Raghuvanshi Mansion - Kitchen, Seconds After Tara Is Slapped
Tara held her cheek, the sting more emotional than physical. Jaanvi looked like she might burst into tears or rage. The kitchen air was stiff with tension and humiliation. Veer, confused and worried, clung to Lavanya's saree, whispering softly:
"Mama... sab daant kyun rahe hain...?" veer asked innocently
( Mama why everyone is shouting)
And that... was the last straw.
Lavanya stood upright, slowly and silently passing her hand over Veer's soft hair before turning around.
Her eyes were no longer soft.
They were steel.
She handed Veer gently to Jaanvi.
"Tara," she said quietly, "Tum thik ho?" she asked with concern
( Tara you okey)
Tara nodded, tears welling.
Lavanya took a deep breath and turned to face Manisha, Malika, and Anika all three of them were stunned by the change in her demeanor.
And then, in a calm, razor-sharp voice that cuts through the kitchen like glass lavanya speaks up
" Enough! Bohot ho gaya."
( Enough, this is too much)
Dead silence.
"Roz-roz ka tamasha dekh chuki hoon main. Har roz chupp rahi hoon, sirf isliye ki ghar mein shanti bani rahe. Par aaj nahi." she said her voice is sharp, she paush before speaking up again
(I’ve seen this daily drama every day. I’ve stayed silent every day, just so there’s peace in the house. But not today.)
"Aaj Agar main chupp rehi toh this insult won't be just mine, but theirs too."
( If stay shut too)
She stepped forward, her back straight, her eyes locked onto Manisha.
"Aap badi hain, is ghar ki mukhiya. Par badi hone ka matlab yeh nahi ki aapko sabko rulaane ka haq mil jaaye."
(You are the elder, the head of this house. But being the elder doesn’t mean you have the right to make everyone cry.)
Manisha narrowed her eyes. "Apni aukat mein raho, Lavanya. Tum-"
( Stay in your limits Lavanya...you..)
"Aukat?" Lavanya's voice remained calm, but it burned. "Meri aukat kya hai, dadi? Woh jo aapne tai ki hai? Ghar ke kaam karo. Daant suno. Thappad khaao. Bina awaaz ki ghulami karo?"
(“limits?” Lavanya's voice remained calm, but it burned. “What is my limit, Dadi? The one you decided? Do housework. Take scoldings. Receive slaps. Serve in silence?”)
She looked at Malika, her tone turning sharper.
"Aap toh maa hain na? Kabhi socha, agar koi aapki beti se aise baat kare, toh kaisa lagega?"
( You're a mother right?. Did you though how will you feel of someone behave like this with your daughter)
Malika looked away.
Now Lavanya turned to Anika.
"Aur aap, bua ji. Aap toh usi chhat ke neeche rehti hain jahan aapka beta kisi aurat ko neecha dikhata hai. Par aapko bas mujhmein kamiyaan dikhte hain."
(And you, Bua ji. You live under the same roof where your son belittles a woman. Yet, you only see flaws in me.)
Anika's face turned red with embarrassment and fury.
"Lavanya, zyada mat bol!" she snapped.
( Lavanya don't talk too much)
"Bohot kam bola maine, Bua ji," Lavanya snapped back, her voice rising for the first time. "Aap logon ne mujhe kabhi iss ghar ki bahu nahi samjha sirf ek kaamwali banake rakh diya. Par ek baat yaad rahiye..."
Now she stepped forward.
"Main iss ghar ki bahu hoon. Veer ki maa hoon. Aur Rajveer Raghuvanshi ki patni hoon. Aap chahe kabhi accept karein ya nahi but I'm done accepting your insults."
(I spoke very little, Bua ji,” Lavanya snapped back, her voice rising for the first time. “You never considered me the daughter-in-law of this house, only kept me as a servant. But remember one thing…)
Dead. Silence.
Even Manisha blinked, shocked at Lavanya's fire.
Tara's mouth parted slightly in awe. Jaanvi held Veer tighter, hiding a tear of relief behind a smile.
Lavanya looked at all three of them one final time.
"Aaj se na main chupp rahoongi, na apne saath hone wale zulm ko ignore karoongi. Aap sabko sammaan dena seekhna padega. Varna..."
