With trembling, sweat-drenched fingers, Pashmina reached for the doorbell, her body heavy with exhaustion. Hours of trying to persuade Shubman’s parents had drained her—not just physically, but emotionally. She had assured them she was ready to step into the role of supporting Shubman with Aryaman, yet they remained hesitant. To them, it felt unfair, placing so much responsibility on her shoulders after only a few months together.

When they finally agreed, Pashmina made sure to get the first flight back to Delhi. She knew she had to tell her family as soon as possible. Shubman wanted her to stay a bit longer, but he understood that her family needed to know the situation right away.

So, here she was, standing in front of the door, waiting for it to open. She wasn’t just stepping inside her family’s home; she was carrying a new responsibility with her, one that would change everything.

As soon as the door opened, Pashmina was swept off her feet and pulled into a tight hug, as though she were a child again. Her Paaji wrapped her up like a bear, his arms strong and comforting.

"I missed you, Mina, so, so much," he murmured, swaying gently, his face buried in her shoulder.

"I missed you too, Paaji," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

He pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes full of emotion. "You okay? You look tired."

Pashmina smiled weakly, trying to brush off the exhaustion that weighed her down. "Just a long trip," she said, not ready to explain everything just yet.

But Paaji, always in tune with her, raised an eyebrow. "You’re carrying something more than just tiredness. What’s going on, Mina?"

With a tired gaze, Pashmina turned to her mum, who had appeared at the doorway, watching them with a soft smile. "Let’s talk over lunch, shall we?" she suggested, hoping to delay the conversation a little longer.

Pashmina gave quick hugs to the rest of the family, her tired eyes brightening for a moment as she embraced each of them.

Afterward, she excused herself, retreating to the bathroom. She turned on the shower, the hot water cascading over her, as if trying to wash away the exhaustion that had built up over the past few hours. She stood under the stream, letting the heat soothe her aching muscles and the silence give her a moment to breathe.

After her shower, Pashmina slipped into her comfy pajamas and the T-shirt she’d stole from Shubman. She took quick, small steps down the stairs, her heart racing with every move. The sounds of her family chatting and the clink of plates in the kitchen faded as she focused on the nervous energy building inside her.

At the bottom of the stairs, she paused, gripping the railing, and took a deep breath. She couldn’t avoid it any longer.

When she walked into the kitchen, her family was already gathered around the table, waiting. Their curious eyes met hers, and she knew it was time to speak. She moved toward them, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest.

As she moved toward the table, Pashmina kissed Vamika and Akaay on the forehead. Akaay, with a mischievous grin, grabbed her cheeks with his little hands and gave her a kiss on the nose. The sweet gesture made her chuckle, her heart lightening for a brief moment.

Pashmina sat down at the table as her favorite food was served by her bhabhi. Everyone had started eating, but Pashmina kept folding her morsel of food over and over, until it couldn’t be folded anymore. Her mind was elsewhere, distracted by the conversation she knew was coming.

Mumma Kohli noticed and looked up at her. “What’s wrong, Pashmina? You’re not eating?” she asked, concern in her voice.

"Is the food not good?" her bhabhi asked, concern edging her voice as she watched Pashmina pushing the food around her plate without taking a bite.

Pashmina quickly looked up, forcing a smile. "No, it's not that," she replied, trying to sound normal. "The food is perfect, as always." She tried to take a bite, but the knot in her stomach made it hard to swallow.

Her mum noticed the change in her tone and exchanged a look with her bhabhi. "Then what's wrong, beta?" Mumma Kohli asked, her voice filled with concern.

Pashmina set her fork down, her hands trembling slightly. "I... I need to talk to you all about something," she said, her voice shaky. The room went still, everyone looking at her, sensing that whatever she had to say was important.

Quickly, in one breath, before anyone could ask, she spilled it. "I’m moving in with Shubman."

Her Paaji, without anything in his mouth, choked on his spit. The shock of her words hit him hard, and he coughed, trying to catch his breath.

Pashmina quickly jumped to her feet, her heart racing as she hurried to grab a glass of water. She handed it to him, her hands shaking. “Paaji, are you okay?” she asked, her voice full of concern.

He took the water, swallowing hard as he tried to calm himself. After a moment, he looked at her, still in shock. “Moving in with Shubman,” His voice was rough, his brows knitted in confusion. "Isn't that too soon?" he said, clearly not pleased.

Pashmina sat back down, gripping her chair tightly, her knuckles white. "Not just move in, but raise a child with him," she said, her gaze fixed downward, unwilling to look up. Her voice was firm, but there was a hint of vulnerability hidden beneath the words.

