RUHINIKA’S POV

This morning felt… off.

Well, everything in this mansion feels off every day — but today was different. Today, I was going to that place.
The hostel.

With one of my brothers.
So-called Rohan.

I had to bear it. Because if I want to expose Aarohi, I have to face everything. All of it.

I freshened up, took a shower, and checked myself in the mirror one last time before heading to the dining table.

Rohan was already there. Good. The less wandering around I have to do, the better.

I started eating, minding my own business, when Dadu and Dadi came in.
“Good morning, beta,” Dadu smiled.
“Good morning, Dadu. Good morning, Dadi,” I replied politely.

Rohan leaned slightly toward me.
“At what time should we go to the hostel?”
“Just after breakfast,” I said without looking up.

Then Vikram bhai walked in.
“You didn’t go to college today? Are you fine?”
“Bhai, I was going to Twinkle’s project,” I replied. “You know… she got her dream project with her dream producer.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You are  telling the truth, right?”
I looked at him directly. “Why would I lie to you, Bhai?”
“Okay,” he said, backing off.

I finished my breakfast, stood up, and glanced at Rohan.
Let’s go.”

I was leaning against the car, waiting for Rohan, when one of the maids appeared, wringing her hands.
“Beti, Malik is calling you inside.”

Great. Just what I needed.
Another family meeting.

I walked back into the house, and there they were — my father, my mother, Chachu, and Shachi — all sitting together like some council deciding my fate.

Father’s eyes locked on me first.
“Were you going somewhere with Rohan?”

“Yes,” I said flatly. “So what?”

He gave this low chuckle, the kind that always made my skin crawl.
“So… you’re accepting your brother?”

I almost laughed in his face.
“No. I am not accepting them. I’m just doing them a favor — making them a little less guilty for the mistakes they’ve done.”

I took a step closer, folding my arms.
“So? What do you want? And why did you call me here?”

Father finally said, “There’s a rule for you. You have to follow it.”

I raised a brow. “A rule? From you?”
My voice dripped with sarcasm.

Before he could answer, Chachu stepped in, his tone almost… pleading.
“We know we did wrong with you, Ruhanika. Now we want to do right. Just… listen to the rule.”

I crossed my arms tighter. “What? What is this fucking rule, my dear father?”

Mother gasped, “Language, Ruhanika.”

I turned to her with a slow smile.
“I don’t need language lessons from you.”

Then my eyes snapped back to Father.
“Well? Spit it out.”

My father’s lips curled into a smile that wasn’t a smile at all.
“You will spend one day every week with your brothers—four of them—me, your mother, and your cousin sister. Understood?” His voice was smooth, but every word felt like a chain being locked around my neck.

For a moment, I just stood there.
Frozen.
Not because I was scared—no.
Because it was almost pathetic how sure they were that I would nod along.

“What makes you think,” I finally breathed out, my voice trembling only from rage, “that I will agree to this fucking rule?”

The smile on his face twisted into something darker. “You know Ranjeet Randhawa? Where your best friend’s dream project—her modeling—is about to happen?” He leaned forward like he was delivering a gift. “He’s a very close friend of mine. If I say the word, he will make sure your best friend is thrown out. Not just from that project, but from the entire modeling world. Permanently.”

My stomach knotted. “You can’t do this,” I said, my voice sharp but my pulse racing. “I will not let it happen.”

“Oh, you think you can run to Yuvraj?” he shot back instantly. “Your fiancé is not a mafia. This isn’t business. This is an entirely different field. He can’t protect her here. So think about it, Ruhanika. Because of you… your best friend’s dream could vanish overnight.”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. He knew exactly where to strike—exactly which wound to reopen. And the worst part was… he wasn’t even ashamed of it.

“You’re using my best friend as leverage?” I snapped, my voice rising. “For this cheap manipulation? For what? To force me into your little family circus for a day every week? Why? Why the hell do you even want to spend time with me?”

His eyes gleamed with that cruel amusement I hated. “Because you’re still my daughter. And whether you like it or not… you’ll sit at my table.”

