As they climbed the stairs, Prerna spoke gently, "Why are you doing this, Hridhaya? You should just ignore Maduri. Not talk back like this..."

Hridhaya paused mid-step, her face tightening. She glanced at her mother-in-law with a sigh.
"Aunty, you know exactly how she is. She's always stirring up drama whenever she walks into this house. Till Sakshi's grandmother passed away, she hated you—and all because Madhuri Aunty whispered poison into her ears. Sakshi has always told me about her. There's always noise when she's around, always chaos. Someone has to shut it down. And from now on, she needs to know—she can't mess with just anyone, especially not with you."

Prerna halted, one hand on the railing, her eyes welling up. "No one has ever taken my side. Not even my own children. They'd rather avoid her than argue, because they know she'll create ten more problems in return."

Hridhaya's jaw clenched. "Aunty, staying quiet out of fear is exactly what made her this way. She thinks she can walk over everyone because no one ever stopped her."

Prerna looked at her helplessly. "Maybe you're right... but I'm scared of what she'll do next. She'll find a way to hurt us more. And no one can rein her in—not when she's your father-in-law's favorite."

Hridhaya opened her mouth to speak again, but they had already reached the room. Karthik stood ready in his suit, adjusting his tie like it was a normal Monday morning.

Prerna blinked. "You're working today? It hasn't even been twelve hours since your wedding!"

He looked up, casual. "Maa, the Dubai Prince is in town. We're finalizing the deal of our Dubai project today. If everything goes well, we'll open 19 jewellery store outlet across the Middle East. The prince himself wants to buy from us, for his wedding—it's a PR goldmine. I'll be there for the my reception party of my wedding tomorrow evening, but this... this is huge. I need to go," he said as he looked at Hridhaya as if he was indirectly conveying to her too.

Prerna sighed, already defeated. "Fine. But let me at least make you some paratha. You don't argue on this one."

Karthik smiled. "Deal. If its Paneer paratha."

Prerna turned to Hridhaya's mom, Shradha. "Get Hridhaya changed and bring her down."

Shradha nodded as Prerna walked out. Hridhaya rolled her eyes. Shradha turned to her quickly, whisper-shouting, "Hridhaya, this is your in-laws' home. You need to mind your words. Show respect."

Karthik, adjusting his cufflinks, smirked. "Yes, Aunty, tell her. She doesn't even respect me!"

Hridhaya snorted. "Respect you? I respect my sandals more."

Shradha pinched her hand, trying to scold her with a death grip. Karthik chuckled, "See, Aunty? She's openly abusing her husband. No shame!"

Hridhaya glared. "You know, I used to wonder where you got your trashy personality from. And today, I got the trailer. Your Aunt. It's in your DNA."

He blinked. "What did she do? Did she say something to Mom?"

Shradha instantly stepped in. "Karthik, let's not go there. It's your wife's first day in this house."

"But did she say something?, "Karthik asked again.

"She didn't say anything to your mom," Shradha replied carefully.

"Then what happened?" He looked between Hridhaya's mother and Hridhaya, his eyes narrowing. "And you were already dressed and downstairs. Why did Maa tell you to change?"

It clicked. His jaw tightened. Of course. His aunt had said something again. She always did—backhanded insults, snide remarks. For years, she'd done it to his mother. And now she had turned her tongue on his wife. Before he could react, his phone rang. "Yes, Abhishek, we can leave after breakfast. I'm coming down. We'll have one last look at the numbers."

Without saying a word, he ended the call, adjusted his jacket, and walked out.

*******

Hridhaya changed and made her way to the kitchen. Prerna was flipping paneer parathas, there was a softness in her eyes when she saw Hridhaya enter.

Before Hridhaya could say a word, Prerna gently cut her off, "You weren't wrong, Hridhaya. I know that. But... I worry for my kids. And by 'kids', I mean you too."

"Aunty..." she began, but was interrupted. Madhuri walked in, tone sharp. "My brother Raj is calling you. Go quickly."

Prerna sighed, reluctant to go. She turned to Hridhaya, "Can you keep an eye on the paratha? Just add a little ghee. This jar's empty, but there's more on the top shelf."

Hridhaya nodded, moving to the shelf as Prerna left. Madhuri lingered. Hridhaya felt uncomfortable neat Madhuri. As she reached for the shelf to find ghee, Madhuri stepped forward. "I'll get it," she said quickly.