"Yeh kitchen bhi khaali hoga, aur yeh mahal bhi."
(From today, I will neither stay silent, nor ignore the oppression happening to me. You all will have to learn to give respect. Otherwise…
This kitchen will be empty, and so will this palace.)
With that, Lavanya took Veer into her arms and walked away head high, spine straight.
Behind her, the kitchen was silent, the three older women too stunned to react.
And upstairs... Rajveer stood silently in the hallway, watching everything.
For the first time... maybe... just maybe...
he saw his wife.
Not just as Veer's mother.
Not just as a woman in his house.
But as someone he had deeply, terribly, unforgivably wronged.
Just after Lavanya walks out with Veer Kitchen
The kitchen was still reeling from Lavanya's words. Manisha, Malika, and Anika stood stiffly, mouths open but no sound escaping. The audacity. The courage.
They didn't know someone was watching.
Rajveer Raghuvanshi, leaning against the archway, had witnessed everything.
His dark eyes hadn't blinked once. From the moment Lavanya raised her voice to the second she held Veer and walked out with dignity, something inside him shifted. Guilt. Shame. Respect. Maybe... all three.
Now, his steps were slow... deliberate... dangerous.
Click. Click. Click.
His polished shoes echoed across the marble floor as he entered the kitchen.
The three women turned abruptly and paled.
"Rajveer beta-" Manisha started, gathering her nerves.
But Rajveer raised a hand, sharp and final. Silence fell like a blade.
He walked closer. Cold. Composed. But his voice... when it came...
"Next time... kisi ne Lavanya ye kisi or ko haath lagaya na..."
(Next time… if anyone lays a hand on Lavanya…)
"Toh haath kaat dunga." it wasn't a sentence it was a statement
(I will cut off their hand.)
His voice was icy, but it shook the room like thunder.
Anika stepped back.
Malika stammered, "W-we didn't mean"
"Bohot kuch 'mean' nahi karte na is ghar mein? Fir bhi keh dete hai. Fir bhi thappad maar dete hai. Fir bhi chot pohchate hai."
(Very few “means” are done in this house? Yet they speak up. Yet they slap. Yet they cause pain.)
"Bas. Ab aur nahi." He walked up to Manisha, meeting her gaze. Not as her grandson.
(Enough. No more.)
But as a man defending the woman who'd endured enough.
"Aapko kya lagta hai, dadi? Woh chupp rahegi toh kamzor hai?"
(What do you think, Dadi? That she is weak because she stayed silent?)
"Nahi. Woh chupp thi, kyunki aap sab ki izzat chaahti thi. Lekin ab, woh apni izzat bhi chahti hai."
(No. She was silent because she wanted everyone’s respect. But now, she wants her own respect too.)
"Aur main... uske saath hoon." he said
( And...iam with her)
Manisha's mouth opened, but no sound came.
Rajveer turned to leave, then paused at the doorway.
"Aaj tak aap logon ke liye woh sirf Veer ki maa thi. Par ab uska asli rishta main aap sabko yaad dilaunga..."
(Until now, for you all she was only Veer’s mother. But now, I will remind you all of her true relationship…)
"Woh meri patni hai."
"Rajveer Lavanya Raghuvanshi ki patni. Lavanya rajveer Raghuvanshi"
(She is my wife.)
(Rajveer Raghuvanshi’s wife. Lavanya Rajveer Raghuvanshi.)
With that, he left the kitchen. Leaving behind three frozen, stunned women.
Their Room
Lavanya sat at the edge of the bed, gently stroking Veer's hair as he dozed off. Her eyes were red, her heart still pounding. She hadn't expected to speak up like that.
She hadn't expected anyone to support her... certainly not him.
The door creaked open. Her eyes widened.
Rajveer.
He didn't say anything at first. Just walked in and stood silently in front of her. The air was still, Veer's slow breaths were the only sound.
Then...
"Tum theek ho?" he asked, voice quieter than she'd ever heard.
( You okey)
She blinked. "Haan..."
(Yeah)
He knelt down, eye-level with her, looking at the tired lines on her face, the silent strength in her eyes.
"Aaj jo tumne kiya..."
"Main kabhi nahi bol paya " he said in his tone there is a hint of regret
(Today, what you did…
I could never say…)
She looked down. "Main... Veer ke liye..."
