..They had just arrived in Mumbai, Salim's first visit to India, Jo insisted on coming to meet up with her MIL ... Jo was coming back to India after one year ... Jalal had not seen or talked to his mother for a month now, he was here only to keep his wife happy ... After the pooja and a emotional goodbye ...finally they were on their way to the moghul mansion ...in the car Jo rests her head against his chest whispering "you are without a doubt the most wonderful man in the world Jalal, the perfect man...for me, ... I'm the happiest person today, my wishes are being fulfilled without even asking" turning to him, she gently leaned into his embrace nuzzling his neck, tears streaming down her cheeks, laces her fingers through his, whispers "Jalal, I cannot imagine where my life would be right now if you had not come into it" Jalal grasps her finger tighter lifting her hand up to his lips, kisses her hand, winks and with a sly smirk says "but I know where I would have been...I'd probably still be a womanizer too scared to get into a relationship, bed hopping, enjoying life as young pretty girls chase me" Jo pouted angrily digging her elbow into his ribs making him jump, "I hate you, I can't believe you still entertain those thoughts Jalal" pulling away from him, he chuckles watching her lips twitch, gently using his thumb, brushes her cheeks lightly flicking away her tears "if you'll let me finish, babe" taking her face between his hands "I love you more than you could ever imagine Jo, I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with anyone but you, they say time files when you're having fun, and unfortunately I have to agree with the they', I can't imagine where the years have gone by ... I am so lost in you ...I have become a slave to your love, now especially after you risked you life to give me the joy of fatherhood"
Once at the mansion, HB was thrilled to see Salim, she avoided Jo like a plague ... Jo and Jalal sat quietly watching her MIL play with her grandson, calling her friends sharing the news excitedly bringing tears to Jalal's eyes when she called her doctor "and now I am ready to take any medicine you give me as long as I can stay healthy to play with my potha", Jalal had expected a big blowout between Jo and his mother but instead Jalal shook his head as he turned to lean against the door watching his wife and mother, both just stood on opposite corners of the sofa, silently looking at each other...Jodha looks at HB recalls her mother's words "she is very hurt and regrets what happened Jodha, I visited her everyday at the hospital ...we talked a lot, even though she was careless with your trust and almost ready to destroy your marriage beti, she probably did it out of her love for her son, I am not saying what she did is right ... I may have done the same thing if I had only one son who's wife was busy with work and travelled all the time, these days it is a common thing, more and more women sacrifice their family life for their career ...and did not have a heir to carry his father's heritage ...The weak hold grudges, only the strong know how to forgive and forget ... I know I can depend on my daughter to make the right choice" Jodha couldn't help herself, her legs jerk her forward, making the first move towards HB slowly and did not stop until she stood in front of her MIL ... HB stared at her with tears in her eyes pulling Jo into a warm embrace ... "I almost destroyed your marriage beti" she cried "you have nothing to be sorry about ammijaan, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ...I should have atleast told you...I let my insecurities rule me...I can't pretend that what happen in our lives will simply move on like water under a bridge ... but I am I want to put all hate and misunderstandings behind us" Jo reassures her as a tearful HB continues "Jodha beti, please listen to me, I am not asking to forgive and forget, I know what my part was in the mess I created" she sobbed "I almost lost you ...I heard you almost died, I just don't know what I would have done if I had lost you ...with you thinking the worst of me" her voice was frantic, begging for understanding. Jodha guides her to sit on the sofa, pour her water, handing it to her and sits next to her...slowly leans and rests her head against her MIL and softly whispers "ammijaan, please ...don't do this to yourself ... you will always be a mother to me... today I have Salim because of you... if you did not show interest in getting Jalal married again I would not have had the guts to go against my husband wishes by breaking a promise I made " Jo feels her soft hands smooth her hair as her strong voice told her it had been too long and that she should never stay away from her again. They both sat and talked after hours of tears and laughter "my son truly missed you Jodha, what ever happened between him and Asiya is my fault, please forgive him" Jo feels a sharp pain tug at her chest hearing Asiya's name ...she looks up at Jalal who gives her a slight nod ..as told talks to HB about the plans they had plotted for her...things were slowly getting back to normal at the Mohammed residence ...
