Rahul's voice took on a gentle, persuasive tone as he said, "I know he did wrong by forcing you into an unwanted relationship, but he's not a villain, Swara. His way is wrong, and I won't take his side, but at least try to see beyond his coldness." Rahul's words were a plea for understanding, encouraging Swara to look beyond Sanskar's harsh exterior and consider the complexities of his character.

Swara's eyes widened in shock as Rahul's words struck a chord. "Even if you hadn't accepted his proposal, your mother's operation would have been done," Rahul revealed, his tone calm but impactful.

Swara's face reflected her turmoil as she processed the information. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and restlessness.

Rahul's next words dropped like a bombshell: "Sanskar sir just twisted the situation in his favor. The operation was already scheduled, but he used it as leverage to blackmail you." The truth, once hidden, was now laid bare, leaving Swara reeling from the revelation.

Swara's anger simmered as she glared at Rahul, her voice laced with indignation, "He played with me?"

Rahul's smirk confirmed her suspicions, "Kind of, yes. Sir wanted you by hook or by crook."

Swara's eyes narrowed, her anger intensifying, "And you knew about it all along?" She took a step closer to Rahul, her presence imposing.

Rahul gulped internally but maintained his composure, "I'm loyal to my boss."

Swara's gaze burned with intensity, "I won't forget this, Rahul. Just see what I'll do."

Her words hung in the air, a veiled threat, before she turned her attention to Sanskar, "But first, let me deal with your so-called boss." The promise of retribution was palpable, and Rahul's instincts warned him that the situation was about to escalate.

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Nandini let out a frustrated "Aahhhh" as she scratched her head, struggling to grasp the legal requirements for starting a business.

"Designing clothes is a breeze compared to opening a boutique," she pouted, feeling overwhelmed and irritated by the paperwork and regulations. Her creative spirit yearned for the freedom to design, not get bogged down in bureaucratic details.

Nandini's eyes sparkled with determination as she thought, "This Manik he should have come by now, but no there he is enjoying leaving his one and only cute, sweet, innocent girlfriend in problem"

She swiftly video call his number, and her lips curved into a smile as she heard his husky voice on the other end, "Yes, my highness." The warmth in her cheeks was palpable, and she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest at the familiar tone.

"Shut up, don't try to sweet-talk me, I'm furious," she frowned. "Couldn't you have picked a different time to go to Switzerland? Do you know how much trouble I'm in? Who's going to help me now?"

Manik's teasing response, "The trouble you are in now, is that trouble greater than the trouble that is you?" only fueled her frustration.

"Manik Malhotra, I'm serious! I'm completely lost with these legal requirements. And this quotation, balance sheet... ugh, so many confusing conditions!" she exclaimed, her exasperation evident in her voice.

"Jaan, baby, breathe. Do you want me to go deaf from your shouting?" Manik's calm and amused tone was a stark contrast to Nandini's frazzled state, his words dripping with affectionate teasing.

"Aaaaahhhhh!" she wailed, her voice cracking with emotion. "I know you've found some blonde, sexy, hot English girl, that's why you don't love me anymore!" she blabbered, her words tumbling out in a tearful jumble as she wiped her nose in a adorably sniffly way.

"Bacha, at least cry properly, yaar. Not a single tear is visible, and there's no water in your nose, so what are you wiping?" Manik's teasing laughter made Nandini's embarrassment boil over into anger, her face flushing with indignation.

"I hate you, dare to come here and I'll kill you! You traitor, cheater, monster!" Nandini's angry voice echoed through the phone before she slammed it shut.

Manik winced, rubbing his ear, a hint of a smile on his face as he gazed at the phone. "Oops, my baby doll's got angry. Guess I have to pacify her before she causes any more trouble," he thought, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Get the private jet ready," Manik instructed his assistant Laksh, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "My baby needs me," he added, his tone laced with affectionate indulgence, already planning his trip to calm Nandini's stormy temper.

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Nandini's gaze drifted from the file in her hand to the door she stood before, her thoughts a jumble of emotions. She had intended to confide in her father, but her heart had led her to her biological brother's room instead. The door, however, belonged to someone else - Sanskar's room - and the anger she felt toward Manik still simmered within her, a potent mix of frustration and resentment.

Nandini attempted to pump herself up, saying, "You can do it, Nandini, you're strong!" She flexed her arms, but her muscles were more aspirational than actual, leaving her with a comical expression of determination.

Nandini slowly peeked through the door, spotting Sanskar typing away furiously. His fingers flew across the keyboard with intensity, and she winced in sympathy for the poor keyboard, imagining it under siege. "Poor keyboard," she thought, a flicker of amusement crossing her face despite her troubled emotions.

She ducked back out of sight, her mind racing with doubts. "What if Mr. Maheshwari thinks I'm selfish? I've been so caught up in my own anger and attitude for so long, and now that I need his help, I've come crawling?" The fear of being judged or rejected made her hesitate, wondering if she'd misjudged the situation entirely.

Nandini peeked through the door again, this time catching Sanskar signing files. She quickly hid back out of sight, her pout deepening as doubts crept in. "What if he thinks my concerns from this morning were just an act? That I don't really care?" The fear of being seen as insincere or manipulative made her question her own motivations and worry about Sanskar's perception of her.

