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Chapter 4

"She really nixed the memorial before?" Natasha asked

"Yes. Your Bade Papa, Gautam, was to have a street named after him." said Chirag

"Oh." said Natasha."Thank you for getting the recognition for my family."

"Natasha, I know that we have had our problems before, as I was stubborn in my thinking, that you were going to break my family. Only I did it myself. You see, I had nobody to oppose me when the boys were growing up, and Ma's thinking was orthodox. It was the way things were done. Everybody followed what I said. But I realized now that I was holding back my brothers. They were not independent. Dhawal became independent because of you. And slowly, everyone was going to be independent. I would lose everyone. Then, the demolition of Pandya Store. In my arrogance, I thought I could control things. I ignored Dhawal's condition when I manipulated him for your divorce. He was devasted, I knew he loved you. He gave you up in return for your Pandya Store. I saw how much he still was attached to you during his wedding to Suhani. He beat up Sundip for you. He was always jealous of men around you. Whether it was college or in Sabar Bazaar. He wouldn't do that for anyone else, not even Suhani. He didn't care if she was talking to another guy. But you, he went crazy. Kattu had mentioned that he wanted to shoot Sundip before he even knew that he was a scumbag, all because he saw you with in a couple of times. He went after you, but I stopped him, trying to get him married to Suhani. I thought that Suhani was a better match for our family since she was easier to control. But he couldn't go through with the wedding. He loves you only. Then his accident, and I blackmailed you back into coming back to Makwana house. It was only when he left Makwana that I realized I was wrong. Then Chikku took over the Makwana properties, and you lost everything in returning the property. You lost your brother. And then we found out that most of everything that has happened was caused by Ma, not you. I am sorry. When I figured out I was wrong, that you are perfect for our family, Shalini Dave had come back into my lives. And we tried our best to protect everyone, but Shalini got to Ma and Hetal, you were blamed for my 'death' but we couldn't let them know yet as Shalini had started to make threats. We didn't know that Ma had requested Shalini to break you and Dhawal up. Then you left Somnath, and we found out the truth. Chalbali was giving out information to Shalini. First on Ma's orders, then for money. Then, in anger, Chhabali had told us what Ma had been doing. We were so angry at Ma, but slowly we have realised, Ma included that change is needed. That our family will be ruined if we still follow the old ways. Dhawal had already decided that once Shalini's chapter was over, he was going leave and make his family with you. But Shalini was a lot smarter and sneakier than we thought. We didn't realize that she would get Chalibali to spy on us. So it took longer than expected."

"Oh." Natasha said, looking down

"And I wasn't far from you. I was always around. Whether it was at the hospital or as your boss. I was there when Kiara was born. You had scared me when you fainted, but the doctor had told me that you fainted due to exhaustion, I was relieved. Then I held Kiara for the first time, and I was amazed that we had created her. That she was our daughter. The company you work for is mine."

"You were my boss?" questioned Natasha."You were never away from me?"

"Never except for the first few months when I didn't know where you were. We found you in a hospital when you almost lost the baby. Mots had to call in some favors, and we moved you to a private hospital. Then, the ABCD Events Company was formed. I took on the few contracts in Mumbai so I could stay near you without any suspicion. We couldn't let Shalini know where you were. Supposedly the goons sent to the house were from her, she didn't know that Dolly Bhabi was alone at the house, she had overheard me talking to you about going to the Makwana house, and had sent them. She had gotten angry at you for refusing to discredit the family. Instead, you defended us and got angry at her." said Dhawal, surprising Natasha.