The Rathore mansion was glowing with warmth and life that evening. Though it wasn’t a grand celebration, every corner of the hall whispered of love and care, it was a small, intimate party for Veer. Strings of fairy lights draped across the walls cast a golden glow, fresh flowers adorned the tables, and the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air.

Meera had spent the entire day in the kitchen, carefully preparing all of Veer’s favorite dishes. Each dish was more than food, it was her way of telling him that he wasn’t alone, that he was family. And as if to add sweetness to that love, Saaisha had baked the cake herself. She had been nervous, sneaking glances at Meera now and then for reassurance, but when the oven timer rang and the cake turned out perfectly, she couldn’t stop smiling.

Rajveer stood near the staircase, watching the arrangements take shape. His sharp eyes scanned the decorations, the table settings, and the happy chaos of the household. For him, this wasn’t just about a party, it was about making Veer feel loved, about reminding him that he belonged here.

Veer had been like a son to them for years. After his mother’s death, he had been broken, a shell of the cheerful boy he once was. He had withdrawn from the world, isolating himself, drowning in silence and shadows. But the Rathores refused to let him slip away. They became his anchor, holding him steady when the waves of grief threatened to swallow him whole.

Meera, in particular, had stepped into the void his mother left behind. She never tried to replace her, but she made sure Veer never felt the absence too strongly. From fussing over his meals to checking in on him late at night, she gave him a mother’s love in every small gesture. Rajveer, with his steady presence, treated Veer like his own blood, guiding him with the quiet authority of a father.

And tonight, as the lights twinkled and the scent of ghee and spices lingered in the air, the Rathore mansion wasn’t just hosting a party  it was celebrating family, healing, and love. For Veer, it was more than just a birthday or a gathering. It was proof that even after loss, life could offer new bonds, new homes, and new reasons to smile.

The evening had barely settled when the front doors of Rathore Mansion swung open, and Ryan and Veer walked in together. Veer looked dashing as always, but there was a warmth in his eyes tonight, he could already sense the love with which the Rathores had prepared everything for him.

Almost at the same moment, Shaurya descended the grand staircase, his usual composed aura wrapping the space with authority.

They all gathered in the living room, the faint fragrance of Meera’s cooking still lingering in the air. The hall shimmered with soft lights, the decorations glowing warmly. As they settled onto the plush couch, Shaurya leaned forward first, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

“Happy birthday, Veer,” he said warmly.

Rajveer followed, patting Veer’s shoulder like a proud father. “You’ll always be a son to this house.”

Meera’s eyes glistened as she joined in, her voice heavy with unspoken love. “May every happiness be yours, beta.”

While the others had spoken, Ryan sat back, arms folded, not a word escaping him. Veer noticed, arching a brow. Shaurya, of course, couldn’t resist teasing.

“You can wish him now,” Shaurya said slyly, glancing at Ryan. “Don’t worry, she won’t do anything to you.”

The comment made everyone chuckle. Veer tilted his head, waiting. Ryan rolled his eyes dramatically before muttering,

“Not interested. Tell your butterfly only to wish you.”

The word butterfly slipped from his lips with a teasing lilt, making everyone laugh harder. Veer’s lips curved, but he didn’t respond to Ryan’s sarcasm. Instead, he looked around, scanning the hall, as if searching for something… or someone.

“Yes, but where is she?” he asked casually, though the softness in his tone betrayed him.

Meera smiled knowingly. “She and Ishu are getting ready.”

Veer nodded, but a flicker of impatience crossed his face. Almost absentmindedly, he whispered under his breath,

“But now… she will come by sensing my presence.”

The words were so low they weren’t meant for anyone else, yet Shaurya and Ryan caught them easily as Veer was sitting right between the two. Shaurya’s lips twitched in amusement, while Ryan wasted no time in pouncing.

“Ohh really?” Ryan drawled, leaning closer with mock seriousness. “You forgot she’s a butterfly, not a dog like you who goes around sniffing people’s presence.”

Shaurya chuckled openly, shaking his head at the sharp jab. Veer’s jaw tightened, and he shot Ryan a glare that only made the assassin smirk more smugly.

Soon, Siya and Saaisha entered the hall, both dressed elegantly. For a moment, the atmosphere stilled, as if the house itself paused to admire them.

The birthday celebration began with cake cutting, music, and food. True to Veer’s nature, it wasn’t a grand party filled with outsiders. He disliked unnecessary attention and wanted nothing more than to celebrate this day with those who mattered-his family.

Laughter echoed through the hall, warmth wrapped around them like a blanket, and one by one, everyone began presenting their gifts.

Meera and Rajveer went first, surprising Veer with a sleek, new car. His eyes widened in delight, and he immediately hugged them.

Shaurya came next, handing him an expensive pair of shoes, smirking as if to say don’t forget who keeps you stylish.

Ryan, in his casual way, tossed a box at him. “Catch.” Inside was the latest PS5. Veer rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his grin.

