Two days later, when Shikha announced that she was leaving, everyone looked at her in surprise—especially Vairagya and Rajveer.They had been waiting for the moment when Shikha would team up with Ajit and execute some scheme, but here she was insisting on going back.
"Stay a few more days, dear… you're on vacation anyway… even Sarangi won't like it," Shanti ji said affectionately.
"No aunty… I have to go," Shikha said simply and started eating her breakfast. Her eyes were lowered, and her hands were trembling slightly.
Rajveer was observing her closely. He knew Shikha wasn't someone who stayed this quiet. Even when she was sick, she was always bubbly and talkative.Meanwhile, Karnika was staring at Rajveer, and seeing him notice Shikha, she turned her face away in anger. Rudraksh noticed this quite clearly.
Vairagya was completely focused on Sarangi, so he didn't notice anyone else.
After breakfast, as Rajveer was about to leave, Karnika called out from behind, "Raj…"
Rajveer turned to look at her.
"Um… would you drop me to college today as well…?" Karnika asked hesitantly.
Rajveer glanced at his watch and said, "I would, but I have to go with sir today… please wait, I'll ask the driver to drop you…"Hearing this, Karnika's face fell slightly.
"Not Raj…" Karnika said softly.
Rajveer stopped. A slight frown appeared on his forehead.
"I need to talk to you…" Karnika said, avoiding eye contact.
"Okay, go ahead…" Rajveer replied.
"Not here…" Karnika looked around nervously.
"Then where?"
"Can we go somewhere else…?" Karnika took a deep breath.
"Karnika ji, is everything okay…? If there's a problem, tell me—I'll inform sir…" Rajveer was confused, thinking it must be something serious.
"No Raj… there's no problem… just… can you meet me this evening?" Karnika asked, emphasizing her words.
"I'll ask sir…" Rajveer replied, feeling it wasn't right to do anything without checking with Vairagya.
"Without telling bhai…" Karnika said immediately.
"But Karnika ji…" Rajveer was caught in a dilemma and didn't know what to say.
"Please Raj…" Karnika looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Ahh… alright, I'll try…" Rajveer finally agreed.
Karnika smiled
Just then, Vairagya came outside, and Karnika left with the driver.
"Shall we go, Raj…?" Vairagya asked, noticing Rajveer lost in thought.
"Yes, sir…" Rajveer replied.
"Is something bothering you…?" Vairagya asked, sensing the change in Rajveer's expression.
"No… it's just Shikha di…" Rajveer said in a low voice.
"Di? Since when did you start calling Miss Shikha 'di'?" Vairagya asked with slight surprise.
"I've always seen her as a sister… it's she who doesn't stop her antics. Anyway, today she seemed really odd. Like, I've never seen her this quiet before… I hope Ajit didn't do anything wrong to her…" Rajveer expressed his concern.
"But last night, she went to a party with her friend, didn't she? That's what Sarangi told me," Vairagya said.
"I don't know why, but something just doesn't feel right about her…" Rajveer repeated his doubt.
"I'll ask Sarangi to talk to her… don't worry, nothing wrong will happen…" Vairagya reassured him.
"I hope so…" Rajveer nodded, though the uneasiness about Shikha still lingered in his heart.
Meanwhile, Shikha was silently crying in her room. She had stuffed a cloth into her mouth so that no sound would escape. Her body was covered in bruises—blue and purple marks that bore witness to the brutality of the previous night. She was shattered by pain and humiliation.
"Shikha…" Sarangi called out, and Shikha quickly removed the cloth from her mouth and started washing her face.
"Shikha, what happened? Open the door…" Sarangi called from outside.
"I was in the washroom…" Shikha said as she opened the door. Her eyes were swollen, and her face had turned pale.
"Were you crying…?" Sarangi asked, seeing her red eyes, her voice full of concern.
"No way… Shikha knows how to make others cry, not cry herself…" Shikha replied with a fake laugh, trying to hide her emotions.
"But your eyes..." Sarangi was still suspicious.
