Everyone stood in stunned silence, struggling to process what had just unfolded. Jharna, still dazed, shifted her gaze between Ivaan and the broken swing, her mind racing to make sense of the incident.

A growing crowd gathered around them—Vihaan, Deepa, Shikha, Abhimaan, Vinit, and Chhaya—all watching in disbelief.

Ivaan still held Jharna firmly in his grasp, but as awareness dawned upon him, he quickly released her. Stepping back, he met her eyes and asked, “Are you alright?”

Jharna nodded absentmindedly, still shaken. Before she could gather her thoughts, Shikha rushed to Ivaan, embracing him tightly. “Are you okay, beta? Are you hurt? Tell me are you alright?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Ivaan offered her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Mom. Don’t worry.”

A murmur of discontent rippled through the crowd. One of the guests turned to Abhimaan, his tone sharp with disapproval. “Mr. Abhimaan, how could such a dangerous oversight happen at your event? There are people of all ages here. This could have been catastrophic! How could you be so careless about safety?”

His words struck a chord, and murmurs of agreement followed. The gravity of the situation sank in—tonight’s celebration had narrowly escaped turning into a disaster.

At that moment, the hotel manager arrived, only to be met with Abhimaan’s furious outburst. His reputation was on the line, and he was determined to place the blame elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Ivaan, unwilling to stay any longer, gently took Shikha’s hand. “Let’s go, Mom. The party’s over,” he said, leading her away.

Before leaving, he stole a glance at Jharna. She stood motionless, lost in thought. He sighed, then turned away, departing with Shikha, Adhik, Vihaan, and Deepa.

Jharna murmured to herself, her voice trembling, “What would have happened to my Ansh if something had happened to me? How would he have lived without me?” Her eyes welled up with tears as fear gripped her heart.

Meanwhile, from a distance, Miransh watched his mother, his little face streaked with tears. His small fists clenched as he whispered, “I was so scared, Momma…”

Sniffling, he wiped his tears and took a determined step forward. He wanted to run to Jharna, to throw his arms around her, but then his gaze shifted to Ivaan, who was about to leave.

His eyes brightened with newfound resolve. “First, I have to thank Superman Uncle. He saved my momma’s life,” he thought. With that, he turned and hurried toward Ivaan.

Meanwhile, Jharna brushed away her tears and inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. “I need to go home to my Ansh,” she resolved, then turned and walked away.

Ivaan was about to step into his car when Miransh, unnoticed by anyone, swiftly slipped into the trunk just as the vehicle began to move.

At the same time, Jharna exited the venue, hailing a ride back to her apartment, her heart pounding with unease.

At the Apartment

Jharna knocked hurriedly at the door. Within moments, Malini answered, greeting her with a warm smile. “Jharna! You’re back so soon?”

“Where’s Ansh?” Jharna asked, urgency lacing her voice.

Malini’s smile didn’t falter. “Oh, I told you—he went out to play with his friends. He’ll be back soon.”

Jharna’s expression remained tense. Seeing her worry, Malini tried to reassure her. “Why do you look so anxious, Jharna? He’ll be back any minute. Come inside and have something to eat in the meantime.”

Jharna merely nodded, stepping inside, but an uneasy feeling gnawed at her. She couldn’t shake off the strange premonition that had settled in her chest.

“Why do I feel like something is wrong? Ansh, please… come home soon.”

***

Ivaan, Adhik, Vihaan, Deepa and Shikha all arrived at the villa. Miransh followed quietly behind Ivaan into his room. Ivaan went straight to the bathroom upon arrival, so he hadn’t seen Miransh yet.

Adhik, Vihaan, Shikha and Deepa were all coming into Ivaan’s room. Hearing their approach, Miransh quickly hid under the bed.

They all entered the room. Ivaan emerged from the bathroom, having changed his clothes.

Shikha approached Ivaan and asked, “Ivaan, are you really okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

Ivaan replied confidently, “Mom, don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine.”

Deepa thought something and said to Ivaan, “By the way, Ivaan, who was that girl you saved?”

Ivaan fell silent upon Deepa’s question, unsure of how to respond. Deepa and Shikha stared at Ivaan questioningly. Meanwhile, Adhik and Vihaan, with mischievous glints in their eyes, simultaneously asked, “Tell us! Tell us! Who was she?”

