As Sanyukta served her freshly baked cookies with evening tea, Anjali took a bite and let out a delighted sigh.
"Sanyukta, these are amazing! You should open a bakery!" she praised.
Sanyukta smiled. "Thank you, Bhabhi! Next time, I’ll make your favorite vanilla cookies too."
Before Anjali could respond, Ranvijay, lounging with his coffee like a self-proclaimed king, smirked and declared with absolute pride,
"Biwi kiski hai! Aise hi thodi na uthayi thi… soch samajh ke limited edition piece choose kiya hai!"
Sanyukta paused mid-sip, already sensing trouble brewing. "Haan haan, matlab main koi showroom ki shelf pe rakhi cheez thi jo aap ‘select’ kar laye?"
Ranvijay leaned back dramatically. "Arre nahi! Tu koi normal maal thodi hai… tu toh woh imported cheez hai jo duty-free shop pe milti hai—exclusive, expensive, aur samajhdar log hi afford kar sakte hain!"
Ranvijay sighed dramatically. "Bas ek galti ho gayi... discount dekh ke kharid liya!"
Anjali and Pushpa ji burst into laughter while Sanyukta gasped in disbelief.
"Aap kehna kya chahte hain?!" she demanded, hands on her hips.
Ranvijay took a slow sip of his coffee, exhaling like a lawyer who had just wrapped up a high-profile case. Then, with a smirk, he declared,
" Matlab ye hai ki mujhe pehle se pata tha, life mein thrill chahiye toh ek tough case lena padega!"
Sanyukta shot him a look. "Tough case?"
Ranvijay leaned back, nodding seriously. "Haan, aur tu toh ek full-fledged high-profile trial hai—roz naye allegations, har din cross-examination, aur jab bhi main defend karne ki koshish karun… ‘Objection overruled!’"
Anjali burst into laughter, while Sanyukta folded her arms giving him a stinky eye . “Toh tum keh rahe ho ki tumhari life ek court trial ban chuki hai?” Anjali asked amidst her laughter.
Ranvijay sighed dramatically. "Bilkul! Roz subah ek naye case ki sunwayi hoti hai. 'Aap late uthe,' 'Aapne dhyan nahi diya,' aur sabse dangerous charge—‘Aap bhool gaye na?’”
Anjali burst into laughter. “Sanyukta, ye toh tum sach mein ek lawyer ki life tough bana rahi ho!”
Sanyukta narrowed her eyes. "Aur aap kya karte ho phir?"
Ranvijay shook his head, as if heartbroken. "Main bechara evidence dene ki koshish karta hoon, but kya hota hai? ‘Your argument is invalid, Ranvijay.’ Ekdum Supreme Court ka faisla!"
Sanyukta grabbed a napkin to throw at him, but he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Objection, milord! Yeh toh direct assault ho gaya!"
Anjali wiped away tears of laughter, while Sanyukta shook her head. "Aap na kabhi nahi sudhroge!"
Ranvijay grinned, finishing his coffee like a man who had won the case. "Sudhar jaata, toh corporate lawyer hota. Criminal law is my passion—aur ek challenging case ke bina maza nahi aata!"
Before Sanyukta could fire back, he looked around and frowned. "Waise, ye Anu kahaan gayab rehti hai aajkal? Koi secret mission pe hai kya?"
Pushpa ji chuckled. "Koi mission nahi, bas college ke project mein busy hai."
"Haan, toh ek kaam kar, uske room mein cookies de aa," Ranvijay suggested, then added with a smirk, "Nahi toh bechari fir se emotional drama karegi—‘Mujhse toh koi puchta hi nahi, mujhe toh koi kuch deta hi nahi!’ Waise bhi, ab toh woh sirf padhai nahi, sympathy bhi collect karti hai."
Sanyukta rolled her eyes but picked up a plate of cookies and a cup of coffee for Anushka anyway.
Before she could leave, two tiny whirlwinds—Avu and Aarvi—squealed and dashed after her. "Buaaa!!" they chirped in excitement, eager to tag along.
Ranvijay watched them run off and shook his head with a grin. "Bas, ab Anu ka project nahi, uska patience test hone wala hai," he muttered, taking another slow sip of his coffee, thoroughly amused.
