Lakshmi was going through the files in office.
It has been three days since the incident with Arjun.

These three days have passed by so calmly as if this incident has never occurred .

Since three days she has been sending papers for divorce but not even a single paper has been sent back with a signature.
She knew that it was difficult,
but not impossible to get separated from that family .

Soon her father's PA and his assistant has entered the cabin and informed Lakshmi that the lawyer has urged them to get it done as fast as possible.
Because Arjun's family had already targeted the lawyer's family.
" say him to not to worry,
And he will get protection from them" Lakshmi said to her PA and he nodded decisively .

After signing a few documents , she went towards the locker and took out another set of divorce papers and left the office with the PA's assistant after handing over the work to the PA.

" sir, madam's car is approaching towards the mansion. " vardhan said and his boss hummed as he cut the line.

Arjun sat quietly in his study as he exhaled smoke through his nostrils. He threw it in a tray which had the divorce papers that lakshmi had been sending to him since past few days.
Little by little, papers started burning due to cigarette .

The weather was hot as humid breeze blew by.....
As soon as Lakshmi stepped inside the mansion, she saw Anita with Nandini Devi and saraswathi as they were chatting in the hall with butler placing a tray full of refreshments.

Saraswathi moved back into the couch and turned back to sit comfortably but saw Lakshmi standing near the entrance.

" Lakshmi " she called out softly as she stood up. Anita and Nandini Devi also noticed Lakshmi and called her to come near them as saraswathi lead her towards the sofa.

They started talking to her sweetly and also asked her about her family's condition. Nandini Devi was the only one who silently observed her little grand daughter in law's reaction.

Though she was disappointed with the lack of response from Lakshmi, but she was mentally analysing her behaviour. Though the girl in front of her is young, she could maintain a stern body language and doesn't need to open her mouth to make everyone beside her comfortable, even though she has been quite and cold since the time she entered.

Only an old lady like her with keen eyes can see how profound this young girl's character is....

On the second floor
The butler knocked on the door and informed Arjun about Lakshmi's arrival.

Arjun nodded as he chewed on mint gum and changed his shirt. He walked down the stairs slowly while he saw his wife sitting on the sofa. He didn't see his wife opening her mouth to speak out a word even until he descended down the stairs.
She only responded with a mild nod while sipping on tea.

As soon as Arjun reached the sofa, Lakshmi looked at him and she slowly stood up. She took out a set of papers from file and gave it to him.

" what is it? " Anita asked curiously while standing up. 'It looks like some sort of documents'.... She thought.

" divorce papers " Lakshmi said softly but the words were too cold as it chilled through the spine.

Though Anita was very happy to see this daughter in law of hers and talked too much out of happiness, but as soon as the reality downed on her her face hit rock bottom....
She sat down on the sofa quietly.
Saraswathi was too shocked to say anything...

" mummy!! " neelu screamed from upstairs as she sat on the railing and slide down. She jumped to the floor and then hugged Lakshmi . Lakshmi too patted on her back as she asked her daughter to sit on the sofa.

" never do it again. I am not a cosmetic surgeon " Lakshmi said as she glared at her daughter calmly for her previous stunts.

The whole hall was silent. She was so expresioneless that even the maids slowed down their breathing in fear. Even though she was speaking normally, but the way she carried herself exuded too much of calmness , that it could suffocate someone to silent death .

Lakshmi stared at Arjun and Arjun didn't know what to do. He knew that gone was that wife whom he could control. He can't sway her decisions now . So all he can do is....

" Arjun! " Anita shouted as she saw her son falling to the floor.

So all he can do is be 'shameless'.

Anita and the butler helped Arjun to lay on the sofa as a maid handed over a glass of water to saraswathi. Saraswathi passed it to Anita and Anita sprinkled some on her son's face as she saw how pale her son's face turned into....
Anita was tensed seeing that how much Arjun cares about Lakshmi that even the topic of divorce could make him sick..... she sworn to herself that she could never let Lakshmi go until Arjun lets her go on his own....

All this was silently spectated by Lakshmi who stared deeply at the man laying on sofa before scoffing at him.

Lakshmi took out papers from the thin file again and went towards Arjun with a pen in her other hand.

Arjun felt his arm being lifted by soft hands and but he didn't dare to open his eyes with the fear that she will catch his act and force him to sign them. But soon he felt as if something being scribbled on this thumb finger.

Lakshmi starred at the thumb finger full of ink and then she bought the papers near his thumb.