And just like that, I could feel the walls closing in. Not because I was weak, but because this wasn’t about me anymore. He had made it about her. My best friend. My sister in everything but blood.

“You are using my best friend… to cheat me into this?” My voice was shaking, but it wasn’t from fear — it was from pure rage.

He tilted his head. “Cheating? No. I’m giving you a choice. One day a week. You sit with your family, have dinner, make conversation. That’s all. In return, your friend’s career stays intact.”

I clenched my fists. “Why? Why do you even want to spend time with me now? You ignored me for years. You made sure I felt unwanted. And now suddenly, you want family bonding?”

He smirked. “Because blood ties cannot be erased. You are still my daughter, whether you like it or not. And your stubbornness has reached a level I will no longer tolerate.”

My jaw tightened. “This isn’t bonding. This is blackmail.”

“You can call it whatever you want,” he said smoothly. “But the clock is ticking. Ranjeet’s agency is finalising the shoot dates this week. If you say no now, I can make a single call tonight and your friend’s career will collapse before she even starts.”

My chest was tight. He was forcing me into a corner, leaving no air, no space to breathe.

“This isn’t just about me,” I said. “You’re dragging an innocent person into this.”

He shrugged. “Then save her. All it takes is one day a week.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. If I said yes, I’d be walking into his trap, letting him control me again. If I said no…her dream would be over.and I’d never forgive myself.

“Tick-tock, Ruhanika,” he said softly, with that same wicked curl of his lips. “What’s it going to be?”

Before I could even answer, a sharp voice cut through the tension.
“What the hell is going on here?”

I turned, my heart skipping — Rohan. He stood at the doorway, eyes darting between me and Dad, his jaw tight.

“Stay out of this, Rohan,” Dad said coldly.

“No. I heard everything,” Rohan stepped forward, his glare locking on Dad. “You can’t do this. You’re blackmailing her.”

“I’m not blackmailing—”

“Yes, you are!” Rohan’s voice rose. “If she doesn’t want this relation, don’t force it. Haven’t you done enough already?”

Dad’s tone hardened. “This is for her own good. She doesn’t understand—”

“She understands perfectly!” Rohan snapped. “And you know it. You just don’t like her answer.”

“Rohan…” I whispered, torn between relief and dread.

But Dad wasn’t backing down. “This family’s reputation—”

“Stop hiding behind that word!” Rohan’s voice cracked. “You abandoned her when she needed you most, and now you think you can dictate her life?”

I looked at Rohan. He was still arguing, still defending me, but… I closed my eyes.

“Yes,” I said quietly.

Silence.

Rohan turned to me like I had stabbed him. “No. No, Ruhanika, you can’t—”

“It’s fine,” I whispered, forcing my voice steady.

“It’s not fine!” he stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. “He’s just blackmailing you, can’t you see that? You don’t have to do this!”

But I had already spoken. My yes hung in the air, sealing everything.

And in that moment, I felt the weight of chains I couldn’t see.

Dad’s voice was unusually soft this time.
"That’s like my daughter," he said, nodding. "So, you’re going somewhere with Rohan? You can go."

I straightened instantly.
"No. I’m not going anywhere with him today. I’m going somewhere else."

His eyes hardened. "You have to follow the rules. You have to behave like a daughter. A perfect little daughter. Understood, Ruhanika?"

I turned sharply, my voice slicing the air.
"You’re just doing this to make your guilt lighter. But it doesn’t bring back what I’ve already lost for you… as a father. That feeling is gone. And about this ‘condition’ you’re putting on me… I will hate you for it. I will hate you more than I already do."

I shifted my gaze to my mother.
"You never took a stand for me. You never loved me. And I know all of this is happening because of you. Because you can’t stand the fact that your daughter is not your puppet anymore."

And then my eyes found Rohan.
"We’ll go to the hostel some other day."

His brows knitted. "Ruhanika, say no. It’s not important. We’ll find another way—Twinkle will not—"

"Please… leave me alone." My voice cracked, not from weakness, but from the weight of everything I was holding back.

And without giving anyone a chance to speak again, I stormed out.

After storming out of the mansion, I didn’t even realize when my car stopped in front of his building.
Yuvraj company.
My safe place.