(I… for Veer…)
He gently took her hand. For the first time voluntarily.
"Nahi, Lavanya. Aaj tumne khud ke liye kiya. Aur mujhe khud pe sharam aayi." he said
(No, Lavanya. Today, you did it for yourself. And I felt ashamed of myself,” he said)
She didn't speak.
He looked at her, regret flickering in his usually unreadable eyes.
"Tumhe toh sabse pehle mera saath milna chahiye tha..."
(You should have had my support first…)
"Aur main hi sabse pehle tumhare khilaf tha."
(And I was the first one against you.)
Her lips trembled.
He looked at Veer, then back at her.
"Aaj se... tum akeli nahi ho. Kisi ne kuch kaha toh... usse pehle mujhe dekhna padega." he resured her
(From today… you are not alone. If anyone says anything… they will have to face me first.)
She couldn't believe it.
Was this a dream?
He gently pressed a kiss to her forehead. No words.
Just that gesture raw, unspoken emotion.
For the first time... in years... Lavanya let a tear fall in peace.
.......................
Some days later....
Late Evening - Raghuvanshi Industries - Jaanvi's Cabin
The office floor was quiet, the soft hum of central AC the only background sound. Most employees had left. But not her.
Jaanvi.
She was still at her desk eyes puffy, posture tight, hair slightly messy from constantly running her hands through it. The desk was cluttered with files, printouts, her laptop open with three presentations on screen.
Yuvaan had just finished a meeting. He wasn't looking for her.
But as he passed by her cabin, the sound of something crashing made him stop.
He turned back.
Inside the glass-panelled room, Jaanvi stood alone her body trembling.
She had just thrown her phone onto the floor, the screen cracked... shattered.
And she was crying.
Not silently like always.
This time the sobs were shaking her.
Her hands clenched into fists, her lips trembling. She looked like a storm that had been bottled up too long... finally breaking.
"Main buri nahi hoon..."
"Main aisi nahi hoon..."
"Main... sab bardasht karti hoon... phir bhi..." she whispered brokenly, as if someone was there but there was no one.
(I am not bad…
I am not like that…
I… endure everything… and yet…)
Except Yuvaan.
Standing outside. Frozen.
His brows furrowed.
This wasn't the same silent, obedient Jaanvi who did his tie each morning or nodded to every command. This wasn't the woman he accused and ignored and overworked.
This... was someone broken.
She fell to her knees.
"Sab mujhe hi kyu dekhte hain galat?"
"Main kyun sabke liye... sirf ek... thing hoon? Kisi ko dard nahi dikhta kya?"
(Why does everyone always see me as the one at fault?
Why am I… just one thing… for everyone? Doesn’t anyone see the pain?)
Yuvaan felt his throat tighten. He didn't know why. Guilt? Or that uncomfortable thing he never let himself feel?
Regret.
Before he could process it, Jaanvi looked up and her tearful eyes locked onto his.
She froze.
He stiffened.
Their eyes remained locked hers full of pain, his blank... confused... maybe shaken.
She quickly wiped her tears, stood up, her body straightening with robotic efficiency. She tried to speak, but her voice cracked.
"I'll fix the phone," she whispered, blinking rapidly.
"It won't happen again. Sorry, sir." She lowered her gaze, like a student who'd disappointed her teacher.
Yuvaan opened his mouth but nothing came out.
Instead, he turned around. And walked away.
But this time, something was different.
He didn't walk away out of hate.
He walked away because he didn't know what to do with the emotion clawing at his chest.
....................
Tara & Avyansh's Room
The room was dark, lit only by the moonlight slipping in through the sheer curtains. Expensive furniture stood untouched, the king-sized bed immaculately made because no one had touched it.
In one corner, curled uncomfortably on the velvet couch, lay Tara.
Her eyes were shut, but sleep didn't come easy. She lay on her side, her face pale, a crease of pain etched between her brows. Her ankle, wrapped in a soft bandage, throbbed with a dull ache. She shifted, trying to find a less painful position but winced.
"Aahh..." she hissed softly, her breath catching in her throat.
The door creaked.
Avyansh entered, pulling off his blazer as he stepped in. His eyes immediately flicked toward the couch and paused.
