***Veer's POV.***

After waving goodbyes to everyone, I took an early flight to Chandigarh for home. As much as my Mom is eager to see me, the same is my condition too. It has been ages since I had food made by her or she caressed my head in her lap. It is the most peaceful place in my life.

She is the most precious person in my life.

So as soon as I am out of the airport and see her waiting there with my name card, I rush towards her and take her in my arms.

"Hey, leave my wife, stranger. Who do you think you are?" Dad says, and I look at him with a frown.

"Come on, Dad. Stop joking. You do recognize me, don't you?" I ask.

"Umm... Shravan." He says and I look at him like he has lost it.

"Stop it, Shaurya. Enough teasing my son. I knew as soon as he hugged me that he was my Veeru." Mom says and pinches my cheek.

"Welcome home, son." Dad says and hugs me.

"Where is Siya?" I ask.

"She is holding the fort." Mom says, "Come, let's go home."

I put my arms around her shoulder as we walked towards the car and I asked, "How is Nani?"

"She is just fine now. Aru told me that she was going to visit them soon." Mom says.

"Why not now?" I ask.

"Arey, she wants to meet you. Then she has to shop for some things that your Nani has ordered her to bring. So she will leave in a week. So get ready. We are going to Shimla tomorrow morning." Mom says.

"That soon?" I ask.

"Yes. When your Dadi knew you were coming, she asked me to come with you home immediately. I had to somehow tell her that you need a day's rest at least. But she asked us to come as soon as possible. Everyone missed you very much, dear." Mom says with a pout.

"Aww! I missed you all, too." I say and give her a kiss on the cheek, "But after going to Shimla, I am taking a break from flights. It has been a month or two since I have been moving continuously from one place to another. So I need a break for a while."

"Talk about not going anywhere for a year or two. You know what? A decade or two." She says and I open the car door for her as I chuckle.

"If it is in your Mom's hand, she will even plan with your Dadi to tie you down here forever. By doing you know what?" Dad whispers to me.

"What are you saying, Shaurya?" Mom asks, looking at him with suspicion.

"Nothing, dear. Veer, sit with your Mom." Dad says.

I do as he says, and he sits in the front with the driver. Mom asks me a million questions at a time, and I try to answer all of them as much as I can in between. Then I tell her how everyone is faring in their new world. She praises every one of her nieces and nephews and decides to call them all later.

When we reach home, a pair of arms ambushes me at the entrance with a loud call out, "Bhai!"

I take Siya in my arms and swing her around like I used to do when we were little and ask, "How is my baby?"

"Oh, Bhai! Stop calling me that now. I am a big girl now." She says.

"But not big enough to bring aarti thal. I asked you for it when I left home." Mom says with a shake of her hand.

"Mom, that's your job. You know I am not adapted to do something like that. What if I had burned the house?" Siya says.

"Why would you do that?" Mom asks.

"Arey! Day before yesterday only you said, "Siya you are banished from the kitchen. Minor fire under your supervision, and my house will burn." And then you kicked me out of the kitchen." She says innocently.

"You almost burned your clothes!" Moms exclaims not so gently.

"Well, it is your fault that you never let me cook." She says.

"That's because you are a terrible cook, dear." Mom says.

"Maybe because you are not an excellent teacher, dear." Siya says.

"Truce!" I say, coming between them before it escalates.

"And just when it was getting exciting." Siya says, looking at Mom, "Right, Mom?"

"Yes. Seriously, Veer. You spoiled our mood." Mom says.

"I am confused." I say.

"They weren't fighting, son. Just practicing it." Dad says.

"What?" I ask as Siya drags me to sit down on the couch.

"They do this for fun. The first time they did it in front of me, I almost grounded her." He says.

"Who?" We all ask.

"Not answering." He says with hands up in the air but points at Mom behind their back.

"So everything is fine between you both?" I ask.

"Of course, Bhai." Siya says and hugs Mom from behind, "Unlike you and Shravan, Mom is my bestie. We share everything with each other. So we will die before going against each other. Right, Mom?"

"Stop choking me, Siya." Mom says in warning and she bounces away.

"I will bring some water for you all." Siya says and skips towards the kitchen.

"Oh! Because of her, I forgot about your aarti." Mom says.

"That's okay, Mom. I am exhausted. Can we just have lunch and I can go to rest?" I ask.

"Sure, dear. I will tell the maid to heat the food. Why don't you get changed by then? Your room is last on the right side." She says and I nod and pick up my bags.

As soon as Mom is gone, Dad turns to me and says, "Son, after lunch meet me in the study, then go to your room. Okay?"

"Anything serious, Dad?" I ask.

"No, no. Just some discussions. Okay?" Dad says, and I nod.

He leaves for his study after giving a pat on my shoulder, and I go upstairs. My room is clean but family pictures and some of my stuff. They didn't bring everything here, which means some of my stuff is still at Dadu-Dadi's house. I put away my bag and crash back on the bed with a groan of relief.

I was about to fall asleep when my phone beeps and I look at it to see my manager sending me a message about my upcoming plans. She also instructs me not to accept any sponsorship or deals of any kind without consulting with my team, even if some of them pressure me. Like I don't know that.

'I am taking a break for a few months. So no deal at all. Cancel all the plans. We will strategize once I feel like it.' I text her.

'What about brand endorsement and photo shoots that we have signed up for?' She texts back.

'Can we postpone it for sometime?' I ask.

'How long?' She asks.

'At least for a month.' I text.

'I will see what I can do and will get back to you soon. But till then, take care of your health. My business runs on that.' She texts back and I smile.

'Deal.' I text, then get up to get changed.

I have a warm dinner with my family with lots of teasing and lots of laughter. Then I took a nap as Mom sat by me and patted my head lightly, and I didn't get a chance to talk with Dad. When I woke up next, Siya insisted I go shopping with her for Dadi and Dadu and her friends, as we have many in Shimla. We grew up there.

As we were in the mall, Siya was busy trying on some dresses for Amara, who is literally dictating two people at the same time, right now. One her employee and second her cousin.

"Di, not that one. Wear that blue one." Amu says.

"Amu, yaar. I have already tried it. How many do I have to wear?" Siya asks, frustrated.

"Just ten more. I promise." She says.

Siya groans and turns to me to say, "Bhai, this would take time. I dug my own grave, but I won't take you with me. Why don't you go buy something for Mom and Dad's friends and yours, too?"

"Okay. But call me when you are done." I say, and she nods.

I walk around the mall and buy all the stuff that Siya gave me a list of. Even though I have already bought souvenirs for all my friends, I look through some gift options and one necklace on the display catches my eyes.

"Excuse me, can you show me that?" I ask a passing girl.

"Sure, sir." She says and gives it to me, "It is a new model, Sir. And also the flower is real."

"It is?" I ask, and she nods.

The necklace is ordinary at first look but its beauty is in its pendant, which is of glass, and in it is a small white daffodil. It looks amazing and something unique. She shows me other pieces too with different flowers but I like the first one and bought it.

"Whom do I give this to?" I ask myself as I look at it.

"Bhai!" I hear Siya and turn around as I hide the box in the back pocket of my jeans, "I am all done. Let's go home after having some snacks."

"Sure." I say and take bags from her.

Later that night, as I look at that necklace, I frown at myself in the mirror. Why did I hide it from Siya? Shouldn't it be for her? Or did I buy it for someone else? And if so then for whom?

"Looks like I was way too tired. I need to sleep." I say to myself and put the box in the bag and get a much needed sleep.