That afternoon Jalal was at his home office desk in Mumbai engrossed on his phone did not notice his wife and son walk in ... he briefly looks up and gestures for her to wait... Jo smiles understandingly and leaves with Salim, she brought Salim to introduce him to Jalal's office staff ... Jo wanted to visit her friends at work as well. Finishing up his call look up and his gaze falls on his wife and brother talking, watches as Jo threw her head back laughing at something Mirza said, creasing his brows he stands up straight, an acid level of tension began to rise within him, he knew the emotional time bomb he kept locked within him was getting ready to detonate ... fury ... He closes his eyes to make them invisible and all he could think was "my brother betrayed me in my darkest hour of need" he had wanted to talk to Mirza when he found Jo, but Jo would allow it ... her eyes always softened when she spoke about Mirza spurring an irritation within his heart, finally he gets to deal with Mirza ...he would have liked to have dealt him elsewhere knowing his mother was around ... Mirza looks up and sees Jalal watching them, Mirza chuckles, on purpose he came here to meet Bhaijaan in Mumbai knowing Jalal's would have to keep his vengeance under control in ammijaan's presence. Jalal smirks walking towards them, takes Salim from Jo, makes casual conversations while making snide remarks and baiting him, Mirza chooses to ignore Jalal's comments ... "Jo can you please give us a moment of privacy, I want to talk to my brother alone" Jalal requests handing Salim back to her... knowing Jalal anger Jo hesitates , "Jodha, leave now, I want to speak to Mirza alone" his voice forcefully irate ... Jo stays put not moving an inch she would never leave Mirza to face Jalal's wrath on his own ... I got him into this mess and I need to do the best I can to soften the blow of Jalal's anger, she thinks "take Sheku out" he snapped Jo flinches hearing the rage in his voice and leaves as she closes the door "You knew didn't you, you knew all along, all this time" his voice harsh, raw with hurt ... Jo sees Mirza's broken expression and could not help herself "Jalal, it is not his fault, I begged him not to tell, please don't be upset with Mirza, please" she comes back in when her glares and yells "leave now" Jo begins walking away again "I can't believe this, I just can't f**king believe it, my brother, my very own brother" he spat ... "bhaijaan, please" Mirza spoke softly "it is not like that and you know it" Jalal begins shaking his head back and forth "don't call me bhaijaan, please don't call me bhaijaan, don't degrade that term" Mirza speaks softly "it is not like that bhaijaan ? you know yourself well, touch your heart bhaijaan and then tell me" his words infuriate Jalal more "then you what ? tell me how it was? tell me brother" he growled, "tell me how you can explain while I was going crazy looking for my wife, the love of my life, you just sat back and watched me fall, watched me as I drowned in guilt, watched me fall, you knew all along and yet kept her away from me ... Watched my destroy my life trying to forget her ..." His voice cracked with emotions as he slumps back in his chair, his voice defeated "you took away a lot from me Mirza, you took away the joy of knowing that I was going to be a father, the joy of showering extra love and affection, getting on my knees and kissing her belly, talking to my baby growing in her, Allah knows I would have done all that and more ... if I had only been given a chance" Standing near the door Jo's heart was completely broken as she realizes what her actions had done to him ... The calm, cool and collected personality he portrayed was just shell of cover ... guilt, anger and hurt lurked in the shadows ... Jo realizes how his wounded soul still deeply weighed on her ... and she had almost ruined it ...Jalal looks up and sees her standing by the door, their gaze lock, unspoken words that pierced her soul ...
Later that night he lay in bed watching as Jo nursed Salim... lying half asleep next to him on their bed with her eyes closed, his eyes rested on her beautiful face, the face that captivated him effortlessly with her innocence and humble mind and, his eyes slowly move down and rest on her chest, watches as his little son suckled on her breast hungrily, she leans forward kissing his little head ... Jalal could not help but wonder if the outcome would have still been the same if she had stayed instead of leaving him when she did, he wished he could turn back the hands of time and just undo past mistakes. Breathes a huge sigh of relief ... he had to cling to the hope that he would have made the responsible choices ... if given a second chance to do it all over again ...the truth hurt but he had to admit ...the outcome would have been different ...he wo