After cutting Dev's call, I grabbed my laptop and started catching up on some work. It was Sunday, my day off, so there was no need to head to the office. The silence in the chamber was calming, and I got lost in reviewing some reports. Suddenly, my phone rang again. I glanced at the screen-Mayra.

I picked up. "Yeah, Mayra? What is it?"

Her voice came through, a little hesitant. "Bhai sa Ananya wants to talk to her parents."

Shit! In all the chaos, I had completely forgotten about arranging her call to her family. Before I could respond, I heard Ananya's voice in the background, full of frustration and a tinge of sadness.

"Bolo na mujhe wapas chhod kar aao!" she said, almost pleading.

I sighed, running a hand down my face. "Okay," I replied curtly.

"Meet me in the living room with her. I'll sort it out."

Mayra sounded relieved. "Alright, we'll be there." She hung up before I could say anything else.

I set my laptop aside, my mind already going over how to handle the situation, I stood up and made my way to the living room.

I walked into the living room, finding Mayra and Ananya waiting for me. Without a word, I sat on the couch and looked at them.

"Where is everyone?" I asked Mayra, keeping my tone neutral.

She smiled and began to list, "Dada sa and Dadisa went to the temple. Maasa and baba sa went to visit the NGO. And Kaki sa and Kaka sa... well, they went on a date."

I rolled my eyes. "In this house, all the men seem to be head over heels for their wives," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ananya looking shocked, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Ignoring her, I asked Mayra, "Where are Rohan, Vihaan, and Vivaan?"

Before she could finish her reply, Vivaan and Vihaan came running down the stairs. Vivaan was the first to speak. "Di, where's Maasa?" he asked, almost out of breath.

Mayra raised a brow at him and replied casually, "Your Maasa is on a date with your Baba sa."

"What?" Vivaan and Vihaan both exclaimed in unison, their faces showing complete disbelief.

Vivaan plopped down beside me on the couch and said dramatically, "Bhaisa, I'm telling you, you need to marry soon. Otherwise, one day, instead of feeding your kids, we'll end up feeding some new younger brother of ours."

The room went completely silent at his comment. Then, out of nowhere, someone burst into uncontrollable laughter. We all turned to look at Ananya, who was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

I glared at Vivaan, making him pout. "I'm not wrong," he continued, looking at me.

"Every Sunday, all the couples in this house go out-on dates, no less! Even Rohan bhaisa does! Who knows, by the time you get married, we'll have to feed his baby first!"

I heard a quiet chuckle from Ananya and noticed Mayra trying to suppress her laughter too. My glare shifted to Vivaan. "Shut up," I said in my coldest tone. "If you don't, you'll find out what I'm capable of."

Vivaan immediately quieted down, mumbling, "I'm hungry anyway," before grabbing Vihaan's arm. "Let's go. I know you're hungry too; you're my twin after all."

Vihaan protested, "I'm not hungry!" But Vivaan dragged him away forcefully, leaving the room.

Ananya laughed softly, watching them bicker like children. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration and turned my glare toward her. The moment our eyes met, she quickly shut up, biting her lip to stifle her amusement.

I extended my hand towards Mr. Khadus, asking for mobile "Aap baat karwane wale hai humari," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He glanced at my hand for a moment, then looked over at Mayra. "Give her your phone," he said her.

Mayra nodded and handed me her phone. I took it, my heart pounding, and dialed my mom's number.

After a few rings, my mom picked up. "Hello, kon bol raha?" she asked, her voice soft but confused.

"Maa," I sobbed, barely able to hold myself together. "Maa..."

There was a brief silence, then she exclaimed, "Ananya!" Her voice broke, and I could feel the concern in every word.

"Beta," she continued. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

In the background, I heard Chiku's and dad voice, and I broke down even more, unable to hold back my tears.

"Papa, I didn't run away from the engagement," I cried, my voice trembling.

"I know, bacha," my dad's voice came through, calm but filled with emotion. "I know you didn't do anything like that. I know my child would never do something like this."

The tears continued to flow as I heard my father's soothing words. "Papa..." I choked, feeling a weight lift off me, even if just a little.

Arav's voice came in then, worried and urgent. "Di, where are you? I'm coming for you. I won't leave you there alone."

I could hear the frustration and concern in his voice, which only made me cry harder.

"And that Dev... I won't leave him. How dare he do this to you and us?" he continued.

"Di, Samira dii is also really worried."

"Beta, Mr. Rathore ko phone dijiye," he said. I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. I looked at the phone in my hand, then at Mr.Khadus, who was sitting there watching me with a puzzled expression.

He looked at me confused, and I could sense the uncertainty in his eyes. "What?" he asked, but I just nodded, unsure of what to say.

I slowly extended the phone towards him. "Papa wants to talk to you," I whispered, my voice breaking.

He seemed hesitant, but then took the phone from my hand and walked outside, leaving me with Mayra.

She gave me a comforting hug and said. "It's okay," she rub my back in an attempt to console me. But I couldn't shake the feeling of dread in my chest. How would this all turn out? How was I going to face everything that was happening around me?

He came after sometime and give me phone.

I took the phone from his hand, still feeling the heaviness in my chest, and answered, "Hello, Papa."

"Ananya, beta," my dad's voice came through, calm "You have to stay there for some more days."

I froze, shock flooding me. "Par Papa..." I started, but he said.

"Beta, jab tak yahan ke halat theek nahi ho jaate, tab tak you have to stay there," he replied, his tone filled with concern.

"Don't worry, meri Mr. Rathore se baat ho gayi hai, and he assured your safety. Samaira will be coming there, and she'll stay with you until everything calms down. Tumhare saath wo bhi wahi rahegi."

I could hardly process his words, feeling overwhelmed. He was trying to assure me, but it only made everything feel more confusing.

"Samaira aur humari baat ho gayi hai iss bare mein," my papa continued.

"Agar Arav ke exams nahi hote to hum usse Bhej dete, uske exam hai so I can't send him right now, and you know I had already taken limited leave from the office. I can't take more at this point."

I nodded, tears streaming down my face as I wiped them away. "Ji, Papa," I sobbed, my heart aching. "Apna khayal rakhna."

He said "Don't worry, beta. We'll stay in touch. har roj call karna."

"Ji, Papa," I whispered, my voice trembling. The call ended, and I sit there in a daze, trying to comprehend everything. Mayra, who had been quietly sitting beside me, gave me a sympathetic glance.

"Ananya, sab theek ho jaayega," she reassured me softly, but I could barely hear her over the rushing thoughts in my head. How was everything going to be okay? What did all of this mean for me, for my future, for everything? I wiped my eyes and nodded, feeling lost in the storm of emotions.

I wiped my tears quickly and handed Mayra her phone, just as we heard Vivaan's sir voice "Why's cutie pie crying?"

We all look him and i see from Conor of eyes mr. Rathore glaring him .

Vivaan sir raised a brow, then looked at me with a shrug. "I mean, look at her-cutie pie. Just look at her nose and cheeks, all red from crying," he said with a half-smile, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Before any of us could respond, we heard a deep male voice from the entrance. "Who's cutie pie?"