pakhi's school where she not only insulted but also asked him to leave.

Vanraj:- Haan Baa...wo....wo kuch issues ho gaye the isiliye....mujhe waha se jaana pada.

He tried making some excuse not wanting Baa and Kavya to find out how his daughter behaved with him today.

Vanraj:- Lekin Pakhi ko yeh baat pata thi......mujhe laga wo abhi tak auto leke aa gayi hogi.

He added still thinking that Pakhi was already home and both Baa and Kavya were stunned by this revelation.

Kavya, in her restlessness about the case, forgot to ask Vanraj about the whereabouts of Pakhi and Baa had assumed that he was picking her up from school but seeing him clueless made them realise that no one in the house knew where she was.

Kavya:- Nahi V.....Pakhi to school se abhi tak ghar hi nahi aayi.

She said in panic and Vanraj was shocked hearing this.

Vanraj:- KYA !!

He shouted, standing up from the sofa and both Baa and Kavya followed suit.

Baa:- Haan.....wo nahi aayi abhi tak.....mujhe laga wo tere saath hogi.....aur tum dono baap beti.....wo competition ke baad humesha ki tarah....wo kya kehte ho tum dono....haan....ice-cream treat ke liye gaye hoge....isiliye itni der lag rahi.

She explained in anxiousness while Vanraj was worried sick about his daughter's whereabouts.

Vanraj:- Baa aapko mujhe phone karna chahiye tha na ek baar.....itna wakt thodi lagta hai ice cream khane me....aur Kavya tum.....tumhe to pata tha na mai kaha hoo....tum mujhe ek baar phone karke puch leti.

He confronted both of them for acting so irresponsible but Kavya didn't take it.

Kavya:- Tum mujhe kyu bol rahe ho....maine kya kiya?

She defended herself and Vanraj found it useless to explain it to her.

Vanraj:- Kuch nahi....tum kuch kar bhi nahi sakti ho.....mai Pakhi ko phone lagata hoo....puchta hoo kaha hai wo.

He taunted Kavya and took out his phone to call Pakhi.

Dialling her number, he paced across the hall waiting for her to pick up but she didn't.

Vanraj:- Yeh ladki phone hi nahi utha rahi mera.

He complained and was about to dial her number again when a message from an unexpected person popped up on his phone screen.

Vanraj:- Yeh Rakhi Dave mujhe kyu message kar rahi hai?

He wondered and opened the message to read it but as soon as he did, his eyes flung open as they fell on a picture of Anuj and Pakhi high-fiving and laughing with each other.

Kinjal se Anupama aur Mr. Kapadia ki dosti ke baare me suna tha to yakeen nahi hua tha.....lekin yeh nazaara dekh ke lag raha hai....Mr. Kapadia ne sirf Anupama ki life me hi nahi.....aapki beti ki life me bhi aapki jagah le li hai....Mr. Shah.

The message below the picture read and Vanraj stood there unblinking, trying to process it.

Is the picture even real? Was Anuj Kapadia really bonding with Pakhi as could be seen in the picture and if he was, how did Rakhi Dave get a whiff of it when he, himself, had no idea about Pakhi's whereabouts?

He wondered as another message from Rakhi Dave popped up on his screen.

Mujhe yeh photos kaha se mili yeh sochne me apna wakt mat barbaad kijeyega.....yeh sochiyega ki agar yeh photos media me chali gayi to aapka kya hoga?

It threatened and Vanraj finally realised that Rakhi might have got this information from one of her sources.

Anger rushed in the moment the shock faded and thrummed through his veins as the image of Pakhi mingling with the person he despises the most flashed before his eyes.

How dare Anuj Kapadia meet his daughter in his absence and why didn't Pakhi inform him about it !! There was no way in hell that she didn't know the person she was meeting was her father's biggest enemy and if she did, why is she sharing a laugh with him? Does Anupama have something to do with it?

The thought infuriated Vanraj and he threw the phone away in rage startling both Baa and Kavya who were standing on the side silently waiting for him to speak.

Thankfully the phone landed at Kavya's feet in one piece and she picked it up wondering what did Vanraj see on it that enraged him so much.

Her eyes widened in shock as soon as she had a look at the picture displayed on the phone screen.

Kavya:- V.....yeh Pakhi Anuj ke saath kya kar rahi hai?.....wo bhi Anupama ki dance academy ke bahar?