I didn’t even think twice. I just walked in — ignoring the confused receptionist, ignoring the stares.
I threw the door to his office open. He was at his desk, sleeves rolled up, eyes on some file. And the moment his gaze lifted to mine—everything in me broke.

"What happened, Butterfly?" His voice was calm, but his eyes… they were already searching my face, catching every tremor in it.

I didn’t answer. I just crossed the room and hugged him — hard. My arms around his neck, my face buried in his chest like if I let go, I’d collapse right there.

He froze for a heartbeat, then his arms wrapped around me, holding me so close I could feel his breath in my hair.
"What happened, hmm? Are you okay? Did something happen?"

The words tumbled out of me. I told him everything. About the rule they set for me. About how he —  threatened me with Twinkle’s modeling career. About how he said one wrong move from me and Twinkle would lose her dream project.

His jaw tightened as I spoke, but he let me finish. And when I did, he cupped my face in both hands.
"You don’t have to do this, Ruhanika. . I’ll make everything right. I know I’m not in their  team, but I can make things work. And about Twinkle — if she finds out, she’ll also say no to you."

I shook my head, my voice breaking.
"No, Yuvraj… Twinkle has done so much for me. And this… this is her dream project. She’s waited years to work with her dream producer, Ranjit Randhawa. How can I force her to walk away from that? I can’t do this to her."

"You don’t have to spend one day with everyone, Butterfly. You’re not a puppet anymore. Twinkle will understand — I’ll just make a call."

"No!" I grabbed his hand, holding it against my cheek. "She can’t find out about this. Please… for me."

For a second, he just stared at me, his thumb brushing my skin like he was memorizing the feel of it. Then he pulled me against him again.

"Fine," he murmured against my hair. "But don’t you dare think you’re alone in this. Whatever storm they try to throw at you — I’ll be the wall they break against."

His arms tightened around me, like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go even for a second. My face was pressed into his chest, breathing in the warm, familiar scent of him, and it was the only thing keeping me from shattering completely.

“You’re mine, Ruhanika… and no one gets to decide your life but you,” Yuvraj’s voice was low, raw, almost trembling with the rage he was holding back. His thumb brushed my cheek, catching a tear before it fell, and the way he looked at me made my heart ache in the most beautiful, painful way.

“If they push you… I’ll pull you harder,” he whispered, voice like a vow. “If they threaten you… I’ll protect you harder. And if they dare to take you away from me… I’ll burn the whole damn world down until I find you again.”

My throat tightened, my tears spilling faster, but this time not only from pain—it was from the overwhelming force of how much he loved me. My hands curled into his shirt, and before I could say anything, his lips brushed the corner of my mouth, hesitant yet desperate, as if asking for permission he already knew I’d give.

The kiss that followed wasn’t rushed—it was slow, lingering, tasting every bit of my pain and turning it into something warm, something safe. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, holding me there, not to trap me but to tell me I was home.

When he finally pulled away, barely an inch, his breath was shaky. “Say no, Ruhi… please,” he murmured, his thumb caressing my jaw. “Not for me. For yourself. Because you deserve more than a life you never chose.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing my voice to be steady even when my heart felt like it was falling apart.
"I will fight, Yuvraj… maybe God has given me this path for a reason. Maybe this is how I can expose them," I said, my eyes locking into his like I was looking for permission to breathe.

But he shook his head instantly, his hands gripping my shoulders.
"No… you don’t have to do this, Ruhi. You’re already breaking apart. I’m not going to watch you destroy yourself just to expose them."

"It’s okay, Yuvraj…" I whispered, trying to smile despite the tears threatening to spill. "I’ve been through worse. I’ll fight this again. I’m not scared anymore."

He exhaled slowly, like he was trying to accept that nothing could change my stubbornness. "Fine… if this is what you want, then I’m with you. Always."

He studied my face for a moment before asking softly, "You didn’t go to college today?"

I bit my lip. "I… I wasn’t feeling well. And then the drama happened, so I just rushed here."

His brows furrowed slightly. "Your college life was good in Jaipur. Here, you’re not even able to continue your studies properly."

