A warm Sunday morning unfolded beautifully over the pink hues of Jaipur. The golden sunlight filtered softly through the grand windows of the Rathore Mansion, making everything glow with a calm and peaceful charm. The clock had just struck 9:30 AM, and unlike busy weekdays, today the house felt alive in a relaxed, cheerful way.
In the spacious living room, everyone had already gathered, creating a cozy yet chaotic family moment. Reyansh was seated on the couch, looking unusually patient-well, forced to be-while Tanvi and Kiara hovered around him like professionals on a mission.
Tanvi sat beside him, gently holding his hand as she carefully applied cream, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration.
Meanwhile, Kiara stood behind him, running her fingers through his hair, styling it with full dedication like he was some celebrity getting ready for a shoot. Reyansh, stuck between them, had his arms resting stiffly, his face showing clear helplessness mixed with silent suffering.
On the other side of the room, Rajveer sat comfortably on a sofa, legs crossed, deeply engrossed in his newspaper. Beside him, his PA-and also his childhood friend-Abhishek lounged casually, sipping his coffee like he owned the place.
Rajveer lowered the newspaper slightly and shot him an annoyed look, narrowing his eyes.
"Tu jab dekho mere ghar par pada kyu rehta hai? Apne ghar raha kar na."
(Why are you always lying around in my house? Try staying at your own place sometimes.)
Abhishek instantly scoffed, placing his cup down with a dramatic sigh.
"Abe saale, zyada mat bol. Aaj Sunday hai, tu mera boss nahi hai. Abhi thappad maar dunga."
(Don't talk too much. It's Sunday, you're not my boss right now. I'll slap you, seriously.)
Rajveer rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"Jab dekho muh utha ke chala aata hai. Bachpan se piche pada hai."
(You just show up anytime. You've been stuck to me since childhood.)
Abhishek smirked, completely unfazed, continuing to sip his coffee.
"Chup kar. Mere bina ek kaam nahi hota tujhse. Aur waise bhi, tere chakkar mein aaj tak promotion nahi liya... sirf tere saath rehne ke liye."
(Be quiet. You can't do anything without me. And anyway, I never took a promotion just so I could stay with you.)
Reyansh, Kiara, and Tanvi chuckled softly, completely used to their never-ending banter. For them, this argument wasn't new-it was a daily dose of entertainment.
Meanwhile, Tanvi, still focused on Reyansh's skincare, suddenly paused. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed something on his face. Leaning closer, she made a disgusted face.
"Bhaiya, aap jaake shave karke aaiye. Aapki beard aane lagi hai... bilkul achha nahi lagta. Jaiye."
(Brother, go and shave. Your beard is coming in... it doesn't look good at all. Go.)
Reyansh immediately crossed his arms like a stubborn child, leaning back slightly.
"Accha, aane bhi nahi deti. Abhi pichle hafte hi kiya tha. Sab rakhte hain, mujhe nahi karna."
(You don't even let it grow. I just shaved last week. Everyone keeps it, I don't want to shave.)
Tanvi shot him a sharp glare, clearly not impressed.
"Bhaiya, jaake karke aaiye. Pata nahi ladko ko kya pasand hai-bhalu banna! Waise bhi handsome toh clean shaved mein hi lagte hain boys."
(Just go and do it. I don't know why boys like becoming bears! Anyway, boys look handsome only when clean-shaven.)
Reyansh stayed exactly where he was, arms still crossed, his expression stubborn yet slightly amused, clearly refusing to move even an inch.
Kiara, standing behind him, rolled her eyes and lightly tapped his head.
"Reyansh, jaana. Phir aage ka skincare karna hai. Waise bhi Tanu sahi bol rahi hai-kuch handsome ladko par hi beard achhi lagti hai... tujhpe waise bhi suit nahi karegi. Jaa, shave karke aa."
(Reyansh, go. We still have skincare left. And anyway, Tanu is right-beards suit only some handsome guys... it won't suit you. Go shave.)
Reyansh muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard.
"Ajeeb zabardasti hai... pehle dono zid karti hain ki skincare karengi, ab shave bhi karwa rahi hain. Korean boys ki alag hi deewani hain dono..."
(Such weird force... first they insist on skincare, now shaving too. Both are crazy for Korean boys...)
Tanvi instantly narrowed her eyes at him.
"Kuch kaha aapne?"
(Did you say something?)
Reyansh quickly straightened up, shaking his head innocently.
