Hriaan's driver dropped us at our destination, and Akshay called Hriaan to inform him the same. After confirming with me that I would be able to go to my home by myself, Shlok and Akshay decided to go to Vibhan's garage studio.

They both looked disoriented, and I also needed some alone time to sort out whatever remix was going on inside my brain. As I walked through the small streets, I kept wondering about the party.

If Hriaan hadn't invited me and Dhara Di hadn't fought with Mom for me, I wouldn't have been able to experience that moment with Tejas, though what I was thinking was really stupid. I checked the pendant in my purse and imagined how Tejas would react when I would return it to him.

Will he ignore me like always or will he reveal something about this pendant? He won't act aloof again, right? I just want to have a normal conversation with him at least once.

Removing sad doubts from my mind, I replayed the happy moments from the party, twirling in Jiya's dress as I skipped towards my home. I really liked the one-piece, and the mysterious sneakers were a cherry on the top.

I thank the person who gifted me these. I know there is no possibility of a stalker because who will stalk me? I don't even have anything to give as ransom.

I was prepared to receive compliments from my family, especially my father because he loved seeing me dress up like an elegant lady - he was tired of seeing me in baggy clothes.

I heard voices coming from my home, and I thought that Srishti was again watching TV on high volume, but when I opened the door, a glass came flying in my direction and hit me on the nose.

"What the fu-?!"

I bit my tongue when I noticed my father. I thought he would scold me for cursing, but he just looked at me helplessly.

That's when the mess all around the house registered in my vision, and my soul almost left when I saw our precious TV being broken. Utensils were scattered around the floor, mixed with clothes lying around, making our sweet home look like a dumpster.

"Srishti, stop crying already!" Dhara Di yelled. "This stupid girl can't even do her homework properly."

My niece hugged her grandfather and cried loudly.

"Why are you taking out your anger on that little girl?!" Mom screamed at Dhara Di.

My sister glared at Mom. "Why are you putting up an act? We don't need your fake concern."

What's going on? Don't tell me they are still fighting over me attending Hriaan's party. Why are they stretching this matter?

When Srishti cried more loudly, I felt my blood boil.

"Mom, Di, just stop. At least, don't fight in front of Srishti. You are scaring her," I scolded.

Mom scoffed. "So what? Why should I care? She is not my granddaughter!"

Excuse me?

After hearing my mother's reply, I asked my sister why they were still fighting, and I even apologized for bringing up the party's topic. If I had know the two women were going to turn our home into a war zone, I wouldn't have even imagined about going to that party.

Dhara Di ignored me and kept glaring at our mother. "Don't act so naive. This is happening all because of you!"

Mom sneered. "Really? So thinking about your children's well-being is a crime now?"

Di huffed. "Be honest, Mom. You weren't thinking about me at all. You only wanted to fulfill your own greed."

Mom moved in a flash and slapped Dhara Di across the face. My eyes widened in horror. Dad put his hand on his forehead and tried to console his granddaughter. Seeing his reaction, I understood that the situation was out of his control and this fight was going on for a long time.

I grabbed Mom and pulled her back. "Maa, don't hit Di. She is already ill. And, Di, think before speaking. Stop this quarrel instantly."

There was complete silence. Apart from my niece sobbing, no one said anything. I sighed in relief as none of the women were saying anything, but my sister was really in the mood to light up our house on fire.

"Why did you stop after just one slap?" Dhara Di cried. "Just kill me already. Isn't that what you wanted to do since the beginning?"

Mom looked at Di in accusation. "You really hate me, don't you? How can you think of me so lowly? You only love your father, and I am always the villain of course."

I opened my mouth to scold my sister, but she beat me to it

"Bhoomi, pack my bags. Srishti, come here!" Dhara Di commanded. She scolded her daughter when she refused to leave Dad.

"Calm down, Dhara," Dad said and hugged Srishti tightly.

"No, Dad, I am leaving," my sister said. "I don't want to be a burden on you anymore. Thank you for taking care of me and my daughter all these years. Srishti and I will always be in your debt."

"You are not going anywhere," I said. "Where will you go this late at night? Please stop being childish."

My sister ignored me again and started moving her upper body. Seeing her being determined about leaving, Mom started crying.

"I will leave this instant," Dhara Di said.

Mom yelled, "Where will you go when you can't even walk by yourself?"

"I will crawl," Dhara Di retorted. "You don't need to worry about us. Whether my daughter and I live or die is none of your concern."

Tears sprang up to my eyes when my sister struggled to move out of her mattress. She dragged her torso but was failing to control her lower body. Still, she used her hands to crawl on the floor and began shifting towards the door slowly.

I instantly locked the door, and my sister yelled at me to not get involved, but I refused. Dad and I pulled her back on her mattress, and while Dad held her, I went upstairs and got a rope.

I tied my sister up, and she complained that I was mistreating her.

"Curse me all you want, but this is the only solution. Both Mom and you have lost your minds," I said.

I glanced at my mother, who was crying in a corner. I warned her that if she said anything to Dhara Di, I would tie her up too. After confirming that Mom wouldn't utter a single word, I picked up my niece and squeezed her in my arms.

She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck. "Maasi (aunty), please don't throw us out. I don't want to go."

"You and your mother are not going anywhere," I told her and wiped her tears.

As expected, none of them had eaten dinner. I brought the food, and Dad and Srishti ate first. After them, I took a plate and went to my mother. She refused to eat and told me to feed her eldest daughter first.

Obeying her, I went to my sister, and she also refused and said that she won't eat unless our mother ate first.