Arjun felt something was wrong as he heard the rustling of papers, he opened one of his eye and as soon as he saw what his wife was about to do, he immediately jerked his hand away and sprinted away from the sofa.

All this happened in mere seconds that all the members in the hall who were watching this whole fiasco we're left dumbfounded.

" sign it " Lakshmi said as she stared at Arjun standing at the corner of the sofa .

" don't act " lakshmi said again as she saw how he was about to play 'faint' again.

Arjun was startled before he smiled. Again the whole hall was dumbfounded.
' what the hell is going on with our master! He never acted this shameless before!' all the maids, including the Butler were shook .

Nandini Devi smiled as she sat down on the sofa while staring at the younger generation. Suddenly, a hand popped in line of her vision and she looked at the walnut in between 2 small fingers pointed towards her .
She turned to her left to see her great grand daughter eating a bowl of walnuts while staring at her parents as if she is watching an interesting show .

Nandini Devi raised an eyebrow and smirked before taking the freshly peeled walnut and munching on it.

Anita had black lines on her forehead as she saw her shameless son and then at her mother in law and grandaughter.

" if you don't sign, you would have to deal with law . " Lakshmi stared at Arjun and said out each and every word slowly. Arjun understood that she was jeopardising the reputation of his home.....
Even if it was her home too . She had never felt the same.... How would she ?

Arjun looked at his daughter as the situation tensed up .
Neelu looked at the fight between her mother and father , though she knew that she would anger her mom if she butted in , but she still mustered up her courage and went towards her mom...

" mumma
Let's stay here... okay ?
I want both you and papa .

Papa will say sorry okay ?...." Neelu said as she turned towards her father with her starry eyes...

Others might feel sympathy towards this little one who is trying to make everything alright between her parents but only those who knew insiders story would know that what Neelu is doing is no less than coating a layer of petrol to nuclear bomb .

Lakshmi looked down at her daughter through her lowered eyes coldly .
Though Neelu was afraid , she still spoke out again .
" mumma , please please . Don't leave okay ." Neelu said as she started crying all of a sudden while biting down her lip , trying to stop those sorrowful moans from coming out . Anita immediately squatted down and hugged Neelu feeling said for her own granddaughter....

Lakshmi looked at her daughter for a second before she looked at the cream tiles .
" do you think that you can play around with me like others ? ." Lakshmi said softly and only Anita and Arjun heard this .

Neelu suddenly stopped sobbing as she looked up at her mother .
" I already said you before to not act something you are not" Lakshmi said again to Neelu when she saw her daughter was about to cry .

Being reminded twice by her own mother , Neelu slowly lowered her head .
Anita was angry , scared and frustrated for her own little granddaughter and she hugged her little body tightly in her arms . " all she wanted was her parents to stay together ! What was wrong in that ! She is already of age to know what is going around her .
How will she be able to accept this !
The children will have a psychological impact if they face this at such a tender age...." said Anita as she patted on Neelu's back .

Neelu felt her mother's eyes still lingering on her back and felt chill creeping over her spine .
Neelu scolded herself for meddling in adults issues .
' this was all dad's fault!' Neelu blamed her father as she slowly released herself from her grandmother who has been speaking up for her .

Under everyone's eyes , Neelu sprinted towards her mom and hugged her leg .
" mumma , dad is bad ! He beat you , then you beat him back!
Oh , according to your styeee (style) , you wouldn't lower yourself... right ?
So let's just leave this illecture (immature) people" Neelu said in her baby voice , shocking everyone who heard her....
Everyone might not understand but the elderlies over there understood that this little girl is dead set on at least saving her father from getting beaten up by her mom.......

Wait......
Whose side was this kid on ?!
This little girl is right now bootlicking her mom while pushing her dad in to drain ?!

Lakshmi looked at her daughter and let her act the way she wants....
Everyone might mistake Neelu.... Including her own dad ( Arjun )
But Lakshmi knows all too well about her daughter .
Merciless and heartless
mistaken for an angel .

Arjun saw Lakshmi and Neelu .
The most he was conflicted was about his daughter .
Others might still have been thinking that Lakshmi has been scaring Neelu to speak up in such a way but he knew that he had grasped a small part of his daughter's nature .

' no less than his wife ' he said to himself .
The more he thought , the more he doesn't want to let them leave .

