Janvi quietly left. Outside, she bumped into Adit and angrily said, "Do you even look where you're walking, or do you keep your eyes in your shoes?"
Adit said in a joking manner – "No, I've kept them in my socks. Want me to pull them out and give them to you...?"
As Janhvi turned to leave angrily, Adit added – "Ma'am, the way out is in that direction… Why are you going further inside…?"
Janvi snapped – "It's my wish, I'll go wherever I want. What's it to you?"
And with stomping footsteps, she left.
Seeing this, Aman Ji said – "What happened to her all of a sudden? She was talking so nicely just a moment ago..."
Adit smiled and replied – "She flared up after seeing me. You know, I remind her of one of her cousins who used to irritate her a lot, so she has this grudge against me… Sorry, not against me, against my face."
Yamuna Ji – "Leave all that. You stay here with Raghav… If there's any need, give us a call."
Adit bowed his head respectfully and said – "Absolutely. This servant will always be at your service… You can go home without worry. By the way, you all do know the way back home, right?"
Aman Ji playfully slapped him on the head and said – "I spent my childhood here. How could I forget the way? You stay put here. I'll come back in the evening, understood?"
Adit – "Don't repeat the same thing. I already said I'll be here. You'll find me in the same spot till evening… You all go peacefully."
Everyone took one last look at Dadu and headed back home.
That evening, they all returned again to visit Dadu, but he only spoke with Raghav and Kabir.
Kabir kept lightening the mood with jokes. His behavior impressed Adit the most. Taking Kabir aside, he said – "You're amazing, man! Why didn't I meet you earlier?"
Kabir, raising his collar – "That's just who I am..."
Adit extended his hand – "Then let's be friends!"
Kabir shook his hand – "Then you can never let go of this hand now…"
Adit bumped his shoulder and said – "Never in my life, brother..."
Kabir, pouting – "Not brother, say 'dude'... dude..."
Adit wrapped his arm around him – "Nah, from today you're my sweetheart… My heart belongs to you now..."
Kabir placed his hand on Adit's shoulder, and the two returned to the group. Aman Ji asked – "Son, what mantra were you chanting into Adit's ear?"
Kabir – "Dad, come on, your son's a superstar now! I've got fans. Look at him, one of them is standing right in front of you. I always told you I'm quite the celebrity..."
Adit slapped him playfully on the head – "Just became friends and now I'm a fan? Raghav's better than you. I'll stay with him instead..."
Kabir shrugged carelessly, whistled, and walked out.
Two days later, everyone brought Dadu back home. Janhvi's mother did a ritual to ward off the evil eye and took him to his room.
As soon as they got home, Janhvi took charge of the kitchen and made tea for everyone. When Siya came into the kitchen, she offered to carry the tray, saying it would help her too. Janhvi smiled and handed the tray to her. Siya picked up the tray and went to serve tea, first to Dadu and then to everyone else.
At that moment, Raghav came out of his room. Siya extended a cup of tea to him, but Janhvi arrived and said with a smile – "Raghav ji, your green tea…"
Raghav took the cup without any expression and sat on the sofa. The cup in Siya's hand remained there; he didn't even notice it. A pang of pain rose in Siya's heart. She drank that cup herself.
Janhvi, being well-versed in the household, handled most of the chores. From Raghav's morning tea to his nighttime milk, she took care of everything. She knew in detail what Raghav liked or didn't like. Whenever Siya saw Janhvi tending to Raghav, she felt a growing sense of jealousy.
Raghav dedicated all his time to Dadu, and the house felt lively with everyone around. But Dadu's condition worsened. Seeing this, Aman Ji suggested taking him to Australia for better treatment.
Everyone was deeply worried about Dadu's health, but he didn't want to go abroad. Raghav finally convinced him. Dadu agreed on one condition – Raghav must accompany him.
Aman Ji had no objection to this and agreed. That very day, Dadu, Aman Ji, and Raghav left for Australia.
In all this chaos, Siya and Raghav never got a chance to talk. Raghav was deeply concerned about his grandfather and never paid attention to Siya, while Siya was silently hoping he'd take the initiative.
Dadu's surgery was scheduled in Australia, and everyone back home was praying for his recovery. But fate had other plans — Dadu passed away in Australia.
For Raghav, this loss was unbearable. Over the past four years, Dadu had become his entire world. He shared every joy and sorrow with him. Raghav was unable to cope with his passing.
Seeing Raghav's condition, Aman Ji quickly prepared to return to India. With Dadu's body, they came back, and everyone broke down in tears.
Raghav sat in a corner, numb, unaware of everything happening around him. He just kept staring at Dadu, lost in deep thought.
Siya tried to approach him, but Janhvi came first and hugged Raghav, crying uncontrollably.
