After school, Saransh and Adhyay came home. After getting fresh, they headed downstairs.

Saransh went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. A servant served him snacks. After a few minutes, Adhyay joined him and sat beside him.

Saransh: Khana kha kar hum project par working start karte hain.
(After snacks, we can start working on the project)

Adhyay (nodding): Do you have your vacuum till now?

Saransh (grinning): Yes! Before starting the project, I will show you.

Adhyay nodded excitedly, but within seconds she masked her excitement and focused on eating.

After finishing their snacks, they moved to the living area and started working on their project.

Hours passed as they remained completely engrossed in their work. Whenever Adhyay got stuck, Saransh patiently explained things to her.

In the evening, Geeta and Arth returned home.

The moment they entered, they saw Saransh and Adhyay sitting together with charts, notes, and project materials spread all around them.

A warm smile appeared on both their faces.

Perhaps Saransh and Adhyay were not yet fully healed, but they were healing.

Saransh (looking up): Good evening, Mom. Dad.

Geeta walked over and sat in front of them. She kissed both their foreheads lovingly.

Geeta: Before starting your project, did you both eat something?

Adhyay: Yes.

Arth: Good.

Arth then took a box out of his office bag.

Arth: Saransh, here is your game.

He handed the box to him.

Saransh's eyes immediately lit up.

Saransh: New video game? Wow! Thank you.

Arth (smiling): But you have studies as well. It's your 10th standard, so no compromise with studies.

Saransh immediately hugged him.

Saransh: I promise I won't.

Geeta: Fine. Then I will set your schedule.

Saransh made a face.

Saransh: Mom...

Geeta chuckled while Adhyay tried hard not to laugh.

Arth (pointing toward the project): Ho gaya project?
(Done with your project?)

Saransh: No. Aaj ka target almost complete ho gaya hai. Ab isko properly set karna hai aur phir final work karna hai. Tomorrow we will complete it.
(No! We are done with today's target. This needs sometime for settle in. Tomorrow, we will complete it)

Geeta: Very good.

Saransh: Kal main friends ko bulaunga video game khelne ke liye.
(Tomorrow, I am inviting my friends to this game)

Geeta: No! You-

Arth (cutting her off): Yeah, sure. You can. But only for one hour.

Saransh's face brightened instantly.

Arth: After that, you have your responsibilities. Life mein responsibilities aur fun dono manage karna seekho.

Saransh nodded seriously.

Saransh: Okay, Dad.

After completing some more work on the project, both Saransh and Adhyay headed to their rooms and slept.

---

The next day, after returning from school, Saransh and Adhyay got fresh and sat at the dining table for lunch.

While eating, Saransh suddenly remembered that his friends were coming over later.

His expression changed.

Saransh's POV:

Agar mere friends ne Adhyay ko yahan dekha as my sister, pakka woh log isko tang karenge. Already pagalon ki tarah "bhabhi-bhabhi" karte rehte hain. Upar se school mein bhi isko aur bully karenge. I should do something.

Saransh's POV ended...

He sighed internally.

Saransh: Sun.

Adhyay looked up from her plate.

Adhyay: Umm... yes?

Saransh: Thodi der mein mere friends aayenge.
(My friends are coming in a while)

Adhyay: Accha. (Okay)

Saransh: Toh tu apne room se bahar mat aana.
(You stay inside your room. Don't come out)

Adhyay raised an eyebrow.

Adhyay: Kyun? (Why?)

Saransh (annoyed): Kyunki woh log pagal hain.
(They are made)

Saransh groaned dramatically.

Adhyay: Toh phir main bhi nahi milna chahti.
(I don't want to meet them)

Saransh: Good.

Both continued eating.

A few minutes later-

Adhyay: Project ka kya? (How able project?)

Saransh: Tu rest kar le. Woh log chale jayenge phir main tujhe bula lunga.
(You take rest, once, they will leave. I will call you)

Adhyay nodded.

Adhyay: Theek hai. (Okay)

After lunch, both got up.

Saransh went to arrange the gaming setup in the living room.

Meanwhile, Adhyay returned to her room.

Closing the door behind her, she placed her bag aside and sat on the bed.

Even remembering those boys calling her bhabhi made her want to roll her eyes.

She lay down on the bed. The cool air from the AC and the tiredness from school quickly took over.

Within minutes, she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Downstairs, Saransh checked the time.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.
He already knew who it was.

Saransh (excitement): Aa gaye.

He walked toward the door and opened it.

Standing outside were Rohan, Rehan and Harsh.

Harsh: Kya baat hai! Aaj toh bade khush lag rahe ho.

Saransh: Andar aa jao pehle.

