Ruhanika's POV

I don't know what surprise he was talking about...

But somewhere deep inside, I was smiling like a child on her birthday.
Yuvraj always had that power. The power to make my broken pieces feel like art again.
Even when everything inside me still felt like cracked glass.

As we entered the college gates, a strange emotion filled my chest.
I had visited this place once with Dadu... and I remember standing in front of this very building, holding his hand, dreaming...
"One day, Ruhanika... you'll walk into this college with pride."

But I never did.

Because life had its own plans.
Because family politics tore everything apart.
Because I wasn't "wanted" here.

I studied in Jaipur for 4 years.
I built a new life, a new identity. But nothing ever felt like this.

This college wasn't just a building.
It was a chapter I had left unfinished.

"Ruh, wait here..." Yuvraj said, gently tapping my hand.
"I'll go check your documents, okay? You just... stay close."

I nodded, smiling softly. His presence still had that protective feel.
Even when we were surrounded by strangers, his energy felt like home.

I sat on the bench, quietly taking it all in, watching students walk by with books, laughter, life...

And just when I got lost in my thoughts-
"BOOM!"

Someone hugged me tightly from behind.

My reflex kicked in and I almost elbowed them, but the person caught my hand mid-air and laughed.

"Are you gonna kill me, bro? Like seriously?"

That voice.
That laugh.

Twinkle.

I turned around, still stunned.
"Twinkle?! What the hell are you doing here? Are you coming to say goodbye?"

She rolled her eyes like always. "No, dumbo. I'm here to say 'hi' because I'm going to study in this college!"

"What?! You're kidding me-"

"I mean," she smirked, flipping her hair, "I called your Dadu yesterday and told him I want to study here. You know... perks of having rich parents, a great face, and amazing friendship with your grandfather."
She winked.

I was still gaping. "Wait... you mean you're staying here? For real?"

"For one full year, babe," she grinned. "I'm not studying law obviously. God, no. But I'll be around. Like your shadow."

"And your parents agreed?" I raised my eyebrows.

" I'm their favorite. And your Dadu clearly adores me. So, yes. I'm officially in. Welcome to chaos, sweetheart." she said

My heart fluttered.
Not because she was here... but because suddenly, life felt light.

So this was the surprise?
"So this is it..." I whispered.

And just then...

"Yes," a deep voice said behind me.

I turned around. It was him.

Yuvraj.
This was the suprise for my rooh. She is here just for you not for study he said

Ok ...now can we go? I said and he nooded

We walked in through the wide glass doors of the Law Department, me and Twinkle side by side.
And as always, her vibe was all over the place - excited, loud, chaotic, alive.
While I was... silent.
Not sad. Just... still.

The walls smelled of new paint. First years were rushing in, trying to figure out what classroom they belong to.
Posters of "Mock Trial Competitions," "Corporate Internship Drives," and "Cyber Crime Workshops" were plastered on the boards.
But none of it made me feel anything.

I had seen too much to be easily impressed now.

We headed towards the admin block first.
Apparently, there was a new form to fill - a kind of "Re-Registration" for final years.

Name. Semester. Specialisation. Signature.

It was just another paper.
But for some reason, as I signed it, a weird feeling passed through me.

"Final year. Just this year... and I'm out of here."
I muttered under my breath.

"Not without me," Twinkle replied dramatically, resting her chin on my shoulder.
I smiled. "Of course not."

After submitting the form, we moved to the Lecture Hall 3, where our first class was scheduled.

Subject: Family Law II.

Perfect.

Because if there's anything my family taught me, it's everything wrong about family.

I took the corner seat at the back. I didn't want to be seen. Not yet.
Twinkle, of course, sat beside me, pulling out her notepad like a professional spy instead of a student.

A few minutes later, the professor walked in.

A tall woman with silver-streaked hair, wearing a crisp cotton saree and thick black spectacles.
Prof. Kavita Sen.
I had heard of her - strict, sharp, and unfiltered. The kind who doesn't spoon-feed you but throws you straight into the battlefield.

"Good morning, final years," she said, placing her bag down.
"This semester is not going to be easy. This is your Family Law II module. We'll be dealing with divorce, custody battles, adoption, domestic violence, and maintenance rights. If any of you are still thinking like teenagers, you will struggle."

Twinkle blinked at me. "She's intense," she whispered.

But I was focused.
Family law.
Of all things.

I flipped open my notebook, wrote the date, and titled the page "Custody & the Real Meaning of Belonging."

Because that's what I had fought for my whole life.

Class continued for 90 minutes.
Case laws, real judgments, discussions on Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act...
Prof. Sen didn't just teach law.
She made us feel what justice should look like.

It didn't feel like college.
It felt like war.
But I liked it.

After class, we had a 45-minute break, so me and Twinkle went to the law café.
It was buzzing with students. Mostly juniors. But I noticed a few old faces too...
People who once whispered behind my back.
People who once called me "spoiled" without knowing a thing.

But now they looked at me like I had changed.
Like I was unapproachable.

Good.
Then came Lecture 2: Drafting & Pleading.

This one was a bit technical.

Our professor, Mr. Ankur Rastogi, taught us how to draft a legal notice and file a petition under Section 125 CrPC.
He gave us a hypothetical case - a woman abandoned by her husband, fighting for alimony.

We were asked to write the petition draft.

Twinkle groaned, "This is so boring, bro."

But I wrote.

Word by word.
Sentence by sentence.

At around 2 PM, we had our Legal Aid Seminar in the auditorium.

Some NGO was here to talk about internships and casework.
I didn't pay full attention - I was tired. Not physically. Just mentally.

But when one of the speakers said,
"You are not lawyers yet. But your pen has the power to change a woman's tomorrow."

Something inside me stirred.

Because I didn't want to just become a lawyer.

I wanted to become the voice I never had.

