18
I held Utsav's hand firmly as we stepped out of the courtroom.
The same press who had been throwing accusations and questions at me a few hours ago were now dead silent - not a single mic pushed in front of me, not a single voice daring to call my name.
I looked around slowly, tilting my head with a venomous smile.
"Well? What happened? Cat got your tongue?
" I asked, my voice sharp enough to slice through steel.
The entire press group flinched, lowering their cameras and backing away slightly, avoiding my gaze like scared school children caught cheating.
Then my eyes landed on the so-called Mahila Mandali who had thrown ink at me - all of them were now standing stiffly, shame and terror etched on their faces.
I walked toward them casually, my smile widening cruelly.
"Aree ohh Mahila Mandali..." I called sweetly, making them all jolt.
"7 lakh tayar rakhna..." I said, my voice sugary sweet with a razor's edge,
".
..varna tum sabki kidney bech dungi apna custom made blazer ka badla lene ke liye.
"
(Prepare 7 lakh rupees, or else I'll sell your kidneys to recover the price of my custom-made blazer.)
They all looked like they would faint.
Satisfied, I smirked, spun on my heel dramatically, and walked back to my black Range Rover, pulling Utsav along with me.
Lana opened the car door immediately, and I shoved Utsav gently inside before sliding in myself.
I threw my stained white coat in the backseat carelessly, took off my shades, and looked at Utsav.
"Don't ever doubt me again," I muttered lowly.
He nodded furiously, his eyes shining with grateful tears.
With that, I turned the ignition, tires screeching slightly as we left behind a courtroom - and a city - that would never forget the name Katha Choudhury after today.
As I drove, I felt Utsav's gaze on me - soft, overwhelmed, almost like he couldn't believe I was real.
I sighed, stealing a glance at him before focusing back on the road.
"What happened, mere ladlee?" I asked softly, finally calling him the name I had been stubbornly refusing until now.
The second the word ladlee left my mouth, Utsav's face crumpled and he instantly lunged forward, throwing his arms around me sideways as I drove.
"Di..." he choked, voice thick with emotions, "I thought...I thought you wouldn't call me that again... I thought you hated me..."
I smiled sadly, keeping one hand firm on the steering wheel and using the other to ruffle his hair gently.
"Idiot," I muttered fondly, "how can I ever hate you?
You're my little baby, my pride, my everything.
.. But that doesn't mean I'm not angry at you for what you did.
"
My voice grew slightly firm towards the end.
Utsav sniffled and nodded against my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Di... I was stupid... I didn't think... I was just so scared..."
His voice broke, and I tightened my arm around him briefly.
"You don't ever - ever - get to leave me, ladlee," I said fiercely.
"No matter how scared you are. You fight, you scream, you cry... but you never, ever walk away. Got it?"
"Yes, Di..." he whispered.
For a moment, we drove in silence, the weight of the past few days pressing down but somehow feeling lighter with him safe beside me.
I looked at him sideways and smirked lightly.
"And one more thing..." I said.
He looked at me with wide, teary eyes.
"You're going to buy me a new custom-made blazer. With your money."
I declared, and Utsav let out a small watery laugh.
"Anything you want, Di... Even two blazers," he promised.
I smiled warmly, feeling my heart lighten.
For the first time in days, I truly felt at peace - with my ladlee safe, tucked under my protective wings again.
And God help anyone who tried to hurt him now.
I stopped the car at Frost - our old favorite ice cream shop, the one we always visited as kids after winning school debates or just to celebrate little victories. The past few days had been anything but easy, and today felt like one of those rare moments where peace peeked through the storm.
I stepped out, motioned for Utsav to stay put, and walked into the shop.
I picked Black Currant for myself - my go-to when I was quietly angry.
For Utsav, I chose Chocolate, his forever favorite that could fix almost any of his moods.
For Sheraa, I ordered a small cup of classic Vanilla, knowing how much he licked it like a proper gentleman.
For Gyan Bhaiya, I ordered Gulab Jamun ice cream - something he'd randomly fallen in love with last year and never let go.
Pista for Dyan Bhaiya - subtle, classic, no-nonsense, just like him.
And for Bhairava Bhaiya, a huge, chaotic mess of Gadbad - colorful, loud, and completely fitting for his dramatic appetite.
I carefully carried all the cups in a tray, walked back to the car, and handed the tray to Utsav.
"Don't eat yet," I said sternly, sliding back behind the wheel. "We'll eat together."
He nodded immediately, holding the tray like it was sacred treasure. The way he looked at me - with so much trust, guilt, and love all tangled together - it made me grip the steering wheel tighter.