Deepa, glaring at the two of them, said, “Looks like you both already know everything. So let’s turn on your tape recorder.”

Adhik and Vihaan exchanged looks.

***

Shikha and Deepa exclaimed in surprise, “She threw Dirty floor cleaning water!! and tore the cheque!”

Looking at each other in astonishment, they then turned to Ivaan, who was working on his laptop. Shikha got up from her place and approached Ivaan, holding his hand, she asked, “Are you feeling okay?”

Ivaan, still focused on his laptop, replied, “Yes mom!”

Shikha asked again, “Aren’t you angry?”

Ivaan answered, “If I can control my anger on Mr. Abhimaan and Chhaya, them Compared to them, that girl is much better.”

Vihaan and Adhik exclaimed together, “Much better!”

Deepa smiled and said, “By the way, she’s very beautiful.”

Vihaan added, “Right mom, I really liked Jharna Bhabhi a lot.”

Shikha, surprised, asked, “Bhabhi! When did this happen?”

Adhik replied, “Oh mom, it hasn’t happened yet, but it will.”

Ivaan then turned to Adhik and Vihaan and said, “Out!”

Seeing Ivaan’s angry expression, Adhik and Vihan quickly ran away. Deepa and Shikha also left after glancing at Ivaan. As soon as everyone left, Ivaan quickly shut down his laptop and lay down on the bed.

He closed his eyes but the image of Jharna’s face appeared to him. He quickly opened his eyes and muttered to himself, “What the hell, now this girl won’t even let me sleep?”

Lost in his thoughts, he was startled when he heard a voice, “Momma.” He looked around to see where the voice was coming from. Suddenly, he remembered something and peeked under his bed. His eyes widened in astonishment.

He saw a child sleeping under the bed. He exclaimed, “What!” He quickly pulled Miransh out from under the bed and laid him on the bed. He checked Miransh’s pulse and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, “Thank God, he’s alive. But who is he? And how did he get here?”

***

Jharna said in surprise, “Didn’t Ansh come to play with you?”

Some children were standing in front of her. One of the children replied, “No aunty. Today Miransh didn’t come to play with us.”

Malini, feeling worried, said, “But Miransh told me that he was going to play with the kids in the colony.”

Jharna feeling anxious, said, “That’s why I was feeling restless. I’ve been worried for a while now. I don’t know where Ansh could be.”

Meanwhile, Miransh, lying on Ivaan’s bed, muttered in his sleep, “Momma!”

***

Jharna arrived at the event venue and went inside the hotel. Approaching the reception, she met a lady and said, “Ma’am! my son… my son came here. He’s 5 years old. Can you tell me where he is?”

The lady, confused, replied, “All the guests have already left. Besides the staff, there’s no one else here.”

Jharna, feeling distressed, said, “No ma’am, my son is here. I saw him on the CCTV camera of our apartment building, climbing into the van that was coming here. Please, can you check once? He came here. He must be here.”

The lady said, “Alright, I’ll check the CCTV.”

Jharna quickly said, “Yes, please do.”

Maurya Mension

Ivaan was looking at Miransh with surprise. He was wondering who this child was and how he got here. Suddenly, he heard some noises from downstairs.
He said in surprise, “What happened now? But how can I leave this child alone like this?”

Downstairs in the hall, Jharna was standing in anger. Deepa and Shikha arrived. They both recognized Jharna. Jharna, in anger, said to them, “Where is my son?”

Shikha, confused, said, “Your son!”

Jharna said, “Yes, my son is here. Please tell me where he is.”

Deepa said to Jharna, “What are you saying? How can your son come here?”

Shikha said, “Yes, you must be mistaken, dear. There’s no one here.”

Jharna said, “No, I’m not mistaken. I saw my son in the CCTV footage of the venue. My son came here with that ‘car wala’. I beg you, please give me my child. I’ll quietly leave from here, please.”

Adhik and Vihaan arrived there. Seeing them, Jharna went to them and said, “Both of you. You are the brother of that ‘car wala’, right? Both of you, call him here now.”

Adhik and Vihaan exclaimed together, “car wala…!!!”

