Authors pov...

Sanyukta frowned as his words settled in, but she chose to remain silent.

To be honest, she wasn’t surprised. She had seen this coming from a distance.

Letting out a soft sigh, Sanyukta gave him a faint nod before placing her phone aside, as if quietly accepting the inevitable.

"Aap kuch lenge... chai, coffee?" she asked, attempting to sound normal, masking the brewing storm inside her.

Ranvijay stepped closer, standing right in front of her, his intense gaze fixed on her face. Gently, he took her hand in his, stopping her façade mid-act.

“Puchogi nahi kyu nahi jaa rahe?” he asked softly, almost challenging her, as though daring her to dig deeper.

“Nahiii... mujhe zaroorat nahi hai puchne ki,” she replied, her voice calm but laced with subtle hurt. “Aapne plan cancel kiya hai toh kuch soch ke hi kiya hoga... Aur waise bhi, hum log aap hi ke liye toh jaa rahe the... so that you don't feel suffocated and pushed into getting involved in this roka ceremony unwillingly.”

She slowly freed her hand from his grasp, her touch lingering for a second longer than necessary before slipping away. Ranvijay exhaled deeply, frustration and guilt pooling in his chest.

“Ab aapne kaha hai rukenge... toh ruk jaate hai,” she added, her eyes dropping to the floor, unwilling to meet his gaze.

Ranvijay ran a hand through his hair, stepping closer, unwilling to let her retreat into her silence.

“Sanyukta... I know you’re hurt... but meri baat suno toh sahi ek baar yaar...” he murmured, cupping her face with both hands, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek.

Sanyukta looked away, blinking back the emotions that threatened to surface.

“Aap zyada soch rahe hai... I’m not hurt,” she whispered, almost as if trying to convince herself more than him. “There is nothing wrong with staying here... Aapki behan ka roka hai... We should be a part of it as a family.”

Before he could say anything more, she took a small step back, putting space between them, her resolve building again.

“Agar aapko kuch chahiye toh bata dijiye. Otherwise, let me help everyone with the preparations for tomorrow,” she said, her tone shifting into something practical, something safe. “Anu aur Bhabhi toh salon gaye hai... Maa akeli hongi... I should go to her.”

She turned, ready to leave, to escape the intensity of his gaze and the vulnerability hanging between them. But before she could, his hand wrapped around her arm, halting her once more.

Sanyukta paused, closed her eyes briefly, and then looked back at him, silently asking him to let her go — from his grip and maybe from the conversation she wasn't ready to have.

“Hum kal nahi jaa rahe hain... Plan cancel nahi kiya hai maine. We’ll leave day after tomorrow. Main le jaaunga tum dono ko trip pe... Hurt mat ho biwi,” Ranvijay muttered softly, wrapping his arm around her waist, trying to ease the tension between them.

Sanyukta exhaled slowly, her eyes avoiding his as she gently tried to free herself from his hold.
“Thik hai... jaisa aapko thik lage. Abhi mujhe jaane dijiye,” she said, her voice low but firm.

Ranvijay frowned, refusing to let her pull away so easily. “Why are you doing this, haan? Ek din ke liye sirf postpone hi kiya hai na,” he questioned, tilting her chin up to make her look at him.

Sanyukta sighed, shaking her head slightly. “Main kya kar rahi hoon? Sirf itna keh rahi hoon ki mujhe jaane dijiye. Aapko koi kaam hai mujhse toh bata dijiye,” she replied plainly, as if deliberately avoiding the emotional part of the conversation.

Ranvijay narrowed his eyes, not convinced by her neutral act. “That’s what the problem is. You’re trying to behave normal when I know you’re angry with me, and I just want to know why. Bol diya na parso chalenge... Cancel nahi kiya hai,” he pressed, watching her carefully.

Sanyukta let out a frustrated breath and facepalmed, rubbing her forehead as if trying to keep herself from snapping.

“Ranvijay, main bilkul thik hoon. Mujhe bohot kaam hai... Please mujhe jaane dijiye. Aapne kaha abhi nahi jaa rahe... parso chalenge... Samajh aa gaya mujhe. Aap baat ko kyu badha rahe ho?” she asked, her patience hanging by a thread.

She paused, collecting her thoughts, before the rest spilled out.

“Ab last moment pe aapne bataya ki roke mein hum ruk rahe hain... Jiski maine koi tayyari nahi ki hai. Theme rakhi hai roke ki... Bhabhi, Maa, Dadi, Bua ji sab purple pehnegi... Maine toh kapde liye hi nahi. Mujhe idea nahi tha sab last moment pe cancel ho sakta hai,” she said, her words tumbling out, frustration lacing her tone.

