Everyone sat in the living area.

Ruhi glanced at everyone then lowered her eyes.

Her fingers twisted nervously in the hem of Saurav's T-shirt.

Ruhi: Bhai... mujhe aapse kuch kehna tha.

Vidyut (gently): Haan, Rooh. (Yes, Rooh)

Ruhi swallowed.

Ruhi: Aaj... usne mujhse ek baat kahi. (Today, he said one thing)

The room slowly fell silent.

Saurav's attention immediately shifted to her.

Anirudh's jaw tightened.

Ruhi took a shaky breath.

Her voice cracked.

Ruhi: Happy first Rakshabandhan... unwanted sister.

Silence.

Complete silence.

The smile disappeared from Saurav's face.

Anirudh's fingers curled into fists.

Vidyut froze.

Ajit (taking a deep breath): Who said this to you, Ruhi?

Ruhi (Shaking her head): I don't know...

Vidyut (calmly): Did you recognise his voice?

Ruhi: Umm... no bhai... it sounded like he was using a voice changer.

Saurav stared at Ruhi...

Saurav: Those words... did they hurt you?

He asked, searching for any hint of hurt.

Ruhi (knitting her eyebrows): His words? Not at all... I don't even know him. So, why would I accept his words?

She sighed.

Ruhi: I only told you because it might help you to investigate.

She shrugged.

As she shrugged, pain shot up through her shoulders.

She winced.

Anirudh immediately stood up and walked towards Ruhi.

Anirudh (scolding): Ye kya tha? Thoda dhayan nahi rakh sakti? Pata hai na kitna pain hai?
(What's this? Can't you be careful? Don't you know how your body is aching?)

Ruhi pouted and turned towards Ankita.

Ruhi: Masi, see, here I am not well and this Hitler is scolding me.

Anirudh closed his eyes, taking a sharp breath.

Khush (joining Ruhi): Dadi, Papa scolded me too.

He pointed towards his hand, which was covered with a bandage.

Vidyut (rolling his eyes): I always said, he is Hitler, but no one listens to this cute baby.

Everyone's eyes turned towards Vidyut.

Saurav sighed, smiling.

He stood in front of Ruhi.

Saurav: Your body is aching?

Ruhi nodded softly.

Ruhi: Headache also...

Saurav: Phir aaram karna chaye na betu...
(Then you should take a rest)

Ankita: Saurav, take her to the room. So, she can take a rest.

Adrita: Ruhi, let me apply the ointment.

Khushi: Chachi main lagau? (Can I apply?)

Niyati: Main aese karu... phu phu...

(Phu phu - Air blow)

Mihika (smiling): Let chachi take care, babies.

Khush (nodding): Bua ko huggy karu? (Can I hug bua)

Anirudh immediately replied.

Anirudh: No...

Ruhi (glaring at Anirudh): Yes...

Anirudh: Be very careful...

Khush nodded innocently. He walked towards Ruhi.

He slightly touches Ruhi's shoulder to check if he can touch.

Ruhi blinked confirming.

With a small smile, he carefully placed his small arms on her shoulders and hugged her.

He quickly broke the hug.

Khush (concerning): Pain hua kya? (Did you get hurt?)

Ruhi (pecking his cheek): My baby can never hurt me.

Niyati (order): Side khush... my turn.

Khush ignored her, she pushed him, standing in front of Ruhi.

She hugged her, just like Khush did.

Ruhi patted her cheek.

Khushi (demanding): Me too...

Niyati grumpily moved to the side.

Khushi also hugged her.

The twins too crawled towards Ruhi.

Vidyut was about to pick them to take them away.

Ruhi (frowning): Let them come bhai.

Advik stretched his arms towards Ruhi.
Twins made a crying face, for not letting them hug their bua.

Adrita: Na bache! They will hurt you. They are too small to understand anything.

Ruhi: I said na... my babies won't hurt me.

She stubbornly said. Vidyut looked at Anirudh.

Anirudh nodded, agreeing.

Vidyut stood with both and with utmost care, he first wrapped Advik's arms around Ruhi. Ruhi ruffled Advik's hair, he gushed in return.

Vidyut then followed the same with Advika.

Harsha: Madam, now go and rest without any further questions.

Saurav took her in his arms and went towards her room.

He laid her on the bed.

Adrita came into the room with her ointment.

Saurav went out of the room.

After applying the ointment.

Adrita: Sleepy?

Ruhi: Nope...

Adrita: I will send your brothers to spend some time.

Pecking her head, Adrita went out of the room.

In the living area...

Adrita saw Anirudh, Saurav, Vidyut and Harsha.

As others left for home, the kids went into their room. Mihika left for the NGO due to an emergency.

Adrita: Ruhi isn't sleepy. You should spend some time with her.

Her brothers walked inside the room.

They sat around her.

Anirudh complained about being called Hitler...

Ruhi (chuckling): Dada, that you are...