Raghav sat there speechless, neither crying himself nor comforting Janhvi.
Understanding the situation, Siya chose to remain silent. Kabir, though not as emotionally close to Dadu as Raghav, lay in his mother's lap and wept. The sudden loss had shaken everyone.
Raj Ji was comforting Aman Ji. After a while, the priest said – "Yajman, it's time for the last rites… please hurry."
Aman Ji looked at Raghav and then began lifting the bier. Raghav ran to Dadu, clung to him, and cried – "Dad, don't take Dadu away… I can't live without him… I'll die, please don't take him… Dadu, please wake up, I need you..."
Raghav burst into tears, clinging to Dadu.
Aman Ji stroked his head and said – "Son, Dadu won't wake up now… come, say your final goodbye…"
Raghav refused to listen, kept calling for Dadu.
Raj Ji finally managed to pull him away from the body, and Aman Ji, along with others, carried it out while chanting "Ram naam satya hai."
Raghav wept in Raj Ji's arms. Raj Ji held him tightly and took him to the cremation ground. At the moment of the last rites, Aman Ji guided Raghav forward – "This is the upbringing of my father. His true grandson. He will light the pyre."
Raghav held Aman Ji's hand, and together, they lit Dadu's funeral pyre. Seeing Dadu's body burning, Raghav ran toward the fire, but Aman Ji caught him around the waist. Raghav flailed in the air, crying helplessly.
A while later, he fainted. They brought him home.
For three days, Raghav locked himself in his room. He didn't speak to anyone nor eat a single bite.
Chandrika Ji was deeply disturbed seeing his condition. Aman Ji called Raj Ji, and only then did Raghav take a couple of bites of food. He cried himself to sleep in Raj Ji's arms.
Days passed, and Raghav slowly started to recover. He even began going out with Adit.
At the same time, news started spreading that Raghav and Siya were engaged to be married. The neighborhood girls teased Siya constantly, while Raghav didn't even look at Siya. This made her feel strangely irritated with him. On top of that, Janhvi's devotion toward Raghav made Siya feel jealous. When one begins to feel entitled to someone, seeing them close to someone else is painful — and Siya was still a child, unable to distinguish right from wrong.
One evening, Siya was sitting with the neighborhood girls, making flower garlands for Durga Puja. A girl named Smita teased her – "So, how's Raghav doing?"
Siya flared up hearing his name and got up to leave. Another girl, Hina, said – "Hey, what happened? Why are you so upset? After all, in a few days, you'll be known by his name…"
Siya shrugged her hand off and snapped – "Why? Don't I have an identity of my own? Don't I have my own existence that I must rely on someone else's name and identity? I'm Siya… just Siya… not Raghav's Siya. Remember that."
She stormed into the house. At that time, Raghav and Adit were chatting with their school friends. Janhvi brought tea for everyone and sat down. They were discussing college life — some wanted to stay in hostels and enjoy freedom, while others preferred staying at home with family. Raghav always preferred living with family. Adit wanted to stay in a hostel to escape his father's shoes and slippers.
Siya rushed upstairs and saw Raghav laughing and talking with Janhvi. Seeing them together, she couldn't control the bitterness rising inside her and slapped Raghav in front of everyone.
Raghav stood there, stunned, staring at Siya. After the slap, Siya calmed a bit and looked at him. His blue eyes were filled with questions. Feeling awkward, she left.
Everyone came over to Raghav, but he quietly walked out of the house.
Siya, eyes brimming with tears, ran down the stairs and bumped into Kabir, falling to the ground.
Kabir extended a hand and said – "Still haven't gotten over your habit of kissing the floor, have you, lizard?"
Siya glared at him with teary eyes, got up, and ran into her room.
Raghav took his bicycle and reached Howrah Bridge, then sat on one side, watching the flowing river.
The reflections of the lights from the buildings shimmered on the still water of the river, lighting it up entirely. But the moment the water stirred even slightly, all the reflections would flicker and dance.
There was no anger or sadness on Raghav's face—just a restlessness born from the insecurity he had seen in Siya's eyes toward him...
Looking up at the sky, Raghav said, "Dadu, you always used to say that Dadi is among the stars, and you missed her a lot. So maybe, you've gone to meet her among the stars too... Dadu, you were the only one I could share my heart with because you never judged me. And maybe Mom wouldn't either. But if an 18-year-old boy tells her that he saw insecurity in the eyes of his 16-year-old fiancée—will she believe it? Never. She'd beat me up instead."
Raghav chuckled to himself and slapped his own forehead.