"You’re right," I admitted with a small sigh. "But that’s okay… I still have you."

That made him smile — the kind of smile that always made me feel like I belonged nowhere else but here. Without a word, he pulled me into his arms again, holding me against him so tightly that I could hear the uneven rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I swear you’ll drive me insane one day," he murmured against my hair.

"Already doing it," I teased, smiling against his chest.

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, a mischievous glint there now. "You came all the way here just to see me, didn’t you? Admit it."

"Hmm… maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to interrupt your boring meeting," I smirked.

"Boring meeting?" he repeated, narrowing his eyes playfully before leaning in close, his breath brushing my cheek. "You do realise you’ve ruined my concentration for the rest of the day, right?"

"Good," I whispered, my hands sliding up to hook behind his neck. "Now you’ll have to think about me instead of your files."

"Trust me, Ruhi… that’s all I ever do," he said before pressing his forehead to mine. The air between us thickened — that charged, breathless moment where his touch lingered a second too long, his thumb tracing along my jaw like he was memorising me all over again.

"You’re trouble," he whispered.

"And you love it," I shot back.

His lips curved into that sinful half-smile before he finally closed the distance, his kiss slow and deep, the kind that made my knees weak and my heart race in the same breath. His hand cradled the back of my head, holding me like I was the only thing anchoring him to this world.

And for that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the fight. Not the pain. Not the world outside his office door. Just us.

Yuvraj’s POV

She was holding me so tightly… like she never wanted to let go.
And honestly? I didn’t want her to. Not now. Not ever.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, her father’s so-called choice kept echoing like poison.
What the hell does he want from her now?
Why can’t they just let her live?

I wish I could go to her  mansion… live there with her… protect her from every single person who looks at her wrong.
But I know I can’t.
And that kills me.

And then there’s this whole dream project of Twinkle’s.
I can’t give Ruhanika another option. I don’t have modelling contacts. I don’t have a way in. I have nothing.

And it’s eating me alive… knowing she’ll have to spend her special time in that suffocating place, around those same fucking assholes who’ve hurt her.
And I can’t do a damn thing about it.

She pulls back, her eyes searching mine, and says softly,
"Okay, Yuvraj… I’m leaving."

And I just stand there, hating myself for letting her go… when every part of me is screaming to pull her back

I frowned, stepping closer. “Rooh, I’ll drop you.”

She shook her head, almost guilty. “No, Yuvraj… I’ve already wasted your time.”

My voice softened but my grip didn’t loosen. “Rooh… you can’t waste my time. You know this, right? My baby…”

She looked down, her voice breaking just a little. “I know… but you have your own life too. How much time will you keep giving me like this? You have your own tensions… and I just bring another one. I never bring happiness.”

That was enough.
I slid my arm around her waist and pulled her against me, my tone sharp yet full of love.
“Shh.… Butterfly you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My life’s biggest happiness. Don’t you dare say you bring only tension. You bring me peace. You make my life complete.”

Her lips parted in a tiny gasp, and I leaned in, holding her tighter. “And don’t you ever forget that.”

“Okay…” she whispered, “but—”

I didn’t let her finish. I pulled her even closer, close enough for her breath to hitch against my chest.
“I love you, Rooh. I love you so much… you can’t even imagine how much.”

Her eyes softened instantly. “I love you too, Yuvi… it’s just my overthinking.”

I brushed my thumb along her jaw, smiling faintly. “Then I’m here for your overthinking. Your personal over-explainer is right here.”

Her brows arched slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Do you want to eat ice cream?”

I smirked. “Only if it’s with you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do your work. Don’t waste time.”

“I don’t waste time with you, Rooh,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I love spending time with you. There’s a difference, darling.”

She finally smiled, a soft blush tinting her cheeks. “Fine… if you want.”

I grinned, still holding her hand. “Then let’s go to the ice cream parlour, baby.”

Her voice was a quiet, happy murmur. “Sure.”

We finally reached the ice cream parlor, the air between us still buzzing with that lingering sweetness from the way she’d been clinging to me a few minutes ago. I opened the door for her, my hand brushing against the small of her back just enough to make her glance at me with that soft, shy smile I’d kill to see every day.

