Initially she hated the whole dynamic of the Birla family and found it conducive and too dominating. Toxic parenting was the term she used to describe it in the very beginning and found it tough to fathom. 

Later, as she got to know them better, she started finding it warm and endearing. But she was equally disheartened that, no one would ever love her that way or treat her that way because she is too mature and acts very responsibly which does not align with the set standards to warrant such treatment. 

Aradhna had no intention of lowering her standards. So, it was like a passing dream for her. But now, with Neil in her life, it is possible. If she ever decided to not be mature, just like today's incident, she can be pulled up for it. 

She never knew that she would come to love the authority with which Neil exercised his right, right now. Right to hold her accountable for her actions and words. That very holding her accountable for something she knew she shouldn't be doing, is making her overwhelmed with emotions. Her eyes teared up and Neil got alert. 

"Aru yaar! Phir se ro rahi ho? Aisa kya kehdiya maine? Mujhe nahi pata tha tum itni badi cry baby ho." Neil spoke admonishingly as he wiped her tears off. 

"Tum ne daanta mujhe." Aradhna whined like never before. 

"Tum itna drama kar rahi ho, ek baat batane keliye toh main kya karun? Pehle toh mujhe laga bahut serious issue hain aur main bahut worried hogaya tha. 

Lekin jo tumhare reasons aur expressions hain na, usse mujhe ab yeh lag raha hain, ki matter serious nahi bahut stupid hain. Gussa nahi ayega kya?" Neil justified his stance. 

"Toh itna gussa karoge? Mujhe nahi baat karni tumse. Jao yahan se." Aradhna lapped on to the opportunity. 

However, Neil made her sit on the couch wordlessly and stepped back. Aradhna thought that she somehow succeeded but Boy! Was she wrong and how! 

Neil folded his arms across his chest and stood against the attachment that was placed perpendicularly to the wall and parallel to the ceiling. It was a sort of mini coffee table which was longer and thinner than the regular one. Aradhna looked up with a smile and her smile faded when she saw Neil staring at her keenly. She immediately looked everywhere but him because she herself found all this too foolish, but still couldn't help it. 

"Do you realize that I have two kids at home, and I am too well versed with all these antics? Woh bhi chodo. 

Woh dialogue hain na, jis school mein aap student ban neki koshish kar rahi hain wahan ke hum Principal hain. That perfectly fits in here." Neil sarcastically spoke and Aradhna shrugged.

"Ab toh mujhe yakeen hain ki kuch bakwaas si reason hain. Why are you not telling your family Aru? I need to know. Abhi bahut hogaya." Neil asked again. 

"Mujhe nahi batana Neil. How difficult is it for you to understand?" Aradhna snapped as Neil kept on pursuing.