Chapter 36: Chapter 36

After some days

Niyati's pov

" Mommy, what happened? Why are you so upset?" Neela asked curiously staring into my eyes with her innocent eyes.

I replied forcing a smile on my face," Who said mommy is upset!! Hmm. Mommy is fine. See, I am smiling."

" Was that uncle bad mommy? I don't think he is bad. You know he apologized to me and gave so many chocolates to me," Neela told me and I know whom she is talking about.

I remained silent after hearing her question. What I should answer her now. I don't know. The way Shivansh has threatened me just shook me from the core of my heart. The determination I have seen in his eyes has given me a red signal about the upcoming storm.

He is determined to take away my daughter from me but I am no less. I will fight for my daughter, my only hope, my only purpose of living. No power in this world can take her away from me. I will go any length to keep my daughter with me. There is no way I will send my daughter to the Raichand house where a snake-like Lalita Raichand lives.

I am still thinking about all these when I felt little tapping on my hand by a soft hand.

" Mommy, tell me Nah. Is that uncle bad?" Neela again asked me about Shivansh.

I replied caressing her cheeks a little bit," Umm.....He isn't bad actually. He will never do anything bad with you."

" You know mommy, I liked that grandpa also. He told me that he loved my poems," Neela told me excitedly referring to my ex-father in law.

I sighed hearing her. I kinda felt guilty for behaving rudely with Satya Raichand. He was the only person who believed me in the past though it was short-lived. I don't blame him fully when he has a wife like Lalita. He always considered me as his own daughter and never offend me in any way.

" But, I didn't like that grandma. She looks horrible with her make-up," Neela complained cutely and I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

Then, I made a serious face and made her look into my eyes. I kissed her forehead and cheeks very affectionately.

" Tell me one thing beta(dear). If....I mean suppose...that uncle comes to take you away from me. Will you go with him?" I asked her hesitantly while tears started blurring my vision.

Neela blinked her eyes a few times to understand my question. I am sure that her little mind isn't understanding what's happening around her and what's her mother going through.

" He will take me away from you?" She asked me innocently and a panicked expression appeared on her face.

I hugged her tightly and cooed in her ear," No, no baby. No one will take you away from me. I was just asking randomly. Don't need to be worried."

" I will never leave you, mommy. I can't sleep without you," She told me with her baby voice and I just tightened my hug.

I am still hugging her tightly when the doorbell rang. I broke the hug and told her to go to my room which she obliged politely. What if it's Shivansh again. I don't want Neela to see any unnecessary drama.

I was a little bit surprised after opening the door. It wasn't Shiv. It was a young man who was holding a letter type something in his hand.

" Mrs Mehra?" He asked politely.

I replied frowning my brows a little," Yes, how may I help you?"

" This is for you. It's a notice from the court," he informed giving me the letter and I just paled.

I am now standing at the door like a statue holding the letter. My hands were trembling and I was scared beyond level. The only thing I feared is going to happen finally.

" What happened? Who was that?" I heard Ranvijay's voice from behind.

I turned towards him and gave the letter in his hand. He first looked at me surprisingly and took the letter.

" I got a notice from the court. I have to be present in the court after two weeks," I told him while few drops of tears escaped my eyes.

Then, I said with my broken voice," After ruining my life, now he has decided to take away the only happiness of my life."

" There is no way that I will let him take our daughter away from us. I will talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Don't worry," Ranvijay assured me placing my head over his chest gently.

I clutched his shirt tightly and hiccupped," I am afraid, Ranvijay. I am so afraid."

" Shh....shh....don't cry. There is no need to be scared. I am here with you. Neela will not go anywhere," he cooed to calm me down but I couldn't.

I just continued sobbing like a helpless woman. I know that I have to be strong but the thought of someone snatching Neela from me is just stabbing my heart repeatedly and making me weak.

Author's pov

Shivansh, his parents and Ankush are sitting in the living room with a lawyer. The lawyer was checking some papers and all of them are having serious expressions on their face.

Specially Shivansh has a very serious & hard expression on his face. His mind was recalling the scene where Niyati humiliated his whole family and he was losing control over his anger.

" So, I will be honest with all of you. I don't think we will be able to win this case," The lawyer informed with his professional voice.

These words left his mouth and Shivansh lost control over his anger. He just stood up angrily shooting daggers at the lawyer by his eyes.

" Then, why the hell I called you here?" Shivansh growled like an animal and the lawyer almost peed in his pant.

Satya held Shivansh's hand and told him to calm down. Lalita also told Shivansh to calm down and that's when he cooled down a little.

" Well, Mr Raichand. The child is 3 years old only. So, according to law, the father can't have the child's custody until he/she turned 5 years old though the father is the legal guardian of the child," The lawyer stated his point and Shivansh just gritted his teeth.

