A smile lifted the corner of her lips when Rian helped Nihar in building blocks. Both were focusing hard on making a big castle, and how adorable it was to watch Nihar bringing all his superhero dolls and putting them ahead in line like an army. Both chuckled when a block fell and started building again.

Pihu smiled to herself and closed her eyes when again she felt her body breaking. She could bet, it all was the tiredness from two nights ago when they had made love. Raghav had been so rough, she couldn't handle it well and asked him to give her a break. His passion would lead her to limping the next day as her thighs would ache a lot.

"You could take a break, Pihu. I am here watching them," her mother-in-law appeared from the kitchen with a tray in her hand. She put it on the table and smiled.

"Maa, why did you make the tea? You could have asked me. . ." Pihu said while turning to face her fully.

Her mother-in-law looked at her amused. "Oh! As if you are a superwoman. Look at you, all worn out. Have you even slept last night?" She asked narrowing her eyes and smiling.

Pihu was about to nod when she further asked, "Has Raghav been still compelling you for another one?"

Her breath hitched and face warmed up. "Maa. . ."

Her mother smiled, cupping her cheek. "Pihu, it's all upon your and Raghav's choice. I would be happy with only one grandchild too. But personally, I love to see more kids as beautiful as you playing around. There is no pressure for you. We all know, you are young. We have lot of time ahead unless your Dad or I goes up to heaven any soon." She joked.

Pihu gasped, widening her eyes. "Mom, why would you say that? I. . ." She felt shy about discussing this. "I don't know, I can't seem to put my choice in front of him. He is being quite convincing. I don't know, how I'll manage. I have cleared my exams and there's more to learn-"

"Then, it's okay. Don't worry about it. Study as much as you want to. Do job or whatever. I too was employed in an MNC for fifteen years. Unfortunately, I had to sign out when Sakshi's parents left us," she said lowly. "They come in my dreams often. I am sure, if she was alive, Sakshi's mother. We have had more drama in the family. There's no entertainment now when I have no competition." She chuckled, making Pihu smile.

Pihu took her tea when her mother gestured for her.

"She was friendly and soft. Sakshi is like that too minus the little stubbornness she got from the blood. Your Uncle was stubborn, Raghav's father is stubborn. Raghav is stubborn and now, Sakshi. I don't understand why she can't seem to like Kabir," her mother-in-law sighed. "Didn't you see how down-to-earth his parents were? The whole family is so sweet and the thing is I trust Mrs. Bhatia. She is an old friend. Sakshi will be happy with that family."

Pihu gulped slowly. "Maybe, she likes someone else, mom. Or why would she deny Kabir? He is quite handsome."

Her mother nodded. "But then, I am ready to welcome any guy she is in love with. She isn't even doing that. I want her safe and settled. Living there in Delhi, you don't know how it's not safe. The men are becoming dogs. No humanity left. I fear for her. There needs to be someone who takes care of her. Later, she can freely open her start-up or career."

Pihu breathed out, tiredly. Even with tea, her mind was foggy.

"Go, take rest. I am minding these little dolls of mine. Go." Her mother-in-law said, while acting for Nihar and Rian to come to her.

"Thanks, mom." Pihu got up while groaning faintly. She got up and corrected her clothes, while walking towards the stairs.

Just as reached her bedroom, she closed the door and laid on the bed. She stared at the ceiling, feeling her thoughts building up about Sakshi. She had emailed and still no response. What if because of exams, she hadn't even checked her phone?

It took all of her efforts as she shifted on the bed and took her phone. She called Sakshi and waited for her to receive call.

She sighed when found the phone was off.

"What's wrong with her? She could at least check her phone. There are PDFs and internet. It can't be possible that she is ignoring her phone that much in exams. . ." Pihu thought, as she was more studious than Sakshi and still used phone in exams. "This is not working."

She bit her lip and checked her contacts. Her eyes lit up when she found the number she was looking for. Thankfully, she had saved it some lucky day.

She called the person immediately, sitting up as when a manly hello came.

"Aarush?"

There was a peaceful silence before he replied, "Yes. How are you, Bhabhi?"

Pihu closed her eyes in relief. "I am not good, Aarush. There is something I want to tell you. But before that let me know you are free and Sakshi is not around you."