Like this, they kept pushing the food on each other, and I sighed. I called Srishti for help. While she fed her grandmother, I fed my sister. Dhara Di only ate after Srishti fed our mother. My sister sniffled when Mom hugged Srishti and peppered her face with kisses.

Dad and I exchanged glances and smiled in relief. After dinner, I washed the utensils and changed into my pajamas. When I got back, Srishti was laughing at her mother being tied up and was busy playing in her grandmother's lap.

Dad had spread the bedsheets, so I untied my sister, who pulled my ear once her hands were set free.

"How can you treat your elder sister like this?" she asked.

I smirked. "I will take more drastic actions if you ever fight like this with Mom. What happened, Di? I know it is not just about me going to Hriaan's party. Also, Rahul told me about Srishti getting bullied at school. Why aren't you guys telling me anything nowadays?"

Dhara Di took a deep breath. "It isn't anything serious, Bhoomi. As for Srishti, she keeps getting in fights with her classmates and then makes excuses that other kids are bullying her. We elders are here to take care of such stuff, so why are you taking so much stress? Just focus on your training and studies."

"But what were you and Mom fighting over so seriously?"

My sister looked away. She started mumbling under her breath, and I understood that she wasn't comfortable saying it.

What could it be? If she won't tell me, I will ask Mom.

I left my sister to sleep and went beside my mother. I laid down beside her and poked her to give me her attention.

"Maa, what happened?" I asked.

She put Srishti to sleep and laid down herself. She widened her eyes and told me to look at the time.

"I have to go to work early morning tomorrow, so don't disturb me and let me rest. Your father also has early shift," she said and closed her eyes.

I shifted closer to her and stared at her. "Stop divulging the topic. I want to know the truth."

Mom didn't react. She kept her eyes shut, and when I poked her multiple times to stop acting, she turned her back towards me and told me to let her sleep.

I peeked my head above and looked at Dad. He had already expected my curious stare, so he shook his head in reply - he also had no clue. My poor father was stuck in the firing zone without any fault.

There were only a few hours left for the sun to rise, so I also felt it best to get some beauty sleep. I closed my eyes and instantly drifted off into dreamland. When I woke up, my father and mother were gone, and Srishti was getting ready for school by herself.

I helped her, and after sending her off to school, I also got ready and left home after checking on my sister.

After I reached Sarthak's studio, I searched for Tejas. I was informed that he was in the locker room, so I made my way towards him.

I stopped when I spotted him near his locker. I furrowed my eyebrows when I noticed a bandage wrap around his left wrist.

Did he get hurt yesterday?

I approached him. "Good morning, Tejas."

He stopped what he was doing, becoming a statue. He slowly moved his head towards me, his eyes shifting all over me.

"Thank you for saving me yesterday," I told him.

He quirked an eyebrow. "I crashed into you, Bhoomi, so why are you thanking me?"

I scratched my neck. "Well... you saved me too, so... that's why..."

"You sure you didn't get hurt anywhere?" he asked seriously, his gaze again moving all over me.

I felt my cheeks heat up. I reminded myself to not say anything stupid. I cleared my throat. "I am fine, but I am afraid you got hurt because of me."

Tejas's lips curved up a millimetre. "This," he showed his left wrist, "is not because of what happened yesterday, so you don't need to worry unnecessarily."

Oh, I am glad to hear that, though I don't like seeing him injured.

I kept staring at him, and he titled his head. "Anything else?" he asked.

I gulped, realising that I was again going back to my stupid era. I speedily took out the pendant from my pockets and forwarded it towards him.

"You dropped it yesterday," I said.

Tejas moved his hand to take the pendant, his fingers brushing my palm as he picked up the metal accessory. Feeling my senses reacting way too much to his contact, I retracted my hand in a flash.

Tejas shot me a curious glance and checked the pendant. "Thank you for returning this."

I nodded. As I was done with my quota of words I had to say to him, I decided to leave. Just as I moved my feet, Tejas stopped me.

"You chose Robotics?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

Please don't mention my pathetic drawings. I will dig a hole and hide in it if he does so.

"You like taking risks, don't you?" He smirked.

"I guess so....?" I answered as I doubted if he was just talking about our upcoming evaluations or something else too. Still, I liked how we were finally having a normal conversation.

Tejas kept looking at me, and after what felt like an eternity, he opened his mouth to say something, but his phone rang up. He sighed and took out his phone from his bag.

Automatically, my eyes landed on his mobile screen - Ayzere's caller ID flashed on it.

I was confused as Tejas let the phone ring and only picked up the call before it got hung up. He rubbed his temples, and his voice was very low while talking on the phone. After standing there for a good three minutes, I realised that I was eavesdropping.

I saw if Tejas was paying attention or not, and when I confirmed that he was busy on the call, I turned around and began walking towards my practice room.

I heard footsteps behind me, and they kept getting louder. Soon, Tejas appeared beside me and tapped my right shoulder.

"Take it with water twice a day," he said and dropped a box of energy booster powder in my hands.

Wait a minute... Why is he giving me this?

"Tejas, why are you giving me-" I began asking, but Tejas vanished from my sight within a second.

How is he so fast?

I glanced at the box in my hands. Did Tejas just give me a gift? But why?

Because he pities you, Bhoomi. I am sure he also thinks you are very weak for your age. He must have noticed how slow and unhealthy you are, so he decided to do some charity. Are you seeing him helping someone for the first time?

I don't like what you are saying.

But it is the truth. Accept it or leave it.

Fine. I guess I got another thing to thank Tejas for. He is like that only; always confusing me with his actions. I know what he did is something he does regularly, but seeing him act so nice makes my insides bubble up in happiness. I guess he is no longer annoyed by my presence, right?