Nandini peeked through the door once more, biting her nails in anxiety. Her expression was endearingly vulnerable, like a toddler waiting for a treat. She quickly hid again, her thoughts swirling with self-doubt. "What if he thinks I'm just using him? That I'm a bad girl?" Her face scrunched up in a mix of worry and defensiveness, she muttered to herself, "But I'm a good girl! I listen to everyone, just like Pops tells me to." Her inner turmoil was palpable, her emotions seesawing between uncertainty and self-justification.

Nandini's eyes widened in horror as Sanskar's words caught her off guard. "Do you want a special invitation to enter my room, choti?" His amused tone made her realize she'd been caught lingering outside his door, and her face flushed with embarrassment. She stuttered, trying to come up with a plausible excuse, but her words got tangled in her mortification.

Nandini's sudden sheepish smile caught Sanskar off guard, a stark contrast to the icy demeanor she'd been showering him with until now. The warmth in her expression made him feel a little off-kilter, like the room had tilted slightly. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this softer side of his sister.

Nandini's smile faltered as she mentally slapped herself back to reality. "What the heck am I smiling about?! Stop being a fool, Nandini!" She internally scolded herself, trying to regain her gruff composure, but a tiny part of her wondered why she couldn't quite keep the smile at bay.

"Do you need anything?" Sanskar asked

Nandini's words tumbled out in a hilarious jumble: "Okay, fine! I'm not selfish, and my feelings aren't fake, but that doesn't mean I forgive you for being my brother yet! I'm still mad, but Papa said give you a chance, so I'm trying... sort of. Living under the same roof, we can't be strangers, right? But you're not even trying to make nice! You brought me here because I'm your sister, but now you're just ignoring me for this... this... stupid typing box!" She slapped her hand on the desk, file clutched in the other. "Help me with this quotation thingy, I'm totally lost!" She planted a hand on her hip, giving Sanskar a mock-stern look, "Get to work, bhaiyyu!" She unknowingly called him as brother.

"Hai toh ye itni tiny si, her height hardly reach my shoulder, but look at her strength, from where is get energy to talk non stop? Does she store extra energy somewhere liking camel store water in his back?" Sanskar thought looking at his sister who is talking non stop.

Sanskar's amusement turned to surprise, and he froze, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Bhaiyyu?" he repeated, his voice low, a mix of emotions swirling within him. The term of endearment, so casually used by Nandini, caught him off guard, and he felt a pang in his chest. For a moment, he forgot about the past and the complexities of their relationship, and all that remained was the warmth of that single word.

"Please help me" Nandini pouted at him not realising the shock she gave him by calling him bhaiyyu.

Sanskar's expression softened as he looked at Nandini's pouty face, still unaware of the impact her words had on him. He nodded, pushing aside his emotions, and focused on helping her. "Okay, let me see what you need help with," he said, his voice gentle, as he began to work on the quotation, his mind still lingering on the unexpected warmth of being called "bhaiyyu".

Nandini was surprised by his gentle tone and softness his eyes held. Small smile playing on his lips "you look good while smiling" she said "why don't you smile?"

Sanskar's smile vanished, and his eyes darkened, like clouds shadowing the sun. "There was no reason to smile, choti," he said, his voice low and cold. The softness in his gaze was replaced by a depth of pain, a weight that seemed to press down on him. "Life taught me lessons about smiling... or rather, not smiling."

Nandini's gaze faltered, lost and uncertain, as if she was gazing into a darkness she couldn't quite comprehend. The air seemed to grow heavier, filled with the unspoken weight of Sanskar's past.

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Swara walked into the Maheshwari mansion, and her eyes landed on a chaotic scene. Nandini was running, laughing, with Ishita hot on her heels, a glass of milk held precariously in her hand. "Mumma, no! Yeww, no milk, please! You know I hate the smell!" Nandini darted onto the living room sofa, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Ishita followed, her face set in a mock-stern expression, as the two of them played a game of cat and mouse.

Swara's arrival went unnoticed amidst the commotion, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of her loved ones having so much fun.

"Nandu I'm not going to hear anything, come down and drink this now" Ishita said in stern tone.

Ishita's stern tone was met with resistance as Nandini stuck out her lower lip and whined, "No way! I'll complain to Mani!" Her voice rose to a high-pitched squeal, reminiscent of a toddler's tantrum.

Ishita's expression softened slightly at the sight of her daughter's dramatic face, but she held firm, "Nandu, come down and drink this now. No more running!"

Raman's voice was a soothing balm, "Nandu, princess, it's good for you. You've just recovered from fever, and milk will help restore your energy." His gentle tone was persuasive, his words infused with a deep concern for her well-being, as he coaxed her to take the milk.

Nandini's eyes sparkled with mischief as she suggested, "Why don't you give this tasteless milk to Mr. Maheshwari? He needs it more, considering he's as massive as the Eiffel Tower and has to manage a huge company." Her arms spread wide, emphasizing the enormity of Mr. Maheshwari's stature and responsibilities, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.

Nandini's argument concluded with a flourish, "And see, he even has a wound on his hand, and you know he drinks alcohol, which is bad for his health. So, he needs milk more than I do." She delivered her verdict with an air of gravity, as if she'd just presented a crucial policy brief.

Sanskar, descending the stairs, caught the tail end of her speech and couldn't help but shake his head, amused by her childish logic. "Who would believe she's 21?" he thought to himself, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Swara's eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the impossible: Sanskar, the man notorious for his stoic demeanor, had smiled. Her mind reeled, "Has the apocalypse arrived?" she thought, her heart nearly skipping a beat. The sight was so surreal that Swara felt like she'd just seen a stone statue crack a joke.

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Hey readers! 👋

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apocalypse meaning the end of the world"