"Oh, I just tried a new kajal, but it didn't suit me, that's why..." Shikha said, coming inside and dodging the question.
"Okay... but why are you leaving so soon? I barely got to spend any time with you…" Sarangi asked sadly.
"Yeah, but I have to go, Saru. I've got some assignments to submit... and how long can I keep living here like a burden? I'm sure your in-laws must be getting uncomfortable..." Shikha replied bitterly, Ajit's threats still echoing in her mind.
"What are you saying, Shikha… No one feels that way... Everyone is upset you're leaving..." Sarangi tried to explain.
"Yeah, but I still have to leave… this is your in-laws' house, not mine. I don't have a lifetime license to stay here..." Shikha smiled faintly and hugged Sarangi. "I'm very happy for you, Saru… This family, these people, they're all really nice. You deserve them…"
As she hugged her, Shikha's tears fell silently on Sarangi's shoulder.
"Shikha... are you sure you're okay?" Sarangi asked, sensing something strange.
"Absolutely... Now come on, help me pack. You helped me unpack when I arrived, now it's time to repay that favor..." Shikha changed the topic and started packing. Sarangi began helping her too.
By evening, Shikha was ready with her bag. Everyone was giving her gifts and blessings as they bid her farewell. Sarangi's eyes were filled with tears. No matter how Shikha was, she had always been her best friend—always stood up for her. Even though she had often spoken harshly, if anyone had tried to insult Sarangi, Shikha would've been the first to slap them.
"Come on, guys... I'm going home, not to a funeral..." Shikha tried to joke, but Shanti ji scolded her, "Shikha… don't say such inauspicious things while leaving."
Shikha just smiled, but there was a strange sadness in her eyes.
"Rudra, son, go drop her off," Shanti ji told Rudraksh.
"No, aunty..."
"Quiet!" Shanti ji glared at him.
"Come on, didi..." Rudraksh smiled as he picked up her bag.
Shikha looked at everyone one last time, wiped her moist eyes, and started to leave quickly. Just then, Vairagya and Rajveer entered the house. Shikha glanced at them once and hurried ahead.
"Shikha di..." Rajveer called out behind her. Vairagya too looked at her. Shikha, who was always eager to flirt with him, was now walking away without even a word.
"Shikha di, you're leaving?" Rajveer asked, a little surprised.
"Absolutely," Shikha replied with a smile.
"But why so soon, di...? You didn't even wait for me to come home?" Rajveer asked with slight disappointment.
"I'll miss my train, Raj... Sorry, Rajveer..." Shikha said hurriedly.
"Didi..." Rajveer just watched her go, unable to understand this sudden change in her behavior.
Rudraksh loaded her luggage and opened the passenger door, "Please, didi."
Shikha silently got in.
"Rudraksh, you go back. I'll drop her," Rajveer said, taking the keys from his hand.
Rudraksh looked at him and walked back inside. Rajveer sat in the driver's seat, glanced at Shikha, and started the car.
When Rudraksh came inside, Shanti ji asked, "Son, why did you come back? How will Shikha go alone?"
"Raj went with her," he said, then looked at Karnika whose fists were clenched tight. Rudraksh smiled.
"Raj...? But he just came back from the office! Why send him? The poor kid already works with Vairagya, studies too… he needs some rest at least..." Shanti ji expressed concern.
"I told him not to go, mom, but he didn't listen… so what could I do?" Rudraksh flopped onto the sofa.
Vairagya went to his room and made a phone call, "I've sent a photo. Get me all the information about her, including her current location… as soon as possible."
"Water..." Sarangi called from behind.
Vairagya took the glass of water and walked to the balcony.
"He talks like he's some kind of mafia… and if I overhear anything, it's like the apocalypse will arrive..." Sarangi pouted as she watched him go.
Vairagya changed his clothes and came back to sit on the sofa. By then, Rajveer had also returned and gone straight to his room.
Sarangi brought tea for everyone—Sarvam ji, Rudraksh, Vairagya, and Rajveer. The men's gathering was about to begin.
Taking a sip of tea, Sarvam ji asked, "So son, how's your work going?"