By 4 PM, the day was done.

Twinkle and I walked out of the building, hand-in-hand.
She was blabbering something about the boys in the law football team being cute, and I was only half-listening.

But before leaving, I turned around...
And looked at the building one more time.

It didn't feel like home.
Not yet.

But for the first time, it didn't feel like a punishment either.

Yuvraj's POV

As soon as I saw her walking out of the gate, my eyes instinctively softened.

She looked tired. Not just physically-but that kind of tired you feel deep in your bones after pretending all day. Pretending to smile, pretending to be okay, pretending college was just... normal.

I took a few steps forward and pulled her into a quick hug without saying anything.

"How was your first day?" I asked quietly, my voice low and calm.

But before she could even open her mouth, Twinkle's hand flew to my chest, pushing me lightly with an annoyed face.

"First of all, when I'm standing here, don't start all this chipka-chipki," she said, dramatically stepping between us like a protective mom. "You both can cry and cuddle later."

I just rolled my eyes and stepped back a little, raising my hands in mock surrender. Ruhani gave a half-smile but said nothing.

"It was... fine," she finally said after a moment.

She didn't sound excited. Not the way someone sounds after their first day of college. But then again, this wasn't her dream college. It was the so-called family law college. The same family that had broken her and stitched her back with silence.

We walked a little away from the crowd near the gate. I waited for a beat before saying what was really on my mind.

"You're not going to the Khanna Mansion today."

She blinked at me, her face still calm. "Where else would I go?"

"Singhania Mansion. With me."
I kept my tone flat, like it was obvious. Like it wasn't even up for debate.

She didn't react immediately. Just looked at me for a second, like she was reading my face.

"You think I'm leaving again?" she asked, quietly.

And I didn't say anything.

"I'm not," she added. "I don't forget what happened yesterday either. But it's not about running. It's about finishing what they started. If I don't go back now, they'll twist it again. She'll think I'm scared, that I was wrong. I'm not."

"I know you're not," I replied, instantly.

"But I didn't expect it to hurt this much," she said after a pause. "Still. I'm not going to give her that satisfaction."

Twinkle stood beside her, arms crossed, clearly irritated. "I don't even want to talk about this. I've said it before-my answer is the same. Don't go back there. But obviously, you won't listen, so... do what you want."

"Twinkle, Yuvraj-" Ruhanika cut in, softly but firmly, "I'm going. If I don't go today, she'll think she won."

She was walking toward the car, and I followed-silent at first, but my chest was burning.

I couldn't let it slide.

"You're still doing this, huh? Still choosing pride over peace?" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended.

She turned around sharply. "I'm not choosing pride. I'm choosing truth."

"No, you're choosing pain. Again."

Twinkle stood between us instantly, like she could feel the tension about to explode. "Okay, both of you calm down. We're outside the damn college."

But I was done staying quiet.
"Ruhanika, they hurt you. Not once. Not twice. Every time. And you still walk back like it's your duty to forgive them."

She flinched at my tone but didn't look away.
"Because walking away will make them think I was wrong. And I wasn't." Her voice was steady, but I saw the storm in her eyes.

"Let them think!" I stepped closer. "Let them rot in their guilt. Why do you need to prove anything to people who never gave a damn about your truth?"

Twinkle was quiet now. Even she knew this was between us.

Ruhanika looked at me, her jaw clenched.
"Because if I don't stand in that house today, then Aarohi will win. Everyone who called me 'attention-seeking' or 'problematic' will win. And I'll be the story they twisted-again."

I let out a bitter laugh. "So you'll suffer again to prove you're not weak?"

She nodded.
And that broke me more than anything else.
"You're not weak, damn it. But going back to that house... it's like stepping into fire thinking you won't get burned this time."

"Maybe I will get burned. But I won't stay silent while they write their version of what happened." Her voice shook this time.

I looked at her. Really looked.
She wasn't trying to be strong.

She was tired of being misunderstood.
But still-
"What if they break you again?"

She didn't answer for a few seconds.

Then, almost whispering-
"Then at least they'll know they couldn't shut me down forever."

And I hated that she had to be this brave.

I hated that she had to think like this.

But I also knew-

This was her war.

And she wouldn't let anyone else fight it for her.

Author POV

The Khanna Mansion was buzzing in full swing. The decorations were loud, glittering, everything screaming wealth, pride, and perfection. After all, it was their youngest son Yug's birthday-and like every year, it had to be royal, loud, and most importantly, perfect.

Every servant, every corner, every plan was being double-checked.

And in the center of it all, Aarohi stood like a self-proclaimed queen. She had taken over the entire planning since morning-bossing around, giving orders, selecting outfits, finalizing the cake, choosing Yug's tie and even the guest list.

Because Ruhanika was back.

And if Ruhanika was back, Aarohi had to win. At any cost.

It wasn't just Yug's birthday for her. It was her moment to show how much Yug belonged to her-how Ruhanika didn't matter anymore. How seven years of birthdays together had rewritten the equation.

As soon as Ruhanika entered the main hall with Twinkle and Yuvraj, Aarohi's voice got louder-intentionally.

"See this theme, Ruhanika? Yug wanted blue and gold. His favourite. I selected everything-balloons, cake, stage, outfits... It's our thing. We've been doing it together since seven years. I know exactly what he likes."

Ruhanika didn't flinch. She didn't smile either. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were straight.
"Don't try to act in front of me, Aarohi. You know exactly what you're doing."

Aarohi rolled her eyes, brushing off the reply.
"Please. Why would I act with you? Yug himself doesn't want you at this party. We're doing just fine without you, in fact... look how happy he is this year. No drama, no emotional scenes, just fun."

Ruhanika's lips curved into a faint smile. A short one. Real.
"If he's happy, good. That's what matters, right?"

