It had been a week since Suman and Amay's wedding, and life in the Shekhawat mansion had settled into a peaceful rhythm.
Suman had decided to resumed her job as a primary school teacher, but her decision to go back to work had initially filled her with doubt.
She wasn't sure if her new in-laws, being an influential family, would approve of her working, especially as a school teacher.
Her confusion led her to reach out to her best friend, Namita.
"Namu," Suman spoke quietly into the phone, "I don't know if I should ask them about continuing my job. I mean, I'm their daughter-in-law now, and they might expect something different..."
Namita listened patiently, then responded in her usual confident tone, "Sumi, I know you and Amay jiju don't share a traditional bond right now, but from what I've seen and heard about him and his parents, I don't think they'd stop you. Trust me, they seem reasonable. Instead of overthinking, just talk to Amay jiju about it."
Suman thought about Namita's words.
She knew her friend was right.
Although she hadn't been warm toward Amay, he had never argued with her.
Even when she was rude or indifferent, he made her feel comfortable, never pressuring her for anything.
He hadn't even shared the same room with her since their marriage, despite it being his own room.
This quiet respect and his gentle distance touched her.
She wanted to apologize for her coldness and finally sleep in their room, sharing the space, if not yet the full bond of marriage.
That evening, as Amay entered the room, he was surprised to see Suman sitting there, waiting for him.
Even more surprising, she smiled at him-a genuine, soft smile.
It was so unusual that he froze in place, staring in disbelief.
Suman walked up to him and waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Good evening," she said, still smiling.
"Go...good evening," Amay stammered, feeling flustered.
He mentally scolded himself, Why am I stuttering?
Suman cleared her throat. "I need to talk to you."
Amay's heart skipped a beat.
His mind immediately jumped to the worst scenario: Is she going to ask for a divorce?
A pang of sadness hit him, but he forced himself to listen.
"Can I resume my job?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of uncertainty.
Her fingers fidgeted nervously, and Amay found it endearing.
He suppressed a smile and called her name gently, "Suman."
The way he said her name made her heart flutter.
She felt something strange, like butterflies in her stomach, and for the first time, she wished to hear him say her name more often.
"You don't need my permission for that," he said, his tone soft but sincere. "In fact, I wanted to ask you earlier if you were planning to go back to work."
Suman blinked in surprise, his easy acceptance catching her off guard. "You... you don't have a problem with it?"
Amay chuckled. "Why would I? Actually, it's a good thing you're working. If the business ever goes downhill, at least I'll have someone to rely on for finances." He winked and teased, "I hope you'll take care of my expenses too."
Suman laughed, much to her own surprise.
It was the first time they had shared such a light-hearted moment, and Amay was mesmerized by her laugh.
It lit up her face, and he found himself captivated by her in a way he hadn't allowed himself to be before.
Suman, too, felt touched by his supportive and comforting words.
Despite the fact that she hadn't reciprocated the traditional husband-wife bond, he had always made her feel at home.
"Alright, I'll freshen up, and you go down for dinner," Amay said, moving toward the bathroom.
But just before he opened the door, he stopped when he heard her soft voice again.
"I'll wait for you," Suman said, "Let's go together."
Amay smiled, feeling a warmth he hadn't expected.
It was a small gesture, but it felt significant-a first step toward something more.
For the first time since their marriage, they were doing something together, and though it was a simple act, it made Amay feel hopeful.
He nodded, his smile growing, and disappeared into the bathroom.
Suman waited, feeling a quiet sense of peace settle over her.
Maybe things between them weren't so bad after all.
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The Agrawal house was eerily quiet, except for the soft clinking of silverware against plates.
Tina sat at the dining table, stabbing at her food, her frustration evident in every motion. Her mood was already sour-she had been craving her favorite non-vegetarian dishes, but in this house, the strict vegetarian rules made her feel suffocated.
She glanced at Ayush, who sat across from her, eating in silence, not even sparing her a glance.
Aarushi ate quietly as well, her eyes flickering between her mother Meena and Tina, aware of the tension.
