The day before the trip to Varanasi...

“Arey, Ashvika!” Vendat’s mom stood up from her chair as soon as she saw her. She hugged Ashvika tightly and kissed her on the forehead. “You came after so long, nice to see you!”

Ashvika smiled warmly at her. “Nice to see you too, Aunty!” she said.

“Come in—” Anasuya was cut off by Vedant's voice, “Mom, Dad's brother is coming home this evening.” Anasuya turned to see him; he was descending the stairs while scrolling through his phone. As he was a little distracted, he looked up and saw Ashvika and his mom. He frowned, looking at Ashvika. Ashvika grinned at him, “Hey, you're here? And with luggage?” he asked, pointing towards her bags.

“If you want to stay here, then I'm leaving because I can't risk my life around you!” Vedant added. Ashvika shook her head. “Nishi called me; she wanted to spend some time with me, so I thought why not stay at your home? We'll leave together tomorrow.” Ashvika said.

“Nishi wanted to spend some time... aapne toh badi meherbani ki.”

“Vedant!” Anasuya said, stopping him from teasing her anymore.

“Maa, jara meri pagalo ke doctor ke sath ek appointment fix kardo, isse dikhaunga,” Vedant said, earning a hit from his dad, who came from behind.

“Say sorry to her!” Dad glared at me. “Why??” Vedant's eyes widened; they're changing the party now.

“Sorry,” he said as soon as his dad showed him his hand. “Sunai nahi diya, say it again!”

Ashvika grinned. “Sorry, ma'am!” He said politely.

Ashvika, Anasuya, and Devendra started laughing. Vedant joined them too.

Vedant's gaze fell on Nisha, who was standing near the stairs, looking at them with a light smile.

Maybe she doesn't complain about being left out, but deep down, she yearns to feel love and affection from her family. But it seems like she's unlucky in love.

Vedant's smile instantly faded away as he saw her. "Mohobbat pane mai toh haar hi gaya tha, Tumhe khush rakhne mai bhi haar gaya," he thought to himself.

"Heyy Nishi!" Ashvika shouted as soon as she saw her, and ran to engulf her in a bear hug. "You came."

Nishi grinned. "You called."

Ashvika pulled her cheeks. "Hi, Aunty! Hi, Uncle," Ishaan and Svarna shouted as they entered.

“Oye, tujhe kisne bulaya?” Vedant asked Ishaan.

“Sharam kar, female ke saath hai, ghar aayi aurat ko aise bhagyega?” Ishaan replied.

“Tu aurat hai?”

“Svarna ki baat kar raha hoon,” Ishaan said, shaking his head.

“Whatever, why are you both with your luggage?” Vedant asked, as they both touched the feet of mom and dad.

“We are going to stay here, then we'll leave together,” Svarna said.

“Oh, you're not a mess like both of them, so you can stay,” Vedant said to Svarna. “Baki tum dono...” He pointed at Ishaan and Ashvika. “Mera sar khaya toh store room mai band kar dunga,” he warned.

“Aunty, uncle...” They both shouted in unison.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Hi, Aunty!” Ashvika said, as she came from the guest room to the kitchen and saw Anasuya. “Hi, did you take a power nap?” she asked.

“Yeah, I'm good now,” Anasuya replied.

Ashvika smiled, sitting on the kitchen counter, “Nishi is your daughter?” Ashvika asked. Anasuya, who was chopping vegetables, stopped mid-action, her hands frozen in surprise.

“Did Nishi tell you anything?” Anasuya asked.

Ashvika shook her head. “I didn't visit her yet. It's just... I can see you usually don't pay any attention to her,” Ashvika said.

“May I know what the real problem is?”

“She's not my blood,” Anasuya said, her voice barely above a whisper. “She's Vedant's dad's friend's daughter. They both died in a car accident, leaving Nisha as a burden on me. Vedant was only 5 when... he wasn't leaving Nisha, because he was already attached to her, like a best friend. Devandra took all responsibilities of Nisha, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that she's not my blood, and as she grew up, she'll leave us. She's not my blood, not my real daughter.”

“She was just a kid when her parents died, and she got parents like you, who needed love, nothing else. And you abandoned her because she's not your blood, but she still stayed with people like you, because for her, you guys were her parents, her home. But...”

