Aarav was standing there, he saw Paakhi coming out of the room.

“Mom, bhabhi is ready,” Paakhi said.

Kavita turned to Aarav. “Bring her.”

He nodded and walked toward the room.

Siya was standing there.

“Siya,” he called softly.

She turned around—and once again, he paused.

She looked breathtaking.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Mom is calling,” he said.

“Okay,” she replied and started walking.

“Stop,” he said suddenly.

She turned back. “Why?”

“Sit,” he said.

She looked at him, confused, but sat down.

He handed her a blue velvet box.

She took it and asked, “What is this?”

“Open it,” he said.

She opened the box and froze. Inside was a pair of silver anklets.

“For me?” she asked softly.

He nodded and smiled.

“May I… make you wear them?” he asked.

She looked at him. Paused. Then nodded.

He smiled and knelt down.

She was shocked.

She had never seen this side of Aarav. He had never bent for anyone before—yet today, he bent on his own.

Her heart skipped.

He gently took one anklet and carefully touched her feet.

She gasped, her heartbeat racing.

He fastened the anklet… then the other.

He stood up.

“Thank you,” she said, looking at him.

He smiled.

She stood up, and as she walked, the anklets created a faint, melodious sound.

He smiled at the sound.

She smiled but quickly masked it.

“Let’s go,” she said softly. “Everyone is waiting.”

He nodded, and together they walked out of the room.

Paakhi was standing beside Kavita when Kavita’s eyes fell on Siya.

Kavita smiled.

Siya and Aarav walked toward them. Siya greeted Kavita respectfully, and Aarav smiled.

“You are looking very beautiful,” Kavita said warmly.

Siya smiled shyly.

“Mom, let’s do the rituals,” Paakhi said excitedly.

Kavita sighed but nodded. “Fine.”

She gestured toward the couch. “You both sit.”

Siya sat first, and Aarav sat beside her.

Kavita turned to the maid. “Bring it.”

The maid came forward with a big bucket filled with milk and rose petals and placed it in front of them.

“In this bucket, there is a ring,” Kavita said. “You have to find it.”

Paakhi leaned closer to Siya and whispered with a grin, “Bhabhi, you have to win.”

Siya smiled.

Both dipped their hands into the milk and started searching.

Siya was fully focused, her brows slightly furrowed as she searched carefully.

Aarav, however, was barely searching—he was busy admiring her.

Inside the bucket, their hands brushed against each other.

Both reached the ring at the same time.

But Siya quickly yanked his hand away.

Aarav froze for a second… then smiled.

Siya pulled her hand out, holding the ring proudly. “I won,” she said with a smile.

“Yes!” Paakhi cheered.

Aarav just kept looking at Siya, amused and impressed.

Kavita smiled and said, “That means Siya will always rule over Aarav.”

Kavita walked away, and Paakhi’s eyes lit up mischievously.

“Now arm wrestling!” she announced.

Aarav smirked.

Siya frowned. “But in this, the stronger person wins.”

Paakhi shrugged. “Yes, but it’ll be fun between you two.”

“This isn’t even a ritual,” Siya protested.

Aarav leaned back slightly. “You know I’ll win.”

“I’m not saying that,” Siya replied quickly.

He raised an eyebrow. “No? Then you’re scared.”

She turned to him sharply. “I am not scared of you.”

“Then prove it.”

Siya sighed. She knew she would lose—but her ego didn’t let her back down.

Aarav smirked. His plan had worked.

They sat across from each other. He placed his hand on the table first.

Siya hesitated… then placed hers.

Her hand was small and soft in his—almost delicate. Aarav held it as if he were holding a flower.

“Start?” he asked.

She nodded.

The match began.

Aarav sat casually, barely applying force.

Siya, on the other hand, put in all her strength, her brows furrowing in concentration.

He smiled at her effort.

She tried harder. His grip remained firm but gentle, slowly pushing her hand down while she resisted with everything she had.

Frustrated, she brought her other hand to help.

He laughed softly.

And then—he won.

Still holding her hand, he teasingly pushed it down again… and again.

Siya glared at him and turned her face away.

He just smiled.

“I won,” he said lightly.

She jerked her hand free. “I already knew you’d win. You’re a man. I’m a girl. I don’t have that much strength.”

He leaned closer, his voice low.

“But you know… your one smile is enough to defeat me.”

She looked at him, startled.

Was he… flirting?

“Don’t flirt with me,” she snapped, standing up and walking away.

He watched her go and said calmly,

“I’m not flirting. I’m telling the truth.”

Kavita was sitting in the living room when Siya walked in.

“Sit here,” Kavita said gently.

Siya nodded and sat beside her.

Kavita then brought out an old, vintage box and placed it in Siya’s hands.

Siya looked at it curiously.

“These are our traditional bangles,” Kavita said softly. “Aarav’s grandmother gave them to me… and now I’m giving them to you.”

Siya opened the box.

Inside were delicate, antique bangles—timeless and elegant.

“They’re beautiful,” Siya whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Kavita smiled, her eyes warm with acceptance.

Aarav came there, but Siya ignored him.

He noticed the box in her hands and smiled softly.

Kavita spoke, “This Saturday we have to attend a function.”

Siya nodded quietly in response.

In night, Siya changed her clothes and lay down on the bed.

Aarav entered and called softly, “Siya.”

She didn’t reply.

“Still angry?” he asked.

“I’m not angry,” she said coldly. “I just don’t want to talk to you. Understand.”

He smirked slightly. “But why? I only told the truth.”

She let out a bitter laugh.

“Before my marriage, you hated me Aarav. You didn’t even talk to me—only argued with me. And now you’re saying all these things?” Her voice hardened. “I don’t need your pity.”

His expression fell. Her words hurt—but they were true.

“But Siya—” he tried.

She cut him off.

“I became alone, so you married me. And I agreed only because of Mom and Paakhi. I know what marriage means—it’s not a game. I’m just fulfilling my responsibilities.”

“It’s not like that,” he said quietly. “Yes, I argued before, but now… I really feel something.”

She turned her face away.

“Maybe you do,” she said softly, “but it’s because my brother and father died. You don’t care because you love me—you care because you pity me. And it's not love it's pity and i don't need your pity Aarav”

He fell silent.

She lay down, closing her eyes, unaware of the tight ache forming in her chest.

Aarav sighed quietly beside her.

She fell asleep, but he didn’t.

Her words kept echoing in his head as he closed his eyes.