Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Pumpkins 

Inside the chamber, Innaya finally looked up from the bed, her soft eyes falling on Ved. She had overheard enough to understand he was leaving.

Innaya (voice breaking, almost pleading):
"You're going... to London? Without me?"

Ved hesitated, then nodded gently.
Ved (softly):
"Yes... just for two days. It's important."

Her lips trembled, tears brimming as she whispered:
"So even you... you'll leave me? I thought... I thought you'd stay..."

Ved's chest tightened. He knelt beside her, cupping her trembling hands.
Ved (firm, soothing):

"No, Innaya. I'm not leaving you But It's important but remember Wherever you go, I'll be there. Always."

The tears spilled, her face burying into his shoulder as she whispered shakily:
"Promise me... don't let me be alone again."

Ved wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, his voice steady despite the storm inside him:
"Never. You'll never be alone, Innaya. Not while I'm here."

Outside, the Rathoure boys' envy burned hotter, their minds racing with jealousy at the sight of her tears falling only for Ved, her trust given only to him.

Upstairs – Innaya's Chamber

Ved stood near the window, arms folded, silent. Myra was beside him, her tone reassuring.

Myra (firmly, to Ved):
"I'll take care of her while you're gone. Two days, that's all. She won't be alone, I promise."

Ved's eyes softened, his voice low but filled with respect:
"Thank you... Myra Maa. I trust you completely. Still... it feels wrong. She'll know something is off. And if she remembers... if she dreams again... all of this will be my fault."

What they didn't realize—just outside, Eshan had been passing by. He froze mid-step, hearing fragments of their whisper. His chest tightened, suspicion clawing at him.

Eshan's inner thoughts (burning):
Dreams? Fault? Why is Myra involved too... and why is Ved calling her Maa? What's going on ? I have to find

He stepped back quietly, the storm inside him growing darker.

Rathoure Mansion – Innaya's Chamber

The mansion settled into an uneasy silence after Ved left. The sound of the closing car door echoed faintly through the golden corridors, leaving a strange emptiness in its wake.

Innaya sat on her bed, hugging her knees, staring at the window. The soft morning light spilled across her room, but she didn't move. Not to eat, not to greet anyone, not to leave her sanctuary.

Her phone lay beside her, notifications from the family flashing gently, but she didn't reach for it. The warmth of Ved's presence lingered in the room, and the thought of facing the Rathoure boys—whose jealousy she could almost feel radiating through the walls—kept her rooted to the bed.

Innaya (whispering to herself, voice shaky):
"Why... why does it feel like leaving him made everything heavier? They'll be angry... upset... jealous... I can't face them."

Downstairs, the Rathoure family had begun to stir. Samyukta and Abhinay were already discussing minor household matters in the garden. Myra hovered near the dining hall, concerned, while the boys fumed quietly on the sofa, each lost in their own jealousy and frustration.

Eshan (grumbling to the others):
"She hasn't come out yet... after everything, she just hides in her room?"

Zayan (cold, muttering):
"Typical... trying to avoid us. And Ved's gone. I bet she's thinking she's safe from our notice."

Aayan (dryly):
"Safe? She's always under Ved's influence. Now it's just us... waiting... watching. She can't hide forever."

Kabir (gritting his teeth):
"And the fact she didn't even glance at us downstairs... she knows we care. She's ignoring us on purpose."

Rudra (crossing arms, darkly):
"She doesn't care who's jealous. She just... chooses her comfort. And Ved's absence only proves... she'll lean on whoever she wants."

Hours ticked slowly. Innaya remained in her chamber, curled up on her bed, alternating between scrolling through her phone silently and closing her eyes to think. Each notification downstairs, each muted conversation of the boys, only made her sink further into her quiet cocoon.

Innaya (softly, to herself):
"I need time... time to breathe... to think. Ved... he'll understand. They... they'll have to wait."

The mansion, once bustling with tension and movement, felt still—save for the silent storm brewing in the hearts of the Rathoure boys and the quiet resilience of the girl upstairs.

Rathoure Mansion – Living Room, Later Morning

The boys remained on the king-size sofa, each brooding, their gazes constantly flicking toward the staircase leading to Innaya's chamber. The air was thick with jealousy, competitiveness, and frustration.

Eshan (gritting his teeth, leaning forward):
"She's upstairs... hiding. Like she thinks she can just ignore us. Who does she think she is?"

Zayan (coldly, voice low):
"She knows Ved left. She's comfortable now. Acting untouchable. I don't like it."

Aayan (sighing, rubbing his temples):
"And every moment she stays up there, she's choosing distance. Choosing to stay away from us. I don't care what Ved says... it's irritating."

Kabir (frowning, arms crossed):
"She's making a statement, you know. Every second she's up there, she's reminding us we're not her priority. And Ved... he's gone, so she doesn't have to answer to anyone."

Rudra (leaning back, voice dark, controlled):
"She doesn't need to answer. But that doesn't mean we won't make her notice us. She needs to understand... she's part of this house whether she likes it or not."

