It took one more hour before Rohit was finally discharged from the hospital.
The funny thing was, his left hand was fully wrapped in bandages, and he was advised not to use it for a week. It wasn't even a bone fracture, just a deep scar. Still, the moment he tried to lift his hand, his muscles burned with soreness, forcing him to readjust his stance. 'Okay, one week then,' he sighed.
Now he was back in the car, seated in the corner of the rear seat.
Ideally, he would have loved for his mother, Ragini to sit by his side, but instead, his unreasonable second sister had decided to be the thorn between them.
He gave her a glance and instantly cringed. Arya was leaning on Ragini as though it were her last day alive.
What worried Rohit more wasn't Ragini's silence but that faraway, distracted look in her eyes. Since she had returned from the doctor's consultation, she seemed lost in thought, her mind in another world.
At first, Rohit had been afraid she might have found out about his secret—the act of faking memory loss. But her eyes didn't hold even a hint of suspicion. Whatever the doctor had said to her was likely something entirely new. Sure that could be a problem but not an immediate concern.
Relieved, he let go of his tension and turned his focus to sightseeing outside, just like Ragini was doing.
The police had taken Chanu in for further interrogation, and she might stay in custody for a few more days. That left Balwinder doubling as both their guard and driver.
The story they spun was Chanu as guard confronted the hooligans first, being beaten they picked up on Rohit who was an easy target , which prompted Chanu to finally shoot them down. Their stance was solid so chanu would be safe—but the disappointing part was that the mastermind, Kasim, had managed to flee.
Only the bald guy and his brother died on the spot. However, Rohit was determined to track Kasim down—he still had his phone.
With little else to do, Rohit's mind drifted back to the nightmare. Why was his past resurfacing in fragments? The loss of his wife in that other life—that was the moment that had broken him. It was the wound that turned him from a man with dreams of marriage and family into Riku, the mercenary who abandoned love and instead carved his name through violence, women, and money. He had told himself he never regretted it. So why were the memories clawing back now?
He clenched his fist, remembering his desperate attempt to save Ragini, the raw emotion he had felt, and the terror of almost losing her. The thought alone made his blood boil. He turned his gaze back toward her. She was staring out the window, completely ignoring Arya's whining presence. A faint smile curved on Rohit's lips.
Sure, she was a pawn once... but now she's different, she's special. No harm will ever come to her, not while I'm here.
For a moment, his mind slipped again to his old comrades—the brothers-in-arms who had stood with him after their captain was killed. Together, they had bled, fought, and even stolen billions from under the noses of both China and Japan.
It was madness, but also glory. The mercenary companies they'd challenged had been too massive to topple entirely, but he knew his friends were still out there, still fighting. Somewhere.
The car finally rolled into the mansion gates. At that moment, Ragini turned to him, flashing a warm smile. It was faint, perhaps forced, but it soothed his heart.
Before he could say anything, Arya yawned and sat up. The look she gave Rohit—half-annoyed, half-dismissive—made him oddly uncomfortable for reasons he couldn't explain.
They all got out of the car together. Ragini was the first to speak."I'll arrange the meal. Everyone, get changed quickly." With that, she walked off, leaving Arya to ignore him and head her own way.
Rohit stood still for a moment, sniffing his own clothes."Oh shit. I stink," he muttered.
He rushed into the bathroom and stripped quickly. It was hard and uncomfortable with the bandages wrapped around him, but somehow he managed. Showering was even more tiresome—he was constantly worried about not wetting the bandages, yet he failed miserably.
Anyhow, he changed into a fresh pair of clothes: a T-shirt and loungewear shorts. He checked his phone, and as expected, there were tons of messages. Most were from his friends.
Among them, Seo-yeon was the only sensible one—she had simply asked him to call when he was free, while the rest spammed him like curious kids. Akhil had left a short, dignified note saying he would arrive in the evening, which kept him in Rohit's good books.
Keeping the phone back on the desk, Rohit returned to the hall. Downstairs, at the dining table in the living room, Arya was already seated, scrolling through her phone.
Rohit carefully glanced at her as he descended the stairs. She was dressed casually in a loose sleeveless T-shirt and shorts.
He felt uneasy sharing the same space with her, especially after the spark between them yesterday. Not only had he seen her naked, but she had also caught him red-handed, which surely wasn't a good way to start a reasonable conversation.
He spoke quietly."I'm sorry, di(elder sister). Yesterday was a mistake—I came in by accident."
Arya ignored him completely, as though his words were thin air. But Rohit noticed her posture relax slightly, and that small detail was enough to make him smile. At least it had some effect.
Soon Ragini entered in her usual gown. This time, though, it was longer and less revealing—something Rohit instantly noticed. Two maids followed her, carrying dishes.
Arya cheered, setting her phone aside."Hey, mom—you're back so soon?"
Ragini replied while serving food,"Didn't want to keep you all, waiting."
Rohit's jaw nearly dropped when he saw the menu: vegan khichdi with pickles and fried nuts. Khichdi was an Indian dish where rice was cooked with lentils and vegetables. He knew the ingredients well, but the taste was questionable—his past self had never liked it.
Arya rolled her eyes."You should've just let me help."
Ragini gave her a warm smile."You're on holiday, dear. It's my duty to lessen your burden today."
Arya puckered her lips into a playful flying kiss."My sweet mommy." She began digging in.
Rohit smiled faintly as he tasted the food. He wondered if it was common for women to talk like this. In his past life, his home had only men—his father and brother. Experiencing this warmth felt new, almost soothing. Even the khichdi tasted better than he expected: spicy and soft.
