AUTHOR'S POV

Saniya lay on the bed, scrolling through her phone, completely absorbed.

Kartik, freshly out of the shower, watched her with growing irritation.

"Saniyaaaa..." he dragged her name.

No response.

He tried again.

Nothing.

Finally - he marched to her, snatched the phone right out of her hands.

"What's so interesting that it's more important than your own husband?"

Saniya gasped, snatching it back instantly.

"Shhh! Why are you disturbing me?!"

Kartik, now suspicious, leaned over her shoulder and peeked.

His eyebrows shot up.

"Why are you... stalking Akshara?"

Saniya glared.

"I am NOT stalking her.

I'm trying to understand her."

She shoved the phone into his face.

"SEE. She accepted my follow request."

Kartik blinked.

"She... followed you back?"

"Yes," Saniya said proudly.

"And look - look how lovely she looks here. So happy. So normal."

The picture was of Akshara smiling with Aarohi and Tanishka, sunlight hitting her hair, pure joy on her face.

Saniya whispered:

"Then why is she like... that... in the mansion?"

Kartik shrugged.

"So what do you expect?

That she'll accept this family?

How can she? She's grown up. We're strangers to her. It's nearly impossible."

Saniya put her phone aside, expression thoughtful.

"Still... something is off."

Kartik frowned.

"What do you mean?"

She suddenly became serious.

"Kartik, honestly... Akshara is FAR better than Riyanshi."

Kartik whipped his head toward her, offended.

"Don't say that about my sister."

Saniya rolled her eyes.

"Yeah yeah, I know you love her.

But you ALSO know the truth.

You all spoiled her so much she doesn't even know what's right or wrong anymore."

Kartik sighed, rubbing his neck.

"You're right... but I can't say anything to her.

She's our only little sister.

We love her too much.

After what Bade Papa's daughter did-"

Saniya sat up.

"Wait - Bade Papa's daughter?

What do you mean?"

Kartik stiffened.

"You know he has two daughters.

Riyanshi... and the other one."

He didn't continue.

Saniya leaned closer.

"And what did SHE do?"

Kartik's jaw tightened.

"Let's not remember her, Saniya.

It's past.

Dark past."

Saniya didn't move.

"You're all hiding something.

Tell me the truth."

Kartik exhaled deeply.

"When she went away from our lives,

Riyanshi was the only one left.

And we did everything to protect her."

Saniya shook her head.

"She was also your sister, Kartik."

He stared at her.

"What she did was...

really unforgivable."

Saniya raised an eyebrow.

"Or were you all just blind to see the truth?"

Kartik snapped,

"No, Saniya. We saw it with our own eyes.

She was at fault."

His voice dropped.

"And let's not talk about her.

She's not even alive now."

Saniya froze.

"What?"

Kartik nodded, expression dull.

"Yeah. Bade Papa left her at some orphanage...

and after a few months...

we got the news..."

He swallowed.

"That she died.

In a fire accident."

Saniya's heartbeat skipped.

Her mind raced.

Her eyes widened with horror.

And a cold shiver ran down her spine when the truth clicked silently in her heart-

Something about that story didn't sound right.

Not at all.

Kartik and Saniya were still staring at each other, the weight of what he'd said hanging thick in the air...

Suddenly-

LOUD SHRIEKING AND LAUGHTER

echoed through the corridor.

Both snapped out of the tense moment.

Saniya blinked.

"What is that...?"

Kartik groaned.

"Oh no."

More squeals. More giggles.

A high-pitched voice shouting:

"OH MY GOD YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED-!"

Kartik facepalmed.

"Yep.

She's back."

They rushed out of the room.

The moment they stepped into the living room, they saw it:

Riyanshi Maheshwari

lying full Bollywood style across the couch,

shoes kicked off, hair flicked dramatically,

a dozen servants and practically the whole family

SURROUNDING her.

She looked like she had returned from winning the Nobel Prize...

not just attending the FIRST DAY of college.

Shailaja was sitting beside her, stroking her hair.

Karishma was holding her handbag like it was gold.

Apoorva brought her juice.

Staff stood with extra tissues.

Saniya raised an eyebrow at how much attention she was getting.

Ekansh was bent forward.

"Baccha, how was your day? Tell us!"

Samarth sat on the armrest, grinning.

"Who troubled you? Tell me, I'll handle them."

Shourya stood like a proud elder brother.

"I hope no one bothered you, Riya?"