Meena, Ayush's mother, ate her food with her usual stoicism, pretending not to notice the growing storm between her son and daughter-in-law.
Bhupendra, Ayush's father, was not at home-likely at the office, which left the atmosphere even colder.
Tina's mind was elsewhere, seething with resentment.
She had been here for months now, and still, Ayush barely acknowledged her presence.
Tonight, her frustration boiled over.
After dinner, she followed Ayush upstairs, determined to confront him.
When Ayush entered his room, he found Tina standing in the middle, her arms crossed, waiting for him.
He ignored her and headed straight to the cupboard to grab his file.
But Tina wasn't going to let him brush her off this time.
"Till when will you keep avoiding me?" she demanded, her voice sharp, anger bubbling just beneath the surface.
Ayush said nothing, acting as though she didn't exist, and that only infuriated her more.
She marched up to him, grabbed his shoulder, and forcefully turned him around to face her.
"I asked you something, Ayush!" she yelled, her voice cracking from a mix of frustration and hurt.
Ayush jerked her hand off him and stepped back, his eyes cold and distant. "Don't you dare touch me," he said through gritted teeth.
"Why?" Tina shot back, tears of rage in her eyes. "I am your wife!"
He let out a bitter laugh, devoid of any warmth. "You're not my wife. This-whatever this is-is just a compromise. That's all."
Tina's chest tightened. "You still love her, don't you?" she asked, her voice breaking as the truth she had dreaded for so long came crashing down.
Ayush met her gaze, unflinching. "Yes."
Tears welled in Tina's eyes, her heart breaking. "What does she have that I don't? Why can't you see me?" she whispered, her voice now desperate.
Ayush replied coldly. "You'll never be my Suman."
Tina's hands trembled, and her frustration turned into fury. "For God's sake, Ayush, get over her! She's married now!"
"I know," Ayush said, his voice low and deadly calm. "But I also know that she's not happy in that marriage. Just like I'm not happy in this one."
Tina's breath caught, and she stared at him in shock as he continued, his voice growing harder. "I promise you, Tina, the day I expose your father's dirty deals, I will personally drop you back at your house. And after that, I'll bring my Suman home."
With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Tina standing there, her heart shattered and her anger burning hotter than ever.
Tears streamed down her face as she clenched her fists.
The hatred she already harbored for Suman now burned brighter, turning into pure obsession.
"I swear, Ayush, I'll get rid of that Suman," Tina muttered, her voice dripping with venom. "She will not stand between us. You're mine. Only mine."
Her words echoed in the empty room, her obsession consuming her mind, dragging her deeper into madness.
In her twisted resolve, Tina was willing to do anything-no matter the cost-to make sure Suman was out of the picture.
Meanwhile, Ayush made his way up to the terrace, the cool night air doing little to calm his racing thoughts.
His fingers fumbled as he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it to ease his frustration.
Each puff felt like a temporary release, a way to drown out the chaos in his mind.
He thought of Suman, the one he truly loved, and how everything had spiraled out of control.
She was married now-to Amay Shekhawat, of all people.
The news had hit him like a punch to the gut.
He hadn't expected her to move on so quickly, but who was he to blame her?
He had betrayed her first, marrying Tina under pressure.
Now, he was trapped in a loveless marriage, and his frustration grew with every passing day.
Blowing out a thick cloud of smoke, he muttered to himself, "Amay Shekhawat... Suman is mine. She's always been mine, and I'll take her back from you."
He crushed the cigarette under his foot, his mind made up.
No matter what it took, he was going to reclaim what he had lost.
And with that, he turned back toward the house, his determination set in stone.
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Amay was seated at his desk, engrossed in work, his mind half-distracted by thoughts he couldn't shake off.
The quiet of the office was suddenly broken when the door to his cabin burst open, and without even looking up, he knew who had barged in.
There was only one person in his life with the audacity to do that-his best friend, Digvijay Singh Ranawat.
Amay's jaw clenched when he saw that familiar smirk plastered on Digvijay's face.
