CHAPTER 22! FAMILY
Four days had passed since the warehouse incident.
Miraculously, life had returned to normal.
Which was entirely to be expected. Aadhira's wedding was exactly five days away, and according to Padmini, that meant the entire multi-story estate had to be deeply cleaned, heavily decorated, traditionally blessed, spiritually purified, structurally reorganized,
and somehow survive the impending invasion of a hundred distant relatives.
The Rai Shinghanias had been invited for an intimate dinner that evening.
A traditional katha had been arranged before the wedding festivities officially kicked off, where both families would sit together to take blessings.
Naturally, wanting to escape the endless cycle of designer outfit trials, Aadhira had volunteered for basic household chores.
And naturally, she regretted that decision the exact millisecond her hands touched plastic.
"Main to filhal hu mujhse kyu kaam Kara rahe?" she muttered, aggressively dragging the wet cloth across the polished white marble floor of the main hallway.
"We have a small army of staff for this, you know."
"Because your mom said it will help you in future," Veer replied smoothly from the plush sofa, not even bothering to look up from the financial section of his newspaper.
Aadhira stopped, glaring daggers at her father's relaxed posture. "My character is fully built, Papa. It's towering. It doesn't need any more bricks."
Twenty minutes of intensive labor later, the entire floor sparkled like a diamond under the grand chandeliers.
Aadhira placed both hands on her hips, exhaling a proud, breathless sigh as she surveyed her masterpiece. "Perfect."
The heavy mahogany front door clicked and swung open.
Shaurya walked in.
With his heavy leather dress shoes on. Directly onto the freshly mopped, pristine marble floor.
Aadhira stared at his feet.
Shaurya stared back at her.
Slowly, the high-profile criminal lawyer looked down at the dark, wet, muddy footprints he had just stamped across the gleaming hallway.
"Oh," Shaurya murmured.
Aadhira smiled.
Shaurya immediately pointed at her.
"See? Not my fault."
"Then whose fault is it?"
Shaurya glanced at the footprints.
"Circumstances."
Shaurya took one look at her smile.
"No."
He immediately started backing toward the front door.
"Aadhira, don't."
Aadhira didn't hesitate. She reached down, ripped the wet mop cloth off its plastic handle, and wrung it tightly in her hand.
"No? No?"
"Aadhira-"
She threw it. Direct hit. The dripping, wet cloth flew through the air and smacked squarely against the side of his pristine, corporate jaw.
The next five minutes descended into absolute, primitive warfare.
The elegant living room became a battlefield. Silk pillows flew through the air like mortar shells.
Velvet cushions were launched across the room with terrifying velocity. Bitter accusations and historical grievances were violently exchanged across the sofas.
"YOU DID THAT ON ABSOLUTE PURPOSE!" Aadhira shrieked, ducking behind an armchair as a stray cushion soared past her head.
"I SAID SORRY!" Shaurya yelled back, his hair completely disheveled, a stark contrast to his usual courtroom perfection.
"THAT WAS NOT AN APOLOGY!"
"IT WAS AN 'OH'!"
"No, one is an apology.
The other is a sound a goat makes."
At some point during the chaotic skirmish, Shaurya managed to breach her defenses, lunging forward and successfully catching both of her wrists in his iron grip.
"Stop moving! Just sit still!"
"Leave me, Shaurya bhai!" she thrashed, trying to kick his shin.
"No! You're highly volatile right now!"
"LEAVE ME! Maine itni mehnat ki thi, sb kharab kar diya aapne."
Aadhira suddenly froze, her movements snapping to a dead halt. Her chest heaved, and then, with theatrical precision, her lower lip began to tremble violently.
Shaurya's eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated horror.
"No. Oh, come on. No."
A single, tragic tear rolled down her cheek.
"No, no, no. Aadhira, don't you dare," Shaurya pleaded, his voice cracking.
Another tear promptly followed, accompanied by a pathetic, heartbroken sniff.
"Papa..."
Veer immediately stood up.
Shaurya closed his eyes.
"Don't."
"Papa..."
"Aadhira."
"Your son has chosen violence."
Shaurya immediately released her wrists as if they had turned into hot coals, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Aadhira! I barely even touched your arms!"
She opened her mouth and cried significantly louder, letting out a wail that echoed off the high ceilings.
"AADHIRA!"
"PAPAAAAA!" she screamed toward the stairs.
Shaurya looked genuinely terrified now, a look he never, ever wore in front of judges or cartel bosses.
"Don't call Papa! Please! Shut up!"
"PAPAAAAA!"
"Please stop!" His voice dropped to a desperate, frantic whisper as he checked the hallways.
"Chup ho ja, please."
Aadhira simply cried harder, squeezing her eyes shut to produce more tears.
"Aadhira, for the love of God, please."