Before Sanyukta could knock, Avu and Aarvi, bubbling with excitement, pushed the door open and stormed inside.
“Buaaa! Hum cokie laye haiiiii! Tastyyy cokieee!” Avu squealed, his tiny finger pointing at the plate in Sanyukta’s hand as if it were a prized treasure.
“Humne help ki thi!” Aarvi added proudly, her big eyes shining with mischief. Avu puffed his little chest in agreement, looking extremely pleased with himself.
Anushka, who had been on a call, immediately ended it, her expression shifting as she stood up from the couch. Seeing the two little troublemakers, she couldn't help but chuckle. She bent down, kissing both of them on their chubby cheeks.
“Mere dono angels! Aap dono ki help ke bina toh yeh cookies itni yummy hoti hi nahi!” she cooed, making them giggle.
Meanwhile, Sanyukta placed the plate and coffee on the table. But before she could issue the inevitable "Bas! Tum dono ne subah se kitni cookies khaa li hai!", the two munchkins had already snatched their treats and dashed out of the room like mini whirlwinds, their infectious laughter trailing behind them.
Sanyukta sighed, shaking her head with a fond smile. “These two have such a sweet tooth, they can finish an entire bakery in a Day .”
She turned her attention back to Anushka. “Kaisa chal raha hai project, Anu?” she asked, her tone light yet observant.
For the briefest moment, a flicker of something unspoken passed through Anushka’s face—hesitation, maybe even calculation. But it was gone in a flash, replaced by an easy smile.
“Acha chal raha hai, Bhabhi.” She nodded, picking up her coffee and taking a bite of the cookies. “And these are really tasty, by the way!”
Sanyukta’s lips curled into a gentle smile. “I’m glad you liked them. But listen, don’t stress too much about the project. I can help if you need—”
“Nahi Bhabhi, it’s a group project,” Anushka quickly interjected. “Sab milkar kar rahe hain. Ho jaayega. I’m actually heading to my friend’s place in a while to work on it.”
Just then, her phone buzzed on the table.
Sanyukta wasn’t the type to pry, but her gaze inadvertently caught the caller ID—"Rudraksh ❤️".
The heart emoji next to the name made her pause.
She lifted her eyes to Anushka, whose fingers hovered over the phone before she swiftly rejected the call, her face carefully neutral.
Sanyukta leaned back slightly, crossing her arms with a teasing smirk. “Anu… koi baat share karni hai? Ya phir hum aise hi ‘project’ sun kar maan jaayein?”
Anushka blinked, her posture stiffening for half a second. “Bhabhi, please. Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai. I’m not into any of that…” she rushed to say, shaking her head a little too firmly. “Agar kuch hota toh main aapse zaroor share karti. But trust me, there’s nothing like that.”
Sanyukta didn’t miss the slight nervousness in her tone. The way her fingers tapped restlessly on the cup, the way she avoided direct eye contact—it was subtle, but Sanyukta had seen enough to know when someone was hiding something.
Still, she didn’t push. Instead, she simply smiled—a knowing, but non-confrontational smile. “Theek hai. Par yaad rakhna, agar kabhi share karna ho, I’m here.”
Anushka let out a small, relieved breath. “Thanks, Bhabhi. And thanks for the cookies and coffee.” She stood up, adjusting her dupatta. “Mujhe ab nikalna hoga. My friend must be waiting.”
Sanyukta reached out, gently patting her head, the gesture filled with warmth. “Ja, lekin dhyan se. Aur haan, agar late ho, toh call zaroor karna.”
Anushka nodded quickly, grabbing her things and hurrying out.
As the door shut behind her, Sanyukta exhaled, her mind replaying the scene. Anushka had been too quick to dismiss it, too rehearsed in her denial.
She had a feeling she already knew what this was about.
But she wasn’t going to jump to conclusions. Not yet.
First, she needed to be sure.
"Sanyuktaaaaa...."
Ranvijay's deep voice broke her out of her thoughts. She turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, an all-too-familiar smirk playing on his lips.
"Mall chal, tujhe ghumane ka mann ho raha hai mera."
She raised a skeptical brow. "Aapko mujhe ghumane ka mann kabse hone laga?"
He shrugged. "Acha theek hai, maa ko neighbor ke baby shower ke liye kuch lena hai, Dadi ki medicine bhi le leni hai... aur haan, tu bhi chal le, warna mujhe kisi aur ko patana padega shopping partner banne ke liye."