Aarohi froze for a second.
Because she expected fire. She expected tears. She expected Ruhanika to shout, to fight, to beg.But instead, she got... this. A normal response. Like Ruhanika didn't even care.

And somehow... that stung more.

Aarohi tried again. "You weren't here for the last 7 birthdays. But I was. I know how Yug likes to cut the cake before 6, and he hates pineapple in desserts, and he always wears black shoes-even with Indian. Because I remember."

Ruhanika looked at her for a second. Then softly said,
"You remember all that? Then you must also remember... why I stopped coming."

For a second, the noise of the hall dimmed around them.

Aarohi's smirk dropped. Just for a blink.

But then, she fixed her tone again. "Whatever. He's better now. You being around never really helped him."

Ruhanika nodded once. No anger in her tone.
"Maybe. Or maybe he just learned how to survive."

And just like that... she turned away and walked out of the room.
No drama. No scene.
Just... silence.

But Aarohi's eyes narrowed.
"Walk away today," she muttered under her breath.
"Tomorrow, you'll be my target again."

And with that, she rushed to her room, pulling out her phone and dialing a number quickly.
"Hello? Yes. Cancel the cake we ordered for Yug Khanna."

A confused voice answered on the other side.
"Ma'am? It's been ordered since a week ago. Everything's ready. We can't-"

"Just do it, okay?" Aarohi snapped.
"I'll pay double. And if anyone asks, say it was Ruhanika Khanna who gave the cancellation request. Got it?"

She didn't wait for a reply. She cut the call.

Then she looked at herself in the mirror and smirked.
"Sorry Yug," she whispered with a chuckle.
"But I have to do this."

She laughed quietly, satisfied with the damage she was planning.

But what she didn't know...
Someone had heard everything.

Someone had recorded every single word.

And tomorrow-
that "someone" might just hit play at the perfect moment.
When the cake doesn't arrive...
When fingers are pointed...
And when lies come crashing down.

The party was coming.
And so was the storm.

Ruhanika's POV

I had just thrown my bag on the bed and changed into my comfy shorts when my phone vibrated with a notification-
"Incoming Video Call: Family Drama Squad 💥📞"

I didn't even need to see who it was.

I picked it up and boom-5 faces on the screen. Nakul Bhaiya grinning like a devil, Arjun Bhaiya lying like a lazy log, Shraddha Di with her beauty-filter face, Twinkle snacking in the side frame, and Yuvraj... sitting with his arm propped on the table, staring straight into the screen like a watchguard.

"Finally, she picks up!" Shraddha Di rolled her eyes. "The diva of the group finally gives us her darshan."

"Guys, she changed, I swear she changed before picking up," Nakul Bhaiya teased. "Shirt changed, lip balm lagaya, and now she's ready."

"Ughh shut up Bhaiya!" I groaned, laughing as I sat against the pillow. "What now?"

"So?" Arjun Bhaiya smirked. "How's our superstar doing in her super home?"

The screen went awkwardly silent for a beat.

Shraddha Di nudged in softly, "I mean, not that super part, obviously. But how are you, Ruhi?"

I smiled lightly. "I'm fine. Surviving. Just had my first day."

"First day of last year!" Twinkle chimed, throwing a popcorn at the camera. "Bhai log, our girl's gonna graduate!"

"Aur ladke bhi graduate honge," Arjun added with a snort. "Koi naya mila kya?"

I choked on my water.
"EXCUSE ME?!"

But Nakul Bhaiya jumped in, "Aree Arjun, don't ask like that! Directly bolo-who's the new crush? Engineering wala? Law wala? Gym wala?"

Shraddha Di joined too. "Or library wala? Coffee wala? Hostel wala?"

Yuvraj was silent.
Too silent.
I glanced at his frame. His jaw was set. His arm, earlier resting, was now folded tightly. His face? Stone.

And then Arjun Bhaiya dropped the bomb-

"Ya phir koi Yuvraj replacement mil gaya ho toh bata do Ruhi, we won't mind."

"Arjun."
That voice.
Cold.
Low.
Sharp.

All of us looked at Yuvraj.

He wasn't even smiling anymore.

Arjun Bhaiya blinked. "What? It was a joke, bro."

Yuvraj looked directly into the camera. Into me.

"She doesn't need a replacement," he said. "Because some people are irreplaceable."

The call went dead silent.

Twinkle whispered, "Aree someone's jealous..."

Shraddha Di: "Posessive much, Mr. Khanna?"

Nakul Bhaiya: "Matlab bhai, tum toh silent lover nikle..."

I facepalmed so hard.

"Oh my god stop!" I shouted. "Why are all of you like this?! This is why I don't pick up calls!"

"You pick up Yuvraj's calls," Twinkle smirked.

"Aree mujhe bhi block kar diya tha kuch time pehle," Nakul Bhaiya said dramatically. "Only unblocking Yuvraj. Proof hai mere paas."

"I didn't! That was an accident!"

"Yuvraj, was it an accident?" Shraddha Di grinned.

Yuvraj didn't speak. But the little smirk on his lips gave him away.

"Ughhhhh I hate you all."

Nakul Bhaiya winked. "Love you too, Ruhanika.

Shraddha Di pretended to wipe a tear. "Bas yahi din dekhna baaki tha... Our little Ru in her final year. Duniya kitni badal gayi."

I just stared at the screen. "You guys called to tease, right?"

Twinkle was literally glowing. "Aree nai baba, we called to emotionally support you, like emotionally."

"Yuvraj called this meeting, by the way," Arjun bhai added with a snort.

"Wait, what?" I narrowed my eyes.

Yuvraj smirked. "I just wanted to confirm if someone has already cried in her first lecture or not."

"You're all mad." I said, shaking my head and biting back a smile.

"But you didn't deny crying, haan." Twinkle pointed out with a wink.

