The Final Dinner at Tripathi Mansion
The dining hall was silent, save for the clinking of cutlery. Rajiv Tripathi carefully served a portion of food onto Ayaat's plate. His hands trembled slightly as he looked at her.
"Eat something, Ayaat," Rajiv said softly. "This might be our last dinner together. I still find it hard to believe that your biological parents are coming to take you back so suddenly. It feels like just yesterday we brought you home".
Ayaat looked at the food but didn't pick up her spoon. Fate had played a cruel joke; a medical emergency three months ago had required a blood transfusion, revealing that Ayaat had no biological link to the Tripathis. After a frantic search, Rajiv had found his biological daughter, Naina, and subsequently, Ayaat's real family had been located.
"I asked the chef to make all your favorites one last time," Rajiv continued, his voice filled with guilt. He knew Ayaat's biological parents were currently unemployed and struggled to make ends meet. He worried about how she would survive after eighteen years of luxury.
Ayaat pushed her plate away. "I'm finished," she said, her voice cold and devoid of emotion. She stood up and walked toward her room without a backward glance.
Kavita's Resentment
Kavita Tripathi slammed her fork down. "Look at that attitude! You've spoiled her far too much, Rajiv," she hissed. "She doesn't have a shred of gratitude. We gave a stranger's daughter the best of everything while our own Naina was out there suffering. Let her go to her real parents; only then will she realize the value of the life we gave her".
The Confrontation: Ayaat vs. Naina
In the hallway, Naina stopped Ayaat. Naina wore a designer dress and a triumphant smile. "Ayaat, wait," she called out. "My engagement to Samarth is set for November. You'll be there, won't you? After all, we're sisters".
The irony wasn't lost on Ayaat. Before the truth came out, she was the one destined to marry Samarth Malhotra. Within a month of arriving, Naina had claimed the family name, the bedroom, and the fiancé.
"Samarth is so attentive," Naina gushed, touching her hair. "He says he's never met anyone like me. If it weren't for the DNA test, you would have been the one standing beside him. You aren't jealous, are you?".
Ayaat finally looked at her. "Jealous? Actually, I should thank you, Naina. That useless man finally found someone who matches his level. You're perfect for each other".
Naina's face flushed with anger. "What did you say?".
"I was planning to discard that trash anyway," Ayaat said calmly. "I'm just surprised someone was so eager to pick it up".
The Ruby Necklace Trap
Naina raised her hand to slap Ayaat, but suddenly stopped, her expression shifting to one of fearful innocence. Kavita was walking toward them.
"Ayaat! How dare you speak to your sister like that?" Kavita shouted.
Ayaat let out a short, dry laugh. "You're not just losing your temper, Kavita; you're losing your sight. You should get your eyes checked if you can't see what's happening right in front of you".
As Kavita began to scream, Naina moved forward as if to hug Ayaat. "Let's not fight. Ayaat, I wanted to give you this ruby necklace as a parting gift".
As Naina reached out, she "clumsily" bumped into Ayaat's backpack. The backpack tipped, and the expensive ruby necklace rolled out from inside the bag and onto the floor.
"Oh no!" Naina cried, feigning shock. "The necklace... what was it doing in your bag, Ayaat?".
Kavita's eyes widened. "Rajiv! Come here now!" she screamed. When Rajiv arrived, she pointed at the floor. "Your 'favorite' daughter was trying to steal Naina's jewelry before leaving! She's a thief!".
Naina lowered her head, playing the role of the merciful sister. "It's okay, Mom. Her parents are jobless and she has five brothers to support. She probably just felt desperate. Let her take it; she needs it more than I do".
Ayaat looked at the ruby necklace on the floor with utter disdain. "I did take it out of the drawer," she admitted coolly, her voice cutting through the room. "But I didn't take it to steal it. I took it because I wanted to see if something so cheap and ugly would even fit in the trash can. As it turns out, it's not even worth the effort of throwing away".
Naina's face twisted in a mixture of shock and anger, but Ayaat wasn't finished. She turned to Kavita, who was still fuming. "You keep calling me a thief, but you're the one who has been robbed—robbed of your common sense. You're so blinded by your 'real' daughter that you can't see the snake you've brought into this house".
Ayaat's Bold Exit
Rajiv tried to step forward, perhaps to offer a parting word or money, but Ayaat raised a hand to stop him. "Don't, Rajiv. I don't want your money, and I certainly don't want your pity. You think I'm going to a life of misery? I'd rather live in a hut with my pride than stay another minute in this house of lies".
She shouldered her bag, her posture straight and her head held high. She didn't wait for a car or a ride. She walked toward the massive iron gates of the Tripathi Mansion entirely on her own.
As she reached the edge of the property, Ayaat stopped and looked back at the grand estate one last time. There were no tears in her eyes. Instead, a cold, calculating smile played on her lips.
"You think you've discarded me," she whispered to the wind. "But you've just set me free. The next time you see me, you'll be the ones begging for my mercy".
With that, Ayaat turned her back on the Tripathis and walked away into the night, disappearing into the shadows with a mysterious confidence that suggested she was heading toward a future they couldn't possibly imagine.