"Nahi, maine kuch nahi kaha... jaa raha hoon, Maharani."
(No, I didn't say anything... I'm going, Your Highness.)
Rajveer and Abhishek watched the entire scene unfold, smiles tugging at their lips as they silently admired the bond and chaos of the younger ones.
Abhishek suddenly muttered, shaking his head with a smirk.
"Is ladki ka alag hi obsession hai clean-shaved se... do din pehle mujhe bhi shave karne par majboor kar diya."
(This girl has a different obsession with clean-shaved faces... two days ago she forced me to shave too.)
His eyes then shifted towards Rajveer's face, noticing his light beard. A mischievous smile slowly spread across his lips.
"Tanu beta, apne dadda ko dekho... kitni beard aa gayi hai. Inhe bhi bolo shave karein. Mujhe toh kehti thi 'uncle aap 47 ki age mein 60 ke lag rahe ho beard ki wajah se.' Inse bhi shave karwao... yeh buddhe nahi lagte kya?"
(Tanu, look at your dad... see how much beard he has. Tell him to shave too. You told me I look 60 at 47 because of beard-make him shave too. Doesn't he look old?)
Rajveer immediately shot him a deadly glare.
Before anything could escalate, Kiara quickly intervened, smiling innocently.
"Are nahi, uncle... Mumma ko dadda ke face par light beard achhi lagti thi, isliye dadda rakhte hain."
(No, uncle... Mom liked light beard on dad's face, that's why he keeps it.)
Tanvi suddenly jumped into the conversation, excitement sparkling in her eyes.
"Or haan, dadda buddhe nahi lagte! Aapko pata hai, jab dadda mujhe college drop karne aaye the, meri ek classmate ne bola-'yeh tere bhaiya single hai kya?' Phir maine bola woh mere papa hain... batao!"
(And dad doesn't look old! You know what, when he came to drop me at college, my classmate asked if he was my brother and if he's single! Then I told her he's my dad... imagine!)
Rajveer's chest puffed up slightly with pride as he raised his eyebrows and smirked at Abhishek.
"Dekha? Aaj bhi tujhse zyada handsome dikhta hoon."
(See? I still look more handsome than you.)
Abhishek rolled his eyes, waving him off dismissively.
"Chal chal, zyada mat bol. Buddhe toh tu ho gaya hai-chahe maan ya na maan."
(Yeah yeah, don't talk too much. You've gotten old whether you accept it or not.)
The room once again filled with laughter, teasing, and light-hearted chaos. Conversations flowed naturally, smiles never leaving their faces. It was one of those rare, peaceful mornings where everything felt perfect-where family, love, and happiness blended effortlessly.
A beautiful day had just begun in the Rathore Mansion.
Meanwhile, the Singhania Mansion was completely alive with energy. Unlike the calm elegance of the Rathore house, this place was buzzing with voices, laughter, and constant movement.
The Maheshwari family was also present, turning the mansion into a full house gathering.
It was a relaxed Sunday, and everyone had taken a break from their hectic schedules to spend time together.
In the main living area, Arjun Singhania, Vikrant Singhania, and Manish Maheshwari were seated comfortably on the sofas, engaged in a deep yet casual discussion about work. Their expressions were serious at times, but the ease in their posture showed it wasn't anything too stressful-just business talk mixed with friendly banter.
On the other side, Shweta, Meera, and Komal were sitting together, completely immersed in their own world-gossiping, laughing, and chatting endlessly. Their laughter echoed through the hall, adding warmth to the already lively environment.
Nearby, Rudraksh stood slightly aside, talking to Nikhil about something important, both of them focused, their expressions calm yet attentive.
And then-on the couch-was a completely different scene.
Aarohi, Yuvraj, and Ishika were sprawled lazily across the couch in the messiest positions possible. Cushions were scattered, hair slightly messy, eyes half-open-they looked like they had just rolled out of bed.
The TV was playing in front of them, but their attention was divided between watching and doing absolutely nothing. Aarohi yawned loudly, stretching like a tired cat.
Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, she shot up a little.
"Yaar... woh assignment karna hai! Aaj last day hai!"
(Guys... we have to do that assignment! Today is the last day!)
Ishika's eyes widened instantly as realization hit her. She sat up halfway, her lazy expression turning serious in a second.
"Are yaar, main toh bhool gayi thi! Ab kya karein?"
(Oh God, I totally forgot! What do we do now?)
Yuvraj, however, didn't even move. His eyes remained glued to the TV, completely unbothered, as he spoke lazily.
