The morning air in Mumbai was thick with its signature, heavy humidity when Divyansh and Avni’s flight touched down at 4:00 AM. After a week spent wandering through the crisp, romantic corridors of Paris, the transition felt jarring, yet they carried the lingering glow of the trip with them like a protective veil. The getaway had been more than a simple vacation; it had been a catalyst, accelerating the intimacy of their relationship to a fever pitch. In those final forty-eight hours in France, the world outside their hotel room had ceased to exist, replaced by a private orbit of tangled sheets and whispered promises. Divyansh, in particular, felt a heavy reluctance to leave; he wasn't ready to trade the serenity of their "new hobby" for the inevitable tempests that always seemed to brew within the Singh household.
As their cab pulled up to the house, the familiar silhouette of the house loomed. They rang the bell, and a few minutes later, Ridha opened the door.
"Maa, I missed you," Divyansh confessed, launching himself toward his mother and pulling her into a tight embrace.
Ridha, however, met his affection with a practiced, playful pout. "Leave me, Divu. I know you’re just buttering me up. I know you didn't miss me; you didn't even care to call me for a minute in the whole week. Only my daughter-in-law used to call," she teased, acting as though her heart were truly wounded.
Divyansh grinned, refusing to let the guilt stick. "Acha Maa, woh baat kare yah mein baat ek hi hai (Whether she talks to you or I do, it's the same thing). Now give me a proper hug."
Ridha finally gave in, pulling her younger son close and planting a warm kiss on his cheek before they finally broke the embrace. She stepped toward Avni, her expression melting into genuine warmth. "How are you, bacha? I hope this rascal didn’t test your patience too much," she said, kissing Avni's forehead.
"No Maa, he behaved well," Avni answered with a tired smile, "but he was a little excited—like how Scooby behaves when Dad shows him his new treat."
Ridha laughed, shaking her head. "This boy is never gonna grow up. But Beta, why are you wearing such a high-neck in this Mumbai summer?"
Avni felt the blood rush to her face, a wave of flustered heat rising under the fabric. She couldn't exactly explain that the turtleneck was a strategic necessity, a shroud for the marks of Divyansh’s "obsession" that decorated her neck.
"Maa, woh Paris mein thand thi na, so vahi pehni thi aur Mumbai mein aane par change karne ka time nahi tha," Avni lied quickly, claiming she simply hadn't had time to change after the flight.
"No matter, I'm joking," Ridha said gently. "Go, change and get some rest. Tum dono breakfast par milte hai (We'll see you both at breakfast)."
Once inside the sanctuary of their room, the exhaustion of the journey finally took hold. Divyansh dropped the luggage and collapsed onto the bed. "I missed our room," he sighed, sprawled out across the mattress.
"First change, then sleep," Avni commanded, closing the door behind them.
"Who said we are gonna sleep? We slept enough on the way here," Divyansh countered. Before she could protest, he reached out, pulling Avni onto the bed and hovering over her with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Sometime I can’t believe you are the same person who used to sleep every chance he got," Avni whispered, her voice a mix of amusement and faux-exasperation. "But now you have turned into a beast. And let me tell you, I am in no mood." She gave him a firm shove, sending him back to his side of the bed.
"I didn't have anything to do except sleep then," Divyansh murmured, undeterred as he pulled her back toward him, his hands finding her waist. "But now we can get busy together. And about your mood, I can change that instantly." He leaned in, snuggling deeply into the crook of her neck.
"I am tired, Divu. You have kept us busy for the last three days. Now let's just take a nap," she pleaded, finally winning the battle as she pulled the heavy blanket over both of them.
"As you say, Jaana," Divyansh conceded, though he shot a glance at her attire. "But you should change your clothes. Looking at that high-neck of yours is suffocating me in this Mumbai heat."
"Well, you are at fault. I had to wear that, so don’t give me the shit," she retorted playfully. "But yes, you're right. Stay here; I’ll change and come back." She retreated to the washroom, emerging a few minutes later in something light and comfortable, finally sinking back into the bed to snuggle and cuddle with her husband.