Even Raghvendra and Aaditya were smiling warmly.

Aaditya looked relaxed for the first time that day.

And Riyanshi...

...was LOVING every second of it.

She flipped her hair.

Placed a hand on her heart.

And announced dramatically:

"College.

Was.

AMAZING."

Everyone gasped like she delivered a plot twist.

"What happened, beta?" Shailaja asked.

Riyanshi grinned smugly.

"Oh Dadi, you won't BELIEVE-

Everyone wanted to be MY friend.

They were literally FOLLOWING me."

Samarth beamed.

"Of course! You're a Maheshwari!"

Riyanshi continued, milking the moment:

"All girls were dying to sit with me, walk with me, show me their classes..."

Karishma chuckled.

"That's nice, Riya."

"Nice?" Riya scoffed.

"It was ICONIC. People were actually impressed with my dress."

Kartik muttered under his breath,

"Of course... the dress..."

Saniya elbowed him.

"Shh. Let her perform."

Riyanshi didn't stop.

"And you know what I loved MOST?"

Everyone leaned in.

She smirked.

"Akshara wasn't there.

So I OWNED the whole college."

The room filled with supportive nods.

"Good, good!"

"She needed this confidence."

"She should've gone earlier!"

"Akshara is too serious... Riya should enjoy!"

Riyanshi basked in the admiration.

Inside her head, a crown was already placed.

"Let her come," she thought triumphantly.

"I've already built MY team.

I'll show her who the REAL queen is."

And while the Maheshwari mansion celebrated their princess's "victory"...

None of them knew-

the real queen wasn't even on the battlefield yet.

Evening sunlight bathed the Maheshwari garden in a soft golden glow.

Little Paridhi was giggling as she ran around with her tiny ball, her laughter like bells.

The four daughters-in-law -

Pakhi, Bhavika, Gauri, and Saniya-

walked behind her slowly, each lost in her own thoughts.

For the first time that day... they didn't speak.

The air was heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Confusing.

Finally, Pakhi broke the silence.

Her voice was soft but firm.

"You all know about the younger daughter of this family... right?"

The girls stopped walking.

Bhavika exhaled.

"Yes. After what Akshara said that day... we understood there's something hidden."

Gauri nodded.

"Exactly. No one told us anything. No hints, no discussions.

We found out only when Aaditya Uncle reacted so strangely."

Saniya crossed her arms.

"And when Kartik slipped it out accidentally today."

Pakhi looked at all of them.

"But what exactly did she do...

that this family erased her entire existence?"

Silence.

Bhavika's eyes softened.

"That's the part that bothers me.

A child... being treated like she never existed."

Gauri added quietly,

"And the way the elders looked that day...

It wasn't anger, Didi.

It was fear.

Fear of truth."

Pakhi sighed deeply, eyes following little Paridhi.

"I don't want such a thing happening ever again. Not with my daughter.

No matter what mistake she makes... she is still a child."

Saniya shook her head.

"It's of no use thinking about it now, bhabhi.

Kartik told me today...

she isn't alive anymore."

Pakhi looked at her sharply.

"What?"

Saniya nodded slowly.

"He said she died in a fire accident.

Years ago."

The wind stilled for a second.

Gauri whispered,

"That sounds... strange."

Bhavika frowned.

"And too convenient."

Pakhi looked utterly disturbed.

"This family... removes a child from their lives, hides her, hates her...

and then suddenly she's just... dead?"

No one replied.

Paridhi giggled again as she ran toward Pakhi, hugging her legs.

Pakhi held her daughter tightly, voice trembling.

Whatever happened back then...

Something was terribly wrong.

And each one of them felt it.

Even if no one dared to speak the truth aloud.

Little Paridhi was now busy making a tiny "mud castle," humming happily.

But her mother and aunt's...

stood together under the dimming sky, burdened with a truth heavier than they expected.

Pakhi took a deep breath.

"What if we... try to find out what actually happened?"

Bhavika looked at her sharply.

Saniya froze.

Gauri blinked.

Pakhi continued, voice low:

"I already tried asking Shourya.

He shut down immediately.

Didn't reveal anything.

Only said - 'don't bring her up again.'"

The other three exchanged uneasy looks.

Saniya stepped closer.

"I tried today bhabhi.

Kartik didn't even SAY her name.

He just avoided the topic completely."

Bhavika nodded slowly.

"It's like... they're scared of the truth."