"All good, Dad…" Vairagya replied flatly.
"Emotionless creature…" Sarvam ji muttered.
Rajveer came and, instead of sitting next to Vairagya, sat beside Rudraksh. He didn't consider himself worthy to sit next to Vairagya.
"Do I have thorns on me, Raj…?" Vairagya teased him.
"No sir, but..."
"Vairagya..." Vairagya corrected him.
"No, Vairagya, but I don't think I'm worthy enough yet to sit next to you..." Rajveer said.
Sarvam ji laughed, "If you keep acting like this, everyone will run away from you, you know? Can't you be a little more affectionate?"
"This is my nature, Dad… I can't change it..." Vairagya said, scrolling through his phone.
"Sarangi beta, the tea is really good, one more cup..." Sarvam ji asked Sarangi for another serving.
"You won't get it..." Vairagya interrupted.
"I wasn't asking you, I asked my daughter-in-law..." Sarvam ji replied. By then, Sarangi had come near them.
"You have diabetes, Dad... You shouldn't be consuming so much sugar," Vairagya added again, firm in his tone.
"Nothing happens with one cup..." Sarvam ji waved off his concern and turned to Sarangi. "Beta, one more cup of tea..."
"Mr. Rajvansh, enough Papa... You really shouldn't drink too much tea. It'll affect your health," Sarangi said with a smile, which made Vairagya smile too.
"You've joined this health-police group too now?" Sarvam ji pouted like a child.
"Your health comes first, Papa. I'll bring you tea without sugar, sugarless..." Sarangi said gently.
"But beta..."
"No ifs or buts, Papa..." Sarangi gently scolded him. Rajveer and Rudraksh chuckled at the interaction.
Turning to Rudraksh, Sarvam ji asked, "And you, young man... how's your studying going?" Rudraksh's smile instantly disappeared.
"It's... going... I mean... it's going on," he mumbled, nervously darting his eyes around, looking for a way out.
"Is it moving at a turtle's pace or a rabbit's?" Sarvam ji teased.
"Turtle's..." he muttered, hanging his head.
"Vairagya, take him to the office with you from now on. Let him learn some work too," Sarvam ji said.
"I don't have any interest in turning my office into a playground, Dad..." Vairagya shot back, making Rudraksh sulk again.
Eventually, Sarvam ji got his second cup—sugarless—and sipped it with a pout.
Meanwhile, Vairagya began helping Rajveer and Rudraksh with their studies. In the kitchen, Sarangi, Shanti ji, and Karnika were busy preparing dinner.
"Karnika, why don't you also go study with your brother? Mom and I will manage the kitchen..." Sarangi suggested.
"Why are you trying to get me executed, bhabhi? Studying with bhai is like a deer sitting in front of a lion... the moment your focus shifts, punishment starts. No way! I'm not taking that risk. Anyway, it's not like I'm dreaming of becoming a collector. My dream is simple—to become a designer. I don't need that much studying for that," Karnika replied with a dramatic pout.
Sarangi chuckled.
"What's your dream, bhabhi?" Karnika asked curiously.
"A happy family..." Sarangi replied softly.
"That's everyone's dream… but don't you have any personal goal, something just for yourself?" Karnika leaned in, more curious.
"No... I don't really have a dream," Sarangi said, lowering her head.
"Okay... but you must have some hobby?"
"Um... hobby... I like writing stories. And reading too..." she said quietly.
"Then why don't you write your stories? You can post them online too... You could become a great writer," Karnika encouraged her enthusiastically.
"Come on... it's just a hobby. Who's going to read stories written by an ordinary girl like me?" Sarangi replied, her voice filled with self-doubt.
"Hey, what are you saying—" Karnika began, but before she could finish, they heard a voice from outside.
"Hey, is the food ready yet?" It was Sarvam ji calling from the other room.
From the kitchen, Shanti ji replied, "Yes, it's done. You all can set the table now."
Vairagya and Sarvam ji got up to set the table. Rajveer was about to stand too, but Vairagya subtly gestured him to stay seated.