Then, the lawyer continued," Moreover, the child's opinion will matter. As she has been living with her mother for three years then there is no way that she will come to her father willingly. And, the court will obviously decide considering the child's comfort."

" So you are telling me that I can't win this case and let my daughter live with a criminal for another two years?" Shivansh asked the lawyer with his rage-filled voice.

The lawyer replied gulping down his saliva," I am not saying that. I am just saying you have a very less possibility of winning this case."

"My daughter is living with a fucking criminal. A few days ago she fainted in the road seeing her mother being stabbed. And, here you are telling me to let my daughter live with a criminal," Shivansh roared at the top of his lungs and the lawyer just trembled with fear.

The situation was going out of control so Satya decided to come forward. He understood that they should come to a conclusion as soon as possible.

" Isn't there any other way to get my granddaughter's custody? I mean any special law or something like that?" Satya asked the lawyer.

The lawyer informed," Well, if we can prove in the court that the child's mother's house or the environment she is living in right now is inappropriate for the child's mental development or the mother is unable to take care of the child properly due to some inappropriate reasons or the child is being abused. Only then the court will consider and the possibility of winning the case will increase."

Shivansh heard the lawyer very carefully and remembered where Neela is living. Neela is living very peacefully with her mother but the only thing that was itching him badly was Ranvijay.

The lawyer was going to say something when Shivansh declared confidently," I will have my daughter's custody very soon. I will win the case."

" And how you will do that?" Ankush asked curiously and exchanged a glance with Lalita.

Shivansh replied smiling cockily," Just wait and watch."

After that, the lawyer took his leave and all of them started asking Shivansh about his planning. But, he didn't say anything to them. He just told me to wait patiently. He didn't even discuss his planning with Lalita.

" I have something to say also," Lalita said suddenly with her serious voice and looked at Shivansh.

Shivansh asked raising one brow," And what is it ma?"

" I want you to marry Priyanka," Lalita declared and Ankush just stumbled back.

He glanced at Lalita with shocked eyes which Lalita ignored swiftly.

" Again ma? Seriously!! I don't love Priyanka," Shivansh replied making an annoyed face.

This time Lalita started saying with her soft voice," But, she loves you. She has been waiting for you for like four years. She didn't move on nor she married someone else just thinking that you will consider her feelings one day. She isn't like that slut Niyati. She loves you truly."

" But, ma. Try to understand. I can never keep her happy. She will be happy with someone else," Shivansh replied looking at Ankush.

This time Lalita became emotional and said," You have been refusing me for 4 years and I didn't say anything to you considering your emotional condition. But, now. I think it's enough. You are a father now and your child will need a mother too. And Priyanka will be a good wife and mother to your daughter. So, don't refuse me this time."

" I think your mother is saying right, Shiv. You need to move on and settle down. How many days you will keep roaming with random women? Think about Neela's future also," Satya told Shivansh and he just rubbed his whole face aggressively due to frustration.

He took some deep breaths and declared," Do whatever you want to do. The only thing matter to me right now is my daughter. Nothing else."

Saying all these Shivansh just left the living room angrily while Satya followed him.

The moment Shivansh left the room Ankush marched towards Lalita like a wounded lion.

" How can you do that to me? You know I love Priyanka and still, you thought to make her your daughter in law!! How could you?" Ankush asked clenching his jaw.

Lalita didn't react to his saying. She just glared at him from head to toe like a creep. A sarcastic smile form on her lips seeing Ankush.

Then, she held his collar and told in a threatening voice," I will just imagine that you never questioned me."

" You can't marry off Priyanka with Shivansh. I love her," Ankush declared pushing away Lalita a little.

Lalita didn't mind. Instead, she started laughing like she is mocking him.

" You have been running after her for four years. And what happened? Still, she thinks of you as a Kalu (black) garbage!! And, you still hope that she will accept your love," Lalita told very sarcastically and Ankush felt insulted.

He couldn't tolerate this anymore and threatened her," I will tell Shivansh about your misdeeds against Niyati."

And, the next moment Ankush is lying on the floor and started groaning in pain holding Lalita's feet.

Well, Lalita just slapped him hard and he fell to the ground. She placed one leg over his neck cutting his air supply.

" Never mess with me, you filthy shit. And, don't forget your place in front of me. If I have made you a millionaire just in a week then it won't take days for me to make you a bagger again," Lalita told twisting her leg over Ankush's neck who is still struggling like a slaughtered animal.

Then, she removed her leg from his neck and he just sucked oxygen as much as he could. He started rubbing his throat vigorously and looked at Lalita with horrified eyes.

" You have threatened me once. But, You won't have your tongue next time to threaten me. Just remember that" Lalita told Ankush with her dark satanic eyes and Ankush was like terrified beyond level.