♡ six ♡⁠

Yuvaan & Jaanvi’s Room – Past Midnight

The mansion was asleep.

Except here.

The lamp on Yuvaan’s desk glowed with a sterile white, illuminating the stacks of files and open laptop in front of Jaanvi.

She sat at the edge of the desk chair, her posture stiff, eyes red from exhaustion. Her saree was slightly wrinkled, her bangles pushed halfway up her arms to avoid clinking. Her fingers moved mechanically across the keyboard editing, rechecking, updating the presentation that Yuvaan had demanded... even though the meeting wasn’t for another two weeks.

He hadn’t needed it.

But he had wanted to punish her.

And he never missed a chance.

Across the room, Yuvaan reclined in the bed. He wasn’t asleep. He never was when she worked this late.

He stared at the ceiling, his expression unreadable, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The ice clinked gently every few minutes as he swirled it.

“Ho gaya?” His voice cracked the silence like a whip.

( Done?)

Jaanvi startled slightly and looked up.

“Almost… bas thoda aur,” she said softly, carefully.

( Almost, just a bit)

“Thoda aur…” he mocked under his breath, taking a slow sip.

( A bit more)

“Of course. You’ve always been good at delaying what’s important, haven’t you?”

Jaanvi blinked. Her throat tightened, but she didn’t speak.

He stood now, walking over slowly, barefoot on the cold marble floor. He circled the desk like a predator might a trapped bird.

“You work like you’re doing me a favor, Jaanvi,” he muttered, tone sharp. “As if I’m not paying you to breathe.”

She lowered her eyes.

He leaned down, voice now at her ear.

“Tell me when Vivaan touched you today… you enjoyed it?”

Her body flinched.

She stood up abruptly, but didn’t dare look him in the eye.

“No. I didn’t,” she said, quietly but clearly.

Yuvaan scoffed.

“Funny. You didn’t push his hand away either.”

“Maybe I should thank him at least someone is giving my darling wife the attention she so clearly craves.”

That broke something.

“Bas kijiye,” Jaanvi whispered, voice trembling.

( Enough)

“Kya?” he sneered.

“Sach toh bol raha hoon.”

( What, I am saying the truth)

“Nahi, aap sirf dard dete hai,” she said softly, her voice cracking. “Har baat mein, har pal mein. Main kya karti hoon, kya nahi kabhi toh... kabhi toh bas ek baar pooch lijiye ki main kaisi hoon.”

(“No, all you give me is pain,” . “In everything, in every moment. What I do, what I don’t… for once, just once, ask me how I am.”)

Yuvaan stared at her.

But he didn’t say anything.

Didn’t apologize.

Didn’t comfort.

He just stood there… and then quietly walked to the other side of the room.

“Light band karke bahar jao. Tumhare rote hue chehre se neend chali jaati hai,” he said coldly.

(“Turn off the lights and go outside. Your crying face keeps me awake)

Jaanvi didn’t argue.

She didn’t cry either.

She just gathered her laptop… and left the room.

Another night.

Another scar.

...........................

Tara & Avyansh’s Room – Late Night

The clock struck 2:43 AM.

The rest of the mansion was asleep resting in its layers of secrets and whispering cruelty.

But not Tara.

She sat on the cold marble floor of her bedroom, her back pressed against the side of the bed, her dupatta soaked in tears. Her ankle twisted and swollen from earlier was propped up on a cushion, but the pain was unbearable.

Each breath she took came with a hiss of discomfort.

Each movement sent a shooting fire through her leg.

But it wasn’t just the ankle that was hurting.

It was everything.

Her body.

Her heart.

Her spirit.

Earlier that evening, she had limped too slowly while serving dinner. Just a second too late with the bowl of rice and Manisha’s voice had snapped like a whip.

“Yeh raajkumari chalte kyun nahi? Afsos hota hai Avyansh ne iss ladki ko shaadi mein ghaseet liya!”

(“Why doesn’t this princess walk on her own? It’s a shame Avyansh dragged this cripple to the wedding!”)

