The moment Zayan stepped into the haveli, his sharp voice echoed through the wide halls.

“Aaj tum pit kar hi dam logi.”

( You won’t stop until you get beaten up.)

Feeha, who had been tightly hugging her mother, instantly looked up. Fareeda lovingly stroked her daughter’s hair, tears shining softly in her eyes as if months of separation had finally melted in a single hug.

“Meri bacchi kaisi hai?”

(How is my daughter?)

Feeha sniffled, her voice trembling with emotions.

“Ammi… bohut yaad aati hai sabki.”

(Mother… I miss everyone so much.)

Before the moment could turn even more emotional, Zayan walked forward and lightly smacked her head.

“Bidaa nahi ho rahi ho abhi, take a chill pill.”

(You are not getting married and leaving forever yet, so take a chill pill.)

A smug grin rested on his face while Feeha immediately pouted, turning toward her grandfather with accusing eyes, silently waiting for justice.

Just as expected, Rahman Chaudhary glared at his grandson.

“Zayan Rashid, sharam aati hai choti behen ko pareshan karte hue?”

(Zayan Rashid, don’t you feel ashamed troubling your younger sister?)

Zayan only shrugged carelessly, his attitude as untamed as always. Walking toward his grandfather, he muttered dramatically,

“Besharmi toh aapke damaad karte hain, unko bhi zara pooch liya karein.”

(Your son-in-law is the shameless one, maybe question him sometimes too.)

Rahman Chaudhary narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Ab kya kar diya mere damaad ne?”

(And what has my son-in-law done now?)

“Kya nahi kiya?” Zayan scoffed.

(What has he not done?)

“Dere par ghar banwane ka plan kar rahe hain apne aur Choti Ammi ke liye, keh rahe the hum sab se tang aa gaye hain. Seedhe lafzon mein bola, ‘I need privacy with my wife.’ Ye koi umar hai aisi baatein karne ki?”

(He’s planning to build a separate house near the fields for himself and Choti Ammi, saying he’s tired of all of us. He literally said, ‘I need privacy with my wife.’ Is this even an age to say such things?)

Feeha bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh.

“Accha kar rahe hain Chote Abbu.”

(Chote Abbu is doing the right thing.)

She said it with a mischievous smile, instantly earning an eye-roll from Zayan.

“Haan pata hai, woh jagah tumhe kitni pasand hai, isliye tum aisa keh rahi ho.”

(Yeah, I know how much you love that place, that’s why you’re supporting him.)

Muttering under his breath, he walked toward his room.

“Ammi, inhe keh dijiyega ye mujhse uljhein na.”

(Mother, tell him not to mess with me.)

Feeha warned dramatically while glaring at the closing door, before  closing the door Zayan too glared at her making Fareeda laugh softly.

After freshening up and eating properly, Feeha quietly stepped out of the haveli.

The narrow red-bricked roads stretched ahead of her, while endless farms spread beautifully on both sides. The road stood slightly higher than the fields, and tiny bushes and wild weeds had grown carelessly along the edges, making the village look raw yet strangely peaceful.

Winter had only just begun.

A cold breeze brushed against her cheeks as her eyes wandered ahead thoughtfully. She had often heard that when she was born, the roads leading toward Chaudhary Haveli were barely developed. But now, after returning from Lucknow, she couldn’t help sighing softly.

Even now, they still felt unfinished.

Her gaze remained fixed on the path beneath her feet as a thought settled firmly in her mind.

She would definitely talk to Raza her chote abbu about these roads.

They needed proper concrete roads now — smooth and strong like the ones she walked on every day in Lucknow.

Lost deeply in her thoughts, she unknowingly reached the village houses.

One of the women sitting outside smiled warmly at her the moment Feeha greeted her respectfully.

“Feeha beti, kab aayi tum sheher se?”

(Feeha dear, when did you return from the city?)

Feeha smiled softly and sat beside the woman on the woven cot.

“Khala, aaj hi aayi hoon. Jaa rahi thi Choti Ammi se milne.”

(Aunt, I arrived today itself. I was on my way to meet Choti Ammi.)

The woman lovingly gestured for her to sit comfortably, and soon the other women nearby also gathered around her curiously. Feeha instantly adjusted herself on the cot, smiling politely at everyone around her.

“Feeha bitiya doctor ban gayi itni jaldi?”

(Feeha dear, did you become a doctor so quickly?)

One elderly woman asked innocently.

