Raghav stopped only after reaching home and started taking deep breaths. The puppy looked at him in surprise, wondering why this human was acting so strange. No one was chasing him, yet he ran like a ghost was after him.
Raghav noticed the puppy staring at him and, laughing, put him down and said while opening the door,"Actually, I'm an introvert... so I feel shy in front of people or crowds. Come on in..."
The puppy didn't understand much but followed him inside. Raghav pulled out a blanket, made a bed for the puppy and said,"Manage with this for today. Tomorrow I'll figure something out for you... Wait, your name! We have to decide that too... Ugh, the complications of human life... Let's just sleep now, we'll see tomorrow..."The puppy curled up in the blanket and slept, and Raghav went to sleep in his bed too.
Around midnight, Adit came home and turned on the light. He was startled to see the puppy, and the puppy, now awake, barked loudly seeing a stranger in the house. Hearing the noise, Raghav got up. Adit tried to calm the puppy, but it sank its tiny teeth into his shoe. Adit tried to shake it off, but the puppy wouldn't let go.
Raghav pulled the puppy back and scolded it,"Quiet, absolutely quiet!"
The puppy went silent, frightened by his tone. Raghav placed him back in the blanket and said to Adit,"Sorry bro, he didn't recognize you so he started barking."
Adit, removing his shoes, asked,"But where did you get him from?"
Raghav, petting the puppy, replied,"Found him on the street. Poor thing, how would he survive in the cold? So I brought him home."
Adit, removing his jacket, said,"That's all fine, my social worker friend, but what will we tell Mary Aunty? She's totally against keeping dogs. If she finds out, she'll throw both of us out along with him."
Raghav:"We'll keep him inside the house only. He won't go out... If Aunty never sees him, how would she even know?"
Adit, lying on the bed, said,"And what about his barking? He'll scream loud enough to announce his presence to the entire neighborhood..."
Raghav, sadly:"Hmm... that's true..."
Adit, turning to face the puppy:"By the way, what's his name?"
Raghav:"Haven't named him yet... If you have a suggestion, give it."And he got back on his bed.
Adit thought for a while and said,"Maxi... how's that?"
Raghav slapped his head and said,"Maxi is what moms wear, idiot! That's not going to be the name."
Adit:"Then Max?"
Raghav, after thinking a bit:"Umm... I felt happy when I found him, so maybe Happy? No... Love? No, that's too much... Umm... Joy? How's that?"
Adit:"Awesome... Also, Mary Aunty's son is named Joy too. This is going to be fun teasing her... Epic, bro!"And he pulled Raghav's cheeks.
Raghav, irritated:"Yaar, please don't do that, it hurts..."
Adit, affectionately:"Aww, my baby, your cheeks hurt?"And pulled them again.
Raghav, half-laughing:"Swear to God, if you do it again, I'll choke you..."
Adit laughed and turned to sleep. Raghav too fell asleep a little later.
Rishikesh
It was 10 p.m., and Kabir was standing in his balcony singing loudly, disturbing the whole neighborhood.
Badtameez Dil... Badtameez Dil... Badtameez Dil... Maane Na...
Sure, Kabir had a lovely voice that people loved listening to—but not at midnight. Aman ji had stepped out for some work, and Chandrika ji was shouting from the kitchen while cooking,"Kabir! Stop it right now or you'll get a beating!"
But Kabir being Kabir, would never listen to anyone. Meanwhile, Siya, covering her ears, walked into Kabir's room. The room was a mess. She threw a pillow at his head, pausing him for a moment, but then he started singing even louder.
(Singing more nonsense lyrics...)
Just then, Chandrika ji stormed into the room and pulled Kabir's ears:"God gave you a good voice and you think you're Arijit Singh now? Siya, dear, get his guitar!"
Kabir, in pain:"Mom, please! Let go, it hurts... Ah... Mom!"
As Siya moved to take the guitar, Kabir clutched it and yelled,"Lizard! I swear if you touch my guitar, I'll throw you off the balcony!"
Siya snatched it, stuck her tongue out and said,"Do your worst..."
