Thirty minutes later…At Anamika’s house…
Anamika sat on the sofa, but her eyes kept drifting toward the front door.
Saaniya still hadn’t come home.
Beside her, little Ira was glued to the TV — watching WWE with such intensity, it was as if she herself was inside the ring.
Her tiny fists were raised like a fighter’s, and her eyes — sharp, focused — locked on an invisible opponent.
Just then — A knock on the door.
And at the same time — Anamika’s phone rang.
Startled, Anamika quickly glanced at Ira, “Can you get the door? I’ll grab my phone.”
Without peeling her eyes fully off the TV, Ira hopped off the couch and headed to the door, reluctantly — like a warrior interrupted mid-battle.
As she opened the door…
A familiar, teasing voice greeted her, “So… what mischief has my wildcat been up to today?”
Her eyes lit up.
“Bhai!! You’re here!?” Ira leapt at Aditya like a cat pouncing on its favorite person.
Aditya chuckled. In one hand, he held a bag — but Ira, in her excitement, didn’t even notice.
He gently ruffled her hair and teased, “Nope! I’m still at work. This is just my soul standing here.”
Ira squinted at him, unimpressed. “Your humor needs serious medical help. I think it’s on life support now.”
Aditya laughed, peeking inside. “Where’s Anamika?”
With a dramatic sigh, Ira turned around and walked in.
Aditya followed, closing the door behind him.
“What’s with the long face?” he asked.
And then came the soap opera entry —
Ira threw herself on the couch, clutching an invisible wound, “She took you from me! My brother’s been stolen! Now you don’t even see me anymore!”
Aditya rolled his eyes. “Here we go… my drama queen sister is back.”
Just then, Anamika walked in, talking on the phone. “Okay, I’ll wait for you. Come soon!”
She ended the call and spotted Aditya.
“Oh! Aditya! Come, sit!”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Aditya raised his hand gently, “Oh no, I actually just came to pick up Ira.”
The sparkle in Ira’s eyes dimmed.
She dropped onto the sofa again, looking away as she muttered, “Bhai… Saaniya’s not back yet. I thought I’d just stay and wait for her.”
Anamika added, “She called just now. Ruhi needed her for something, so she went to her place.”
Aditya raised an eyebrow. “Ruhi needed something?”
Anamika nodded.
Aditya thought aloud, “Usually Ruhi calls me when she needs help, but I was out with Shekhar uncle today… maybe that’s why she called Saaniya instead. I’m sorry — maybe I caused the delay.”
Anamika smiled. “Oh no, it’s nothing like that…”
Suddenly Ira chimed in with theatrical flair, “Well, it is your fault! So go! Go find out what your precious secretary needed. I’m fine here — very, very fine! You go!”
Aditya’s smile faded.
He could tell — Ira was trying to push him away… Just so she wouldn’t have to go home with him.
Anamika didn’t fully understand what was going on, but one look at Aditya’s blank expression told her something wasn’t right.
She didn’t want to interfere.
But the silence… the growing distance between Aditya and Ira — she could feel it.
Aditya suddenly became aware of her gaze — and the discomfort in it.
Turning toward her, he gave her a faint smile, then walked over to Ira and sat beside her.
She still didn’t look at him.
Softly, he said, “I’ll call Ruhi myself. You don’t have to wait here.”
Just as Ira opened her mouth to speak, he added in a slightly firm, low voice, “We’re going to Aniket’s house. Don’t overthink. Shekhar uncle and Aniket are waiting for us for dinner.”
Ira froze… then slowly nodded. “Okay… I’ll come.”
She stood up and walked over to Anamika. “I had so much fun today! You’re coming over tomorrow evening, right? Let’s play again!”
Anamika smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
Ira stepped out.
Aditya lingered for a moment, walked up to Anamika, and held out the bag.
“Thanks for taking care of Ira. I… uh… I brought ice cream… but it probably melted by now. You can keep it in the freezer — it might freeze back.”
Before he could finish, Anamika had already taken the bag and opened it —
A tub of ice cream, which she unwrapped instantly, without the usual hesitation.
There was no awkwardness, no hesitation.
Maybe she was just… genuinely happy.
Seeing her take the first bite, Aditya smiled.
She looked at him, smiled back, “Thank you.”
And he quietly left.
Anamika sat there with her half-melted ice cream — happier than she’d been in days.
MeanwhileAt Ruhi’s house,
Saaniya was doing everything in her power to hold back the storm rising inside her.
Ruhi’s father was home. And he was furious.
Since Saaniya arrived, she’d only heard him yell — At Ruhi. Always Ruhi.
Every word out of Ruhi’s mouth was twisted into something ugly.
His anger? It began when he heard from a neighbor that Ruhi hadn’t come home in days.
Already against her working, the idea of her staying out late only fueled his fire.
Ruhi tried to explain. She’d even brought Saaniya along to prove she had been staying at her place — but it was no use.
What good is proof… when a father doesn’t even trust his own daughter?
Ruhi’s voice cracked as she shouted, slamming her hand on the table, “Think whatever you want. I’m done trying to prove my innocence!”
Her father snarled, “Should’ve killed you the day you were born. If your mother and brother hadn’t begged—”
CRASH!
A glass shattered on the floor.
Saaniya had had enough.
Her eyes — no longer calm — burned with a dark fire. A dangerous silence filled the room.
She took Ruhi’s hand, stared coldly at her father, and smirked — “Oh… now I see how she ended up in this house. Because someone like you could never deserve a daughter like her.
It must be the good karma of your wife and son that gifted you a gem like Ruhi.
And thank God I’m not your daughter…
because if I were, I’m not sure you’d even be breathing right now.”
Ruhi’s father stood, red with rage. “What kind of people does my daughter hang out with?! This is your friend?!”
Saaniya stepped in front of Ruhi.
“I should be asking God what kind of father He gave this sweet girl. You are monster!
Men like you don’t deserve children.”
He raised his hand — But Ruhi grabbed it.
Tears in her eyes, she said — “That’s enough.
If I’m such a shame to you, then let’s end this today.
From this moment on, your daughter is dead.
I’ll never step foot in your house again — and you stay away from mine.”
Just then, a voice came from the door. “She’s right.”
A boy stood there.
Eyes filled with restrained rage.
It was Rahul — Ruhi’s brother.
Walking toward her, he said, “Maybe this is the only way she’ll ever be happy.”
Their father turned. “Rahul! What nonsense—”
“I’m not talking nonsense!” Rahul snapped. “You tried to hit her because I got a little late?
I never asked God for a sister just so you could break her like this.”
He turned to Ruhi. “I’m sorry, Ruhi.
I’ll take Dad home. And I’ll make sure… he never comes back.”
He grabbed his father’s hand and began to walk away.
Ruhi’s eyes brimmed with tears. Rahul didn’t even look back once — maybe because if he did, he would break down.
Her father’s glare burned into her — as if she was the world’s biggest mistake.
She had spent her entire life trying to prove she was enough.
That she was a girl — and still worthy.
All she ever wanted… was a chance.
But maybe… She was wrong.
But in her father’s mind, she had already failed — just because she was a girl.
And today, even her brother’s hope shattered — The hope that their father would one day accept the sister he adored.Is this the end of hope for both brother and sister?