Just then, Ivaan descended the stairs and exclaimed, “What’s going on here?” His gaze fell on Jharna, and he said in astonishment, “You!”

Seeing Ivaan coming down, Jharna quickly approached him and grabbed his collar. As she did so, everyone in the hall was surprised.

Before Ivaan could say anything, Jharna, in anger, said, “Where is my son? Where have you hidden him?”

Upon hearing Jharna’s words, Ivaan understood everything. He muttered to himself, “So this troublemaker is the mother of that child. Damn!”

Jharna repeated her question, “Tell me, where have you hidden my son? Huh?”
In his mind, Ivaan thought, “The child is upstairs, but how do I tell her like this? Everyone is here.”

Deepa whispered softly, “This girl has grabbed Ivaan’s collar, but he is still calm. Am I dreaming?”

Adhik said to Deepa, “No bua ji, this is true.”

Ivaan said to Jharna in a low voice, “Listen to me…”

Jharna shouted, “I don’t want to hear anything. I just want my child back.”

Hearing Jharna’s shouting, Ivaan was getting angry. He lifted Jharna onto his shoulder and began to take her to his room. This was even more shocking for the family members.

Jharna was trying continuously to get free from his grip, but she was not succeeding. Ivaan took Jharna to his room and closed the door. Shikha asked in surprise, “What’s going on here? Will someone tell me?”

Adhik chuckled and said, “Oh mom, what do a boy and a girl do alone in a room? That’s probably what’s happening. Ms. Jharna was saying she wants a child, so bhai can give it to her alone in the room, right?”

As Adhik said this, Shikha slapped him lightly. Adhik made a small face and looked at Vihaan, who laughed upon seeing him.

***

Before leaving Jharna in his room, Ivaan was about to say something to her when her gaze fell on Miransh sleeping on the bed. Jharna quickly went to Miransh and asked, “Ansh! What happened, Ansh? Baby, are you okay?”

Ivaan, staring at Jharna, remarked, “He’s sleeping, you idiot!.”

Surprised, Jharna said to Ivaan, “You gave my Ansh sleeping pills.”

Hearing her, Ivaan rolled his eyes. Just then, Miransh woke up and called out, “Momma!”

Jharna, picking up Miransh, asked, “Yes, Ansh? Betu, are you alright?”

Miransh yawned and replied, “Yes, momma, I’m fine.”

Relieved to hear Miransh’s words, Jharna then approached Ivaan in anger and said, “You were taking revenge on me through my child. How dare you…”

Ivaan angrily interrupted, “Shut up! Firstly, I don’t have so much time to waste on you, and secondly, I don’t know how this child came here.”

Jharna retorted, “Don’t lie. I saw it in the CCTV footage. My Ansh was in your car’s trunk. So how could you didn’t know?”

Ivaan repeated, “I’m telling you, I don’t know how this child reached in my car’s trunk.”

Before Jharna could say anything, Miransh spoke up, “Yes, momma! superhero is right. I sneaked into his car and then hid under the bed here. When I got sleepy, I fell asleep.”

Grabbing Jharna’s ear, Ivaan said, “Heard?”

Jharna freed her ear and went to Miransh, asking, “But why? Why did you do that? Why did you come here?”

Miransh innocently replied, “Momma! When that chandelier was about to fall on you, I got very scared. Then this superhero came and saved you. I was going to say thank you to him. But before I could, he was leaving, so I hid in his car to come here to say thank you.”

Hearing Miransh, Ivaan asked, “You came here to say thank you to me?”

Miransh went to Ivaan and, with innocence, said, “Thank you, superhero!” He hugged Ivaan and then continued, “Other than my momma, I have no one else. I love her very much. If you weren’t there today, I would have been separated from my momma.”

Ivaan’s heart melted upon hearing this. He lifted Miransh and said, “That doesn’t happen. Those who love their moms very much, never get separated from them.”

Hearing Ivaan’s words, Miransh smiled. Ivaan felt strangely connected to Miransh. He was looking at himself in Miransh.

Jharna apologized to Ivaan, saying, “I am sorry, I said too much in anger.”
Ivaan replied, “It’s okay. Anyone in your place would have reacted the same way.”

