Both families arrived at the court.

Geeta (gently cupped Adhyay's cheek): Saransh, meet her. She is Adhyay.

Saransh (in casual tone): I know her mom. She was my junior.

Arth's face instantly lit up with excitement.

Arth: Arey waah! Yeh toh bahut achha ho gaya. Princess, he is Saransh. You know him, right?

Adhyay hesitantly nodded, clutching Arth's fingers tighter.

Geeta (with an emotional smile): Adhyay, baby, he is like your elder brother...Actually, he is your elder brother only.

Saransh extended his hand for a handshake.

Adhyay's eyes widened nervously. She instantly flinched and stepped back, hiding slightly behind Arth.

A small frown appeared on Arth's face seeing her reaction.

Arth (calmly): Adhyay, don't be scared, baby.

Before the awkward silence could continue, a middle-aged couple came.

Geeta turned toward Arth.

Geeta: Arth, they are my witnesses at my marriage.

Arth nodded politely and everyone headed inside for the formalities.

Throughout the entire process, Adhyay kept holding Arth's hand tightly, almost as if she feared getting lost if she let go. Arth noticed every little movement of hers and kept reassuringly rubbing her knuckles with his thumb.

After the court marriage formalities were completed, the witnesses left.

Arth brought Geeta, Saransh, and Adhyay to his house.

At the entrance, Radhika, Arth's mother, stood with moist eyes and a welcoming smile. She performed the grahpravesh rituals of Arth and Geeta lovingly.

They entered inside,

Arth (instructing servant): Take, Saransh and Geeta's luggage upstairs.

Everyone settled in the living room. Adhyay quietly sat beside Arth while Saransh leaned back on the sofa.

After a few minutes, Arth looked at Adhyay with a smile.

Arth: Adhyay, go and give a home tour to Saransh?

Adhyay immediately looked at Saransh and then at Arth. Fear flashed in her eyes. She was about to refuse softly, but before she could speak, Saransh stood up lazily.

Arth sensed that Adhyay was not comfortable around Sarash. He thought, because of this marriage.

Arth: Come on, go and show him around. And Saransh...

He turned to Saransh.

Arth (softly): Saransh, there are two rooms. Whichever you want, we'll renovate it according to your choice.

Saransh simply nodded.

Geeta (encouraging Adhyay): Go with your bhai, bacha.

Adhyay nervously nodded and stood up.
As they walked through the hallway, Adhyay spoke in an extremely low voice. Her fingers kept fidgeting with the hem of her top, while explaining each room. She avoided eye contact completely.

Saransh silently observed her trembling behaviour with an unreadable expression.

Finally, they reached the last room.
The moment Adhyay turned to leave, Saransh suddenly grabbed her arm harshly and pinned her against the wall.
Adhyay gasped in fear.

Saransh (in cold voice): Miss Nerd... Uff... my unwanted younger sister.

Adhyay's breathing became uneven.

Saransh: So listen carefully. First thing - don't tell anyone in school that you're my sister. I don't want my reputation ruined because of a scared nerd like you.

Tears instantly filled Adhyay's eyes.

Saransh (rolling his eyes): Second thing...Don't tell Mom or your father anything about me. Anything means anything. About my work, my fights, my life. You want to stay safe in school, right?

Adhyay quickly nodded with teary eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.

Saransh stared at it for a second before roughly wiping it away with his thumb.

Saransh (cold yet calm tone): Stop these tears. I'm not going to melt.

He stepped back and looked around the room casually as if nothing had happened.

Saransh (ordering): Clean your face. Let's go.

The moment he released her, Adhyay hurriedly wiped her tears with shaky hands.

Adhyay (stuttered): L-let's go...

Saransh glanced at her red eyes.

Saransh (smirking): Aww... such a good girl.

Adhyay lowered her gaze instantly.
Both of them walked downstairs.
The moment they entered the dining area.

Radhika (smiled warmly): Come kids, have lunch.

Everyone sat around the dining table.
Arth immediately noticed Adhyay's silence and discomfort. Without a word, he gently pulled her onto his lap and wrapped one protective arm around her waist.

Adhyay silently rested against him, feeling slightly safer.

Lunch began.

Arth lovingly fed Adhyay while Geeta kept watching both children emotionally.

After a while, Arth picked another bite and forwarded it toward Saransh with a playful smile.

Saransh (moved back): No thanks. I have my hands to eat.

Geeta (sighed helplessly): Saransh, stop being rude.

Arth (calmly): You have hands, I know that. But still, have it. You'll like it.

Saransh rolled his eyes dramatically but eventually ate the bite just to end the conversation.

The table again fell into silence.

Geeta noticed how Adhyay stayed glued to Arth while Saransh maintained distance from everyone.

At that moment, both Arth and Geeta silently promised themselves one thing-
No matter how long it took, they would bring happiness back into both children's lives.

A week passed.

During this entire week, Arth and Geeta tried their best to make both kids comfortable.

But both children reacted differently to pain.

Saransh pushed everyone away with rudeness, arrogance, and anger.

While, Adhyay pushed everyone away with silence, fear, and isolation.

The siblings barely talked to each other.
Adhyay never even went near Saransh in school. His friends often bullied her, yet Saransh never bothered to stop them.

Still, Arth and Geeta understood one thing clearly-
The children needed time.

Today was the court hearing for Saransh's custody.

Inside Arth and Geeta's room, Geeta paced while twisting her fingers anxiously.

Arth noticed her trembling and immediately walked toward her.

Arth (holding her shoulders softly): Calm down, Geeta. Don't worry. Everything will be okay.

Geeta (in scared tone): I can't lose Saransh... He is the reason I'm still alive.
Arth immediately pulled her into a comforting hug.

Arth: I know and trust me, nothing will happen. He'll stay with us only.

Geeta closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.

Arth (muttered softly): Now come. Let's meet him. Once the kids leave for school, we'll go to court.

Geeta nodded weakly and hummed.

Both of them walked toward Saransh's room.

They found him sitting silently on the bed, lost in deep thought.

Geeta sat beside him and gently shook his shoulder.

Geeta: Baby? Are you not ready for school?

Saransh snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her seriously.

Saransh: Today we have court.

Arth: Yes. But only Geeta and I are going.

Saransh's expression instantly hardened.

Saransh (irritated) It's about me. So I'm coming.

Geeta (cupping his face): No, baby. I know it's about you, but you're not coming. You'll go to school.

Saransh (clenched his jaw tightly): I can't trust that bastard, Mom.

The anger and hatred in his voice made Geeta emotional.
Arth stepped closer

Arth (firmly): You can trust me, Saransh. Nothing wrong will happen to you or your mom.

Geeta (smiled weakly through tears): Yes, bacha... don't you trust me?

Saransh looked at both of them silently for a few seconds.

Saransh (hugging Geeta): Okay... I'll go to school. But if he wins the case or hurts you. I'll kill him for sure.

Geeta's eyes widened, as Saransh spoke. While Arth stared at him silently, understanding just how deeply damaged the boy really was.

To be continued...