Feeha immediately held back her smile.

“Nahi Nani… abhi paanch saal lagenge doctor banne mein mujhe.”

(No grandmother… it will still take five years for me to become a doctor.)

The old woman gently placed her wrinkled hand over Feeha’s head lovingly.

“Bitiya, tab tak toh meri zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi hai… par Allah tumhe kamiyabi ata kare.”

(Child, by then there’s no guarantee I’ll still be alive… but may Allah grant you success.)

Feeha’s heart warmed hearing the blessing.

It filled her with both pride and emotion at the same time.

“Ji Nani, par In’sha’Allah aapko kuch nahi hoga. Main hi aapka ilaaj karungi agar kabhi koi takleef hui toh.”

(No grandmother, God willing nothing will happen to you. I’ll personally treat you if you ever face any illness.)

The elderly woman smiled emotionally, whispering prayers under her breath for the sweet-hearted girl sitting before her.

A few moments later, another woman brought water and Parle-G biscuits for Feeha, carefully placing them on the cot beside her.

Feeha smiled awkwardly at their affection before taking the glass in her hands. While sipping water, she quietly picked a few biscuits too.

“Aap logon ko pata hai… ek din humara gaav bhi bilkul Lucknow jaisa hoga. Pakki sadkein aur bade bade bangle.”

(You all know… one day our village will become just like Lucknow. Strong roads and huge beautiful houses.)

A few women smiled while settling themselves properly on nearby chairs and cots.

“Arey beta, bharosa hai humein Raza beta par. Bohut kaam kiya hai usne humare liye.”

(Child, we trust Raza son completely. He has done so much for us.)

“Ab bade banglon ka kya karenge? Bas humara rozgaar accha bana rahe. Aspataal toh bann hi raha hai… tum aaogi yahan toh hum sab khush rahenge.”

(What will we even do with huge mansions? We only want better livelihoods. The hospital is already being built… and if you come back here, all of us will be happy.)

Feeha’s smile softened hearing the genuine affection in their words.

Just then, another woman walked toward her warmly.

“Feeha, tumhari Ammi kaisi hain? Bohut din ho gaya ghar ka chakkar nahi lagaya.”

(Feeha, how is your mother? It’s been so long since she visited us.)

Feeha instantly stood up and hugged her lovingly.

“Arey Khala, Ammi abhi school ke kaam mein zyada masroof hain, iss liye nahi aa paayi hongi.”

(Aunt, Mother has been busy with school work lately, that’s probably why she couldn’t visit.)

It was her aunt — the wife of her father’s best friend, Atif.

The woman kissed Feeha’s forehead affectionately.

“Acche se padhai kar rahi ho?”

(Are you studying properly?)

Feeha nodded with a smile.

After talking with everyone for a while longer, laughing softly and listening to their endless questions, she finally bid them goodbye and walked back toward the haveli.

A few biscuits still rested in her hands.

Munching on one absentmindedly, she stopped right outside the haveli gates and slowly looked up at the grand building from top to bottom.

Now, Raza Chaudhary had built an entire first floor above the haveli while keeping the same royal design untouched.

The haveli looked breathtaking.

Grand.

Powerful.

Almost as if pride itself lived inside its walls.

Suddenly—

Someone smacked the back of her head.

Feeha gasped and instantly turned around in shock.

“Oye bhikharan, apne ghar jao. Yahan bheekh milna mushkil hai.”

(Hey beggar girl, go to your own house. You won’t get alms here.)

Before she could react, he snatched the last biscuit from her hand and ran toward the gate laughing loudly.

“Darr maar kha jaaoge tum mujhse!”

(Darr you’ll get beaten up badly by me!)

Feeha shouted angrily before running behind Haider.

Even though he was younger than her, his height had already crossed hers, which annoyed her even more.

The haveli gates were already open.

Both of them ran inside, crossing the huge courtyard while their voices echoed through the mansion.

“Ammiii! Bachao! Ghar mein chudail ghus aayi hai!”

(Mother! Save me! A witch has entered the house!)

Haider screamed dramatically while laughing and running for his life.

Behind him, Feeha chased him furiously.

“Statue!”

Halima— Haider’s mother shouted loudly the moment she saw both her children running wildly through the house.

Her eyes widened in horror because she was fully convinced one of them was about to kill the other today.

Mehnoor, who stood beside her mother, instantly covered her mouth trying to stop her laughter as she watched both of them lose balance and nearly fall on the floor while freezing in place.