Nakul bhai: "Aree tell naa, koi senior ne ragging toh nahi ki? Or did someone try to flirt and got roasted alive?"

"Dekho, agar koi ladka flirt kare, toh record bhejna. Arjun ko use block karwana hai college se." nakhul bhai added like he was signing a contract.

I sighed. "You guys are insane."

"We're insane about YOU, baby girl." Shraddha Di said.

"Final year student ban gayi tu... Mujhe dar lag raha hai. Ab toh shaadi ke rishtay bhi aayenge," Twinkle teased.

"Don't even start that topic!" I groaned.

Yuvraj grinned. "Shaadi nahi karna toh bata do, court mein affidavit banwa denge."

I was actually trying to hide my smile now. "Okay, okay, shut up now. Lemme just get coffee and return to class."

"Ek second-black coffee, na?" Nakul bhai asked knowingly.

"Uff yeh black coffee addiction, I'm telling you, this girl is going to open a law firm and a café together." Arjun bhai teased.

"Name it 'Justice & Java', okay?" Yuvraj added and they all cracked up.

I literally ended the call before I laughed too hard and embarrassed myself in public.

As soon as I cut the call, I couldn't stop smiling.

"Pagal log..." I mumbled under my breath and burst into a soft laugh, hugging my pillow.

These people are the best part of my life. Nakul Bhaiya, Arjun Bhaiya, Shraddha Di, Twinkle, Yuvraj... every single one of them.

They didn't just call to ask about college or my so-called "super home"... they made me feel seen. They made me feel like I belong. Even amidst all their teasing, sarcasm, and madness, I felt... loved.

But the moment was short-lived, because just then-

Knock Knock.

I turned towards the door, eyebrows raised. Before I could say anything, the door opened slowly, and there he was.

"Veer Bhai!!"

I literally jumped off my bed and ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Veer Bhai!! Where were you? I missed you so much. Aapko pata bhi hai ya nahi?"

He hugged me back, gently ruffling my hair the way he always used to.
"Main yahin tha, bas... kuch waqt chahiye tha. Aur Vikram bhi aaya hai mere saath. Kal se sab normal hoga."

I blinked, a little taken aback.
"Vikram Bhai... yahan? Par dikh kyun nahi rahe?"

He smiled.
"He's in the guest room. Aaj thoda rest kar raha hai. But I have a surprise for you both. Tumhare liye especially."

I narrowed my eyes, suspicious.
"What surprise?"

"Kal pata chalega."

I folded my arms.
"Yeh 'kal' khel band karo. Aaj hi batao!"

He chuckled, shook his head and said, "Sabra rakho. Chalo ab neeche chalo, dinner ka time ho gaya hai."

I looked away instantly.

"No. Mujhe nahi jaana neeche."

He sighed.
"Ruhanika... kya hua ab?"

I bit my lip and looked at him.

"You know na, the decorations, the birthday preparations... sab kuch ho raha hai uske liye. Mujhe neeche jaake acting nahi karni. I can't pretend I'm okay."

His voice dropped softer.

"But Ruhanika... Yug hugged you in the hospital. He didn't care about anyone watching. He loves you.

My breath caught. His words hit the bruise I was trying so hard to bandage.

I looked down because i know veer bhai dont know what happend yesterday how yug behaved

Veer Bhai just watched me for a few seconds, then nodded slowly.
"Theek hai. Tum jaisa chaaho. Main Vikram bhai ko bulata hoon, hum teeno yahin dinner karenge. Okay?"

I nodded gratefully.
As he left, I sat back on my bed, staring at the faint decorations glowing from the balcony lights outside.

Tomorrow is his birthday.

Rudraansh's POV

We were all sitting on the dining table.
Me. Kabir. Rohan.

The food was there. The lights were dim. Decoration for Yug's birthday was almost done, but the silence on the table was loud as hell.

We were waiting for Veer and Vikram. At least that's what we told ourselves.

But in reality, we were waiting for her.
Ruhanika.

I didn't want to accept it, but when the maid walked in and said,
"Sir, Veer and Vikram sir are having dinner in Ruhanika ma'am's room,"
my fork literally paused mid-air.

And the way Kabir's face dropped? I could see it clearly even in the soft lighting.

"Nice," Rohan muttered under his breath, barely hiding the sarcasm. "Bade bhai log milke dinner kar rahe hai, aur hum yahan decoration dekh rahe hain."

Kabir chuckled, the kind of laugh that's not funny. "Mujhe laga humein important samajhti hai. Lagta hai cousins hi asli bhai hain."

I stared down at my plate, pushing the rice around with my spoon. But inside?

It pinched.

Not because she was with them.
But because she wasn't here.

She didn't even come downstairs. Didn't even try.

"Ruhanika changed a lot," Kabir added, shaking his head.

Rohan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Exactly. Matlab, Vikram and Veer came today and she already served them dinner in her room. Like bro, kya hum strangers hain?"

I didn't say anything, but I could feel it too.
That weird burn in the chest.
That stupid thought that keeps screaming -
She doesn't smile like that around us anymore.

"She hugged Veer bhai," Kabir suddenly spoke again. "In hospital. Tight hug."

Rohan blinked. "You saw?"

"I was there," he nodded. "And she was crying. Hugging him like she found her lost world. Tu mujhe bata, kya kabhi tune usse aise hug karte dekha hai?"

"Nope," Rohan replied flatly, staring straight ahead. "Not me. Not us."

I finally spoke.

"She treats them like... family. Real family."

There was a pause.
And then I added, "And we? We're the people who lost her."

Silence.

Even the clinking of cutlery stopped.

Kabir looked away. Rohan pressed his lips together. And I just felt the air grow heavier.

"She probably told them things she never told us," I whispered. "About her hostel days... her pain... her life... her scars."

"Forget that," Kabir said, his voice low. "We don't even know what makes her happy anymore."