She returned with a small cup of ghee and a spoon. Hridhaya looked down at the ghee—
"It's so clear... strange."

"Yes," Madhuri replied smugly. "It's pure. Not the cheap, adulterated stuff your mother probably uses. I get it—not everyone's lucky. But now that you've married into a rich North Indian family, you should act like it."

Hridhaya smiled sweetly—the kind of smile that came before a roast. "Sure, Aunty i will remember that. But i also remember something else. Sakshi once said Raj Uncle became wealthy in the past 2 decades, which means after you got married and left the house? Maybe all the bad luck and bad vibes left the house along with you."

Madhuri's face twitched. "Shut up and make paratha."

"Gladly. You keep talking nonsense as you have no other better job, I'll keep cooking." Hridhaya smirked, flipped the paratha, and walked off with it on a plate.

*******

She handed it to Karthik, who was already at the table.

"Eat and leave. Maybe then I'll finally get some peace," she muttered.

Karthik grinned. "Maybe I'll leave Abhishek behind. He can keep Sakshi company."

Hridhaya shot him a glare. The previous night's noisy activities from Sakshi's room were still fresh in her sleep-deprived mind. Abhishek, already done with breakfast, turned to Sakshi with a teasing smirk. Sakshi blushed crimson. Hridhaya groaned, "Seriously? Blushing at the breakfast table?"

"Don't be jealous, Hridhaya," Sakshi giggled. "If you ever did the same with my brother, I wouldn't tease you."

Hridhaya deadpanned. "Blush? Over this cactus Karthik? Not even in my worst dreams."

Karthik casually said rubbing his small cotton bandage on his forearm, "She doesn't blush, she just makes people bleed instead."

"What happened?" Sakshi asked, concerned.

Karthik smirked looking at Hridhaya. "A wild cat clawed me last night."

Sakshi's jaw dropped. She looked at Hridhaya and muttered, "You two pretend to hate each other, but act wilder than us. Then blame me for blushing? Unfair!"

"Please shut up, Sakshi." Hridhaya groaned as Karthik left to wash his hands after his meal.

But her playful scowl faded when she noticed Karthik's face suddenly pale. He loosened his tie, grabbed at his chest, and stumbled to the nearby bathroom— and puked.

Then collapsed.

Everything blurred.

Hridhaya, Abhishek, and Sakshi rushed behind him. Karthik was lying on the floor, barely conscious. Without a word, they carried him to the car and sped off to the hospital— the laughter from moments ago replaced with pounding fear.

******

Soon, the entire family was gathered at the hospital. Tension thickened the air as the doctor walked out. "Did he consume anything he's allergic to?" he asked.

Hridhaya stepped forward quickly, voice trembling, "He just had paneer paratha."

Prerna added, confused, "He eats it every day. Nothing was different today."

A loud voice interrupted from behind. "Yes, he did consume something he's allergic to."

All heads turned as Madhuri walked in, with a sinister expression. "After everyone left, I went to the kitchen. She had made paratha with castor oil for him. And we all know Karthik is allergic to that. This girl—" she jabbed her finger at Hridhaya, "did it on purpose."

Hridhaya's eyes widened. "No! I didn't add castor oil! Why would I—"

"Don't lie. I saw the cup of castor oil on the counter. Stop pretending." She turned to her brother Raj. "She did this deliberately."

Abhishek stepped forward, frowning. "Hridhaya, is this true?"

Before she could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at it and cursed, "Damn it. We have to reschedule the Dubai prince's meeting."

He gave Hridhaya a hard glare as he left. Tears welled in her eyes. "I swear, I didn't know he was allergic to it. And I didn't add anything wrong!"

Raj's voice was heavy. "Did you make the paratha?"

She looked at Prerna, torn. She didn't want to take her name, even though Prerna had made it and she'd only flipped it on the pan. But... Madhuri had brought the ghee. She had handed it over. Then it all clicked. It was Madhuri she brought the ghee from the jar. She had a doubt for a second but she didn't think much at that moment.

Prerna stepped in. "Hridhaya wouldn't harm him. She's a good girl."

"Good girl?" Madhuri snapped. "Didn't anyone notice the bandage on Karthik's arm this morning? Now i doubt she might be the reason for that too?"

"What are you saying?" Prerna's voice rose, shocked. "Are you accusing her of hurting him on purpose?"

