"Don't question my mother's actions," Vihaan snapped. "You're nothing but a bar dancer, a woman with a price tag, willing to do anything for the right amount of money."
The room seemed to vibrate with tension. Charvi's fists clenched in disbelief, her eyes flashing with both fury and fear for Gauri.
With a swift, precise motion, Gauri raised her hand and delivered a stinging slap to Vihaan's cheek. The sharp sound punctuated the venomous words that had preceded it.
The slap shattered the air, leaving the family in stunned silence. Dadi's eyes widened in horror, her hand flying to her mouth. Veena's face paled, her gaze darting between Gauri and Vihaan. Yug and Raani exchanged shocked glances, while Shyom's expression remained a mix of surprise and curiosity. Charvi's breath caught, and she instinctively stepped closer to Gauri, her heart racing as she realized just how tense the moment had become.
"You're crossing your limits, Vihaan," Gauri said, her voice trembling with rage.
Vihaan laughed mockingly. "Wow, talking about limits now? After crossing mine by slapping me?"
Her face twisted in anguish, tears welling up in her eyes.
"My mother was right," Vihaan said firmly. "You're not fit to be a part of this family. Get out."
Dadi tried to intervene softly, "Vihaan, beta, let's talk calmly…"
But Vihaan's resolve was unshakable. "No, Dadi. I won't tolerate any insult to my mother."
Gauri's voice shook with pain and anger. "You've always misunderstood and insulted me without hearing my side. Yes, I pushed your mother—but only because she attacked me."
Swiftly, Gauri pulled up her sleeve, revealing the bruises on her shoulder. The room went silent as everyone gasped in shock.
The marks screamed of the violence she had endured. Dadi's face turned pale, her eyes filled with concern. Charvi's hands flew to her mouth in horror, her body trembling as she looked at her sister's wounds. "Sister…" she whispered, barely able to breathe.
Vihaan's expression remained hardened, skepticism burning in his eyes. "Why would my mother attack you?"
Gauri's gaze never wavered from Vihaan's, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Ask your mother why she attacked me," she spat, her voice sharp and unflinching.
The room seemed to shrink around them, the air thick with tension, each heartbeat echoing like a drum in the silence. Gauri's words sliced through the oppressive atmosphere. "As far as becoming a part of this family goes, I never wanted it—and I never will. Someone like you will never understand my worth."
Vihaan's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing, every muscle in his body taut with restrained anger. The faint strains of a melancholy song floated from the hall, its haunting notes—"Tu Mera Koi Na Hoke Bhi Kuch Lage"—mirroring the bitter emotions choking the room.
"I loathe the day I ever crossed paths with you," Gauri continued, her voice low but venomous, her chest rising and falling with barely contained fury.
Vihaan sneered, a flash of dark amusement in his eyes. "Likewise," he muttered, his tone cold, carrying an edge that made the air between them crackle with hostility.
With a measured turn, Gauri lifted her chin, her posture regal despite the storm raging in her chest. Each step she took away from him was deliberate, a silent declaration of her independence and refusal to bow.
Behind her, Charvi's fists clenched, her knuckles whitening as she stayed close, protective yet restrained, while Gayatri trailed nervously, her face a mask of concern and unease.
The room seemed suspended in time, charged with a dangerous tension. Every eye was on them, yet no one dared intervene, sensing the storm that had just erupted between Gauri and Vihaan.
As Gauri and her family left the mansion
Dadi shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes fixed on Vihaan. "Vihaan… you could have handled that better. Gauri may have pushed your mother, but she did not deserve to be insulted or humiliated like that. You're the elder—you should know how to act with patience."
Vihaan met her gaze steadily, his jaw tight. "Dadi, she didn't just push my mother. She lied about her, accused her of things she didn't do. How could I just stand by?"
Dadi's sigh was heavy, a mix of frustration and concern. "I understand why you're angry, beta. But anger isn't the way to show strength. Protecting your family doesn't mean hurting someone who has already suffered enough."
Vihaan's expression softened slightly, though the tension in his eyes remained. "I know, Dadi… I just… I can't let anyone harm my family, not even through lies."
Dadi shook her head again, her voice calm but firm. "Remember, beta, power and control are not shown through force alone. Even when your heart is right, the way you act matters."
Gauri ran through the streets, her feet carrying her forward as tears streamed down her face. She finally collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed by the weight of her emotions.
Charvi rushed to her side, eyes wide with concern. "Didi! Didi, please don't cry!" she exclaimed, kneeling beside her. "I'm here… I won't let anyone hurt you."
Gauri tried to speak, but her sobs choked her. Charvi gently cupped her face, her small hands trembling. "Didi… you're my sister. You're brave… you're not that mean man's property or toy! Don't cry… please don't cry!"
Gauri's tears blurred her vision, but she hugged Charvi tightly. "Charvi… I… I can't… everything is falling apart…"
Charvi's voice was fierce yet tender. "Shh… I'm here. You're not alone. I won't leave you, Didi. No matter what, I'll stay by your side. He can't make you feel small, okay? You're my Didi, and I love you!"
From afar, Gayatri fumed, her face twisted with envy as she saw Gauri's resilience despite the humiliation, silently cursing her luck.
Meanwhile, Vihaan stared blankly into the darkness of his room, replaying the confrontation with Gauri. The memory of her wounded shoulder and the slap she gave him flashed in his mind. His anger resurfaced, pushing aside any doubts about her side of the story.
"She's just a manipulative girl," he muttered, clenching his fists. The sting of the slap fueled his resentment.
Yug cautiously approached. "Bhaiya… maybe we should consider her side? She said Mom attacked her…"
Vihaan's jaw tightened. "You're doubting her? She is my mother, Yug. Don't question her!"
Yug's voice faltered but stayed firm. "No one would hurt themselves to lie… maybe there's more to it."
Vihaan's anger boiled over. "You're siding with her? Against our own family?"