Inside, the place smelled like pure nostalgia—chocolate, caramel, the faint hum of vanilla in the air. I turned to her with a grin.
“So, madam,” I drawled, leaning casually on the counter, “which ice cream flavor do you want?”

Her eyebrows knitted together instantly, lips pouting in that way that made my heart do an embarrassing little flip.
“You don’t know my favorite type of ice cream?” she asked, like I had just committed the greatest sin in her personal history.

I smirked, pretending to think. “Hmm… I think it’s vanilla, right?”

Her glare could have melted the entire freezer. “No! you really don’t know my favorite flavor?”

I faked a guilty wince. “I’m sorry, Ruhanika… I forgot.”

The way her face fell made me instantly regret teasing her. She crossed her arms, trying to act unbothered. “Okay fine… I’m waiting. Go get whatever you want to.”

I bit back a grin, walking to the counter, because of course I remembered. I could never forget. A few moments later, I walked back with a perfectly swirled scoop of butterscotch—her actual favorite—balanced on a crunchy waffle cone.

“Madam,” I said, placing it in her hand like it was a crown jewel, “your favorite. Butterscotch.”

She blinked at it, and I caught the way her lips curved before she tried to hide it. “So… you were teasing me?”

I leaned a little closer, my voice dropping to that teasing whisper that always makes her breath hitch.
"You seriously thought I’d forget? Ruhanika, I could forget my own name before I forget yours… or the way your eyes light up when you eat butterscotch."

She bit her lip, trying to fight her smile, and muttered, “You’re impossible.”

“Mm, maybe,” I said, sliding the cup toward her, “but I’m yours. And that’s even worse for you.”

The first spoonful went into her mouth, and God, I swear the way her lashes fluttered shut, I was jealous of ice cream. She didn’t even realize I was watching her like a complete fool—memorizing the way she hummed softly at the taste, the way her lips curved around the spoon.

“Stop staring like that,” she murmured without looking up.
I grinned. “Can’t help it. My girl’s enjoying something I got for her… and she’s looking like she belongs in a romance ad.”

She chuckled, shaking her head, but I caught the faint sparkle in her eyes.
The spoon paused in her hand, and before she could take another bite, I plucked it away.
“Hey!” she protested.

“Sharing is caring, remember?” I said, taking a slow, exaggerated bite, never breaking eye contact.
She gasped, pretending to be offended. “You thief!”
I leaned closer, licking a bit of ice cream from the corner of my lip, and said in that low tone meant only for her,
“Only from you, Ruhanika. Everything else in this world—I can leave. But not you.”

Her breath caught. She looked away, but I saw it—the way her fingers gripped the cup just a little tighter, as if holding on to me.

Then she looked at me with that mischievous spark in her eyes and said, “I have taken a photo… and I will upload it.”

I leaned back in my chair, smirking. “Sure, darling.”

We got up, and I automatically walked to the passenger side first. Opened the door for her like always — I don’t know why, but something about these small things made me feel like she was mine in ways no one else could understand.

“Feeling good?” I asked as she sat inside, her dress slightly brushing my arm.

“Yeah,” she smiled, sliding in and buckling her seatbelt. “Because of you. I’m always happy with you.”

That single line… it just hit somewhere deep. I closed the door slowly, walked around, and got in. She was already unlocking her phone, that determined little look on her face.

And then she did it — posted the picture of us from the ice-cream parlor. No filters, no edits. Just us.

“Now,” she grinned, “the unedited drama in my house… and I would love to enjoy it.”

“Ruhanika, don’t.” I glanced at her, half amused, half worried.

“I love drama, you know,” she said without missing a beat. “I know sometimes I get hurt, but I love this.”

She looked out the window, like she could already see the chaos brewing in her mind. “Rudransh, Kabir, Yug, Aarohi… they don’t know about the rule. I’m sure they’ll get it tonight. Even Dadu and Dadi don’t know. There will be a lot of drama.”

I kept my eyes on the road. “What about Veer and Vikram bhai?”