She rolled her eyes at his ever-present sarcasm. "Mujhe kapde badalne do, phir chalte hain."
He sighed dramatically. "Haan haan, jaa le, par wapas Cinderella banke mat aana. Mall tak jaana hai, award show nahi."
She narrowed her eyes. "Aap kehna kya chah rahe hain?"
He grinned. "Bas yahi ki tu waise bhi itni khoobsurat hai ki log tujhe dekh ke already impressed ho jaayenge. Bas zyada tyaar ho gayi toh log mujhe ignore kar denge, jo main bilkul bardasht nahi kar sakta."
She scoffed. "Aap khud ko kya samajhte hain?"
He smirked, stepping closer. "Ek best-selling limited edition husband. Aur tu lucky customer."
She shook her head, unable to stop the small smile tugging at her lips. "Mujhe sirf five minutes dijiye, bas."
Ranvijay plopped onto the bed lazily. "Five minute se ek second zyada hua na, toh yaad rakhna- main bina notice diye nikal jaaunga."
She huffed. "Jaayege kaha , vaapis toh yahi aana padega and you know better than to leave me here ?"
He smirked. "Valid point. Par tu ready hone mei jitna time legi, utni der tak main bas soch raha hoon ki main tujhse shaadi karke hero bana ya apni zindagi ka side character."
She shot him a playful glare before disappearing into the closet.
As they came downstairs, Pushpa ji looked up from where she was sitting. "Sanyukta, beta, waise bhi jaa rahi ho toh bache kuch achha sa le aana, tu hi dekh lena kya lena hai. Ab main jaake kya karungi wahan?"
Sanyukta smiled and nodded. “Ji, Maa, main dekh lungi.”
Ranvijay, standing beside her, smirked. "Haan haan, ab toh ye officially har shopping trip ki CEO ban gayi hai."
Sanyukta rolled her eyes, but the fondness in his tone didn’t go unnoticed.
"We are readddyyyyy!"
Avu and Aarvi’s excited screams echoed through the house, making everyone chuckle. The little whirlwinds bounced on their feet, their eyes twinkling with anticipation.
It didn’t take long to reach the mall, and the moment they stepped inside, Avu and Aarvi were practically vibrating with excitement. Their tiny hands clutched Sanyukta’s as they jumped eagerly.
"Gaming zone chahiye! Ice cream chahiye! Candyyy bhi chahiye!" Avu declared, listing his demands without taking a breath.
"Aur popcorn!" Aarvi added enthusiastically.
Sanyukta shook her head with a smile before turning to Ranvijay. "Aap in dono ko le jaiye, they can’t wait anymore. I’ll join you after buying the gift."
Ranvijay nodded, ruffling Avu’s hair. "Thik hai, call me if you need anything. Aur haan, yeh card le lo—" he said, taking out his credit card and handing it to her.
Sanyukta smirked, crossing her arms. "Mere paas pehle se hi aapka credit card hai jo last time diya tha."
Ranvijay narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Tabhi toh soch raha tha, ghar baithe hi mera diwala kaise nikal raha hai?" he muttered dramatically, making her laugh.
She tilted her head mischievously. "Oh please! Maine abhi tak kuch liya hi nahi hai… but aaj woh bhi compensate kar lungi."
His lips twitched as he feigned distress. "Ek din kangal karke hi maanegi tu mujhe."
Sanyukta chuckled before stepping closer, lowering her voice just enough for him to hear. "Nahi… because I believe my husband earns enough to fulfill all my wishes and provide me a comfortable lifestyle."
For a second, Ranvijay just looked at her. Then, a slow, genuine smile spread across his face, his gaze softening.
"Dialogues, woman!" He groaned playfully, shaking his head. "Ye sab bolke toh tu mujhe kidney bechne ko bolegi toh bhi ready ho jaunga!"
Sanyukta burst out laughing, swatting his arm lightly. "Aap bhi na!"
Still chuckling, he jerked his chin towards the gaming zone. "Chal ja, shopping ki CEO. Main in dono ki entertainment committee handle kar leta hoon."
"Chachuuuuu… let’s gooooo!"
