"Aunty, will all the rituals take place now?" I inquire.

"Not all, but a few post-wedding customs," Aunty explains.

"However, we need to prepare beforehand. And this can't be done on such short notice." Chachi chimes in.

"Okay, so you can take your leave now?"Aunty suggests.

"I think they need to rest too! Just like me! Just look at me, how exhausted I am!"I jest.

Everyone bursts into laughter.

"Yeah, you all should get some rest. Meanwhile, we'll prepare for the next rituals." Chachi recommends,

I bid farewell, "Okay, then I'll take off."

"Have dinner with us today, dear!"Aunty invites warmly,

"No, no, I should head back." I declined,

Adwait persuades playfully, "Oh, come on! Join us for dinner today!"

And he pulls me along with him, insisting I stay for dinner with a charming smile.

............

I arrived at the Bansal mansion after a long, hour-long drive. The dim orange lights cast a warm glow on the white marble, turning it a soft orange hue. The mansion was shrouded in silence, unusual for this time of night. I assumed my parents had already retired to their rooms, but then I heard my mom's voice.

"You're back!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing in my ears.

"Yeah, I just got back," I replied, a bit surprised that they were still awake.

My dad emerged from his room, asking, "How was it?"

I was taken aback, "What?" I asked, realizing they were referring to the meeting I attended.

"The meeting you went to!" he clarified.

"It wasn't as we expected." I rubbed my neck,

"I see." My dad nodded

"Go get some rest!" My mom suggested,

"Sure." I agreed

"Did you eat something?"Mom asked,

"Yeah, I had dinner at the Randhawa palace."I replied,

"Ooh! Okay! Then take some rest!"She responded,

I bid them goodnight, "Good night, both of you," as I climbed the stairs to my room.

They replied in unison, "Good night."

I washed up and snuggled into bed, ready to drift off to sleep.

...............

The warm orange rays of the sun danced across the white walls of my room, casting a cozy glow. The rich, soothing aroma of sandalwood incense wafted through the air, mingling with the gentle ring of morning prayer bells. I snuggled deeper into my comforter, reluctant to leave the warmth.

"Ohh, Mom, let me sleep for a few more minutes," I pleaded, burying my head in the softness.

"It's already 10 in the morning! Didn't you have office?" Mom replied, her voice firm but laced with concern.

I mumbled, "Mom, I'm the boss. No one will ask anything if I'm late."

She sighed and left the room, but returned moments later, intruding on my slumber once more. "Okh, but I'll be going to the Randhawa palace in the evening."

I grumbled from beneath the comforter,
"Okh, I'll tell the driver to take you."

She declared in a no-nonsense tone,
"You have to come with me!"

I groaned, pulling the sheet up to my head. "Fine, it's still a long time until evening."

"Okh, okh, don't know when I'll invite people for my son's wedding."

I sat up straight, suddenly alert.
"Did I stop you?"

"Are you ready?" Mom uttered, beaming with joy. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile at her adorable expression.

"Whatever you want!" I replied, snuggling back into the comforter.

I heard the door close, and I thought I could finally sleep in peace. But, as fate would have it, the universe had other plans. The ringing of the phone pierced the air, shattering my tranquility.

I groggily sat up, rubbed my eyes, and checked the caller ID. It was my secretary.

"Good morning, sir," she said, their voice chipper.

I yawned, "Good morning. Why did you call?"

I got straight to the point, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Sir, there's a problem," my secretary replied, her tone serious.

My attention piqued, I quired, "What problem?"
This was not unusual after what happened their I was sure something like this would happen but the aftermaths are really fast then I expected.

"Well, it's about the Italian clients," she hesitated.

My sleepiness vanished instantly. "What about them?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.

"Sir!! Umm..." My secretary hesitated, but I didn't give her a chance to finish.

"I'm coming!!" I exclaimed, already throwing off the covers and getting out of bed.

I quickly got dressed in a crisp white shirt, paired with a forest green blazer and matching pants. I headed to the dining room, where Mom was already seated.