"Guys, chinta mat karo... ek ghante mein movie khatam ho jayegi, phir sochenge."
(Guys, don't worry... the movie will finish in an hour, then we'll think about it.)
Aarohi rolled her eyes but quickly added,
"Haan, maine Tanu se poocha tha-usne kar liya hai. Uski help mil gayi na, toh fatafat ho jayega."
(Yeah, I asked Tanu-she's already done it. If we get her help, it'll be done quickly.)
Yuvraj finally turned his head slightly, a confident smirk appearing on his face.
"Theek hai... movie khatam hone ke baad main cutie pie ko yahan le aata hoon. Phir hum saath mein assignment kar lenge."
(Alright... after the movie, I'll bring cutie pie here. Then we'll do the assignment together.)
Aarohi and Ishika exchanged looks and nodded in agreement.
But before the plan could settle, Rudraksh's voice cut through sharply. He turned towards Yuvraj with a disapproving look.
"Tu pagal hai kya? Reyansh nahi bhejega use tere saath akele. Rajveer uncle bhi honge wahan... kahin nahi jaayega tu."
(Are you crazy? Reyansh won't send her alone with you. Rajveer uncle will be there too... you're not going anywhere.)
Yuvraj, however, stayed completely chill, leaning back again with a careless shrug.
"Are bhaiya, chill... dekhna main jaunga aur use utha ke le aaunga."
(Relax bro... you'll see, I'll go and bring her anyway.)
Rudraksh's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at him.
"Tu pagal hai kya? Maar khayega! Yeh kaunsi language hai 'utha ke le aaunga'? Kidnap karega kya use?"
(Are you insane? You'll get beaten up! What kind of language is that 'I'll pick her up'? Are you going to kidnap her or what?)
Yuvraj smirked proudly, clearly enjoying the reaction.
"Bhaiya, chill... aap dekho bas. Main jaunga aur use le aunga."
(Relax bro... just watch. I'll go and bring her.)
Rudraksh sighed, shaking his head, giving him a "you're on your own" look.
"As you wish."
Meanwhile, the atmosphere shifted slightly when Manish's phone suddenly rang. He picked it up calmly, adjusting his posture.
"Hello?"
A female voice came from the other side.
"Hello, can I talk to Mr. Manish Maheshwari?"
"Yes, I am Manish Maheshwari. Who is this, and why are you calling?" he replied, his tone polite but firm.
"Sir, I'm calling from Ishika Maheshwari's college. I wanted to inform you that your daughter hit a boy and broke his hand. Also, she was speaking rudely with a professor, Mrs. Verma. Please explain to your daughter how to behave properly and maintain discipline."
The entire room subtly quieted as Manish listened.
He leaned back slightly, his expression calm-but his eyes held authority.
"I already know about that, ma'am. My daughter has informed me. And about that boy-he was misbehaving with a girl. So what she did was not wrong."
He paused for a second, then added proudly,
"I will definitely teach my daughter one thing-if someone misbehaves with you or any other girl, break his face. But yes, she is disciplined... that's why she only broke his hand."
A few heads instantly turned toward him in shock.
The woman on the call sounded slightly taken aback.
"Sir, but she was talking rudely to the professor. She broke the rules of the college."
Manish's expression hardened just a little, his voice still controlled.
"Oh, for that... the professor targeted my daughter. She insulted her because my daughter exposed her son and got him punished. So yes, my daughter gave her an answer. If a professor behaves like that with students, then students can respond the same way."
The lady tried again, slightly frustrated.
"But sir, she talks too much in class..."
Manish didn't even hesitate.
"Oh, so God gave her a tongue to speak-so she uses it. Simple. Anyway, ma'am, I'm a bit busy now. If there's anything else, you may say it quickly."
There was a pause from the other side.
"...Okay sir, thank you."
The call ended.
As Manish lowered his phone, Ishika was already looking at him-with a wide, proud smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Manish looked at her and softened slightly, though his tone still carried authority.
"Ishu baccha, next time careful. Lekin agar koi pareshan kare, toh use chhodna mat. Par rules aur discipline ka dhyaan rakhna."
(Ishu, next time be careful. But if someone troubles you, don't spare them. Just remember the rules and discipline.)
He paused, then added thoughtfully,
"Waise mujhe yeh samajh nahi aaya... us ladke ko sirf itni si chot hi lagi? Mujhe laga kahin haath-pair na tod diye ho tumne."