"Are you...?" He was about to ask, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"No, I’m not pregnant," Pashmina said quickly, cutting him off before the question could fully leave his mouth. She let out a breath, her hand still gripping the chair, her heart pounding in her chest.

She looked up, meeting her Paaji and Mumma’s eyes. "Mumma, Paaji, can we talk first, please? You know, somewhere... not in front of the kids?" she asked, her voice quieter now, a hint of pleading in it.

Her bhabhi gave a quiet nod, signaling she’d look after the kids. “I’ll take care of them,” she said.

Without waiting for her mum, Pashmina hurried to the living room, her steps fast, almost as if she couldn’t wait to get the conversation over with. She needed to speak, to explain everything, before the pressure of it all became too much.

Once everyone was seated in the living room, Virat was the first to speak, his voice quick and sharp. “Are you out of your mind, Mina?” His eyes were wide with disbelief, a mix of anger and concern written all over his face.

Pashmina sat silently, her hands in her lap, her heart pounding. She had expected this reaction, but it still stung. She took a deep breath before meeting his gaze.

"It's not my kid, Paaji," Pashmina said quickly, her voice trembling. "It's his ex's, and she's no more... even her husband and her... her parents want Shubman to raise the child. They don't trust anyone else."

She paused, looking at her Paaji and Mumma, her eyes desperate. "Please, Paaji, Mumma, you have to understand. I can't leave him. Not now."

"But beta," Mumma Kohli started to say, her voice soft and concerned, but before she could finish, Virat’s furious voice cut through the room.

"And why are you entitled to take care of the baby?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Pashmina.

Pashmina angrily looked at Virat, her eyes burning with a rage she had never felt before, especially not in front of her Paaji. It was a fury that had built up from everything she had been holding in, from the weight of the situation, and now, his words felt like a challenge she couldn't ignore. Her chest heaved with the intensity of her emotions, and for the first time in a long while, she felt the need to defend herself in a way she never had before.

Pashmina’s eyes flashed with anger as she replied, her voice steady but firm. “It’s because I want to help Shubman, not because I think I’m entitled,” she said, her chest rising and falling with every breath. “I love him, and I’ll be there for him, no matter what.” Her words were clear, no longer holding back, as she stood her ground.

Virat's anger faltered as he met the rage in Pashmina's eyes. His voice softened, but the frustration was still evident. "You don’t owe anything to his ex," he said, his words carrying the weight of his concern. He couldn’t fully understand why she was so determined, but the look on her face made it clear she wasn’t going to back down.

Pashmina's voice grew sharper, her anger still evident, "Shubman didn’t owe me anything either. He didn’t even want to get involved with me, but he did because he thought if he could help someone, why not? Even when he knew I wouldn’t love him back, he still fought my demons and helped pull me out of my darkness."

She leaned forward, her eyes filled with frustration. "So don’t tell me what I owe him. He’s done more for me than anyone ever has, and now, I’m doing the same for him."

Virat opened his mouth, but Pashmina cut him off, her voice rising. "I know you think I'm making a mistake, but this isn’t about what’s right or wrong. It's about being there for the person who was there for me when no one else was. You don’t understand the weight of what he’s done for me, and you don’t understand how hard it’s been for me to even say this out loud."

Her hands clenched into fists as she spoke, her frustration and anger pushing her forward. "I’m not asking for permission, Paaji. I’m not asking for your approval. I’m telling you because I need you to understand why I’m doing this. I have to be there for him now."

Tears ran down Pashmina's face as she spoke, her emotions shifting rapidly as thoughts of little Aryaman, whom she had held in her arms yesterday, flooded her mind. "Sorry, Mumma, sorry, Paaji," she whispered, her voice thick with guilt and pain. "But I can't leave him alone. I just can't."

She wiped her eyes, trying to hold it together, but the tears kept coming. "He needs me, and I need to be there for him. I don’t know how else to explain it," she said, her voice faltering.

"What about us, Pashmina?" Her Paaji’s voice cracked, the hurt clear in his words. "We had you after so long..." He looked at her, his eyes full of pain and confusion.

Pashmina’s chest tightened at the sight of his expression. She never wanted to hurt them, but she knew this was a choice she had to make.

"Paaji..." she sobbed, her heart breaking with every word.

Virat looked at Pashmina's face, disappointment in his eyes, knowing she wouldn’t back down. Her eyes and her actions told him everything he needed to know.

"It's fine," he said coldly, standing up. "You've made your decision." With that, he turned and hurried to his room, leaving Pashmina standing there, tears streaming down her face.

Mumma Kohli rushed to her, pulling her into an embrace, trying to soothe her. But no matter how much comfort she offered, Pashmina couldn't stop crying. Deep down, she knew she couldn’t move forward with this without her Paaji's support.