***

Jharna, Ivaan and Miransh were descending the stairs. Everyone was looking at them in surprise. Adhik with an open mouth commented, “Child! and Such a big child so soon. Bhai turned out to be quite fast.”

Vihan scolded to him, “Shut up, Adhik! Sometimes be serious.”

They reached the bottom. Shikha went to Ivaan and asked in surprise, “What’s going on? Will someone tell me?”

Jharna, with joined hands, said, “I am sorry, my son accidentally came here. I came here looking for him. Please forgive me for causing trouble to all of you.”

Shikha started looking at Ivaan with questioning eyes. Ivaan took a deep breath and explained everything. Shikha smiled and sat in front of Miransh, saying, “So you sneaked into our house.”

Miransh apologized, “Sorry!”

Everyone smiled at his innocence. Vihaan picked up Miransh and asked, “How cute you are! What’s your name?”

Miransh replied, “Miransh Jharna Kashyap.”

Vihaan said, “Oh! So you love your mom very much.”

Miransh affirmed, “Yes!”

Then Adhik asked, “And what about dad?”

Jharna’s face fell upon hearing this.

Miransh said, “I don’t have a dad.”

Upon hearing Miransh’s words, the smile vanished from everyone’s faces. Jharna said in a serious tone, “I am a single mother.”

Adhik apologized, “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Jharna replied, “It’s okay, we should leave now. Sorry for any trouble caused because of us. Ansh, let’s go.”

Shikha said, “It’s quite late now. It’s not safe for you to go alone at this time.”

Jharna said, “No, it’s okay. I’ll manage.”

Ivaan intervened, “No need, I’ll drop you.”

Jharna insisted, “I said I’ll manage.”

Ignoring Jharna’s words, Ivaan took Miransh and said, “Okay, you manage. I’m taking Miransh.” With that, he left with Miransh.

Jharna, surprised, started following him.
Everyone watched them leaving. Deepa said to Shikha, “Bhabhi, when I saw the three of them together, it felt like our Ivaan is finally complete. It’s like whatever was lacking in his life has now been fulfilled.”

Shikha agreed, “I felt the same way. Who knows what destiny has planned.”

***

In the car, Ivaan and Jharna were sitting in the front while Miransh was in the back, chatting with Ivaan. Ivaan was enjoying talking to Miransh, and Jharna, seeing Miransh smiling, was happy too.

After a while, the car stopped outside Jharna’s apartment. They all got out of the car. Miransh hugged Ivaan and said, “Thank you, superhero. I had a great time with you.”

Ivaan lifted Miransh and replied, “I also enjoyed spending time with you, champ.”

Excitedly, Miransh said, “Really…!!!”

Ivaan confirmed, “Yes!”

Just then, Malini arrived. She looked at Miransh and said, “Miransh!”

Miransh went to Malini and hugged her. Malini asked, “Where were you going, dear?”

Miransh replied, “Sorry. I won’t go now.”
Malini smiled and took Miransh with her, saying, “Let’s go, son.” She then left with Miransh.

Now, only Ivaan and Jharna were left there. They exchanged glances. They were looking at each other. Then Jharna broke the eye contact and started walking away.

Ivaan watched Jharna leave and then sat back in his car. Many questions were running through his mind. Why did he feel so drawn to Miransh? What was it about Miransh? He pushed aside these thoughts and drove away.

***

Sitara’s Note

Some bonds are written long before we even realize they exist.

In this chapter, it wasn’t just Ivaan meeting Miransh—it was a collision of two hearts, stitched together by fate. One call of “Momma” shifted everything. And suddenly, the man who once only carried pride in his eyes, found a little boy quietly settling into a space in his heart.

While writing this, I felt something shift too—like the chaos from the past chapters softened for a moment… just enough to let love, innocence, and a little healing walk in.

Jharna’s fear, Ivaan’s unexpected care, and Miransh’s pure heart—weaving through them was a thread of something unspoken, but deeply felt.

If this chapter made you smile, or left a lump in your throat—know that’s exactly what I hoped it would do.

And I’d love to hear from you—did you enjoy this longer chapter, or do you prefer the short ones like before? Let’s keep shaping this story together.

With all my heart,
– Sitara Chandria