(But I don't understand one thing... that boy got only this much injury? I thought you might have broken more than just his hand.)
Ishika straightened proudly, flipping her hair slightly.
"Don't worry, Papa. I'll take care next time. Aur mujhe laga zyada maarungi toh mar hi jayega... isliye zyada nahi maara."
(Don't worry, Papa. I'll take care. And I thought if I hit him more, he might actually die... so I didn't hit him much.)
For a moment-silence.
Everyone in the room froze.
Nikhil blinked, completely stunned, slowly shaking his head in disbelief. Komal's face went blank, as if her brain had stopped processing what she just heard. Even Aarohi and Yuvraj exchanged looks, trying not to laugh but clearly shocked.
The father-daughter duo, however, sat there like nothing unusual had happened-completely normal.
And that... somehow made it even more terrifying.
Back at the Rathore Mansion, the atmosphere was still warm and lively. The living room echoed with soft laughter and casual conversations. Everyone was comfortably settled-Rajveer and Abhishek were engaged in a discussion, leaning slightly forward as they talked, while Kiara sat nearby, occasionally reacting with amused smiles.
On the couch, Tanvi sat peacefully, a book in her hands, her eyes focused on the pages as she absentmindedly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Beside her, Reyansh sat relaxed, gently massaging her head with a calm expression, his fingers moving slowly as if it was a routine he was used to.
Everything felt calm... until the sudden sound of the doorbell broke the moment.
Kiara got up casually and walked towards the door. As she opened it-she froze for a second.
Standing there... was Yuvraj.
Without wasting even a second, Yuvraj stepped inside confidently, as if he owned the place. Kiara blinked once, still processing his sudden presence, before closing the door behind him and walking along.
The moment he entered, everyone's attention shifted towards him. Conversations paused. Eyes turned.
Yuvraj walked straight into the living room, his posture relaxed, hands casually slipping into his pockets.
"Good morning, everyone," he greeted smoothly with a charming smile.
Reyansh immediately looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at the clock and then back at Yuvraj.
"Good afternoon, Yuvraj."
(It's not morning anymore.)
Yuvraj paused for a second, then looked around awkwardly before correcting himself with a grin.
"Oh-sorry! Good afternoon, everyone."
Rajveer and Abhishek greeted him with polite smiles, while Tanvi also gave a small nod, closing her book halfway.
Rajveer gestured towards the sofa warmly.
"Aao beta, khade kyun ho? Baitho."
(Come, son. Why are you standing? Sit.)
"Of course, uncle," Yuvraj replied instantly and sat down comfortably, crossing one leg over the other like he belonged there.
There was a brief pause.
Then suddenly-
"Or uncle, aapka business kaisa chal raha hai? Sab badhiya hai kya?"
(So uncle, how's your business going? Everything good?)
Yuvraj asked casually, his tone friendly-almost too friendly, like he was talking to a close buddy.
Rajveer's face slightly froze. His brows furrowed as confusion flickered across his face.
Before he could even respond, Yuvraj continued, completely unbothered.
"Are uncle, udhar kya dekh rahe ho? Aapse hi pooch raha hoon. Aap businessman ho na... kya chal raha hai business mein? Zyada loss mein toh nahi hai na?"
(Uncle, why are you looking there? I'm asking you. You're a businessman, right? How's business going? Not in too much loss, I hope?)
The room went silent for a second.
Abhishek immediately jumped in, not even giving Rajveer a chance to reply. Leaning back with a chill expression, he said-
"Are, humara business loss mein kaise ja sakta hai? Pura business main sambhalta hoon."
(How can our business go into loss? I handle everything.)
Yuvraj nodded thoughtfully like he had just asked a very important question.
Rajveer finally spoke, still a bit confused but composed.
"Accha beta... aaj yahan koi kaam tha kya?"
(Alright... did you have some work here today?)
"Haan uncle," Yuvraj replied instantly, without even thinking twice.
"Aapki beti ko lene aaya tha."
(Yes uncle, I came to take your daughter.)
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Rajveer's expression froze, his eyes slowly widening as he stared at Yuvraj. Reyansh stopped mid-motion, his hand still resting on Tanvi's head, his gaze locking onto Yuvraj without blinking. Kiara stood there, completely blank. Abhishek's coffee cup almost slipped from his hand as his face turned pale with shock.
Under his breath, Abhishek muttered-
"Yeh ladka pakka pitega..."
(This guy is definitely going to get beaten up...)