And just then, laughter echoed faintly from upstairs.

Her laugh.

Her laugh.
Loud. Free. Happy.

And all I could do was clench my jaw and stare at the empty seat across the table.

She wasn't ours anymore.
At least not in the way she used to be.

And that hurt more than anything.

Veer and Vikram. In her room. Having dinner with her. Laughing, probably. Sitting on her bed, talking about her college, her life-things we don't even know anymore.

I glanced at Kabir. He was pretending to scroll through his phone, jaw tight, eyes blank.

Rohan wasn't pretending at all. He kept clicking his spoon against the plate, over and over, like he was going to lose it any second.

"She called me Kabir," Kabir said suddenly. "Once. Like I was some stranger at her door."

Silence again.
It was strange.

We were the ones who saw her grow up. We were the ones who sat beside her when she got sick as a kid. We were the ones who picked her up from school when no one else did. We were the ones who were there.

And now... it's them?

"They just came back, and she hugged them like they were her world," Rohan said, voice sharp.

No. She didn't.
Maybe because we weren't there when she needed us the most.

Maybe because when she reached out, we were the ones who pushed her back.

"They get to sit in her room. Laugh with her. Know her life." My chest burned. "And we don't even know what subject she took this semester."

Rohan slammed his spoon down.
"I'm done pretending it doesn't bother me."

I looked at him.

"She's ours," he said.

"She was," Kabir corrected, his voice flat.

I stood up. The chair scraped against the floor.

"They don't get to replace us. I don't care how nice they are. How late they came. They don't get to take our place. We're her brothers."

"But are we?" Rohan asked quietly. "Because right now, she's more theirs than she is ours."

And that line just cut straight through all of us.

Because it was true.

And it burned.
And then suddenly-

"Aree Bhaiya!" Aarohi's voice cut through the silence.

We all looked up.

"How is the decoration?" she asked sweetly. "I did it for Yug... you know how important he is..."

Rohan gave a polite nod. Kabir didn't even look up. I just stayed quiet.

"I know you're angry because... you think I'm jealous of Ruhanika. But I didn't lie in the past, Bhaiya," she whispered, looking directly at me.

Before I could say anything, Rohan replied, firm, "No, we don't think that."

"Oh come on," she laughed nervously, "I'm your sister too. Just like Ruhanika."

That's when Kabir finally spoke.
"No," he said. Cold. Straight. "Ruhanika is our blood sister."

"And we lost her," I added quietly.

Aarohi's smile faltered for a second, but she quickly masked it.
"I'm not here to fight," she said. "I just wanted to help. To be part of this day... that's why I helped with everything."

Rohan leaned back, arms crossed. Kabir gave me a look, like he didn't buy a word.

I cleared my throat. "Aarohi... maybe it was a miscommunication. Maybe we misunderstood... or maybe we were just blind. But we're not trying to fight anymore. We're just trying to fix what we broke."

She nodded. But that look in her eyes... she wasn't done.

"Where is Ruhanika?" she asked, all casual.

"Upstairs," Kabir replied shortly. "With Veer and Vikram Bhai."

"Oh..." Her brows rose. "She's... pretty close to them, na? Not to you guys."

And just like that, she turned and walked away.

Leaving her dagger in the form of a sentence stabbed right between our ribs.

"She's close to them, not to you."

Rohan slammed his hand lightly on the table. "I don't know. Sometimes I feel like aarohi was right because we all saw buries how ruhi looked at her with hatred but now..

Kabir nodded slowly. "They both are our sisters... but we did wrong to Ruhanika. We didn't protect her. We didn't choose her. And when we finally realized it... it was too late."

I stared at the ceiling. "You know what she told me once? She said she doesn't hate us because we let her go. She hates us because we didn't come back. Not even once. Not a single text in seven years."

Kabir swallowed hard. "Papa said-"

"No," Rohan snapped. "When Papa said, and we followed... we lost her that moment."

And that silence again.

Author's P.O.V.

That morning, the mansion didn't just sparkle-it roared with life. The chandeliers danced with golden light. The marble floors looked like mirrors of wealth and legacy. Every corner echoed with laughter, chatter, footsteps of maids in a hurry, and the fresh scent of lilies and sandalwood.

Because today was Yug birthday.

Banners hung across the main hall in soft ivory and royal blue. Fairy lights wrapped themselves around the staircase railings like they were celebrating too. A red carpet led down the stairs, and at the center of it all... was Yug.

He descended the stairs like he owned not just the mansion, but the world.

A smirk playing on his face, suit perfect, attitude sharp.

He walked straight to his parents, bent down, and touched their feet.

"Happy Birthday, Yug. Be happy."
His mother kissed his forehead. His father patted his back with pride.

"Thank you, Maa... Papa," Yug said with a smug smile.

Then came Rudransh, Kabir, and Rohan.

"Happy Birthday. They spoke together.

Yug turned, nodded once. "Thanks, Bhai."
His tone was cold, almost distant. No excitement. No warmth. Just... polite enough.

And then...

She came.

Aarohi.

Gliding toward him in a shimmer-blue dress, eyes filled with fake cheer.
"Happy Birthday, my favorite brother," she said, hugging him lightly. "I'm really so happy for you. And you know the cake we ordered? It's a surprise! My friends are already asking what design it'll be. It's really... so beautiful."

She looked around and blinked.
"Where are Veer and Vikram Bhai?"

It was his dadi who answered casually, "We don't know."

But before anyone could react, Rohanika's Dadu answered without lifting his eyes from the newspaper.
"They're with Ruhanika. In her room."

And that... was enough.
Yug's eyes froze.
Jaw clenched.

"Oh... so they're with her."
He chuckled once, bitterly.
"Guess they didn't even care to come wish me now."

