Later in the evening, after freshening up and finishing her meal, Gauri slipped on her jacket and picked up her cab keys. As she moved toward the door, Gayatri's sharp voice stopped her.
"Driving won't make you rich, Gauri," Gayatri said bluntly, arms crossed. "If you just decide to perform at the bar, you could earn three times as much as what you get from this cab."
Gauri turned, her eyes calm but resolute. "Maybe. But at least by driving, I'll be earning honorably, Maa."
Before Gayatri could argue again, Gauri walked over to Charvi and embraced her tightly. "Study hard, Charvi. It's your first year in college, and nothing is more important than that."
Charvi smiled faintly, nodding. "Okay, Didi. Just… come back early tonight, please."
Gauri ruffled her hair affectionately. "It's just 6 p.m. I'll be back by 8, promise."
"Okay, Di," Charvi said softly, watching as Gauri stepped out with determination, leaving behind the world of taunts for her self-earned dignity.
As the door shut behind Gauri, Gayatri's eyes followed her, narrowing with calculation. She muttered under her breath, her tone laced with greed.
"She'll never agree so easily… stubborn girl. Always after respect and dignity."
Gayatri sat down, her fingers tapping against the armrest as her eyes glinted with hunger for wealth. "But what will dignity buy her? Nothing. Dance will bring money. And money is what we need. Every time, I had to push Charvi forward to make Gauri perform. But this time… I'll do something bigger, something that will finally force her into the bar."
A sly smile crept across her lips. "Once she starts dancing regularly, the money will flow in. More than she could ever dream of earning driving that silly cab."
Gayatri leaned back, satisfied with her resolve, her mind already weaving plans of how to corner Gauri into her world of dancing—for profit, not for pride.
Meanwhile, at the Kothari Mansion…
Vihaan returned from the police station, his steps measured but his senses sharp. As he walked through the gates, a sudden shiver ran down his spine—like invisible eyes were following him. He paused, scanning the area carefully, but the courtyard was silent. Only the rustle of the evening breeze stirred the trees.
"Strange…" he muttered under his breath before dismissing the feeling and heading inside.
In the living room, Veena, Urvashi, and Dadi were seated together, their discussion centered around Raani's in-laws. The air was thick with concern and seriousness.
"Namaste, Maa… Dadi… Chachi," Vihaan greeted respectfully, bowing his head slightly.
Veena's sharp gaze turned to him immediately. "You? Back already? It's only six. What happened at the station?"
Vihaan loosened his collar and placed his cap on the table. "The day was lighter than usual, and the reports I had to file were wrapped up earlier. So I thought of coming home."
Dadi's eyes softened as she looked at him. "It's good you came early, beta. At least we get to see you at home once in a while instead of only hearing about your work."
Urvashi nodded, adding in a calm tone, "Your Dadi is right. This family also needs your presence, not just the city."
Veena, however, folded her arms, still sharp and inquisitive. "But don't think coming early means you'll sit idle. We were just talking about Raani's in-laws… her sasuraal. You should listen too. These matters concern the whole family."
Vihaan straightened, his expression growing serious. "Of course, Maa. Tell me what's going on."
Just then, Yug and Raani walked into the living room. Raani's face was pale with worry, and Yug's expression mirrored her tension.
Urvashi sighed heavily. "Raani's in-laws just called. They've postponed the wedding till further notice."
Vihaan immediately turned to face her, concern flashing in his eyes. "Postponed? Out of the blue? Is there some problem?"
Veena crossed her arms, irritation clear in her tone. "That's exactly what bothers me. They didn't explain anything, just called and said the wedding is postponed. No proper reason given."
Vihaan stepped closer to Raani, his voice calm but firm. "Don't stress, Maa. I'm sure they must have a valid reason. Sometimes families need time to sort things out. We shouldn't jump to conclusions."
He placed a reassuring hand on Raani's shoulder. "And you, Raani… don't worry. If there's any problem, your bhaiya will fix it. Nothing will go wrong."
Raani's lips trembled slightly, but she managed a small nod. "Okay, bhaiya," she whispered, her voice soft but trusting.
Yug placed a supportive hand on Raani's back and then looked at Vihaan with complete trust. "Bhaiya's right. If there's a problem, he'll handle it. So stop worrying."
The heaviness in the room lightened a little, with Raani drawing strength from both her brothers' support.
Meanwhile, after dropping off a passenger, Gauri glanced at the small clock on her dashboard. It was 7:30. Her eyes widened slightly.
"I promised Charvi I'd be home by eight," she muttered to herself, determination flickering in her tired eyes.
She adjusted her rearview mirror, then carefully reversed her cab, steering it back onto the main road. The city lights glimmered faintly against the dusky sky as she pressed her foot on the accelerator.
"All right, time to get back," she whispered, her voice carrying both a sense of responsibility and the lingering exhaustion of the day.
The cab engine hummed steadily as Gauri headed toward the chawl, her mind focused on keeping her word to her sister.