Baaton mein uske ek tinka bhi taana hota hai,

Par har taane ke peeche chhupa afsaana hota hai.

Jo ladta hai sabse zyada, wahi chaahta bhi toh hai,

Raabta yeh kuch aisa hi deewana hota hai

Happy Reading

Izna's POV

We finally reached home. Ezra, Agni, and I came back together. Rakshit bhai dropped us off. Kiaan and Ayush had gone to the university to check how the construction work was going

As soon as we entered the house, we saw that everyone was sitting in the hall. Maa was there, along with Dipti chachi, Bua, Chachu, Babasaheb, Atharv, and Daksh. It was evening, so the whole family had gathered, probably to have tea or just talk together

The moment I saw all of them together, a wave of nervousness hit me. My footsteps slowed down a bit. Something about their expressions told me that a serious discussion was either happening or about to start.

My heart started beating faster. I could feel that classic tension in the air. Family drama incoming!

"Ohh yeh lo maharani aagayi" Amrita bua said sarcastically

(Ohh look the queen has arrived)

Oh god please save me, protect me, zameen devta khajayi mujhe

(Mother land eat me alive)

I gave a half-hearted smile, trying to brush off Bua's sarcasm, but my throat had gone dry. Ezra gently squeezed my hand, a silent reassurance. Agni, as always, stayed poker-faced, but even she looked a little too still

"Come inside and sit kids" Maa said. We all nodded our head and got seated

"Where are all the boys?" Lilavati Chachi asked.

"Aunty, the three of them went to check the construction site. They should be back by now" Ezra replied.

"The daughter-in-law of the house sits with guests like this?" Amrita Bua said while looking at me

I gulped down my invisible fear

"I'm sorry" I muttered softly and stood up

"Go to the kitchen and check" she said harshly

The fun was over. I was back to my regular, dull life. I hate this. I just want to go back to my happiness

Yess my happiness

Maa came and stood beside me, then softly said

"It's okay, beta. And I'm sorry... I can't do anything" She said it with guilt in her eyes

I just gave a small awkward smile

"Actually, before you came, we were all talking about Trisha" she said, glancing at me with a pitiful look.

What does that have to do with me?

I know Trisha didn't deserve what happened to her... but do I deserve this rude and cold behaviour?

"It's okay, Maa" I replied, pretending everything was fine. But only my heart knows how much it hurts

"Bring me one glass water" We heard Daksh voice. He said while looking at me. I understood he is asking me

I went into the kitchen and brought a tray of water for Daksh

As I walked toward him, I noticed his eyes were fixed only on me. His intense gaze made me nervous. He was literally glaring at me. My hands trembled, and while handing him the glass, I stumbled. The glass slipped from my hand and fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. Some water even spilled on him

One of the sharp glass pieces pricked my foot. I let out a soft hiss of pain

Suddenly, he moved toward me. His sudden action scared me even more, and I stepped back in fear. Because of that sudden movement, another large glass shard pierced deep into my foot

"Is this what your parents have taught you?" he screamed at the top of his lungs

Tears started flowing down my cheeks

Maa, Chachi, Ezra, and Dipti Chachi rushed toward me

"And is this the manners YOUR MOTHER taught you?"we suddenly heard Agni's loud and furious voice echo through the room

"Stay in your limit" Daksh said to her while pointing his forefinger on her

Agni walked towards him calmly, her eyes fixed on the finger he was pointing at her.

And then, all of a sudden, she twisted his finger and broke it.

Daksh screamed in pain.

Everyone around gasped in shock.

"Mai aur Izna bhabhi hai teri,

Tameez se" Agni said calmly yet furiously

(We both are your sister-in-law. So stay in your limit)

"ENOUGH" suddenly babasaheb shouted

"Hey bhagwan Mera baccha" Amrita bua said

(Oh god, my child)

"What is this behaviour Agni? From the day 1 you hate me and now trying to hurt my child" Amrita bua said while trying to console Daksh

"And what about you hurting someone else child FROM THE DAY 1" Agni replied in her own tone and langauge

Jaise ko taisa

"Agni. Rakshit is like my son to me and you are his wife, I don't want to hurt you. Stay out of my family matters" Babasaheb said to agni

My tears were flowing down more and more. Deep down I am glad how always Agni take stand for me like an elder sister. She always stands in front of me like a shield

"Baba she is also now our family member as you said Rakshit is like your son so it means she is your daughter-in-law just like how my wife Izna the elder daughter-in-law of THAKUR FAMILY" Kiaan said in his deep and commanding voice while entering into the house along with either side Rakshit and Ayushmaan

Rakshit came in and walked straight to Agni, standing by her side.