Malika, standing beside her, added with a scoff:

“shadi karna tha ya nursing home se patient uthana tha?”

(Was it a wedding or were you picking up a patient from a nursing home?”)

And of course, Anika didn’t miss her chance either:

“Shaadi se pehle toh badi tej thi na? Ab ghutno par kyun hai? Nakhre nahi chalega yahaan, Tara.”

(“You were so fierce before the wedding, weren’t you? Why are you on your knees now? Your tantrums won’t work here, Tara.”)

Tara had kept her eyes low, biting her lip to hold back the tears.

Now, in the safety of her empty room, she didn’t hold back anymore.

She let the tears fall.

Freely.

Bitterly.

Brokenly.

The pain in her ankle was throbbing each thump like a cruel reminder of Avyansh’s cold revenge.

And worst of all?

He hadn’t even looked at her.

Not once.

Not after she fell.

Not during dinner.

Not now.

He had changed into his sleepwear and collapsed onto the bed without a word.

His back to her.

His silence is louder than any scream.

“Main kya kar rahi hoon yahan...” she whispered into the darkness.

“Kya issi ke liye paida hui thi... ki kisi ke gusse ka nishana banu, kisi ke badle ka zariya?”

“Mujhse kya galti  ho gayi...”

(“What am I doing here…”

“Was I born just for this… to be the target of someone’s anger, a tool for someone’s revenge?

What mistake did I make)

Dhe clutched her ankle, sobbing softly now, her voice shaking.

“Main bhaag bhi nahi sakti... mummy-papa...”

(I can’t even run… mummy-papa…”)

Her voice broke again.

She looked up, staring at the man sleeping peacefully in the bed. The same man who had once told her on their wedding night

"I married you to punish you. Not to love you."

Tara wiped her tears.

Her eyes turned cold now.

“Ek din... main bhi chup nahi rahungi, Avyansh. Tumhe har aansu ka jawab dena padega.”

(“One day… I won’t stay silent either, Avyansh. You will have to answer for every tear of mine.”)

She slowly crawled to the couch, dragging her injured leg behind her.

She couldn’t walk.

But she would rise.

Just not tonight.

..........................

Raghuvanshi Mansion – Morning

The early morning sun filtered through the sprawling windows of the Raghuvanshi mansion, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

But not everyone felt warm.

Anika Mittal’s rage burned hotter than the morning chai she threw aside after a single sip. Her red lipstick was smeared from how hard she had pressed her lips together all morning. Her manicured nails tapped aggressively against the marble armrest of the sofa.

Aniket, her precious son, hadn’t come down for breakfast still bruised and humiliated after Rajveer beat him.

Because of that woman.

“Lavanya,” Anika hissed under her breath, venom dripping from every syllable.

"Bahu toh chhodo, naukrani ke layak bhi nahi hai. Aur isse humari family ki bahu bana diya.”

(“Forget daughter-in-law, she isn’t even fit to be a servant. And yet, we made her a daughter-in-law of our family.”)

She stormed toward the kitchen, heels clicking like war drums.

Inside, Lavanya was gently flipping parathas on the tawa, her hair tied back in a messy bun, her wrists red from the steam and heat. Jaanvi stood nearby, chopping coriander, and Tara limping was preparing chutney in silence.

None of them noticed the storm entering behind them.

Until

SMACK!

The sudden sound of a slap echoed through the kitchen like a bomb.

Lavanya stumbled, the hot paratha falling from her hand.

Everything stopped.

Jaanvi dropped the knife.

Tara froze in shock.

Lavanya slowly raised her hand to her cheek, her eyes wide.

Anika stood in front of her, chest heaving, eyes wild with hatred.

“Yeh tha uss tamacha ka badla jo mere Aniket ko padhna pada tha kal raat,” she hissed.

(“This was the revenge for that slap my Aniket had to endure last night,” )

“Tum jaanti ho na, tumhare jaise auratein sirf barbaadi laati hain!”

(You know, don’t you? Women like you only bring destruction!”)

