Inside the cold, oppressive basement of Hell Palace...

The heavy silence was suddenly broken by the sharp ringing of a phone.

Tring... Tring...

Rudra slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

The moment his eyes fell on the caller ID...

Angel ❤️

His expression underwent a complete 180 degree shift.

The terrifying, icy aura that had paralyzed the underground room vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by an extraordinary calmness.

Before answering, Rudra raised two fingers and gave a swift, silent gesture to his guards.

Understanding the unspoken command instantly, two black-uniformed guards stepped forward.

Without making a sound, they pulled out heavy duct tape and sealed Kalpana's mouth tightly, securing her so not even a faint murmur could escape into the receiver.

Only after ensuring total silence did Rudra swipe the screen to answer.
His voice softened to a degree no guard in Hell Palace had ever heard before.

"Hello, Angel."

Sitting nearby on the plush leather sofa beside Vikram, the remaining three brothers-Veeransh, Arjun, and Kabir-silently shifted in their seats.

A collective, undeniable wave of jealousy washed over them.

"Why did she call Rudra bhaiya first and not us?"

"This is completely unfair!"

Meanwhile

Vanya's cheerful, bright voice bubbled through the speaker.

"Bhaiya! Avi aapase baat karna chahta hai."
(Bhaiya! Avi wants to talk to you.)

Vanya switched the call onto speaker mode and playfully nudged Aarav with her elbow, giving him a fierce glare that clearly said, 'Go on, do it!'

Aarav cleared his throat softly, adjusting his posture.

"Hello, Bhaiya..."

Inside the dim, concrete room of Hell Palace, a subtle, warm tone crept into Rudra's deep voice as he responded.

"Haan, Aarav. Bolo, kya kehna chahte ho?"
(Yes, Aarav. Tell me, what do you want to say?)

Aarav hesitated on his end of the line.

The silence stretched for a couple of seconds.

Panicking internally, he glanced at Vanya with pleading eyes, silently begging her to take over the phone and spare him from this awkward situation.

Vanya aggressively shook her head 'no' and crossed her arms, holding her ground.

She pointed a strict finger at the phone screen, enforcing her "younger sibling training" with zero mercy.

Taking a small, steadying breath, Aarav finally forced the words out into the microphone.

"Bhaiya... kya aap mere liye woh newly launched wireless headphones la sakte hain... please?"
(Bhaiya... can you bring me those newly launched wireless headphones... please?)

On the surface, Rudra merely kept his composure, his face remaining calm and collected in front of his father and brothers.

But deep down... he was far happier than he showed.

His quiet, distant little brother was actually asking him for something for the very first time in his life.

Misinterpreting the brief silence on the line as hesitation or annoyance, Aarav panicked slightly and added in a rushed, frantic tone,

"Agar aapke paas abhi time nahi hai, toh koi baat nahi! Aap rehne dijiye!"
(If you don't have time right now, it's completely okay! Just forget about it!)

Hearing him give up so easily, Vanya instantly slapped her forehead in dramatic defeat.

Rule number one of being a younger sibling: Never give them an easy exit option!

Before Aarav could back out of the conversation completely, Rudra's calm, reassuring voice echoed through the speaker, shutting down all his doubts.

"Tumhe 'please' kehne ki zarurat nahi hai, Aarav."
(You don't have to say 'please', Aarav.)

Rudra paused for a small moment, a faint sense of quiet pride lacing his tone as he continued,

"Aur mere paas apne chhote bhai ke liye hamesha bahut waqt hai. Main aate waqt tumhare headphones le aaunga."
(And I always have plenty of time for my little brother. I will bring your headphones when I come home.)

Hearing those words, Aarav went completely speechless.

A strange, unfamiliar warmth settled deep inside his chest.

He had spent so long keeping his distance, yet a simple request was met with such effortless care.

Vanya wore a victorious, smug smile, proudly watching her Twinny's training bear fruit.

She nudged him gently with her shoulder to prompt him to finish the call properly.

