Chapter 12 A Routine. Yet Not So Ordinary
Morning at the Devraj Mansion felt unusually quiet.
Everyone remained seated in the living room long after Harshvardhan ended the call.
No one spoke.
No one knew what to say.
The tradition of pehli rasoi at the bride's maternal home had always been important in the Devraj family.
Yet...
Aadhira hadn't come.
Rajesh slowly placed his phone on the table.
"She really isn't coming."
His voice carried disappointment more than anger.
Meera lowered her eyes.
"I wanted to cook her favorite food..."
Her words almost broke into tears.
Kavita sighed softly.
"Maybe... we expected too much."
Rohan leaned against the sofa.
"We gave her plenty of reasons not to come."
Silence followed.
No one could deny it.
Harshvardhan closed his eyes.
"The distance between us is much greater than seven years."
Across the room...
Vedha folded her arms.
"I told all of you."
"She doesn't care about this family anymore."
Her tone was sharp.
Cold.
Exactly as everyone expected.
Rajesh clenched his jaw but remained silent.
No one defended Aadhira.
Yet no one agreed with Vedha either.
The disappointment lingered throughout the mansion.
Meanwhile...
Naina's Apartment.
Aadhira and Naina sat comfortably on the couch, each holding a cup of coffee.
Naina looked at her suspiciously.
"So..."
Aadhira raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"So how is married life?"
"It's peaceful."
"Peaceful?"
Naina narrowed her eyes.
"That's the most boring answer anyone has ever given."
Aadhira smiled faintly.
"It is what it is."
"So..."
Naina leaned closer.
"Did your husband at least smile?"
"No."
"Talk?"
"Very little."
"Romantic?"
"No."
Naina dramatically threw herself back on the sofa.
"What kind of marriage is this?"
Aadhira chuckled.
"I don't know."
"You two are impossible."
Just then-
Aadhira's phone rang.
The caller ID displayed:
Shanaya.
Aadhira answered.
"Hello."
A cheerful voice immediately echoed.
"So..."
"Mrs. Rathore."
Aadhira sighed.
"You too?"
Shanaya laughed.
"Of course."
"I've waited twenty-four hours just to say that."
Naina quickly moved closer.
"Put it on speaker!"
Aadhira rolled her eyes but obliged.
Shanaya gasped dramatically.
"Naina!"
"My partner in crime!"
Naina grinned.
"Finally someone sensible."
The three friends burst into laughter.
Shanaya continued teasing.
"So..."
"How's the famous Mr. Iceberg?"
Aadhira looked out the window.
"He works."
"That's all?"
"He eats."
"And?"
"He sleeps."
Silence.
Then both girls burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Your husband sounds like a robot."
Aadhira couldn't help smiling.
For several minutes, they continued teasing her.
Eventually...
Shanaya's tone changed.
"Aadhira."
Her voice became serious.
Aadhira immediately noticed.
"What happened?"
"We detected multiple attempts to breach our company's encrypted servers."
The smile disappeared from Aadhira's face.
"How many?"
"Seven."
"Since this morning."
"Were they successful?"
"No."
"Our security stopped them."
Aadhira remained calm.
"Good."
"They'll try again."
Shanaya nodded.
"I think so too."
Aadhira's eyes became sharp.
"Don't report them yet."
"Catch whoever is behind it."
"I want every digital trail."
"Every IP."
"Every device."
"And once we identify them..."
She spoke without emotion.
"Hand them over to Kabir."
"I'll let him handle the rest."
Shanaya smiled knowingly.
"I already thought you'd say that."
The call ended.
Naina looked at her.
"Business?"
Aadhira simply nodded.
"Nothing we can't handle."
Rathore Group Headquarters.
The conference room buzzed with discussion.
Arjun calmly reviewed several project files while senior managers presented quarterly reports.
After nearly an hour...
He closed the final file.
"The proposal is approved."
"The remaining documents will be reviewed tomorrow."
The employees nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Once they left...
The office door suddenly opened without knocking.
Rohan Singhania walked in first.
Behind him came Siddharth Khanna and Dev Oberoi.
Rohan looked around dramatically.
"There he is!"
"The newly married man."
Arjun didn't even look up.
"What do you want?"
Rohan grinned.
"We came to check whether marriage has made you human."
Siddharth chuckled.
"So?"
"How's married life?"
"Fine."
Dev raised an eyebrow.
"Only 'fine'?"
Arjun continued typing.
"Yes."
Rohan sighed dramatically.
"I feel sorry for your wife."
"She probably has more conversations with the walls."
Even Siddharth laughed.
Arjun finally looked at them.
"Are you all done?"
Rohan smirked.
"No."
"We're waiting for the day you start smiling because of her."
Arjun looked away.
"Unlikely."
His friends exchanged knowing glances.
None of them believed him.
Evening...
Rathore Mansion.
The main door opened.
Arjun entered after another long day at work.
Inside the living room...
He noticed Aadhira had already returned.
She was quietly placing her handbag on the side table.
She acknowledged him with a polite nod.
He returned it.
Nothing more.
Dinner was served shortly afterward.
The entire family ate together.
The conversation remained mostly between the family members.
Aadhira answered only when someone directly asked her something.
After dinner...
Both returned to their room.
Arjun sat before his laptop and immersed himself in work.
Across the room...
Aadhira settled comfortably near the window.
She opened an international business journal and began reading.
The room was silent.
Only the soft tapping of Arjun's keyboard could be heard.
After nearly half an hour...
Arjun unknowingly glanced toward her.
She hadn't moved.
Completely focused.
Calm.
Elegant.
She turned another page without looking up.
For a brief moment...
He wondered what occupied her thoughts.
Then he returned to his work.
Neither of them attempted conversation.
When the night grew late...
Both quietly wished each other good night.
And slept.
The Next Morning...
As usual, Aadhira woke before sunrise.
After getting ready, she walked downstairs.
Savitri Devi, Sunita, Nandhini and Riya were already in the kitchen.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Savitri smiled gently.
"Aadhira, from today the servants will prepare breakfast."
"You don't have to trouble yourself every morning."
Aadhira smiled politely.
"It isn't trouble, Dadiji."
"I enjoy cooking."
"There will be many mornings when I'll be busy with work."
"But whenever I'm free..."
"I'd like to cook for everyone."
The women exchanged surprised glances.
There was sincerity in her voice.
Not obligation.
Savitri nodded.
"If that's what you want."
Within an hour...
The aroma of freshly prepared breakfast once again filled the mansion.
Stuffed methi parathas.
Vegetable sandwiches.
Idlis with sambar.
Fresh juice.
And hot masala chai.
Soon the family gathered around the dining table.
Once again...
Breakfast disappeared surprisingly fast.
Vivaan happily asked for another serving.
Karan jokingly complained that he would become fat if Aadhira continued cooking like this.
Even Rajveer silently appreciated the meal.
Though...
No one openly praised her.
After breakfast, everyone prepared to leave.
Aadhira picked up her handbag.
Savitri looked at her.
"Going somewhere, beta?"
"Yes, Dadiji."
"I have work."
Savitri nodded.
No one asked where.
No one asked what she did.
And Aadhira didn't volunteer the information.
With quiet determination...
She walked out of Rathore Mansion.
One by one...
The members of both powerful families left for their own worlds.
None of them knew...
That the calm woman they had just watched leave carried secrets capable of shaking both families to their very foundation.