"I don't know why... Even now, when I see you in front of me, I can't say what I came to say... The moment I look into your eyes, my heart starts beating twice as fast. I wish I could talk to you freely like Kabir does. But I'm not Kabir. And I never can be. Kabir is great—he can charm anyone with his words. But me? I can't even talk to strangers properly. I can never match Kabir, nor do I want to. But at least, I want to become capable enough to talk to you with a free mind..."
Raghav sat there a while, lost in thought, and then returned home with a small smile.
Meanwhile, Siya was pacing nervously in her room. She was scared—what if Raghav told everyone at home about the slap? What would she say then? Why did she slap him?
Because she couldn't stand seeing that Dracula girl near her Raghav...?
Or because she had started getting irritated by what the neighborhood girls said...?
What was the real reason?
Teenage years—this is that phase of life when we feel thousands of emotions: respect for someone, attraction toward another, jealousy or resentment toward a rival... Every youngster goes through this phase, unable to express anything to anyone, unable to even understand their own emotions.
At this age, love often just means going out together, watching movies, sharing a drink with two straws, writing each other's names on hands... That's it.
Understanding true love at this age is nearly impossible.
True love doesn't need constant togetherness. It flows like a leaf in the wind—without a destination. But sometimes, that leaf fears being trampled mercilessly...
Raghav had understood this. Siya was going through a phase where she neither understood emotions nor had control over them.
He had realized that seeing him around made her even more uncomfortable.
And there was only one solution—Raghav had to distance himself from Siya, so she could get the space and environment she needed.
That night, Raghav insisted to Aman Ji that he wanted to go to a hostel for his studies.
Chandrika Ji was instantly upset and angrily said, "What, Raghav? You were already away from us for so long. Now you want to go again? Why, son? Don't you like staying with Mom and Dad?"
Her eyes welled up.
Raghav hugged her and said, "No Mom… I love you the most. But think about it—all my friends are going to hostel to enjoy their college life. If I stay back, I'll miss out on those precious moments.
Dad, tell me—isn't it just a matter of three years? I'll come home every month anyway..."
Aman Ji thought for a moment and said, "But son, can't life be enjoyed while living at home? Is going to hostel necessary?"
Raghav knelt before Aman Ji and said, "Dad, I just need a little space and time… Just a few days, Dad… Then I'll come back for good.
Anyway, I've already made up my mind to go to hostel."
Chandrika Ji turned her face and said, "If you've already decided, then why did you come to tell us at all...?"
Raghav, helplessly, said, "Mom… please..."
She caressed his head and said, "I've longed to see you for all these years… And now I'll have to long again? How can I let you go… You're my son…"
Raghav held her hand and said, "And I'll always be your son, Mom..."
Chandrika Ji hugged him tightly.
Aman Ji placed his hand on Raghav's head and said, "Son, we'll let you go, but on one condition—you must never break our trust.
Siya's alliance was made with you by your mother with great hope.
I know I made a mistake... and I'm still very ashamed of it.
Son, uphold the upbringing your grandfather gave you.
Never break Siya's or our trust.
If you do, that girl will fall apart completely..."
Raghav held Aman Ji's hand and said, "I promise, Dad—I'll never break yours or Mom's trust. I swear on you, Mom..."
Then Raghav got up and went to Kabir's room, who was tangled in a math problem.
Raghav knocked on the door. Kabir looked up and said, "Bhaiya, you? Come in—look, I can't solve this sum."
Raghav came in, checked the notebook, and helped him solve the problem.
Kabir hugged Raghav and said, "You're my magic wand, brother. Whenever I need you, you appear and always help me out of trouble…"
Raghav smiled and said, "But now, you have to become strong yourself...
Because I won't be there to help, Kabir…"
Kabir, surprised, asked, "Why are you saying this, Bhaiya?"
Raghav ruffled Kabir's hair and said, "Because I'm leaving for hostel... tomorrow itself."
Kabir, distressed, said, "But why, Bhaiya? We've just gotten time together again, and now you're leaving? Don't you like me, Bhaiya?"
Raghav lightly slapped his head and said, "What are you saying? You're my life.
But I want to do a lot in life—I want to travel the whole world.
Everyone has their own dreams, their own desires, Kabir.
A person should fulfill all their dreams while they're alive so that there's no regret left in life.
I want to live my life fully, to find myself.
You know, Kabir, the fragrance of flowers always gives me peace.
There's a healing power in the scent of flowers that can take away all sorrow.
And I want to take that same fragrance to bring peace to the world.
And it's just for two years, right?
Once you finish your 12th, come to me.
Then we'll live life together—beautifully."
Kabir hugged Raghav tightly and said, "I'll miss you a lot, Bhaiya…"
Raghav stroked his head and said, "Me too, you fool… Now come on, help me pack.
All my friends are leaving tonight."
Kabir started helping Raghav pack his bags.