The Soul's Unfinished Story
Chapter 4: Shekhawat FAMILY DINING ROOM – NIGHT
*A large, elegant dining room with a table that could host a kingdom. At one end, INARA sits, slowly stirring her soup. Around her, a full cast of chaos: VARDAN, ARSH, AKIRA, MIRA, AVNI, MAMA, PAPA, and little REYANSH. The table is full of food—and full of noise.*
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
The dining table was a battlefield.
Not in the dramatic, cutthroat way—no, this was a war of words, a clash of egos, and an endless competition for who could be the loudest and most annoying.
And Vardan, of course, was leading the charge.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(arms raised, grand declaration)
Let’s all take a moment to acknowledge the greatest brother in this house—me.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(snorting)
Bold of you to assume that title when I exist.
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(not even looking up from his plate)
Neither of you qualify.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(placing hand dramatically on chest)
Wow. Betrayal. Inara, back me up.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(raising an eyebrow)
I have amnesia. I don’t know who any of you are.
Mira (FL eldest sister in law)
(chuckling)
She’s got a point.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(gasping)
You wound me. I was your favorite! We had a bond deeper than—
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(cutting in, deadpan)
Debt collectors and unpaid loans?
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(clapping like it’s a performance)
Ohhh, she got you.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(pointing his fork at her)
Alright, that’s it. I was going to tell you about the time I saved your life—
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(cutting in calmly)
From what? Homework?
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(scowling)
From drowning—
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(smirking)
In your nonsense?
Avni (2 FL sister in law)
(shaking her head, amused)
Why do I feel like this story is exaggerated?
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(scoffs)
Excuse me, I don’t exaggerate.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(in perfect sync)
Yes, you do.
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(in perfect sync)
Yes, you do.
*MIRA and AVNI exchange “we married these idiots” glances.*
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(I shook my head, amused but exhausted. This wasn’t peace. But maybe it was comfort.)
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
I still don’t remember any of this.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(dismissing her with a wave)
That’s because your brain is repressing my greatness so you don’t miss me too much.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(stirring her soup, dryly)
Or because my survival instincts are kicking in.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(grinning)
See? She doesn’t need her memory to roast you.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(groaning)
You were way nicer before.
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(sighing, calm but done)
Can we eat in peace?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
*But peace had never been a concept in this house.*
*A beat of silence. Then—*
Mohan Shekhawat(FL father)
(casually, mid-bite)
Don’t marry Nivaan.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(stone-faced)
Okay.
*Dead silence. Everyone freezes mid-chew.*
Mira (FL eldest sister in law)
drops her spoon with a *clang**.
Avni (2 FL sister in law)
*AVNI stares.*
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
Stares
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
Open Mouth wide in shock
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
Hainnnn
Avni (2 FL sister in law)
Wait, what?
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(leaning in, mock concern)
Blink twice if you're being possessed by a reasonable ghost.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(sighing)
I will never marry a man who didn’t even have time to visit his half-dead fiancée.
*A tiny gasp from across the table. All eyes turn to REYANSH, clutching his spoon in shock.*
Reyansh (FL nephew)
You were half-dead?!
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(patting his head solemnly)
Yes, beta. And now she’s come back to haunt us all.
Reyansh (FL nephew)
(narrowing his eyes)
Can you float?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(smirk tugging at her lips)
Unfortunately, no.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(dramatic sigh)
A tragic disappointment.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
(snapping, firm)
You should have never been with that boy in the first place!
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(turning to her, unimpressed)
Oh? So, let me get this straight—one day, I’ll actually die, and he’ll be too busy again. Is that what you want?
*MIRA chokes on her drink. AVNI turns to AKIRA.*
Avni (2 FL sister in law)
Should we be concerned about her new dark humor?
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(exhausted but resigned)
Honestly? It was inevitable in this family.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(smug)
I, for one, am proud.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(leaning back in his chair)
Okay, but if she’s not marrying Nivaan, who is she marrying?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(scoffing)
Why does it matter?
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(grinning)
Because if you must marry, we have standards, Inara. We can’t have some boring guy joining this family.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(nodding)
Exactly. He needs to have a strong survival instinct.
Mira (FL eldest sister in law)
(grinning)
Basically, he has to be able to handle this family.
Reyansh (FL nephew)
(perking up)
Can we pick him? Like a pet?
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(groaning)
Reyansh, your aunt is not a dog.
Reyansh (FL nephew)
(pouting)
But if she was, she’d be a cool one.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(nodding proudly)
See? The kid gets it.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
(still locked on her own drama)
Inara, at least consider marriage before I die.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(flatly)
You’re perfectly healthy.
Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)
(huffing)
For now! But what if I die before you give me grandchildren?
Reyansh (FL nephew)
(perking up again, excited)
Ooooh, can I pick her baby’s name?
Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)
(putting his head in his hands)
Reyansh, eat your food.
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(leaning toward INARA)
So, thoughts on naming your firstborn after me?
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(blankly)
I’d rather name my child Gremlin.
Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)
(laughing, nearly choking)
She got you again!
Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)
(muttering)
You were so much nicer before.
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
(smiling faintly)
Tragic, really.
*A pause. INARA looks around. Bickering, laughter, chaos. Her chaos.*
Inara Shekhawat (FL)
*Despite the confusion, the missing memories, the ache of being a stranger in my own home—this felt like home.
And maybe, just maybe, I could find my place here again.*
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