She asked in astonishment about Pakhi being with Anuj outside Anupama's academy and Vanraj's assumptions regarding Anupama were confirmed the moment she mentioned it.

It must be Anupama who picked up Pakhi from school and took her to the dance academy to meet her so-called friend Anuj Kapadia.

He concluded as he stood there on the side seething, wanting to burst out but before he could, Baa, who had been witnessing the play of emotions on her son's face for a while, intervened.

Baa:- Yeh maide ki katori kya bol rahi hai.....Pakhi us Anuj Kapadia ke saath kya karegi?

She inquired, looking at Vanraj and Kavya in disbelief.

Kavya:- Pata nahi Baa....lekin yeh dekhiye Rakhi Dave ne un dono ki photo bheji hai.....wo bhi haste hue.

She answered, walking upto Baa and showing her the picture.

Meanwhile, Baa looked at it and was shocked to see her granddaughter laughing with Anuj even after being repeatedly told that he and Anupama are the reason behind all their problems.

Baa:- Vanraj....mai yeh kya dekh rahi hoo....Pakhi aur wo Kapadia.....yeh dono kaise mile?

She let out in bewilderment as she walked up to Vanraj with the phone in her hand and put it in front of him.

Vanraj:- Us Anupama ki wajah se Baa.....aur kaise?.....wahi meri beti ko behla fusla ke apne saath school se dance academy le gayi hogi Anuj se milane.

He replied in annoyance, snatching the phone from her hand and putting it away in anger and frustration.

Baa:- To tu yaha khada kya kar raha hai?.....jaa aur jaake Pakhi ko wapas lekar aa....isse pehle ki wo dono milke uske man me humare khilaaf zehar bhare.

She ordered and Vanraj realised that Baa was right.

He should go and get his daughter out of there before Anuj Kapadia poisons her mind against him but before he could, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

Hello everyone. I'm back.

The voice said and everyone including Vanraj turned around to have a look at it.

It was no one but Pakhi entering the Shah House casually and greeting everyone as if nothing happened while the others looked at her waiting for an explanation.

Seeing all eyes on her, she wondered what it was all about and why she was receiving death glares from her family members.

Was it about how she behaved with Vanraj this morning in school?

She thought and gathered the courage to ask about it.

Pakhi:- Kya hua.....aap log mujhe aise kyu dekh rahe ho?

She inquired meekly and Vanraj looked at her displeased.

Vanraj:- Tu kaha thi itne der se?.....school to tera do ghante pehle khatam ho gaya tha na?

He questioned, walking upto Pakhi and she got anxious on thinking of disclosing where she was.

Pakhi:- Haan papa....wo mai....

She stuttered in nervousness trying to form an answer but Vanraj cut her off.

Vanraj:- Wo mai kya....Haan?

He called her out knowing very well that she was trying to make up some excuse rather than telling him the truth and Pakhi looked at him bewildered.

Pakhi:- Aap mujhse aise kyu baat kar rahe ho?......What's going on?

She asked, hearing the rude tone in which her father was speaking to her and Vanraj had enough of her questions.

Vanraj:- I will tell you what's going on....Yaha mai ghar me pareshaan ho raha hoo ki tu abhi tak ghar kyu nahi aayi school se.....aur tu hai ki mere dushmano ke saath hangout kar rahi hai.

He lashed out but Pakhi still wasn't able to grasp the situation.

Pakhi:- Papa.....what are you talking about?

She questioned not being able to join the dots and Vanraj fetched the phone out of his pocket hearing this.

Vanraj:- This. This is what I am talking about.

He stated in a loud voice showing her the picture of Anuj and her laughing with each other and she was shocked seeing it.

She has come home with a thought of apologising to Vanraj for her rude behaviour in school and going to meet Anupama without his permission because she feared that someone from the colony would eventually tell him about her visit as the dance academy was not that far away from their colony but she had no intention of letting him know about her meeting with Anuj as she knew it would do nothing but only infuriate him.

However, no matter how much she tried to hide it, the truth was now out in the open and she didn't know how to explain it.

She looked at Baa and Kavya for help but both of them were too afraid to interfere. She tried to figure out some other way out of this situation but there wasn't.

Vanraj needed answers and he needed them now.

Vanraj:- Pakhi bol....Kya hai yeh? Tu Anuj Kapadia ke saath kya kar rahi hai?

He asked again in a cold voice but Pakhi didn't answer, causing Vanraj to lose the last shred of patience left in him.

