But Gnapika wasn’t so easily swayed. She had been watching her father closely, her instincts telling her that something wasn’t right. There was a tension in Rudra that she couldn’t ignore, a resistance that made her all the more suspicious. As much as everyone else seemed willing to let the matter drop, she wasn’t ready to do the same.
“What’s the issue with having a quick look at those photos?” Gnapika asked, her voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. Her tone was calm, but there was an edge to it that made everyone pause. “I get that we’re heading back to Dharmagiri, but it won’t take long to check them out. It’s just a matter of a few minutes.” Rudra, who had been trying to think of a way to steer the conversation away from the photos, felt a wave of unease wash over him. Gnapika wasn’t backing down, and he knew she was perceptive enough to sense that he was hiding something. He searched for a plausible excuse, anything thaGowthami led the group down the corridor to the hidden room, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, the weight of their expectations heavy on her shoulders. When they reached the door, she hesitated only for a moment before pushing it open, stepping inside. But instead of the sight that had shocked her to the core the previous day, they found the room empty. The walls, once covered with mysterious photos, were now bare. The air felt stale, as if the room hadn’t been disturbed in years. Gowthami froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "They’re gone," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. She took a few steps into the room, her gaze frantically searching the walls as if the photos might somehow reappear if she looked hard enough. Ram and Nand, who had seen the photos with their own eyes, were equally stunned. "But they were here," Ram murmured, more confu
As Rudra carefully folded a shirt and placed it into his suitcase, he felt a presence behind him. He paused, a momentary stillness overtaking him. Turning slightly, he saw Ambika standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable. For a second, their eyes met, but then he resumed packing, trying to maintain his composure. "Did you finish your packing?" he asked, his tone steady, but there was an undercurrent of tension. Ambika didn’t respond to his question. Instead, she cut straight to the point, her voice calm but laced with suspicion. "Are you behind the missing photos, Rudra?" Rudra’s hands froze over the suitcase. He didn’t look up. His heart raced as the weight of her question settled over him. After a brief pause, he answered quietly, "I’m not." But Ambika wasn’t satisfied with his response. With a sudden, determined movement, she stepped forward and grabbed his arm, turning him to face her. T
Gnapika sat in her room, her thoughts swirling with frustration and distrust toward her father. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Rudra was behind the missing photos. Deep down, she was certain of it, but without any evidence, she felt trapped. It was infuriating how everyone in the family seemed to blindly trust him, completely ignoring the shadows of doubt she couldn’t escape. As she lost herself in these thoughts, her phone rang. The screen displayed an unknown number, but she didn’t hesitate. She knew exactly who it was. Without a word, she answered, holding the phone to her ear, the silence between them thick with anticipation. On the other end of the line, a man’s voice came through, calm yet with a subtle edge. "Rudra won again, didn’t he?" Gnapika’s frustration spilled over. "Yes," she hissed, the bitterness in her voice unmistakable. She recounted everything that had happened—the mysterious photos, her suspici
As Abhi dialed his father's number, he braced himself for the inevitable onslaught. The phone barely rang before Gurdeep’s gruff voice filled the line, launching into a tirade before Abhi could even get a word in. "Abhi!, Where have you been, I’ve been trying to reach you for days! Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?, Have you finished your honeymoon yet, or are you planning to spoil Sashi along with yourself? You think just because you’re grown, you can gallivant wherever you please without letting your old man know what’s going on?,And what about my grandson Parikshit? You two have been gallivanting around for days, not even thinking of returning! " Gurdeep’s voice thundered through the phone, his words coming in a rapid-fire burst. Abhi, well-acquainted with his father's temper, instinctively held the phone a little farther from his ear, waiting for the storm to pass. He could almost picture his fathe
Gowthami sat quietly, her thoughts a tangled web of confusion and frustration. The mystery of the missing photos gnawed at her, leaving her uneasy. Rajeev, who had been watching her closely, noticed the distant look in her eyes. He knew her well enough to understand what was troubling her. Without a word, he moved closer, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace. Feeling the warmth of his hug, Gowthami leaned into him, her tension easing slightly. Rajeev’s voice was gentle as he spoke, "Gowthami, I know those photos have been bothering you, and I promise you, we’ll uncover the truth behind them. I’ll be with you every step of the way, and we’ll get to the bottom of this mystery together." He paused, holding her a little tighter. "But first, we need to get back to Dharmagiri. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long—to see our family together, to finally have some peace. And more importantly, you’re still recovering
