Vairagya came outside and saw Sarangi setting the table with Shanti ji. Both were laughing over something. Vairagya smiled and walked over to them, but as soon as Sarangi saw him, she walked off into the kitchen.
Shanti ji looked at Vairagya, and he nodded before following Sarangi into the kitchen.
"Love, are you angry...?" Vairagya asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Sarangi pushed him away and tried to leave, but Vairagya pulled her back by the waist.
"What is this... Let me go," Sarangi said with irritation.
"Not letting you go... You're my wife, I have full rights over you..." Vairagya said lovingly.
"Oh really? And what about my rights...?" Sarangi asked, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
"Of course, sweetheart. You have full rights over me too..." Vairagya replied with a smile.
"Is that so? Then why are you distributing my rights among all the girls in town...?" Sarangi said with a hint of complaint.
"Oh my jealous wife... You didn't even look at the post properly. How is that my fault? That post is on a private account — only you and family can see it..." Vairagya laughed.
"What...!" Sarangi's mouth hung open. She realized her mistake.
"If you don't believe me, check it yourself..." Vairagya said, handing her his phone.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you...?" Sarangi said, pouting.
Vairagya kissed her cheek and said, "Of course! If you act like this, revenge is only fair."
"You'll take revenge on your wife...?" Sarangi asked in surprise.
"Absolutely! Vairagya Rajvansh spares no one — not even his own personal wife..." Vairagya said mischievously.
"You're... you're so bad!" Sarangi said in mock anger.
"I know, sweetheart..." Vairagya rubbed his cheek against hers.
"What are you doing? Your beard is poking me..." Sarangi said, pushing him away.
"Oh really..." Vairagya said and deliberately started rubbing his beard against her neck from behind while hugging her.
"Mr. Rajvansh...!" Sarangi said, squirming.
"You'll call me Vairagya... Only Vairagya, got it?" he said with playful insistence.
Just then, Karnika shouted from outside —"Sorry for disturbing, Bhai and Bhabhi, but it's dinner time... You can continue the romance after dinner..."
Vairagya grabbed Sarangi's hand and walked out.
Sarangi was burning with embarrassment, her face red like a tomato. But Vairagya didn't care one bit. He calmly scrolled through his phone, as if nothing had happened, even under everyone's amused glances.
After dinner, Karnika and Shanti ji took turns teasing Sarangi.
"Ohhh Bhabhi, what magic have you done in just a month... Bhai is totally crazy about you now..." Karnika said with a smile.
"Yes, I can't believe this is the same son of mine who used to run a hundred miles away from girls... Now look, he spends his whole day trailing behind his wife..." Shanti ji added, teasing Vairagya.
"Maa, now you too..." Sarangi said, blushing hard.
"Oh come on dear, what's there to be shy about... I'm happy — soon I'll have a grandchild... I'll become a grandma..." Shanti ji laughed.
"And I'll become a bua (aunt)... I can't wait for my little nephew or niece..." Karnika said excitedly.
Sarangi ran off, embarrassed. Vairagya was sitting in the living room. Rajveer was studying, and Vairagya was helping him since he couldn't study much during the day due to school and activities. Vairagya often helped him at night.
"Bhai, you never helped me..." Karnika complained.
"Me neither..."Rudraksh raised his hand. He had also brought his books and was sitting with them.
"Well, for that you two would actually have to study... Now when you don't even open a book, who am I supposed to teach?" Vairagya teased.
Karnika pouted, "I thought you'd become sweet after Bhabhi came... But you're still a grump..."
Vairagya ignored both and continued helping Rajveer.
Rudraksh sat beside Rajveer and looked at Vairagya with hopeful eyes.
Vairagya shook his head and asked for his book. Rudraksh gleamed with joy and handed it over.
Vairagya started explaining a topic, but soon the "ball went over the boundary" — meaning Rudraksh fell asleep right there at the table. Vairagya facepalmed.
"Bhai, my book—" Karnika began, but Vairagya cut her off with a glare, "If you fall asleep like him, I'll make you sit on ice the whole night while studying..."
Karnika bolted from the room.
Rajveer closed his book, lifted the sleeping Rudraksh, and took him to the room. He used to sleep in the guest room, but since it was on the far side of the house and he hated being alone, Vairagya had shifted him into Rudraksh's room. Rudraksh didn't mind — he had a new partner-in-crime now.
Vairagya returned to the bedroom, but Sarangi had already fallen asleep. He took a pillow and lay down on the sofa. No matter how normal things had gotten between them, Vairagya didn't want to make Sarangi uncomfortable, so he still slept on the couch.
Meanwhile, Shikha was still at Ajit's place, where Ajit and a few of his friends had physically abused her. To put it bluntly, she had been raped. She was unconscious.
She had told Sarangi she would be staying at a friend's place, so no one had checked in on her.
"Damn bro, she was such a treat... seriously had a blast," one of Ajit's friends said.
Ajit laughed shamelessly, "Wait till you meet the real prize... She got away this time, but this Sonchidiya will bring her in...," he laughed wickedly.
The next morning, Shikha woke up with her entire body aching. She had been drugged and couldn't fight back. But now she was regaining some clarity.
Seeing her condition, she broke down in tears. Just then, Ajit walked in. Seeing him, Shikha screamed:
"You... you bastard dog! I helped you and you did this to me...!"
"What did I do? You came to me yourself... Don't you remember the night of my sangeet? You were in my arms... When you send out an invite like that, the hunter doesn't back away... Now what's with the drama? You wanted it too..." Ajit said shamelessly.
