After Abhir walked out of the Goenka house, a heavy silence filled the air. The weight of old wounds and shattered expectations pressed down on everyone. Manish Goenka sat on the sofa, looking more fragile than ever, his eyes fixed on the door through which Abhir had stormed out.
Swarna sat beside him, her heart aching for the grandchild they had lost once and were on the verge of losing again. "Manish ji..." she whispered, placing a trembling hand on his.
"We lost him again Swarna" Manish said hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes, filled with regret, flickered toward Abhira and Ruhi, who were still standing there, shaken but determined.
"No, you haven't," Abhira spoke up firmly, walking forward. "He just needs time, Par nanu. He will come around."
Manish let out a hollow laugh. "We've already lost him for so many years, Abhira. I thought... I thought
seeing him again after all these years would be different. That we could start fresh. But he still sees me as the villain who took him away from his mother."
Ruhi crouched beside him and took his hands in hers. "Par nanu, Abhi has been through so much. He's been carrying this pain for years. He lashed out today, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. He's just... scared."
Swarna nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Scared Of trusting us again"
"Of loving this family and losing everything all over again."Swarna said to herself weeping.
Manish's eyes burned. "How do I fix it? How do I make him see that I regret everything?"
"You don't have to do anything, Par Nanu," Ruhi reassured. "Just wait for him. Let him come to us in his own time. Forcing him will only push him away."
Abhira placed a hand on his shoulder. "He didn't reject us completely, par nanu. He came here with me because maybe in the corner of his heart he still cares for you. That means there's still hope."
Manish looked at his granddaughters, their eyes shining with conviction.
A part of him wanted to believe them.
A part of him feared it was too late.
But if there was even the smallest chance of bringing Abhir back into the family, he had to hold on to it.
"I'll wait," he murmured. "No matter how long it takes."
Ruhi squeezed his hands. "We all will."
The ride back to the Poddar house was eerily quiet.
Neither Abhira nor Ruhi spoke, their minds still reeling from the emotional whirlwind they had just endured at the Goenka house.
The weight of Abhir's pain, his outburst, and his deep-seated wounds settled heavily on them.
By the time they reached the Poddar mansion, the family had been eagerly awaiting their return, excitement evident on their faces.
But the moment they saw Abhira and Ruhi's downcast expressions, the joy dimmed.
"What happened?" Armaan asked immediately, concern flashing in his eyes as he stepped forward toward Abhira.
Rohit, too, frowned as he approached Ruhi. "Why do you both look so upset?"
Kiara and Charu, who had arrived behind them, shared a look but remained silent, already aware of the situation.
Armaan stepped forward immediately, his sharp eyes scanning his wife's face. "Abhira?" His voice was gentle yet firm. He could see the way her hands trembled slightly, how her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Meanwhile, Rohit moved toward Ruhi, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. "Ruhi, what happened?" he asked softly, reaching out for her.
That was all it took. The moment Ruhi felt the warmth of her husband's hand, her composure broke. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking.
Abhira, too, could no longer hold back. The weight of the evening crashed over her, and without hesitation, Armaan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "Shh, I'm here," he murmured, stroking her hair.
Between quiet sobs, both sisters recounted everything-Abhir's breakdown, his resentment, his decision to stay away from the Goenkas.
"He's in so much pain," Abhira whispered against Armaan's chest. "I wanted to help, but I don't know how."
Ruhi clutched Rohit's shirt. "He's never going to forgive them, Rohit. I've never seen him like this before... so broken."
Both husbands listened patiently, their arms steady around their wives, absorbing their grief.
Abhira inhaled shakily. "He-he completely broke down, Armaan." Her voice cracked, and before she knew it, tears spilled down her cheeks.
Armaan sighed and sat beside her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Shh, it's okay," he murmured. "He's been holding this in for years, Abhira. It was bound to come out one way or another."
She clung to him, her heart aching for her brother. "He blames Bade Papa for everything. He says he can't stay under the same roof as him. And I-I don't even know how to fix this."
Armaan pressed a kiss on her hair. "Maybe you don't have to fix it, Abhira. Maybe you just have to be there for him until he's ready."
Abhira wiped her tears and nodded.
Whereas Ruhi was still sobbing in Rohit's embrace.
"I've never wished my billa boy would have gone through so much," Ruhi whispered against Rohit's chest. "Seeing him after all these years t..today... he was shattered, Rohit."
Rohit sighed, holding her tighter. "It's not easy to face your past, Ruhi. He's been carrying this alone for too long."
