Hriday went downstairs after finishing his work and was surprised to see his parents waiting for him.

“What a surprise, Mom!”

He smiled and hugged her tightly.

“See, Shikar, I told you Hriday would like it,”

Maithili said, beaming.

Hriday turned to his father and gave him a warm hug as well.

“I’m really happy to see you both. I’ve missed you so much.”

Maithili smiled lovingly, running her fingers through his messy hair.

“Yes, all love for mother! What about your dad?”

Shikar teased, sitting on the couch.

Hriday didn’t let go of Maithili’s hand, knowing his father was just joking.

“Shikar, don’t tease him,”

Maithili scolded softly as she sat beside her husband.

Hriday took a seat on the opposite couch.

“Did Dadaji come?”

he asked.

“No, your Dadaji is on a trip. So we thought we'd spend some time with our one and only son,”

Shikar replied.

“Shikar, didn’t you give Hriday the gifts we brought from London?”

“What? Mom, I’m not a kid. You brought gifts for me? I went to London six months ago,”

Hriday said dismissively.

Ignoring him, Maithili pulled out a gift box from her bag with excitement.

“Open it!”

Hriday smiled and teased.

“Wait, let me guess — a watch?”

“How did you know?”

Maithili asked, pretending to be offended.

“I know you, Mom. And I know Dad has a great taste in gifts. I’m sure he picked this,”

Hriday said, glancing at Shikar, who nodded proudly.

“But your Mom chose the color,” Shikar added with a wink.

“It’s perfect, Mom. I’ll wear it on my birthday,”

Hriday said warmly.

“I’ll get you a suit, son,”

Shikar promised.

“Shall we go out for dinner together?”

Maithili suggested.

“Why? I heard you hired a cook,” she asked playfully.

“Yes, Mom, but she’s on leave today,”

Hriday said, sneaking popcorn from his father’s pack.

“Okay then, let’s go to a restaurant. I heard there’s a famous one nearby I want to try,”

Maithili said enthusiastically.

Shikar smiled but quickly stopped Hriday from stealing more popcorn.

“Hriday!”

“What, Dad? Can’t you share a little? I’m your one and only son,”

Hriday teased, reaching again for the pack.

Shikar laughed and hid the snacks.

Maithili shook her head but smiled.

“Hriday, come, I’ll get you another pack.”

Hriday shook his head and sat quietly.

At the restaurant, Maithili was happily enjoying the food.

“This dish is delicious. I love it,”

she said.

“I’ll tell the chef at home to prepare this for you, darling,”

Shikar said, making Maithili blush.

Hriday focused on his plate.

“Hriday, what about Disha?”

Maithili asked casually.

“Who? Mom?”

“The girl you met at the party—Sanjana’s aunt’s niece.”

“Oh, her. So what about her?”

Hriday asked.

“Did you talk? Did you like her?”

“No, Mom. She’s not my type.”

“Then who is?”

“Coo—”

“What coo, Hriday?”

Shikar interrupted.

“No one! I meant the COO position at work is very important to me right now. I need to focus on that. Later, when I find the right woman — my better half — I’ll marry her.”

“But you’re getting older, and this is the perfect time to marry. If you wait too long, you might have trouble becoming a father,”

Maithili worried.

“Mom, science has advanced. There won’t be a problem. But if I don’t find a perfect woman — one who can be my wife, my child’s mother, and my parents’ daughter — then none of us will be happy. I won’t let anyone suffer,”

Hriday said sincerely.

“But I want a daughter,”

Maithili said softly, hoping to experience the joy of a daughter-in-law.

“Talk to Dad about that. I’m open-minded,”

Hriday said cheekily.

Maithili gave him a playful slap.

“Hriday, spoilt brat!”

“Sorry, Dad, Mom!”

Hriday laughed.

Meanwhile, Gauri opened the main door and was surprised to see a man exercising alone in the lawn.
She asked a passing servant,
“Who is he? Mukesh Kaka?”

“No, he is Hriday Sir’s father,” the servant replied.

Gauri nodded and went inside to prepare breakfast as usual.

“Gauri, Sir wants aloo ki sabzi, puri, dal, rice, and papad,” another maid informed her.

Gauri smiled and got to work.

A maid and servant helped bring the dishes to the dining table. Gauri sat near the kitchen cabinet.

She heard a lady’s voice say,

“Hriday, eat a little more.”

Curious, Gauri peeked and saw a woman in a light pink suit with shoulder-length hair feeding Hriday by hand.

“Mom, I’m late. I’ll have a proper breakfast at the meeting,”

Hriday said before hugging his father and giving his mother a gentle kiss on the forehead.

“Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom,”

Hriday said and left.

Unable to hear their conversation, Gauri returned to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

That night, Gauri sat on her bed, going through her savings.

“I need to pay the electricity bill, but this month’s salary...”

Suddenly, her phone beeped with a message: her salary had been increased by 2 percent.

Then her phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hello, did you get your salary?” Hriday’s voice asked, surprising her.

“Yes,” she replied softly.

They fell silent, both unsure what to say next. Something was awakening inside them after their last encounter.

Hriday hesitated.

“Umm, good night.”

“Hmm,” Gauri hummed quietly.

“What’s ‘hmm’? At least say good night!”

“G-good night,” she stammered.