Jaanvi immediately stepped forward, “Bua ji, bas”

( Anuty, enough)

“TU CHUP!” Anika barked. “Tum teenon toh milke is ghar ko bhanwar bana diya hai!”

(“SHUT UP!” “The three of you together have turned this house into a storm!”)

Lavanya didn’t speak.

She stood still, trembling, her hand still on her cheek.

Her eyes didn’t hold tears though. Not this time.

They held… something else.

Something colder.

From behind, a shadow appeared at the kitchen door.

Rajveer.

He had seen everything. From the slap to the screaming. And now, he stood silent, his eyes locked on Lavanya.

Anika turned, startled, then composed herself. “Rajveer beta, tum toh ”

( Rajveer beta at least you..)

“Apne hath neeche rakhna seekhiye, Bua ji,” Rajveer said, his voice dangerously calm.

( Learn how to keep your hand down aunty)

“Ya main bhool jaon ki aap meri bua hai hai.”

( Or should I forgot That you're my aunt)

Silence.

Everyone froze.

It was the first time Rajveer had ever openly taken Lavanya’s side.

Anika’s face paled, but she quickly faked a laugh. “Beta, bas gusse mein woh ladki ”

( “Son, it..was just in anger…”)

“Woh meri biwi hai aur mere bete ki maa,” Rajveer said, voice like steel.

“Agle baar haath uthane se pehle sochiye ga warna yeh ghar sirf Aniket ka nahi, aapka bhi nehi rahega.”

(“She is my wife and the mother of my son,” . “Next time, think before you raise your hand, or this house won’t remain just Aniket’s it won’t remain yours either.)

He looked at Lavanya then. Just for a moment.

And left.

Anika stood there, fuming, her face twitching in disbelief.

Jaanvi gently placed a hand on Lavanya’s shoulder. Tara hobbled forward with a glass of water.

Lavanya?

She didn’t cry.

But her hands were shaking.

Not from fear.

From the realization that… for the first time…

Someone stood for her.

The tension in the kitchen was suffocating.

Anika stood rooted, her face pale with shock, her ego bruised harder than she had bruised Lavanya’s cheek. Jaanvi and Tara stood beside Lavanya, protective and wide-eyed. The air was thick with something unspoken rage, humiliation, and a silent warning.

Just then

Click. Click. Click.

The unmistakable sound of heels scraping on polished marble.

Manisha Raghuvanshi entered.

Clad in her signature cream silk saree, her thick silver hair tied into a regal bun, her expression cold and unreadable. Following behind like a loyal shadow was Malika, her eyes darting to everyone and everything, waiting to echo her mother-in-law's mood.

Manisha’s sharp eyes immediately scanned the scene the tear in Lavanya’s dupatta, the frozen expressions, the cheek beginning to swell.

“Yeh kya tamasha ho raha hai mere kitchen mein?” she asked slowly, dangerously. “Subah subah, yeh drama kyun?”

(“What is this spectacle happening in my kitchen?”

“Why this drama so early in the morning?”)

Anika immediately recovered and turned to Manisha like a child tattling to a parent.

“Maa , woh Lavanya uss raat ki harkat ke liye maine bas Zyada bol diya hoga. Gusse mein haath uth gaya…”

(“Mom, about Lavanya’s actions that night, I just ,I may have said too much. I raised my hand in anger…”)

Manisha’s eyes narrowed on Lavanya, who stood silently, her face red from both the slap and the sting of injustice.

“Aur yeh sab sunne ke baad… Rajveer kuch bola?” Manisha asked coolly.

(And after hearing all this… did Rajveer say anything?”)

Anika hesitated. “Woh… thoda gussa ho gaya…”

(“He… got a little angry…”)

“Gussa toh woh tab karega jab aurat ke pair sir pe chadh jaayein.” Manisha’s voice sliced like ice.

(“He’ll get angry only when a woman steps on his feet,” Manisha’s voice cut like ice.)

Malika immediately chimed in, “Beshak, Maa ji. Itni chhoti si baat ke liye itna hungama? Anika toh ghar ki badi hain.”

