Shadows of Conflict

7 PM,

When Adrijay comes home, Sarika opens the door as usual, takes his bag, and hands him a glass of water. Adrijay smiles as he takes it and, looking around, asks, "Where are the kids and everyone else?"

Sarika lowers her gaze and replies, "The kids are studying in their room. Mother has been in her room since finishing her evening prayers, and devrani ji is also in her room."

Nodding, Adrijay says, "Oh, I see. By the way, sorry for being late today. Otherwise, we could have done the prayers together."

Sarika nods and replies, "It’s okay… You go and change your clothes. I'll bring your snacks." Saying this, she turns to leave with his bag when Adrijay holds her wrist, stopping her.

"But you will eat with me, right?" he asks.

His sudden touch makes Sarika's heartbeat race, but she composes herself and says, "No, I’m fasting—"

Cutting her off, Adrijay firmly says, "No fasting or anything. Just quietly bring tea, some peanuts, and roasted fox nuts to the room." Saying this, he heads upstairs.

Sarika shakes her head in refusal but still goes to the kitchen, makes tea, fries peanuts and fox nuts, and arranges everything on a tray before heading upstairs.

Upon entering the room, she sees Adrijay talking to the kids. She places the snacks on the table and tells them, "Kids, now let Papa eat. He hasn't eaten much since morning."

Adrijay smiles at her words and says, "It’s okay, Sarika. Let them stay with me." Saying this, he sits on the sofa opposite the table, and Tanishk and Adhik sit across from him, excitedly talking about their school.

Sarika sits beside Adrijay, picks up her cup of tea, and takes a sip. A serene expression crosses her face, and a small smile appears on her lips.

Adrijay, who had been listening to the kids, suddenly notices her smile and, for a moment, gets lost in looking at her.

Just then, Tanishk calls out to him, bringing him back to reality. He focuses on the kids again and continues talking with them.

After finishing their snacks, everyone comes downstairs. Sarika goes to the kitchen to put away the dirty dishes, while the kids sit on the sofa with Adrijay and turn on the TV.

At that moment, Yamini Ji comes out of her room. Seeing Adrijay, she walks over to him, frowning. "Adri, I need to talk to you!" she says sternly.

Hearing her, Adrijay mutes the TV, looks at her, and asks, "Yes, Maa! And why are you standing? Please sit down."

Yamini Ji sits on the sofa and, glaring at Tanishk, says, "Your son has made my life miserable, Adri! Look at Adhik—he doesn’t talk unnecessarily and does all his work quietly. But this Tanishk… He drives me crazy! He argues with me—he has no manners at all!"

Hearing this, Adrijay turns to look at Tanishk in anger, but the boy makes an innocent face and says, "Papa, it's nothing like that! In the afternoon, Dadi and Chachi were eating a lot of food, so I told Mumma to eat too. But Mumma said she was fasting. So, I just asked, ‘Aren't these two fasting? They’re eating so much, so why don't you eat too?’ That’s all I said! What was wrong with that, Papa? You yourself told me to take care of Mumma, and that’s all I was doing!"

Hearing this, Adrijay’s expression softens. He takes a deep breath and looks at Yamini Ji. "Maa, he just asked a question. What’s so wrong with that? He’s a child. You know small kids ask questions like this. There's nothing offensive in it," he says.

Yamini Ji glares at him in anger and snaps, "Oh, so now you’re taking his side too? Oh, I see! I forgot—you’ve become your wife’s puppet! Obviously, you’ll listen to her first. She must have already brainwashed you, and now this boy has done the rest. So why would you listen to your mother anymore?"

Hearing her words, Adrijay looks at her in disbelief. "Maa, what are you saying?"

Yamini Ji huffs and says, "I’m saying exactly what’s right! You’re becoming completely henpecked!"

Before Adrijay can say anything, Tanishk, who had been listening to all this against his mother, can’t bear it anymore. He looks at Adrijay with his innocent face and says, "Papa, do you know? Dadi even tried to create a fight between me and Bhaiya in the afternoon. She told Bhaiya that Mumma loves me more and doesn’t care about him."

Adrijay, shocked, turns to Yamini Ji and asks, "Maa, did you really say that?"

Yamini Ji, caught off guard, stammers, "Yes… so what? Sarika keeps talking about Tanu all the time. Won’t Adhik feel bad? And now even you have started favoring Tanishk over Adhik! Have you ever thought about how Adhik must be feeling? No, right? That’s why I said it! What’s wrong with that?"

Adrijay looks at her in disbelief. "Maa, I can't believe you're my mother. Do you even realize how your words can affect the kids? You’re just saying anything without thinking! What is making you so angry at me and my family? Will you tell me?" His tone is firm.

At his question, Yamini Ji quickly brings fake tears to her eyes and says, "Oh, so now they are your family? Adri, since when did you start saying ‘your family’ and ‘my family’? Aren’t we all one? But now you see us as separate! You’ve started hating us!"

Seeing her tears, Adrijay takes a deep breath, calms his anger, holds her hand, and gently says, "Maa, do you realize how your words can create a rift between the kids? If someone had tried to create a fight between me and Dev, how would you have felt? You always wanted us to be close, right? But the way you’re talking, Tanu and Adhu might grow apart. Do you want that to happen?"

Yamini Ji glares at Tanishk for a moment before quickly wiping her tears and putting on an innocent face. "Beta (Son), I was just expressing my point of view. I didn’t know it would cause any fights between them. I’m sorry, beta (son)! You are my only support. If you abandon me, where will I go? Please forgive me, Beta (son)! I’m even ready to fold my hands before you—I made a mistake!" she says, crying.

Adrijay immediately pulls her into a hug. "It’s okay, Maa. Please don’t cry like this. After Dad’s passing, you are all I have. How can I leave you? But Maa, remember one thing—I will always stand by you, but only as long as you’re right. If you’re ever wrong, you won’t find me by your side because I can never support lies or wrongdoing, even if it means going against my own loved ones."

Hearing his words, Yamini Ji panics for a moment but quickly reassures herself, thinking, No, no. I am absolutely right. Sarika is the one who’s wrong. My Adri will always be on my side, not hers.

Taking a relieved breath, she smiles at him and says, "Beta (Son), now you sit. I unnecessarily troubled you with all this when you were already tired."

Adrijay smiles slightly and says, "It’s okay, Maa. Who else will you share your feelings with if not me? Come, sit with us and watch a movie."

Yamini Ji nods and sits down.

Tanishk, sitting beside Adrijay, asks excitedly, "Papa, which movie will we watch?"

Adrijay affectionately ruffles his hair and says, "We’ll watch your favorite movie."

Tanishk grins happily but then notices Yamini Ji glaring at him. Smirking mischievously, he looks at her and grins wider, making her seethe in silent rage.

Smiling to himself, he thinks, You trouble my Mumma, right? Well, I made Papa scold you today. And if you trouble us again, I’ll keep complaining to him. Then you’ll understand!

Thinking this, he openly grins and climbs onto Adrijay’s lap, watching TV happily.

Meanwhile, Yamini Ji, fuming in anger, glares at him and thinks, I’ll deal with you and your mother later! Today, you tried to turn my son against me, didn’t you? Your mother must have taught you this! I won’t let you two get away with this…

With this thought, she angrily turns her attention back to the TV.

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How was the chapter?

Tell me in the comment section. One more thing neither I am supporting Adrijay not defending his actions. I am just trying to show the reality of a housewife. So, please don't write any offensive comment for me. You can criticize story but don't criticize me.

Next chapter target:- 300 votes and 80 comments.