Rohan (looking around dramatically): Bhabhi kahan hai?
(Where is sister-in-law?)

Saransh (rolling his eyes): Rohan...

Harsh (laughing): Saransh ke dil me (In Saransh's heart)

Rohan: Kya? Pooch hi toh raha hoon. (What? I am just asking...)

Rehan (controlling his laugh): Isko dekh ke lag raha hai aaj bhi pitne wala hai.
(I can say, he is going to get beatings)

Harsh: Bilkul. (Agreed)

Both hi-fied, looking at Rohan.

Saransh shook his head.

Saransh: Tum log kabhi nahi sudhroge. (You guys won't change)

The three boys laughed and followed him inside.

After around an hour, a servant came into the room carrying a tray.

Servant: Saransh, Sir and Ma'am said to play games for only one hour. Time is up. Sir gave me a question set. You have to attempt it.

Before Saransh could reply-

Rohan (irritated, waving his hand dismissively): Oh please! Get lost from here. You're a servant. Don't act like a boss.

The servant's face immediately hardened. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

Servant (coldly): Whatever I am-servant or boss-I'm working for the Malhotra family, not yours. So you're no one to order me. Mind your tone.

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away angrily.

An awkward silence settled for a moment.

Rehan (shrugging): Leave it yaar. Start the game.

Saransh sighed and switched off the controller.

Saransh: Sorry guys. I have to attempt the paper. I can't.

Rohan (rolling his eyes): Stop acting like this. We all know you're not going to study.

Harsh (smirking mischievously): Ahem... Ahem... Maybe he's missing bhabhi. Going to spend some special time with her in dreamland.

The three boys burst into laughter.

Rohan (laughing loudly): Dreamland!!! Real life mein toh bhav tak nahi deti.
(She doesn't value him in reality)

Saransh clenched his jaw.

Saransh (warning tone): Huh! It's enough, guys.

His friends exchanged amused looks, not realising his patience was running out.

Rehan (grinning): Dude, pata lega jaise iski maa ne pataya.
(He will hit on her, as his mother did)

The smile instantly disappeared from Saransh's face.

His eyes darkened.

A dangerous silence filled the room.

Saransh (through gritted teeth): What did you just say?

The boys didn't notice the anger boiling inside him.

Rohan (carelessly): Arrey yaar, joke tha. (Chill, it was a joke)

Saransh (firmly): Get out of my house.

All three froze.

Harsh (nervous laugh): Chill dude! We're just kidding.

Saransh: Mere dost ho. Mazak mere liye karo, not my mom.
(You are my friends, tease me, not my mom)

His voice trembled with anger.

Saransh: Mera mazak banate ho, maine kabhi kuch nahi kaha. But don't drag my family into it.
(You guys tease me, I never asked you to stop. Don't drag my family into it)

The room became tense.

Rohan (frowning): Saransh, tera ye over ho raha hai.
(You are crossing limits)

He stood up from the couch.

Rohan: Anyways, we just stated a fact. Varna itne achhe ghar mein dusri shaadi? Woh bhi teri maa?
(You think, your mom can marry and start again with this family?)

Saransh's fists tightened.

Rohan (mockingly): Main toh bolta hoon pehle se hi inka chakkar hoga. Bas tere saamne abla naari bani hogi. Jaise sirf tere father hi galat the. Tu-
(I'm telling you, they probably had something going on from the start. She must've played the victim in front of you, making it seem like your father was the only one in the wrong.)

That was it.

Something inside Saransh snapped.

Before anyone could react, he grabbed Rohan by the collar.

Rohan (shocked): Oye-!

With a powerful shove, Saransh pinned him against the wall.

THUD!

The entire room fell silent.

Fear flashed across Rohan's face.

Harsh: SARANSH!

Rehan: Oye pagal ho gaya hai kya?! (Have you gone mad?!)

Saransh wasn't listening.

His chest rose and fell rapidly.

His eyes were red with rage.

Every insult about Geeta echoed in his ears.

The accusations.

The whispers.

The judgment.

Everything came rushing back.

His grip tightened around Rohan's collar.

Saransh (furiously): One more word about my mom...

He slammed him harder against the wall.

Saransh: ...and you will be dead.

Rohan's confidence vanished completely.

For the first time, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.

Rohan (struggling): Sa-Saransh... leave me-

But Saransh's hand had already moved to his throat.

He started choking him.

Harsh (panicking): SARANSH! LEAVE HIM!

Rehan (trying to pull him back): Are you mad?! Leave him!

The two boys grabbed Saransh's shoulders and tried to pull him away.

But Saransh's grip only tightened.

Saransh (shouting): HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT MY MOM LIKE THAT?!

To be continued...