Ayushmaan went over to his mother.

And Kiaan? He came directly towards me and scanned me from head to toe.

The moment he noticed the blood on my leg from those broken pieces of glass, he closed his eyes in frustration.

"Who did this?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with a dangerous edge.

I blinked several times, biting my lip, unsure of what to say.

"IS THAT A WAY OF GREETING YOUR FATHER AND FAMILY, KIAAN?" Babasaheb snapped angrily, his tone echoing through the hall.

"IS THAT A WAY OF TREATING MY WIFE BEHIND MY BACK, BABA?" Kiaan retorted, just as fiercely.

Both father and son stood tall, their eyes locked in a silent battle of power and rage. The tension in the room was thick, and no one dared to interrupt.

Kiaan's fists were clenched, jaw tight, while Babasaheb's glare burned with wounded pride and fury.

It wasn't just a clash of words anymore- it was a war of beliefs.

The entire hall had gone silent, heavy with shock and unease.

Chachi held Maa's hand tightly, fear evident in her eyes

Ezra instinctively stepped closer to Ayushmaan, her fingers brushing against his as if seeking silent comfort

Agni stood unmoved beside Rakshit, her expression unreadable but eyes burning with quiet rage. Rakshit's posture was protective, as if ready to shield her from anything.

Dipti and Atharv exchanged worried glances, sensing the storm but not fully understanding it. Daksh was glaring at me blaming as everything is happening because of me

Amrita bua looked between Babasaheb and Kiaan with disbelief, while Chachu sighed, already aware that this confrontation had been brewing for too long

And me? I stood frozen, the blood trickling down my leg forgotten because at that moment, every eye, every breath in the room, was caught in the fire of a father and son on opposite sides of truth. And I am in the middle

"KIAAN" Maa shouted. He didn't flinched

"GO TO YOUR ROOM" She commanded him

He didn't break the intense eye contact with Babasaheb- not even for a second.

And then, after a tense moment, he walked straight towards me. In one swift motion, he lifted me into his arms.

I heard a few gasps from the family members, their shock audible in the silence. But without turning back, without saying a single word, he carried me straight to our room.

His grip on me was firm, protective almost possessive. I could feel the tension radiating off him, but his steps were steady, unwavering.

As we moved through the hallway, I caught a glimpse of Agni giving a small, proud smirk, while Ezra watched us go with a mixture of concern and quiet support in her eyes.

Once we entered the room, he gently kicked the door shut behind us and placed me on the bed with utmost care, as if even the slightest pressure might hurt me more.

His eyes immediately dropped to my leg. The blood had dried around the small shards of glass embedded in my skin. Without saying a word, he walked to the cupboard, pulled out the first-aid box, and came back, kneeling in front of me.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked softly, his voice low not angry, but filled with restrained pain.

I looked away, swallowing hard

"I didn't want to make it worse" I whispered.

He exhaled deeply, brushing his fingers gently along the edge of the wound, careful not to hurt me

"It was already worse" he muttered, more to himself than to me.

Then, with soft hands and trembling patience, he began removing the glass one piece at a time, his jaw clenched, his eyes never leaving my injury, as if he could somehow take the pain onto himself

"I am so sorry" he whispered, his voice almost pleading like he was begging for forgiveness not just for today, but for every moment I had suffered silently.

"This isn't your fault" I tried to say, my voice was soft, because deep down, I knew he wasn't to blame. But he shook his head slowly, eyes glistening.

"It is... if I had been there, this wouldn't have happened" His words carried guilt heavy enough to break anyone's heart

He gently applied antiseptic, and even though it stung, I didn't flinch because the way he was hurting inside made my pain feel small

"You deserve better than this" he said quietly, almost like a confession

"You are my better" I replied, placing my hand over his with a gentle smile

He looked up at me raw, vulnerable, and aching and in that moment, no explanation, no apology, no excuse could match the way his eyes held mine.

As if silently promising - never again.

Rakshit pov

Too much drama

The moment Agni snapped Daksh's finger, I knew hell had just cracked open in that house. And when Kiaan came storming in like a man on a mission, the silence was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

I moved instinctively, walking up to Agni and standing by her side not because I wanted to be part of the mess, but because I knew she needed someone there. She hides it well, but I see through her silence.

