The Soul's Unfinished Story Chapter 8: Trying to be Normal

The dining table is full. The air hums with forced normalcy—laughter, clinking plates, a shared performance. But beneath it, something raw simmers.

VARDHAN reaches for the last piece of roti.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

(smacking his hand) That’s mine.

Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)

(rubbing his hand) I don’t see your name on it.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

It’s implied.

Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)

(groaning) Oh God, not this again.

Avni (2 FL sister in law)

(smiling) You two fight like kids.

Reyansh (FL nephew)

(perking up) They are kids.

Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)

(mock glare) Excuse me, Reyansh beta, but who do you think changed your diapers?

Reyansh (FL nephew)

(smug) Not you.

Mira (FL eldest sister in law)

(raising an eyebrow) He’s right. You refused to touch him when he was a baby.

Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)

(defensive) That’s because he looked fragile. And kind of ugly.

Reyansh (FL nephew)

(gasping dramatically) Dad! Chachu called me ugly!

Akira Shekhawat (FL 1 elder brother)

(sighs) I mean… you were a weird-looking baby.

Reyansh (FL nephew)

(staring at him, betrayed) Et tu, Papa?

Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)

(muttering) This family is insane.

Avni (2 FL sister in law)

(laughing) Welcome to my world.

Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)

(hand on heart) Wife, you wound me.

Avni (2 FL sister in law)

(patting his shoulder) You’ll live.

INARA reaches for the roti again, but ARSH snatches it first.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

Seriously? You never eat the last piece.

Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)

(smirking) I do when it means watching you suffer.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

(gasping) This is betrayal.

Mira (FL eldest sister in law)

(shaking her head) I married into chaos.

Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)

(flatly) You chose this.

Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)

(noticing Inara’s silence, gently reaches over and places her hand on Inara’s arm) Softly. Eat something, beta. You’ve barely touched your plate.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

(forcing a smile) I’m fine, Mumma.

MOM brushes a strand of hair behind Inara’s ear. Her gaze lingers—worried, maternal.

Naintara Shekhawat (FL Mother)

(whispering) You don’t have to be fine all the time.

INARA looks away. Her throat tightens.

From the head of the table, MOHAN watches quietly. Eyes on Inara. Guilt shadows his face like a stain he can’t wipe clean.

VARDHAN and INARA exchange a glance. Then, as if rehearsed—

Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)

(in unison) No.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

(in unison) No.

REYANSH giggles. ARSH groans. MIRA mutters about losing brain cells.

PAPA lets out a faint exhale—a sound between a chuckle and a sigh. Barely there, but enough.

Vardan Shekhawat (FL 2 Elder Brother)

(smug) See? Even papa finds us entertaining.

Arsh Shekhawat(youngest brother)

More like tiring.

Avni (2 FL sister in law)

(grinning, looking around) Well, at least we know one thing.

Inara Shekhawat (FL)

What?

Mira (FL eldest sister in law)

No matter what happens, we’ll always be a family of menaces.

A beat. Quiet laughter echoes. Mumma gently tucks Inara’s dupatta in place. Papa keeps looking at her—like a man who broke something he doesn’t know how to fix.

For a fleeting moment, it almost feels like peace.

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