Antonio and Xiao nodded at Lakshmi and Rahul who were in airport. They wanted to know the  information lakshmi has unveiled from the base but Lakshmi hasn't opened her mouth since yesterday night.

It's as if she was always in a dilemma and confusion with brows pulled together.

Even Rahul wanted to know but the only answer he got was
" I will solve my problems myself.
Don't worry, if I need your help, I will ask you " . He didn't want to get her riled up, but he can't force her to open her stubborn mouth.

They sat in Rahul's private jet as they were ready to take off.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Arjun entered the barren land and looked around. According to their intel, they have traced out her last location till here.

Arjun looked at the collapsed building and the traces of fight in the surrounding location with bullets struck in the car pannels, buildings and a few traces of blood.

He looked down at the thick translucent substance on the road and crouched one leg while keenly observing it.

" boss, it's the newly created corpse eroding liquid that the serpents have created. They use it to dispose the bodies. " vardhan said from behind his boss.

They haven't found a single body except for these patches all around and few blood stained walls.

No one would doubt the horrible fight with hundreds of missing corpses.
The building fell due to instability.
The blood stains due to small fight among gangsters.

'Well planned' 
Vardhan thought while looking at the punched out bullet shots with acid edges and no traces of bullets in them.
No clues.
No traces.

Arjun turned around and left without looking back. Viraj looked at his boss not knowing what he is thinking of right now.
He had seen how his boss was always preoccupied with mistress's thoughts everytime. Even though he pities his own boss but he would never think more than that.
Because his low life doesn't have a right to discern his master's life .

Arjun returned in his room and looked at his daughter who is standing on a stool on her strained toes while patting powder with her little palms onto her cheeks.

He lifted the little one up in his arms from behind and turned her around making her giggle as her wavy hair flew in all directions. He made her sit down and combed her hair neatly, tying up two braids on either side.

He got a call on his phone and excused himself from his princess who is munching on strawberries without caring about him.

He went out of the room and sat down.
" Boss , madam has returned to mansion. " vardhan said. Arjun hummed and kept his phone back in his pocket.
He rubbed his forehead and went inside the bedroom.

" princess
Shall we go back to home?
Your mother came back " Arjun said while looking at her wide eyes and half munched berry.

" papa
We should tell mumma
We went on a holiday tour
Ok? " Neelu mumbled while swallowing the berries in her mouth.
She is really afraid if her Mumma comes to know that she followed her. That too without her permission.

" ok.... " Arjun said looking at his daughter who is filled with fear. He smiled at her reactions.... 

" why do you fear your mumma so much? " arjun asked looking at his daughter.

" secret ok?
Mumma is scary when angry
She screams loudly
Ommaaa 
If she beats?
Antonio uncle said
Mumma beats good " Neelu said fearing that her mother might punch her straight in face if she knows about her little secret trip. her mum had been very strict regarding these matters...

Arjun smiled while jealousy crept underneath his eyes. A mere member of serpents is close to his wife and children which he couldn't accept at all.

He grumbled in dissatisfaction but kept it inside of him as he knew that this ain't time to deal with those puny fellows.

Soon Arjun packed up his and neelu's clothes in a bag for their way to airport .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
" Ibbu beta , where is Neelu ? I haven't seen her since morning" Lakshmi asked looking at her son who is obediently standing in front of her while holding noor's hand .

" Father took her out .
Grandpa didn't say where they went when I asked " Ibbu said looking at his mother who went god knows where since past a week . This was common before they came to India so he didn't ask where she went as he knew that she would say " I went on work" .

Noor walked on her small feet in white socks without shoes towards her mother and hugged her thighs while trying to climb up . Lakshmi lifted her up and let her sit in her lap as she kissed that squishy face of her daughter's multiple times .

" did anyone make trouble for you beta ?" Lakshmi asked while holding her son's small soft palms in her one hand . While Ibbu let his ammi play with his hands knowing his ammi's small habit .

" No ammi" Ibbu said smiling assuringly and Lakshmi smiled while ruffling his hair and pulled him to kiss his forehead . thinking that her son was a little mature man....
In middle Noor was blinking her large doe like eyes calmly seeing her mumma and bhai interacting .

" why can't your elder sister be at least half good as you ?" Said Lakshmi while playing with Noor's little hands making her giggle .

Ibbu informed his mother about how their grandpa has arranged for their school and other small things which Lakshmi listened keenly . She knew that there is no way she can take away her kids .
And she can't let the fight between the adults affect the children's life and education .

Soon Rudra , Advaya , Abhimanyu , Utkarsh entered room and toppled their bodies on their mother's huge soft bed . Noor too jumped onto their bodies thinking of it as a game . Lakshmi teased those little kids with her unscrupulous paws .
.
.
.
.
.
It was around 8:00pm when all of them gathered around the dining table . With her father in law sitting in the main chair and to his right was his wife and to his left was his mother . Except for Saraswathi , no one bothered where she went , when she went or when she came back .
Neither did Lakshmi bothered to give them an explanation . Except for the warning that she gave to her father in law a few days back . Though she knew that she was disrespectful but she can't gamble on the safety of her kids .

