Anjali finished the painting she had been working on for Kajal's rakhi gift from her. She had only been able to work on it couple of hours at a time. Only her mother-in-law and Hina auntie knew what she has planned. They had help her set up her studio in the guest house, so on one knew about her paintings.

She finished cleaning up and quickly rushed out of the guesthouse. She had just walked in the house when she heard her name. "Anjali?" she turned when Hina auntie called her.

"Yes auntie."

Hina smiled at her, "Your aunt called." She tensed and waited for Hina auntie to tell her why her aunt had called. "She wanted to see if you were free to visit today, your father wants to see you." Anjali didn't respond.

"What happened Anjali? You should go visit him for a while, and don't worry about dinner Ramila and I will take care of it. Go get ready and have the driver take you to your dad's house." Anjali couldn't refuse to go so she did as she was told.

An hour later she walked into her fathers house and stopped in her tracks. She was shocked to see her bhabhi sitting in front of her dad, crying bitterly claiming Raj left her, and it was all because of Anjali.

Her aunt was sitting beside Nisha, soothing her and telling her to calm down everything will be alright. Just then Riya spotted Anjali standing by the door. "Here is she is now." At this everyone turned towards the door and glared at Anjali, who was unable to move at all. She couldn't comprehend what was going on. Her bhai was back in India, and she didn't even know.

Her father stood up and came towards Anjali in anger. "Are you happy now? Why did you come here, to rub salt into Nisha's wounds. You managed to separate her from Raj, you should be happy. You should have died with your mother. You will always remain a manhoos. I don't know whose blood runs in your veins, but it certainly is not mine." Anjali felt as though he had physically slapped her. There was a shocked silence following his last harsh words. She felt a roaring in her head. She couldn't have heard him right. Did he just say she wasn't his daughter?

Then Anjali thought this is all her aunt's doing, she didn't know what her aunt told her father, but this was the last straw, she is putting doubts about Anjali's mother in her father's head, and she will not stand for it. He father may not love her, but she knew first hand that her mother had been the love of his life and he had changed when he lost her. "Are you listening yourself dad? You are doubting your wife, the woman whom you loved more than your life, and for what? Auntie is putting all these doubts in your head and you believe her blindly, why can't you see that she is out to destroy this family, and that has been her intentions all along?"

Anjali was horrified to see her aunt and Nisha smiling cunningly at her. Her father grabbed her arm and tried to push her out of his house. "Just shut up, you are the one who is trying to destroy this family not your aunt. Now get out of here, I don't ever want to see your manhoos face again and don't try to contact Raj either." She lost her balance when he pushed her, she would have fallen but just then she was caught in familiar strong arms. She looked up to see Aditya glaring at her father. A muscle was ticking in his jaw and his eyes were flared in temper. She felt tears streaming down her face.

Aditya looked down when he felt the wetness on his hand, he flinched when he saw his wife's savaged face. This would be the worst pain she would endure and if he could take this pain away from her he would do it in a heartbeat.

He had been on his way home when his mom informed him to pick up Anjali from her father's house on the way back since the driver had to leave. He had immediately called Raj to let him know Anjali was visiting his house. Raj had also been in route to home and had asked Aditya to hurry, something hadn't felt right.

They had both arrived at the same time, but it had been too late to do anything. They had both stood frozen just outside the door, listening as the horrifying words were flung at Anjali with no regards to how it would make her feel.

"Dad, why are you doing this?" Anjali's head snapped up when she heard her brother, she pulled away from Aditya and wiped her tears. Her brother was home, and no one had informed her, he hadn't even bothered to let her know he was back.

Suddenly Raj turned towards Anjali and took a step towards her, but stopped when she stepped back. "Anjali..." when she didn't respond or look at him he turned away and faced his aunt and ex-wife. "Nisha, I told you it was over between us, now I want you out of my house, and don't ever come back here. Don't try to contact me and stay away from Anjali, or else you won't like what I do to you. Do you understand?" Nisha knew better than to ignore Raj's threat so she left without a protest, throwing Anjali an angry look on her way out the door.

Raj turned towards his aunt and Riya. "Auntie, for years you have lived in this house, but I think now it is time for you to go live with your son, he makes decent money and his own place, there is no reason for you to stay here anymore, as I am back and neither dad nor I will be needing you."

"Raj, what are you saying, who will take care of you and your father?" Urmila pretended to be sincere, but inside she was seething as once again her plan was destroyed, if only Raj had stayed away longer, Nisha would have convinced her father-in-law to ask Raj to give her another chance, but now everything is going wrong.

Raj saw straight through his aunt's fake sincerity. "You don't worry about that auntie, as we already have someone to take care of us." Just then Anjali heard yet another familiar voice from the doorway. "That's right Urmilaben, you don't worry about Raj and his father, as now I am back to take care of my family"

Anjali turned to see her Kakima standing by the door with a proud look on her face, glaring at Urmila auntie. She couldn't stop starring at her kakima, it has been eight years since she last saw her. She was different yet the same. She has aged gracefully, her hair had more grays then before, but her face is just as smooth as before. The loving look in her eyes when she glanced at her was still the same, yet Anjali's feet would not move forward to embrace the person who had been a mother to her for the first sixteen years of her life. The person who had thought her to believe in lord Krishna, who had thought her to cook at a very young age, who had been her role model for the most important years of her life.