He turned to look at his sons who were standing in the hall in shadows .
Sure enough as he expected they slowly started walking towards them and then stood behind their mother without hesitation.

Everyone were in dilemma and the atmosphere tensed up .
No one knows what to speak of.......

It was at this moment that foot steps were heard from the entrance which broke the silence . Everyone turned back and they saw Rahul and Anu entering with smiles on their faces . Arjun immediately sighed feeling the burden thrown off his shoulders . He can at least escape for now....
Lakshmi stared at Arjun and then Rahul.... feeling that something is wrong......

" what's going on ?
Aren't we welcomed here ?" Rahul joked as he saw blank faces of people in front of him , except for his best friend who has the earnest warmth filled gaze at his arrival . It gave him goosebumps though...

" Rahul beta , Anu beta ,
How was your trip ? Are you tired ?
First fill up your stomachs and then have some rest .
Your uncle and elder brother will come by then and we all can have dinner together" Anita said , trying to make this couple stay back . It's not that she would rush them out if they ain't required right now...... but the situation is as such...

The newly married couple sat back on the couch and everyone started talking to them....
As if nothing has happened before.... Lakshmi too silently sat beside Saraswathi and talked to blushing Anu by interjecting one or two words in middle....
It's not that she couldn't deal them now....
She wouldn't have cared whatever situation it was or who ever came....
But she doesn't want to spoil the mood of the newly married couple with her family issues....

Rahul silently gazed at Arjun and then at Lakshmi before looking down at the papers at the far corner on the table . He sighed and then thought back to how ill tempered his best friend was....
All of this wouldn't have happened if this couple only trusted each other a little .

Neelu sat with her grandmother silently while the rest of the kids sat on the couch silently . No one knows what's going on in their little brains....

After having lunch , everyone sat back and relaxed .
That's how it seemed to be....
But it was not...
Lakshmi looked around for a couple of minutes before her eyes landed on the torn pieces of papers behind the couch .
She gazed at her PA's assistant and he gave her another bunch of papers .
She went through the content once more before she left them on the table and stood up .

Lakshmi's abrupt moments caused everyone to look at her and the whole hall turned silent . She didn't speak another word before she turned her back to them and was ready to leave .

But she stopped as soon as she felt a pair of small hands circling around her calves . She turned her head back and looked down to see Noor with tears ready to roll down her pearly eyes.... She bit her small lips as a stubborn little rabbit....

A small smile etched on Lakshmi's face as she lifted Noor in her arms .
Though that small smile on her face was beautiful enough to mesmerise everyone present there.... But there was also tiredness underneath her eyes....

As if
It was too much
To ask for.......

From her.....

" Wanna come home with me ?" Lakshmi asked softly as she took out a handkerchief and wiped away those tears and snot . Little Noor's face turned red as she nodded her head vigorously .
Lakshmi smiled a little more and let Noor's face rest on her shoulder before her face turned expressionless again . She looked at her kids and gave a meaningful glance at Ibbu who nodded at his mom silently .
she coldly looked at everyone and left .

Anu was shocked the whole time .
She didn't understand what's happening until Lakshmi left and Saraswathi explained about it in kitchen....

" Can you talk to Hari uncle ? They already have kids....
I know what happened between them shouldn't have happened but it was all over in the past.....
Arjun is also repenting and he really does look after kids well .
I can see that he really does care about Lakshmi too" Saraswathi said as she filled water in glasses .

Both Lakshmi's and saraswathi's lives are different..... If saraswathi was in Lakshmi's position, then she would have accepted the repentance of her husband and have a happy life with her own children and husband....
Which sadly she couldn't....

A person who doesn't have them, knows the worth of what the other person has....
And saraswathi yearns for this...
But she is not destined to have them....

" I know di, but it's really hard for me to say anything....
You might not know that Lakshmi di is really very good when it comes to relationships .
She gives out her all.... But when the same person hurts her back , she wouldn't be able to accept it or forget it....

What Arjun has done to her was beyond hurt....
It was as if he murdered a innocent part of her soul .
What he did to her was beyond salvation....

And she doesn't have the courage to see the face of the person and relive her past.....
She may seem strong...
But she is broken di....
She became too heartless...." Anu said as tears rolled down her eyes.... No one knows that when she was about to get married , she had accidentally come across the photos in Hari uncle's study room . She couldn't and wouldn't want her sister who had supported her when she was about to lose hope to enter this hell once again....

Somethings
Are
Hard to forget
And
....Hard to mend....