Aarav swallowed the lump in his throat and whispered softly,

"Thank you, Bhaiya..."

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Rudra's lips.

"Teek hai Aarav, main tumse ghar aakar baat karta hoon."
(Okay Aarav, I will talk to you after I get home.)

"Okay, Bhaiya."

Saying that, Rudra hung up the call, leaving a lingering warmth in the air-even in a place as dark as Hell Palace.

After the phone call ended...

No one inside the basement asked why Vanya and Aarav had called.

Vikram slowly turned his head and gave a slight signal to the guards standing beside Kalpana.

The guards immediately stepped forward and ripped the heavy duct tape off her mouth.

Kalpana gasped, greedily drawing air into her lungs.

Vikram leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

In a dangerously dark, quiet voice, he spoke directly to her.

"Toh..."
(So...)

"Kaisi saza deni chahiye tumhein?"
(What punishment should we give to you?)

The icy tone in his voice sent a violent shiver running straight down Kalpana's spine. Pale with terror, her trembling lips moved to form a defense.

"B-But Sir..."

"Maine kya kiya hai?"
(What have I done?)

Because according to her fractured, panic-stricken mind, she had only confessed everything to the spirits and ghosts the night before-not to any real human being.

She truly believed her secret was still safe from the Rathores.

Kabir, while maintaining his cool, cold aura, scoffed in an irritated tone.

"Oh please, ab drama mat shuru karo."
(Oh please, don't start your drama now.)

"Raat ko tumhara poora bhashan sun chuke hain hum. Sab kuch record ho chuka hai."
(We heard your entire speech last night. Everything has already been recorded.)

Realization struck Kalpana like a bolt of lightning.

Her eyes widened in absolute horror as the pieces finally connected in her head.

"There was no ghost..."

"Raghav Singh's and Maya Singh's spirit wasn't here..."

"She had been completely tricked!"

Before she could process the humiliation, Vikram and all four brothers leaned back into their seats.

Their cold, unreadable eyes locked onto her trembling figure.

They didn't even need to raise a finger.

They were ready to begin the mental torture... because they knew better than anyone that breaking a person's mind is far more dangerous, terrifying, and painful than any physical harm.

Arjun spoke up, his voice dripping with icy calm.

"Kyu na hum apna torture session mere surgical instruments ke saath shuru karein?"
(How about we start our torture session with my surgical instruments?)

Kalpana vigorously shook her head in sheer terror before she could even process anything else.

A cold, dangerous smile spread across every Rathore's face.

Before anyone could say another word, the sharp sound of a phone ringing echoed through the basement once again.

Everyone's eyes immediately shifted towards Veeransh.

Veeransh pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.

The moment he saw the caller ID, an undeniable rush of happiness washed over him.

After Rudra bhai, she had called him!

The caller ID brightly displayed:
"Sona 💓"

He swiped to answer, his voice instantly softening.

"Hello, Sona."

Vanya's cheerful voice came through the speaker.

"Hello, bhaiya! Aarav aapase baat karna chahta hai."
(Hello, bhaiya! Aarav wants to talk to you.)

She handed the phone over to Aarav. This time, after his initial lesson with Rudra, Aarav spoke without any hesitation.

"Hello, Bhaiya."

Veeransh responded with warmth in his tone.

"Haan Aarav, bolo."
(Yes Aarav, tell me.)

Aarav said confidently,

"Kya aap mere liye ek skateboard la sakte hain?"
(Can you bring me a skateboard?)

Veeransh was slightly surprised, a faint smile touching his lips.

"Tumhe skateboarding seekhni hai?"
(You want to learn skateboarding?)

Aarav replied eagerly,

"Haan bhaiya."
(Yes bhaiya.)

Veeransh nodded, his voice filled with gentle warmth.

"Teek hai Aarav, main ghar lautte waqt le aaunga."
(Okay Aarav, I will bring it while returning home.)

While he was still talking, Kalpana desperately tried to shout for help.

But before a single muffled sound could make it past her lips, one of the guards immediately clamped his hand over her mouth, shutting her up completely.