Aarohi blinked fast. "It's not like that, Yug..." she tried in her usual sweet-lie tone.

But Yug turned to her sharply.
His voice had venom now.

"Stop it. Don't take her side now."

Silence fell.

Until Rudransh cleared his throat like a warning.
"Not now, Yug. We don't want a fight. The party starts at 6 PM. We've got work, we'll be there in time. And about Rohanika-"

Yug didn't let him finish.
He raised his voice and declared:
"Rohanika is not coming to the party.
It's MY birthday, Bhai. I will decide who comes and who doesn't.
And Ruhanika will NOT come. That's final.
If she dares to mess up anything tonight, I swear, I won't leave her.

The tone was loud. Cruel. Not just angry-threatening.

And then he walked away. Head held high. Laughing to himself, mocking everything and everyone.
Aarohi watched his retreating figure, her lips pressed tightly.
"I'll go behind him," she muttered, rushing after him.

And slowly, one by one... the hall emptied.

On the other side of the mansion, away from the lights, the music, and the people preparing for celebration... silence had its own corner.

Rohanika sat on the bed, her eyes lost somewhere between the folds of time and memory. Today was Yug's birthday. The boy who once called her his favorite sister... now didn't even want her around.

Veer sat beside her, resting his hand lightly on her shoulder.
"You don't have to go," he said softly. "You know how he is. He'll just create another scene."

Vikram was standing near the window, arms crossed, voice calm but stern.
"It's not your fault, Ruhanika. Just... stay here. Let it go this time. You've already faced too much."

Veer tried to lighten the mood with a gentle smile, "You don't have to pretend you're okay today. Not in front of us."

Vikram added from the corner, "Let the world celebrate. You don't have to join the crowd just because they expect you to. You matter, Ruhanika. With or without their acceptance."

Her throat tightened, but she didn't cry. Not anymore. The tears had dried months ago, and now all that remained was a soft ache in her chest.

Just then, her phone buzzed.

It was a video call from Yuvraj.
She hesitated for a second, then picked it up.

He smiled as soon as the screen lit up.
"Hey, butterfly you're coming to college today, right?"

Rohanika tried to smile back but it barely reached her eyes.
"No, I'm not in the mood today."

Yuvraj's smile faded a little.
"Is it because of Yug's birthday?"

She didn't answer.

There was a pause. Silence stretched between them like a thread that could snap at any moment.
And then Yuvraj, in the softest voice, said, "You don't have to be okay all the time, Ruhi. I understand."

She looked down, blinking away the heaviness.
"I just... I don't want to spoil anyone's mood. And I know I'm not welcome there anyway."

Yuvraj clenched his jaw but kept his voice calm.
"You're welcome with me. Always."

Veer leaned closer to the camera, cutting into the quiet moment between Yuvraj and Rohanika.

"By the way, he smirked, deliberately using that teasing nickname, "no need to stress yourself today. We're here. We'll take care of your Ruhi."

Vikram joined in, voice light but protective, "Haan haan, don't worry. We'll stick to her like bodyguards... emotional ones."

Yuvraj narrowed his eyes a little, trying not to smile. "Bas zyada close mat ho jaana. Bodyguards ke naam pe bonding na ho jaye."

Veer laughed, "Aree... jealousyyyy."

Vikram added, "Tu toh bas video call pe hai bhai... hum toh yaha real presence mein hain."

Yuvraj ran a hand through his hair and smirked dangerously.
"Very funny. But just remember one thing - main Ruhi ke dard ka ilaaj hoon, aur tum dono sirf bandaid."

Rohanika's lips twitched at that line, trying to hide her smile.

Then Yuvraj turned to her again, softer now. "Inform Twinkle, please? Just let her know you're not coming today. I don't want people waiting for you or bothering you."

Veer nodded, "We'll tell her. Don't worry."

"Alright," Yuvraj said finally, but his eyes stayed on Rohanika a moment longer. "Take care, okay?"

She gave him a small nod.
And then the screen went dark.

Vikram shook his head with a teasing smile, "Possessive ho gaya bhai... bandaid bhi insult ho gaya."

Veer added dramatically, "Dil toot gaya mere bhai ka. Bandaid? Seriously?"

And for the first time that morning, Rohanika chuckled... softly, but genuinely.
And that was enough for her brothers.

Even if the world didn't show up for her birthday...
At least, they did.

✨✨ TIME SKIP TO 6 P.M. ✨✨

The entire house was glowing-decorated with fairy lights, flowers, and a grand banner that screamed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY YUG!" Guests had already arrived. Laughter echoed through the hall. The cousins were in full swing-Rudranj, Kabir, and Rohan were already there, cracking jokes, handling relatives, and making sure everything was on point.

Everything was perfect.
Except Ruhanika wasn't there.

Dadu and Dadi tried convincing Yuga again, hoping he would let go of the grudge. But he simply shook his head with a cold face.
"No. I said I don't want her here today. Don't force me."

It was his birthday after all. So they didn't push further.

Meanwhile, in one corner, Aarohi stood with her mother, eyes filled with malicious excitement.

"Today... she'll get blamed again," Aarohi smirked.

Her mother raised a brow.
"You didn't even do anything big, beta. You just canceled the cake order."

Aarohi let out a low chuckle.
"Exactly. That cake was booked a week ago. Everyone will be waiting for it. It was perfect. And now? It's missing. Everyone will think Ruhanika did it. It'll explode on her head without me doing anything."

Her mother chuckled proudly.
"Smart girl."

And then...

Yug walked in, dressed in a sharp black kurta.
Guests surrounded him-cousins, uncles, aunts, and neighbours-all came with warm smiles and gifts, showering him with love and wishes.

"Happy Birthday Yug beta!"
"Handsome lag raha hai tu!"
"Kya baat hai, bada ho gaya humara hero!"