Now, all eyes shifted to Saaisha, who hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. In her hands was a painting carefully covered with paper. She handed it to Veer, who unwrapped it slowly.

The room fell silent.

It was a portrait of Veer himself - his blue eyes captured in perfect detail, a gentle smile playing on his lips, painted with such emotion that it almost looked alive.

Everyone leaned in, astonished.

Meera was the first to speak. “You’ve painted so beautifully, ishu. Look at his eyes, it feels like he’s looking at someone with so much love.”

Everyone agreed, admiring the brush strokes and depth. But Siya’s gaze lingered not on the painting, but on Veer himself. Her eyes searched his face, soft yet questioning.

Saaisha, noticing the unspoken tension, quickly scribbled something on her notepad and held it up with a cheeky smile:

“Yes… it’s when Veer bhai was looking at Siya di.”

The words made everyone’s face light up with genuine smiles. Even Shaurya chuckled under his breath.

Veer blinked, caught off guard, while Siya leaned closer and whispered in his ear, her voice teasing but low enough only for him to hear.

“You’re saved.”

Veer’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Saved?” he mouthed, still not understanding.

But Siya only smirked, her hand brushing his briefly, leaving him to wonder what she truly meant.

Saaisha had been carrying this curiosity inside her for days now. Veer and Siya looked so natural together, like they had been made for each other. There was a rhythm in the way Siya’s eyes automatically searched for Veer in a crowded room, and how Veer, without even realizing, always reached for Siya’s hand whenever she shifted or adjusted herself. It wasn’t loud or dramatic, it was a quiet, lived-in kind of love.

And for someone like Saaisha, who had seen more betrayal than love, who had tasted pain more than affection, their story seemed nothing less than a fairytale. So today, when laughter filled the Rathore mansion’s living room, she finally picked up her small diary and pen, her only voice for now, and scribbled what she had been dying to know:

“How did you both meet? How did Veer bhai propose to you?”

She slid the diary toward Siya with expectant eyes, biting her lip. Shaurya, sitting beside her, noticed the excitement in her face and couldn’t help but smile. For once, the shadows of pain in her eyes had been replaced by childish curiosity.

Siya read the question, and a slow, mischievous smile spread across her lips. “Papa and Veer’s father are good friends,” she began, her voice casual but warm, “and then Veer and bhai became best friends. That’s how we all know each other.”

But then she tilted her head, her gaze flickering toward Veer with a sly twinkle. “And about how he proposed to me…” Siya leaned back dramatically, arms crossed. “Tell your sister how you proposed to me.”

Her tone wasn’t asking, it was taunting.

Veer, who was sipping water, nearly choked. His brows arched, and then he chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. “I didn’t propose to her,” he said casually, as if confessing some grand scandal. “In fact, she proposed to me.”

Saaisha’s eyes widened with excitement as she turned instantly to Siya.

Siya rolled her eyes dramatically, and said aloud, “Not only did I propose to him, but he rejected me. On my face.”

Now Siya was glaring at Veer, her arms folded like a queen demanding justice. And surprisingly, Saaisha mirrored her glare, turning her innocent face toward Veer as if asking, ‘How dare you reject my sister?’

The entire room burst into laughter. Even Shaurya, who was normally composed and reserved, chuckled at the sight of his baby sister.

Veer raised his hands in defense, grinning sheepishly. “Arre, listen, it wasn’t like that! She did propose to me, but how could I say yes immediately? She’s my best friend’s sister. How can I date Shaurya’s sister behind his back? That’s betrayal.”

Saaisha blinked at him, trying to process it. That… made sense. But still, her protective instinct for Siya flared, and she gave a tiny shake of her head as if saying, ‘Not a valid excuse.’

Veer continued, leaning back against the sofa. “But your sister, your Siya di, she’s not the type to take no for an answer. The next second, she directly went to Shaurya and announced...” Veer shifted his voice in mock imitation of Siya’s tone, “‘I’m going to date your best friend. Just letting you know. Not asking for permission.’”

Saaisha’s jaw dropped. Her eyes flew wide, and she looked at Siya in utter disbelief. Did she really do that?!

Siya chuckled at her expression. “And Bhai said nothing. He just looked at me and asked, ‘Ohh… finally you proposed to him?’”

That was it, Saaisha’s gaze darted between Siya and Shaurya like they had both grown horns. What kind of sister announces her love story to her brother like that? And what kind of brother smiles and supports it instead of getting angry?

She lowered her head slightly, hiding her grin, her thoughts tumbling.
This family is insane.

Almost instantly, Shaurya’s deep voice cut through her thoughts. “We are perfectly sane people,” he said, glancing at her with a knowing smirk.

Saaisha froze, eyes wide. “How the hell did he just..?” she thought.

Shaurya chuckled at her expression, shaking his head as if he had caught her red-handed in her silent judgment.

He leaned back, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest of his chair. “Everyone here knew Siya loved Veer. But Veer, for the longest time, maintained distance. And we knew, one day, Siya would gather the guts to propose to him. So when she told me, I wasn’t shocked.”

