The Sharma residence was unusually lively that evening.

The hall echoed with conversations, laughter, and the occasional argument that seemed to happen whenever the entire family gathered together.

Vani Sharma sat comfortably on the sofa while her elder sister occupied the seat beside her. Kavya was busy scrolling through her phone, pretending not to listen to the adults while secretly listening to everything.

Just then, the main door opened.

Shreyan walked inside, loosening the sleeves of his shirt.

"Aaj itni jaldi aa gaya?" Vani immediately asked.

Before he could answer, she excitedly waved a photograph.

"Aa hi gaya hai toh yeh dekh."

Shreyan narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Maa..."

He dropped onto the sofa beside her.

"Phir se rishta dekhna shuru kar diya aapne?"

His bua immediately joined the attack.

"Tu yeh sab chhod."

She leaned forward.

"Yeh bata meri dost ki beti kaisi lagti hai."

Shreyan dramatically looked toward the ceiling.

"Bua, pehle yeh batao kaunsi wali."

Before she could answer, he added,

"Wohi Surpanakha wali?"

Kavya burst out laughing.

"Wah bhaiya."

She high-fived him.

"Kya naam diya hai."

"Bilkul suit karta hai."

Shreyan nodded seriously.

"Kaam bhi toh Surpanakha wale hi karti hai."

Kavya almost fell off the sofa laughing.

His bua looked horrified.

"Haye Bhagwan."

Then she smacked Kavya's arm.

"Aur tu."

"Has kya rahi hai."

"Ahhh!"

Kavya rubbed her arm dramatically.

"Maa, maar kyun rahi ho?"

"Waise bhi mujhe bhi Priya pasand nahi hai."

His bua glared.

"Chup."

Vani shook her head helplessly.

"Bas karo tum dono."

Then she once again extended the photograph toward Shreyan.

"Yeh dekho."

"Aur honestly batana."

Shreyan sighed.

Knowing there was no escape, he lazily took the picture.

Kavya immediately leaned over his shoulder.

The moment Shreyan looked at the photograph...

His expression changed.

The teasing disappeared.

The lazy indifference vanished.

For a few seconds he simply stared.

The girl in the picture wore a soft smile.

Nothing flashy.

Nothing dramatic.

Just simple.

Peaceful.

Beautiful.

Kavya's eyes widened.

"Wow."

She looked between the photograph and her brother.

"Bhaiya."

"If anyone deserves to become my bhabhi..."

She pointed at the picture.

"It should be her."

For once, Shreyan didn't reply.

He simply kept looking at the photograph.

His silence said enough.

Vani noticed immediately.

A knowing smile appeared on her face.

She slowly reached forward.

"Achha."

"So itni buri lagi ki bolna hi bhool gaya."

She casually tried taking the photograph back.

"Lao."

"Tujhe pasand nahi toh koi aur dekh lete hain."

Before she could pull it away—

Shreyan's hand unconsciously tightened around the photograph.

The movement was so quick that even he seemed surprised by it.

Kavya immediately covered her mouth.

Trying and failing not to laugh.

Vani looked victorious.

"Achaaaa."

Shreyan cleared his throat.

Suddenly finding the floor very interesting.

"Woh..."

"Bas theek hai."

Kavya snorted.

"Bas theek hai."

Vani nodded dramatically.

"Theek hai toh rehne do."

"Waise bhi tujhe shaadi thodi karni hai."

"We'll find someone else."

Shreyan immediately sat straighter.

"Kya maa."

"Aap bhi."

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

The tips of his ears had turned red.

"Aapko itni hi jaldi hai toh..."

He paused.

"...kar leta hoon."

The room became silent.

Then—

Kavya exploded.

"OH MY GOD."

His bua stared.

Vani looked ready to dance.

Shreyan instantly stood up.

"Mujhe kaam hai."

He turned and started walking toward his room.

Still holding the photograph.

Still looking at it every few seconds.

A smile threatened to appear on his face.

Behind him, Kavya shouted loudly,

"Are bhaiyaaa!"

Shreyan stopped.

"What?"

Kavya grinned mischievously.

"Naam nahi jaana kya?"

The entire family burst out laughing.

And for the first time in years, Shreyan Sharma found himself genuinely curious about a girl he had never even met.

The Narang house felt warmer than usual that evening.

After all, Ruhi had finally come home.