Sakshi rushed in from behind and clutched Hridhaya's hand. "My friend is not like that. Say something! Tell her you didn't do it!"

But Hridhaya stayed silent, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Don't be quiet, Hridhaya!" Shradha urged. "Say something! Your silence will make it worse!"

She just nodded slowly. Yes. Gasps echoed around them.

Raj's face darkened. "You slashed your husband? You got married yesterday!"

"Why, Hridhaya?" Prerna whispered, her voice cracking.

Sakshi stepped forward leaving Hridhaya's hand, disbelief in her voice. "Do you hate my brother so much that you'd make him bleed?"

Hridhaya sobbed, "It's not what it looks like... I didn't mean—"

"Then how did he get that wound?" Madhuri demanded.

Hridhaya's body trembled. Her mind flashed back to the night before... Karthik's teasing, the chase, the prank. The razor.

Madhuri screamed more, sending a shock to her spine,"How tell us now!!!!"

Her hand began to shake and she whispered, "...Razor."

Everyone was shocked. Madhuri grinned like a shark who smelled blood. "See? No one believed me when I said she used castor oil, and now she's admitted to hurting him last night. What kind of girl did you bring into this house?"

Raj and Prerna stood frozen. They knew the marriage hadn't started on love but they felt eventually they will come around, but this... this felt like betrayal.

Madhuri poured fuel on the fire. "She has no background, no status, not even from our caste. And look at her skin—dark, just like her attitude. You thought she'd suit a rich family? She's a venomous snake. She'll ruin this family."

"Don't you dare talk about my daughter like that!" Shradha burst out.

Raj snapped, "What's wrong in what she said? We brought her home, thinking she had character. We expected nothing else. But now she's poisoned my son and hurt him. How can we forgive that?"

Hridhaya broke down. "We argued, and yes, he got hurt—but I didn't... I didn't do this..."

Madhuri pounced, "Then tell me—you didn't put castor oil in the pan?"

Hridhaya hesitated. "I... I mean I did... but—"

"There! She confessed!" Madhuri said with a victorious smirk.

"Please listen to me—let me explain—" Hridhaya begged.

But Prerna's face was stone. "What is there left to say, Hridhaya? We trusted you."

Madhuri had always made a mountain out of a molehill—but this time, she'd struck gold. She had been handed the perfect opportunity to poison more than just food; she was poisoning minds, relationships, trust. This was her moment—to paint Hridhaya in the darkest shade possible, to turn every eye against her, to ensure that no one would love or respect her ever again.

She wasn't doing anything new—it was the same game she had played with Prerna years ago, slowly but deliberately turning the family against her, making her look like the problem until all that was left was resentment and isolation. And now, she was doing it again. Only the name had changed.

This time, it was Hridhaya's turn to be the villain.

No one believed her. Not even Prerna. And that... that broke her. Madhuri twisted the knife deeper. "She and Karthik have nothing in common. End it. Get a divorce and be done with this disaster."

Shradha sat on the chair behind with a thud. Hridhaya rushed to her.

"Amma, please... trust me." she whispered.

Shradha looked at her with pain in her eyes. And then—slap. A sharp sting across Hridhaya's cheek.

Raj turned to Prerna. "This is your doing. You said this was the right match. If her brother wasn't our son-in-law, I'd have thrown her out already."

Just then, a nurse wheeled Karthik into another room. Prerna, Raj, Sakshi, and Madhuri followed in silence, leaving Hridhaya and her mother alone in the hallway.

"Anna," Hridhaya choked out, "Even if no one believes me, you should."

Shradha's eyes were red. "If it had come from anyone else, I wouldn't have believed it. But you said it yourself. What do you expect me to do? I married you into that house not for their wealth, but because I thought they'd keep you happy. And you—" her voice broke, "you've ruined everything. Your brother's respect, our name, this entire marriage... all because of your ego."

Hridhaya crumbled into tears. This wasn't just heartbreak. It was character assassination. And Madhuri had written the entire script.

Hridhaya had never wanted this marriage. If it ended, she wouldn't shed a tear—but not like this.
Not with blame stitched to her name for something she didn't do.
Not with eyes that once looked at her with warmth now filled with doubt.

Tears welled up, unchecked, flooding her vision as the weight of injustice crushed her chest.
This wasn't heartbreak—this was humiliation.

But will Karthik also believe this?