Saaisha blinked, then glanced back at Siya. She half expected Siya to blush, to hide her face in embarrassment, but no Siya sat straight, eyes glittering with boldness, as though nothing Shaurya said embarrassed her.

Before Saaisha could process, Meera chimed in with playful energy, “Yes! She used to roam around, everything Veer-this, Veer-that. All the time. When we called him Veer bhai like we call Shaurya, Siya flat-out refused. She would say, ‘No, I won’t call him bhai, because he’s not my brother.’”

Saaisha’s lips parted in surprise, her gaze flying to Siya again, waiting to catch at least a blush or a shy smile. But Siya merely shrugged, unbothered, and declared confidently, “Of course he’s not my brother.”

That earned a round of chuckles.

Shaurya wasn’t done yet. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, eyes glinting mischievously as he carried on. “In school, Siya never let any girl come near Veer. If someone even dared, she threatened them.” He chuckled at the memory.

“And whenever she had trouble in studies, she always went to Veer. I’d say, ‘I can help you too, you know. I’m also your brother.’ But she’d shake her head, all serious, and say, ‘No. I only want Veer to help me.’ And I would just stare at her like - come on, girl, I’m your brother.”

That broke the room into laughter. Even Saaisha’s lips twitched, her chest warming at how animated and playful Shaurya seemed in this moment. She had only seen glimpses of his softer side before; now, surrounded by family, he looked less like the Chief Minister and more like a mischievous older brother pulling out childhood secrets.

Ryan, lounging casually with a glass in hand, decided to add his piece. “And you know what? She once came to me, saying she wanted to learn karate. I thought, wow, finally, she’s taking self-defense seriously. I trained her for weeks, and I swear she practiced harder than anyone. But later, I realized she didn’t want to learn to defend herself, she wanted to beat up the girls who tried to flirt with Veer. She’s completely insane.”

The laughter doubled, bouncing off the walls, and even Veer’s calm composure cracked as a rare smile tugged at his lips.

Siya, completely unbothered by the teasing, leaned slightly toward Veer and whispered, her voice just loud enough for those closest to hear, “When it comes to you, I’m completely insane.”

Without hesitation, he murmured back, his voice low and firm, “And I love every shade of you.” His lips brushed her shoulder in a fleeting kiss, intimate and gentle, yet strong enough to silence the laughter for a second.

Then Shaurya said firmly, “Above all, I trust Veer more than anything. He is my brother.”

Veer’s eyes glistened, and he only shook his head slightly, swallowing the emotion that threatened to spill.

Saaisha felt her chest tighten. Not with jealousy, not with discomfort but with something far deeper. Watching them was like witnessing a kind of life she had never known. A family that teased, laughed, embarrassed one another openly yet stood unshakably together, protecting and cherishing each other with every heartbeat.

Overwhelmed, she excused herself quietly and went to her room, needing space to breathe through the storm of emotions rising within her.

. . .

In a dimly lit room, a man sat in silence, his gaze fixed on a wall covered with photographs each one of the Rathore family. Slowly, he stood and walked closer, his eyes lingering on Shaurya’s photo.

“Trust…” he muttered, his lips curling into a bitter smile before breaking into a cold laugh. “The most brutal betrayal always comes from the ones you trust the most.”

His expression hardened, and with burning hatred in his eyes, he stared at Shaurya’s picture as though piercing through it.

.

.

.

By mistake, Siya spilled juice on Shaurya’s shirt.

Shaurya was about to leave and change, but Siya quickly stopped him.

“You wait here and talk,” she smiled warmly, “I’ll bring a shirt for you.”

She just wanted her brother to stay. That rare, unguarded smile on his face free from the burdens of power and responsibility was something she couldn’t take away. So she hurried upstairs, fetched a fresh shirt, and handed it to him.

Shaurya removed his stained shirt and slipped into the new one, casually buttoning it up. He was still adjusting the cuff when he saw Saaisha descending the stairs.

And then it happened.

Her foot slipped.

Without a second thought, Shaurya rushed forward and caught her, holding her firmly before she could hit the ground.

For a moment, time froze.

Her eyes were squeezed shut in fear, but when she opened them the first thing she saw was his bare chest, still half-unbuttoned. Her breath caught. Her gaze flickered up to his face, then to his strong hands gripping her waist, steady and protective. Again, her eyes darted back to his chest.

And suddenly, her fear roared louder than reason.

She shoved him away with all the force she could muster, her voice cracking as a raw scream tore from her throat

“AHHH!”

Everyone froze.

Her voice.
After all this time, it was her voice.

But before anyone could process, her body tilted again, about to crash against the ground. Shaurya instinctively caught her a second time, only for the world to shatter.

A sharp crack echoed through the room.

She had slapped him.

Hard.

Her voice trembled with terror, breaking into a scream as she pushed against his chest like he was the very monster from her nightmares

“How dare you touch me!”

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