Sanvika stood in front of her family house that evening, looking up at it. The place she grew up in. She was not sure what she was doing there. That too immediately after the encounter with her mother. But her ma had asked her to drop by. Also, Sanvika was feeling pretty low after what happened with Vivaan. Somehow she ended up here...

She was about to declare this as a terrible idea and was about to return when a luxurious car came to stop in front of her. The window was rolled down, and her father beamed at her from inside. "Sonu..." He called.

Unlike his wife, Mukesh Singhania was a very affectionate person. He always addressed his daughters with pet names. Prathyuksha was 'Paddu' and Sanvika was 'Sonu'. Whereas Nirmala always called them with their full names even when they were kids. The mother was the strict one in the house. Their father liked to spoil his princess daughters. His excess love and affection always helped them escape their mother's rage. And he always showered them with gifts. Whatever they want, he will buy it for them - even before they even ask for it.

"Papa," Sanvika stopped seeing her father.

Mukesh got out of the car. He suddenly had tears in his eyes. He could never digest the fact that his daughter left him. He missed her a lot. He had tried to contact her, but she had changed her phone number. "You are here." He said in happiness. "You are back..."

Sanvika shifted from one leg to another. "I am not back. I just... was in town. Ma said you want to see me. So..."

Mukesh was unsettled by this. "You did not want to see me?"

Sanvika honestly could not look at her father and say she did not want to see him. She wanted to see him. She wanted to see her mother as well. Prathyuksha too, even when they were not that close as sisters.

"I missed you," Sanvika said, in a soft voice, unable to meet eyes with her father.

"I missed you to death, Sonu... Why are you doing this to your poor father?" He hugged Sanvika. She put her hands around her father and could not stop a tear that rolled down her cheek.

"Come on in... Come in..." Mukesh told, leaving the hug.

" Papa...." Sanvika hesitated, looking troubled. "I need to leave."

"Oh, you are not going to go anywhere. I will not let you go anywhere anymore. You belong in this house."

"No, I don't. And this is why I did not want to keep in contact or come visit you. I don't want to be here. And I have a life in Goa, a business that I am responsible for."

"Yes... Yes. I saw photos of the place. I have to say I am very proud of my daughter. To be able to run a place all by herself." Sanvika blushed. It did mean a lot to her that her father was proud of her. "After all, you are Mukesh Singhania's daughter," Mukesh continued. "Bussiness is in your blood." Sanvika smiled.

"Come on in any way." Her father insisted. "You can't come to the gate of your house and leave. Come in... Stay a night. You can stay a few days." Sanvika shook her head. Mukesh saw the look in her eyes and his hope fell. "Hm... at least come have dinner, beta." He requested. Seeing her father's pleading eyes, Sanvika could not refuse. She nodded.

They walked in chatting.

Inside there was everyone in the family. Ma, Prathyuksha and even Prathyuksha's husband Tarun. There was a baby in Tarun's hand. And a toddler ran around the living room. Sanvika had no idea that she had become an aunt in the time she was away. She looked at Prathyuksha in surprise.

"What did you expect?" Prathyuksha asked her, "You have been gone for almost four years." She introduced Tarun to Sanvika. Also, Sanvika met her niece and baby nephew for the first time. Advika and Avyan.

Nirmala was being a wallflower with a grim face. She did not partake in anything and left for the kitchen to instruct the maid.

Sanvika was lead to her old room. Upon entering, it was so nostalgic for her that it almost brought tears to her eyes. "Ma was very particular about keeping everything the same," Prathyuksa said. "See... all your clothes are here." She opened the door to the huge wardrobe, where there were hundreds of expensive outfits. "I really wanted your peacock blue one-piece. I asked Ma if I can have it. She almost killed me for asking..." Prathyuksha covertly eyed the blue dress. But Sanvika was not paying attention. She was staring at the framed photo on the bedside table. Prathyukha saw that and came to her. "Oh yeah... You both look so adorable in this... Vivaan and you." It was a photo of Vivaan and Sanvika when they were five years old.