By the time breakfast was served, the couple appeared revitalized. Vinayak asked about the trip and the details of their business deal, and the table was filled with cheerful accounts of Parisian landmarks. However, the atmosphere shifted the moment Vivek spoke.
"Maa, can you pass me the pickle?"
Ridha didn't even look at him. With surgical precision, she ignored her eldest son, pointedly serving Divyansh instead. The slight was so blatant that Divyansh nearly choked on his food. He had never seen his mother favor him so openly over his big brother.
"Careful, Divu," Ridha said, passing him a glass of water and patting his back.
Divyansh leaned toward Avni, whispering urgently, "Am I awake or still dreaming?"
"Shut up, Divu, eat your breakfast," Vivek snapped, his voice tight with annoyance. He turned back to his mother, his tone turning to one of desperation. "Maa, talk to me na. If you don't, nothing is getting cleared."
"Why do you even need to talk now? What's left to talk?" Ridha’s voice was brittle. "You proposed to that intern of yours without even considering telling your parents about her. To your parents—leave your dad—not even me, Vivek. I always favored you over all my kids, but you broke my heart."
The table fell into a deafening silence. Even Scooby, the family dog, sensed the gravity of the moment and sat quietly at Vinayak’s feet.
"Maa, it's not what you think. Let me explain," Vivek pleaded, his voice nearly breaking.
"What is there to explain?" Ridha challenged. "You thought I would stop you from marrying your choice? You didn't even believe in me. When Divyansh said he wanted to marry Avni, I thought Avni was the suitable choice for you. I am such a fool to even have had that thought. I am so sorry, Divu." She turned to Divyansh and Avni, her voice thick with regret, leaving Vivek drowning in a sea of guilt.
"Maa, I didn't tell anybody about me and Kajal because..." Vivek took a deep breath. "She was the lead witness's daughter in the Khosla case, and Khosla’s men were trying to kidnap her so they could blackmail her father. And Dad, you were protecting the Khoslas. I couldn't tell about it to anybody unless the case was settled."
Vinayak’s eyes widened in realization.
"You brat! That’s why you were constantly telling me to turn them down," Vinayak exclaimed. He looked at the younger couple. "And Avni, did you know about it?"
As the truth came to light, Avni and Divyansh straightened their posture. They knew the spotlight was finally on them.
"Dad... woh..." Avni started, but Vivek jumped in to shield her.
"I told her to do that, Dad, because it was only Avni you listened to, not me. I tried to tell you so many times that the Khoslas were not telling you the full truth, but you always shrugged me off. So I asked Divyansh and Avni for help."
Vinayak looked at them in disbelief. "Did you both know about Kajal and him and the Khosla case?"
Avni nodded immediately. Divyansh reflexively denied it, but a sharp glare from Vivek forced him to nod as well.
"I cannot believe all of you are involved in deceiving us," Vinayak said. "Even you, Avni? I know these two rascals must have forced you to do so."
"Dad, they never forced me to do it," Avni said firmly. "I did it because it was right. The Khoslas were behind Kajal. If they were successful in capturing her, her father would have changed his testimony. They didn't even tell you about their plan. If the court had gotten to know, your reputation would have been tarnished. Vivek bhai only did it to protect your reputation and Kajal."
She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "And if he told you about it, the Khoslas might have gotten to know... and Vivek genuinely likes Kajal. You should meet her first before passing any judgment. You were skeptical about me and Divyansh, but you realized after some time you were wrong. We all know how much you love Vivek, and he equally loves you. You should give him a chance."
Divyansh watched his wife with immense pride as she navigated the family politics with grace. Finally, Ridha broke the silence. "Ok fine, I’ll meet Kajal. But Vivek, you should have told us before asking her to marry you."
Vivek’s face lit up with pure relief. "I know Maa, it was my fault, but thank you for accepting Kajal." He hugged his mother and mouthed a silent "thank you" to Avni.
Divyansh couldn't resist a final jab, mouthing back to his brother: "My wife saved your ass."
Vinayak looked at the group, a small smile finally appearing. "Avni, from next time, don't even listen to them. Talk to me freely, or else these idiots will continue using you to make me do work for them."
"Definitely, Dad," Avni said with a smile. The storm had finally passed, leaving the Singh household on a rare, good note.
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