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Author's POV

Dadaji’s gaze lingered on Advika’s face, not curious or questioning but carrying the weight of memories she didn’t even know she had lost. He softly spoke again as if choosing each word with care, “because…” a long pause followed.

“…when that incident happened years ago…”

His fingers tightened slightly over the handle of his walking stick. “…I couldn’t reach you in time.”

The morning breeze moved gently, but something in the air shifted. Heavier.

“When you opened your eyes in the hospital…” His voice lowered, guilt threading quietly beneath it. “…you didn’t recognise me.”

Advika’s lashes fluttered faintly. But she didn’t turn. Didn’t interrupt as if remembering that time. “Aapko yaad tha toh bas…” He swallowed. “…aapke Dadu …aur aapka pariwar.”

There was no accusation in his voice, only sorrow and regret. “Your brain…” he whispered, “…was in trauma.”

Silence settled between them. Thick and unavoidable. Advika stared ahead.

Face calm. Too calm but for the briefest second- something flickered. A shadow behind her eyes, a tremor too small for most to notice.

“Yes, Dadu…” she murmured quietly, “the doctors said…” Her voice carried tired acceptance “…my brain blocked some memories… to protect me.”

A pause. A breath. “But I don’t know…” Her fingers intertwined tightly in her lap. “…if it was a blessing…” Her throat tightened, “…or a curse.” She continued, "I still try to remember but all I could recall was some snippets from my lingering memories."

Dadaji turned toward her fully. Eyes softening and heart aching at a pain she carried so gracefully. “Laado…” he said gently, the word soaked in affection, “…jo hota hai…” a faint, reassuring smile touched his lips,“…ache ke liye hota hai aur jyada jor mat daaliye apne dimaag par.”

He lifted his hand, placing it tenderly over hers. Warm. Steady and grounding.

“Bhagwan pe bharosa rakhiye.”

Advika’s eyes dropped to their joined hands. Something vulnerable and unspoken surfacing. And ahead of them, the sun continued to rise.

Sensing the sudden heaviness in the air,

Dadaji’s wise eyes softened. He had seen enough storms in life to know when a heart needed relief. So gently, almost playfully, he shifted the conversation.

“Waise, Advika bete…” his tone turned light, but the concern beneath it was real. “…aap khush toh hain na is rishtey se?”

Advika blinked, caught slightly off guard. “If not,” he continued, a mischievous glint entering his aged eyes, “…you can tell me without a worry.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “We’ll throw Ekansh out of this house.”

Advika’s eyes widened and she said, "Ji?"

He said with pride in his voice, “aur kya… ab toh ye ghar aapka hai aur aap bahu nahi beti hai is pariwaar ki.”

For a second, she simply stared at him.

Then, her heart melted.

How… how did I get so lucky?

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, the tension finally loosening from her shoulders. “Nahi, Dadu…” she said gently, warmth filling her voice. “Hume koi takleef nahi hai is rishtey se.”

Her smile grew, small but sincere. “Aur…” she added quietly, “…hum bahut khush hain.” Dadaji studied her face, not the smile but the truth behind it and slowly, contentment settled into his features.

“Phir thik hai…” he murmured, patting her hand affectionately.

Around them, the garden breathed again. Roses swaying, sun climbing, as if the moment itself had exhaled. Just then, Aditya’s playful voice floated in from behind them- light, teasing, perfectly timed.

“Bechare Ekansh bhai…” he said with exaggerated sympathy. “Acha hai woh yahan nahi hain yeh sab sunne ke liye.”

Both Advika and Dadaji turned and Dadaji’s brows lifted, a spark of amusement flickering in his eyes.

“Hote bhi toh kya kar lete woh?” Aditya gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart as he walked closer.

“Dadu!” He slid onto the bench, boldly seating himself between them. “Maine kab kaha bhai kuch kar lete?” He leaned back, stretching comfortably like he owned the morning. Then he turned toward Advika, eyes dancing with mischief.

“Aur waise bhi…” he added, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret, “…main toh bhabhi ke side hoon.”

Advika blinked. “Sach?” “Bilkul.” He nodded solemnly. “Shaadi ke baad bhai ki value automatically thodi kam ho jaati hai.” Dadaji chuckled and Advika laughed softly but beneath her smile, something quieter stirred.

A strange warmth.

Unfamiliar.

Dangerous.

