It was morning at the Goenka mansion. Everyone was seated at the breakfast table.

Paakhi suddenly turned to Aarav and said,

“Bhai, today we want to go shopping.”

Aarav replied calmly,

“Fine. You all go.”

Paakhi frowned.

“Come with us.”

He shook his head.

“I can’t. I have an important meeting today. Go with Mom.”

Paakhi immediately protested,

“I’m not going with Mom.”

Aarav sighed and looked at her.

“Then with whom?”

Paakhi turned toward Siya.

“With bhabhi.”

Aarav froze. He looked at Siya in surprise.

“Really?”

Siya nodded softly.

Without thinking twice, he said,

“Then I’ll come with you.”

Kavita burst into laughter. Rahul shook his head with an amused smile, while Paakhi grinned knowingly.

Paakhi teased him,

“But bhai, what about your meeting?”

“I’ll cancel it,” Aarav replied simply.

Paakhi laughed out loud.

Siya remained silent, but her cheeks slowly turned pink.

Aarav looked at Paakhi and asked,

“So, when are we going?”

“After lunch, bhai,” Paakhi replied.

“Fine,” he said and went back to his breakfast.

Siya returned to her room. She took out a document and started reading it carefully. Her thoughts raced.

Where can I get more information? There must be something… something hidden.

Suddenly, her mind clicked.

“A locker,” she whispered.

Flashback_

Rajveer was writing something complicated in a book. Curious, siya had leaned closer and asked,

“Papa, what is this?”

Rajveer smiled warmly.

“It’s a password.”

“Password?” she repeated.

He nodded.

“I always forget things, so I write my passwords here. You know, all my passwords are written in this diary.”

Then he added softly,

“Maybe one day, if I’m not here, you or Veer might need it. So it’s safe in this diary.”

Siya had nodded and smiled, feeling secure beside him.

Flashback Ends_

“That diary…” Siya murmured.

Paakhi entered the room. Siya quickly put the documents away.

Paakhi noticed and asked casually,

“What’s that, bhabhi?”

“Land papers,” Siya replied.

“Oh,” Paakhi nodded, then suddenly her eyes lit up.

“So, what are you wearing today?”

“I don’t know,” Siya said. “Let’s see.”

Both turned toward the wardrobe.

Siya picked up a suit.

“This one?”

Paakhi shook her head immediately.

“Bhabhi, what about western clothes? I’m wearing western too.”

“Western?” Siya asked hesitantly.

Paakhi nodded enthusiastically and pulled out a crop top and jeans.

“Wear this, bhabhi.”

Siya hesitated.

“But—”

“Don’t worry,” Paakhi interrupted. “No one will say anything.”

After a moment, Siya sighed.

“Fine.”

Paakhi happily left for her room.

Siya changed into the jeans and off-shoulder top, looked at herself, and murmured,

“Umm…”

Then she picked up a shrug and wore it, feeling a little more comfortable.

Aarav entered the room and froze for a moment.

Even in something so simple, she looked beautiful.

Siya noticed his silence and turned toward him.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he replied quickly. “Let’s go.”

She nodded and followed him out.

Paakhi was already waiting. The three of them walked toward the car.

“Bhabhi, sit in the front,” Paakhi said casually.

“It’s okay,” Siya replied. “I’ll sit in the backseat.”

“No,” Paakhi said firmly.

Aarav looked at both of them, slightly confused. Siya sighed.

“Fine,” she said and sat beside Aarav.

Paakhi smiled to herself—exactly where she wanted Siya to be.

Aarav smiled faintly, started the car, and soon they were on their way.

A few minutes later, they reached the mall. They stepped out of the car and walked inside together.

They entered a luxury store and soon got busy shopping.

Aarav’s phone kept buzzing. He sighed and answered the call.

“Sir?” (his assistant) Reshabh said. “If you don’t mind, I can come there, and then you can—”

“Fine. Come,” Aarav replied, cutting the call.

Aarav turned toward them. Paakhi immediately handed him her shopping bags. Siya did the same.

He looked at the bags, then at them.

“This is too much. How am I supposed to carry all this alone?”

Siya turned to him, a slow smirk forming on her lips.

“We didn’t bring you here to admire us, Mr. Goenka,” she said sweetly.

“You’re officially our bag carrier.”

Aarav went silent.

Paakhi bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh.

Bhai is so quiet today, Paakhi thought.

Aarav noticed her expression and shot her a warning glare.

“At least carry one bag each,” he said.

“I won’t,” Siya replied instantly—and walked off to continue shopping.

Aarav sighed, watching her go.

Thank God the assistant is coming, he thought. At least someone will save me.

Aarav looked around the store, then paused and smirk. He turned toward Siya and walked up to her.

“Mrs. Goenka,” he said.

Siya glared at him.

“Won’t you shop for your husband?” he added, half-smiling.

“Go shop for yourself,” she replied flatly.

Paakhi smiled at the exchange.

Aarav chuckled at her. Paakhi handed him even more shopping bags.

“Come, bhabhi. Let’s go to the next shop,” paakhi said.

Siya nodded and took a step forward.

“Stop,” Aarav said.

Both of them turned.

“Shop wherever you want, but wait here for a bit.”

“Why?” Paakhi asked.

“I can’t carry more,” Aarav replied. “My assistant is coming. He’ll take these.”

Siya scoffed inwardly. Can’t even carry a few bags.

“Just wait,” he repeated.

“Fine, bhai,” Paakhi said.

“I’m going,” Siya muttered.

Paakhi quickly held her arm. “Wait, bhabhi. Do you want coffee or something?”

“Cold coffee,” Siya replied.

“Okay, I’ll bring it.”

Paakhi walked away, Siya noticed a man staring at her continuously. When she glared at him, he quickly turned his face away. She ignored it.

At the coffee counter, Paakhi placed the order. The same man came and stood beside her. She ignored him at first—but then he deliberately brushed his hand against hers and said"would you..".

Paakhi flinched not even listening what he said.

Paakhi grabbed her coffee and hurried back, her steps unsteady. The man followed and stopped right in front of them.

Aarav’s phone buzzed again. He started talking to his assistant as his guard and assistant entered the mall and walked toward him.

Paakhi reached Siya, visibly shaken.

“What happened?” Siya asked sharply.

Paakhi swallowed. “That man… he touched me.”

Siya’s expression changed instantly.

Siya turned, walked straight up to the man, and slapped him—hard.

The sound echoed.

Everyone around them turned to look.

The assistant and his guard stared at Siya for a second, realization dawning on his face.

So this is mam… He had heard about her before.

The man froze, staring at Siya.

“What did you think you were doing?” Siya snapped.

Aarav turned toward her and paused, momentarily stunned.

“How dare you even go near her?” Siya continued, her voice steady but fierce.

“We girls are not weak. Now—are you leaving, or do you want more?”

The man didn’t wait for another word. He turned and hurried away.

Siya walked back to Paakhi and held her hand.

“It’s okay,” siya said softly.

Aarav handed the shopping bags to his assistant and walked toward them.

“What happened?” he asked Paakhi.

“Nothing,” Siya replied calmly. “I slapped him.”

She then turned to Paakhi with a small smile.

“Come, let’s go to the next shop. Okay?”

Paakhi smiled, nodded, and let Siya pull her along.

As they walked away, the assistant leaned closer to Aarav.

“Sir… mam is very brave.”

Aarav looked at Siya—walking ahead confidently, holding Paakhi’s hand.

A quiet smile curved his lips.