Arvi's pov:

It's midnight, and I'm standing at the front door of the mansion with a bag over my shoulder. I'm not going to stay here another second. Not after being accused, degraded, treated like some parasite.

I reach for the doorknob, blinking away the sting in my eyes.

"Don't even think about it," a voice says from behind me.

I turn around, startled. sulekha aunty is standing near the stairs, her arms folded, expression unreadable.

"I heard everything," she says calmly. "I was outside the room. Every word he said, I heard it."

I open my mouth to defend myself, but she stops me.

"You don't need to explain," she says. "He does."

"Aunty, it's okay-"

"No, Arvi. It's not. You don't walk out of this house because someone else decided your worth. You didn't come here asking for anything. You were hurt, and I brought you in because I saw something honest in you."

My vision blurs with tears I didn't want to cry. I looked away, blinking fast. "It's fine. I shouldn't have stayed here this long. I don't belong-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," she said, her voice suddenly firm. "He was wrong. He was cruel. And I'm ashamed that he spoke to you that way."

Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and unstoppable.

"I never came here with any intentions," I choked out. "I didn't even know he was your son until today. I just... I was tired. Alone. And you were kind. That's all."

"I know," she said softly. "I know, Arvi."

She stepped closer and gently pulled the bag off my shoulder. Her hands were warm, steady.

"Come here," she whispered, and the moment she opened her arms, I broke.

I buried my face into her shoulder, crying silently as she held me tightly, like a mother who knew exactly what pain felt like.

"You are not leaving this house," she said into my hair. "Not because of his words. Not when I see your heart. Let him act like a stranger. I won't. You're not alone anymore."

And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe.

Really, truly safe.

I closed the door behind me softly, as if making any noise would shatter what little strength I had left.

This room felt colder than usual tonight or maybe it was just me. The walls were the same, the bed untouched, my little things in the same corner. And yet, it didn't feel like mine anymore. It didn't feel like anything anymore.

I dropped the bag on the floor and walked to the window, pushing it open.

The night breeze slipped in, gentle and cool. The sky was scattered with stars faint, quiet witnesses to everything I'd been holding in.

I leaned against the sill, hugging myself tightly, and looked up.

"Mom... Dad..." I whispered, my voice barely holding together. "Are you watching me?"

Tears spilled again soft this time. Like they didn't want to interrupt the silence.

"I tried so hard today," I said, my voice cracking. "I tried to be strong, to not let it hurt, to stay quiet and keep my head down. But he looked at me like I was nothing. Like I was someone I never wanted to be."

I paused, blinking up at the stars as if one of them might blink back.

"I didn't come here to chase a name, or money, or anyone. I came here because I had nowhere else to go. And aunty... she reminded me of you, Mom. The way she looked at me when I first opened my eyes in that big house. The way she let me stay without asking anything."

A sob escaped my lips and I quickly covered my mouth with my hand. My chest ached.

"I miss you," I whispered, "I miss home. I miss not having to explain myself to survive."

The stars shimmered quietly above me, offering nothing but their presence. And maybe... that was enough.

I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the cold frame of the window.

"I don't know if I'm strong enough to do this anymore. But if you're listening... just send me a sign. A little one. So I know I'm not alone."

And for a moment, in that quiet, in that stillness, the wind brushed past my cheek like a soft hand. Not enough to fix the pain but just enough to remind me that somewhere, somehow...

They were still with me.

Rayaan's pov:

I woke up early, like I always do.

A cold shower. Thirty minutes in the home gym. Morning routine, disciplined, sharp, predictable. Just the way I liked it.

I threw on a clean black shirt, still towel-drying my hair as I walked through the hallway. The air in the mansion felt quieter than usual, but it suited me. I wasn't in the mood for small talk not after last night. That girl, Arvi or whatever her name was, had already left a bitter taste I hadn't been able to shake off.

Gold digger. Opportunist. Playing innocent in front of my mother.

I couldn't believe the nerve of her walking into our lives like that, occupying a room in our house. Like she belonged.

I headed downstairs, phone in hand, scrolling through emails. Just a normal day.

Until I looked up and saw her.

As I stepped into the dining room, the hum of casual chatter dropped almost instantly.

Who were laughing moments ago straightened up. Even Dad paused his tea mid sip. Vanisha shifted in her chair. Aleesha subtly fixed her posture.

Everyone turned.

It wasn't fear exactly but something close. A quiet, sharp kind of respect. The kind that came from knowing I didn't tolerate nonsense. That I saw straight through people through facades.

And right now, the biggest facade was sitting at the table, pretending to belong.

The Girl. Arvi.

She looked up too. Hesitated for half a second before quickly lowering her gaze to her plate.

"Good morning," I said smoothly, my voice calm, too calm.

A chorus of greetings followed.

"Morning, Rayaan."

"Morning, Ray".

"Good morning, bhai."

"Hey, bhai," Vivaan mumbled, still chewing.

Aleesha suddenly turned back to her with that overexcited grin. "So, Arvi, we're thinking of taking you shopping today!"

I stilled.

Arvi looked up, clearly caught off guard. "Shopping?"

"Yeah," Vanisha chimed in, chewing on her toast. "You haven't even stepped out properly since you came. You need some fresh air."

Arekha nodded in agreement. "And S & I

just dropped a new line. We'll go after lunch. Done deal."

"I-" Arvi glanced around nervously, clearly overwhelmed. "I really don't want to trouble anyone."

"You're not," Vivaan said casually. "It's decided."

My hand, gripping the mug, twitched just slightly. I set it down a little harder than necessary. The subtle sound echoed across the table. Instantly, the energy dipped again.

No one said a word.

Arvi finally glanced up just for a moment and our eyes met. There was something unreadable in her gaze. Not fear. Not guilt. Just... quiet defiance. Like she knew she was still standing where she shouldn't be and yet she wasn't moving.

And everyone else?

They were too blinded to see it.

She was supposed to leave.

But here she was smiling with my family, being invited to shop, eat, laugh.

Just when I thought the morning couldn't get more absurd, Vanisha leaned forward with that all too familiar glint in her eyes. "Oh, and bhai," she said, her tone sweet as syrup which meant trouble "you'll drop us to the mall, right?"

I looked up, eyebrows raised.

"No."

"Please bhaii," Arekha added, as if it was the most important thing in the world. "You're free today, aren't you? Come on, we haven't had a proper outing with you in ages."

Aleesha joined in, mock pouting. "Please, Rayaan bhai. It's just a fifteen-minute drive. And besides... who else drives like you do?"

Vivaan grinned. "You're already dressed and everything. No excuses."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Of all the people in this house, they wanted me to drop her the girl who'd wormed her way into this family, this breakfast table, this space to the mall like I was part of some bonding trip?

I looked at Arvi, who hadn't said a word. Her head was slightly lowered, clearly uncomfortable. Good. At least she had the sense to feel awkward.

"I have better things to do," I said coldly, standing up, pushing my chair back. But before I could leave, Mom spoke calm, but firm.

"Rayaan, you're going anyway. Might as well take them. And Arvi too."

Her voice was gentle, but final. There was no arguing with my mother when she said something like that. She wasn't asking. She was deciding.

I swallowed every word I wanted to throw at them at her. Instead, I gave a stiff nod and walked away without looking back.

But inside, I was burning.

They'd dragged me into this mess.

And now I was stuck driving the girl I wanted out of this house straight to a mall trip she had no business being part of.

Unbelievable.