Advait entered the house late that night, his steps heavy as he crossed the threshold. In the hall, Tej Bhavendra sat with Urmila and Raj, while a little distance away, Vihaan, Amaira, and Drishti were seated. The scene looked serene, almost picture-perfect. Anjali brought coffee and placed it gently on the table before retreating quietly. To anyone watching, it would seem like a peaceful family gathering. But for Advait, it was all an illusion.

As soon as he saw his father’s face, the familiar surge of anger rose in his chest. Tej's mere presence was enough to unsettle him. It always reminded him of the life they lived—the one his father didn’t deserve. Advait avoided them as much as possible, trying to create his own semblance of peace in a house that constantly reminded him of betrayal.

He headed towards the stairs, hoping to escape the inevitable confrontation, when a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"You are back, Advait," Dada Ji’s gentle tone called from the hall.

Advait paused mid-step and turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "Hmm."

"Come sit here," Dada Ji beckoned, his voice kind, almost coaxing.

Advait hesitated. He didn’t want to join them, but refusing Dada Ji was not something he could easily do. He took a step toward them, but froze when Urmila’s biting words reached his ears.

"Ab ye woh Advait nahi reh gaya hai jo aapki har baat sunega. Now he is Advait Singh Rathore. Ye bhool gaya hai kisse kaise baat karni chahiye."

The scorn in her voice was unmistakable. Her earlier rage was evident in the sharpness of her words. Advait clenched his jaw and deliberately stepped back, retreating from the situation he knew could explode at any moment.

In the corner, Drishti watched the tension unfold, her curiosity piqued. "What’s happening there?" she asked Vihaan, her voice hushed.

Vihaan gave a half-hearted shrug, keeping his eyes on the hall. "Nothing, it’s pretty normal for us... but new for you, Bhabhi. I think you should go to the room."

"Why? Should I… how can I just leave when everything's happening in the hall?" Drishti replied, her anxiety rising.

Amaira glanced toward the reflection in the mirror, watching the scene intently. "I think Bhaiya is angry."

Drishti frowned. "When isn’t he?" she muttered, not fully understanding the gravity of the moment.

Vihaan shook his head, his tone serious. "That’s just it—you’ve never seen him truly angry."

Before Drishti could respond, their attention was snapped back to the hall as the tension between Tej and Advait escalated.

Tej stood now, his voice sharp with authority. "Tumhari himmat kaise hui maa se aise baat karne ki?"

Advait remained rooted in his spot, his hands casually stuffed in his pockets. The contrast between his father’s rising anger and his own controlled exterior was stark. His voice, however, carried a dangerous edge.

"Mujhe shauk nahi hai aapse ya aapki maa se baat karne ka." Advait’s voice boomed through the hall, loud and unapologetic. His words hung in the air like a challenge, and everyone in the room felt the tension thicken. In the kitchen, Riddhima and Anjali paused, hearing the heated exchange. Their faces grew pale as they walked towards the hall.

Tej, visibly angered, closed the distance between them with heavy steps. "Saaf dikhai de raha hai tumhari maa ne kya sikhaya hai tumhe," he spat, his words meant to provoke.

Advait’s face darkened instantly, his fists clenched by his sides. "Shut up."

The force of his shout reverberated through the hall, startling everyone. He shouted again, "Shut up!"

The younger ones immediately rose from their seats, Vihaan stepping out of the dining area cautiously. Tej’s eyes flashed with fury, but Advait wasn’t finished. His voice was cold, but there was no mistaking the fire burning in his eyes as he spoke again.

"Mere maa ke baare mein bolne ka sochna bhi mat," Advait growled, his eyes blazing red with anger. "Nahi toh bhool jaunga ke aapka is parivaar se koi lena dena hai."

The room fell into a stunned silence. No one dared to move, the weight of Advait’s words hanging in the air. His threat wasn’t just empty words; it was a warning. His hatred for his father had reached a breaking point, and the line had been crossed.

As Tej raised his finger, ready to lash out, Raj’s voice boomed through the hall, cutting through the rising tension. "Sab rishton ka maan kho chuke ho!" His words echoed, freezing everyone in place.

Raj turned towards his father, his gaze filled with a mix of disappointment and frustration. "Dekha natija? Jab ghar ke chhoto ko saare kaam saup diye jayenge, tab yahi hota hai." His voice was calm but carried an edge of bitterness, clearly blaming Tej for the chaos in their family.

Advait let out a bitter chuckle, the sound dripping with sarcasm. "Toh kahaan the aap us waqt?" His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of years of resentment. Everyone knew exactly what he was referring to—the time when Tej had abandoned his responsibilities, leaving Advait to carry the burden of the family on his shoulders.

The words fell like stones, silencing the room. No one dared to speak, because everyone understood the gravity of Advait’s question. They all knew how he had taken on responsibilities beyond his years, how he had stepped up when no one else had.

Advait’s gaze shifted toward Tej, his voice sharp with disdain. "Kya hua? Ab nahi bolenge?" His eyes locked onto his father’s, challenging him, daring him to respond.

Tej’s eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped to a slow, ominous tone, meant only for Advait to hear. "Woh din door nahi jab tum bhi mere jaise banoge, bete."

The words were like a match to gasoline. Advait’s temper, barely under control, erupted. In one swift motion, he grabbed Tej by the collar, jerking him forward with a force that startled everyone in the room.

"Don't you dare compare me to you!" Advait’s voice was a low growl, filled with pure rage. His grip on Tej’s collar tightened, and the room collectively held its breath, watching the father and son locked in a battle of wills.

The years of pain, betrayal, and bitterness had finally erupted, and for a moment, it seemed as if nothing could pull him back from the edge.

"Advait!" Anjali's voice pierced through the silence, shaky and desperate.

He turned sharply towards her, his gaze softening for a split second. She stood just a bit away, her face pale, and tears glistening in her eyes. Behind her, Drishti stood, her own eyes wide with fear and brimming with tears. The sight of them—his mother, his wife—shattered something in him. Their fear, their vulnerability, brought him crashing back to reality.

With a sharp intake of breath, he let go of Tej’s collar, pushing him away in a sudden jerk. Tej stumbled backward, nearly losing his balance, but he quickly regained his composure. With arrogant indifference, he patted his clothes, brushing off the invisible dust, as if to show that nothing, not even his son’s rage, could shake him.

But Advait’s heart ached at the sight before him. His mother’s trembling figure, the tears in her eyes, and Drishti, standing behind her, looking equally shaken—it was too much. The anger that had consumed him moments ago was now replaced with a deep, gnawing ache. His chest tightened as his gaze flicked back to Tej, his hatred still burning, but this time, it was quieter, more controlled. His eyes, however, didn’t soften. They remained sharp, deadly, as he looked at Tej with a warning etched deep in them.

He then glanced at the other family members, each of them frozen in place, unsure of what to do or say. None of them had expected the situation to escalate this far, but they knew better than to interfere now.

Advait’s fists unclenched, and though his body had calmed, the storm inside him was far from over. The battle wasn’t won—it had only just begun.

…………………………….