She didn't see him. But he saw her.
The way her hand clutched the edge of the cushion, the tremble in her legs as she tried to adjust herself again. Her lips were bitten red from suppressing her cries. The blanket had slipped halfway off.
For a long moment, he just stood there. Staring.
Something twisted in his chest.
He remembered.
How she'd stumbled and cried out in pain when he purposely twisted his foot just to trip her.
How she fell, and he walked away, cold and proud.
And now... seeing her suffer like this...
It didn't feel like victory anymore.
"Tch..." he muttered under his breath and looked away.
Still, he walked toward the bed, grabbing his nightwear. But his eyes kept drifting to her.
Another soft gasp escaped her lips as she tried to shift again.
He clenched his jaw.
"You should've asked the maids to change your room," he said flatly, breaking the silence.
Tara's eyes opened. Her voice was soft, dry.
"I forgot I had a choice." she murmured softly
That sentence hit harder than he'd expected.
He didn't respond.
Tara turned her face away, pretending to go back to sleep. But her body betrayed her another involuntary flinch as she tried to stretch.
Avyansh exhaled sharply. Annoyed.
At her?
At himself?
He didn't know.
He grabbed a pillow from the bed and without a word walked toward her.
She tensed.
He crouched down next to her, and she looked at him, confused.
"Lift your leg." he didn't order, it's like request
Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Just do it." he said softly
She hesitated, then slowly raised her bandaged ankle. He placed the pillow underneath gently. Making sure it wouldn't strain her injury. Then stood up, cold and unreadable as ever.
"I don't want to be blamed if you limp around like a cripple for the rest of your life." he said mockingly
Tara blinked. "Oh, how thoughtful," she whispered sarcastically.
But his back was already turned.
"Sleep. Your whining makes this room unbearable." he said
He walked toward the bed, grabbed his phone, and went into the bathroom without another word.
But as the door clicked shut...
Tara looked at the pillow under her ankle.
And then at the bathroom door.
Her lips trembled, caught between confusion and reluctant gratitude.
He hated her.
He still hated her.
But for a moment...
He noticed her pain.
Some Moments Later
The bathroom door opened with a soft click, steam curling out behind Avyansh as he stepped into the dimly lit room, towel slung over his shoulder, hair damp. He was still drying his face when his eyes drifted toward the couch maybe out of habit.
But what he saw this time... made him stop cold.
Tara had shifted in her sleep again, the blanket slipping off her shoulder. The moonlight from the window fell across her face and illuminated something unmistakable.
A deep, red handprint-shaped mark on her right cheek.
Not faded.
Not old.
Fresh.
His eyes narrowed instantly. The towel is still in his hand.
He took a step closer.
There it was a slap mark, swollen at the edges, too visible to ignore. His gaze hardened.
That... wasn't him.
He never touched her. Not physically. No matter how much he hated her, he never crossed that line.
He crouched again beside the couch, staring at her sleeping face.
She shifted slightly, her cheek rubbing into the cushion, and a soft, pained whimper escaped her lips.
He cursed under his breath.
"Who the fuck...?"
Then it clicked.
Manisha.
Malika.
Anika.
One of those three, no doubt. He had heard them screaming at her earlier, but never bothered to look. Why would he?
Because he hated her. Right?
Then why now... was his fist clenching in silent rage?
Why now... did the mark on her cheek feel like a scar on his control?
She flinched again in her sleep and turned her face slightly, the edge of her lip now visible a tiny cut at the corner. She hadn't even cleaned it.
Avyansh exhaled sharply through his nose and stood up, grabbing a clean handkerchief from his drawer. He opened the mini-fridge tucked inside the wardrobe and pulled out a cold water bottle.
Unscrewing the cap, he poured a bit of water onto the cloth, wrung it carefully, and then walked back.
He hovered.
His hand paused in the air... then moved gently.
He dabbed the cloth on her cheek.
Tara stirred, blinking groggily. Her eyes widened when she saw him so close.
"K-kya kar rahe ho?" she asked, barely above a whisper, still half-asleep.
( W.. what are you doing)
Avyansh didn't answer. His jaw was tight, his touch rough but not painful as he wiped the dried blood from her lip.
"Who. Did. This. ?" he asked flatly. But there was an edge in his voice.
