Chapter 32: The First Bond

That evening, the Rathore Palace echoed with laughter.

Poornima was looking for Ayat and Aarhan.

She checked the garden.

Then the library.

Finally, a servant smiled and said,

Servant: "Badi Bahu, the children are in Aarav Baba's room."

Poornima walked upstairs and stopped outside Aarav's room.

The door was slightly open.

She looked inside.

Aarav was sitting on the floor with a board game spread between him, Ayat, and Aarhan.

The three of them were completely engrossed in playing.

Aarhan: "Bhaiya, you cheated!"

Aarav laughed.

Aarav: "I didn't! You just don't know the rules."

Ayat giggled.

Ayat: "No, Aarhan. Bhaiya is right."

Aarhan folded his arms dramatically.

Aarhan: "Both of you are on the same team."

Aarav smiled and gently ruffled Aarhan's hair.

Aarav: "Come here, little troublemaker."

Aarhan burst into laughter.

A few minutes later, they started building a tower with wooden blocks.

Every time Aarhan placed a block crookedly, the tower collapsed.

Aarhan: "Oh no!"

Aarav chuckled.

Aarav: "Slowly... like this."

He carefully held Aarhan's tiny hand and showed him how to balance the block.

Ayat clapped happily.

Ayat: "See! Bhaiya knows everything."

Aarav laughed.

Aarav: "Definitely not everything."

The children continued laughing together.

Standing outside the room, Poornima watched silently.

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

Just then, Veeresh walked up beside her.

He looked inside the room.

Neither of them spoke.

They simply watched.

Aarhan suddenly looked up and saw them.

He waved excitedly.

Aarhan: "Ammi! Abbu! Look, Bhaiya is teaching us!"

Aarav turned towards the door.

For a brief second, he looked a little embarrassed.

Then he smiled awkwardly.

Aarav: "He wouldn't stop asking me to play."

Aarhan quickly protested.

Aarhan: "Because you're my Bhaiya!"

Ayat nodded enthusiastically.

Ayat: "Our Bhaiya."

Aarav looked at the two younger children.

Without realizing it, a genuine smile spread across his face.

Veeresh noticed it.

So did Poornima.

It wasn't a dramatic moment.

There were no grand speeches.

Just three children laughing together.

And for the first time, the distance between two families felt a little smaller.