Elders were seated at the dining table — Kritika, Ishika, Karan, and Namesh — all doing breakfast together. The atmosphere was calm, the usual morning chit-chat mixing with the clinking of cutlery.
Between a bite, Ishika looked around and asked,
"Bhabhi, Dhairya kha h?"
Kritika wiped her hands and replied casually,
"Mandir gaya h… aata hoga."
Ishika smiled proudly,
"Kitna smjhdaar hna humara Dhairya."
Everyone smiled softly at her fondness.
Narender snorted under his breath,
"Haan… kaash tumhara Rudraksha bhi hota."
He added sharply, glancing at Ishika with clear irritation,
"Pr usse toh kisi ki nhi suni hoti h."
Ishika's smile faded for a second.
Kritika and Karan exchanged a quick look — they had noticed his tone. With gentle smiles, they stepped in immediately.
"Aisa nhi bhaisab…" Karan said calmly,
"humara Rudra bhi kitna smjhdaar h. Itna acha doctor h."
Kritika nodded in support, "Bilkul."
Everyone smiled and continued eating.
And then—
Footsteps.
Slow, confident… the kind that makes a whole room go quiet for a second.
Rudraksha entered.
Crisp white shirt, sleeves slightly folded, denim jeans, hair perfectly set like he just walked out of a magazine cover. His jawline sharp, expression calm but unreadable — that signature cold-but-silent-protector aura.
The sunlight from the window hit him perfectly, making his features stand out even more.
For a moment, everyone looked up.
Not because he demanded attention…
but because Rudraksha Malhotra naturally owned any space he walked into.
He walked towards the dining table with steady steps and said in a low, composed voice:
"Good morning."
His eyes moved around the table — warm to Kritika, respectful to Karan, soft to Ishika…
…and then deliberately skipped Narender.
Ishika smiled instantly, her eyes lighting up the way only a mother's can.
"Good morning, beta. Aaja, breakfast le."
Her tone had pure affection and pride.
Rudra sat down calmly, like someone who has nothing to prove but everything under control.
Narender watched him for a moment — the confidence, the silence, the composure.
He straightened his back, cleared his throat, and finally said,
voice filled with an odd mix of pride and tension:
"Shi h tum aa gye… mujhe tumse ek bahut important baat krni h."
The table stilled again.
Everyone's eyes shifted between Narender … and Rudra.
Rudra lifted his gaze slowly, eyebrow raising just a little —
calm, unbothered, completely in control.
--------
At the Mandir
The mandir was peaceful, bathed in soft morning light streaming through the open windows.
A boy stood near the Shivling, performing the aarti with calm precision. Every movement deliberate, every glance serene. This was Dhairya—the kind of presence that made the whole place feel lighter, calmer, peaceful.
Another boy quietly joined him, slipping into the ritual effortlessly. This was Ritvik, his energy playful, teasing, a stark contrast to Dhairya's tranquility.
The aarti ended. Dhairya folded his hands, whispered a soft prayer, and smiled slightly.
Ritvik nudged him, smirking. "Kya yaar, har Monday subah-subah mandir aake kya milta h?" he teased.
Dhairya, calm as ever, smiled faintly. "Shivji ka ashirwad aur shanti milti h."
Ritvik laughed. "Shanti? Bhai mujhe toh der tak sone mai hi shanti milti h!"
Dhairya shook his head, a small amused smile on his lips. "Tujhe samajh nahi aayegi. Real shanti milti h sirf patience aur devotion se."
Ritvik rolled his eyes. "Hmm… mujhe pass karna h phir. Sleeping is safer, bro."
They walked out of the mandir and reached Dhairya's car. Dhairya opened the door and called to the driver.
"Jaldi chaliye," he said calmly.
Ritvik leaned against the car, curious. "Itni bhi kya jaldi h?"
Dhairya smirked slightly. "Bevakuf tauji ko kuch important announcement karni h, bulaya h."
Ritvik froze for a moment, eyes widening. "Wait… daredevil mera matlab h, tauji ko announcement karni h?"
Dhairya laughed softly. "Tu tauji ke baare mai baat hote hi aise kyu darta h? Thode strict h, par bure nahi."
Ritvik shook his head, smirking. "Haan bhai, thode hi strict h… puri duniya mai mai sirf do logo se darta hu—tere tauji aur mere papa. Dono devils h."
Dhairya just ignored him, as usual, opening the back side and settling in.
------
I hope you liked this chapter.
Now tell me…
What do you think Namish and Narendra are about to announce? 👀
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Om Parvati-Pataye Har Har Mahadev 🤍
~Shrii