"Kya?" Reyansh asked, raising his eyebrows slightly without taking his eyes off Yuvraj.
Yuvraj looked around at everyone, confused by their reactions.
"Are aap log aise ghoor kyun rahe ho? Main Tanu ko apne ghar le jaane aaya hoon. Kya hai-ek assignment karna hai, usme iski help chahiye."
(Why are you all staring like this? I came to take Tanu to my house. We have an assignment to do, I need her help.)
"Ohhh..." Abhishek said suddenly, relaxing as if everything made sense now.
Yuvraj raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Aap logon ko kya laga?"
(What did you all think?)
"Nothing," Reyansh cut in immediately, his voice calm but firm.
"Or Tanu kahin nahi ja rahi hai."
(And Tanu is not going anywhere.)
Yuvraj leaned forward slightly, his tone still calm but more direct now.
"Par bhaiya, problem kya hai? Main le jaunga... jaise hi assignment ho jayega, wapas chhod dunga."
(But what's the problem? I'll take her and drop her back once the assignment is done.)
Rajveer stepped in this time, his voice polite but decisive.
"Nahi beta, tum ek kaam karo-yahin par assignment kar lo. Sabko yahin bula lo."
(No son, do one thing-complete the assignment here. Call everyone here.)
But Yuvraj didn't back down. Instead, he leaned back comfortably and spoke calmly-
"Are uncle, dekhiye... hum log aapke ghar kitni baar aa chuke hain. Par Tanu humare ghar abhi tak nahi aayi. So we thought ki woh humara ghar bhi dekh legi... waise bhi ab toh aana-jaana laga rahega."
(Uncle, we've come to your house so many times. But Tanu hasn't come to ours yet. So we thought she should see our house too... anyway, we'll be visiting each other often now.)
Before anyone could react-
"Acha yeh sab chhodiye... Tanu, jao ready hoke aao."
(Anyway, leave all this... Tanu, go get ready.)
"Par main-" Tanvi started softly-
But Yuvraj cut her off immediately, waving his hand casually.
"Are kya 'par'? Dekho, ready nahi hona toh koi baat nahi. Waise bhi achhi lag rahi ho. Aise hi chalogi ya ready hoke?"
(What 'but'? If you don't want to get ready, it's fine. You already look good. Will you come like this or get ready?)
Tanvi's eyes instinctively moved towards Rajveer... then towards Reyansh.
Both of them stood there-completely still. No expression. No reaction. Just silent confusion.
And before she could say anything-
Yuvraj casually held her wrist and pulled her up from the couch.
"Ok, koi baat nahi. Ready nahi hona hai toh bhi chalega-waise bhi cute lag rahi ho."
(It's fine if you don't want to get ready-you look cute anyway.)
Then he turned towards the others with a bright smile-
"Accha uncle, bhaiya, di... hum chalte hain. Main aapki amanat ko kuch ghanton mein wapas chhod jaunga. Don't worry. Bye everyone!"
(Alright uncle, brother, sis... we'll leave now. I'll return your 'precious belonging' in a few hours. Don't worry.)
He gave one last glance-especially at Reyansh-before casually walking out, still holding Tanvi's wrist.
And just like that-
They were gone.
The door closed.
Silence.
Everyone in the living room stood frozen-like statues.
A few seconds passed.
Rajveer blinked slowly, still staring at the door.
"Yeh... kya hua?"
(What just happened?)
Abhishek exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Kya gazab insaan tha bhai... tera future son-in-law hua na, toh tera kya hoga?"
(What an unbelievable guy... if he becomes your future son-in-law, what will happen to you?)
"Shut up, you idiot!" Rajveer snapped, glaring at him.
Abhishek raised his hands innocently.
"Tu idiot! Main toh bas genuinely bol raha tha... aankhen kyun dikha raha hai?"
(You idiot! I was just saying it genuinely... why are you glaring at me?)
And somewhere in between shock, confusion, and disbelief-
The Rathore Mansion had just witnessed something... no one was prepared for.
The Singhania Mansion was glowing with warmth and life that Sunday afternoon. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, spreading a soft golden hue across the luxurious interiors. The house wasn't just filled-it was alive. Voices overlapped, laughter echoed, and every corner held a different story unfolding at the same time.
In the main living room, the elders had naturally divided themselves into their usual groups.