The urge to punch it off was strong, but he controlled himself, exhaling sharply.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Amay snapped, his voice cold.
Digvijay, completely unfazed, plopped down in the chair across from him, crossing his legs lazily. "Hello to you too, newly married man."
Amay rolled his eyes, already regretting not locking his door. "If you've got something important to say, then bark. If not, fuck off."
Clicking his tongue, Digvijay leaned back, arms crossed behind his head. "Oh ho, itna gussa kyun kar raha hai? Kya bhabhi ne kiss karne se mana kar diya?"
"Shut up, Digvijay." Amay's voice was low, dangerous.
Digvijay just laughed, clearly enjoying himself. "Okay, fine. Tell me, why are you so pissed off? What happened?"
Amay let out a frustrated sigh and leaned back in his chair. "Ayush Agrawal is on his way to meet me. We have an upcoming project together."
Digvijay raised an eyebrow, his amusement turning to mild curiosity. "So what? Since when do you start losing your mind over business meetings?"
"You're not getting it," Amay said, running a hand through his hair. "Ayush is the guy Suman was supposed to marry before he ditched her at the last moment and married Tina Rao."
Digvijay's eyes widened slightly. "Wait... you mean Bhadresh Rao's daughter?"
Amay nodded grimly, and Digvijay whistled under his breath. "Fuck, man. That father-daughter duo are like a bad headache-dangerous and irritating. What the hell was Ayush thinking getting involved with them?"
Amay shrugged. "No idea. But that's not what's bothering me."
Digvijay narrowed his eyes, now sensing there was more to the story. "Alright, tell me the real reason for your distress. There's more to this, isn't there?"
Amay sighed heavily, leaning forward and rubbing his temples. "Suman's heart... it's still with Ayush. And now, I don't know if working with him is the right thing to do."
Digvijay sat quietly for a moment before asking, "You love Suman, don't you?"
Amay chuckled bitterly, his eyes clouded with sadness. "It doesn't matter. She doesn't reciprocate my feelings. Hell, she doesn't even see me as her husband. Love? That's too far of a dream."
Digvijay's heart sank.
He had known Amay since they were in school, and there wasn't a more genuine man out there.
Amay was the kind of person who kept his word, a man who, if he loved someone, would go to the ends of the earth for them.
But Digvijay also knew that Amay's love for Suman was becoming his greatest burden.
This deal with Ayush would only serve as a constant reminder of what he could never have.
The room was quiet for a few moments, and then Digvijay spoke up, his tone more serious. "Look, if it's bothering you this much, my company can handle the deal with Ayush Agrawal. You don't need to-"
"It's fine," Amay interrupted, shaking his head. "Personal and professional lives should stay separate. I'm not that weak. I'll be fine."
Digvijay watched his friend closely, unsure if he believed those words.
Amay was a strong man, but everyone had their limits, especially when it came to matters of the heart.
Digvijay nodded, though his mind was still troubled. "Alright. But if you ever change your mind, just let me know. And don't stress too much-one way or another, things will work out."
Amay gave a half-smile, but his eyes remained distant.
Digvijay, despite his devil-may-care attitude, silently prayed for his friend.
He wasn't the type to believe in miracles or happy endings, but for Amay, he hoped.
He knew one thing for sure-if anyone deserved Suman's love, it was Amay Shekhawat.
But deep down, Digvijay feared that Suman's lingering feelings for Ayush would complicate things even more.
He just hoped that when the time came, Amay wouldn't lose himself in the process.
With a sigh, Digvijay stood up, patting Amay on the shoulder. "Call me if you need anything, alright?"
Amay nodded, grateful for the support, even if it didn't change the gnawing unease in his chest.
As Digvijay left the room, Amay stared at the door, bracing himself for the meeting with Ayush.
He wasn't sure if he could keep his emotions in check, but one thing was clear: his love for Suman wasn't going anywhere.
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Suman walked into the house after a long day at school and noticed Tara in the kitchen, carefully packing lunch.