Then came the showdown. Kiaan and Babasaheb, face to face. Like two lions ready to tear each other apart. The air buzzed with anger, pride, and decades of buried tension.

And just when I thought it couldn't get more cinematic Kiaan walked straight to Izna, didn't even blink, picked her up like she weighed nothing, and left the room without looking back. Boss move, honestly. I heard a few people gasp. Typical.

I glanced at Agni. Her face was still stone cold, but I swear, her eyes held fire.

Meanwhile, Daksh was still crying in a corner, clutching his hand like a baby, and Babasaheb looked like he'd slapped with truth for the first time in years.

Too. Much. Drama.

"Everyone, go to your rooms and freshen up. Be ready for dinner by 8 P.M." Gayatri Maa said

Not waiting for any more drama to unfold, I held Agni's hand and led her to our room. One by one, everyone quietly left for their respective rooms

"Why did you bring me here?" Agni asked as soon as we reached our room

"Keep quiet. Anyway, there's already been enough drama" I said while placing my forefinger gently on her lips to silence her.l

"You... you stay... stay away from me" she stammered, trying to sound angry and distant

I smirked at her condition. Honestly, I love teasing her

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me. She gasped in surprise

"What... what are you doing?" she asked, clearly flustered

"What should I do with you? You tell me, Mrs. Roa?" I teased her even more, barely holding back my laughter from the inside

She must be wondering where that fierce, bold version of herself from earlier disappeared

Even I wonder how the fierce lioness turns into a timid kitten around me.

Seems like I really have an effect on my wife

She suddenly pushed me and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Keep thinking, Mr. Rao, about what you are going to do now" she said while laughing

Pagal ladki lekin meri

After a while, all of us went downstairs, and everyone quietly had dinner without saying much

Amrita Bua then announced that there would be a Shanti Puja (peace prayer) at home tomorrow for the overall well-being of the house and also for Trisha's health

According to her, some negative energy has entered the house.

And well... we all knew exactly who she was hinting at

After chatting with Kiaan and Ayushmaan for a while and doing a bit of research on people with the eagle tattoos, I headed back to my room and... ohhh- what is this?

Agni was getting ready to sleep on the bed, but what truly shocked me was the sight of five or six pillows placed right in the middle of the bed or more accurately between the two of us

It was like a literal wall of pillows

her oh-so-obvious attempt to draw the line between us.

I swear, I really wanted to laugh...

Oh wait- who am I kidding? I was born to do exactly what I want.

So yeah... I let my intrusive thought win.

And burst out laughing- loudly

"What is this supposed to be?" I asked, dramatically pointing at the Great Wall of Pillows

She didn't answer just gave me one of her classic don't-you-dare-cross-this-line glares

But come on, did she really think that would stop me?

I walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and flicked one pillow off with a grin.

"Trying to build a border between us, Mrs. Rao? Sorry to break it to you, but I don't need a visa to cross over to my side of the bed"

Another pillow- gone

"Do you really think these soft, fluffy marshmallows can stop me? I am not a sleepover guest sweetheart"

I could see her jaw tighten

Oh, she was annoyed

Which only made this more fun to annoy her more I threw one more pillow on the ground that too with an attitude. Agni's eyes narrowed the moment I flicked off the pillow

"One more move and you will be sleeping on the floor tonight" she said with the extra sweet calm tone. Honestly it scared me

Ek hota hai khauf

Dusra hota hai biwi ka khauf

Aur jiski biwi Agni ho usko....tsk tsk

(Note the author's dramatic sarcasm)

"Relax" I said, putting my hands up like a surrendering criminal

"I was just... helping you rearrange the cushions" The lamest excuse ever

"Done?" She asked

"Yeah" I replied as a scared kitten

"Good. Now listen to me.." I looked at her

"Don't try to cross the border. Don't forget it's a contract marriage" she said. She is literally ignoring me since that kiss

Bhaiiii me kissing her next time whennnnn??

"Ohh sweetheart, do you think now I care about that stupid contract? Especially after you kissed me?" I said to her in my teasing tone which literally flustered her

Ezra pov

I came back to my room after the dinner. The trip was fun but uff the happiness is over now

I went and sat on the bed, and just then, my phone made a "ping" sound from a notification.

I picked it up and saw that it was an Instagram notification.