Veeransh didn't miss a beat on the call.

"Okay, bye."

Saying that, he hung up the phone, a small satisfied smile lingering on his face as he looked back at the terrified woman in front of them.

On the other side...

Back inside the living room of Rathore Mansion...

The moment the phone disconnected, Vanya squealed in absolute excitement.

"Haww, Avi! Skateboard?!"

She practically bounced on the sofa cushion, her eyes shining with pure joy and intrigue.

"Main bhi seekhungi! Tumhe mujhe bhi sikhana padega!"
(I want to learn it too! You have to teach me also!)

Aarav rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish, slightly embarrassed expression crossing his face as he confessed,

"Actually, Twinnie... Mujhe bhi chalaana nahi aata."
(Actually, Twinnie... Even I don't know how to ride it.)

He paused for a second, a small, subtle smile touching the corners of his lips as he added,

"Lekin hum Kabir bhaiya se keh sakte hain. Unhe skateboard chalaana aata hai."
(But we can ask Kabir bhaiya. He knows how to ride it.)

Vanya's eyes lit up even brighter. She snapped her fingers dramatically.

"Acha! Toh theek hai, hum dono saath mein seekhenge!"
(Okay! So fine, we both will learn everything together!)

Without losing a single second of momentum, she tapped her chin thoughtfully, her brain already locked onto their next target.

"Ab chalo Ari bhaiya ko call karte hain."
(Now let me call Ari bhaiya.)

Aarav didn't argue or hesitate this time.

In fact, deep down, he was actually starting to find this whole younger sibling routine surprisingly fun.

He nodded eagerly in full agreement.

Meanwhile, back in the dark basement of Hell Palace...

The sinister atmosphere had completely broken down before the brothers could even officially kick off their interrogation session with Kalpana.

By now, every single Rathore in the room-including Vikram-had fully decoded what was happening on the other end of those phone calls.

They knew Vanya was pulling the strings behind the scenes, using her adorable influence to finally break Aarav out of his quiet shell and teach him how to demand things from his brothers.

Because of that... Arjun and Kabir were practically squirming in their seats, desperately waiting for their own phones to ring next.

Neither of them wanted to be left out of their little brother's first-ever wishlist.

Sure enough...

Tring... Tring...

Arjun's phone buzzed sharply in his pocket.

He pulled it out so fast it was almost a blur, his face softening instantly when he saw the caller ID brightly displaying:

"Sunshine 💛"

Arjun swiped to answer immediately, holding the phone to his ear with a smug smirk directed right at Kabir.

On the other end, Aarav, now fully confident after two successful attempts, clearly asked for the "latest smartwatch."

Arjun agreed without missing a single beat, promising to bring the exact model home.

And right after Arjun hung up...

Tring... Tring...

Kabir's phone echoed with its energetic ringtone, the screen showing:

"Cupcake 🧁"

Kabir practically leaped out of his skin, answering the call with maximum dramatic flair.

"Haan, Cupcake!"

This time, Aarav asked Kabir to bring "Samosa and pineapple cake" when returning home in the evening.

Kabir grinned from ear to ear, happily agreeing to bring a whole feast of snacks before ending the call with a flourish.

With that... the grand phone session was officially complete.

Back at the mansion...

Satisfied with their successful mission and feeling thoroughly accomplished, Vanya and Aarav stood up from the living room sofa.

Giving each other a victorious high-five, the self-proclaimed twins headed off toward their respective rooms to take a well-deserved, peaceful afternoon nap.

Now that our self-proclaimed twins had gone off to their respective rooms to take a peaceful afternoon nap...

Back in the cold, subterranean gloom of Hell Palace's basement...

The devils could finally turn their full, uninterrupted attention back to their dear guest.

The abrupt transition was horrifying.

Just moments ago, these men were speaking into their phones with soft, affectionate tones, promising smartwatches, headphones, and samosas.

Now, as the last call ended, that warmth vanished like a fleeting illusion.

