By the time Drishti got dressed and reached the formal dining hall, Tej and Shravan had already started having their tea.Shravan looked up at Drishti and then glanced at his grandfather.In his own time, Tej Maheshwari lifted his gaze and glared at Drishti."Sit down." The old man radiated control and authority, and Drishti stood rigid for a moment, feeling like a schoolgirl called to the headmaster’s office.Seeing that she had made no movement, Tej Maheshwari repeated his order."Sit down."Cowed by his icy tone, Drishti plopped onto the chair. Without thinking, she toed off her shoes and crossed her legs under her, so that she was balanced on the seat."You need to learn to—" He broke off as he saw the way she was sitting. "What are you doing?""Sitting. You told me to sit. I sat.""I told you to sit, not take your shoes off." Tension throbbed beneath the surface of his rigidly controlled frame, and Drishti wondered what it took to make the old man relax."My feet hurt. That’s par

"Come, come. Sit here," Anuradha said as soon as her son and daughter-in-law arrived."Mom, what is it?" Shravan asked.Anuradha Maheswari brought a large antique box out of the cupboard and placed it on the bed."These are the family jewels. They have been passed down for generations. My mother-in-law gave them to me when I first came here. Now they are for you," Anuradha said."Woah," Drishti exclaimed, seeing the antique pieces in the box."You like them?" Anuradha asked."Yes, they are all beautiful, aunty," Drishti said, not wanting to hurt her mother-in-law. Admittedly, the jewels are all beautiful, but they are too heavy, and Drishti is not a fan of heavy jewels."I know, but they are not easy to wear. They are so heavy. They have been passed down to the younger generations, so you can keep them and pass them on to your children in the future," Anuradha said with a smile."I'm very careless, aunty. I think it would be safer with you. I can get them whenever I want them," Drisht

Shravan saw his brother's smile slowly fade as his eyes focused on Drishti."D? Is that you?""Sharan?" Drishti had gone pale, seeing Sharan walking towards them."You two know each other?" Shravan asked in confusion."Damn it. This is a joke, right?" Sharan asked, staring at Drishti."Sharan? What's wrong?" Shravan asked, looking at his brother, who had also gone pale."D. Tell me this is a prank," Sharan asked, moving closer to the fountain."Sharan. I told you I'm married. You didn't believe me," Drishti said, having nothing else to say."What the hell is going on?" Shravan asked."Damn it. Mom told me you were married to some Drishti Malhotra. I actually found it funny that both her daughters-in-law would be named Drishti. I didn't realise you got married to the woman I love," Sharan said, looking at his brother.Drishti paled, thinking of the chaos that would follow. Tej Maheswari would definitely kick her out this time.Last time, she wouldn't have minded. But now, the thought o

The atmosphere during breakfast was tense.Drishti was sitting between Shravan and Siddhu, with Sharan sitting directly opposite her."I mean, how? How do you always manage to do this?" Siddhu whispered to Drishti."Do what?" she replied."Get into trouble! You are married to Sharan's elder brother. Who would have thought?" Siddhu said, still reeling from the shock."It's all your fault. How can you not know your brother's best friend's brother? Useless," Drishti complained."Of course. I should have known that the blame would land on my head in the end," Siddhu said, rolling his eyes.Tej Maheswari cleared his throat and glared at the duo.They both pasted fake smiles on their faces and continued with breakfast."Sharan, how was your journey?" Tej asked his younger grandson."It was okay, dadu," Sharan said gloomily.Shravan sighed, seeing the fallen face of his brother.He could see that his brother was hurting, but there was nothing anybody could do about it."Sharan, have one more

Shravan had almost fallen asleep when he heard the incessant knock on their bedroom door.The knocks grew more urgent with time, and Shravan hurried towards the door, waking Drishti in the process.He opened the door to find his mother, who looked worried as hell."Mom? What happened? Why do you look panicked?" Shravan asked."Sharan...""Where is he? What happened?" Shravan asked."I don't know. He went out in the morning. He is not back yet. I tried his phone many times. He isn't picking up. He told me he was going out to meet his friends here. I called them up, and they had no idea that Sharan is even back. I am getting worried, Shravan." Anuradha Maheswari was on the verge of crying."Mom, relax. I will bring him home. He might be somewhere around," Shravan said, trying to console his mother.A guilty Drishti stood behind him, not knowing what to do."Drishti, please take Mom to her room. I will go look for Sharan," Shravan turned around to look at Drishti."Yeah, sure." Drishti a