She sniffled. "I just wanted everything to be okay when Abhira told me she found him. I thought if he came home, things would heal. But now, I wonder if we forced him into something he wasn't ready for."
"You and bhabhi did what you thought was best," Rohit reassured her. "And he knows that. Give him time, Ruhi."
Ruhi nodded.
As the evening approached both the sisters were alone in the room, Abhira's phone buzzed. She wiped her eyes and glanced at the screen. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the sender-Bhaiâ¤ï¸.
Bhaiâ¤ï¸: I'm sorry for earlier. I shouldn't have lashed out like that. I just... I couldn't breathe in that house, Abhira. But I don't want you to worry. I checked into a hotel. Here's my location.
Abhira exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her.
He was safe and still in the city he didn't push her away.
A relieved breath left her lips. She quickly rushed to Ruhi's room and showed the message to Ruhi, whose teary eyes brightened a little.
"He texted," Ruhi murmured. "At least he's safe."
Abhira sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Let's go see him."
"Yes," Abhira smiled. "He wants time, but at least he reached out."
Ruhi hummed. "Let's go meet him now we gave him enough space time's up now I don't want him to be alone anymore."
Abhira nodded. "Me too! Let's go."
At the Park Near Abhir's Hotel
Abhir sat on a secluded bench, staring at the dark waters of the lake in the distance. The cool night breeze brushed against his face, but his mind was still tangled with emotions.
When he heard footsteps, he turned to see Abhira and Ruhi approaching.
"You two don't know when to quit, do you?" he muttered, though there was no bite in his words as his sisters literally emotionally blackmailed him to meet them right now.
Ruhi plopped down beside him. "Nope. You're stuck with us."
Abhira sat on his other side. "You okay?"
Abhir exhaled. "Not really. But I will be. I just... need time to process everything."
"We understand," Ruhi said softly.
Abhira placed a hand on his. "Take all the time you need, Bhai. But promise me, you won't shut us out?"
Abhir looked at his sisters-the only family he truly felt connected to. His heart clenched.
"I promise."
Abhira and Ruhi exchanged relieved smiles.
Then Abhir glanced at them and narrowed his eyes. "Wait... You two live in the same house and where together when you called?"
Abhira and Ruhi smiled, exchanging looks.
Abhir's brows shot up. "Wait a minute... Don't tell me-"
Ruhi groaned. "Okay, don't freak out-"
"You're both married into the same family?!" Abhir nearly choked on his own breath.
Abhira sighed. "Yes. Ruhi is married to Rohit, and I'm married to Armaan."
Abhir stared at them, processing. Then, to their surprise, he burst out laughing.
"This is insane!" He smirked. "You both went from sisters to co-sisters!"
Ruhi rolled her eyes. "What's bad in that?"
Abhir grinned. "I mean, how do they handle your double madness? Do you guys gang up on your husbands or-"
Abhira fake hurt "Haww! Bhai you think like that about us.."
Ruhi smacked his arm. "Stop teasing us, Billa boy."
Abhir chuckled. "I have to! This is comedy gold."
Ruhi huffed. "You know what? I'm not even telling you the best part."
Abhir arched a brow. "Oh? There's more?"
Ruhi smirked. "You have a four-month-old nephew. My son, Daksh."
Abhir's teasing expression faltered. His heart skipped. "Nephew?"
Abhira pulled out her phone and showed him a picture of a tiny baby bundled in blankets, his little hands curled into fists, his eyes wide and curious.
Abhir stared at the picture, completely awestruck. "He's... beautiful." His voice was barely a whisper.
Ruhi smiled. "You'll love him. He's the sweetest baby ever."
Abhir swallowed hard. He never imagined himself as an uncle, never thought about holding a tiny life in his arms.
But now, staring at Daksh's picture, something inside him shifted.
"I want to meet him," Abhir said firmly.
Abhira and Ruhi beamed. "Then come for lunch tomorrow," Ruhi nudged.
Abhir hesitated. "I don't know if I'm ready to meet new people."
Ruhi glared at him.
Abhira placed a hand on his shoulder. "Poddar family is so chill, they are really excited to meet you bhai. You already met Charu and Kiara she is your fan , they will all love you. Come for us naa please bhai. Atleast your nephew Daksh."
Abhir exhaled, thinking.
Finally, he nodded. "Okay. I'll come."
Ruhi cheered while Abhira hugged him tightly. "You won't regret it, Bhai."
And for the first time in a long time, Abhira and Ruhi felt hopeful.
Their brother was finally taking a step forward.
For Abhir, the first time in years, he felt a small sense of belonging again.