"You're up?" Mom inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah!! I need to sort out something at the office," I declared, pouring myself a cup of coffee.

"Hmm... That's the reason. Then I thought, how did my son rise so early?" Mom mused, a hint of teasing in her voice.

"C'mon, Mom! I rise early every morning."I chuckled.

"Yeah! Yeah!! I know," she acknowledged, taking my words for granted, but a hint of pride in her voice.

Suddenly, the photo I took at Bhabhi's mansion flashed into my mind, leaving me perplexed about what to call her. I was torn between confusion and curiosity.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" I inquired, breaking the silence that filled the room.

"Yeah, sure!" she replied, her attention still focused on finishing her breakfast.

I swiftly pulled out my phone and displayed the picture I took at Bhabhi's house. Mom's eyes widened as she glanced at the image, her face draining of color. Her eyes locked onto the photo, and she seemed frozen in time. She exchanged a nervous glance with my father, whose expression also shifted. His eyes narrowed, and his brow furrowed, revealing a mix of emotions.

He snatched the phone from my hand, studying the picture intently. For a fleeting moment, an unknown emotion crossed his face - a blend of shock, surprise, and something else I couldn't quite decipher. But it was quickly replaced by his normal, composed expression.

"Where did you get that?" Mom inquired, her voice laced with concern and a hint of trepidation.

I countered, "Umm... first, tell me if you know them?" My curiosity was piqued, and I sensed a story unfolding before my eyes.

"The woman in this picture was your mom's friend," Dad replied calmly, his words sparking a chain reaction of curious glances from me. My mother's eyes darted towards him, and I followed suit, my attention riveted on his composed demeanor.

"Ooh!!" I exclaimed, my mind racing with questions.

Dad handed Mom a glass of water, his movements fluid and deliberate. "Where did you find this photo?" he asked, his tone measured and controlled.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Umm... They are Adwait's wife's parents!" I ventured, my words tumbling out in a rush.

Dad's expression transformed in an instant, his serious face giving way to a wide grim. But something was off, and I sensed a hidden undercurrent.

"Are you sure?" he pressed, his tone now laced with a hint of gravity. His eyes, along with Mom's, bore into my head, as if trying to extract every last detail from my mind.

"Yeah... I mean, that's what they said..." I stammered, my brain scrambling to keep up with the rapid-fire questions.

Mom whispered to Dad, her voice barely audible, "If she is Serenity's daughter, then where was she all those years?" Dad's response was a subtle headshake, but the silence that enveloped the dining table was so palpable that I could hear her words with crystal clarity.

"Where did she live before?" Mom inquired, her eyes piercing mine.

"In Italy!" I declared, and Mom's expression turned contemplative.

"Ohh! With her maternal family," she mused, lost in thought, before I could elaborate further.

"You know them very well, it seems," I observed, narrowing my eyes, sensing a deeper connection.

"Yeah!! Just like your dad mentioned, Serenity was my college friend," Mom revealed, her words flowing effortlessly. "I met her in Germany, where we studied together."

I uttered an "ohhh!" of surprise, intrigued by this new revelation.

"Ohh! So you know her father as well?" I probed, trying to gauge the depth of their relationship.

Mom began to explain, but the buzz of my phone interrupted her, and I excused myself to take the call. I left for the office, halting the conversation midway, with more questions lingering in the air.

I settled into my office chair, ready to tackle the issue at hand. "So, what's the problem?" I inquired, my eyes fixed on my secretary.

"Sir, the issue concerns our clients," she began, handing me a stack of reports. "We need your confirmation to proceed with the project or not, since..."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Since...?"

My secretary hesitated before revealing the news. "Sir, Mr. Lorenzo has been arrested on charges of fraud, human trafficking, and drug dealing. I was thinking that perhaps we should reconsider moving forward with the agreement, as it could tarnish our company's reputation if word gets out that we're dealing with them."

I wasn't entirely surprised, having witnessed Bhabhi's adept handling of similar situations in Italy. However, the swiftness of Mr. Lorenzo's downfall caught me off guard. I thought it would take her at least months to do it.