Because without realizing it, the walls she had so carefully built around her heart… were beginning to crack.

Aditya kept talking about random things, half stories, half nonsense and  completely unstoppable.

“…aur phir maine unko bola, bhai, agar aap itne hi strict rahenge na toh-”

But Advika wasn’t listening anymore. Her gaze had drifted ahead, brows knitting slightly. There on the garden path something moved.

A white blur. Soft. Round and almost unreal. For a split second, she thought she was imagining it, a trick of the morning light but the blur grew larger.

Closer. Faster. And then, it clicked.

It wasn’t a blur. It was a dog. Huge. Pure white like snow and it was running. Straight. Towards. Her.

Advika’s eyes widened. “Oh my God—!”

She shrieked, instantly jumping to her feet and scurrying behind the bench.

Aditya froze mid-sentence and Dadaji blinked. Before either of them could react-

 “Woof! Woof!”

A fluffy white furball came charging forward, tail wagging like a tiny storm.

Aditya burst out laughing. Dadaji’s face broke into recognition. He said fondly,

“Dariye mat, laado kuch nahi karega ye.”

Advika peeked cautiously from behind the bench, heart still racing.

And there it was. A not so-small, ridiculously adorable, snow-white dog.

Looking very pleased with itself and trying to get past Dadaji to her. Aditya grinned wickedly. “Bhabhi…” he said, barely holding back laughter, “…aapko Sheru se darr lagta hai?”

Advika glared. Sheru barked happily.

Dadaji laughed openly but Sheru, however, had other plans. The fluffy menace wriggled excitedly, his paws scratching against the grass as he tried to squeeze past Dadaji.

His tail wagged furiously.

Mission clear.

Target locked.

Advika.

Advika panicked instantly. “Dadu!” she yelped, clutching the edge of the bench.

“Please ise dur rehne ko boliye na!” Dadaji chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the drama. He bent slightly, patting Sheru with affection.

“Dariye mat, laado,” he said calmly. “Kuch nahi karega ye… bas aapse milna chahta hai.” He smiled. “Aap nayi nayi aayi hai na.”

Advika cringed. Hard. Heart racing, she shook her head vigorously. “Haan toh mil liye na hum dur se,” she said defensively. “Pass aane ki kya zarurat hai?”

She awkwardly lifted her hand, waving at Sheru from a very safe distance. “Hello…” Sheru barked, as if deeply insulted by the rejection. She clutched the bench harder, her eyes darting everywhere for a possible escape if he decides to attack her.

Aditya burst into laughter. “Kya bhabhi…” he said, thoroughly entertained, “…aap itne cute se, chote se, chutur-putur se kaise darr sakti hai?” Advika slowly turned toward him, eyes narrowed.

One eye still glued to the dog. “Cute toh thik hai, devar ji,” she said in disbelief,

“…par chota kahan se lag raha hai?” She pointed accusingly at Sheru. “Humare aadhe size ka hai ye!”

Aditya laughed louder and said "Abhi toh bas 2 saal ka hua hai ye." Dadaji shook his head, amused.

Aditya continued, "And Sheru isn't just any pet, he is the pride of the house and most importantly Ekansh bhai's favourite."

Sheru barked proudly.

And Advika?

Still hiding behind the bench like Sheru was a full-grown tiger.

Sheru wasn’t just any pet. He was the pride of the house, the guardian of its corridors.

The most loyal.

The most fierce.

And unquestionably…

Ekansh’s favourite.

Everyone in the family knew it. Sheru followed Ekansh like a shadow and growled at anyone who dared disturb him when he was working.

If Ekansh was home, Sheru was glued to him. If Ekansh wasn’t, Sheru waited.

Which made the current situation…

deeply ironic.

Because the mighty, fearless Sheru,

the self-appointed protector of the Agnihotri mansion, was being treated like a biological weapon by his new bhabhi.

Tail wagging wildly, he tried again to reach Advika.

And Advika?

Still horrified.

Still defensive.

Still negotiating from a safe distance.

“Dadu, please…” she whispered urgently, “…ye mujhe kha jayega.”

Aditya gasped dramatically, “kha jayega?!” He clutched his chest. “Bhabhi, ye Sheru hai… lion nahi!”

Sheru barked.

Almost offended.

Dadaji laughed softly, watching the chaos unfold with sparkling amusement. If only Ekansh could see this.