Vidyut: And you can't complain about it to us.

Anirudh gave a sharp look at Vidyut.

Vidyut (smiling nervously): Look.... Are you trying to scare me for being honest?

Anirudh: Why do you always wish to get beaten up?

Vidyut (rolling his eyes): Ye lo... phir se damkana... (look, again threatening)

Ruhi was giggling over the conversation. Saurav was silently staring at her and massaging her hair to give her comfort.

Slowly, the voice of her laugh faded...

Her eyelids became heavy.

Midway through Vidyut's sentence, her head tilted slightly to one side.

She had fallen asleep.

The two of them immediately lowered their voices.

Saurav gently pulled the blanket over her.

Anirudh brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.

Vidyut adjusted the pillow beneath her neck.

Adjusting the AC temperature and turning off the lights. They stepped out of the room.

In the living area...

Harsha was sitting silently, lost in thought.

Anirudh, Saurav and Vidyut went on to sit on the sofa, pulling her out of thought.

Harsha: Ruhi?

Saurav: She is sleeping.

Harsha (nervously): I was thinking about something...

Vidyut: Hmm...

Adrita came and sat with them.

Harsha: Ruhi's friend Ivana...

Confusion crawled over their faces.

Harsha: I don't know if it's right or not but...

She took a breath.

Harsha: It's been a long there is no contact or anything from her end. I mean she is her best friend. Ruhi is going through a lot. Her other friend Navya came here to meet Ruhi. Regularly, she calls us, asking about Ruhi. Today also, after the news. She called asking for Ruhi. She wanted to come here and meet her but due to the festival. Relatives were at her place. So, she said she will come after dinner or tomorrow. But there is nothing from Ivana's end.

Anirudh gave her a confused look.

Anirudh: Her father is calling me regularly asking for Ruhi and if any support is needed.

Harsha (with sharp breath): That's my concern... Ivana is her friend but she is not trying to contact or meet her but her father has been calling regularly. I felt this weird.

The room grew quiet.

Vidyut's expression turned thoughtful.

He leaned back against the sofa.

She looked at everyone.

Harsha: Not even a single call from Ivana.

Adrita nodded slowly.

Adrita: I thought maybe she was giving Ruhi some space but being best friends...

Harsha shook her head.

Harsha: That's what I thought too.

She paused.

Harsha: But then Navya kept calling... asking if Ruhi had eaten, if she was awake, whether she needed anything. She came to meet Ruhi. She told Nayan about Ruhi having thoughts that she felt burdened and unwanted.

She looked at Anirudh.

Harsha: And then there's Ivana's father...

Anirudh nodded.

Anirudh: He has called me almost every day.

Saurav frowned.

Saurav: What does he ask?

Anirudh: Whether Ruhi is recovering... if we need any help... whether the police have found anything.

Vidyut's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.

Silence...

Some minutes later, Mihika hurriedly walked into the house.

Saurav immediately held her hand.

Saurav: Calm down and take a breath.

Taking a deep breath...

She sat on the sofa with a file. Saurav sat beside her.

Mihika: I was checking Ruhi's maternal family history at the NGO.

Curiosity grew...

Mihika (sighing): Sarika Rajput... Ruhi's mother... Her surname before marriage was Chopra.

Vidyut nodded, asking her to continue and Saurav held her hand, giving her support.

Mihika: Sarika's sister - Sheetal Chopra

She glanced at the file...

Mihika: Sarika's sister, Sheetal Chopra... is married to Nirvan Joshi.

She opened the file and slid a document across the table.

Mihika: And Nirvan Joshi... He is one of the trustee members of Ruhi's college.

The room went deathly silent.

Harsha's hand instinctively flew to her mouth.

Adrita stared at the file in disbelief.

Anirudh slowly looked at Mihika.

Anirudh (quietly): Are you sure?

Without saying a word, Mihika pushed the certified family records towards him.

Mihika: I verified it twice before coming here.

Anirudh scanned the papers.

Every name matched.

Every relationship was documented.

Saurav exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face.

Saurav: Which means...

Vidyut completed his sentence.

Vidyut: Ruhi's maternal family knew exactly which college she was studying in.

Everyone was quiet.

Harsha whispered.

Harsha: But we had no idea.

Mihika shook her head.

Mihika: No... According to the NGO records, Sarika severed all ties after her marriage.

Anirudh placed the file on the table.

His expression had become unreadable.

Anirudh: Does Nirvan Joshi know who Ruhi is?

Mihika looked down.

Mihika: That is what we don't know yet.

Vidyut's eyes hardened.

Vidyut: I will check every record. His work in college. His family. His movements. Everyone who regularly meets him. Everyone who has access to student records.

Saurav looked toward Ruhi's closed bedroom door.

His voice was calm, but cold.

Saurav: Unwanted sister...

He mumbled.

Mihika: Because of this, I went to check Sarika's maternal records at the NGO.

To be continued...