His reply came instantly and this time he sounded curious. "No, she isn't. I am at my own flat. Please tell me."

"Aarush, a lot has been going on these days. Actually, your professor, Kabir Nair is a distant relative of our family friend. My in-laws are Keen on marrying Sakshi to him but they aren't really valuing her decision. It's their love but this isn't fair."

Aarush was silent for a moment. "I had read your mail and I know most of the things, including Sakshi's relationship with Shrey."

Pihu gasped but then slowly felt nostalgic. She missed her old best friend, Ayaan who was away from home, for vacations with his family. God knows when he would return and come to meet her again.

"She was crying a lot, we had to handle her. Which is why, she couldn't respond you back. Things are quite messy here," Aarush told her. "I hope, you won't mind. But Kabir isn't  a good person, Bhabhi."

Pihu felt her heart shivering.

"What do you mean? Did he say something to Sakshi? Tell me," she asked desperately.

"Um, yes." Aarush explained, "He has been stalking her from the beginning. He is keeping an eye on her. It's kind of scary. I don't know why he is so obsessed with her and look at our luck, he is our professor this semester."

"What does he do?" Pihu asked, gulping.

Aarush told her everything, "When Sakshi read your mail, she was so angry because she isn't in a relationship with Kabir. Everything they have told is a lie. Sakshi loves Shrey and he comes here often. Kabir is being extra by threatening her and challenging her. She went to confront him and ended up slapping him. In return, he spoke out some wrong words that even I can't share with you."

Pihu gasped, goosebumps rising on her skin. "Why is she not telling us all of this? Her brother?"

A sad chuckle was heard. "Exactly what she thought to do and what we suggested. But it isn't easy, Bhabhi. Kabir is kind of creepy. He will tell Raghav Bhai about her relationship with Shrey."

Pihu closed her eyes and held her forehead. "Why can't she just come here and confess it to him?"

"Shrey isn't ready, Bhabhi."

"What?"

Aarush hummed, "She has asked him but Shrey isn't ready. His health after the case is sensitive. Well, he is a great guy but even I think that it is too soon for them to think about marriage. Can't something happen like Kabir just get rejected and all the contacts broken?"

"It can only happen, if Sakshi is married to Shrey. Engaged at least," Pihu said. "I'll try to convince my husband. Sakshi too will speak her heart out. At least give him a chance. If Shrey isn't bad then, Raghav too would be fine with it."

"But Shrey isn't answering our calls."

Pihu sighed and laid back on the bed. She thought hard, "Just tell her to wait for a day and convince him politely. They can at least come here and confess. Rest will be matter of later."

"Yeah, right." Aarush said slowly.

Pihu bit her lip. "And listen, Aarush. Could you do one thing for me?"

"Yes, of course." Aarush said actively.

She breathed out, "If you think that Kabir is not a good guy, prove it. Help Sakshi in collecting some proofs, so when we break this arrangement, no one could object. She doesn't deserve this, Aarush. Help her out and keep updating me."

"I will do it. Don't worry, Bhabhi."

"Thank you," she said and finally cut the call, putting her phone away. She closed her eyes and sleep came like black veil covering her.

"Pihu?"

She moaned lowly and stretched her arms. A hand came upon her shoulders as she was shaken, "Are you okay? You never sleep at this time."

Pihu hummed and rolled on her side, breathing slowly as she still felt sleepy. "Press my on shoulders, Raghav. I need a full blown massage."

Two strong hands palmed her back as she laid on hed stomach. He pressed slowly on the points and moved his finger tips on her back, massaging slowly. "Better?" He asked while reaching for her shoulders as he massaged lightly.

Pihu hummed, while turning around and looking at him sleepily. She sat up and looked at the clock on the wall. "You can home early. Is everything alright?" She observed him, her eyes moving all over his handsome face, noticing he still hadn't removed his blazer and tie.

"Mom told me, my wife's not alright." He said, quietly. His dark eyes catching her blushing.

"Mom's so cheeky sometimes," she murmured while hugging him, putting her head on his shoulder. "I was just tired."