Seeing their expressions change so effortlessly from fond elder brothers to cold-blooded monsters...

Kalpana got utterly terrified.

A suffocating aura settled over the concrete room.

Veeransh leaned forward, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at her with unreadable, dangerous eyes.

He spoke up in a casual, deliberate voice.

"Kyun na hum iski beti ko target karein? Jiski wajah se isne yeh sab karne ki himmat ki..."
(How about we target her daughter, because of whom she did all this...)

Of course, every Rathore and the guards in that room knew they would never actually harm an innocent girl-it went strictly against their code.

But psychological warfare required hitting where it hurt the most.

The suggestion instantly sent Kalpana into a frantic, hyperventilating panic.

"Nahi! Nahi! Meri beti nahi!"
(No! No! Not my daughter!)

She thrashed against her restraints, her voice shrill with desperate motherly instinct.

"Usne kuch nahi kiya! use is sab ke baare mein kuch nahi pata!"
(She didn't do anything! She knows nothing about all this!)

Vikram slowly stood up from his seat.

The sheer weight of his presence made the air in the basement feel impossibly thick.

He stepped closer to where she was tied, his dark eyes ablaze with suppressed fury.

His voice echoed angrily against the damp walls.

"Aur meri beti ne tumhara kya bigaada tha?"
(And what did my daughter ever do to you?)

The question hung heavy in the silence.

Seeing that there was truly no escape, that her fate was already sealed no matter what she said or did, Kalpana felt something snap inside her.

Desperation gave way to bitter malice.

She let go of her terror and spat out her venom.

"Aapki beti?!"
(Your daughter?!)

She sneered, her eyes wide with unhinged contempt.

"Woh aapki beti nahi hai! Woh bas ek anath hai jise aapne apne ghar mein rehne ke liye chhat di hai!"
(She is not your daughter! She is merely an orphan you have given shelter to!)

Hearing those spiteful words disrespecting Vanya...

Every single Rathore present grew dangerously angry.

Their jawlines hardened, and their hands instantly clenched into tight, white-knuckled fists.

The temperature in the room plummeted to sub-zero levels.

Vikram didn't hesitate.

He took another step forward and shouted with absolute, thunderous rage.

"Chup raho!"
(Shut up!)

His voice reverberated like a roar, shaking Kalpana to her core.

"Woh meri beti hai! Jis din usne mere saamne bina kisi darr ke meri aankhon mein dekhkar baat ki thi... woh ussi din se vo meri princess hai!"
(She is my daughter! From the day she talked to me without fear, holding eye contact... she became my princess from that very day!)

Kalpana was more frightened than ever by Vikram's booming fury, shivering beneath his deadly glare.

Yet, driven mad by the realization that she was completely ruined, a twisted, mocking laugh escaped her throat.

"Hahaha..."

She looked at Vikram and the four brothers, her voice dripping with cruel satisfaction as she attempted to strike at the one thing they treasured most.

"Aapki beti... jise aap apni beti bol rahe hain... woh 18 saal ki hote hi aap sabko chhodkar jaane ka plan bana chuki hai!"
(Your daughter... whom you are calling your daughter... she has already planned on leaving you all after she turns 18!)

Silence dropped like a heavy hammer.
All the Rathores stood completely shocked.

The accusation sliced through the air, catching every brother off-guard. "Vanya... planning to leave them?"

Arjun stepped forward, his eyes narrowing into deadly slits. He spoke in a dangerously low, icy tone.

"Tum apne liye cheezein aur zyada mushkil bana rahi ho, Kalpana."
(You are making things far worse for yourself, Kalpana.)

Kalpana smirked through her fear, holding her head up high.

"Agar aapko mujhpar shaq hai..."
(If you have doubts...)

"Toh jaakar uski diary check kar lijiye... ya phir khud usise pooch lijiye!"
(Then go check her diary... or ask her yourself!)

Inside the cold, suffocating silence of Hell Palace's underground basement...

Kalpana's bitter words hung heavy in the damp air.