Then Ragini's eyes fell on Rohit's bandage."Rohit, why is your bandage wet?"
He shrugged, speaking while half-chewing."Changing it with one hand was tough."
Ragini's tone softened."Oh, I forgot. You should've told me earlier. Next time, I'll help you."
Rohit chuckled at the thought and nodded."Alright."
But Arya suddenly snapped, her voice sharp."MOM! He's an adult now. Why are you trying to help him?"
Ragini flustered instantly. She realized she had misspoken in front of Arya. The doctor's harsh words had weighed heavily on her mind, and distracted by her thoughts, she had slipped.
She quickly corrected herself."Don't be like this, dear. I'm talking about the bandages. He's a patient right now—how can he change them on his own?"
Rohit nodded along, pretending to agree."Yes. Only the bandage change."
"Oh? Really?"Arya's tone grew sharper with suspicion . "Then I'll do it."
Both Ragini and Rohit were startled."What?" they said almost in unison.
Rohit added quickly,"But what about your office, sis?"
Arya glared at him with anger."I already took a week off the moment I heard about you." She leaned forward with exaggerated emphasis. "Besides, I won't just change the bandages—I'll help you bathe too. Won't that be more… interesting?"
Rohit felt Ragini's burning gaze on him. He didn't dare meet her eyes. Scratching his cheek, he muttered,"I think this is getting troublesome… I'll manage."
Arya turned to Ragini and said mockingly,"See, mom? He doesn't want it. But knowing your nature, I won't back down." She then faced Rohit directly. "So tell me, dear brother, will it really be troublesome if I insist?"
Her tone made Rohit grit his teeth. Inside, he cursed:'Damn brat. You think I'm still that little boy? I'm twice your age in soul. Sure, I wouldn't mind letting you glimpse the rod that hypnotized your mother.'
Outwardly, he shrugged nonchalantly."Let's skip this talk. I'm hungry."
The silence returned, but the tension remained.
"Oh, you're eating?"
A new pair of voices announced themselves as the twins, Tanya and Aisha, who had just come in from school and padded down the stairs. Their uniforms were half replaced; one wore a fresh top, the other had changed into shorts.
"Cheapskate," Arya muttered under her breath. Rohit heard it.
The girls sat at the dining table and served themselves as usual. Aisha offered the polite line, "It smells nice, aunty—we thought we'd eat early," then grimaced at the menu. Both of them ignored the fact Rohit had just returned injured; khichdi. However, health food were clearly beneath their tastes.
Tanya, who didn't filter herself, leaned in and said low enough for most to hear, "Ugh. We should've just ordered in. I'm sick of this fitness-food nonsense."
Aisha nudged her sister, but Tanya pulled her tray anyway and began digging in with exaggerated disgust.
Arya tried to steer the moment. "Mom, I heard you got the tender from the Chambanis. That'll raise our stake in the new projects."
Ragini's face softened a little. "Yes. But Rohit's the reason it went through. If he hadn't won the chess match, things wouldn't have been so smooth."
Rohit smiled as he looked at her, but his smile soon faltered when Tanya cut in.
"What's so great about winning a chess game by luck?"
Everyone turned to look at her, and Tanya quickly clarified, "I've seen the news. Rohit himself admitted he won by luck when questioned."
Rohit was dumbfounded. Sure, it had been a modest gesture on his part—but using his own words to turn things against him? That was just too shrewd.
Arya snapped. "That's our family matter. Your opinion isn't needed."
Tanya shrugged and wouldn't let it drop. "Why are you all hyped for a loser? He's just adopted."
Ragini's face crumpled. She'd worked hard to keep the adoption—and Rohit's recent memory loss—quiet so they could build honest bonds. Now everything threatened to unravel.
Rohit, however, was frozen. He couldn't figure out how to react—too much expression might give away his fake memory loss.
Tanya jabbed further. "What, you didn't tell him? Keeping someone in the dark isn't helping."
Something in Ragini broke. Her composure faltered and she ended up yelling out. "Shut up!"
Tears trembled at the corners of her eyes. The past few days had been a storm; this was the one thing she'd tried to avoid and failed.
She stood up and said with breaking voice, "I'm going to my room. I don't feel well." And with that, she left.
Arya erupted, standing too. "You fucking bitches—are you happy now?"
Tanya tried to reply coolly. "Language, lady. We live here because of the arrangement—not because we want to."
Aisha tried to nudge her again but she continued,"wait let me speak.. "If you can't stand it, complain to grandfather. Maybe that'll make things easier for us."
Arya, unable to hold it in, stalked out after Ragini.
Rohit stood up once he was alone with the twins. "Was that necessary?"
Aisha scoffed. "What? Feeling sorry for your fake family now?"
Rohit's gaze hardened, his voice turned cold "I don't care what you think of me," he added, while pointing his finger. "But today you crossed a line you shouldn't have."
He double tapped his finger on the table, his tone measured. "Remember my words. I'll make you pay tenfold for this."
Tanya mocked in a playful tone, "Aww, I'm so scared. Should I be regretting this?"
Rohit smirked, almost revealing a twisted grin. "Write it down—because you certainly will." Then he walked away.
Tanya opened her mouth to answer, but Aisha grabbed her arm; the younger girl's face had gone pale in a way Tanya didn't understand. She frowned, for the first time on edge.
But Rohit wasn't there to witness it. In his mind, bringing tears to Ragini's eyes was a crime—and now, they had to pay for it. Their arrogance needed to be broken, and even if they cried for mercy later, they wouldn't get it.