We drove in silence again, but this time, it was the good kind. Comfortable. Calm. Utsav kept glancing at me every few seconds like he couldn't believe I was still here - still fighting for him, still calling him ladlee.
As we reached home, the weight of what had happened was still there - but something about the ice creams, the quiet ride, and the safety of being together made it all feel a little less heavy.
We were home. And this time, I swore on every breath I took - no one was taking my family away from me. Not the law. Not the world. Not even themselves.
"WE ARE HOME!" I yelled happily, my voice echoing through the massive Choudhury mansion like sunlight flooding a dark room.
Before I could even take another step forward, I saw them all rushing toward us like we were war heroes returning victorious.
"KATHA!" Dad's voice cracked with emotion as he reached me first, pulling me into his strong arms. His hands trembled slightly, a mix of relief and pride in his eyes. "You did it, my sherni... You brought our lad back whole."
Bhairava Bhaiya came next, his usual composed expression broken by a wide, unrestrained smile.
He grabbed Utsav by the shoulders, checking him once like a soldier inspecting a brother who just returned from a battlefield.
"You okay?" he asked gruffly. Utsav nodded, and Bhaiya pulled him into a hard hug.
Gyan Bhaiya didn't wait-he ruffled my hair roughly like he always did when he was proud. "Mujhe toh pehle se pata tha tu us ladki ko court mein cheer ke rakh degi." His voice held pride, teasing and affection all at once.
Dyan Bhaiya came silently, eyes full of emotion. He cupped my face, his bruised knuckles barely grazing my cheeks. He didn't say anything, but the hug he gave me - tight and trembling - said more than words ever could.
And then - the softest of growls.
I turned just in time to see Sheraa baby, bounding down the marble stairs, his fluffy snow-white body zooming toward me with pure glee. He growled happily, those little paws slipping slightly on the floor as he rushed toward me.
"My baby!!" I bent down, arms wide, and he jumped straight into them, licking my chin and nuzzling into my neck like he'd been counting the seconds until I returned. "I missed you too, baba," I cooed, kissing his tiny head as he purred into my arms.
Everyone surrounded us now, Utsav standing beside me, looking down and whispering, "I really thought... I'd lost you all."
I looked at him, kissed Sheraa one last time, then handed him to Dad before turning to Utsav. I cupped his face gently.
"You lost no one, ladlee," I whispered. "Because this family? We fight together."
And for the first time in what felt like forever... our home didn't feel like a battlefield.
It felt like home again.
We all sat comfortably on the massive sofa, the tension of the past few days slowly melting away like the ice cream in our hands.
Dyan Bhaiya, ever the silent caretaker, sat beside me, his large fingers gently wiping the leftover black ink stains from my hands with a damp cotton pad, his eyes calm but focused.
He didn't say much, but the care in his every gesture screamed louder than words.
Gyan Bhaiya was already halfway through his gulab jamun ice cream, making exaggerated "mmm" sounds just to annoy Dyan.
Bhairava Bhaiya sat with his usual composed posture, his Gadbad untouched as he kept a quiet eye on everyone.
Papa was in his usual spot, cross-legged, sipping his evening tea as if we hadn't just returned from a warzone.
And Sheraa baby, our royal snowball, was lying on the floor like a lazy prince, licking his vanilla ice cream from a little cup placed specially for him, his tail flicking contently.
I was quiet for a while, watching everyone in peace - but then it struck me. The core reason this peace was even possible.
"Papa?" I called out, my tone soft but serious.
Papa looked at me over the rim of his teacup, lowering it and smiling, "What is it, princess?"
I held my cup tighter, glanced around the room, and said, "I couldn't have won this case if... Dattatriya hadn't sent me that footage."
Everyone froze for a moment.
"I mean it," I continued, looking at each of them. "He somehow got the video from inside the party. It showed everything - how Utsav was drugged, how that girl staged it. I would have still fought, but that proof... that saved us. That saved Utsav."
There was a heavy silence for a moment. Even Sheraa stopped licking his ice cream and blinked up at me.
Papa sighed, nodding slowly. "That man... he helped us more than we even realized."
Gyan Bhaiya scoffed, "Still can't believe Dattatriya Agnivanshi, of all people, did that."
Bhairava Bhaiya chuckled under his breath. "He's ruthless, but maybe not all stone-hearted."
Dyan Bhaiya just grunted, not looking up from my hand.
I smiled faintly, lost in thought. "No matter what he is... today, he protected this family. That... means something."
Papa nodded with pride. "Then we owe him our gratitude. A man like that doesn't help unless he truly believes in something."
I didn't say anything more. But deep down, I knew...
Dattatriya didn't do it for justice.
He did it for me.
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