Gauri quickly wiped her tears with the edge of her dupatta, forcing herself to sit upright. The sunlight poured through the cab's windshield, bright and unforgiving, as if mocking her weakness.
"I shouldn't let Vihaan and his family affect me," she whispered, steadying her breath. "They have no place in my life… none."
She straightened her shoulders and gripped the steering wheel firmly. "I have my work, my cab, and my own life to focus on. That's enough for me."
The cab's engine roared to life, grounding her in the present. Determination replaced the sting of humiliation.
"Passengers are waiting," she murmured to herself. "And my dignity lies in earning every rupee with my own hands."
Just then, her phone buzzed with a new ride request. Without hesitation, she swiped to accept, shifted gears, and drove ahead into the bustling daytime streets — leaving behind the bitter words but carrying her quiet resilience forward.
Meanwhile, in the living room of the grand kothari mansion, Veena paced angrily while Vihaan tried to calm her.
"Maa, please don't stress yourself over a girl like Gauri," Vihaan muttered.
Yug, who had been watching quietly, suddenly spoke up, his tone sharp.
"A girl like Gauri? What do you mean by that, Bhaiya? What exactly did she do?"
Vihaan frowned. "Yug, are you crazy? Can't you see—"
"I'm not crazy," Yug interrupted firmly. "I kept observing everything going on, Bhaiya. And you know what? The only thing I missed was Gauri's so-called mistake. Tell me, what mistake did she make?"
"Yug!" Veena snapped, her eyes narrowing. "Shut up! You're speaking out of turn."
But Yug didn't back down. His voice rose with defiance. "You can't shut me up, Aunty. I just asked one simple question—what did Gauri do wrong? She didn't insult anyone. She didn't misbehave. All she did was return Bhaiya's bracelet."
Vihaan's eyes flickered with something unspoken, but he remained silent.
"And not just that," Yug pressed on, his gaze firm on his elder brother. "When Bhaiya was losing himself to his Sarvansh powers, who was it that put him under control? Gauri. She was the one who made you wear the bracelet again, Bhaiya—even though you had her in your grasp. She didn't run, she didn't back away."
Vihaan froze as Yug's words struck him, flashes of memory resurfacing—the moment when his powers had almost consumed him, and Gauri's trembling hands had somehow fastened the bracelet back onto his wrist.
Instead of gratitude, he had thrown accusations.
Yug's voice broke the heavy silence, sharp with conviction. "And instead of thanking her, both you and Aunty acted unfairly. If this is justice in our house, then it's not Gauri who should feel ashamed—it's us."
The room went still, Veena glaring in outrage, Vihaan caught in turmoil, and Yug standing tall, his loyalty to truth ringing louder than anyone's pride.
Veena's face twisted in fury, her voice cutting through the room.
"So, Yug… you're ready to speak against your own family for the sake of a mere dancer?"
Yug didn't flinch. His eyes burned with determination as he answered firmly, "Aunty, what do we even know about her? Yes, I agree, maybe she's a dancer. But do we know her situation? Do we know what forced her into that life?"
He stepped closer, his voice steady but laced with fire. "No one is born a dancer. The Lord doesn't create someone and stamp on their forehead: you will be a dancer. Situations drive people's decisions. Circumstances push them onto paths they never wanted."
The words hung in the air, silencing the room. Veena glared, her lips pressed tight, while Vihaan's face shifted—anger clouded by doubt, his brother's truth hitting somewhere deep within him.
Yug's gaze swept over them all, his tone resolute. "Instead of insulting her, we should at least acknowledge the courage she showed today. If that makes me wrong in your eyes, then so be it."
Urvashi, sensing the tension boiling over, spoke in a calm but firm tone.
"Yug, enough. End this discussion here."
Yug turned to her, his expression unwavering. "Mom, the discussion already ended. I only said what needed to be said to Brother and Aunty."
His eyes shifted toward Vihaan, his voice steady but edged with disappointment. "Brother, you're a police officer. You know better than anyone—a person isn't declared guilty until there's concrete evidence against them. It's wrong to arrest someone without proof. And in the same way, it's wrong to judge a person's character based on a half-truth."
The room fell silent. Vihaan clenched his jaw but had no reply, while Veena fumed silently.
Yug straightened, his voice softer but still resolute. "That's all I had to say."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, heading to his room, leaving a heavy silence behind him.
Gauri reached the chawl, her steps heavy from the weight of the morning's events. As soon as she entered their small home, Charvi rushed to her, eyes brimming with worry. She flung her arms around Gauri tightly.
"Didi, where were you the whole night?" Charvi's voice trembled. "I was so worried, sister. I couldn't sleep."
Gauri hugged her back, stroking her hair gently. Her eyes softened, though traces of pain lingered. "Charvi, don't worry so much. God is with me. As long as His grace protects me, no harm will ever befall me."
Charvi pulled back slightly, still unconvinced. "But, Didi—"
Gauri placed a finger lightly on her lips, forcing a smile. "No buts. You just have to trust me. Stop worrying so much, alright?"
Charvi nodded slowly, resting her head against her sister's shoulder, comforted by Gauri's words. Gauri held her tighter, silently praying her strength would always be enough for both of them.