As the family gathered around the breakfast table, the mood was lighter, if only by a fraction. Gnapika was the first to greet everyone, her smile radiant as she took her seat. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, and Gnapika’s eyes lit up as she surveyed the spread before her.
“Mom, you always make my favorite dishes,” she said cheerfully, her voice brimming with appreciation. “This looks amazing!”Ambika smiled softly at her daughter, finding a small sense of solace in the familiarity of the routine. Watching Gnapika enjoy the meal she had prepared was a comfort, a reminder of the life they had built together despite everything.As everyone began to eat, Abhi’s gaze wandered over the array of dishes on the table. He recognized the flavors, the combinations that had been carefully chosen. A thought crossed his mind, and he couldn’t help but voice it. “You know, Ambika,” he said, his tone playful but with a hint of insight, “for someone who’s bAfter breakfast, the family slowly made their way to the hall, their spirits lifted slightly by the meal they had just shared. Gnapika, Nand, and Ram were already engrossed in playful banter, their laughter filling the room as they exchanged light-hearted jabs and inside jokes. The warmth of their camaraderie was a welcome distraction from the heavier emotions that had dominated the past days.Ambika, who had been quiet throughout the meal, finally broke her silence. She looked around at her family, her expression calm but resolute. “We should head back to Dharmagiri this evening,” she announced, her voice clear and steady.For a moment, the room fell silent as everyone processed her words. The shock on their faces quickly gave way to joy. Abhi was the first to speak, his tone enthusiastic. “That’s a great decision, Ambika! It’s about time we all went back home.”Rajeev and Gowthami exchanged happy glances, their hearts swelling at the thought of returning
As the family's excitement lingered in the air, Gowthami, who had been smiling moments before, suddenly turned serious. Her gaze shifted toward Rudra, and with a tone that immediately quieted the room, she spoke up. "Before we go back to Dharmagiri, there’s something I need to figure out." Rudra, whose thoughts were already swirling, looked at her with a mixture of confusion and concern. "What is it?" he asked, trying to gauge the seriousness in her voice. Gowthami took a deep breath before continuing. "I found a hidden room in my bedroom. When I opened it and went inside, I discovered some old photos. After seeing them, I passed out. I need to know who those people are." Her words hung in the air, casting a somber shadow over the group. Ram and Nand exchanged glances, recalling the incident when Gowthami had suddenly fallen unconscious. It had been a shocking moment, one that was quickly overshadowed by the whirlwind of
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 tha
Gowthami 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