The Shekhawat mansion felt alive again.

Maithili and Shikhar were sitting in the grand living room beside the senior-most member of the family — Harshavardhan Shekhawat.

Age had slowed him, but authority still sat firmly on his shoulders.

"It feels good to see you both here," Harshavardhan said warmly. "Without my son and my daughter-in-law, this house feels empty."

Maithili smiled softly.

"Papaji, we missed you too. That's why Shikhar and I came back early."

Shikhar leaned back casually.

"Maithili, when are you planning to meet your 'special friend'?" he teased lightly.

She shot him a look.

"I'll meet them later. Let me talk to Papaji first."

Harshavardhan chuckled.

"Shikhar, don't you have any work other than pulling my daughter's leg?"

Shikhar raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Papaji, your daughter is my wife, if you remember. And I never pull anyone's leg. She's the one who starts it."

With a dramatic huff, he stood up and walked away.

Harshavardhan watched him go.

"What happened between you two?"

"Nothing, Papaji," Maithili replied gently, brushing it aside. "You tell me — how was your tirth yatra with your friends?"

A smile spread across his face.

"It was peaceful, beta. Very peaceful. Next time, I wish to go with you all... after Hriday comes back."

Maithili's eyes softened.

"Yes, Papaji. We will all go together. With Hriday... and our daughter-in-law."

There was hope in her voice.

Harshavardhan observed her expression carefully.

"Did he like Kanika Singhania's daughter?"

Maithili hesitated.

"No, Papaji. He didn't show much interest."

A small pause.

"I spoke to Sanjana... about her niece's proposal for Hriday. Is that okay?"

She looked at him carefully. Usually, he supported her decisions. But this time, she wasn't entirely sure.

Harshavardhan straightened slightly.

"If Hriday is happy, I have no objection."

His tone turned firmer.

"But the girl must understand one thing — we follow our values strongly. Family comes first. If she ever tries to separate Hriday from his roots... I will never agree to that marriage."

Maithili nodded immediately.

"Disha is a modern girl, Papaji. But she respects her culture. She lives with her father and bua. She understands family bonds."

Harshavardhan didn't respond immediately.

His gaze drifted somewhere far.

Because he knew something Maithili didn't.

Hriday Singh Shekhawat was not easy to bind.

And destiny rarely followed family planning.

Somewhere in another city—

A stubborn girl was fighting his ego.

And here—

Marriage discussions were quietly unfolding.

Harshavardhan sighed inwardly.

The coming days would decide everything.

And perhaps...

Not in the way anyone expected..

"Sir, I've cooked dinner. I'm leaving now."

Gauri stood near the study room door. Hriday was typing furiously on his laptop, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the screen.

"Stay."

She frowned.

"But why? It's already 7 PM. My mother will be worried."

"I said stay."

Her patience thinned.

"Sir, I've finished all my work. I don't have anything else to do. I'm going."

She turned—

"I SAID STAY!"

His voice thundered across the room.

Gauri froze.

Her fingers tightened around her bag strap. She slowly turned back.

His eyes were red.

Not angry-red.

Strained-red.

"S-sir..." her voice trembled slightly.

For a second, she thought he would lash out again.

Instead—

He shut his laptop abruptly.

"Oh God..."

He stood up and walked toward her.

Gauri instinctively took two steps back.

He noticed.

And stopped.

Something flickered in his expression.

Without saying anything, he turned, opened the drawer, and took out his car keys.

"Let's go."

"W-where?" she asked, confused.

"You wanted to go home."

"I... yes, sir."

"Then I'll drop you."

"It's okay, sir, I'll manage—"

He shot her a look.

She went silent immediately.

"Come."

Outside.

Hriday walked to the driver's side and sat in.

Gauri moved toward the back seat.

His voice stopped her.

"Mujhe apna driver samajhti ho kya?"

(Do you think I'm your driver?)

"N-no, sir."

"Then sit in front."

She quickly sat in the passenger seat.

Her hands rested tightly on her lap.

Silence.

"Do you want me to put the seat belt on for you?" he asked flatly.

She shook her head quickly and fastened it.

"Good."

The car moved.

City lights passed in silence.

After a few minutes, he spoke.

"So... who do you have in your family?"

"W-what, sir?"

"Are you a draft cook?" he muttered lightly.

"No, sir. I was just thinking."

"I asked — who's in your family?"

"Just me and my mother."

He nodded slightly.

"And your father?"

There was a pause.

"When I was little... he left us."

The air in the car shifted.

"Oh."

That was all he said.

He didn't know how to respond to pain. He wasn't raised around it.

So he stayed quiet.

When the car stopped near her lane, she looked out.

"You can drop me here, sir."

He glanced at the narrow road ahead.

"Are you sure you can go alone? Or should I come with you?"

He had already unbuckled his seatbelt.

"No, sir. I can manage. I'm used to coming home late from my previous job. Thank you for dropping me."

He studied her face for a second.

"Okay. See you Monday."

She blinked.

"Tomorrow is my leave?"

He almost smirked.

"It's Sunday. All my staff are on leave. You're my cook. So you're included."

She nodded softly.

"Good night, sir."

He watched her walk down the dimly lit lane.

Small house.

Simple life.

No security guards.

No gates.

Just reality.

He stayed there for a few seconds longer than necessary.

Then drove away.

Inside her house—

"Finally you're home!" Kishori exclaimed in relief.

"Maa... today was hectic. Give me dinner. I'm starving."

"Why? Didn't you eat lunch?"

"Lunch...?"

Her mind flashed back—

Cooking the same dish again.

And again.

And again.

Sweat.

Stress.

Humiliation.

She had forgotten to eat.

"Where are you lost, beta?"

"Nothing, Maa! I'm just hungry."

Kishori smiled and served her food.

Gauri ate peacefully.

Unlike the mansion's dining table, this one had warmth.

After finishing, she went to sleep almost instantly.

Exhausted.

Meanwhile—

In his massive bedroom,

Hriday lay awake.

Thinking about red eyes.

And a girl who stepped back from him in fear.

And for the first time that day—

He didn't feel victorious.