Ruhi’s POV
After dropping everyone home, Riya bhabhi, Aditya bhai, and I finally reached home.The moment we entered the house, I saw Rishabh bhai sitting in the hall.
One look at his face was enough.He knew.Of course he did.
The commissioner must have informed him.
I took a deep breath and went towards him where he was sitting and sat as there is no point pretending now.
“So,” Rishabh bhai said calmly, folding his arms. “Police station wasn’t part of the reunion plan, was it?”
Riya bhabhi immediately sat beside him.
“Bhai, it wasn’t our fault”
Rishabh bhai raised his hand, stopping her gently. His eyes shifted to me instead.
“Ruhi?”
I met his gaze. “They lost control,” I said honestly.”
“But they could have been seriously hurt,” he said, his voice firm now. “Do they even realise how close things were to going out of hand?”
I nodded. “That’s why I didn’t let it escalate. And that's why I made them apologise.”
He studied me for a long second… then sighed.
“You shouldn’t have had to handle that,” he said quietly. “You’re younger than all of them.”
I gave a small smile. “Someone had to be the adult, bhai.”
Riya bhabhi squeezed my hand, pride evident in her eyes.
Rishabh bhai leaned back, shaking his head slightly.
“You scare me sometimes, you know that?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Good. That means you raised me right.”
For the first time that night, he smiled.
But even as the tension eased, my mind drifted back to the police station.
To the way Aayansh looked at me.
Just… quietly listening.
And somehow, that stayed with me longer than the chaos ever did.
After everything settled down, I went to my room.
I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, finally allowing myself to breathe.Only now did I realise how tired I was.
Not physically.Emotionally.
I changed into my night clothes and sat on the edge of the bed, replaying everything in my head the police station, the shouting, the way they all looked at me when I raised my voice.
I didn’t like yelling.
But today, it was necessary.
My phone buzzed.
I didn’t even have to look at the name.
Aayansh.
Are you home?
I stared at the screen for a second before replying.
Yes.
Almost immediately
I’m sorry.
That was it.
No excuses. No explanations. Just those two words.
And somehow, they hit harder than anything else today.
You shouldn’t have had to step in like that,
We embarrassed you.
I closed my eyes.
You didn’t embarrass me, I typed.
You disappointed me.
There was a pause.
Longer than usual.
I know.
And that scares me more.
I lay back on the bed, phone resting on my chest.
I was angry because I care, I finally sent.
And because you’re all old enough to know better.
Another pause.
Then
You were incredible today,
Do you know that?
I smiled despite myself.
Don’t flatter me now.
I’m serious,
Everyone was losing control. You didn’t.
You protected us… and still made us take responsibility.
My heart softened.
I turned to my side, staring at the wall.
I don’t want to be the one always fixing things, I replied honestly.
I want you to be better on your own.
This time, his reply came instantly.
We will be.
Because you’re with us.
I swallowed.
Then another message appeared.
And Ruhi…
I fell in love with you again today.
My breath hitched.
I didn’t reply right away.
Because some feelings deserve silence before words.
Finally, I typed
Good.
Because I’m not planning on going anywhere.
I placed the phone aside and stared at the ceiling.Maybe today wasn’t just about a fight.
Maybe it was about understanding.And maybe…
This was what growing together actually looked like.
The next morning, I got ready as usual and went downstairs for breakfast.
The moment I stepped into the dining area, I knew something was going on.
Adi bhai was standing straight in front of Bade papa and Chachu, his head slightly bowed, hands behind his back like a schoolboy. The rest of the younger ones were sitting properly at the table but their faces were anything but serious. They were trying very hard not to laugh.
And failing miserably.
Even Aayan was, sitting quietly beside Avni bhabi, had a faint smile playing on his lips.
I pulled out a chair and sat down calmly.
Bade papa noticed me immediately.
“Ruhi,” he said, his tone firm but concerned, “you should have told us last night. Why did you go alone?”
I looked up and answered honestly,
“Bade papa, you all were tired and sleeping. I didn’t want to disturb anyone.”
Chachu shook his head.
“But what if things hadn’t settled easily?” he said. “What if you had gotten hurt? They are all older than you, yet they couldn’t behave responsibly.”
He pointed directly at Adi bhai.
“And you,” he continued, “every time there’s trouble, Ruhi steps in to fix it. When will you people learn?”
The atmosphere instantly changed.
All the younger ones straightened up, suddenly looking like the most obedient children to ever exist.
I sighed softly.
“Bade papa,” I said gently, “please don’t worry. I wouldn’t have stepped in if I felt unsafe. And it wasn’t such a big issue. If it had been serious, I would’ve informed you first.”
Bade papa looked unconvinced.
“You say this every time, Ruhi,” he replied.
Rishabh bhai, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke.
“Sometimes I feel,” he said, looking at all the younger ones, “that one day she will get into trouble because of you all.”
That hit them.
Adi bhai glanced at me guiltily. Parth suddenly found the table extremely interesting. Rahul stopped smiling altogether.
Everyone looked at me not amused now, but thoughtful.
Protective.
Bade papa sighed deeply, his anger slowly softening.
“You are sensible,” he said to me, “but that doesn’t mean you carry everyone’s responsibility on your shoulders.”
I nodded.
“I know, Bade papa,” I replied softly. “But family doesn’t work like that.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Chachu broke the silence.
“Adi,” he said, “sit down. And from today onwards, all of you no unnecessary drama.”
“Yes, Chachu,” they all replied in unison.
And breakfast finally resumed,
After breakfast, I came to the office and buried myself in work, trying to clear my head.
I was checking a file when the door opened.
Before I could even look up, a familiar scent reached me.
Chocolate.
I smiled.