“Rudraksh aur Anu ko kuch shagun bhi dena hai... Vo bhi nahi liya. Sab spa jaa rahe hain, salon jaa rahe hain, tayyari mein busy hain... Ab mujhe last moment pe kuch toh arrange karna padega na,” she finished, barely holding herself back from breaking down completely.

Ranvijay listened silently, guilt pooling in his chest. He stepped forward, his voice calm.
“Chalo, main le chalta hoon tujhe abhi shopping pe... Spa bhi le chalu ga. I’m sorry ki last moment pe ye sab ho raha hai. Abhi 5 baje hain... Raat tak sab arrange ho jaayega,” he offered softly, as if trying to fix everything at once.

But Sanyukta shook her head, her resolve clear. “Aap kuch mat kariye... Main dekh lungi khud,” she said, her tone final, once again trying to pull away from him.

Ranvijay sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. She was hurt. He knew it. But this pretending-to-be-fine act was suffocating him. He just wanted her to open up, to say it aloud so he could make it right, but she wasn’t giving him that chance.

Without another word, he pulled out his phone. “Let me call Bhabhi... Vo dono tere liye ruk jaayegi, and I’ll drop you at the salon,” he suggested.

But before he could dial, Sanyukta quickly placed her hand over his, stopping him.

“Nahi... Mujhe nahi jaana kahin. Kisi aur ko pareshan mat kariye meri wajah se,” she said firmly. Her eyes softened for a moment as she added, “Vo log lunch ke baad nikal gaye the... Ghar aane hi wale hain.”

She glanced toward the bedroom, her voice dropping. “If you want to do something, then please let me go... Avu soya hua hai. Uth jaaye toh call kar dena... Main dekh lungi aake,” she finished quietly, her eyes silently pleading for space as she gently moved away from him.

“Rudraksh aaya tha aaj office...” Ranvijay stated suddenly, his voice low but deliberate, making Sanyukta pause and glance back at him.

She met his gaze briefly before looking away, shaking her head dismissively.
“Abhi time nahi hai mere paas kahaniyan sunne ka... Nor am I asking you anything. I’m just following whatever you’re saying,” she replied coolly, her words sharp and clear, leaving no space for discussion.

Ranvijay clenched his jaw, his teeth gritting in frustration at her indifference.

Sanyukta caught the change in his expression and gave him a sad, knowing smile.
“Gussa aa raha hai ab... But kyu? Just because maine sunne se mana kar diya?” she asked softly, almost teasing him with her calmness.

“Please... gussa mat karna aap,” she added, her tone dipping into sarcasm. “Main sun leti hoon... Baaki kaam raat ko kar lungi. Poori raat baaki hai na abhi... Roka toh kal hai,” she finished, the edge in her words impossible to miss.

Ranvijay stared at her in disbelief, shaking his head.
“Jitna dimag mera pehle kharab nahi tha na... utna tune ab kar diya hai,” he snapped, the anger and frustration evident in his eyes, his patience wearing thin.

Sanyukta let out a slow breath, shaking her head at him as if silently telling herself to hold it together.
“It’s better aap mujhe jaane dein ab,” she said firmly, feeling her own control slipping. Another minute with him and she knew she might say something she would regret.

“Mummaaaa...”

Thank God. Avu’s sleepy voice echoed from the room, saving her from the brewing tension.

Sanyukta immediately turned towards the bed, her face softening.
“Uth gaya mera baby,” she cooed, sitting beside Avu and gently running her fingers through his hair, her entire demeanor shifting the moment she focused on her son.

Ranvijay huffed, dragging a hand through his hair before storming off toward the washroom, shrugging off his blazer and throwing it onto the couch with more force than necessary.

By the time he came back out, freshly changed, the room felt emptier than before. Sanyukta had already left with Avu, her absence somehow making the air heavier.

He stood there for a moment, running his hand along his jaw, trying to shake off the lingering irritation. Then, exhaling deeply, he picked up his phone and made a few quick calls, his mind already shifting into problem-solving mode.

But no matter how much he tried to refocus, her words... her indifference... kept playing on a loop in his head.

And it wasn’t sitting well with him at all.

He took a deep breath, ran his hand through his hair, and made a few quick phone calls before heading downstairs.

The house was alive with chaos and laughter. Avu and Aarvi were running around, giggling as they played hide and seek between the colorful, flowing curtains. Their shrieks of joy echoed through the hall, bringing a rare warmth to the otherwise tense atmosphere.

Ranveer and Pratap were busy discussing the menu with the caterer, occasionally throwing in their own suggestions, while Indira Devi was deep in conversation with Roshin, who had arrived just a few hours earlier along with kirti, Arnav, and Poorvi.

“Maaa… Sanyukta kaha hai?” Ranvijay asked, approaching Pushpa ji, who was seated at the dining table explaining something to Poorvi.

“Kitchen mein hogi beta vo,” Pushpa ji replied without looking up.