Hearing those words, every single Rathore felt a sharp, agonizing sting in their heart.

The thought of Vanya-their sweet, bubbly little sister-secretly planning to walk away from them the moment she turned eighteen pierced through them deeper than any physical blade ever could.

It shook the foundation of their newly formed bond.

Yet, as true rulers of their dark empire, not a single trace of that internal turmoil showed on their faces.

Their expressions remained cold, stoic, and completely unreadable.

They refused to give Kalpana the satisfaction of seeing them falter.

Vikram slowly raised his hand, his deep voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere like a sharp knife.

"Enough."

The single word echoed off the concrete walls, commanding absolute silence.

Vikram turned around, walked back calmly, and sat down on the leather sofa.

He leaned back, resting his hands over his knees, and shifted his cold, dark gaze towards Arjun.

Arjun understood the unspoken signal instantly.

Without saying a word, Arjun stood up from his seat.

He reached into his coat pocket and slowly pulled out a pre-filled, sterile syringe.

The clear liquid inside glinted menacingly under the dim basement lights.

Seeing the syringe in his hands, Kalpana's eyes widened in sheer panic.

Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs as she thrashed against her chair.

"W-What is that?!"

"Yeh kya hai?! Tum kya karne wale ho?!"
(What is this?! What are you going to do?)

Rudra stepped forward, a cold, dark smirk playing on his lips.

His voice dropped to a chilling, dangerous whisper.

"Oh, that?"

He tilted his head slightly, staring down at her with complete contempt.

"Tum hamari behen ki sochne ki ability chheen-na chahti thi na?"
(You wanted to take away our sister's ability to think, right?)

"Now this will exactly happen to you."

Kalpana's breath hitched in her throat.

She vigorously shook her head, tears of pure terror welling up in her eyes.

"M-Matlab?!"
(W-What do you mean?!)

Kabir walked over to stand beside Arjun.

The usual playful, mischievous spark in his eyes was completely gone, replaced by a dark, sinister smirk.

"Means..."

Kabir leaned down slightly, making sure she heard every single word clearly.

"Is injection ke baad tum poori tarah se paralyze ho jaogi."
(After this injection, you will become completely paralyzed.)

His voice was terrifyingly calm as he laid out her dark fate.

"Tumhare paas senses aur thinking ability toh hogi... lekin tum apna koi bhi kaam nahi kar paogi."
(You will still have your senses and thinking ability... but you won't be able to do any of your daily chores.)

"Apni daily needs ke liye... jaise khana khana, washroom jana... har cheez ke liye tumhein doosron par depend rehna padega."
(For your daily needs... like eating, going to the washroom... for everything, you will have to depend on others.)

Veeransh stepped beside them, his face unreadable as he added the final, crushing detail.

"And the main thing..."

He looked straight into her terrified, wide eyes.

"Tum bol bhi nahi paogi."
(You won't even be able to talk.)

"Tumhari aawaaz hamesha ke liye chheen jayegi."
(Your voice will be gone forever.)

Kalpana felt the ground slip out from beneath her feet.

Trapped in her own body...

Able to feel, hear, and think, but unable to move or utter a single word...

It was a nightmare worse than death itself.

"Nahi! Please! Mujhe maaf kar do!"
(No! Please! Forgive me!)

"Main bheekh maangti hoon! Please!"
(I beg of you! Please!)

She screamed and thrashed desperately, trying to pull her hands free from the heavy ropes.

By this time, Arjun was already standing right beside her.

He didn't waste a single second listening to her frantic pleas.

Without giving her any chance to react or dodge, he expertly pressed the needle into her neck and injected the cold fluid into her bloodstream.

"Ah...!"

Kalpana gasped loudly as the medicine entered her system.

Within seconds, her thrashing began to slow down. Her eyelids grew heavy, her muscles went completely limp, and her frantic screams dissolved into weak, muffled whimpers.

She slumped forward against the chair, her mind trapped in a cage of her own making.

Vikram didn't even spare her a second glance.

