Episode 3
Harshita Mishra
Hello guys… did you miss me? *shouting excitedly, waving her hand*
She’s the daughter of Dad’s PA, Rakesh Mishra. Her mother passed away when she was just two years old. She came to live with us when her father joined our household, and over time, all of us siblings grew close to her. She’s our little sister—our princess.
She sat beside me, took my hands, and rested her head on my shoulder.
Vijay Singh Rathore/ML's Grandfather
Hi, princess. *greeted her, making her giggle*
Vijay Singh Rathore/ML's Grandfather
Harshu, did you eat something? *asked, Before Harshita could respond*
Abeer Singh Rathore/ML's Younger Brother
*Jumped in and said* Mom, she only eats brains. You don’t need to worry about this chatterbox.
Harshita Mishra
Bhai, see! He teases me. *whined to me, making a cute puppy face*
Avinash Singh Rathore(ML)
Abeer, shut your mouth before I block your cards. *warned him, though both of them continued making exaggerated faces at each other to tease and play*
Harshita Mishra
By the way, whose photo is that? *suddenly asked, noticing the picture in Mom’s hands*
Abhishek Singh Rathore/ML's Younger Brot
Oh, she’s Avi bhaiya’s would-be wife. *answered with a grin*
Harshita Mishra
*gasped in excitement and sat beside Mom, peering at the photo*
Harshita Mishra
Wow, she’s so pretty! I want to call her bhabhi already! *beamed*
Avinash Singh Rathore(ML)
That’s it. I’m going *said while standing up* I’m not going to marry her. End of discussion."
Everyone looked at me with their puppy faces again. It was seriously annoying.
Radhika Karan Singh Rathore/ML's Mother
Avi beta, at least look at the photo. You might like it. And I promise, this is the last time I’ll ever ask you to get married. *said gently*
Avinash Singh Rathore(ML)
Okay then. I said no. End of discussion. *said while hoping that would be the last time this topic ever came up*
Radhika Karan Singh Rathore/ML's Mother
No... *said firmly* You have to consider this as a final proposal. Just think about it. If you like her, then meet her. After that, you can decide. We’ll give you fifteen days. If you like her, we move forward. If you don’t, then I promise—I’ll never bring up marriage again.
*trying really hard to convince Avinash*
Avinash Singh Rathore(ML)
Okay... I’ll consider it seriously. *said at last, accepting his defeat*
I looked at Dadu, then at Dad. There was a different kind of glow in their eyes—hopeful, maybe even proud.
Mom handed me the photo, and I returned to my room, determined to catch up on sleep. I hadn’t slept properly for a week, and today seemed like the perfect day to do just that.
The alarm rang beside me. I looked at it — 6 a.m. I put my book on the side table and stretched. One more sleepless night. It's my routine now — sleep for a few hours or not at all.
I got up from bed and went to the washroom. After finishing my routine, I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, but first I had to do some dusting. I did the dusting, then made breakfast and lunch before heading to college.
These chores are normal for me now, or rather, compulsory. I have no choice. For the past few years, this has been my routine. I prepare lunch for myself, Tushar bhaiya, and Priya bhabhi. They sleep while I work. Do they help? That’s the most useless question to ask.
Today is Sunday, so my focus is to finish all the work before they wake up and take food for me to my room for the rest of the day. Did I want to meet them? No. Their words hurt less than their eyes, which show only disgust and hate for me.
Only bhabhi shows her emotions openly. I somehow manage. But my own brother? He shows even more hatred than she does. I try hard to avoid them both. When Maa and Papa were alive, bhai and bhabhi only verbally assaulted me. But after they passed, bhabhi started to beat me.
I pace my work speed as I make breakfast — aalo paratha, bhaiya's favourite.
Priya Sharma/FL's Sister-in-law
Oh ho, the lady of the house making her brother's favorite breakfast... *taunts Aarushi as she enters the kitchen*
Priya Sharma/FL's Sister-in-law
*Stands beside Aarushi and continues* So what do you want now? Home, money, or our lives — what do you want?
I didn’t say anything to her malicious words. It's better if I don't concentrate on what she says.
She held my arm in her tight grip, digging her nails into my skin and leaving marks. She held my jaw in a tight grip.
Priya Sharma/FL's Sister-in-law
*Said through gritted teeth* If you’re trying to get back on his good list, you'll fail. We all know what you are and how you're capable of destroying everything. Like how you destroyed my life by bringing your bad luck into it.
She released me with such force that I stumbled back on my feet. I held back my tears, trying not to let her feel successful.
She left the kitchen, and I went back to finish my incomplete work with shaking hands. My appetite died long ago — now I eat only to survive.
Tushar Sharma/FL's Older Brother
Sign those papers as soon as possible, or you know what I’m capable of doing. *told Aarushi or rather, threatened her*
When I went back to my room. He sat at the dining table eating paratha. Furthermore, he hasn’t looked at me in years. He was never exactly the fun-loving, cool big brother, always a bit sulky — but this version of him has destroyed the little sister in me.
I didn’t say anything. I went into my room, locked the door, and looked at our family photo. Yes, I had a family — a happy family — but it's gone now, far away.
Manisha di is my strength during these hard days. She even offered to let me live with them, but this house holds Maa and Papa’s memories. Their voices, their smell, their laughter — every beautiful memory lives here.
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