Ranvijay headed towards the kitchen, only to find it empty.

“Upar wale store room mein hai beta, chandi ka thaal lene gayi hai,” Vidya kaki informed him as she passed by. He offered her a polite smile and nodded before making his way upstairs.

As he pushed the door open, he found her rummaging through boxes. The soft creak of the door startled Sanyukta for a brief moment, but she didn’t bother turning around.

“Kya dhund rahi ho?” he asked, stepping inside the storeroom, his voice low and casual.

Sanyukta didn’t respond. She simply continued her work, pretending as if he wasn’t even there.

“Maine socha... kuch help karva du tumhari. Sara din idhar-udhar kaam karti rehti ho,” Ranvijay said, walking up beside her, trying to sound light-hearted.

Again, no reply.

Sanyukta carefully reached up to pull down a large carton from the top shelf. Ranvijay instinctively moved forward.

“Arey mujhe bol deti... kaafi heavy lag raha hai ye,” he muttered, concern lacing his voice, but Sanyukta stayed quiet, deliberately ignoring him.

A small, amused smile crept onto Ranvijay's face at her stubbornness. Without thinking twice, he slipped his arms around her from behind, pulling her into a soft back hug and nuzzling his face into her neck.

“Ranvijay…” she warned in a low voice, trying to wriggle out of his hold, her patience wearing thin. “Kyu kar rahe hai ye sab...?”

He only chuckled in response, pressing a light kiss just below her ear, knowing exactly what reaction it would provoke.

And it worked.

“Ranvijayyyyy please…” she snapped, her voice finally breaking with frustration. “Dur rahiye mujhse... I’m requesting you seriously.”

Her words landed heavier than he expected, and before he could dismiss it as her usual irritation, she added—voice softer but painfully honest—
“If you have ever considered my feelings even one percent... then please stay away. Mujhe nahi acha lag raha hai.”

For a second, Ranvijay froze.
This was the first time... the very first time she had said something like that to him.

There was no teasing, no playful anger. Just raw emotion.

Slowly, he loosened his hold and stepped back, searching her face for some clue, some explanation. Then, gently, he turned her towards himself, his brows furrowed.

“Kya ho gaya hai tujhe, Sanyu?” he asked, voice quieter than before, the playfulness now gone. “Itni khafa kyun hai? Mujhe toh bata... please.”

But Sanyukta just looked down, biting her lower lip, fighting the swirl of feelings bubbling inside her.

For once, Ranvijay didn’t know what to do—whether to hold her or leave her alone.

“Nahi karunga kuch bhi… just for once, tell me what exactly you’re feeling,” he asked softly, cupping her face, his eyes searching hers for answers.

And that was it.

Tears, restrained for far too long, finally escaped her eyes. Sanyukta broke down, her fragile hold over herself shattering. Ranvijay instinctively leaned in, trying to embrace her, to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks. But she pushed his hands away, her body trembling as bitter sobs racked through her.

Ranvijay clenched his jaw, cursing under his breath. Seeing her like this felt unbearable.

“Sanyukta… mat ro, please… I can't see you like this,” he pleaded, voice breaking as he stepped forward again, but she shook her head, backing away. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, only for fresh tears to spill, carving silent trails down her already-wet cheeks.

“You don't understand anything... pucha tha maine... ek baar nahi, bohot baar... because I knew aap badal jaoge…” she cried out, her voice raw and cracked.

Ranvijay sighed deeply, guilt sinking into his chest.

“Aapki galti nahi hai waise... galti toh meri hi hai... I should have been prepared for this,” Sanyukta whispered, her voice small, as if speaking to herself more than him.

“Sweetheart... but trip cancel nahi kiya hai... just delay kiya hai, vo bhi ek din ke liye... mat ro yaar,” Ranvijay tried, holding her hand, his thumb brushing soothing circles over her knuckles.

But Sanyukta pulled her hand back sharply, her gaze fierce through the blur of tears.

“It's not about the trip,” she hissed. “Last moment pe badal gaye aap. You don't have to do anything… bas muh se bol diya…”

Her voice cracked further as the dam burst.

“Ab main kya kya karu last moment pe? You always do this… jo aapko chaiye hota hai vo karte ho… kabhi dusre ka bhi soch liya karo…”

She took a trembling breath, wiping her cheeks, though the effort was futile.

“Main bhi toh insaan hi hoon na… koi machine toh nahi hoon… start bola toh shuru ho gayi… stop bologe toh ruk jaungi…”

Ranvijay remained silent, his heart sinking lower with every word.

“Ab aapko involve hona hai function mein... ab jo bhi aaya... jisne bhi samjhaya... vo pehle nahi ho sakta tha kya? Last moment pe hi log kyun aate hai samjhane? Sab apna apna dekhte hai... everyone is selfish.”