He stood up from the sofa, adjusted his coat sleeves, and turned toward the guards standing at the entrance.

His voice was cold, authoritative, and completely devoid of mercy.

"Isse hospital ke bahar chhod aao... aur iski family ko call karke bol do ki isse le jayein."
(Leave her outside the hospital... and call her family to take her.)

The guards immediately straightened up and bowed their heads respectfully.

"Ji, Boss."
(Yes, Boss.)

With her fate sealed and the enemy dealt with, Vikram and the four Rathore brothers slowly turned and walked out of the basement, their footsteps echoing through the long hallway.

Though the danger was finally over, a heavy, unspoken cloud hung over every brother's heart...

What Kalpana had said about Vanya's diary was still ringing in their ears.

After leaving the cold, dimly lit basement of Hell Palace...

Vikram and the four Rathore brothers walked back into the main living area without exchanging a single word.

One by one, they settled onto the plush leather sofas. Although they appeared calm on the outside, their minds were in complete turmoil.

The same words...

The same bitter confession...

Kept echoing inside every Rathore's mind.

"Woh 18 saal ki hote hi aap sabko chhodkar jaane ka plan bana chuki hai..."

"Uski diary check kar lijiye."

(She has already planned to leave all of you the moment she turns eighteen... Check her diary.)

No one wanted to believe Kalpana.

Yet none of them could completely ignore what she had said.

The mere thought that Vanya might one day leave them settled heavily in everyone's heart.

After several long moments of silence, Vikram finally spoke. His voice was calm, yet carried the same unquestionable authority that always demanded obedience.

"Agar uske shabd sach ho ya jhoot..."
(Whether her words are true or false...)

"Koi bhi Vanya ki diary check nahi karega."
(No one will check Vanya's diary.)

"Aur koi bhi usse is baare mein kuch nahi poochega."
(And no one will ask her about it.)

Kabir frowned.

"But Dad..."

Before he could continue, Rudra interrupted him.

"Nahi, Kabir."
(No, Kabir.)

"Dad sahi keh rahe hain."
(Dad is right.)

Everyone turned towards Rudra.

Leaning forward slightly, he spoke in his usual calm, composed tone.

"Agar uske mann mein kabhi aisa khayal aaya bhi hoga..."
(Even if such a thought ever crossed her mind...)

"Toh humein usse apne pyaar aur care se badalna hoga."
(Then we have to replace that thought with our love and care.)

He looked at each of his brothers before continuing.

"Humein uski privacy ki respect karni hogi..."
(We have to respect her privacy...)

"Na ki uspe shaq karna hoga."
(Not doubt her.)

His words left the room in silence once again.

This time, however, it wasn't filled with confusion.

Instead, everyone quietly reflected on what he had said.

They had already accepted Vanya as a part of their family.

If they truly wanted her to stay...

Then invading her privacy was never the answer.

They had to become the reason she would never want to leave.

Not through force...

Not through suspicion...

But through love, trust, and the warmth of a family she could finally call her own.

A faint smile appeared on Vikram's face.

His sons had understood exactly what he wanted without him having to explain further.

No more discussion was necessary.

One after another, everyone stood up.

Vikram, Rudra, and Veeransh headed towards the Rathore Enterprise to deal with the pending work.

Arjun left for the hospital .

Meanwhile, Kabir left Hell Palace to meet his friends, hoping a change of atmosphere would help clear his mind after everything that had happened.

Several hours later...

The golden rays of the setting sun spread across the sky, replacing the harsh afternoon heat with a cool, refreshing breeze.

Rathore Mansion looked peaceful once again.

The trees swayed gently with the wind, and the garden was filled with the cheerful sounds of laughter.

Out on the lush green lawn...

Vanya and Aarav were completely immersed in a game of shuttlecock.

"Catch this!"

Vanya laughed as she hit the shuttlecock high into the air.

Aarav quickly moved to his left and returned it with a perfect shot.

The game continued back and forth, neither of them willing to lose.

Every time Aarav managed to score a point, Vanya dramatically complained that he was "cheating."

