It was early morning, and the Shekhawat family sat down for breakfast.

"I heard you brought home a girl last night," Harshavardhan said, cutting through the quiet with his calm baritone.

"Yes, Dadaji. She doesn’t have anyone," Hriday replied, chewing slowly. "She’ll stay with us from now on."

"Papaji, tell him we didn’t open a charity here," Maithili muttered sharply.

Hriday set down his spoon.

"Mom, she’s someone very special to me. Maybe even to you. Did you meet her yet?"

Maithili frowned, confused. "Why would I...? I mean—Papaji, tell him why I need to look at the girl. Is she my daughter-in-law? The one I’ve waited for all these years?"

She shot Hriday a glare.

"Mom," Hriday said firmly, "she’s staying here. That’s final. And if you really want to see me happy, please accept it. Or I’ll assume you don’t love me anymore."

Maithili sighed, visibly torn.

"Hriday, I do love you, my son..."

Harshavardhan smiled behind his teacup, amused by Hriday’s dramatic but effective persuasion.

Hriday grinned, triumphantly returning to his meal, while Maithili sat bewildered.

"I don’t know what you always do to make me talk to you. Hriday, you really are like your father—too cunning!"

"No, Mom," Hriday said with a wink.

"I’m cunning like you."

He darted off just in time to dodge the spoon Maithili tossed at him.

Harshavardhan chuckled, the warmth of the household returning to his face.

"Papaji, don’t laugh! You and your son spoiled him rotten!"

"You have to admit, Maithili beta," Harshavardhan said, still smiling, "Hriday brings joy into this house. His antics, his laughter—they fill our home with life."

Maithili couldn’t help but smile.

"You’re right, Papaji."

"And he’s just like you—full of life, joyful. Don’t ever forget how much of you lives in him."

Maithili’s eyes softened.

Later, Hriday knocked on the guest room door.

"Come in," came Gauri’s quiet voice.

"Hriday," she said, surprised.

"Ah, my name on your lips—so divine," he teased, stepping inside.

"Is this what you came here to say?"

"Let me in at least!" he laughed, slipping past her.

He flopped onto the bed like a king on his throne. Gauri rolled her eyes.

"You seem happy. What happened?"

"Oh, you won’t believe it—I made Mom talk to me! Ha! You should've seen her face."

"Your mother loves you very much," Gauri said softly.

"Of course she does. Everyone loves me—I’m their favorite. I just hope my wife loves me just as much."

He locked eyes with her. Gauri looked away, flustered.

"I-I... Hriday, aren’t you going to the office?"

"Oh, wifey... are you so eager to send your husband away? Don’t like having me around?"

"No! I mean—you're just too... intimidating."

"So?"

"What?"

He stood and walked toward her.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. I did."

"Without me?" he asked, leaning in close.

"H-Hriday, what are you saying?"

"Just what I want to say."

"You're so manipulative," she said nervously.

He gasped dramatically. "Manipulative? Me? Gauri, seriously? Is that what you think of me?"

His exaggerated hurt made her immediately regret her words.

"Hriday—"

"No, forget it. I shouldn’t have come."

He turned and walked out. Gauri stood there, crushed.

Meanwhile, Maithili couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. She walked to the guest room—the one where Hriday’s mysterious guest was staying.

She knocked gently.

"Come in," Gauri’s voice called.

Maithili entered—and froze. Her eyes widened in shock.

"G-Gauri?" she breathed.

Gauri stood there, eyes lowered, dressed simply—but the red sindoor in her hair and the mangalsutra around her neck stood out clearly.

"How are you, dear?" Maithili asked, pulling her into a warm hug.

Gauri felt overwhelmed, her heart full. She nodded.

"I’m good..." she whispered.

She couldn’t meet Maithili’s eyes. The older woman had always treated her kindly. Now that she knew Gauri was her daughter-in-law, would that change?

"Won’t you ask how I am?"

"I—I... Madam, how are you?"

Maithili laughed. "No need to be scared of me, Gauri."

"I’m not scared..." Gauri lied softly.

But Maithili could sense the fear in her trembling voice. And she understood why.

"Hriday told me about your mother... and your marriage."

Gauri’s eyes lifted at the mention of her mother.

"I’m so sorry, beta. I know what it’s like. I lost my mother when I was very young too. My father raised me alone... and then he left too. Sometimes, I still wish they were here. But God had other plans."

Gauri listened quietly. Maithili gently brushed her hair with her fingers.

"From now on, this is your home. Don’t feel alone. If you ever need someone to talk to, remember—I’m here."

Tears welled up in Gauri’s eyes. She nodded silently.

"Did you eat lunch?"

Gauri shook her head.

"Then come. Let’s eat together."

"No, Madam, I’ll eat later..."

Maithili gave her a playful glare.

"No ‘later.’ Come on."

She led Gauri to the dining room.

"Kamla, what’s for lunch today?" Maithili asked, bubbling with cheer.

"Ma’am, your favorites—Hara Dhania Cholia and Meethe Chawal."

Maithili’s eyes sparkled.

"Oh, Gauri! You’re in for a treat—pure Haryanvi food!"

She handed Gauri a plate and began serving her.

"Madam, you don’t have to—"

"Why not? You’re my guest."

Gauri stared at the overflowing plate.

"I can’t finish this much!"

"You will. Look at you, so thin! You need to eat well. Come on—no arguments!"

Reluctantly, Gauri began eating.

After lunch, they moved to the garden. Maithili received a call from her husband and excused herself.

Gauri sat on a bench, enjoying the breeze—until she heard two servants whispering nearby.

They hadn’t noticed her.

"Can you believe it? Maithili ma’am had lunch with her today!"

"She doesn’t even look like she belongs to an upper-class family. Why did Hriday sir bring her here?"

"Whatever the reason, Shikhar sir won’t tolerate her. Remember how he threw that servant girl out last time?"

"Exactly! Took advantage of Maithili ma’am’s kindness—claimed his mother was sick and ran off with money!"

"This one’s probably the same. Just here for money."

"But she looks so innocent..."

"Innocent faces are the most dangerous!"

"I saw her staring at Hriday sir this morning!"

"Seriously?! Trying to flirt with him? This girl is bad news."

"She’s a maid from Hriday sir’s Kolkata house, right?"

"And now she’s living here like a queen, doing nothing! Eating idly like it’s a five-star hotel! Shameless!"

Gauri couldn’t listen anymore. Her legs trembled. She ran to her room and locked the door.

Their words echoed in her head.

"Shameless..."

"Get out of my house!"

"Shameless girl..."

"I am not shameless," she whispered.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Tears streamed down her face.

"I am not shameless."

She pressed her hands to the glass, her breath ragged.

"Gauri Podder is not shameless."

She wiped her face with trembling hands, then stormed into the bathroom to wash away her tears.