Ahem ahem!! "

Avni cleared her throat delicately, trying to draw Guru’s attention as he stood by the stove, carefully rolling parathas for her. His focus was intense, completely absorbed in the task, as if the world around him didn’t exist.

But Guru didn’t even glance her way. He seemed deaf to her presence. Avni smiled softly, feeling a quiet warmth inside, and took another paratha from the stack.

“Guru..achar hai kya?” (Do we have pickle?) she asked sweetly, her voice breaking his concentration.

His hand froze mid-air, fingers tightening around the rolling pin like a clenched fist.

“Woh sabji me namak kam hai..” (There is less salt in the dish) he muttered, his voice low but firm, betraying a sudden irritation.

His dark eyes locked onto hers, sharp and angry. “Apun tujhe jaan se mardega!!” (I will kill you!!) he threatened with a mock ferocity.

Avni’s lips curled into a playful smile, and she shook her head as if terrified, though her eyes sparkled with mischief.

Just as she reached for her tea, ready to escape the kitchen battlefield, she spotted Soori and Jai standing frozen at the doorway, their faces etched with shock and surprise.

“Tujhe or khana hai ya hogaya?” (Are you done or want to eat more?) Guru asked without noticing them.

“Ha do teen or banado-” (Yeah, make a few more) Avni started to reply, but stopped mid-sentence as Soori and Jai stepped aside to reveal a woman silently hiding behind them.

“Mehman ke liye ..” (For the guest) she said softly, and those words hit Guru like a thunderclap.

He spun around, his eyes wide with surprise and pain as he saw Amrita standing there — her presence a sudden stab in his heart.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Ammu...tu yaha-” (Ammu... you’re here-) she whispered, before fleeing without waiting for any explanation.

Without hesitation, Guru dropped his rolling pin and chased after her.

Avni took a thoughtful sip of her tea, her mind racing with questions. She glanced at Soori and Jai.

“Kon thi yeh?” (Who was she?) she asked quietly.

“Amrita didi.... humare 'Sanjay bhai ki beti hai'.” (Amrita didi... she is Sanjay Bhai’s daughter) Jai answered.

Avni repeated the name softly — Amrita — a strange weight settling in her chest.

“Bhabhi apne toh bhai ko line pe la diya...” (Sister-in-law, you’ve really put brother on track) Soori chuckled, watching the pile of parathas.

Avni looked at him with a teasing smile. “Accha? Tum dono ko bada maja aaraha hai...” (Really? You both are enjoying a lot)

“Bhabhi aap janti nahi hai, bhai ne aaj tak hume apne hatho se banake kuch nahi khilaya bas hume order marte rehte hai...” (You don’t know... brother never cooked for us himself, he only keeps ordering us around) Soori complained like a spoiled child.

Avni laughed softly. “So sad...koi nahi me tumhe apne hath ka bana khana khilaungi” (So sad... never mind, I’ll feed you food made by my own hands).

A big smile spread across Soori’s face.

“Par bhabhi apko toh khana banate aata hi nahi...isiliye toh hum log kam wali bai dhoondh rahe hai.” (But sister-in-law, you don’t know how to cook... that’s why we’re looking for a maid) Jai suddenly said, stopping Avni in her tracks.

“Mene kab kaha?” (When did I say that?) she said, exchanging amused glances with Soori and Jai.

They exchanged guilty looks and then smiled sheepishly at her victorious grin.

She turned and walked into her room, leaving them stunned.

“Bhai ko bataye kya?” (Should we tell brother?) Jai whispered nervously.

“Kya?” (What?) Soori replied, still staring at the closed door.

“Ki khana banane wali bai nahi mil rahi..” (That we are not finding any maid) Jai whispered back, and they both burst out laughing, high-fiving in secret.

Suddenly, Guru’s voice thundered from the other room, “Apun ne bola tha kam wali bai dhoodhne ko uski jagah yeh ammu ko yaha kyu leke aaye?” (I asked you to find a maid but instead of her why did you bring Ammu here?)

Avni peeked out and smiled quietly at the playful chaos as Guru hit Soori and Jai, who ducked and laughed.

“Bhai koi kamich nahi karna chahta yaha, apun ne toh bai logo se bheek tak manga!!!” (No one wants to work here, I even begged the maids!) Soori defended himself, raising his hands.

Guru stopped hitting them and sank onto the sofa with a sigh.

“Bhai aapne hume parathe nahi khilaye-” Soori said breaking the silence, but Jai quickly stomped his foot on Soori’s, silencing him.