She laughed bitterly through her tears.

“Anu ko Rudraksh chahiye... Rudraksh ko Anu chahiye... Aap hurt hai Rudraksh se... ab usse Anu chahiye toh vo maafi bhi maang raha hai... guilt aaj se pehle nahi tha... why he never approached you before? Ab kyunki Anu chahiye hai toh maafi bhi yaad aa gayi…”

Her words, heavy with pain, kept spilling without pause.

“Aur aap... aapko involve hi hona tha toh pehle hi ho jaate... ab kuch ghanton mein sab theek ho gaya? Pehle compromise kar lete... jo 10 saal mein grudge nahi clear hua vo kuch hours mein ho gaya?”

She shook her head, almost laughing at the irony.

“But sahi hai... convenience hai... kabhi haan, kabhi naa karte raho... main toh naachti rahungi idhar se udhar… Aap kahenge function mein aana hai toh aa jaungi... bolege chalna hai toh chal lungi…”

Her voice finally gave out as she burst into uncontrollable sobs, crying her heart out as though years of bottled hurt finally found release.

“Humesha doosron ka soch ke life mein dukhi hui hoon main... Bhabhi ke taane sunne... apne Bhai ka soch ke... doosri shaadi kar li apni family ka soch ke…”

She paused, her voice trembling with conviction.

“Main Avu ko akele bhi bada kar leti... I was capable of doing it... mujhe kuch nahi chahiye tha... na pati, na parivar, na ghar, na paise... khush rehte hum dono…”

Ranvijay felt his throat tighten as he listened, each word piercing deeper than the last.

“Meri hi galti hai... ek baar mein nahi samajh aata mujhe... I let people walk all over me... aur sahi kehte hai log, itna pyaar mat karo kisi se that it ruins yourself…”

She wiped her face roughly, her eyes red and swollen.

“Pyaar ke liye har haan mein haan... na mein na... Ranvijay ko yeh acha lagega... unko hurt hoga... sad feel hoga... yeh soch soch ke main yeh hi bhool gayi ki mujhe kya feel ho raha hai…”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“Meri galti hai sab…”

And with that, her legs gave out as she sank to her knees, broken, defeated.

Ranvijay dropped down in front of her instantly, cupping her face, wiping her tears even as his own vision blurred.

“Sanyukta... I am sorry… mujhe sochna chahiye tha… I am genuinely sorry ki meri wajah se tu bhi har jagah drag ho rahi hai,” he said softly, his heart breaking at her state.

“I don't know what to say to you anymore... mujhe khud kuch samajh nahi aa raha hai…”

He helped her to her feet, holding her like she might shatter again at any moment.

“Come on… bas get up…”

Sanyukta wiped her tears slowly, glancing at him. His face, usually unreadable, was filled with tension and regret.

“Maine salon se kuch logon ko bulaya hai... aur ek designer ko bhi, with all the purple sarees and other traditional dresses. Aate hi honge sab… you don't have to do anything... main sab arrange kar dunga yahi... bas ro mat…”

“Shagun and all ka bhi maine bol diya hai Bhai ko... he will handle it.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply.

“Tu bas rest kar... I’ve always told you to just focus on you and Avu... yeh sab karne ki zarurat nahi hai tujhe.”

He looked at her earnestly, his voice barely above a whisper now.

“If you don't like anything I say... tu mana kar de mujhe... I won't force you into anything. Mera bhi koi kaam tujhe nahi karna hai... just say no. I don’t want you to do anything against your will.”

With a pause he continued.

“Main gusse mein cheezein idhar udhar bol deta hoon yaar... I’m sorry for that. I’m genuinely sorry, Sanyukta.”

Ranvijay sighed again, as though the weight of everything was finally crashing down on him too.

“I genuinely had no idea you felt this way... agar kuch bhi forced lag raha hai, you can always point it out. Main force nahi karunga kisi cheez ke liye, aur kisi aur ko bhi nahi karne dunga. Don't burden yourself with expectations of others... chahe woh koi bhi ho... even if it’s me.”

He managed a weak smile.

“I just keep playing around you out of habit. I purposely annoy you… you can always say no to me.”

But the air between them felt different now—heavy, suffocating. The sudden outburst left everything between them feeling temporary... fragile… hollow.

Her words echoed in his mind, louder than anything else—how she remarried for her family, how she never really needed him. And for the first time, Ranvijay realised how much that truth hurt.

And now... looking at each other, they both felt like strangers.

Two people standing in the middle of a storm they didn’t know how to calm.

Comments needed ....😉😉😉🙃🙃

To be honest I was not planning this chapter to be this way but once I started writing it turned out like this only and I decided to go with the flow ....

I was not expecting such twist in their relationship but now that's it is here ...let see how it goes .....