"PAPAAAAAA!"
Shaurya ran both hands through his ruined hair, losing his mind. "Itni bhi nahi lagi tuje! Maine sirf chuya tha!"
More dramatic sobbing ensued.
"Aadhira, Bhagwan ke liye chup ho ja!"
The thundering footsteps arrived right on cue.
Veer and Padmini entered the living room in a panicked rush, both of them stopping dead in their tracks as they took in the disaster zone of scattered pillows, a wet cloth on the floor, and their weeping daughter.
Aadhira immediately opened her eyes, pointing a trembling, accusatory finger straight at her brother. "Papa bhai ne mujhe mara."
Traitor.
An absolute, cold-blooded traitor.
Veer's face darkened instantly, his paternal protective instincts taking the wheel. "Shaurya."
"Maa, Papa, maine kuch nahi kiya!" Shaurya defended himself, backing away.
Smack.
Padmini stepped up from behind and dealt a swift, resounding smack to the back of Shaurya's head.
"OW!" Shaurya winced, rubbing his neck. "Maa!"
"Sharam nahi aati tujhe?" Padmini scolded, her hands on her hips.
"Maa, listen to me-"
"Behen ko rula diya shaadi se paanch din pehle!"
"Maine nahi rula-"
Smack.
Another perfectly aimed strike landed on his shoulder.
"MAA! Stop violence!" Shaurya groaned, utterly defeated.
Aadhira instantly stopped crying, her tears vanishing into thin air as she ducked behind her father's shoulder, completely unable to hide the massive, triumphant smile spreading across her face.
Unfortunately for her, Padmini's sharp maternal radar caught the shift immediately.
The entire room fell into a heavy, suspicious silence.
Padmini slowly turned her head, her gaze narrowing into two slits as she looked at Aadhira.
Aadhira's smile froze, and she slowly sat up straighter, clearing her throat clearingly.
Veer looked at both of them.
Then at the destroyed room.
Then at the wet footprints.
Then at the ceiling.
"Bhagwan."
Silence.
"I paid school fees for this."
"Papa, jhuth bol rahi hai yeh , dhekho has rahi hai."
"Papa, aapko lagta hai main jhuth bolugi, Main."
Veer looked at the ceiling.
"Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha kiski shaadi hai aur kaun paanch saal ka hai."
Padmini pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a massive headache coming on.
"Itna kaam pada hai ghar mein..." She sighed, before pointing a strict, unyielding finger at both of them. "...aur in dono ki dushmani hi khatam nahi hoti."
"Usne shuru kiya," Aadhira piped up instantly, hiding behind her father. "He ruined the floor."
"Jhooth," Shaurya shot back, adjusting his collar. "She threw a weapon at my face."
"Papa, dekho na, he's still glaring at me."
"Papa, she's lying through her teeth. She's a criminal."
Veer stood up from the sofa, shaking his head as he picked up his newspaper. "I'm leaving this room right now before I officially disown both of you on legal stamp paper."
Aadhira stuck her tongue out.
Shaurya threatened her with a cushion.
Padmini threatened both of them with a belan.
Peace was restored immediately.
For approximately seven seconds.
Than after everyone leave.
Aadhira's gaze dropped to his knuckles.
Purple bruises.
Split skin.
Evidence.
Her throat tightened.
Shaurya noticed.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Neither asked where the injuries came from.
Neither needed to.
Then Shaurya looked away first.
"The floor was your fault."
Aadhira stared at him.
"The floor?"
"Yes."
"The floor is what we're discussing?"
"It's the issue currently before the court."
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
Shaurya looked relieved.
Neither mentioned the bruises again.
By early evening, the Agrawal Mansion had officially descended into chaos.
Someone was shouting about flower arrangements. Someone else was arguing with the caterer over the spice levels of the mint chutney.
Three aunties had already occupied an entire sofa set near the grand staircase, conducting a highly detailed investigation into every guest who entered through the front gate.
Aadhira stood near the edge of the foyer, trying-and failing-to stay out of everyone's way.
A staff member rushed past carrying trays. Another nearly collided with him, pivoting at the last second.
From somewhere upstairs, she could hear her mother calling for somebody named Ramesh for the fifth time in ten minutes.
Then the large iron gates opened.
The Rai Shinghanias had arrived.
The atmosphere didn't change with a loud announcement.
Nobody called for attention.
But conversations slowed to a low hum. The staff straightened automatically.
Relatives suddenly remembered their manners, setting down their half-eaten snacks.
Within seconds, the entire weight of the foyer shifted, anchoring completely on the family entering the mansion.
Aadhira's heartbeat picked up.
Before she could properly look up-
"Mama!"
A small body crashed straight into her. She laughed softly as Ayaan wrapped both arms around her waist, burying his face against her stomach.
"There you are," she whispered.