Gnapika sat in her room, lost in thought, replaying Nirbhay's words over and over in her mind. She felt a growing unease within her, a feeling that had taken root the day she first met him. It was when Gowthami was in the hospital, her condition critical, that Nirbhay had approached her. At first, she had brushed him off, dismissing him as just another stranger. But there was something about the way he spoke—his knowledge of her and her mother—that stopped her in her tracks. She remembered it clearly. The bustling hospital corridor had been filled with the smell of antiseptic, the beeping of monitors, and the quiet hum of worried conversations. Gnapika had been pacing, her heart heavy with worry for Gowthami, when a man stepped into her path. His presence was unremarkable, but his words had cut through her haze of anxiety like a knife. "I'm a well-wisher," he had said, his voice calm and composed, almost too casual for the setting. Gnapika h
As Nirbhay's words settled over Gnapika like a dark cloud, her heart sank deeper into despair. Each sentence he uttered chipped away at the image she had of her father, replacing it with something twisted and vile. "Rudra is not the man you think he is," Nirbhay said, leaning closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "He never truly believed in your mother, Ambika. Not in the way a husband should." Gnapika frowned, skepticism warring with the uneasy feeling that had been growing within her since the moment he approached. "What are you talking about?" Nirbhay’s expression hardened. "When your mother was pregnant with you, Rudra doubted her. He was convinced that you weren’t his child, and his suspicion consumed him. He became obsessed, so much so that he even tried to kill you before you were born." Gnapika’s breath caught in her throat. The café’s ambient noise fade
Gnapika, determined not to let this opportunity slip away, knew she had to act quickly and quietly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Rudra was behind the disappearance of the photos, and she was convinced that the answer lay somewhere in Athreya’s old room. The room had always been shrouded in mystery, a place where no one went without a good reason, but now it seemed to hold the key to everything. She decided she would find a way to search the room, even if it meant sneaking in when no one was around. She waited patiently for the right moment, biding her time as the household buzzed with preparations for their departure to Dharmagiri. Finally, a lull in the activity gave her the chance she needed. Gnapika slipped away, making her way down the quiet hallway toward Athreya’s room. Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached for the door, her hand trembling slightly as she touched the handle. Just as she was about to push the door open, a voice start
As they ascended the steps, Ambika’s gaze lingered on Gowthami, her worry evident in the way she furrowed her brow. She gently called out, “Gowthami, come with me, dear. You need to rest.” Her tone was full of maternal concern, a softness that only grew deeper as she watched her daughter-in-law’s tired face. Rajeev, already attuned to his wife’s needs, had his arm wrapped around Gowthami, offering her support as they made their way up the stairs. “I’ll help her, Amma,” he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. He had been watching Gowthami closely, noticing how she had grown weaker throughout the evening. He wasn’t going to let her push herself any further. Gnapika, still holding her mother’s hand, glanced back at Gowthami too, her earlier anger fading as concern took over. Though she had her own frustrations with the family, seeing her sister-in-law unwell softened her heart. She stepped aside to let Rajeev guide Gowthami closer t
As everyone settled into the hall, the air grew thick with tension. Gurdeep, who had been silently observing, finally turned his gaze toward Rudra, his voice steady but sharp. “Where have you been all these years, Rudra?” he asked, his tone carrying the weight of years of unanswered questions. “Did you ever stop to think about Rajeev? You had another child, but how could you leave your son behind? What kind of parents do that?” His words hung heavily in the room, and then Gurdeep’s focus shifted to Ambika. His eyes were filled with disbelief and hurt. “And you, Ambika,” he said, his voice tinged with accusation. “How could you leave Rajeev? What kind of mother abandons her own child? How could you have turned your back on him like that?” The room was silent, the weight of Gurdeep's words pressing on everyone. Before Ambika or Rudra could speak, Gnapika, who had been sitting quietly until then, suddenly stood up, her face flushed with anger.