He smiled politely, greeting everyone, taking blessings, hugging the younger.

Then Aarohi approached him slowly, putting on her best sugary voice.
"Happy Birthday, Yug. I just hope Ruhanika doesn't do anything again this time. I know she didn't step out of her room today. Vir and Vikram bhaiya are still home too. So maybe she's staying away."

Yuga looked at her for a moment, his voice calm but sharp.
"She won't. And if she did... I'll handle it."

Aarohi smiled sweetly.
"I'm sure you will."
And turned away, hiding a wicked smirk.

Just then his father called out from the stage.
"Beta, let's cut the cake! Where's the cake?!"

All eyes turned.

Aarohi raised her hand in dramatic worry.
"Mamu... woh... cake hasn't arrived yet."
She looked at her phone.
"I mean it was supposed to be here by now. Something's wrong."

Yug frowned.
Rohan stepped forward.
"Till then, should I call Ruhanika? I mean-"

Yug interrupted him sharply.
"Bhai, I told you. Today is my day. I don't want that girl here. At least not today. Please."

The air turned awkward.
Kabir stepped beside Rohan and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let it go. Ruhanika isn't coming. Forget it."

Aarohi's mother now added to the drama.
"But what happened to the cake? You ordered it one week ago, na? Aarohi told me how beautiful it was going to be! Where is it?"

Aarohi picked up her phone with a sigh.
"I'm calling the bakery right now. I'll make sure to cut their money if they ruined our order."

She stepped aside dramatically, as if everything depended on her fixing this.

But little did they know...

The real twist was still waiting to unfold.

Aarohi came back into the hall, her steps hesitant, worry dripping from her eyes.
Her face was pale, voice low, but loud enough to shatter the moment.

"Mamu... Mami... Bhai... Yug... I-I don't know how to say this..."
She took a breath, dramatically faking the emotion she had rehearsed in front of the mirror.

"...but the cake... it was cancelled."

A collective gasp rang through the room.

Kabir turned toward her, frowning. "What?"

Yug's eyes darkened, his jaw clenched tight. "What the hell do you mean cancelled? Who the hell is that person who dares to ruin my birthday like this?"

Aarohi bit her lip, eyes fluttering innocently. "They said... they said it was Ruhanika."

The entire atmosphere stiffened.

Rudraansh stood up immediately, anger in his eyes- not for the cake, but for the accusation.
"She can't do that. You're having a misunderstanding. She wouldn't."

kabir folded his arms, trying to keep it together. "I agree with Rudraansh Bhai. But Aarohi said she called the bakery in front of me. So either they're lying or..."

Aarohi nodded, putting on her best show of being 'helpless.'
"I'll call again," she said and put the call on speaker.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Then a man picked up.
"Yes, ma'am, your cake order was already ready... but it was cancelled by someone named Ruhanika Khanna. We were told to not deliver it anymore, so we did as instructed. That's the procedure."

Silence.

Dead silence.

Yug's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. His eyes blazed.

"I knew it," he spat. "I KNEW she would do this. But some part of me-some fcking part of me still believed she wouldn't stoop that low."

Rohan stepped forward, voice trying to be firm. "Yug, listen-"

"No, Rohan bhai ! Not today!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "She cancelled my cake. MY birthday cake. Who does that?! How fckiing petty can a person be?"

Kabir took a step toward him.
"Yug, there's something off. Ruhanika-she's not like that. There has to be more. Maybe a miscommunication. Maybe someone used her name."

Yug turned to him, eyes red.

"Oh really, Bhai? And how convenient that she's not even here? And you know what hurts more? She didn't just ruin my day... she proved me wrong in front of all of you. All of you who told me to let her be. She did it. She ruined my fucking day without even stepping inside this house."

Rudraansh's voice was low, threatening.
"Stop. Right now."

But Yug wasn't stopping.

He looked around, arms wide open like he was losing his mind. "Why the hell does she hate me so much? What have I done? You know what-maybe I was right that day. Maybe she IS the attention-seeking girl everyone thought she was. Cancelling a cake? That's not just a prank. That's war."

Rohan's fists clenched.
"You're crossing the line, Yug."

"Oh, don't give me that," Yug snapped. "You weren't the one humiliated today. I was.
Kabir looked down, silently burning. Rudraansh's jaw tightened.

Kabir said "Shut up, Yug! There's something wrong. She can't just cancel the cake without a reason."

Rudraansh said "Exactly. She's not that petty, man. If she had a problem, she would say it. Why would she sabotage your birthday?!"

Yug said : "Oh please! You're all blind when it comes to her. You can't see anything beyond her face and tears. She's selfish!"

Rohan said : "One more word against her, Yug, and I swear I'll forget we are family."

Aarohi said : "Oh wow, just look how everyone's rushing to protect the queen now."

Just then, Aarohi's mother entered, standing beside her daughter.
Because obviously, how can the princess of this house ever be wrong? She's always the victim, right?"

Ruhanika's mother said "This is why I kept saying... don't keep her close to our boys. She's just causing drama!"

Dadu (firmly): "Enough!"
Everyone turned toward him.
"Ruhanika is not someone who plays with emotions like this. There is clearly some misunderstanding. We need to talk to her first."

Yug said "Of course, Dadu. Why wouldn't you take her side? After all, you've always seen her as your own daughter, not me!"

Dadi said "Because she deserves to be heard before judged. We taught her better. I trust her upbringing."

Aarohi's mom said "Exactly. 'Her upbringing'. Just what we needed-girls who ruin celebrations and still become the victims."

Kabir said "You're seriously crossing the line now."

Yug said furiously "Oh so now I'm the villain and she's the angel, right?

Ruhanika's mother stepped forward, her tone sharp and authoritative.
"Rudraansh, Kabir, Rohan - enough of this useless defending! You three will ask her strictly, right now, why did she do this!" Her voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Because she has done this. There is no doubt anymore!"