Arjun Singhania, Manish Maheshwari, and Vikrant Singhania sat on the large sofa facing the television, where a news channel was running. Arjun sat straight, his posture composed and confident, occasionally adjusting his watch while keeping his eyes on the screen. Manish leaned slightly forward, elbows resting on his knees, watching attentively yet with a calm, analytical expression.
Vikrant, however, sat more casually, one arm resting on the back of the sofa, fingers absentmindedly stroking his beard-completely unaware that this very beard was about to become the topic of the day.
On the other side of the room, Shweta, Meera, and Komal sat together with tea cups in their hands. Their conversation was full of expressions-Meera talking animatedly, Komal reacting with raised brows, and Shweta smiling softly while occasionally adding her thoughts.
Nearby, Aarohi and Ishika were completely lost in their own world, sitting close together, scrolling through online shopping apps. Their heads leaned towards each other as they whispered, giggled, and occasionally gasped at something on the screen.
Suddenly, Meera's eyes landed on Vikrant. She paused mid-sentence, narrowing her eyes as she carefully observed his face. Slowly placing her cup down, she leaned slightly forward.
"Are suniye... aapki daadhi kitni badh gayi hai. Kitne dino se bol rahi hoon-shave kar lijiye."
(Listen... your beard has grown so much. I've been telling you for days-please shave it.)
Vikrant straightened slightly, instantly defensive yet proud. He ran his fingers over his beard and smiled confidently.
"Are mujhe nahi karna. Aise hi handsome lagta hoon."
(I don't want to. I look handsome like this.)
Meera let out a sarcastic chuckle and turned towards Shweta, raising her brows dramatically.
"Log kitni galat fehmi mein jeete hain na, bhabhi..."
(People live in such delusions, right bhabhi...)
Shweta tried to control her smile, while Komal lowered her gaze to hide her laughter.
Vikrant immediately turned his head towards Meera, raising his eyebrows and glaring at her. His jaw tightened slightly.
"Kya ghoor rahe hain? Sach hi toh bola hai. Waise bhi bhalu lagte hain aap."
(Why are you staring? I'm just telling the truth. You look like a bear anyway.)
This time, soft laughter spread across the room. Even Arjun smirked slightly, while Manish shook his head in amusement.
Just then-
The main door opened.
Yuvraj walked in confidently... and right behind him-Tanvi.
The moment she stepped inside, the energy subtly shifted. Conversations paused. Eyes turned.
Tanvi stood near the entrance for a moment, her posture straight yet slightly hesitant. Her hands came together politely as she offered a soft smile.
"Namaste..."
Her voice was gentle, respectful.
Everyone instantly softened.
"Mumma, choti maa, papa, chachu, uncle, aunty-she is Tanvi, humari new friend," Aarohi said excitedly, standing up quickly.
Then turning to Tanvi, she began introducing everyone one by one, pointing softly.
"And Tanvi, meet my parents..." she gestured towards Shweta and Arjun,
"...aur yeh choti maa aur chachu..." (and they are my aunt and uncle) pointing at Meera and Vikrant,
"...aur yeh Ishika ke parents hain." (and these are Ishika's parents)
Tanvi greeted each of them with a respectful nod, her smile calm and genuine.
Meera's expression instantly softened.
"Beta, baitho na... khadi kyun ho?"
(Dear, sit down... why are you standing?)
Tanvi quietly sat beside Aarohi and Ishika, her movements graceful and composed, hands neatly folded in her lap.
Meanwhile, without saying anything, Yuvraj casually walked into the kitchen. A few seconds later, he returned with a cold drink and placed it in front of Tanvi.
His gesture was simple-but noticeable.
Meera observed this and exchanged a knowing look with Shweta before speaking warmly.
"You know beta, Yuvraj aur Aarohi tumhare baare mein bohot baat karte hain. Aur sach kahun... tum bilkul waise hi ho jaise unhone bataya."
(You know, Yuvraj and Aarohi talk about you a lot. And honestly, you are exactly how they described you.)
Shweta nodded with a soft smile.
"Yes beta... actually, you're even better than what we imagined."
Tanvi lowered her gaze slightly, smiling shyly.
"Thank you, aunty..."
Before the moment could settle-
"Okay, baatein ho gayi ho toh kaam bhi kar lein?" Yuvraj said casually, folding his arms.
(Okay, now that introductions are done, should we get to work?)
Aarohi immediately jumped up.
"Haan! Chalo mere room mein chalte hain."
(Yes! Let's go to my room.)
Everyone started getting up-
But Tanvi didn't move.