Vanraj:- BOL.

He shouted in a thunderous tone and a shiver ran down Pakhi's spine.

Terrified of what her father might do in anger if she doesn't speak up, she blabbed all about the incident that happened in school in front of him and all three of them in the room were stunned hearing this.

Baa and Kabya were worried that Pakhi will start taking her mom's side after this incident and then they won't be able to use her to manipulate Anupama into dropping the case while Vanraj feared the worst. He thought that Anuj Kapadia was trying to take his place in Pakhi's life like he is doing in Anupama's by helping her and her daughter and he couldn't let this happen.

Vanraj:- Ek anjaan insaan ne kaha ki wo tujhe ghar drop kar dega aur tu uske saath chali gayi......TERA DIMAG TO NAHI KHARAB HO GAYA HAI PAKHI?

He yelled, asking her why she went with a stranger in the first place and Pakhi understood his concern about him.

Pakhi:- Papa wo anjaan nahi hai.....mummy ke dost hai.

She tried to explain but Kavya interrupted her in between.

Kavya:- Are dost hai to kya hua.....uska matalab yeh thodi hai ki tum uske saath kahi bhi chali jaoo.....especially tab jab uske against humara case chal raha ho.

She said and Pakhi looked at her annoyed.

She was already pissed off at Kavya for what she had to face in school today because of her and now her unnecessary intervention was irking her even more. She badly wanted to shut her up with her retort but she controlled herself and turned towards Vanraj for support.

She looked at him to take her side but to her shock, Vanraj opened his mouth in Kavya's favour.

Vanraj:- Kavya bilkul sahi keh rahi hai.....tujhe idea bhi hai.....agar media me yeh photo viral ho gayi to log kya kahenge.....kahenge ki Vanraj Shah ki beti khud uska saath nahi dena chahti hai.

He said, informing Pakhi about the consequences of her actions and this left Pakhi in disbelief.

All this time, she was thinking that her father was reprimanding her because he was concerned about her leaving with a stranger but hearing him take Kavya's side made her realise that his first priority was his image and reputation and then his daughter.

She was trying to process this whole situation not knowing how to react when Baa came upto her and started unleashing her taunts.

Baa:- Pehle hi us Anuj ki wajah se samaaj me humari itni badnaami ho rahi hai.....aab tu bhi uska saath leke humari beizzati karwa le.

She rebuked Pakhi for mingling with Anuj Kapadia and it started getting on her nerves.

Vanraj:- Exactly.......tu yeh mat bhul ki aaj hum jis bhi mess me hai na....wo us Anuj Kapadia aur Anupama ki hi den hai.

He stated, blaming Anuj and Anupama for the problems in their life and Pakhi couldn't control anymore....not today.....not after Anuj helped her sort her father's mess.

Pakhi:- WRONG PAPA.....AAJ HUM JIS BHI MESS ME HAI....WO UNKI NAHI....BALKI AAPKI AUR KAVYA KI DEN HAI.....AUR WO AUR VIKRAM UNCLE TO WO MESS BAS SORT KARNE KI KOSIS KAR RAHE HAI.

She lashed out in frustration and Vanraj and Kavya were taken aback hearing it.

Pakhi:- Infact....aaj bhi....mess aapne hi create kiya tha mere school me aake.....jo unhone sort out kiya. Wo opposite side pe hone ke baad bhi humari itni help kar rahe hai papa.....aur aap ho ki thank you bolne ke bajaaye unhe hi blame kar rahe ho.

She added, showing Vanraj the mirror but all he could think of was how Anuj had manipulated Pakhi into blaming him.

He knew this would happen if they don't handle the situation properly but he didn't know that it would happen this soon.

Vanraj:- Pakhi beta....tu samajh kyu nahi rahi hai....wo teri help karke mujhe neecha dikhana chahta hai.....yeh dikhana chahta hai ki I don't care about you.

He tried to pacify her but Pakhi was already bitter by now.

Pakhi:- Yeh unhe mujhe dikhane ki zaroorat nahi hai....I can see how much you care about me.

She scoffed at him and Vanraj gave her a death glare.

Vanraj:- What did you say?

He asked in a cold voice and Pakhi repeated herself.

Pakhi:- I SAID I CAN SEE HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT ME.

She reiterated in a loud voice not afraid to speak her mind anymore and Vanraj couldn't believe his ears.