Just then Anjali's father spoke up. "Raj, you forget that this is my house and I will decide who stays and who goes." He said this with angry look towards Anjali. "You may not see it, but this girl has brought nothing but bad luck in this house, and I won't stand for her to be here for even one more minute, I suggest you ask her to leave, not your aunt and Riya. You forget that it is they who has been taking care of this house and me, while you left to live your own life, and now you want to come back and change things, well I didn't give you the permission to run my life or my household."

Raj couldn't believe his father still refusing to see the truth. "Fine dad, if this is what you want, I will not tell you how to run your household, but I will not stay here also. I will be moving out, you run your life the way you see fit, I won't interfere." His aunt smirked at him for her victory. His father did not react, and after glaring at Anjali one last time left without trying to make Raj change his decision.

Raj turned towards his aunt and cousin. "You may think you have won, but don't start celebrating yet, because you still won't get this house or its money and I will make sure of this. And another thing, I may be leaving but I will be keeping an eye on dad, so you better be sure that no harm comes to him, otherwise you and your family will pay for it." Urmila glared at Raj, twisted her mouth and dragged Riya with her as she also left the room.

While everyone's attention was on the drama, taking place in the Shah family, Aditya had eyes only for Anjali and gauging her reactions to the events taking place.

He hadn't liked it when she pulled away from him, but realized that was an unconscious move on her part, she had always stood alone while other people hurt her with their harsh words, or left her to stand alone to cope with the pain they caused her by abandoning her. Just then she looked at him and spoke softly, "Can we go home please?" Raj and Kakima turned towards her.

Aditya frowned, he understood she wasn't ready to see Raj yet, but he was surprised at her refusal to acknowledge her kakima, whom she had asked the Mistrys about not too long ago. Then in next instant he realized that she associated people leaving her with deep-rooted fear of rejection. She may have not said anything when her kakima left, but she had felt rejected and abandoned by her also, and now once again she is distancing herself, just like she distance herself from him physically earlier.

He watched as her kakima came towards her. Anjali also watched her approach her, showing none of her emotions.

"Anjali, are you upset with your kakima?" 

Anjali slowly shook her head, unable to voice what she felt. She was afraid she was dreaming all this, and this was too much to cope with. She was once again faced with the two most important people of her young life, both whom had not been there when she needed them the most, and all of her pain and humiliation is laid out right in front of the third most important person in her life. She didn't want to see the pity in his eyes She wished he hadn't been privy to the most humiliating part of her life, her father's hatred for her. She wanted to go home and cry her pain out in the privacy of her home.

She glanced at Aditya, her brother, then finally at kakima. She bent and took her Kakima's blessings. Her Kakima caressed Anjali's face gently and stared at her with tears in her eyes. "How are you? You have grown into a very mature young woman, and are now married also. Are you happy?"

Aditya held his breath and waited for Anjali to answer. "I am fine, and yes I am happy." She glanced at him, daring him to say anything. He stood next to her and bent and took her Kakima's blessing. She smiled at him and glanced at Anjali. "I am very happy for you my precious, and I can see that you finally have all the happiness you deserve." Kakima wiped her tears and turned towards Raj.

"Raj, I am going home with the driver, bring your things over to our house, you can stay with us, then we will both find a place for us together." When Raj nodded, Kakima turned towards Anjali, "I will see you soon, take care." She left after giving them one last look and smile.

The silence after Kakima left was filled with tension. Anjali glanced at her brother, then at Aditya. She sighed and spoke to them directly. "When did you two meet?"

Aditya and Raj glanced at each other with guilt written all over their faces and then at her.

Aditya spoke up first. "We met yesterday, when your brother returned." He waited for her to blast him. But she just laughed bitterly.

"What was it, lets see what we can do about Anjali meeting?" When Aditya started to speak, she interrupted him. "No, forget it, let's just go home, I take it you came to pick me up." She turned towards her brother. "It's nice to see you bhai, and welcome back." She turned to walk out the door, but her brother's voice stopped her.

"Anjali!" She turned towards her brother, and was surprised to see sheen of tears in his eyes. "You can leave now, I won't stop you. I know you are angry with me, but I am coming to you tomorrow, since you won't come to me, for my Rakhi." Anjali glanced at Aditya helplessly, who just shrugged his shoulders. Her shoulders also slumped in defeat. It seems the two of them have decided they will get her to forgive them and accept them in her life, and leave her no choice in the matter. She finally nodded her head slowly and walked out without looking back.

Raj smiled in relief then turned towards Aditya. "You will have to force her to talk about what happened here today, she won't say anything on her own, and keep it bottled up inside."

Aditya nodded his head in agreement. "We will see you tomorrow." Aditya followed behind Anjali, while Raj left to pack his things.