Ishita POV

I don't know what happened after the conversation with dad. The next morning, mom came to Mumbai when I was getting ready to go to work.

" How are you, sweety? " she greeted me.

" Fine… Amma…" I replied.

" You didn't tell me about your visit here! " Dad asked Amma. It seems Dad also doesn't know about her arrival.

" I wanted to visit Maanasi …." She replied.

" Still… you wanted to meet them? " Dad questioned Amma.

" Maanasi is also like my daughter. And whatever happened in the hospital between you and Jhanu is not my problem…" she replied.

" And I don't know what happened to your brain! Huh! You didn't remember how many years of our friendship and bonding with them! " Amma questioned seriously.

" I knew very well. But that doesn't matter to me because my daughter and her future is more important to me!! " Dad answered.

" If you are thinking of your daughter's happiness matters most so for me. She is also my only daughter…" Amma argued.

" Amma… please don't fight with dad because of me …." I pleaded.

" Then just remove your nuptial chain around your neck and end this matter now itself. When you hate him so much then you should not think about the consequences of removing the nuptial chain…" Mom said.

She stepped closer to me, looking at the nuptial chain.

" He saved my dignity and took care of me when I was in a traumatic state. How can I think something bad about him? Especially when Sastri ji strictly said it's not a good sign of taking off the nuptial chain ?  So I don't want to remove it …" I explained the same to my mom.

She looked at me and said, " When you hate someone so deeply, you should not think of their well-being.  But when you can't think of something bad about that person then it's not hatred…." 

" Better you decide your feelings for him as soon as possible before some other woman enters his life…" she said.

" Sowmya …. Why are you confusing her? " Dad yelled.

" Because…  Rishab is the only one who loves her and fights for her after us…" Amma said.

" That's why he left my daughter alone a few months back. He is a coward…" Dad retorted.

" Then punish your son in law. Teach him a lesson…" she suggested.

" He is not my son in law anymore…" Dad said sternly.

" But he is my son in law…" saying she walked away from us. I stared at dad, feeling restless.

He came to me and placed his hand on my head, " My princess… I respect your decision. I will support you…."

I embraced dad as I was confused with Amma's words. 

" Dad… he hurt me so deeply. How can Amma suggest to me to go to him? I gathered myself and was trying to stand on myself. I don't want to be in that situation again. I don't want  to leave me alone again " I poured out all my insecurities, my fears which were hiding in my heart to my dad.

" How can I give a chance to that person who doesn't know the meaning of love?? " I expressed my doubts to my dad.

He patted gently on my back and said, " Everything will be alright. Don't stress yourself. And I promise you that until my last breath no one will try to force you to do something you don't want to do, even if it is your Amma…"

" Thank you…. You are the best…" I said.

" Baby…. What is your opinion about Rajeev Kapoor? " he asked me.

I raised my head and looked at him with a serious expression. 

" Don't be angry at your dad. If you are not comfortable talking about him. Then I will not ask you further…" he said.

" Frankly speaking…. Presently, I am not interested in anyone. And it's difficult to trust anyone after what I had experienced with Rishab. " I explained.

" I am not ready to start any new relationship. So please …. Inform Mr. Rajeev Kapoor about my opinion. I don't want him to keep hope on me …" I added.

Dad nodded understanding my feelings and said, " Fine…dear. I will call him and inform the same…"

Five days later….

I was working from home as mom and dad wanted to stay with me for a few days.

When I was busy in my designing the sketches in afternoon, I noticed Amma was rushing outside where as dad was following her. I noticed the worried expression on their faces.

" Dad… what happened? Where are you going??" I asked. 

" Jhanu Aunty called your mom. It seems Aarushi is in labour pain and Abhiram is not there. We need to go to them…" saying Dad walked out.

I stopped my work and ran after him.

" Yeah… I will drove to their place…" I stopped.

" No need. There are staying next to this flat…." Dad answered and quickly walked toward the next flat main door. I too followed them as I was also nervous thinking of Aarushi.

When I entered the flat, Aarushi was crying in pain whereas Amma and Jhanu Aunty were trying to comfort her. On the other hand, Maanasi was standing beside them, looking at Aarushi with worried expression.

" I think… we need to take her to the hospital…" Dad suggested.

" Rithwik already went to get the car from parking area…." Jhanu Aunty replied.

" Maanu…be careful…." Jhanu instructed. 

" I will manage… " she replied.

Then Jhanu Aunty and Amma helped Aarushi walking to the elevator whereas Dad followed them. 

" Stay with Maanu. I will go along with them…" saying Dad left me with Maanasi.

I too wanted to be with Aarushi. But I can't leave Maanu alone. Even though dad didn't advise me to stay with Manu, I would have stayed back with her.

Then I remembered that I didn't lock my house. 

" Maanu… I will be back. I need to lock my house…" saying I went to my flat which is next to the flat. I locked the main door and went to her.

I found Maanu was watching something on her mobile. 

"Maanu… How is your health? " I asked her.

She raised her head from the mobile and replied, " Better now…". 

"Do you want anything to drink or to eat?? " I asked her.

" Nothing…." She replied, keeping her eyes on the mobile.

" Are you still upset with me for meeting someone on that day ? " I asked her. Instantly I raised her head and looked at my face.

" Maanu… tell me…" I repeated.

" Why should I be upset at you?especially when everyone knew it was my brother's fault for leaving you" she replied.

" I know it's not right to force you to reconsider your thoughts about my brother. And also I can't be closer to you like earlier. I was trying to prepare my mind that you are going to be a part of another family but not ours …" she added.

" That means… I am not her family member now!! " I thought in my mind.  Her words hurt me.

" So …. You are avoiding me for that reason!! " I inquired.

" You are taking me wrong, Ishu. I like you so much. I didn't mean to hurt you. But …  you know I am a straightforward person, I am trying to be practical with you. I hope you understand, " She said.

" I know the pain when our  hopes and expectations aren't fulfilled. So, I was trying to accept the truth…" she added.

" You changed like this…because of Tony??? " I questioned her as I read her journal which she left in the guestroom.

She was startled by my question and stared at my face sceptically.

Understanding her thoughts, I said,  " I read your journal …."

Immediately she looked down and said, " Better you forget about it …" 

" Why? Didn't Tony reciprocate your feelings? " I inquired anxiously.

She smiled bitterly and replied, " No. In his eyes, I am his best friend, sister. And most importantly, he doesn't want his friendship with my brother affected. I too respect his opinion as I witnessed the situation between our families."

Just then, we heard a doorbell sound. Both of us turned our heads in that direction. I walked to the main door and opened it. I noticed Tony standing outside.

" Thank God…. You are with Manu," 

" As soon as I got a call from Rishab, I worried thinking she would be alone in the home and reached here quickly…" he said. I noticed that he was sweating badly.

I smiled at him, noticing his care for Maanu and allowed him inside. I like Tony as a person, as I saw him being an honest person and best friend. I believe Manaasi chose the right person.  And after looking at Tony's arrival, I was sure he had feelings for her. 

" I will be back with lemon juice…." Saying I went to the kitchen, leaving them alone.

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