The dining table was filled with food, conversations, and the familiar comfort of family. Her mother kept adding dishes to everyone's plates despite their protests, while her father shared stories from work.

For the first time in weeks, everyone was together.

And naturally, Ruhi was enjoying being the center of attention.

As usual.

She sat comfortably in her chair, completely focused on her food.

"Ruhi."

Her father's voice made her look up.

"Hmm?"

"Kaam kaisa chal raha hai?"

Ruhi nodded while chewing.

"Achha chal raha hai, Papa."

"Office wale bhi theek hain."

Her father smiled.

"Good."

Before the conversation could continue, her grandmother spoke.

"Waise."

Everyone looked toward her.

Ruhi continued eating.

"Tumhare liye bahut achha rishta aaya hai."

The spoon in Ruhi's hand stopped.

Her smile faded.

The table suddenly felt too quiet.

Her grandmother continued.

"Padhai complete ho gayi."

"Naukri bhi mil gayi."

"Iss saal tum teiis ki ho jaogi."

"Ab shaadi ke baare mein bhi sochna chahiye."

A faint clink echoed as Ruhi's spoon slipped from her hand and hit the plate.

Nobody spoke.

For a moment, she simply sat there.

Frozen.

Then slowly she looked around the table.

"Kya..."

Her voice came out quieter than expected.

"Kya aap logon ne mujhe yahan isliye bulaya tha?"

Everyone's expressions changed.

Her father immediately understood where this was going.

"Ruhi—"

She laughed.

A short, bitter laugh.

"Maine padhai kar li."

"Naukri bhi mil gayi."

"Ab meri umar bhi ho gayi."

"So naturally..."

She looked at everyone.

"Ab mujhe shaadi kar leni chahiye."

The hurt hidden beneath her sarcasm was impossible to miss.

"Bas yahi hai na?"

"Ruhi."

Her father spoke gently.

"Tum galat samajh rahi ho."

But Ruhi was already pushing her chair back.

She had barely stood up when her grandmother spoke again.

"Galat kya hai isme?"

Ruhi stopped.

"There is nothing wrong."

"Rishta achha hai."

"Har maa-baap yahi chahte hain."

Ruhi slowly turned around.

Her patience was hanging by a thread.

"Dadi."

She forced herself to remain calm.

"Kya kisi ne mujhse poocha?"

"Kya mujhe shaadi karni bhi hai ya nahi?"

Her grandmother frowned.

"Bade log jo faisla karte hain woh bachchon ke bhale ke liye hi karte hain."

Ruhi laughed again.

This time without humor.

"Main bacchi nahi hoon."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Her grandmother's face hardened.

"Dekha."

"Isi liye kehti hoon."

"Woh ladki ke saath reh kar tum bhi waise hi hoti ja rahi ho."

The moment those words left her mouth—

Ruhi's expression changed.

Completely.

Her eyes darkened.

The anger she had been controlling all evening surfaced instantly.

"Bas."

The single word echoed through the room.

Everyone fell silent.

Her hands clenched into fists.

"You will not say anything about Pakhi."

The room became still.

Very still.

Everyone knew how protective Ruhi was about her.

But this wasn't ordinary irritation.

This was genuine anger.

Her grandmother looked away.

Clearly unimpressed.

Ruhi took a step forward.

"Pakhi ne kabhi kisi ka bura nahi kiya."

"Toh please."

"Unke baare mein kuch mat kahiye."

Before the argument could grow further, her father stood up.

"Ruhi."

His voice was firm this time.

"Apne kamre mein jao."

Then he turned toward his mother.

"And Maa."

"Yeh kaisi baatein kar rahi hain aap."

"Pakhi bhi hamari beti jaisi hai."

Nobody replied.

Her grandmother simply looked away.

Ruhi felt a lump forming in her throat.

She suddenly didn't want to stay there anymore.

Without another word, she turned around and walked away.

The moment she entered her room, she shut the door behind her.

The house outside continued to buzz with muffled voices.

But inside the room, there was only silence.

Ruhi sat on the edge of her bed.

Her anger slowly faded.

Leaving behind frustration.

Confusion.

And exhaustion.

She looked toward her phone lying on the bedside table.

For a moment she considered calling Pakhi.

Just to hear her voice.

Just to calm down.

A small smile appeared despite everything.

Because if Pakhi were here, she would probably hand her a glass of water and say—

"Pehle shaant ho ja, phir drama karna."

And somehow, that thought alone made her feel a little better.