“No, nobody knows,” she said simply. “There will be drama, but it’s fine. Now I will make sure that this rule… my father will regret every day.”

I didn’t reply for a second, just let her words sit there. She was fire — the kind of fire that didn’t just burn, it made you want to touch it even if it hurt.

“So… whom will you go with tomorrow?” I asked casually.

“Rudransh. With Rudransh Khanna.”

I nodded once. “Okay.”

The rest of the drive was quieter, but not in a bad way. My hand rested on the gear, hers on her lap — just close enough for our fingers to graze every time I shifted.

When we reached her place, I got out, came around, and opened her door again. She looked at me for a moment — that slow, knowing look — before stepping out.

“Goodnight, Yuvraj,” she whispered, her voice gentle but loaded with the kind of warmth that could make a man forget the world.

I leaned closer, my hand brushing against hers on the seat. “Not just goodnight, Ruhanika… I like ending my nights knowing you’re safe and smiling.”

Her breath hitched ever so slightly, and she smiled — that slow, teasing smile she gave only when she was caught between blushing and challenging me. “I am smiling… and safe… because of you.”

I wanted to kiss her — God, I wanted to — but instead, I let my thumb gently graze her knuckles and murmured, “Go inside before I change my mind and don’t let you go at all.”

Her lips curved into the kind of smile that promised trouble later. “And what if I don’t want you to let me go?”

I smirked, shaking my head slowly, eyes locked with hers. “Then you’re playing a dangerous game, princess.”

She gave me one last lingering look, then opened the door, stepping out gracefully. Just before closing it, she bent slightly, peeking in. “Text me when you reach home. And Yuvraj…”

“Yes?”

Her voice softened, almost trembling with an unspoken emotion. “Thank you. For tonight. For… everything.”

And before I could answer, she was walking up the driveway, her phone still in hand — probably already planning her next bit of ‘drama.’

I sat there for a moment, watching her disappear inside, my chest heavy with something far deeper than I cared to admit out loud.

Author POV

The soft click of her heels echoed against the marble floor as Ruhanika stepped into the grand hall, her eyes instantly finding the familiar face that always managed to soften her heart — her dadu.

"You returned!" he exclaimed, his wrinkled eyes lighting up with relief.

"Yes," she replied with a faint smile, just enough to reassure him, though her gaze didn’t miss the stiff figure approaching from the other side of the hall.

Her father’s voice cut through the air, sharp and laced with accusation.
"So, you didn’t go with Rohan because you wanted to spend time with your so-called fiancé, didn’t you?"

Her spine straightened. No hesitation. No flinching.
"Do you have any problem with that? He is my fiancé. I can do anything with him."

A murmur of surprise went around the room — boldness like that wasn’t something anyone dared to use in front of him.

"Not now," her dadu interrupted firmly, his tone a warning aimed at her father. Then he turned to Ruhanika with a softer look. "Come, beta, let’s eat dinner."

Her father smirked, stepping back only to twist the moment to his advantage.
"Sure," he said lightly. Then, raising his voice just enough to carry across the hall, he announced, "But before that — there is something I want to tell everyone. Please, call everybody here."

Within minutes, the entire family was gathered around the long dining table. The silverware gleamed under the warm lights, but the tension was colder than steel.

The clinking of cutlery and murmurs in the hall stilled the moment her father’s voice rose above them.
“Ruhanika will spend one day with everyone in this house,” he announced, looking around as if sealing a deal. “And she has agreed to it.”

The air shifted instantly. Her dadu’s eyes narrowed, his grip on his walking stick tightening.
“You must have blackmailed her,” he snapped, his voice ringing with authority. “She would never agree to such nonsense on her own.”

Dadi’s face was pale but her tone was firm.
“This is not care, this is punishment. She has already suffered enough in this house. Why force her into something that will only remind her of old wounds?”

Her father leaned back in his chair, unaffected, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
“Old wounds or not, she needs to ‘reconnect’ with her family. And this is the best way. A day with each person. No excuses.”

“Reconnect?” Dadu’s voice cracked with disbelief. “Or is it your way of controlling her, humiliating her all over again?”