Aarvi tugged at Ranvijay’s hand, her tiny fingers gripping his firmly. Beside her, Avu bounced on his toes, his impatience growing with every passing second.
With a chuckle, he let them drag him towards the gaming zone, watching as their excitement reached another level.
As Sanyukta walked off, she glanced back to see Ranvijay swinging Avu up in his arms while Aarvi giggled beside them.
Her heart swelled.
Moments like these were what made everything perfect.
Meanwhile, Sanyukta started her hunt for the perfect gift.
As she strolled past the gift section, her eyes landed on a stunning idol of Lord Krishna, beautifully carved, swinging in an intricately designed jhula. The craftsmanship was mesmerizing—the delicate details of Krishna’s serene expression, the elegant swing, and the divine aura surrounding the idol made her stop in awe.
She instinctively clicked a picture and sent it to Pushpa ji for approval.
Within seconds, a reply flashed on her screen.
"Bahut sundar hai, beta. Yehi le lo."
A smile played on Sanyukta’s lips. Without a second thought, she made the payment and carefully had the idol packed.
As she exited the store, a men’s showroom caught her attention.
Her steps faltered for a moment before she smirked.
"Mujhe toh bhi kuch lena hi padega… aakhir kangal jo karna hai aapko, Mr. Ranvijay." she muttered to herself mischievously, stepping inside to find something special for him.
Sanyukta was casually browsing through shorts and T-shirts, trying to pick something for Ranvijay, when a familiar voice from the other side of the store caught her attention.
Her ears instantly perked up. She knew that voice.
She turned around, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. Anushka.
And she wasn’t alone.
Sanyukta’s eyes widened in surprise as she spotted Anu standing beside a well-dressed man who seemed to be in his late twenties. He was tall—almost Ranvijay’s height—but slightly leaner, with an air of sophistication that immediately hinted at wealth and class. His formals were tailored perfectly, and everything about his posture screamed rich and polished.
Curious, Sanyukta instinctively stepped closer, but then she halted, deciding to observe from a distance instead.
“You will look super handsome in this, I swear!” Anushka gushed, holding up a shirt against the man’s frame. Her eyes twinkled with excitement.
She grinned, placing the shirt in his hands. "Take this, and we’ll find matching accessories too!"
Sanyukta’s brows shot up. The familiarity between them was unmistakable.
The man chuckled, his lips curling into a smirk as he wrapped an arm around Anushka’s waist, pulling her closer with ease.
Sanyukta gasped, her eyes widening.
This was not just friendship.
And Anushka had definitely been hiding something.
“As you wish, my chatterbox…”
Rudraksh smirked, pressing a quick peck on Anushka’s lips.
Anushka’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she nudged his chest. “Rudraaksh, stop it!” she whined, but her laughter betrayed her.
He chuckled at her reaction, stealing another quick kiss, making her giggle even more.
"Bas kar na…" she murmured shyly before wrapping her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. Rudraksh smiled, resting his chin over her head as if holding her was the most natural thing in the world.
Sanyukta stood frozen.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been standing there, watching this unexpected scene unfold, but her trance was broken when her phone rang.
She blinked, snapping back to reality as she looked down at the screen.
Ranvijay.
Taking a deep breath, she quickly answered, her eyes flickering back to Anushka and Rudraksh.
"Jiii…?" she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Hum log food court pe aa gaye hain. Tu bhi aa ja agar gift le liya hai toh." Ranvijay informed her casually.
Sanyukta hesitated before lying, "Aati hu… abhi washroom mei hu." She quickly ended the call before he could question her further.
Her mind was racing when she suddenly collided with an elderly man, causing his belongings to spill onto the floor.
"I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention!" she apologized instantly, bending down to pick up his things.
The elderly man smiled kindly, waving it off. "Koi baat nahi, beta. Dhyan se chalo."
She nodded politely and quickly turned back, scanning the store—but Anushka and Rudraksh were gone.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She rushed to the counter, hoping to catch a glimpse of them. Nothing.
Then she tried looking around the store, but there was no sign of them anywhere.
"I guess they left already…" she muttered under her breath, feeling a strange sense of unease settle in her chest.
Shaking her head, she made her way toward the food court, but her mind wasn’t at peace.
Her thoughts kept circling back to what she had just witnessed—Anushka with Rudraksh.
