Manya went downstairs, the pleats of her saree swaying slightly as she descended the stairs, and with every step, she felt a slight warmth in her thigh—a mix of the memory of Reyansh’s touch with the lotion and the stinging from the morning. She reached the dining table, where Sandhya ji was already sitting, warming up tea cups and fresh parathas. The mansion’s dining hall was glowing with the morning sunlight, and the aroma of potato parathas filled the air.

“Arey daughter-in-law, you’ve come? Where is Reyansh Beta?” Sandhya ji asked with a smile, a hidden mischievous glint in her eyes. She looked at Manya—her glowing skin, perfectly draped saree, and fresh vermilion in her hair parting—as if she understood everything.