Aayansh stood there, holding a chocolate bouquet with every chocolate I loved. He knew exactly how to convince me when I was upset.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, for what felt like the hundredth time.
Before I could say anything, he wrapped his arms around me.
And I hugged him back.
I didn’t even realize how much I needed that until that moment.
The tension, the anger from yesterday all loosened.
Then suddenly
Knock.
The office door opened again.
I immediately stepped back from Aayansh.
He frowned, clearly unhappy with the interruption.
But then we both looked up.
Riya bhabhi. Kabir. Aditya. Ishita. Rudra. Arya. Aarav.
All of them.
Standing there like a guilty parade.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Well,” I asked, folding my arms, “what brings all of you here together?”
They exchanged looks before stepping forward one by one.
“We’re sorry,” Kabir said first.
“For yesterday,” Aditya added.
“For putting you in that situation,” Ishita said quietly.
“For being immature,” Aarav finished.
They all apologized. Properly this time.
I sighed, my anger finally melting.
Before I could say anything, Riya bhabhi smiled and clapped her hands.
“Since we troubled you so much yesterday,” she said, “we planned something for you today.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“What kind of something?”
They all smiled together.
“It’s a surprise.”
I looked at Aayansh.
He leaned closer and muttered under his breath,
“They always have to be the third wheel.”
I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.
Riya bhabhi heard him anyway.
“Oh relax,” she said sweetly. “Today, you’re invited too.”
His expression immediately changed.
I shook my head, amused.
Whatever this surprise was…
I already knew one thing.
With this group?
Peace was never an option.
I should’ve known.
A surprise planned by this group could never be simple.
Half an hour later, all of us were standing in the office parking lot.
Riya bhabhi clapped her hands excitedly.
“Okay! Everyone’s here, right? Let’s go!”
“Go where?” I asked.
Kabir grinned. “Food.”
Aditya nodded seriously. “Lots of food.”
“That’s not a surprise,” I deadpanned.
“It is for you,” Aarav said. “Because today, you’re not paying.”
I blinked.
“…Now I’m interested.”
Before I could react, Rudra threw an arm around my shoulder.
“Madam Heroine, today you sit and relax. No scolding. No saving us from police stations.”
“Too late for that,” I muttered.
Aayansh leaned close to me.
“Can we leave early?”
“No,” Riya bhabhi said instantly, overhearing him. “You’re staying.”
He sighed like a man who had accepted his fate.
At the restaurant
The moment we sat down, chaos began.
Aarav and Arya started fighting over the menu.
“I want starters first.”
“No, dessert first.”
“Who eats dessert first?!”
“People with joy in their life.”
Aditya took the menu from them.
“Enough. Everyone can order what they want.”
Everyone cheered.
Aayansh quietly leaned back in his chair, completely done.
I noticed he was unusually silent.
I nudged him.
“You okay?”
He nodded. “Just mentally preparing myself.”
“For what?”
“For surviving this lunch
I laughed.Big mistake.
Riya bhabhi noticed.
“Ohhh,” she said, eyes sparkling. “Someone’s laughing.”
Kabir smirked.
“Aayansh how does it feel to date Ruhi ”
Before he could answer, Ishita chimed in.
“He’s scared of her.”
“I am not,” Aayansh said calmly.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Really?”
He looked at me.
“…I am.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
The food arrives
Plates filled the table.
Before I could even lift my spoon, Aditya pushed a plate toward me.
“Eat.”
Riya bhabhi added another.
“You didn’t eat properly yesterday.”
Kabir slid a drink closer.
“Hydration is important.”
I stared at the table.
“Why do I feel like I’m being fed?”
Aayansh quietly added dessert to my plate.
I looked at him.
He avoided my gaze.
Everyone went “AWWWW.”
He glared at them.
“Say one more word,” he warned, “and I’m leaving.”
“No you’re not,” Aarav said cheerfully. “Ruhi won’t let you.”
I turned to Aayansh, smiling sweetly.
“You’re not leaving.”
He exhaled.
“…I’m not leaving.”
The final blow
As we were about to leave, Riya bhabhi suddenly said,
“So, Ruhi…”
I froze.
“Yes?”
“We were thinking.”
That sentence alone was dangerous.
“Since you handle all of us so well,” she continued, “you should officially become our group guardian.”
“No,” I said immediately.
Aditya grinned.
“Too late. Everyone said together”
Even Aayansh.
I stared at him.
He shrugged.and said
Welcome to our group Ruuh .
They were exhausting. Annoying. Loud.
But as I looked around that table
At the smiles. The teasing. The warmth.
I realized something.This wasn’t chaos.
This was family.
And somehow…
I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Unknown POV
The room was dim, lit only by the cold glow of a laptop screen.One by one, photos appeared.
Laughter. Smiles. Carefree moments frozen in time.
A group sitting around a table. Teasing. Chaos. Happiness.
His fingers hovered over the screen before gently tracing one particular face.
Her.
He paused the video.
She was laughing head thrown back, eyes bright, completely unaware of the world beyond that moment.
A slow smile curved his lips.
“So happy,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “Still the same.”
He picked up a printed photograph from the desk creased at the edges, worn from being handled too often. He smoothed it carefully, almost reverently, like it was something fragile.
Like it belonged to him.His thumb brushed over her face.
“They think they’re safe,” he said softly. “Surrounded by people. Protected.”
A low chuckle escaped him.“They always do.”
He leaned back in his chair, eyes darkening as the screen replayed the video her laugh echoing faintly through the speakers.
“Enjoy it while it lasts, doll,” he whispered.
The smile on his face faded into something colder. Sharper.
“I’m coming.”
He closed the laptop with a soft click.
And in the sudden silence, only one thing felt certain
The game had begun
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