Anushka had lied.
She said it was a group project, but here she was, acting like she was in a full-fledged relationship.
And the way Rudraksh held her? The way he kissed her so casually, without hesitation—it wasn’t something new.
This had been going on for a while.
Sanyukta sighed deeply. She needed to confront Anushka, but not in front of Ranvijay.
Her husband was way too impulsive.
She knew how blunt and straightforward he was—he never thought twice before acting on things, and this situation needed careful handling.
If he found out, he wouldn’t just sit still.
And the last thing Sanyukta wanted was for things to escalate before she even understood who Rudraksh was and what his intentions were.
But she also couldn’t keep this to herself.
Her first instinct was to share this with Anjali and Ranveer.
At least they would help her figure out how to deal with it without creating a storm.
“Kya hua… kahaan khoi hai?”
Ranvijay nudged Sanyukta’s arm playfully, but to his surprise, she shrieked in bewilderment, making him frown.
“Heyyy… what happened? Are you fine? Kuch hua hai?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Sanyukta quickly shook her head, forcing a small smile.
“Nahi, bas kuch soch rahi thi… aur ekdum se aapne bola toh dar gayi.” She tried to brush it off.
Ranvijay’s frown eased as he chuckled, pinching her nose lightly.
“Pagal ladki! Chal aaja, let's eat your favourite chaat.” He grabbed her wrist and led her toward the table where Avu and Aarvi were already seated.
She nodded and settled beside the kids, absently watching as Ranvijay walked off to the counter to get their chaat.
Avu and Aarvi were too busy licking their ice creams, giggling as they challenged each other on who could finish first.
Sanyukta, however, barely registered their laughter.
Her mind was elsewhere, spinning with thoughts of Anushka and Rudraksh.
Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her dupatta, her jaw tightening as she replayed the scene in her head—Anushka blushing, Rudraksh pulling her close, the kiss.
Sanyukta wasn’t naive. She knew what it meant.
But why was Anushka hiding it?
If she was serious about him, why hadn’t she mentioned anything at home?
Or… was she scared of how the family, especially Ranvijay, would react?
Her gut told her it was the latter.
And that was exactly why Sanyukta needed to handle this delicately—before things spiraled out of control.
Sanyukta took a deep breath, steeling herself.
It was better if Ranveer and Anjali handled this matter calmly.
Ranvijay could never be the first to find out. Not with his impulsive nature.
She knew him too well—his bluntness, his unwillingness to filter his words, his tendency to act first and think later.
The moment he found out, there would be fireworks—not the festive kind, but the kind that burns everything down.
No.
She wouldn't let that happen.
Even after the truth came out, she would pretend she knew nothing, that she had been just as shocked and clueless as everyone else.
Ranvijay, being his usual self, excitedly narrated how the three of them played games at the arcade, tickling Avu and Aarvi in between, making them laugh melodiously.
Sanyukta tried to focus, forcing occasional smiles, but her mind was still distracted—Anushka and Rudraksh's image haunting her thoughts.
“Aur kuch karna hai, ya ghar chalein ab?” Ranvijay asked after a while.
“Ghar chalte hai… ho gaya sab.” Sanyukta answered without much thought.
“Nahiiiiiii !” Avu and Aarvi pouted dramatically, not wanting to leave just yet.
Ranvijay smirked, picking them up in his arms.
“Bas bas, ab naak mat phulao dono. Next time phir aayenge!” he promised, making the kids giggle again.
Sanyukta followed them silently, her eyes scanning the area. She was still on edge, half-expecting to spot Anushka and Rudraksh somewhere nearby.
Her heart thudded.
The last thing she wanted was for Ranvijay to see Anushka with her boyfriend.
She feared his reaction.
She knew better than anyone how dangerous his anger was—how it simmered beneath his otherwise carefree and playful exterior like dormant lava, waiting to erupt.
No.
She couldn't let that happen.
She needed Ranveer and Anjali to handle the situation calmly.
She had to be careful.
But before she could think any further, a tiny, excited voice pierced the air—
"Chachuuuu… ANUU BUAAAA!"
Aarvi's innocent call made Sanyukta's face drain of color.
Her breath hitched.
No… not now.
Her gaze snapped toward the direction Aarvi was pointing at, her pulse quickening as fear gripped her heart.
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