"Shut up... You bloody— You raped me with your friends and now you're blaming me? How cheap can you be... I only wanted to keep Sarangi away from you — not sell myself... I'll go to the police! You and your friends—" she couldn't finish her sentence.
"Go ahead... but first, watch this video..." he said, holding his phone out to her.
It was a video of the entire night.
Tears streamed down Shikha's face.
"Watch it... watch it properly. It's all you..." Ajit said, placing a hand on her waist. Shikha shoved him away.
"Come on now... Why act coy after a night full of pleasure?" he said as he moved toward her again. Shikha tried to resist, but Ajit overpowered her.
Rajvansh House
Savitra ji had come to the Rajvansh House. Hearing Sarangi cry yesterday had shaken her deeply, so she came immediately. Now, seeing her, the entire family was surprised.
"Oh, sister! You're here…" Shanti ji said with a smile.
"I was really missing Sarangi…" Savitra ji said while avoiding eye contact.
"And me...?" Rajveer came from behind, saying, "You only miss sister, not me…? I'm your son too, mom… then why this stepmotherly treatment?"
"Don't talk nonsense… You are my life," Savitra ji said and hugged him.
"Please have a seat, I'll call Sarangi…" Shanti ji said as she started walking upstairs.
Just then, she saw Sarangi coming down.
"Sarangi, come child… your mother is here."
"Mom…?" Sarangi was surprised and then ran downstairs.
"Mom…" Sarangi hugged her.
"Saru… how are you, dear?" Savitra ji asked, embracing her.
"I'm fine, Mom… you're here…"
Savitra ji didn't know how to talk in front of everyone. Understanding her hesitation, Shanti ji said, "Sarangi, won't you show your mother your room…? Go, I'll have tea and snacks sent to your room…"
"Yes, Mom…" Sarangi said and took Savitra ji with her.
Meanwhile, in the living room:
"Raj, dear…"
"Yes, aunty…"
"Go see if Vairagya has come out of the gym yet. Tell him his mother-in-law is here—he can do the gym later… I don't understand what this obsession is…"
"You're absolutely right, aunty… not only is he obsessed himself, but he also drags others along… every day he throws me into the gym too…" Rajveer said with a pout.
Shanti ji laughed, "I completely support your complaint."
Rajveer left to call Vairagya.
In Vairagya's room:
"My child, are you alright? Did someone say something to you…?" Savitra ji asked anxiously.
"Why would anyone say anything to me, Mom… and look, I'm perfectly fine…" Sarangi replied with a smile.
"But yesterday morning you…"
Sarangi remembered she had called Savitra ji yesterday morning. Her face fell. She had shared some things about Shikha with her.
Savitra ji started thinking, Is Shikha trying to break my daughter's marriage? But why…? Wait, could she have gotten greedy seeing the wealth of the Rajvansh family… but she always considered Saru her best friend…
"I'm sorry, Mom… you had to worry because of me…" Sarangi said softly.
"What are you saying, child… You're fine, and that's enough for me…" Savitra ji said with love.
Outside:
Rajveer was about to leave for the office when Karnika called him from behind.
"Raj, listen…"
"Yes, what is it?" Rajveer turned.
"If you're going out, can you please drop me at the college…?"
"Sorry, Karnika ji, I'm running late… I'll arrange a driver for you who will drop you…"
"No Raj… my college is on the way to brother's office…"
"I'm not going to sir's office, I'm going to Rathore Corporation today to deliver some samples… I'm really sorry, Karnika ji…"
Karnika looked disheartened. Seeing her sad, Rajveer thought for a moment and said, "Alright, fine… but please hurry up."
Karnika's face lit up. She said cheerfully, "Just two minutes, Raj…"
Rajveer nodded and checked the time on his watch. Just then, Shikha walked in from outside. Her hair was disheveled, she had covered herself with a dupatta to hide her injuries, and her eyes were swollen from crying.
Rajveer didn't have much to do with her, but out of humanity he asked, "Are you okay…?"
Shikha glanced at him, wiped her tears, and started walking inside. Rajveer held her hand and gently said, "Shikha di… what happened…?"
Shikha broke down and hugged him. At that very moment, Karnika came outside.
"Are you okay…? What happened? Is there a problem…?" Rajveer felt a little awkward with Shikha hugging him, but he could sense that she wasn't flirting today. She was genuinely in pain, and her tears on his shoulder proved it.
"I'm fine…" Shikha said, pulling away from him and quickly went inside.
Rajveer looked at Karnika and said, "Let's go…"
Karnika silently followed him.
Rajveer glanced once more toward Shikha and then sat in the driver's seat.
There was complete silence between him and Karnika during the entire drive. As they reached the college, Karnika silently got out of the car. Rajveer, deep in thought about his work, drove off without saying anything.
In Shikha's room:
Shikha collapsed on her bed, crying. So much had happened to her, and she couldn't even tell anyone—because it was the consequence of her own deeds. She had wanted to snatch everything from Sarangi, and now she herself had nothing left.
"Shikha…" Savitra ji entered her room.
Shikha quickly wiped her tears and stammered, "Yes, aunty…"
Savitra ji had come to confront her, but seeing her condition she said, "What have you done to yourself…? What happened to you…?"
"Aunty…" Shikha hugged her and started crying.
"Yes, dear… tell me what happened…"
Shikha cried for a while, then composed herself and said, "One of my friend's mom had an accident, that's why I got emotional…"
"Oh… how is she now…?"
"She's fine now…"
"Silly girl, who cries this much over something like that… come on, I'll come with you…"
"No aunty, she's fine now… I just cried after seeing her condition…" Shikha said with a fake smile.
"Alright, but remember… if something ever happens, come to me. Don't cry like this alone…"
Shikha nodded silently.