Dadaji settled  onto the bench and pulled Sheru gently between his legs, one firm hand resting on the dog’s head.

“Jaiye, laado,” he said reassuringly. “Humne pakad rakha hai ise.” Sheru, completely unbothered, wagged his tail like this was all a game.

Advika let out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. “Thank you, dadu…” she murmured quickly. Still casting one deeply suspicious glance at the fluffy "danger,' she turned and almost hurried toward the mansion.

Her steps were fast. Slightly dramatic.

And under her breath she muttered,

“Ekansh ji ko kuch aur nahi mila kya…” as if personally offended by his choice of favourite companion.

Behind her, Aditya burst into laughter. “Bechara Sheru…” he sighed fondly. “Bhabhi ne toh entry se pehle hi villain bana diya.”

Sheru barked once.

As if protesting the accusation.

Advika stepped into the grand hall, her pace finally slowing. The cool marble beneath her feet, the faint scent of incense in the air, morning sunlight spilling through the tall windows.

On the sofa near the temple area, Dadiji sat gracefully, carefully arranging fresh marigold and rose flowers for the morning puja.

Her silver hair neatly tied, her movements calm and practiced. Advika walked toward her quietly. Without a word, she bent down gracefully, touching Dadiji’s feet.

Dadiji’s hands immediately rested on her head.

Warm.

Affectionate.

Blessing-filled.

“Jeete rahiye, beta,” she said softly. Advika straightened, a small, respectful smile forming on her lips. Dadiji looked at her for a few moment.

Noticing the simplicity.

The nervousness.

The newness.

Then she added gently, “Beta… aaj aapka pehla din hai is ghar mein.” Dadiji adjusted the flowers one last time and then looked at Advika thoughtfully. “Aur rasam ke anusaar,” she said gently, “aaj aapko apne haathon se kuch meetha banana hai.”

Her eyes twinkled with warmth. “Aapko jo achha lage… woh bana dijiye.” Advika nodded respectfully.

“Ji, Dadi.”

With measured steps, she made her way toward the kitchen. The closer she got, the more alive the space felt-

soft clinking of utensils, the aroma of ghee, murmured instructions to the staff.

Advika's POV

I stepped into the kitchen… and instantly felt every pair of eyes on me. The soft clinking of utensils slowed. Conversations paused.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

A strange nervousness fluttered inside my chest.

Gathering myself, I walked toward Maa.

She was standing near the counter, instructing the staff with calm authority.

I stopped beside her and said softly,

“Namaste, Maa.”

She turned toward me immediately and her expression softened. “Namaste, beta,” she replied warmly.

Then, with mild concern in her voice, she added, “Aap itni jaldi kyun uth gayi? Thoda aur aaram kar leti.”

I shook my head slightly. There was something comforting in her tone. “Humein jaldi uthne ki aadat hai, Maa,” I answered gently.

She chuckled faintly and then she gestured toward the staff members. “Aaiye,” she said, “hum aapko sabse milate hain.”

I turned slightly as she began introducing them one by one.

“Yeh Shanti hai, is ghar ki purani cook… aur yeh Raghav, jo kitchen manage karte hai.” Each of them folded their hands respectfully. “Namaste, chhoti bahu.”

I gently folded my hands. “Namaste.”

Maa continued introducing everyone.

“…aur yeh Gauri.”

I tried my best to remember every name. There were too many faces and too many new beginnings.

I nodded politely at each of them, offering a small smile. Then my eyes fell on a girl standing a little behind Shanti Kaki.

She looked around my age with big expressive eyes and soft smile.

Her name- Gauri.

She stepped a little closer and said lightly, “You look beautiful.” For a second, I wasn’t prepared for that. My cheeks warmed instantly.

I smiled at her, softer this time. “Thank you… you are also very beautiful.”

The effect was immediate.

Her eyes widened.

Her face turned pink.

She quickly turned toward Shanti Kaki and whispered excitedly, “Maa… she found me beautiful!” There was something so innocent in her tone that my heart melted a little.

But Maa spoke next and her tone slightly firmer now. “Obviously you are beautiful.” She glanced at Gauri meaningfully. “Don’t listen to the nonsense Sana says.”

My smile faded slightly.

Sana?

Who was Sana?

And what nonsense?

A strange irritation stirred inside me. How could someone make this sweet girl doubt herself?

Whoever this Sana was… I already didn’t like her. I kept my expression neutral, but inside, I had questions.

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