"Who knew these cute adorable kids will grow up and have sex," Prathyuksha commented suddenly, breaking the sweet moment.

"We did not have sex," Sanvika said annoyed. "And, di... what we do or not do is none of your business."

"Okay... In my opinion, Vivaan is the best guy for you." She went on to look through Sanvika's wardrobe. "He tolerates you. I mean, you two have been always together, since forever. Hey, can I have this?" She held up a pink dress from the wardrobe.

"Take whatever you want," Sanvika told her. "I have no interest in these anymore."

"Really? Actually?" Prathyuksha asked. "You don't care if I take even your favourite white dress?"

"Yes, I don't care. Just take whatever you want." Sanvika sat down on the bed and took the framed photo in her hand. She opened her bag and began to put that in. Memories were all that she wanted to take with her. She went through her desk drawers and found her old journal. Opening it, she saw a photo of Vivaan and her in school uniforms. Age 16. It was taken by one of their school friends on an event day. Vivaan had his arm around Sanvika's shoulder. And he was smiling his carefree smile. And Sanvika was looking at Vivaan instead of the camera.

Prathyuksha came closer and saw the photo. Sanvika quickly closed the journal, but Prathyuksha knelt on the ground beside her. "Tell me honestly. You had a crush on Vivaan at that point, right? When you guys were fifteen – sixteen."

Sanvika just plainly looked at Prathyuksha without giving her a proper answer.

"Also... I really wanted to ask. Earlier at the hotel, what did you mean when you said Ma knows why you left home? Is there actually something behind your sudden madness? Did you and Ma have a fight? Is that why you left?"

"I did not 'fight' with Ma."

"Then..."

Prathyuksha looked at Sanvika's face with curiosity. Sanvika contemplated if she can tell Prathyuksha. But she cannot bring it up into her lips. She did not tell Vivaan, then why will she tell Prathyuksha?

"Nothing, never mind." She smiled. "Seems like the dinner is ready. Let's go...." She got up to go outside the room.

"Arey... But tell me, no..." Prathyuksa ran behind her.

When she reached the dinner table, Sanvika froze. The dishes on the table, most of them, no, almost all of them were her favourites. She looked at her mother who looked cold and pretending like she was not the one who gave instructions to the kitchen staff.

The dinner table was tense. Tarun was trying to crack jokes and make the atmosphere lighter. But the tension between Sanvika and Nirmala was palpable. Sanvika was being too polite to not eat too much, at her own house. Nirmala said out loud, "Prathyuksha, tell Sanvika that she need not try to be graceful and eat less. As she says, she is a guest. And we want our guests to be fully fed."

"I am not that hungry..." Sanvika mumbled.

"Prathyuksha, tell your sister that it is impolite to refuse food at someone else's house."

Sanvika lightly frowned.

"Come on, eat some more, child." Their father also insisted. "See how mother has made sure everything is stuff that you like."

"I did nothing. It's just a usual dinner." Nirmala set her fork down and adjusted her hair. Watching her mother, suddenly Sanvika was filled with anger and resentment. The event that she had buried inside her resurfaced. She pushed the plate away from her. "I am done."

"Prathyuksha, tell your sister..."

"She does not need to tell me anything," Sanvika yelled, making Tarun jump slightly in shock. "She is not your pigeon." She grabbed her bag from the floor. "I am leaving."

"Sonu..." Mukesh jumped up.

"Sorry, papa..." She said as she moved to the door.

Mukesh ran after her. "Sonu, Sonu..." Outside, he grabbed her elbow and stopped her. She turned to him, "Papa, I don't have an issue with you. You can come to visit me in Goa if you want to. Whenever. But for now, let me go..."

"No. Wait..." he said and put his hand in his pockets and fetched out his wallet. "Let me give you some money at least. Or better, shall I invest in your restaurant. We can make it bigger, better. Do some interior, and attract a better crowd."

Sanvika stepped away from her father. "No. Don't do that. I like the way it is. I don't want a penny of your money. If you try to interfere in my life again, I will run away somewhere else." She walked backwards. "Bye, papa..." She turned around. And Mukesh watched her disappear into the night.