Every time Vanya won a rally, she celebrated as though she had just won an international championship.

Watching her endless antics, Aarav couldn't help but smile.

A few weeks ago...

He would have quietly walked away from something like this.

But now...

Without even realizing it himself...

He was laughing...

Competing...

And enjoying every single moment with his self-proclaimed Twinny.

While they were playing, Vanya suddenly lowered her racquet, taking in the pleasant evening weather.

The sky had transformed into a breathtaking canvas of soft peach, violet, and gold, and a cool, gentle breeze swept across the lush green lawn, rustling the leaves of the old oak trees surrounding Rathore Mansion.

Her eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with a sudden, brilliant idea.

"Avi! Stop, stop! Chalo photos click karte hain!"
(Avi! Stop, stop! Let's click photos!)

Aarav froze mid-motion, holding his racquet in mid-air.

He looked at her with a blend of disbelief and deep skepticism, slowly pointing toward his sweat-drenched black sports tee and messy, windblown hair.

"Is dress mein? Aur iss haalat mein?"
(In these clothes? And in this state?)

He raised an eyebrow, looking down at himself.

"Dhoop mein khelne ke baad sweating ho rahi hai, Twinnie. Normal log fresh hone ke baad photos lete hain."
(We're sweating after playing in the sun, Twinnie. Normal people take photos after freshening up.)

Vanya waved her hand dismissively, not bothered by their unkempt, post-game state in the slightest.

"Arre, tum bilkul buddho ki tarah sochna band karo! Yeh natural photos hain!"
(Arre, stop thinking like an old man! These are natural photos!)

She took a step closer, grinning mischievously as she leaned in slightly.

"Waise bhi... kaunsa hum inhein kisi social media par post kar rahe hain? Yeh toh humari Twinny memory hai!"
(Anyway... it's not like we are posting them on social media? This is our Twinny memory!)

Aarav blinked. The phrase 'Twinny memory' hit him in a way he didn't quite expect.

He looked at her determined face for a second, silently admitted defeat, and finally gave in with a quiet sigh and a soft nod.

"Fine. Par sirf do-teen photos."
(Fine. But only two or three photos.)

"Haye mera pyaara Twinny!"
(Oh, my sweet Twinny!)

Vanya jogged over to the white wrought-iron garden bench where she had left her phone.

She snatched it up and immediately handed it over to Aarav, officially assigning him the role of chief photographer.

" Tum pehle meri solo photos click karo!"
( You click my solo photos first!)

Aarav accepted the phone with a helpless chuckle.

Standing proudly on the vibrant green grass, Vanya didn't waste a single second.

She immediately struck her first pose—hoisting her badminton racquet over her shoulder like a high-tech rocket launcher, looking off into the distance with a fierce, dramatic expression as if she were about to save the universe.

Aarav stared at her through the phone screen.

"...Yeh kaunsa pose hai?"
(...What kind of pose is this?)

"Shhh! Don't ruin my dramatic aura! Bas photo click karo!"
(Shhh! Don't ruin my dramatic aura! Just click the photo!)

Click.

She immediately switched her posture—posing as if she were holding an invisible sword, and then dropping into a cute pose with two peace signs framing her cheeks, her bright smile lighting up the frame.

Aarav quietly tapped the shutter button again and again, secretly amused by how effortlessly she filled the silent garden with her joyful chaos.

After taking a dozen solo shots of Vanya, she bounded over to him excitedly and snatched the phone back to inspect his work.

"Wah, Avi! Photo skills toh top-notch hain! Ab chalo, selfie time!"
(Wow, Avi! Your photo skills are top-notch! Now come on, selfie time!)

Aarav didn't even get a chance to protest before Vanya grabbed his arm and dragged him into the frame.

He took the phone back to hold it at a higher angle, adjusting the frame so both of them were centered against the glowing sunset.

"Ready?" Aarav asked softly.

"Hamesha ready!"
(Always ready!)