Everyone turned silent for a moment as her words echoed. She then turned towards the rest of the family, particularly towards Rohan.

"Call Ruhanika right now. We'll deal with her - right here, right now."

Ruhanika's POV

I was sitting quietly with Veer and Vikram on the side sofa, just trying to breathe. My eyes were fixed on the floor, but my mind wasn't still. Nothing inside me was still anymore.

And then I saw her.

Aarohi.

Storm in her eyes, venom in her walk.

She came closer with that same disgusting fake confidence she always wore like a badge.

"You did what you wanted to do, haan?"
"Now you'll walk away like it's nothing?"
"You ruined his birthday."

I slowly stood up, eyes locking with hers. I didn't flinch.

"I haven't done anything, and I am not coming anywhere."

She laughed like I was just an inconvenience standing in her way. Then suddenly, her hand grabbed my wrist - hard.

"You're coming."

That was it.

I yanked my hand back, calmly but firmly.

"Fine. Let's go."
Let's end this damn drama once and for all.

I walked down the stairs beside her, but the silence didn't last.

The moment we entered the living room, the storm hit.

My mother's voice tore into the space, sharp and accusing.
"You think she's innocent?"

My father stepped in - stone-faced, cold, distant like always.
"She cancelled the cake, humiliated the entire family, and still has the audacity to stand silent."

My breath caught in my throat.
But they didn't stop.

"This is not how we raised you," my mother snapped.
"If your dadu-dadi weren't standing behind you like fools, maybe you'd realise your mistakes."

And then came him.

Yug

"You really did this?"
His voice wasn't loud.
It was worse.
It was disappointed.

"You cancelled the cake? On my birthday?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off.
"What were you trying to prove? That you don't care anymore? That you can ruin anything you want just because you're angry?"

His words hit like knives.
He didn't stop.
"Why are you like this, haan?"
"You've changed. You've turned cold. Selfish. You don't even care who gets hurt anymore."

Everyone was watching.

"Yug, I didn't-" I tried to speak. To explain.

But he scoffed.
"Don't say you didn't. Everyone knows. Don't play the victim card again."

"I never played any card," I said, my voice steady, even though my heart was crashing inside me.
"I didn't cancel anything. I didn't ruin anything. And I definitely didn't ruin birthday."

"Then who did?" he shot back.
"The ghost of your attitude?"

A few people laughed in the background
I stood straight and said-

"If ruining a cake is bigger than ruining someone's dignity... then maybe this family's been broken long before I touched it.
"I didn't do anything."
My voice cracked, but I kept speaking.
"I think you all just have a misunderstanding... or maybe..." I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat,
"...you just needed someone to blame."

I looked around at every single face.
Every single one had already decided I was guilty.

And then...
I looked at him.
My Dadu
"You know I can't do this," I whispered, my voice almost begging.

He looked conflicted. He didn't move.
"I know..." he said softly.
"I know you can't do this. There's something we're missing, some misunderstanding-"

But before he could finish, my mother snapped.
"Oh please!" she yelled, stepping forward.
"She's done it. Why are you defending her?"

Her voice rose with every word.
"Did you even think once what you did, Ruhanika? It was your own brother's birthday. You know how much Yug waits to cut that cake."
"You ruined his happiness!"

I shook my head. "I didn't."

Yug.
"Don't even try to act innocent now," he snapped.
"You did this. You always do something or the other when you're not the centre of attention."

My heart stopped.
"You think I'd do this just to be noticed?" I asked, in disbelief.

"I'm not even defending myself anymore, Ruhanika," he said coldly.
"You've changed. You don't care about anyone but yourself."

I turned to Rudransh
"You... also believe this?" I asked, eyes locked with his.

He hesitated.
"I'm trying to understand-"

"No," I interrupted, my voice numb.
"Don't try. Either you believe me, or you don't. Because trust doesn't come with conditions."
"You don't have complete faith in me."

I took a deep breath.
"And maybe I shouldn't be surprised. I never expected you to."

My chest burned.
But I didn't cry.
Not yet.
Aarohi and her mother were watching with smirks they tried to hide.

And Yug?
"I wish I didn't have a sister like you."

"STOP IT!"

A loud voice echoed from the entrance of the living room, and everyone turned around in shock.
It was Veer Bhai.

Standing tall. Angry. Protective.
And for once, everyone actually shut up.

He walked in, his steps firm, his expression sharper than ever.

"You guys really want to blame her again?" he pointed towards me without even blinking, "From the past seven, or maybe ten years, you've all wanted a reason. A reason to humiliate her. A reason to corner her. And today, again?"

His eyes locked on Yug's.
"I swear to God, if one crime is forgiven, I might have already killed you."

Everyone gasped.
Even Yug looked shaken for a second.

But Veer Bhai didn't stop. He pulled out his phone and walked straight to the laptop kept on the dining table.
"Let's play a real birthday surprise, shall we?"

He connected his phone to the screen, and suddenly... a video started playing.
The entire room went silent.

Aarohi.

Talking with someone on phone
"Cancel the cake order. And if anyone calls you, just say Ruhanika Khanna herself cancelled it. Got it?"

I could literally hear hearts drop.

The air had gone still.
Maa gasped. Papa stood frozen. Kabir and Rohan? Speechless.
Yug? His expression? Priceless.

And me?
I just... chuckled.

Slow. Cold. And loud enough for everyone to hear.
I tilted my head toward Veer Bhai, a soft smile dancing on my lips.

"So... this was the surprise you were planning?"

He smirked, proudly.
"Absolutely, my dear sister. You always deserved the truth to shut them all up."

I stepped forward, eyes locked on Yug, whose mouth was slightly open but had no words.

"So... what were you saying, my dear little brother?" I asked, venom in every syllable.