“Das minute hai tum logo ke pass jake bartan saaf karo...” (You have ten minutes, go clean the dishes...) Guru ordered sharply.

“Bartan ? hum?” (Dishes? Us?) they both exclaimed, disbelief flooding their faces.

Guru nodded coldly, “Jab tak kaam wali bai nahi mil jati tab tak tum dono hi karoge sara kaam..” (Until we find a maid, you two will do all the work.)

“Bhai par-” Soori started again, but stopped abruptly as Guru pulled out a gun from his pocket, silencing him instantly.

“Bhai bartan kya cheez hai? Apke liye toh hum poora ghar saaf karde...”

(Only dishes? We can clean the whole house for you) Soori chuckled nervously.

“Thik hai woh bhi kardo...!!”

(Fine, do that too!!) Guru commanded, and Soori and Jai’s faces fell in complete shock.

“Jaldi!!!”

(Hurry up!!!)

Guru barked before retreating into his room, leaving them scrambling.

“Fast!!” Jai teased Soori with a playful shove.

“Parathe khane hai!!”

(We want to eat parathas!!) he groaned dramatically.

---

"So, Guru and Amrita have known each other since childhood..." Soori nodded as he watched Avni carefully emptying all of Guru’s alcohol bottles one by one.

(So Guru and Amrita know each other since childhood.)

“Bhai maar dalenge...” Jai whispered in Soori’s ear, his voice low and tense. Soori nodded in agreement, squeezing his eyes shut, feeling the weight of the situation. The sight of the empty bottles seemed to pierce him with silent pain.

“Aise kyu dar rahe ho? Daru hi hai amrit nahi!” she scoffed, her tone sharp and teasing.
(Why are you so scared? It’s just wine, not some divine nectar.

“Bhabhi, ye bottle 'Sanjay Bhai ne di hai'. Bhai unki har cheez sambhal ke rakhte hain,” Jai explained quietly, mentioning the name that immediately darkened Avni’s face with sudden anger.

(This is a gift from Sanjay Bhai. Bhai carefully preserves everything given by him.)

“Accha? Tum toh aise keh rahe ho jaise woh peeta hi na ho...”
(Oh really? You say it like he doesn’t even drink...)

“Sach hai...!!” Jai confirmed firmly.

“Kya??” Avni’s voice rose in disbelief.

“Bhai daru nahi peete, woh toh bas Sanjay Bhai ke gift mana nahi kar sakte, isiliye unhe le lete hain...”
(Bhai doesn’t drink, he just can’t refuse Sanjay Bhai’s gifts, so he accepts them...)

“Guru Bhai ki amma ko daru nahi pasand thi, toh unke marne ke baad bhai ne aaj tak daru hath bhi nahi lagayi...”
(Guru Bhai’s mother didn’t like alcohol, so after her death, Bhai hasn’t touched alcohol even once...)

Avni fell silent for a moment, the truth settling heavily within her — this was the last thing she expected to hear about Guru.

“‘Sanjay Bhai’ ka koi beta nahi hai?” she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

(Does Sanjay Bhai have no son?)

“Hai na... Sahil Bhai,” Soori replied casually.

Avni repeated the name in her mind — Sahil. The name rang a bell, striking a chord deep inside her, like a half-forgotten memory surfacing.

“Jisse apki badi behen ki shadi hone wali thi...”
(The one your elder sister was supposed to marry...)

“Kya? Par... woh toh Sanjay Bhai ka hi beta hai na?” Her confusion spilled out all at once. The question swirled in her mind, igniting a restless unease.

(What? But he is Sanjay Bhai’s own son, then why...?)

If her sister was meant to marry Sahil, Sanjay Bhai’s real son, then why was she suddenly kidnapped by Guru and ended up with him instead?

“Sahil Bhai or Sanjay Bhai ki nahi banti... Sanjay Bhai ne toh unhe ghar se nikal diya hai...” Jai’s voice carried the harsh truth.

(Sahil Bhai and Sanjay Bhai don’t get along... Sanjay Bhai even kicked him out of the house...)

“Sooriii!!!!!” Jai’s loud shout broke through, and Soori quickly excused himself, walking out of the kitchen, leaving Avni alone, absorbing the flood of new and startling information.

Why would Sanjay Bhai hate his own son? Maybe because Sahil was different. Maybe because Sahil hated all this darkness and drama just like her — and that’s why Sanjay Bhai chose Guru for his revenge, not Sahil.

Her mind raced — My father will never fix my sister’s marriage to a criminal.

Sahil.

She whispered the name with a new determination rising inside her.

I have to meet him. Only Sahil can help me escape this tangled mess.