Tara stared at him, her throat dry. She wanted to lie, but she didn't have the energy.
" dadi... thappad maara tha. Galti ho gayi thi..." she whispered.
( Dadi did , I did a mistake)
His fingers froze. Then slowly resumed.
"Galti," he repeated coldly. "Kaisi?"
( Mistake?... Like?)
"I was moving too slowly," she said, eyes fluttering closed again from exhaustion. "Because of my foot..."
Silence.
Avyansh pulled the blanket up over her shoulder, a little rougher than necessary perhaps to hide the flicker in his expression.
"Next time... tell me."
Tara's eyes flew open. "Why? So you can laugh at me too?"
His gaze darkened.
"No. So I can return the slap."
Tara blinked. Shocked.
But he stood up, walking toward his side of the bed like he hadn't said anything significant at all.
She just lay there, stunned staring at the man who swore he hated her...
But tonight...
He didn't ignore her pain.
He saw it.
And that changed something.
Even if neither of them was ready to admit it.
....................
Rajveer & Lavanya's Room - Midnight
The room was still and silent, blanketed in silver moonlight. The soft ticking of the antique wall clock and the faint rustle of the night wind were the only sounds filling the large, elegant space.
Rajveer lay in bed, working through a final email on his tablet. His sleeves were rolled up, eyes sharp, mind razor-focused. He'd just closed the screen when
"N-no... stop... don't-"
The sound made him pause.
He turned.
Lavanya was tossing in her sleep, her face contorted in fear, fists clutching the sheets. Beads of sweat coated her forehead, and her breath was ragged labored. Her lips trembled with words she couldn't form properly.
"Please... don't leave me... not again... not alone-!"
Rajveer sat up, startled. His brows furrowed deeply.
"Lavanya?" he called, confused. "Lavanya... wake up."
But she didn't.
Her body jolt suddenly, like she was falling from a height. She gasped, her chest heaving. Her eyes snapped open-but she wasn't awake. She was drowning in panic.
"No... no... papa... papa, aapko kuch nahi hoga... please..." she cried out, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.
Rajveer froze.
He had never... seen her like this.
Not even close.
"Lavanya!" he said more firmly now, reaching forward and grabbing her shoulders.
The moment he touched her, she screamed.
"No! Don't touch me! Don't-!"
"Lavanya! It's me. Rajveer."
His voice was hard but controlled, grounding.
Her eyes are wild and terrified finally met his. She blinked rapidly, gasping for air. Her entire body trembled as she clutched the bedsheet against her chest, unable to process what was real and what wasn't.
"I-it... it was just a dream..." she whispered brokenly, eyes still darting. "It felt... so real."
Rajveer exhaled, trying to keep his own composure.
He saw the tremors in her hands. The way her whole frame was shaking. Her lips had turned pale, and her breathing refused to slow.
"Where are your sleeping pills?" he asked, standing up, his voice lower now.
Lavanya looked at the bedside table. Then blinked.
"I-I forgot... I didn't take them tonight... I was just too tired."
Rajveer didn't say anything. He went straight to the drawer, found the pills, poured a glass of water, and brought them to her.
"Take it." he said softly
She took the pill with trembling fingers, sipping the water slowly.
There was silence.
But not the cruel, cold kind that usually lingers between them.
This was heavy... raw... like they were both seeing something they weren't supposed to.
Lavanya clutched the blanket around her tightly and sat against the headboard. She was trying hard to compose herself.
Rajveer was about to turn away when her whisper stopped him.
"It was the same nightmare again."
He paused. Looked back at her.
"I see the fire... my parents are in the car... I try to scream but nothing comes out. I try to open the door, but I can't... they burn in front of me."
Rajveer didn't move.
"They said it was an accident. But it wasn't," she continued, eyes still lost in that haunted place. "I... I saw someone standing there. Watching. I never told anyone. I buried it so deep... and every time I sleep without those pills, I remember it."
Her voice cracked. "They blamed me... everyone. My relatives. My cousins. 'Buri saaya ho tum'... They said I was cursed."
Rajveer stared at her. For the first time, her mask was gone. There was no calm Lavanya. No soft, smiling caretaker of his son. Just a broken girl... suffocating inside a woman's body.
