The morning rays gently entered into the room, casting a golden glow around.

Piya wakes up and finds herself nestled in Aryansh's embrace. His hand wrapped around her waist and face buried in the crook of her neck while a peaceful smile gracing his lips. She slightly moves aside and raises her hand to caress his stubble cheek, and suddenly a playful impulse takes over her. She moves closer and gently bit his nose while suppressing her giggle.

She bit his nose twice but when she sees him waking up, shut her eyes to pretend to be asleep.

Aryansh's face twitched in irritation when his nose was bitten. He open the eyes and sees Piya's sleeping face. First, he smiles on seeing her closer to him but then notices a faint trace of a grin on her lips.

Deciding to join in the fun, Aryansh tightens the embrace around her waist and pulls her closer. He began to nuzzle her cheek with his nose, his warm breath  sends a ticklish feeling against her skin.

Piya's breath gets heavier when his finger roams on her stomach near the navel. She tries to control herself while Aryansh is enjoying her suffering. He removes the hand for a minute to fool her. When she believed that he stopped, he playfully bites her apple-like cheek.

Ahhh

Priya let out a small shriek and looked up at him with angry eyes and a pout. She rubs her cheek while complaining,

Ouch, Baby. That was not good

Aryansh chuckle, his eyes twinkling with mischief. 

Just getting a little payback for that nose bites, wifey, he says with a grin.

Priya couldn't help but smile despite her feign irritation. 

Though it was just a few days separation between them but it felt like an eternity. She couldn't imagine her life without him. Aryansh understood her unsaid words seeing her dazy eyes so to bring the normalcy, he bites her nose.

You're impossible

She murmured and hugged him. She feels a wave of contentment on feeling him near her. He also tightened his hold to keep her as close as possible. After sometime, she tilt the head to look up at him, her eyes sparkling with affection while confessing her feelings.

I Love You

Aryansh heard those words uncountable times from Piya but every time his heart skips a beat. He feels eternal satisfaction whenever she voices out her love. There's something special about that.

Love you till infinity

He replies while kissing her forehead with the affection.

Awwww

She pulls his cheeks which makes him smile. He shakes his head on her antics but not before locking their lips.

**************************

Everyone gathered around the breakfast table and waited for Piya's arrival. The conversation is buzzing around how to contact Aryansh and at the same time, Piya comes and calls her mother-in-law.

Maa

Sneha turns her head to see Piya and astonishes to see the person standing beside her daughter-in-law. Sneha rose from her seat with the shocked expression. Her heart swells with the intense emotion while tears start flowing from her eyes. She rushes and takes the other person in a hug to ensure that he is not her hallucination and actually standing in front of her.

Aryanshhhhhh

Hey Maa

Aryansh came along with the Piya to surprise the family but on seeing his mother's reaction, he feels guilty. He didn't mean to make them suffer but unintentionally it happened.

He sees everyone's face which is reflecting pure happiness and satisfaction on seeing him.

All were scared and continuously praying for his safe return and now when he is standing sound and fine, they cannot control themselves. Their faces are beaming with tears of joy.

Where were you, marshmallow?

Sneha subconsciously called his childhood name. In return, she didn't receive any response from him but hears another question from Piya.

Marshmallow? When? How?

That's my childhood name, Aryansh replies.

His mother realizes what she said and sees Aryansh sending the glare towards Piya on calling him marshmallow.

Okay. Answer Maa, marshmallow. She is asking you something.

There's no effect of his glare on Piya because she is laughing her heart out after hearing his childhood secret name. She never imagined he would be called a marshmallow. Everyone in the family laughs seeing Aryansh's annoyed face and Piya's teasing smile.

How are you my child?

I'm good Grandpa

Aryansh meets everyone and Shekhawat mansion once again echoes with the laughter and funny banter.

Bhai, I'm so happy that you are back

Atharv says once the breakfast is done. Aryansh gives him a smile as he leaves for the office but his smile turns to frown on receiving another unwanted reply.

Me too, Marshmallow

Piya laughs on seeing him going away without replying to her but that laughter dies when there's a message notification on her phone from him.

Laugh, how much you want. I'll see you at night. Be ready for the punishment, Jaana....

Piya regrets her teasing now.

**********************

Why didn't you tell this earlier?

Siya, that's none of your business

Siya was in the attic as her mother told her to clean out the junk and bring out the old clothes. It was a tedious task, but Siya was determined to get it over with. As she lifted a dusty bundle, her fingers brushed against something solid. She pulled out an old, leather-bound file, its surface cracked with age.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the file. Her eyes widened as she scanned the documents and letters inside. The contents revealed something that shattered her world—Piya was not her real sister. The file contained adoption papers, and family records.

Siya clutched the file to her chest and rushed downstairs. Her mother was in the kitchen so she went to her for answers.

Maa, why didn't you ever tell that Piya di is not your real daughter

SIYA

Siya's voice was a mix of shock and anger. Without a word, Rekha Sharma's hand came down sharply on Siya's cheek.

I hate you

Siya ran off to her room in anger. The slap from her mother really hurts. Though her father equally loved them but her mother is always inclined towards her sister. She was always compared with her sister and received taunts from her mother.

Her heart is filled with agony and dislike towards her sister due to her mother's reaction. Because of Piya, who is not her real sister, she is slapped by her mother.

The sting of the slap, coupled with the weight of the revelation, is too much for Siya. She is feeling a torrent of emotions - betrayal, anger, and a deep-seated hatred for her sister.

The entire life she had been overshadowed by her presence, and now it seemed that even the truth is a cruel twist in the ongoing saga of favoritism."I hate everyone!" Siya screams, tears streaming down her face.

She is angry at Piya for being the center of attention, at her mother for the slap and the secrets, and at herself for feeling so lost and betrayed.  She feels as though her entire life had been a lie, with Piya's presence a constant reminder of her own perceived inadequacies.

At the Shekhawat Mansion, Piya is oblivious to the storm brewing within Siya.