Her eyes shifted slowly towards the elders sitting on the sofa. A small frown appeared on her face, confusion clearly visible.
Komal noticed instantly.
"Kya hua beta? Koi problem hai?"
(What happened dear? Any problem?)
Tanvi hesitated, then spoke softly, her voice polite yet unsure.
"Nahi aunty... abhi Aarohi ne bataya ki yeh Vikrant uncle hain aur woh Arjun uncle..."
Meera smiled.
"Ha toh beta?"
(Yes, so?)
Tanvi looked genuinely confused, her brows knitting together slightly.
"Woh... Vikrant uncle younger brother hain na... par Arjun uncle zyada young dikh rahe hain... isliye confuse ho gayi."
(Vikrant uncle is the younger brother, right... but Arjun uncle looks younger... so I got confused.)
For one second-
Silence.
Then-
Laughter exploded.
Aarohi instantly covered her mouth, bending forward.
Ishika turned her face away, shoulders shaking.
Yuvraj pressed his lips together, trying hard not to laugh.
Arjun leaned back proudly, a smug smile forming on his face.
Manish turned his head slightly, biting his lip to control laughter.
Shweta and Komal looked at Tanvi-her innocent expression making it impossible to react seriously.
But Meera-
She laughed openly, holding her stomach.
Vikrant's face, however, stiffened. His eyes widened slightly before narrowing at everyone around him.
"Dekha! Maine kaha tha na aap buddhe dikhte ho!" Meera said, still laughing.
(See! I told you, you look old!)
Tanvi, completely unaware of the storm she created, spoke again softly-
"Uncle... aap beard ki wajah se thode bade lag rahe ho. Ek kaam kijiye-shave kar lijiye... phir aap Arjun uncle ki tarah young lagoge."
(Uncle, you look older because of your beard. You should shave... then you might look younger like Arjun uncle.)
Vikrant stood up instantly.
Without a single word-
He walked upstairs.
His steps slightly fast. His face... offended.
Tanvi blinked, confused, looking at everyone.
"Pata nahi sab itni beard kyun rakhte hain... Korea mein toh ise unhygienic mana jaata hai. Aur log apni age se zyada buddhe lagte hain."
(I don't understand why people keep beards... in Korea it's considered unhygienic. And people look older than their age.)
Her tone was so innocent...
That Meera immediately leaned closer to her, nodding enthusiastically.
"Bilkul sahi bola tumne! Subah se keh rahi thi main... meri sunte hi nahi. Ab dekho-bezatti karwa ke gaye!"
(You're absolutely right! I've been telling him since morning... he never listens. Now he got embarrassed!)
Within seconds-
They started chatting like best friends.
Meanwhile-
Yuvraj, Aarohi, and Ishika stood there staring at them in shock.
"Yeh itni jaldi bonding kaise ho gayi?" Aarohi whispered.
(How did they bond so fast?)
Yuvraj smirked slightly.
"Talent hai..."
After some time in Aarohi 's Room.
The room was a complete mess of books, snacks, cushions, and chaos.
Tanvi sat properly with her notebook, focused and organized.
Ishika sat cross-legged on the bed, spreading papers everywhere like a mini disaster.
Yuvraj lazily leaned back, writing slowly like he had all the time in the world.
And Aarohi-
Every five minutes-
"Guys snack chahiye?"
A few minutes later-In Hall
Vikrant came downstairs.
Clean-shaven.
But his face... completely sulking. Lips pressed, brows slightly furrowed, eyes avoiding everyone.
Meera immediately noticed and crossed her arms.
"Aa gaye? Maine subah bola tha na shave karne ko... par aapko toh bezatti karwa ke hi karna tha. Ab muh phula ke aaye ho."
(You're back? I told you to shave in the morning... but no, you had to get embarrassed first. Now look at your sulking face.)
Just then, Rudraksh and Nikhil entered, hands full of shopping bags.
Rudraksh stopped mid-step, noticing Vikrant's face. A grin spread across his lips.
"Are chachu, kya hua? Aapne muh kyun phula rakha hai? Choti maa se jhagda hua kya?"
(What happened uncle? Why are you sulking? Did you fight with choti mom?)
Vikrant glared at him sharply.
Before he could reply, Meera jumped in-fast as always.
"Are woh beta... Tanu ne keh diya ki yeh Arjun bhaiya se bade lag rahe hain beard ki wajah se... tab se mood kharab hai."
(Tanu said he looks older than Arjun because of the beard... since then his mood is off.)
Rudraksh burst out laughing.