“Father, you’re overreacting,” her father replied sharply. “This is for her own good. And she has agreed, I told you.”

“Because you left her no choice!” Dadi’s voice trembled now, but not with fear — with anger. “You think we don’t see how you corner her? You’ve always done this. Always.”

Across the table, Rohanika stayed still, her gaze fixed on her plate, but her voice cut through their argument like steel.
“Enough. I will manage it.”

Her dadu turned to her, his eyes softening instantly. “Beta, you don’t have to—”

“I said I will manage it,” she repeated, her tone low but steady. She finally looked up, meeting her father’s eyes. “And he will regret giving me this rule. Forcing me into this will be his mistake, not mine.”

Her father’s expression faltered for just a second before settling back into arrogance.
Her dadu and dadi exchanged a look — part fear, part pride. They knew her words were a promise. And a warning.

Rudransh’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptly, eyes narrowing at his father.
"Dad, what is this nonsense?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the murmurs around the table. "You already know how she feels about all of us. Why are you forcing her into something that’s only going to make it worse?"

Kabir’s arms folded across his chest, his gaze equally hard. "Exactly. You think one day of pretending will magically erase years of what happened? This isn’t reconnecting, this is cornering her."

Her father’s face stiffened, but he didn’t back down. "Cornering her? I’m giving her an opportunity. She needs to make an effort to bond with this family again instead of holding grudges forever."

"Bond?" Rudransh almost laughed, but it came out as something closer to a scoff. "You really think this is how bonding works? You set rules like she’s a child, you put her on display like some… guest to be managed, and then you expect her to magically ‘love’ everyone here?"

Her mother spoke up then, voice firm but laced with that calm, patronizing tone she always used. "She’s our daughter, and this is her home. Whether she likes it or not, she belongs here. And if she’s going to stay here, she has to reconnect with everyone."

Kabir’s jaw tightened. "She’s not a piece of furniture you can ‘place’ in a room to match the décor. She’s a person. And honestly, she doesn’t owe anyone here that reconnection—"

"Kabir!" her father snapped, slamming his hand lightly on the table. "Enough. This family is falling apart because of all this distance and coldness. I won’t sit by and watch her drift further away. This—" he gestured around the table—"—is for her own good."

"Her own good?" Rudransh’s voice rose. "Or for your ego? You can’t handle the fact that she’s happier outside this house than she is inside it. That’s what this is about."

Her father’s eyes hardened. "Watch your tone, Rudransh."

But Ruhanika’s calm voice cut through the tension like a blade. "It’s fine." She didn’t raise her voice, yet somehow the entire table fell silent. She sat straighter, her chin high. "I’ll do it."

Her dadi instantly shook her head. "No, Ruhanika. You don’t have to agree to this. They’ve clearly pressured you—"

"Dadi," she interrupted, her voice still steady, "I said I’ll do it. If he thinks making me spend a day with everyone will change something, then fine. Let’s see what happens." Her gaze flicked briefly to her father, sharp as glass. "But remember this—I won’t pretend. I won’t fake smiles or play nice to make anyone comfortable. And when this little ‘rule’ backfires, it won’t be me regretting it."

The silence that followed was heavy—so heavy it almost pressed against the walls.

Rohan’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Do you all even know how low he went?” He didn’t look at her—he looked straight at the rest of the family, his jaw tight. “Dad threatened her with Twinkle’s dream project. Said if she didn’t bend, he’d ruin it. He used her love for someone else’s dream as a leash.”

The room froze. The weight of his words pressed on every chest. Rudransh’s eyes widened, Kabir’s fists curled against his thighs.

“What the hell?” Rudransh’s voice was sharp, almost shaking. “You blackmailed her? With something that wasn’t even hers to lose? That’s beyond cruel, Dad.”

Kabir’s tone was colder, quieter—but far more dangerous. “And then you expect her to ‘reconnect’? She’s been surviving your damage for years. You can’t demand a relationship you’ve already burned to ash.”

