Chapter 23 A Day Away
Sunday morning...
For the first time in weeks...
No one was in a hurry.
Rajveer folded his newspaper before looking around the breakfast table.
"I've made a decision."
Everyone looked up.
"We've all been buried in work."
"So today..."
"...we're going to the Rathore farmhouse."
Karan's eyes lit up.
"A picnic?"
Rajveer smiled.
"Yes."
"Nobody is allowed to bring office work."
Vikram sighed dramatically.
"There goes my peaceful Sunday."
Mahendra laughed.
"That's exactly why we're going."
Even Arjun didn't argue.
Seeing this, Karan whispered to Riya,
"Miracles do happen."
---
Two hours later...
The Rathore family's convoy arrived at the farmhouse.
The property overlooked a beautiful lake surrounded by greenery.
Fresh air.
Birdsong.
A perfect escape from the city.
The younger members immediately disappeared toward the open field.
Karan carried a cricket bat over his shoulder.
"Teams!"
"No excuses."
Riya folded her arms.
"If I'm with you, we're definitely losing."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm the star player."
"You got out on the first ball last time."
"That was strategy."
Everyone laughed.
---
Meanwhile...
The elders settled beneath a large gazebo.
Savitri smiled as she watched her grandchildren.
"This place hasn't felt this lively in years."
Devayani nodded in agreement.
---
Karan looked toward Aadhira.
"Bhabhi!"
"You have to play."
She looked genuinely surprised.
"I haven't played cricket in years."
"Perfect."
"So we'll blame your rustiness if we lose."
Aadhira let out a small laugh.
"That's not very encouraging."
"It wasn't supposed to be."
---
The teams were decided.
Arjun...
Aadhira...
Vivaan...
Against...
Karan...
Riya...
Aditya.
"Ready?" Karan shouted.
"Always," Arjun replied.
---
The match began amidst laughter and playful arguments.
Karan appealed for every ball.
"OUT!"
Vivaan shook his head.
"It didn't even hit the stumps."
"It would've..."
"...emotionally."
Even Rajveer laughed at the ridiculous explanation.
---
When it was Aadhira's turn to bat...
She held the bat awkwardly.
"I warned you."
"I'm out of practice."
Karan grinned.
"This will be easy."
He bowled confidently.
To everyone's surprise...
Aadhira connected perfectly.
The ball flew past everyone.
Straight to the boundary.
Silence.
Then...
Vivaan jumped excitedly.
"Four!"
Karan stood frozen.
"...Lucky shot."
Aadhira smiled innocently.
"I think so too."
The next ball...
Another boundary.
Riya covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
"Karan..."
"I thought you said she'd be easy."
"I was... testing her."
"Of course you were."
---
By the end of the match...
Nobody even remembered the score.
Everyone was laughing too much.
As they walked back...
Vivaan quietly fell into step beside Aadhira.
"Bhabhi."
"Hmm?"
"...You should come next time too."
She looked at him.
"If I'm invited."
"You are."
Without hesitation.
The answer came from not only Vivaan...
But Rajveer as well.
"You'll always be invited."
For a brief moment...
Aadhira couldn't respond.
Instead...
She simply smiled.
A real one.
---
From a distance...
Arjun watched the scene unfold.
His grandparents.
His father.
His uncle.
Even Vivaan.
Somehow...
Without trying...
Aadhira had become part of every conversation.
She wasn't forcing herself into the family.
The family...
Was slowly making a place for her.
Arjun looked away.
He didn't understand why...
But seeing her smile...
Made the farmhouse feel warmer.
---
As the sun slowly began to set...
The family gathered near the lakeside for tea.
Laughter echoed across the quiet countryside.
For the first time in many years...
Aadhira wasn't thinking about the past.
She simply sat among them...
Enjoying the present.
Far away...
Someone watched a photograph of the Rathore family's outing appear on a mobile phone screen.
The smile on their face slowly disappeared.
"They're getting closer..."
The phone was switched off.
"They need to be separated."
End of Chapter 23