Chapter 4: A Father's Plan

Devraj leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful smile on his face.

Devraj: "I'll speak to Raghav."

Rukmini looked at him in disbelief.

Rukmini: "Speak to Raghav?"

Devraj: "Yes."

Rukmini: "Have you forgotten the important part?"

Devraj raised an eyebrow.

Devraj: "Which part?"

Rukmini: "How are you going to convince Veeresh and Poornima first?"

"They'll refuse before you even finish your sentence."

Devraj laughed confidently.

Devraj: "Leave that to me."

Rukmini folded her arms.

Rukmini: "Whenever you say 'leave it to me,' someone ends up in trouble."

Devraj smiled mischievously.

Devraj: "Trust your husband."

Just then, his phone buzzed.

He looked at the screen and smiled.

Devraj: "Perfect."

Rukmini: "Who is it?"

Devraj: "Our daughter, Kritika."

He answered the call and put it on speaker.

Devraj: "Hello, princess."

A cheerful voice came from the other end.

Kritika: "Good morning, Papa!"

Devraj: "Good morning, beta."

"How are my favorite people?"

Kritika: "We're all fine."

"Rahul has been talking about his birthday for the past week."

Rukmini smiled.

Rukmini: "Let me guess... he wants the biggest cake."

Kritika: "Bigger than himself, Mom."

Everyone laughed.

Devraj: "When is the birthday celebration?"

Kritika: "This Saturday."

"We're planning a family party."

"You both have to come."

Devraj: "Of course."

Then he exchanged a quick glance with Rukmini.

A slow smile spread across his face.

Devraj: "Actually..."

"I think we'll make this birthday celebration a little more interesting."

Kritika: "Papa..."

"That smile means you're planning something."

Devraj: "Maybe."

Kritika: "Please don't scare me."

Everyone laughed again.

After the call ended, Rukmini looked at him suspiciously.

Rukmini: "What are you planning now?"

Devraj: "Rahul's birthday."

"It's the perfect opportunity."

"We'll invite everyone."

Rukmini immediately understood.

Rukmini: "Including Poornima?"

Devraj: "Exactly."

"And Veeresh won't suspect anything."

Rukmini shook her head.

Rukmini: "You're impossible."

Kritika was the eldest child of the family.

She was Rukmini's daughter from her first marriage.

Years ago, Rukmini's first husband had died in a tragic road accident, leaving her widowed with a little girl.

Later, fate brought Devraj into her life.

When he married Rukmini, he had made one promise.

"Kritika will never feel she is anyone's stepdaughter."

And he had kept that promise every single day.

He loved Kritika as his own daughter.

Not once had he treated her differently from his sons.

To him, there was no "step."

There were only his children.

Veeresh, Aravind, and Arjun had also grown up calling her with affection.

Aravind: "Didu always protects us."

Arjun: "And scolds us too."

Veeresh: "Especially me."

Kritika would simply laugh and say,

Kritika: "That's because you're the most stubborn."

The siblings shared a bond that never needed blood to prove its strength.

Years later, Kritika had fallen in love with Rishi, an Indian Air Force pilot.

Despite belonging to different families, Devraj had stood firmly beside her.

Devraj had told her on her wedding day:

Devraj: "A father's blessing isn't measured by blood."

"It's measured by love."

"You'll always be my daughter."

With tears in her eyes, Kritika had hugged him tightly.

Kritika: "You'll always be my Papa."

Back in the present...

Rukmini watched her husband with admiration.

Rukmini: "You already have a plan, don't you?"

Devraj smiled.

Devraj: "Yes."

Rukmini: "And it involves Veeresh and Poornima meeting at Rahul's birthday."

Devraj: "Exactly."

Rukmini sighed dramatically.

Rukmini: "God help us."

Devraj chuckled.

Devraj: "No..."

He looked toward the family photographs on the wall.

Devraj: "God should help those two."

"Because once they meet again..."

"I have a feeling the old rivalry is about to begin all over again."