Before Rudra could respond, Abhi stepped in again, sensing the tension in the air. "It’s a long story, Dad," he said gently but firmly. "Once we get inside, I promise we’ll explain everything. But right now, Gowthami needs some rest." The concern in Gurdeep’s eyes immediately shifted to Gowthami, who was still leaning heavily on Rajeev. The worry lines on his face deepened as he took in her pale complexion. His fatherly instincts kicked in, overriding all other emotions. "You’re right," he said, his voice softening. "She needs to rest." He turned to Uma, his expression one of urgency and care. "Take her inside, Uma," he instructed, his voice firm yet gentle. "Make sure she’s comfortable." Uma nodded, still teary-eyed but focused on the task at hand. She moved quickly to Gowthami’s side, taking her other arm to support her. "Come, dear," Uma said softly, guiding her toward the
Nand was still lost in his thoughts, distracted by Venya's unexpected reaction and the complex emotions swirling around him. He didn’t even notice Gurdeep and Uma standing nearby, their faces frozen in a mixture of shock and overwhelming joy. They had been rendered speechless by the sight of Rudra, a man they had thought dead for 15 long years. Their hearts raced with a thousand questions, desperate to know how he had survived, where he had been, and why he had stayed away for so long. Just as they were about to speak, another car pulled up to the mansion, drawing everyone's attention. Rajeev swiftly stepped out and rushed to open the door, helping Gowthami and Ambika out. The moment Uma and Gurdeep saw Ambika, their eyes widened in disbelief. It was as if time had stood still, freezing this moment in their memories forever. Tears welled up in their eyes and began to spill over as they struggled to comprehend what they were seeing. The woman they had mourned, be
As Gnapika stepped out of the car and caught sight of Venya, she leaned closer to Nand, her voice barely a whisper. "Is she the girl you mentioned? Is she Venya, your girlfriend?" Nand smiled softly, nodding. "Yes, that's Venya," he whispered back, his tone filled with affection. Gnapika smiled warmly, her eyes scanning Venya with genuine admiration. "She's beautiful," she remarked, her words carrying a sincere appreciation. But as Venya observed them from a distance, her happiness quickly morphed into suspicion and then to a simmering anger. The sight of Nand leaning in close to this unknown, beautiful girl, whispering and laughing together, gnawed at her. The way they seemed so familiar with each other felt like a betrayal, even though she didn’t know the context. Her heart ached, and her mind was flooded with irrational fears—fears that she might lose Nand to this mysterious girl who seemed so comfortable in his presence.
As the clock struck 7 PM, the Rajeev mansion sparkled in the glow of countless lights, its lavish decorations turning it into a palace of festivity. The air was filled with anticipation as three luxury cars pulled up to the grand entrance, each one gleaming under the soft evening lights. Abhi and Ram, standing near the gate, exchanged a satisfied glance. They knew their hard work had paid off, and the sight of the beautifully adorned mansion filled them with pride. Sashi, standing beside Abhi, smiled warmly at her husband. “You really did a great job, Abhi. Ambika and Gnapika will be thrilled when they see this.” Abhi, pleased with her praise, nodded. “Let’s hope they like the surprise. It’s all for them.” In the second car, Ambika cradled Gowthami in her arms, her eyes growing misty as she took in the sight of the home she had missed for so long. The mansion looked more beautiful than ever, and she felt a deep sense of
As they stepped into the hall, the scene before them was one of bustling activity. Veer was at the center of it all, energetically directing the workers as they adorned the mansion with an array of vibrant flowers, intricate lights, and elegant drapery. Every corner of the house seemed to come alive with color and warmth, transforming the space into a grand celebration. Uma and Gurdeep exchanged a look of bemusement, letting out deep breaths as they took in the flurry of preparations. It wasn’t hard to guess who was behind all this. With a small smile tugging at her lips, Uma remarked, “This has Abhi’s fingerprints all over it. What on earth is that boy planning now?” Gurdeep nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the extravagant decorations. “He only called us to say that the house needed to be decorated beautifully for when they return. And he mentioned something about a huge surprise waiting for us all.” There was a hint of curi
Gnapika, observing her mother in a way she had never seen before, felt a swell of joy. Ambika’s playful teasing with Rudra, a stark contrast to the somber woman she had grown accustomed to, was a heartwarming sight. The burdens of the past seemed to melt away as Ambika’s laughter and lightness returned, a sign of her rediscovered self. Gnapika realized that amidst their trials, the reunion with their family had rekindled her mother’s spirit. Rajeev, too, was filled with profound happiness. Watching his parents together, he felt a deep sense of fulfillment. His gaze drifted to Gowthami, and he reflected on how her presence had brought about this transformation. It was through her that he had found his father, Rudra, and subsequently, the path to his own family. Their honeymoon trip, initially intended as a simple getaway, had led them to the martial arts school where he discovered his sister. This journey, sparked by Gowthami’s insistence on exploring her in
Rajeev’s voice rang with unwavering determination as he stepped forward, his eyes blazing with resolve. “I will do everything in my power to find them, Gowthami. I will keep you safe, and I won’t rest until your family is reunited.” The weight of his words hung in the air, his promise as solid as the ground they stood on. Ram, who had been standing quietly beside him, felt a surge of protective instinct. He regarded Gowthami not just as his sister-in-law, but as a mother in his heart, someone he was bound to protect. With equal resolve, he declared, “If anyone tries to harm this family, they’ll have to go through me first. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep us all safe.” Gowthami felt a deep well of emotion rise within her. Ram had always been more than just a brother-in-law; she had come to see him as her eldest son, a role he embraced with the same love and respect. Hearing him speak with such fierce loyalty brought tears to her eyes, but she quickly b