Three of them had dinner.
Unnoticed to others, Hritika felt uncomfortable. No, it wasn't because she was being disregarded but because she hardly remembers having dinner with family.

Well, she didn't consider this to be her family, but the fact that it felt so warm, and the vulnerability towards actually giving up and opening all of her heart to them, but she thought it would only cause pain.

"Aarav, child would you like some tea?" Smita asked some time after dinner to Aarav, cracking open the door just a little.

"It's too late, Maa, don't you think?"

"Hritika just gave me these...cham-chamomile tea. It is for relaxation I believe."

"Would you like some? I could just make you some of that?"

"It doesn't need all that stuff. Hritika offered me some. If you want, come downstairs." She talked very fast and walked away.

Poor tired Son, kept his work load aside, ready to walk downstairs and suddenly he hit his leg to the corner of the table and not only that, his very heavy showpiece hit his toe and shattered into pieces.

Well, note it down as a con to sound proof houses, no one gets to know if you're being murdered.

He still limped downstairs where Hritika was passionately talking about something and Smita looked just as curious.

"And he walked??" Smita asked.

"Yes. And his legs were fine after the surgery."

"Wow. It's a very giving profession."

"Not always. Like doctors are being killed!"

Smita gasped "I heard on the ne-" She noticed Aarav "come! Take a seat! She was just telling me! A man literally with such burned skin! I mean imagine! And he got his human skin replaced with fish skin and he walked just fine!!!"

It was the first time that Hritika saw Aarav smile that wide "Wow, you look way too amused."

"She's too good." Smita laughed.

Hritika had gotten quiet as she sipped her tea.

"Um darlings, I brought you two some fresh fruits from backyard, Aarav, could you bring them please?"

"Er..sure!"

But well, how long could he pretend? A sharp pang rose up his legs and he let out a low grunt.

Hritika looked up at his face first, then at his toe and then back at his face.

Aarav nodded his head no and that it's okay.

Hritika looked confused.

Aarav eyed his happy mother.

Hritika just stood up abruptly "I will bring them! My back hurts from sitting so long"

"No no enjoy your tea!" Smita said.

"Oh it's nothing." She then brought the fruits as they both thanked smita for it and retired to their respective room.

Aarav looked at the wound as he got inside the room. It was black by then with blood oozing out a little of some spots and some dried blood patches.

He just huffed and sat down on the bed until he heard some knocks.

He walked slowly and opened it only to reveal it was Hritika, with a box and an ice tray.

"Let me help your wound"

Aarav was embarrassed "No, no thank you. It's nothing really. I was just going go wash it up."

"That's not–" She sighed "just let me clean it okay? I won't do much"

"Um, okay." He awkwardly let her in.

Hritika looked at the broken vase "Are you planning on to keeping them there?"

"Well, until the workers come. The rest of the rooms aren't ready for people to stay."

Hritika just nodded as she cleaned the blood patches, and then the wound.

"You shouldn't wear shoes as of now"

Aarav made a face.

"I know. Sucks."

"I don't understand why they kept it so on the edge."

"If it pains you can take these" Hritika offered an ibuprofen.

"I don't really want tablets, I think it'd be just fine."

"If you say so!" She shrugged "they are non-steroidal though. Or skip them and take tomorrow off work that needs you to walk"

She walked out and he followed, "Thank you, Ms. Kapoor"

"No problem, Mr. Malhotra."

Smita was walking towards the stairs near his room, Aarav's face went pale with the thought that Smita would catch the fact that they stay in different rooms.

"Can you please get in the room, Ms. Kapoor?"

Hritika was shell-shocked "huh?"

"Please get in the room, Ms. Kapoor." He said hurriedly eyeing Smita's movements.

"What? Wh-" She couldn't finish her sentence as Aarav held her hand and pulled her inside, ever so gently but too fast to process what he was doing.

Hritika lost it, "What do you think you're doing!?"

"I am sorry, maa is approaching this way! She would find out!"

"Wouldn't it be more convenient if she knew!? She told me about your robotic intentions, she knew you and I both want nothing out of this!"

"But you know what? I care! I care for my family's feelings! And I wouldn't want my mother to believe something as disheartening as that!"

"What do you even find disheartening!?" Hritika found it absolutely ridiculous.

"Everything is not as easy with a family that big! You'd know if you had the heart to understand!"

Much to Smita's horror, they forgot to close the door.

"I do have a heart! Everyone has a heart! Not everyone goes around sacrificing their life, that too willingly! I don't understand because I can't understand your foolish intentions!"

"Not everyone needs to be forced!"

"Stop it! Stop it you two!" Smita gasped, out of breath. "Have you heard yourself?"

"I- we- we were just talking"

"The hell of a talk was that, Aarav? How could you be talking like that to each other?

I know the circumstances weren't- are not nice! But your words hit me like a massive mistake it was to wed you off! Can I not even expect normal human decency?

And why is all of Hritika's belongings in the guest room to the left? Aarav, did I not tell you to give her space for things in your cupboard?"

"Maa, please relax. It's not what you think it is. Come, sit." Aarav welcomed her in while Hritika offered some water and unknowing to the other two, decreased the temperature in the hope it would make things easier.

"And I-" He looked at Hritika "I just forgot about the cupboard. Ms. Kapoor, I am sorry and you can have your space in my cupboard. Is that fine now maa?" He was panicking, it showed through his face.

Smita spoke in a very relaxed tone "Children, I love you two. I just wish you could just..give yourselves some time to understand."

"Oh we will." Hritika spoke in such a hurried way to assure her that it made smita laugh.

"Okay, off to sleep, no more working. And Aarav, let her shift her things in this room. I'll keep a watch."

As she left, they both sighed.

"I'm sorry and you can have your space in my cupboard" Hritika mocked.

"Oh shut up, I did not sound like that."

"Your God complex won't let you accept that you did." Hritika lightly said before getting awkward "Erm- I will take the sofa."

"Oh no, you can take the bed. I'll be okay on the sofa."

"Well, I think we should both shift to the guest room, they are still not cleaned while you can't wear footwear."

"Um, okay."

A tough day, but did it end well?
In hindi they have a saying "Aant bhala toh sab bhala"

If it ends well, all is well.