Gayatri's laugh was sharp and cutting, echoing in the cramped room like broken glass.
"Oh, look at her," she sneered, eyes glinting. "As if only she has the right over Charvi. As if the rest of us are strangers in this house."
She turned her attention to Charvi, who was still clinging to Gauri's arm. "Enough tears, girl. Wipe your face. I've arranged something for you tonight—a big contract. You'll be dancing at the bar near Kalbadevi. The owner's willing to pay well. So get ready."
Charvi froze, her body stiffening in terror. Her fingers dug deeper into Gauri's kurta as she tried to hide behind her. "No, Ma… I can't… please—"
But Gauri stepped in front of her like a shield, her eyes blazing. "Charvi will not dance," she said, her voice trembling with fury.
Gayatri's gaze sharpened, lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oh? Then perhaps you will take her place, Gauri. Because if you don't, I know how to make Charvi obey."
Her words dripped with menace, and for a moment the air seemed to still.
"Picture it," Gayatri added, her voice almost mocking. "Charvi on a smoky stage, lights blinding, men throwing money at her while she twirls and collapses from that weak little heart of hers."
The image crashed into Gauri's mind unbidden—Charvi spinning in a haze of colored lights, her fragile chest heaving, her face pale as she stumbled and fell lifeless to the ground. The vision made Gauri's breath hitch. She clutched her chest, a strangled cry escaping her lips as the thought tore through her like claws.
"No!" Gauri cried, shaking her head violently, pulling Charvi closer. "Never! I won't let it happen. Not while I'm alive."
Her voice steadied, low and resolute. "I'll dance, Ma. I'll take the contract."
Gayatri's smirk widened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. Adrija, standing at her mother's side, folded her arms and let out a small, triumphant chuckle.
Together, they watched as Gauri's defiance bent—not broken, but forced into sacrifice—her strength now burning in the promise that Charvi would never be dragged into their mother's schemes.
And as the lantern flickered in the corner, the shadows on the walls seemed to mock her too, stretching long and cruel, whispering of the stage that awaited her.
The long dining table at the Kothari Mansion gleamed under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. Silverware clinked lightly as the family gathered for their evening meal. The aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled the air, mingling with the faint trace of sandalwood drifting from the prayer hall.
At the head of the table, Veena sat in her usual place, her expression still carrying a faint shadow of the morning's displeasure. Vihaan, determined to soften her mood, leaned forward with quiet care, setting a steaming bowl in front of her.
"Your favorite, Ma," he said gently, his eyes hopeful. "I made sure it was cooked just the way you like."
Veena's stern face twitched, the faintest hint of a smile threatening to break through. Before she could respond, Yug let out a loud chuckle from across the table.
"Aha! So that's the trick, Bhaiya!" Yug teased, nudging his sister beside him. "When you make Ma angry, just cook her favorite dish and she'll forgive you instantly."
Raani, always quick to join in, leaned forward, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Hmm, more like bribery than love. Admit it, Bhaiya—you're buttering her up!"
Laughter rippled around the table, but Vihaan shook his head, trying to hide his smile. "Don't start your drama. I'm only doing what a son should do."
From the far side, their Dadi chuckled warmly, her voice carrying the authority of age. "And he's right. That's exactly how a son should pacify his mother. With love, not with arguments."
Yug and Raani grinned sheepishly, but their mother, Urvashi, couldn't resist a jab. "If only my children learned even a fraction from Vihaan," she said, raising her brows at them. "Always teasing, never caring. Look at your cousin—he remembers even the smallest things that matter to his mother."
Yug groaned, throwing up his hands. "Here we go again."
"Exactly!" their father, Shyom, added with a hearty laugh. "For once, your mother is absolutely right. Learn something from Vihaan, you two, instead of wasting your time in mischief."
Yug and Raani exchanged a glance, both pulling exaggerated faces that made Veena finally smile. The heaviness in her heart seemed to lighten just a little as she picked up her spoon, the warmth of family softening the lingering edges of her anger.
And as Vihaan watched her take the first bite, relief flickered in his eyes—because for him, no victory in the world compared to his mother's smile.
As the laughter at the table slowly faded, Vihaan leaned a little closer to his mother. His voice was softer now, almost boyish, stripped of the authority he carried in uniform.
"Ma," he said gently, "I know I upset you earlier. Forgive me? Please?"
Veena's spoon stilled in her hand. For a moment, her eyes stayed on the food before her, as though weighing her son's words. Then she looked up, meeting his gaze. The sternness in her expression melted into weary tenderness.
"You," she said, shaking her head with a sigh, "will be the death of me one day. Always running into danger, always brushing aside what matters to your family." Her tone sharpened as she wagged a finger at him. "Never again, Vihaan. Do you hear me? Never miss a prayer ceremony meant for your protection. Not while I am alive."
Vihaan's lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes glistened with sincerity. He pressed his palms together, bowing his head slightly toward her. "I promise, Ma. Never again."
Across the table, Yug muttered under his breath, "Well, until the next case comes up…" earning himself a swift kick from Raani beneath the table.
The little ripple of laughter that followed only deepened the warmth of the moment. Veena reached out, resting her hand on Vihaan's cheek with quiet affection. And for that fleeting instant, in the great mansion filled with voices and echoes, it was only mother and son—her most precious treasure, and his greatest strength.