"Give me the reports and cancel the deal," I ordered, my mind made up. It was better to sever ties with him immediately, especially since he had been targeting Adwait.

"Okh, sir! I will send you the documents!!" My secretary nodded promptly and swiftly exited my office, leaving me to ponder the implications of this unexpected development. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that Motherfucker Lorenzo's crimes had finally caught up with him.

..............

I approached Mom, who was lost in thought, gazing out the window. "What are you thinking, Mom?" I inquired, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Nothing," she murmured, her voice distant. "I was just thinking about Adwait's wife."

"Ava!" I uttered in surprise, but Mom corrected me, her eyes snapping back into focus. "Her name is Subhra, as far as I recall," she stated.

I blinked, taken aback. Suddenly, it dawned on me how many secrets this woman kept hidden. The more I thought I knew her, the more I realized there were several layers to her personality.

"Really?" I queried, my brow furrowed in surprise.

Mom nodded, her expression enigmatic. "But let it go! It's better she isn't using that name," she whispered.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why?" I probed.

Mom's gaze drifted off, her voice laced with nostalgia. "The Basu family was once a prominent family," she mused.

I pressed for more information. "Who are the Basus?"

Mom's response left me stunned. "It's her last name," she revealed.

I stared at her blankly, suddenly in lost of words. This woman had more layers than an onion.

"So, York is her maternal name," I deduced, connecting the dots in my head. My mother hummed in agreement.

"So, Mom, could you tell me what happened to the Basus?" I inquired, curiosity getting the better of me. "You mentioned they used to be prominent, but why and how did things change?"

My mother's expression turned reflective. "It's because of a long-standing family rivalry," she began. "I'm not sure what sparked it, but the Basus and Rajvansh's have been at odds for generations. However, during Girish's generation, something significant occurred, and..."

I leaned in, eager to hear more, but my mother cut me off.

"And?" I pressed, my eyes locked onto hers.

"Dekh! Teri bato hi batao main hum pahunch bhi gaye!!"

(We've already arrived! Time flew by with our conversation.)

"Hmm... but I want to know more about that, and how did I not know about it?" I asked, curiosity still simmering, as we exited the car.

"Let's talk about it some other time," Mom said, her voice gentle but firm. "It's an auspicious day. Don't let the past spoil the day."

I hummed in agreement, acknowledging her point. I shouldn't ruin everyone's mood with this, but it was crucial to share this information with Adwait. And why hadn't Shubhra told us about this? Alas one more name,  I wondered what else she might be hiding.

As we entered the hall, everyone turned to greet us. Mom hugged Aunty, and Chachi exchanged warm smiles. I scanned the room, searching for the newlyweds.

"Where is the couple?" I questioned the trio standing in the corner, trying to sound nonchalant.

They chuckled, and one of them quipped, "Ab woh pyaar ke kabootar kisi kone main honge. Hume kya pata!"

(Those love birds would be in a corner, who knows where?)

"Damn true," I muttered to myself as I left the group and headed towards Adwait's room.

I burst in without knocking, eager to share my discovery. "Adwait, I just found out something!"

My eyes landed on the woman sitting at the dressing table, adorned in a stunning red anarkali suit that covered her ankles and wrists, which were adorned with red bangles, giving her a radiant newlywed glow.

"Do you know the meaning of knock?" she asked, her hands crossed over her chest, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"No, freaking no!" I sheepishly replied,

She raised an eyebrow. "Seems like no one has taught you any manners."

I bristled, feeling a bit defensive. "I do have manners!"

Her smile was sly. "Oh, really? And barging into someone's room without knocking is one of them?"

I realized my mistake and apologized, "Ahh, I am sorry!"

"That's better." That's better she said with a smile.

"What's going on here?" Adwait inquired, emerging from seemingly nowhere.

"Where were you?" I queried, curiosity getting the better of me.

"In the closet!" Adwait disclosed, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"What were you doing there?" I probed.

"Playing hide and seek," Adwait spoke, his tone deadpan.

I threw up my hands in exasperation. "Can't you guys answer straight for once? It seems like you're both affected by the 'wife virus'!"