For the first selfie, Vanya flashed a vibrant, energetic peace sign, leaning sideways until her shoulder was resting firmly against Aarav's. Aarav, looking into the lens, let a rare, genuine, and contented smile curve his lips—a look far lighter than any he had worn in years.

Click.

"Ek silly pose, Avi! Come on, cooperate karo!"
(One silly pose, Avi! Come on, cooperate!)

Before Aarav could ask what she meant, Vanya made a dramatic, goofy face—puffing out her cheeks and pointing an accusing finger right at Aarav's face.

Aarav tried his absolute best to maintain his signature stern, deadpan expression, but the sheer absurdity of her face broke his composure, capturing him mid-chuckle with his hand raised to hide his smile.

And then came the final photo.
As they were adjusting for one last shot, a stray gust of wind blew a fallen feather from the grass right across Vanya’s nose.

She sneezed, lost her balance slightly, and bumped straight into Aarav, sending both of them cracking up into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

Aarav’s thumb instinctively hit the screen right at that exact second.

The resulting picture was completely unscripted and unposed—capturing Vanya doubled over laughing with her eyes closed, and Aarav looking down at her with genuine, warm fondness, his arm wrapped casually around her shoulder to keep her steady.

Vanya looked at the screen, her eyes sparkling as she swiped through the gallery.

"Dekha? Maine kaha tha na... perfect aayengi!"
(See? Didn't I tell you... they'd turn out perfect!)

Aarav looked over her shoulder at the bright, happy faces reflected on the screen.





For the first time in a very long time, he felt a sense of belonging that didn't come with pressure or expectation—just the simple, unshakeable comfort of family.

After their playful photo session in the garden, Vanya and Aarav walked over to the white garden bench and sat down together, letting the cool evening breeze calm their breathless laughter.

Vanya swiped through her phone gallery once more before turning her head toward Aarav with a sudden, curious expression.

"Avi..."

Aarav looked at her.

"Kya humara koi family group hai?"
(Do we have a family group?)

Aarav tilted his head, giving her a plain look.

"Nahi. Kyun?"
(No. Why?)

Vanya dramatically gasped, staring at him as if he had just admitted to crime.

"Kyunki ab hum ek group banane wale hain!"
(Because we are going to create one now!)

Without wasting a second, Vanya opened her messaging app and tapped on 'Create New Group'.

Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen as she added everyone: Vikram, Rudra, Veeransh, Arjun, Kabir, Aarav, and herself.

Once all the members were added, she stared at the empty text box requiring a title.

"Iss group ka naam kya rakhein?"
(What should we name this group?)

Aarav thought about it for a second and suggested with complete seriousness,

"Hum Saath Saath Hain."

The moment those words left his mouth, Vanya instantly slapped her forehead in dramatic defeat.

"Haan, why not! Aur agle group ka naam rakhna 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun'!"
(Yeah, why not! And name the next group 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun'!)

Aarav blinked, exasperated.

"Toh phir mujhse poocha kyun?"
(Then why did you ask me?)

Vanya paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she pondered for a few seconds.

A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as she typed out a brand-new title.

"The Family Under Construction 🚧"

Aarav leaned over to read the screen and stared at her, completely bewildered.

"Iska kya matlab hai?"
(What does this mean?)

Vanya turned to him, putting on her most serious, philosophical face as she explained her logic.

"Dekho, main iss family mein nayi hoon. Aur iss ghar mein sab log robots ki tarah jeete hain—office, ghar, ghar, office!"
(Look, I am new to this family. And everyone in this house lives like robots—office, home, home, office!)

She pointed dramatically toward the mansion.

"Toh jab tak tum sab log normal insaano ki tarah jeena nahi seekh jaate... tab tak iss group ka naam yahi rahega!"
(So until all of you learn how to live like normal people... this will remain the group's name!)

Aarav went completely speechless. He genuinely had no response to her absurd yet strangely logical explanation.

Before he could say anything, miles away in different parts of the city...

'Ping!'

Every single Rathore member's phone buzzed with a brand-new group notification.

To be continued...