The sight of Tara always brought a sense of comfort to her-she had bonded with Tara so well, it felt like she had found a second mother in her.
Smiling, Suman approached her.
"Maa?" Suman called softly.
Tara turned around and her face lit up with a warm smile. "Oh, you're here, bacche! How was your day?"
Suman's heart warmed at the affectionate tone. "It was good, Maa. But what are you doing?"
Tara gestured toward the packed lunchboxes on the counter. "Oh, this? Your husband and my husband both forgot to take their lunches today, so I'm just packing it for them."
Suman chuckled. "Did you have your lunch yet, Maa?"
Tara shook her head, "No, bacche. I was thinking of having lunch with Anirudh, and I was also waiting for you. So, come with me-we'll all have lunch at Shekhawat Legacy."
Suman's eyes widened at the suggestion. Excited yet nervous, she hesitated, biting her lip. "Lekin Maa, main kaise jaa sakti hoon?"
Tara placed a gentle hand on Suman's arm and smiled reassuringly. "Kyun nahi? Tum ab iss ghar ki beti ho, and that means Shekhawat Legacy is also your home. Besides, this way, you can have a little tour of the place too."
Suman's nervousness eased at Tara's comforting words, and with a nod, she agreed. "Okay, Maa. Let's go."
Together, they set off for Shekhawat Legacy.
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Meanwhile, at the hotel, Amay sat in his office, checking his watch impatiently.
Ayush still hadn't shown up for the meeting, and his frustration was mounting.
He hated unpunctuality, especially when it came to work.
Just as he was about to make a call to follow up, his phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, he quickly answered, "Ji Papa, kahiye."
Anirudh's voice came through the line with a teasing lilt, "Stop sulking like an idiot. Come to my cabin-your wife and my wife are coming with lunch."
Amay blinked, and his annoyance vanished in an instant, replaced by a warmth he couldn't explain. "Suman is coming here with lunch?" he asked, a wide smile creeping across his face.
He felt blessed all of a sudden, and the frustration he'd been holding onto melted away.
Without bothering to hang up the call, he got up from his desk and hurried to his father's office.
He barged into Anirudh's cabin, his eyes searching. "Where are they?"
Anirudh chuckled, glancing at his overly eager son. "Beta, phone toh kaan se hata le. I said they're coming, abhi aaye nahi hain."
Amay sheepishly shoved his phone into his pocket. "Yeah, whatever," he mumbled, taking a seat across from his father.
Anirudh watched his son for a moment, the teasing fading from his face. "Tu thik hai?" he asked, his tone softer.
Amay raised an eyebrow. "Mujhe kya hua hai?"
"I heard about the meeting with Ayush," Anirudh said carefully. "You're okay with it?"
Amay sighed but nodded. "I'm fine, Papa. Don't worry."
Anirudh leaned back in his chair, a small, proud smile playing on his lips.
He had always been proud of Amay.
After complications during Tara's pregnancy, she hadn't been able to conceive again, and Anirudh had made peace with it.
In fact, he didn't want to risk losing Tara, and having Amay in their lives was more than enough for him.
To Anirudh, Amay was his heart, and Tara was his heartbeat.
Anirudh admired the man his son had become.
He knew Amay was introverted, but he had a kind and responsible soul, a testament to Tara's upbringing.
He was proud of how deeply Tara's values had shaped him.
Although they sometimes bickered, the love between father and son was unshakeable.
After a few moments of silence, Anirudh asked, "You know, Amay, I always knew you'd be a man I'm proud of. You may keep things bottled up sometimes, but when it matters, you step up. Just remember, you're not alone. We're all here."
Amay smiled, his heart lighter. "I know, Papa. Thank you."
Before they could continue, a knock at the door interrupted them, and both father and son turned to see Tara and Suman entering the cabin, each carrying a lunchbox.
Amay's eyes immediately went to Suman, and his heart swelled with something warm and unspoken.
Tara smiled brightly. "Lunch is here!"
Anirudh clapped his hands together, grinning. "Perfect timing! Now, let's eat before Amay's mood swings again."
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