She served her own kids while Saraswathi served the rest of the family . She fed Noor patiently while Noor scrunched up her nose . Lakshmi understood that Noor didn't like the food cooked by them but she coaxed Noor into eating them . Life can't always be the way they want .
But she thought that she might as well cook separately for Noor from next time because she is still too young .

{ author: no one could be more controversial than our female lead } 

In the middle of their dinner , they heard footsteps and all of them turned towards the entrance of the dining hall . They saw Arjun with Neelu in his arms . Anita immediately called out for her son to sit down and started serving him while Neelu sat beside her brothers . Her impatient small hands already grabbed onto the food in her brother's plate while Lakshmi pulled her and made her sit on the chair with a grim face .

Looking at her mother's face , Neelu looked down at her lap . Trying her best to keep it normal . She can't let her mother know . But unknown to the little girl , her mother has already seen difference in her daughter's attitude as soon as both daughter and father entered the dining hall.

After serving them , Lakshmi sat down to eat her food which had turned a little cold . But it didn't matter to her much as this was common . There were days when she had to eat even the rotten food or starve on empty stomach while on missions .

She heard sound from beside her and turned to look at Arjun who was sitting on a chair beside her . She looked at the empty chair which has been kept empty for him .
She turned her head down towards her plate without much of a change in her expression even after glimpsing at manika .
If glares could kill , Lakshmi would have died a thousand times .

Nandini Devi shook her head disapprovingly as she saw Arjun helping himself to serve his own food . She knew that this couple is almost at the verge of breaking  and if not because of these children binding them together , they might have separated far away . The old lady sighed and continued eating her bland food while pushing her burden onto god .

After having their dinner , all of them went back to their rooms while Lakshmi followed her kids . They all wore their night suits and Lakshmi helped Noor to change . She sat beside Neelu after hitting noor's bum softly indicating her to go to her brothers .

Neelu was looking here and there while trying to respond to her mother as normal as she can but it was no where near normal . Lakshmi knew that her daughter is hiding something and this little daughter of her's won't spill the beans without interrogating her .
But she let her daughter off the hook knowing that she is scared while seeing those beaded sweat on her forehead .

After making sure that all of them have slept , she slipped out of the room quietly while switching off the lights . She sighed while rubbing her head and then walked towards her room while looking at her feet .
She felt heavy all over her body thinking about the responsibilities, burdens and fear she has for her kids .

She too wants to have a normal life .
Being a working house wife . Looking after kids and working in hospital , coming back to see her cooperative , trustworthy and loving husband looking after her kids as soon as she enters their home .
Cook them tasty food .
House filled with fun , teasing and laughter .
All she wants is a simple life .

Who said that people living in mansions , wearing costly clothes and having a loads of money have the perfect life ?
Doesn't she have all those ?
But is she happy ? Or her kids safe ?

She felt her back hunching and feet heavy with every step .

Arjun was standing few meters away from her as he saw how dull her face looked like . As if she might break down anytime soon but still trying her best to hold back .
She looked really weak in his eyes . She walked and smashed straight into his arms and moved back while trying stabilise herself .
The hands he rose to hold her were left hanging in the air .

Lakshmi looked at the man in front of her with his hands wide enough as if he was going to hold her . She laughed sarcastically inside thinking that he might be thinking of her as a small weak girl .
Did water enter his brain ?
Did he expect a soap opera scene to happen here ?

She rolled her eyes and walked from a side to enter her room . She is strong enough to beat down a bulky man like him... Forget about this loafer of a husband who is tied to her .

Lakshmi was about to shut the door when Arjun pushed it open and entered inside . She raised her brows at him and stared at him with her hands folded front .
" do you want something ?" She asked calmly as if nothing could affect her....

Arjun thought that at least after getting himself wounded while protecting their child will make those glaciers melt a little but he was wrong . Very wrong .
She never changed .

" If not then leave" she said coldly while turning away and went straight into her blankets .

Arjun saw her sleeping on the bed and his eyes held a trace of blame and self criticism . She was sleeping as straight as a pine tree with her hands intertwined into each other on her abdomen . He then remembered how she used to sleep in his manor in NYC . Like a small puddle , cuddled up in blanket peacefully .

She walks as straight as a soldier .
She sleeps like a corpse .
She eats whatever she has on her plate .
She smiles calculatingly which doesn't meet her eyes .
She is strong , not like the one before who needs his protection .
She can protect herself and their kids .
She doesn't need him .
At all .

He looked at his little wife whom he forced to walk on a dangerous path .
She wouldn't even believe him even if he says her to lean her head on his shoulders and he will take care of them for the rest of their lives .
Because he knows
that she lost trust
on everyone ...