He held her waist and left hot breaths on the bare skin of her neck. "What is it? You couldn't sleep last night. Is something bothering you," he suddenly turned quiet before asking, "Is it about Sakshi?"

Pihu breathed heavily before pulling away from him. She blinked slowly and nodded. "I miss her," she told him. "It's been long since I sat with her and gossiped. It's been long since we went on for some movie or vacation. The last time I had seen her, she was in tears."

He looked blank. Pihu cupped his cheek and looked in his eyes. "Mom said that she is ready to hear if Sakshi loves someone else. She is ready to welcome the boy she loves-"

"She loves a boy?" He asked blankly.

Pihu gulped before saying, "It might be a possibility. As her elders, we have never really sat and talked to her politely about this."

"My parents never talked to me about this. Why with her?" He grumbled.

Pihu pouted and sighed, "Because they knew you'll bring someone of your choice anyway," she said, making him smirk slowly. "But what if Sakshi's hesitating."

Raghav rolled his eyes. "Wait," he suddenly asked her. "Didn't mom tell us that Kabir and Sakshi had a thing?"

Pihu stared at her sternly. "You are getting careless and confused. That's a lie, Kabir's Aunt has been feeding us. Why is it always that the girl knows, the boy is not fit for her and the rest of the family thinks the boy is a prince and all other boys on this Earth are dead."

"You look better now," Raghav mocked while loosening his tie. "Right. I must get up and work my meetings out for tomorrow. With these Christmas parties coming, I'd barely get the time later."

Pihu narrowed her eyes. "Are you even getting what I said? You need to be welcoming to Sakshi so she can trust you and spill her heart out."

"I had talked to her about this and she had denied getting married. It's just engagement and the wedding can be later on, whenever she wants it to happen," Raghav told her while getting up.

Pihu got up, following him. "Raghav!" She whined.

He removed his coat, shaking his head. "Pihu, I have had enough of mom's drama this month. Now, don't you begin? Sakshi is fine there. I trust her. If there will be any problem, she will speak to me before anyone else."

Pihu halted in her steps.

"I am tired of this drama. Do you remember our marriage? How smooth it went? No extra drama. It flowed well. And now, I will be pissed off if any of you begin again. When Sakshi will come here, we will start finalizing engagement dates. It's as simple as it should be."

She gasped, her jaws clenching.

"Smooth? I was crying my heart out. You were like a devil then," she said, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "My father was poor and yours, rich. It was easy for you to manipulate us and marry me. I didn't know you are so proud of your ways even now. I thought, you were regretful."

"Why would I be regretful?" Raghav asked arrogantly. "I won, basically. Period." He got back to removing his clothes while ignoring her.

"Right."

He stopped and turned around only to find her eyes filling up with tears. "God. Why can't you just be like those bitchy kind of sister-in-laws and stop being so whining over Sakshi's marriage?"

Pihu ignored him and just as he started walking towards her, she walked towards the door and left the room.

"Pihu!"

Raghav cursed while kicking off a shoe angrily.

________

The girls sat quietly while Aarush sat on the table in front of them, explaining what Pihu had suggested.

"She said that you should just go and confess it to them. Whether or not Shrey is ready, at least Kabir will be away."

"I can't go if Shrey isn't ready," Sakshi replied in defeat. "I think, it was break up."

Aarush scoffed. "Oh! Stop it, Sakshi. If you'll behave like this, then how will things go well. You need to be practical and stop ignoring her calls, Pihu sounded so worried for you. Damn! She is so sweet. I think I have got a crush on her. . ."

Sakshi looked up at him, "Dare telling my brother that. . ."

Aditi narrowed her eyes at him as he chuckled lightly. "I was kidding. Jokes apart, she really was concerned for you."

Sakshi's heart fluttered inside but she couldn't even smile. "I can't think of anything for now. I don't know what to do. Everything's gone."

Aarush grabbed her hand, making her look at him. "Why don't we just go out and have some ice-cream? And tomorrow, I'll drop you at his home. You can explain him all the truth, elaborate how that pervert manhandled you and then, convince him politely."

Sakshi was about to shake her head when he gave her a disappointed look. "Really? If I lose my mind, I am just going to give a damn call to your brother and reveal everything."

She sighed and thoughtfully nodded.

"Fine."

_________

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