Her tone was soft but certain.

Gauri and Saniya exchanged a glance.

Gauri finally said,

"We will also try, didi.

Maybe from Samarth.

Or from Ekansh."

Saniya exhaled.

"What if they all react the same way?"

Pakhi's eyes hardened.

"Then that means they're hiding something much bigger than they admit."

Bhavika spoke up, voice filled with quiet resolve:

"Even if she's not alive...

even if she passed away years ago...

at least we can give her justice."

Gauri nodded.

"Yes.

We should know what they did to her."

Saniya added, arms crossed:

"And why the entire Maheshwari family acts like she never existed."

Pakhi looked at each one of them -

her eyes softening with both pain and determination.

"Then we're all together in this?"

All three nodded without hesitation.

Bhavika placed her hand in the center.

"For truth."

Gauri added hers.

"For justice."

Saniya placed hers next.

"For the girl they erased."

Pakhi placed her hand last.

"For my daughter too.

Because I will NEVER let history repeat itself."

Little Paridhi looked up, smiling innocently.

"Momma... what are you doing?"

Pakhi bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Nothing, baby.

Just... protecting you."

The four women stood tall.

And unknowingly-

They had just taken the FIRST step

towards uncovering the truth the Maheshwari family had buried...

And towards bringing back justice

for the girl who was never meant to be forgotten.

Akshara Aaditya Maheshwari.

The giant Udaipur Central Mall was buzzing with music, flashing lights, and weekend rush.

But in the center of it all, causing pure chaos, were three girls:

Akshara, Aarohi, and Tanishka.

Aarohi and Tanishka had practically dragged Akshara inside the moment their car stopped.

"We are selecting our dresses for the dance competition."

Aarohi announced like a general entering war.

Akshara sighed.

"Aaru... Tanu... you two aren't even dancing."

Tanishka gasped dramatically.

"RUDE. We emotionally dance with you."

Aarohi nodded vigorously.

"And emotionally we need new clothes."

Akshara blinked.

"...That makes zero sense."

They ignored her.

Tanishka grabbed Akshara's wrist.

"Come on, we'll buy one for you."

Aarohi added,

"And at least two for us."

Tanishka snapped back,

"Two? Are you poor? At least FOUR!"

Aarohi glared.

"Four? For what? We don't have THAT many events!"

"Yes we do."

"No we don't."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No-"

Akshara rubbed her forehead.

"You two sound like toddlers."

They turned together.

"WE KNOW."

Both yelled in unison.

And went right back to arguing.

Akshara sighed again, walking beside them as they bickered through the mall.

Tanishka held up a glittery dress.

"Look! This is so sexy!"

Aarohi snatched it.

"No! Too shiny! She'll look like disco-ball Barbie."

Tanishka snatched it back.

"And what's wrong with that?!"

Aarohi pulled another dress.

"This one is elegant!"

Tanishka scoffed.

"Elegant? She's dancing, not attending Parliament."

Akshara finally spoke, tired.

"Guys... take whatever you want, I will pay."

Both girls froze.

Then gave each other slow, evil smiles.

Tanishka whispered,

"Did you hear that?"

Aarohi whispered back,

"I think I did."

Tanu grinned.

"Aleast 7 dresses."

"Eight," Aarohi corrected.

"Ten."

"Twelve-"

"Enough."

Akshara cut in, voice flat.

They stopped mid-argument.

She looked at them calmly.

"My designer has already designed outfits for us.

Customized.

Perfectly fitted.

Ready two days before competition."

Aarohi & Tanishka:

"...."

"...."

Then they burst out laughing.

"OHHHH LOOK AT HER BEING ALL PREPARED!"

Aarohi clapped dramatically.

"Miss I-Plan-Everything!"

Tanishka teased.

Akshara rolled her eyes, but a tiny smile escaped.

"Let's go eat something if you two are done making noise."

Aarohi hooked her arm with Akshara's.

"We might be dramatic-"

Tanishka hooked her other arm.

"-but at least we make your life less boring."

Akshara shook her head, smiling softly.

"Yes.

You both make my life a circus."

Aarohi flipped her hair.

"You're welcome."

And the three walked off toward the food court-

laughing, teasing, shoving each other

like the chaotic trio they were.

Far away from the Maheshwari mansion...

where jealousy, manipulation, and secrets brewed like poison.

Here?

Akshara felt something she didn't get often.

Peace.

And real happiness.

To be Continued....