"Matlab... ek innocent bacchi ne aake poora beard wala swag khatam kar diya?"
(So an innocent girl destroyed your entire beard swag?)
Nikhil shook his head, smiling in disbelief.
"Shut up!" Vikrant snapped, slightly embarrassed.
Then trying to regain dignity, he straightened his posture.
"Sab mera mazaak uda rahe hain! Aur haan-bacchi hai, pyari hai... usne bas suggest kiya tha. Maine apni marzi se shave kiya hai, samjhe sab?"
(Everyone is making fun of me! And yes-she's a sweet kid, she just suggested. I shaved on my own, okay?)
Arjun raised his brows with a smirk.
"Acha? Humein toh kuch aur hi laga..."
(Really? It didn't look like that to us...)
Meera nodded instantly.
Vikrant pointed at Arjun dramatically.
"Aap hamesha mujhe chidhate ho! Sach yeh hai ki main aapse zyada handsome hoon. Bacchi ko beard ki wajah se galat fehmi ho gayi!"
(You always tease me! Truth is-I'm more handsome than you. The girl just got confused because of the beard!)
This time-
Everyone burst out laughing again.
And once again-
The mansion filled with chaos, teasing, laughter... and pure family madness.
After nearly an hour of continuous work, scattered notes, half-eaten snacks, and endless discussions, the assignment was finally complete.
Yuvraj stretched lazily as he stood up, Aarohi immediately grabbing the sheets to double-check them, while Ishika dropped back dramatically on the bed as if she had fought a war.
Tanvi, however, quietly gathered the papers, aligning them neatly, her calm and organized nature standing out even in the chaos of the room.
"Finally done..." Aarohi sighed in relief.
"Let's go downstairs... I'm starving," Ishika added, already halfway towards the door.
The four of them walked out of the room together, their footsteps echoing softly as they descended the staircase.
Downstairs, the house felt even more alive than before.
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, making the environment warm and inviting. In the dining area, Shweta, Meera, and Komal were busy arranging dishes-giving instructions, adjusting plates, tasting food occasionally. Their movements were quick, coordinated, and full of familiarity.
Meanwhile, in the living room, the men were still engaged in their conversation. Arjun and Manish spoke with calm authority, while Vikrant occasionally added comments with expressive gestures.
And then-
There was Rudraksh.
Standing slightly apart, one hand in his pocket, the other moving subtly as he spoke to Nikhil. His posture was straight, composed... effortless. His expressions controlled, yet there was a quiet intensity in his eyes.
Tanvi's steps slowed.
Her gaze... locked onto him.
She didn't even realize when she stopped walking.
Her eyes traced his face unconsciously-the way his jaw moved as he spoke, the calm seriousness in his expression, the way he slightly tilted his head while listening.
Everything around her... blurred.
Voices faded.
It was just him.
And her thoughts.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling settled in her chest-something she couldn't name, something she didn't understand.
Meanwhile-
Yuvraj noticed.
Of course he did.
A slow, mischievous smile spread across his face as he observed her completely lost state. He took a step closer, bending slightly towards her, his voice dropping just enough so only she could hear-
"Cutie pie... aise ghooro mat... sabko shak ho jayega ki you like my brother."
(Don't stare like that... everyone will start suspecting that you like my brother.)
Tanvi blinked.
Once.
Twice.
And suddenly-reality hit.
She turned towards him instantly, her eyes widening, her breath slightly hitching.
"What?!"
Her expression was a mix of shock, confusion, and panic-like someone had just exposed her deepest secret, even when she herself didn't know it existed.
Yuvraj didn't say anything further-he just smirked, clearly enjoying every bit of her reaction.
On the other side, Rudraksh noticed the two whispering. His brows drew together slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he looked at them.
"Kya hua? Tum dono kya baatein kar rahe ho itni dheere dheere?"
(What happened? What are you two talking about so secretly?)
His tone was calm-but his gaze lingered... especially on Tanvi.
Tanvi immediately looked away.
Before things could get awkward, Yuvraj stepped in smoothly.
"Kuch nahi bhaiya... bas yeh keh rahi thi ki jab tak lunch ready nahi hota, we should go for a walk in the garden. So I thought main ise le jaun."
Rudraksh nodded slowly, though his eyes stayed on Tanvi for a moment longer-as if trying to read something on her face.
"Hmm... okay.
Tanvi's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her Scarf.
Her heartbeat... still uneven.
**********************************************************************
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