Arjun (smirking slightly, plotting):
"So, what's the plan? We can't just sit here and brood. She's upstairs, happy in her little world. Time to bring her down—our way."

Eshan (clenching fists, impatient):
"I'll go up. Knock on her door. Make her talk. No excuses. I don't care if she acts cold—she can't hide forever."

Zayan (interjecting sharply):
"You think it'll be that easy? She's clever... she'll brush us off. We need a strategy. Something that makes her notice... us... not Ved."

Aayan (nodding, calculating):
"We coordinate. Subtle. Push and pull. Make her feel our presence. She can't stay locked up all day. It's time she acknowledges her family."

Kabir (grinning mischievously):
"I can distract her first—make her laugh or irritate her. Then the rest of you swoop in. She won't know what hit her."

Rudra (cold smile):
"And I'll make sure she knows... we're not just waiting quietly. We're here. Every second she's upstairs, we're thinking about her. Possessive enough to make her feel it."

The boys exchanged glances, a silent agreement forming. Their plan was simple but precise: coax her out, assert their presence, and subtly remind Innaya that no matter Ved's absence, the Rathoure brothers were a force she couldn't ignore.

Upstairs, in her chamber, Innaya remained unaware. Her door was closed, the room dim, but the quiet energy of plotting below had already begun to ripple through the mansion.

Eshan (whispering as he rises):
"Time to see how stubborn she really is."

Zayan (grim, smirking):
"She'll come out... or we'll make her."

The tension was palpable. Outside, the mansion's quiet corridors were about to become a chessboard, with Innaya as the centerpiece—and the Rathoure boys, fueled by jealousy, determined to reclaim her attention.

Rathoure Mansion – Innaya's Chamber, Afternoon

The door was firmly closed, the sunlight spilling softly through the curtains. Innaya sat on the edge of her bed, curled inwards, headphones on Ved's oversized black pair, scrolling reels to distract herself from the simmering tension outside.

Below, the Rathoure brothers had assembled their little "operation," standing quietly outside her chamber.

Eshan (whispering, impatient):
"She's in there... ignoring us. I don't care how long she thinks she can hide."

Zayan (cold, calculating):
"She's acting untouchable. Time to shake that confidence a little."

Aayan (smirking, whispering):
"Gentle at first. Make her notice us... then escalate. Don't let her ignore the Rathoures."

Kabir (grinning, mischievous):
"I'll knock first. Make her curious, see if she peeks. Then the rest of you can swoop in."

Rudra (arms crossed, voice low):
"She won't resist us forever. She can hide... but not escape. We'll make her acknowledge us."

Outside Innaya's Door – Moments Later

Kabir stepped forward, lightly knocking on the door.

Kabir (cheerful, teasing):
"Hey... bhaiya-sized headphones in there? Are you ignoring us on purpose, Innaya?"

A faint rustle. Innaya peeked through the crack, annoyed but amused.

Innaya (playful, muffled):
"Bhaiya? That's not a very original way to get my attention, you know."

Eshan (from behind, leaning close, whispering harshly):
"Original or not... you need to come out. Enough hiding."

Zayan (coldly, muttering):
"She's making it worse... acting like she owns the world in there."

Aayan (smirking, voice low):
"We'll see who owns what in a minute."

Rudra (quiet, ominous):
"Every second she stays inside, the Rathoure presence grows stronger."

Innaya (stepping back, covering a smile, whispering to herself):
"Ugh... these boys are impossible."

She reluctantly pulled off the headphones, just as Kabir's hand reached for the doorknob.

Kabir (grinning, loud enough for all to hear):
"Come on, Innaya... just five minutes out, that's all. We won't bite... much."

Innaya (laughing softly, but cautious):
"You all act like Ved isn't even here."

Eshan (crossing arms, frustrated):
"Forget Ved. This is about us. Your family. And we're not going to let you hide forever."

Zayan (smirking, cold):
"You need to step out. Face reality. You belong with us too, whether you like it or not."

Aayan (teasing, almost playful):
"And maybe... just maybe... you'll appreciate us a little more."

Rudra (dark, low):
"This isn't optional."

Innaya sighed, a mixture of amusement and exasperation curling on her lips. She opened the door slowly, letting her gaze sweep over the five Rathoure boys, all standing with a mix of impatience, jealousy, and possessiveness.

Innaya (muttering, teasing):
"You're all impossible... you know that, right?"

Eshan (stepping closer, stern but with a hint of relief):
"And yet... you came out. That's progress."

Zayan (cold glare, voice low):
"Don't think this means you're free to ignore us again."

Kabir (grinning, whispering):
"And maybe... just maybe... a smile for us?"

Innaya rolled her eyes, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

Aayan (smirking):
"Finally... recognition. About time."

Rudra (darkly, arms crossed):
"Don't get used to it. We're not letting you hide again."

The scene closed with Innaya reluctantly following them downstairs, her baggy black t-shirt of Ved's draping casually, the Rathoure boys' eyes not leaving her for a second, each silently claiming their stake in her attention.

The breakfast had ended, but the tension, jealousy, and possessive energy simmering beneath the surface promised the day ahead would be anything but peaceful.

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