“Acha, tell me, don't you like me, Svarna, or Ishaan?” Ashvika asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I love you all; you guys are like my own kids—” Anasuya started to say.

Ashvika cut her off, her voice firm. “But we're not your blood. How can you love us?”

Ashvika sighed, placing her hand over Anasuya's shoulder. "Ehsaas se banne hue sacche rishte, khoon ke rishton se jyada mazboot hote hai."

"You're like a mom to Nisha," Ashvika said, her voice filled with emotion. "She loves you more than you think. Don't hurt her, Aunty."

“Kya kaha, kya suna, kya kiya, kya khoya, sabka hisaab Bhagwan ke paas hai.” Ashvika added, before walking out of the kitchen, leaving Anasuya in deep thought.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Oo meri jaan...” Ishaan shouted as he entered Vedant's room and jumped onto the bed without removing his shoes.

“Remove your shoes first, Ishaan!” Vedant glared at him, not looking up from his book.

“Haan haan, ruk. Yeh kitaab fek de side mai,” Ishaan said, removing his shoes.

“By the way, your cousins were coming, where are they?”

“Yeah, they cancelled the plan after knowing I'm going on a college trip,” Vedant replied.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Vedant's POV

"Ishaan, Ashvika, come on guys, let's go!" I shouted, as they were both late to come downstairs. Svarna was standing beside me with her luggage, annoyed at her best friend's behavior.

As they both came down, I let out a breath. "Finally!" I held my bag and stepped towards Mom and Dad, touching their feet. The others did the same.

Mom showered us with blessings and told us to take care. "Mai khayal rakh lungi sabka, don't worry?"

Ashvika grinned. "Pehle dhang se chalna toh seekh lo, har waqt to girti rehti ho," I teased.

She whined, "Aunty dekho na."

"In this case, he's right, Vedant. Ika khayal rakhna," Mom said. I nodded. "Ji, khayal rakhunga."

It hadn't been 24 hours since Ashvika entered my house, and she had already broken one plate, four glasses, one bowl, and hit her knee on the table while walking.

“Bhai, have a good journey.” Nishi hugged me before going to her school. “Thank you, Nishi, and best of luck for your exam.”

She wished the others well, but didn't say anything to Mom and Dad. I didn't want to go on this trip, but Ashvika forced me to. I couldn't even imagine what would happen to Nishi in my absence.

“Nisha...” Mom called her for the first time, and that too politely. Nishi's feet froze. “Nisha...” Mom said again.

This time, Nishi turned around, her head lowered. “J-ji?”

“Wait, today's your exam, and I won't let you leave without having dahi shakar,” Mom smiled, walking toward the table and grabbing the bowl.

She raised her head to look at Mom, and then at me. “I'm sorry?” Her hands tightened over her bag straps.

Mom walked toward her and took a spoon near her lips. Nishi looked at me, and I shook my head, assuring her. Maybe Mom was bad at parenting, but she wouldn't do something bad to Nishi.

Nishi had the dahi shakar. “I'm going now, bye!” She said.

Mom stopped her. “Wait, your dad and I will drop you.” Dad smiled.

Dad never hated her; he just used to avoid her. But he never hurt her.

“Sure, I'm waiting outside for you. Come soon,” Dad said and walked out with Nishi.

“Mom, what's with this new change?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Mom smiled, looking at Ashvika.

“Aisa kya khe diya isme joh aap itni badal gayi?” I asked.

“Rishton ka sahi matlab seekha diya hai. Ehsaas shabd ka matlab aaj pata chala hai,” Mom said, adoring Ashvika.

“Ab apni maa se itne sawal na kar. Kuch nahi keh rahi, main teri Nishi ko. Itni bhi buri nahi, ab main,” she added with a smile and left.

I turned to Ashvika, who looked at me with doe eyes. A smile spread across my lips. Taking two steps ahead, I pulled her into a hug.

“Thank you so much, Ashvika. I don't know what you said, but I'll never forget what you did for me and Nishi,” I whispered near her ear.

I heard Ishaan clearing his throat. “I think Svarna, we should wait outside.”

“I think the same, Ishaan,” Svarna replied.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──