Sabharwal Mansion.

"Why is the boy crying so hard? He had his milk, got his nappy changed and took a nap too. So, why is he crying like that? It's freaking me out. Should I call a doctor?" Kailash inquired as August's wail grew louder and more desperate. Kailash took a moment to pause before speaking. "Do you recall your mom mentioning how silver jewellery can ward off negative energy when Nisha was a baby? She would have these crying episodes quite frequently."

"Well, yes, I recall now that you mention it! I'll tell Lucky to grab him a small silver chain from the store, and no, a doctor is not required; my little boy has a stomachache, and it's ok." Uma said as she rubbed a solution of asafoetida on his belly, another one of her home made remedies.

"She's way too young to be a mother, and parenting at her age is super tough. I really think she should do what girls her age typically do." Uma pondered, thinking aloud.

"Isn't that why we volunteered to look after August while she went out of the house?

I'm happy; she's going back to being her old self. I just hope my cheerful and fun-loving girl comes back." He paused for a moment before quietly muttering, "Vikrant's folks reached out to ask about the baby's parents. They proposed an alliance for our Alie."

"I sincerely hope that the baby is unaffected by the insane situation in which we are all currently caught." Uma wrinkled her nose at the foul odour, realising it was time for a nappy change. She quickly got to work, taking care of the task at hand.

"Don't stress; we'll figure something out and tough times will pass before you know it."

Kailash sighed. "It's not like she can stay with us forever."

"What's on your mind, Kailash?" Uma asked.

"You know, Uma, Alie has always been beautiful and intelligent, and she's always been able to turn heads. Right now, without even knowing her past, alliances are pouring in. Vikrant's parents were discussing a potential match they have in mind."

"When I talked to Kapish today and shared all the details, he concluded by saying, Don't rush into marrying Alisha. I have someone else in mind who would be perfect for her. I'll let you know soon."

Uma's curiosity peaked as she glanced at Kailash.

"Now, wifey, Whose choice should we go with? Vikrant's parents or Kapish's?" Kailash turned to his wife with a mischievous smile on his face and a playful wink.

"Kapish is more reliable, I suppose. And what about August? Will these people accept our Alie with her past?" Uma's face was filled with worry as she asked.

"We got the child covered. We'll raise him like our own; he'll be a fantastic gentleman. He's going to make us proud." Kailash replied to soothe her worries.

"Do you think your daughter will be okay with your plan?" Uma asked Kailash, desperately hoping that he wouldn't get his hopes up about this suggestion.

"Let's not jump the gun," Kailash said. "Kapish thinks we should meet the boy first and if everything goes well, then we can discuss this further."

"I think it's worth considering the idea of adopting August as well. We can discuss this further when the time is right." Kailash grinned optimistically.

"It looks like you've got her future all figured out, but have you ever thought about what would happen if the child's father showed up and wanted to be part of her life again or even gain custody of their child?" Uma embraced the child securely; "Alie will freak out."

"I doubt that, he was never in the picture. I went all the way to Goa to meet him, hoping to persuade him to tie the knot with my daughter. But, it felt like a mission with no purpose. Alie ghosted us, with zero deets. So, I went all detective mode and contacted all her friends, even showing up at their places. What I discovered totally blew my mind. She distanced herself from the world, occasionally reaching out to Shikha, but Shikha remained tight-lipped. She never went back on her word to her friend. But we kept searching, traced her phone records, but still couldn't locate him. He most likely bailed on her when she needed him the most."