Kabir tried to resist but Chandrika ji held him down. Siya left with his guitar while Kabir stood there sulking. Chandrika ji gave him a flick on the head and said,"Clean this room before thinking about your guitar again!"Muttering, she went downstairs.
Kabir started cleaning. Just then, Kaki came upstairs, took things from his hands and said,"Baba, leave it. I'll do it."
Kabir was waiting for this. He pulled out a white jacket from the wardrobe and said,"I'm going out, Kaki. Don't tell Mom, okay?"
Kaki smiled and nodded. Kabir also picked up Rocky, his sleeping dog. Poor Rocky must be thinking what kind of owner he got—neither lets him live peacefully nor die...
Siya kept Kabir's guitar in Chandrika ji's room and then went home.
Anurag reached home and ran into Soundarya ji, who was carrying a tray of tea for his father. Seeing her, Anurag's anger flared, and he slapped the tray away, shouting,"How many times have I told you not to appear in front of me? Don't you understand in one go?"
Just then, Mahendra Chauhan, his father, came and scolded him:"Anurag! Is this how you speak to elders? She is your mother!"
Anurag cut him off,"She's just your second wife—not my mother. And never will be."
Mahendra, growling:"Your grandfather has spoiled you too much. That's why you've forgotten how to differentiate between right and wrong. She may not be your mother, but she's your aunt—your mom's younger sister. At least respect that relationship!"
Anurag burst out laughing. Soundarya and Mahendra were stunned. Suddenly, his laughter stopped. He stared at Mahendra with fiery eyes and said,"Respect relationships? From you? What a disgusting joke. My mom hasn't even been dead two months and you married this woman. And now you're preaching about relationships?"
Mahendra scolded:"I did what I did for you and your sister. So you two wouldn't miss your mother!"
Anurag:"Or so you wouldn't miss having a wife! Because everyone was here—chachi, mami, dadi—we didn't need another woman. Only you did. Replacing your wife was your choice. And taking her sister's place was hers. But I and my sister... we're still living like orphans. We don't need you or your wife."
Before Mahendra could reply, Apoorva stepped in and said:"Dad, please. Just because you decided something doesn't make it everyone's decision. I and bhai are enough for each other. And we have Grandpa too. So please, keep your wife and son away from us."
Seeing the fight escalating, Soundarya held Mahendra's arm and gestured for him to stop. Mahendra glared at them one last time and went into his room.
Just then, Anant came back from school. Sensing the tense atmosphere, he quietly turned back and left. He knew if Anurag saw him, things would get worse. Anurag would get angry again, Mahendra would argue again, and Grandpa would scold him too.
Anant, a 9th-grade topper and fun-loving boy, was always treated poorly at home. Anurag couldn't stand him, though Apoorva spoke kindly to him because she believed children shouldn't pay for their parents' mistakes.
Apoorva, a 22-year-old college student, was one of the most beautiful girls in her college. Fair, hazel-eyed, and confident—she stood out. She was also working as a manager in a company, gaining experience.
Anurag, fuming, went to his room and started smashing things. Apoorva stopped him:"Anurag, get a hold of yourself! What are you doing?"
Anurag yelled:"Didn't you see how Dad was speaking for that woman today? He's no longer our dad. He's just her perfect husband now!"
Apoorva scolded:"Don't say that. Even if you don't accept her as your mom, insulting her like this is wrong. I've always stood by you in everything, but you have to learn to control your anger. You're going to run our company one day—you need to learn self-control. Now go change and come down for lunch."
Anurag stood there for a moment, then took his clothes and went to the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Apoorva came downstairs and told a maid to set the table. Then she asked,"Has Anant come home yet?"
Maid:"No ma'am, not yet."
Apoorva:"Alright. If he comes, tell him to go straight to his room. Make sure he doesn't run into Anurag."
Maid:"Yes ma'am."
Anurag came downstairs just as Anant arrived at the door. Apoorva was sitting on the sofa reading a file. As soon as she saw both, she quickly walked to Anurag and said,"Come on, Anurag. Lunch is ready."
Anurag walked away without expression. Apoorva gestured to Anant to go upstairs. Anant smiled and went to his room.