Now both Feeha and Haider stood completely still like obedient statues, pouting helplessly while staring at their mother with pleading eyes.

Halima walked toward Feeha lovingly and held her cheeks gently before kissing both her cheeks with affection. Sitting in front of her, she smiled softly.

“Meri bacchi kaisi hai?”

(How is my daughter?)

From behind, Haider hummed dramatically in jealousy, making Feeha laugh instantly.

“Promise karo ki ladai nahi karoge.”

(Promise me that both of you won’t fight.)

Halima said firmly.

Both of them rapidly blinked their eyes and hummed in agreement without moving.

Halima finally smiled.

“Release.”

The moment she allowed them to move, both Feeha and Haider immediately sat properly on the floor while exhaling loudly in relief.

“Jahil doctor!”

(Illiterate doctor!)

Haider teased her with a grin as he stood up.

“Mendhak!”

(Frog!)

Feeha snapped back angrily.

Haider instantly glared at her before turning dramatically toward his mother.

“Ammi, keh dijiyega ye zubaan sambhal le apni.”

(Mother, tell her to control her tongue.)

He warned while stepping toward her with gritted teeth.

Halima looked at both of them helplessly before sighing deeply.

Then she shook her head lightly at Feeha.

Understanding that her Choti Ammi was already stressed because of their constant chaos, Feeha instantly softened and hugged her tightly.

Halima smiled lovingly and patted her back while Haider rolled his eyes and walked upstairs dramatically.

The moment he disappeared, Feeha suddenly burst into laughter and stood up, looking at Halima with fake disbelief.

“Choti Ammi… ‘Mendhak’ bolne par aap rok nahi laga sakti hain!”

(Choti Ammi… you cannot stop me from calling him a frog!)

Halima only shook her head tiredly while walking toward the fridge.

Pouting dramatically, Feeha walked toward Mehnoor and hugged her tightly.

“Meri bacchi, tumhe pata hai na woh kitna chidhta hai jab tum use mendhak kehti ho.”

(My child, you know how irritated he gets when you call him a frog.)

Halima said while handing her a glass of water.

“Maine sahi naam hi toh rakha hai. Mujhse sirf ek ya dedh saal chota hai ye insaan aur second year mein hai, aur main first year mein. Kyun?”

(I’ve given him the perfect name. He’s only one or one-and-a-half years younger than me and already in second year while I’m still in first year. Why?)

She complained before sipping water.

“Kyuki aap uske saath thi, phir Haider ne class jump kiya, aur phir aapka ek saal ka gap ho gaya kyunki aapko NEET dena tha.”

(Because you studied with him before, then Haider skipped a class, and later you took a one-year gap for your NEET exam.)

A deep masculine voice suddenly spoke from the kitchen entrance.

Raza Chaudhary had entered.

Feeha immediately turned around with sparkling eyes and hurried toward him happily.

Raza placed his hand gently over her head and smiled lovingly.

“Kaisa hai mera bahadur beta?”

(How is my brave child?)

The moment he said that, Feeha suddenly felt emotional.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked up at him.

“Alhamdulillah, ek dum theek hoon.”

(By Allah’s grace, I’m absolutely fine.)

Mehnoor instantly glared at her father knowingly while Raza tried hard to hide his smile.

But then his eyes fell on the tears gathered in Feeha’s eyes.

“Agar ek aur aansu gira toh phir se Lucknow jaana bhool jaana.”

(If one more tear falls, then forget about going back to Lucknow again.)

He warned her strictly because he knew one thing very well...

Whenever he pampered Feeha while she cried, she would start sobbing endlessly.

Feeha immediately laughed through her tears and quickly rubbed her eyes before they could fall.

“Feeha, aankhein mat mala karo. Kitni baar kaha hai, aankhein andar ghus jaayengi.”

(Feeha, stop rubbing your eyes. How many times have I told you? Your eyes will sink inside.)

Halima scolded lovingly.

Laughing softly at her Choti Ammi’s warning, Feeha side-hugged her while walking closer.

“Nahi ghusengi.”

(T

hey won’t sink inside.)

Halima smiled and lightly patted her back.

Later, Feeha and Mehnoor sat together in the room, talking endlessly about Feeha’s life in Lucknow.

Or rather...

Feeha was talking endlessly.

Meanwhile, Mehnoor sat there with a bored expression, lazily listening to her nonstop stories…

Until the topic of Adam Chaudhary came up.