Their mother tried to step in, her voice a mix of pleading and authority. “She’s still our daughter. We can’t keep living like this, divided into sides. At least try to talk—”

Rudransh cut her off, his anger finally boiling over. “Talking doesn’t fix years of betrayal, Ma. You both keep acting like if we shove her hard enough into the family circle, she’ll magically forget everything. She won’t. And she shouldn’t.”

Her father’s face darkened, but he tried to mask it with control. “We did what we had to do. For this family.”

“No,” Rohan snapped, finally looking at her for a second before turning back to their father. “You did what you wanted. Don’t drag the word ‘family’ into your power games.”

Aarohi had been quiet the whole time, her eyes darting between Ruhanika’s father and the others who were clearly taking her side.
And then, in that oh-so-sweet voice of hers — the one she used like a weapon — she finally spoke.

"Mamu… I think you did the right thing," Aarohi said softly, as if she was defending justice itself. "Sometimes, elders have to take strict steps for our own good. And if that project was making her… distracted or away from the family, then maybe it was necessary. After all, family should come first… right?"

Her tone dripped with fake warmth, but her eyes glimmered — not with love, but with the satisfaction of pushing Ruhanika into a corner.

She turned to Ruhanika, putting on that fake cousin-sister concern.
"Ruhi… I know it must have hurt, but maybe Mamu just wanted you to focus on repairing bonds with us first. If you reconnect with family, everything else — your dreams, your projects — will fall into place later. You just… have to trust him."

Her father’s lips curved into a smug smile, almost as if Aarohi had validated everything he’d been saying all along.
"See?" he said, gesturing towards Aarohi. "Even Aarohi agrees with us. She understands family values. She wants you to reconnect with your sister and with us. This is not about control — it’s about love."

Her mother chimed in too, her voice sharp but disguised as caring.
"Exactly, Ruhanika. Aarohi  she understands. Why are you so stubborn? Why do you want to keep this distance? We just want you back in the family, and this is the only way."

Aarohi gave a small, fake nod, the picture of innocent loyalty — but her words had already been a knife, disguised as a hug.

And then came the explosion.

Veer’s voice cut like a blade.
"Tauji, enough. We’ve seen her for seven years. We know how she’s held herself together when none of you were here. We know how she managed every insult, every whisper, every lonely festival. And now… now you want to force her into this circus just because you’ve suddenly decided to play family?"

Vikram slammed his palm on the table.
"Do you even understand what you’re doing? You’re asking her to smile, sit, and pretend nothing happened — for your convenience. You didn’t see the nights she cried alone, the mornings she still got up and faced the world without anyone’s hand on her shoulder. And now you’re lecturing her on ‘family’?"

The air felt thick. Tauji’s face darkened, Taiji’s lips pressed into a thin line. But Veer wasn’t done.
"She’s not an object you can pass around like some emotional obligation. She’s our sister — and she’s not going to be your token for proving this family’s fake unity."

Vikram’s voice dropped lower, but sharper.
"If you think we’ll let you drag her into this mess without saying a word, you’ve forgotten who we are."

The room was heavy with silence, but the damage was already done — words that couldn’t be taken back had been thrown like daggers, and everyone knew the wounds would sting for a long time.

Vikram stepped forward, his voice sharper, almost shaking with the anger he rarely showed. "You think she’s some object to pass around? Do you even realise what you’re doing to her? Or is your ego too loud to hear her silence?"

Her father’s jaw tightened. Her mother looked away, her lips pressed into a thin line. But the cousins didn’t stop.

"She’s not weak," Veer went on, "but every strong person has a breaking point. And you’re pushing her right to it. For what? Tradition?"

Vikram’s glare moved between both parents. "If this was about love or family, you wouldn’t have to force her."

The room was thick with their words, sharp enough to make everyone’s stomach churn.

Then Veer looked at her, softer now. "Ruhanika, come with us. We have to talk."

She didn’t hesitate. She got up, keeping her expression unreadable, and walked out with them.

Behind her, she heard her father’s voice again—calm but commanding.
"Ruhanika will spend her first day with you, Rudransh. I hope you… maintain a relationship with her."

And just like that, the meeting was over. People stood up, muttered their goodbyes, their faces a mix of helplessness and resignation. No one could do anything