"Huh!"
Subhra and Adwait chimed in unison

"Oh no, my friend has already tied himself to his wife's apron strings!"I joked,

Subhra shot back, her lips curling into a grin, "But I'm not wearing an apron!"

"Very funny!"I chuckled.

"Of course it was!"Subhra smiled smugly.

The banter continued, with me uttering, "You!" and Adwait interjecting, "Guys, stop!"

"Tell your friend to cease!"Subhra jumped in.

"What, me? Tell her to desist?" I protested

"You know, you two are behaving even worse than Ariv and Vritika - they're actually better than this!" Adwait said, shaking his head in amusement."Proper brother and sister vibe!" he added, chuckling.

"Gosh, now I feel like I'm mediating a banter between you two standing here!"

I frowned, feeling exasperated "She and my sister? No chance!" My tone sarcastic.

Subhra responded sarcastically, mimicking my actions. "I'm glad the feeling is mutual!"

Adwait straightened himself, intervening in the playful argument. "Okay, enough of that! Why are you here, anyway?"

"Why are you asking? Aunty called Mom, and she dragged me along."I shrugged.

"Now that you're married, I'll have to listen to her tantrums all day!"I snickered.

Shubhra chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I deeply empathize with you!"

"Thank you!" I deadpanned,

"Gosh! I thought you were here to meet me," Adwait uttered, crossing his arms over his chest, a hint of mock offense in his tone.

I pretended to sniff the air. "Ohh! I smell something! Seems like something is burning!"

Adwait's expression turned stern, his teeth gritted. "Yeah, yeah, now get out!" he growled.

I started to walk away but halted at the door, turning back to face them. "I was here to tell you something," I declared.

Adwait raised an eyebrow. "What's up?" he inquired.

I dropped the bombshell. "My mom told me she knows your mom!" I announced.

Subhra's eyebrows shot up, and Adwait joined her, surprise etched on their faces.

"Are you serious?" Subhra queried, her voice laced with skepticism.

I nodded. "Yeah! And she said your real name is Shubhra, not Ava... Did you know?" I pressed.

Adwait and Subhra exchanged a weighted glance.

"I'm aware," Adwait acknowledged, his tone casual, but his eyes betraying a hint of unease.

"And didn't tell me," I added, feeling a bit miffed.

Adwait waved his hands dismissively. "Whatever, whatever." Make my words fly.

Just then, Vritika appeared at the door. "Bhabhi Maa is calling you!" she called out.

"Let's go!" Subhra exclaimed, heading towards Vritika.

"Wait, aren't you going to apply sindur?" Vritika asked, referring to the vermilion powder.

Subhra halted and replied "Oh, but I don't have it!"

"Let's go to Badi Maa then!" Vritika suggested, and they left.

I turned to Adwait, who was about to follow them. "Now, where are you going?"

Adwait shrugged. "Just want to help my wife."

I stopped him. "Let's talk. I need to tell you something."

Adwait raised an eyebrow, his tone irritated. "What?"

I began, "Are bhadak kyun raha hai? Mujhe kuch aur bhi pata chala..."

(Hey, why are you getting angry? I also found out something else...)

Adwait's expression changed from irritation to curiosity. "About what?" he asked, his tone still slightly annoyed but intrigued.

"Her family and the Rajvansh family have a history of rivalry," I revealed, and Adwait's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait, what? What do you mean? And who told you that?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Mom," I divulged. "She mentioned that. I didn't know anything else; Mom too just knows that much...I think."

Adwait's expression turned incredulous. "Are you freaking serious?"

"The Rajvansh's!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise.

"Are you certain?" she queried, raising her eyebrows, and became lost in her own thoughts.

I turned to her. "Hey, I didn't expect that reaction from you!"

She snapped out of her reverie. "What?"

I continued, "No, I mean, we're discussing your family, and you react like you're oblivious!"

She cut me off. "I genuinely had no idea!"

I pressed for clarification. "What's this explanation?"

She hesitated. "A long story. I don't think I have time to elaborate now."

"I see." I nodded still confused.