(“Really, Maa ji. So much fuss over such a small thing? Anika is the elder of the house after all.)

Jaanvi couldn’t help herself. “Chhoti baat,  Maa? Thappad maarna chhoti baat hoti hai kya?”

(“A small thing, Maa? Is slapping someone a small thing?”)

Manisha turned slowly to Jaanvi, her eyes narrowing.

“Tumse kisne pucha, ?” she snapped. “Tum toh ho bhi nahi is kitchen ki zimmedar sirf Lavanya aur Tara. Jaanvi toh bas office jaane wali ek nautanki hai.”

(Who asked you?, You aren’t even responsible for this kitchen only Lavanya and Tara are. Jaanvi is just a drama queen who goes to the office.”)

Tara gritted her teeth but didn’t speak.

Lavanya still said nothing. She was trembling slightly, but her spine stayed straight.

That irritated Manisha more.

“Tumhare jaise ladkiyaan aaj kal zyada udd rahi hain,” Manisha hissed, stepping forward. “Ek toh bade ghar mein shaadi kar liya, upar se aise khadi ho jaise maalkin ho!”

(“Girls like you these days are getting too arrogant,” Manisha hissed, stepping forward.

“You got married into a big house, and yet you stand there as if you own it!”)

Malika added, “Aur maa ji, pata hai kal raat Veer ko sulaane mein bhi der lagayi thi. Usske liye time hai, par ghar ke kaam ke liye nahi.”

( “And Maa ji, you know last night she even delayed putting Veer to sleep. She has time for him, but not for household work.”)

Manisha’s eyes were now burning with authority. She stepped even closer to Lavanya.

“Aaj se tumhe Veer ka kaam bhi mat karna hai. Apni auqat mein raho. Tum sirf is ghar ki bahu ho, uski maa nahi nanny ho.”

(“From today onwards, you won’t do Veer’s work either. Stay in your place. You are only a daughter-in-law in this house, not his mother or nanny.” )

That one sentence hit Lavanya harder than the slap.

Her eyes flinched.

Veer… her son. The only source of love in this cruel house. The child she fed, bathed, loved like her own flesh and blood.

Jaanvi whispered, “dadi, please, yeh toh ”

( But Dadi this is...)

“SHUT UP!” Manisha roared. “Agar mujhe ek lafz aur suna, toh isse bhi ghar se nikalwa dungi!”

(“SHUT UP!” Manisha roared. “If I hear one more word, I’ll throw her out of this house too!”)

Tara couldn’t take it anymore. “Bas bhi kijiye! Roz roz ka tamasha bana rakha hai! Aurat hone ke naate thoda toh sharam ....”

(Tara couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough! You make a spectacle of this every day! Have some shame… at least as a woman…”)

SLAP.

This time the slap landed on Tara’s cheek from Malika.

“Tum mujhse baat kar rahi ho is tone mein?” Malika barked.

“Jis ghar mein reh rahi ho, ussi ghar ki izzat mitti mein mila rahi ho!”

(“Are you speaking to me in this tone?” Malika barked.

“You’re trashing the honor of the very house you live in!”)

Silence fell again.

Jaanvi was shaking. Tara had tears in her eyes. Lavanya hadn’t moved, but her hands curled into fists.

Just then

“Mama…”

A tiny voice.

Veer.

He had just woken up, standing in his Spiderman pajamas at the kitchen door, rubbing his eyes, confused and scared.

“

Mama… sab cheekh kyun rahe hain?”

( Mama why everyone is shouting)

Lavanya turned, her eyes softening instantly.

She walked to Veer, bent down, and wrapped her arms around him her one shield, her only light.

“Kuch nahi, baby… sab theek hai,” she whispered.

( Nothing baby everything is ok)

But her eyes?

They were filled with fire now.

And maybe, just maybe… she wouldn’t stay silent much longer.

.........................

Hopefully you will like it and sorry for the mistakes 🙏

Luv u all 😘