As soon as I read it, my heartbeat started racing badly

"How is this possible? How can this happen? He... he..."

her.harsh mentioned you in a story

My hands started trembling... Is he really in India? When did he come from London and why did he come back?"Why did he mention me in his story... and that too with a heart emoji!

Ek min sala yeh unblock kab hua bey?

(Wait a second... when did this guy even get unblocked?)

I brushed it all off every thought, every emotion. Without another second of overthinking, I put my phone on silent and walked straight to my bed. I was exhausted, not just physically but emotionally too.

I didn't want to think, feel, or wonder.

All I wanted was to sleep

I woke up in the morning, but I was still so sleepy... all I wanted was to go back to bed. As I lazily opened my eyes, still half-asleep, I glanced at the clock and

"WHATTTTTT?!"

"Din ke 12 baje kaise Bach Gaye I thought subha ke 6 baje hai. Bhaii mai toh margayi. Amrita bua kaccha chaba ke kha jayengi. Accha hua unhe nahi pata ki mai bhi iss ghar ki Bahu hun" I murmured to my self

(How did it become 12 in the afternoon?! I thought it was just 6 in the morning! Oh god, I'm dead. Amrita Bua is going to eat me alive!

Thank god she still doesn't know that I'm the daughter-in-law of this house too)

Panic hit me like a storm.

I jumped out of bed, almost tripping over the blanket tangled around my legs. My hair looked like a bird's nest, and I couldn't even find my slippers. I ran into the bathroom to get fresh

After freshening up, I slowly opened the door to my room, just a tiny crack enough to peek outside without being seen. I carefully stuck my head out and looked around like a thief on a mission.

"Thank God, no one's here" I whispered to myself, letting out a breath of relief.

"STATUE!"

"AHHH!" I screamed in pure horror at the sudden voice.

And guess what? The one who shouted also screamed right back in panic.

"Why are YOU screaming?!" he snapped.

It was Ayushmaan.

Great.

I was already on edge, and this man-child had the nerve to scare me to death!

"Are you crazy?!" I yelled back, my voice high with frustration. And in full irritation mode, I stomped on his foot with mine- hard

"Ouch! What the hell was that for?!" Ayushmaan yelped, hopping on one foot, holding the one I'd just mercilessly attacked.

"That was for giving me a mini heart attack!" I snapped, arms crossed

"Do you think it's funny to scare people like that early in the morning I mean afternoon?" I said while trying to clear my throat by the end of the sentence. He smirked, clearly enjoying it

"Well excuse me, Princess of Sleeping Beauty! It's not my fault you woke up at lunchtime like a zombie escaping the grave" he said

"If I am a zombie, then you are the clown from my nightmare" I said while stepping closer, poking his chest with my finger

"Wow. Zombie and clown- quite a duo. Shall we audition for a horror film together?" he teased with a wink

"Only if I get to slap you in every scene" I said

"Deal. But just a heads up...I charge extra for emotional damage" he said

I rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell out, but I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped.

He grinned, catching that little slip.

"Aha! You laughed. You like me"

"Shut up" I said while trying to control my laugh

We both stood there for a moment, trying to out-smirk each other. His eyes dancing with mischief, mine with irritation dipped in amusement

I looked around the house and saw that decorations were in full swing.

The decorators were climbing up ladders, fixing bright drapes across the walls, and hanging marigold garlands all over the pillars.

Fairy lights were being wrapped around the banisters, and the aroma of fresh flowers filled the air

"Kya chiz ki taiyari chal rahi hai" I asked him

"Puja ki aur kiski. Shaam ko puja hai" He replied and I made a 'ohh haan' face

"Abhi chalo niklo futo yahan se" I said teasingly, giving him a playful shove

(Now go, move along, get lost from here!)

As he walked away, I heard him mutter under his breath,

Bandariya

I glared at his back, but chose peace. For now.

I walked downstairs and saw Izna near the dining table. She looked at me and gestured, "Go have breakfast, quick!"

Without any drama, I nodded and went straight to eat. She is literally the best.

As I was finishing up, I noticed one of the decorators struggling with the fairy lights.

"Bhaiya, those fairy lights have fallen down please check it properly or someone might get electrocuted" I told one of the workers, pointing toward the tangled mess near the staircase.

He nodded

I smiled, finally letting myself relax a little, watching the workers hustle around and the festive mood filling the house.

And just as I turned my head, still smiling

I heard a voice

"TEDDY"