Without a word, he moved to sit at the edge of the bed beside her. He didn't speak. He just placed his hand awkwardly, but gently on her wrist.
Her eyes widened slightly at the touch. It wasn't affection. It wasn't warm.
It was an anchor.
Silent. Heavy. Present.
"You're not cursed," Rajveer said quietly, not looking at her.
"I was wrong about you." ke confess
She blinked, startled.
He didn't say more.
But he didn't leave either.
He just sat there beside her, waiting until her breathing slowed. Until her trembling stopped. Until she finally leaned against the headboard, eyelids fluttering shut with exhaustion.
Tonight, for the first time, she slept without fear.
Because Rajveer didn't walk away.
........................
Next day
Rajveer & Lavanya's Bedroom Midnight
The luxurious room was cloaked in moonlight, soft shadows dancing across the marble floor. A chilled silence hung in the air. The only sound was the occasional tapping of Rajveer's fingers against his laptop as he worked late into the night.
The time on the bedside clock reads 1:27 AM.
Lavanya hadn't come to bed.
Again.
He didn't care. Or that's what he told himself.
But when the door creaked open, he looked up.
She entered slowly, exhaustion carved into her features. She didn't even glance his way. Just walked robotically to the bathroom, freshened up, and emerged in her simple nightdress, her hair tied into a loose braid.
Rajveer's eyes flicked toward her, then back to the screen. But something felt... off.
Lavanya stood beside the nightstand and opened the drawer. She pulled out a strip of sleeping pills, her fingers slightly trembling. Just as she popped one into her mouth
"Stop."
The command was sharp, cold, and sudden.
She froze.
Turning her head slowly, she saw Rajveer watching her his gaze unreadable.
"Put it down," he said again.
She hesitated but obeyed, placing the pill back in the strip.
"Since when do you take those?" His voice was calm but edged.
Lavanya looked down at the floor. "I've always taken them."
He frowned. "You've always-?"
Before he could finish, her knees buckled.
Rajveer caught her instinctively, shocked. "Lavanya?"
She clutched his arm tightly, shaking uncontrollably. Her breath hitched. Her chest rose and fell in erratic, panicked gasps.
"They're burning-again... I see it-I smell it-I-please... don't make me watch it again..."
Her voice was barely audible. Her nails dug into his shirt as she trembled violently, tears now streaming down her cheeks.
Rajveer stared frozen.
He had never seen her like this. Never once imagined this version of Lavanya.
The soft, obedient, composed woman who always served tea with a smile... was now curled up in a ball of panic in his arms, breaking apart piece by piece.
"Lavanya!" he said, firmer now. "Look at me. You're here. No one's burning. No fire."
But she didn't hear him. She was stuck-in that nightmare.
"They... said I killed them," she sobbed. "I tried to open the door-I tried... papa... mama... please-don't leave-!"
Rajveer slowly pulled her into his chest, awkwardly at first, then protectively. She clung to him like a drowning woman.
"Shh... shh... enough," he muttered, his voice low. "You're okay. You're here."
He had no idea what to dobut he didn't let go.
Minutes passed.
Her breathing finally slowed.
Still wrapped in his arms, she spoke in a broken whisper:
"Every time I sleep without those pills, I see the car. I see their bodies... trapped. I was just 18..."
Rajveer's expression shifted guilt, disbelief, something heavier.
"Why the hell didn't you tell anyone?" he asked, though his voice was quieter now.
Lavanya gave a bitter laugh through her tears. "Tell who, Rajveer? The husband who never looked at me? Or the family that only sees me as a maid? Or the people who already believe I bring bad luck?"
Silence.
He had no answer.
Because she was right.
And the worst part? He'd never even noticed.
"I didn't marry into this family," she said softly. "I was thrown into a prison and told to smile."
Rajveer looked at her for a long time. Something heavy flickered in his eyes regret... real, raw regret.
"Don't take those pills again," he said finally.
Lavanya blinked. "Why?"
"Because I'll be here." he assured
She turned to look at him.
His jaw was tense, fists clenched on his knees. But his eyes those sharp, deadly eyes held something she'd never seen before.
Concern.
Not love. Not yet.
But for the first time in years he saw her.
And she wasn't invisible anymore.
...........
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