By afternoon, Royal Blue Villa had lost all its morning calm.
It started with something small.
It always did.
Lakshmi was sitting at the dining table, carefully writing something in her notebook, completely focused. For once, the house was quiet enough for her to think.
That should have been her first warning.
Dhruv walked in, holding a glass of juice, looking far too relaxed for someone who usually brought trouble with him.
He stopped behind her chair and leaned slightly, trying to read upside down.
Lakshmi didn't even look up. "Don't."
"I didn't do anything."
"You're about to."
"I'm just observing."
"You're disturbing."
"That's not the same thing."
She finally looked up at him. "It is."
Dhruv took a sip of his juice, completely unbothered. "What are you writing this time? Another secret document?"
"It's my homework."
"Oh," he said, sounding almost disappointed. "Boring."
"Not everyone has the luxury to waste time like you."
"Excuse me," he placed the glass down dramatically, "I don't waste time. I invest it."
"In what?"
"In irritating you."
Lakshmi stared at him for a second.
Then went back to writing.
Ignoring him.
That was mistake number two.
Dhruv slowly reached forward… and slid her notebook away from her hand.
She froze.
Then turned her head slowly.
"Give it back."
"No."
"Dhruv."
"Say please."
She stood up immediately. "Give. It. Back."
He stepped away, holding it casually in one hand.
"You're repeating yourself."
"You're testing my patience."
"Good. I want to know the limit."
Lakshmi walked around the table, trying to corner him.
"Stop running!"
"I'm not running. I'm moving strategically."
"You're impossible!"
She tried to grab it again, but he pulled it back just in time.
"Too slow."
That was it.
Lakshmi grabbed the spoon from the table and pointed it at him.
"Give it back or I swear—"
"You'll attack me with a spoon?" he laughed.
"Yes!"
"Creative."
She lunged forward again.
He stepped back—
And knocked into a chair.
The chair dragged loudly across the floor.
The noise echoed through the hall.
Within seconds, Monika appeared from the corridor.
"What is going on?"
"Nothing," Dhruv said immediately.
"Everything," Lakshmi said at the same time.
Monika crossed her arms. "I should've guessed."
"Tell him to give it back!" Lakshmi said, clearly frustrated now.
"Tell her to ask nicely," Dhruv replied.
"I will not!"
"Then I will not."
Monika sighed. "Both of you—"
Before she could finish, Lakshmi tried again, and this time she almost succeeded in grabbing the notebook.
Dhruv instinctively caught her wrist to stop her.
"Relax—"
"Leave my hand!"
"I'm stopping you from committing a crime."
"You started this crime!"
They were standing too close again.
Breathing uneven.
Arguing—
But neither stepping away.
Monika watched them for a second… then shook her head.
"Unbelievable."
---
At that exact moment, Rudra walked in.
He stopped at the entrance, taking in the entire scene.
Lakshmi trying to snatch something.
Dhruv holding her back.
Monika standing in between, clearly done with both of them.
"What is happening?" he asked calmly.
No one answered immediately.
Then—
"He took my notebook," Lakshmi said.
"She overreacted," Dhruv said.
"She started it," Lakshmi snapped.
"She continued it," Dhruv replied.
Rudra closed his eyes for a brief second.
Then looked at Dhruv.
"Give it back."
Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "Bias."
"Dhruv."
That was enough.
He handed the notebook back.
Lakshmi took it instantly, holding it close like it was something precious.
"Thank you," she muttered to Rudra.
Dhruv looked at her. "You didn't say please."
"I don't need to."
"You clearly did."
She glared at him.
Rudra turned to leave, but Monika spoke—
"You don't get to walk away."
He stopped.
Turned.
"And why not?"
"Because this is your brother."
"And?"
"And you should control him."
Rudra looked at Dhruv.
Then back at Monika.
"He's not a project."
Monika stepped closer. "And this," she gestured toward the mess,
"is not normal."
"It is for him."
"That doesn't make it right."
There was a pause.
Dhruv looked between them, suddenly interested.
Lakshmi too.
This was new.
Rudra and Monika—
Arguing.
Rudra's tone remained calm. "You're overreacting."
Monika's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you're ignoring it."
"It's not a problem."
"It is."
"For you."
"Yes."
"Then you handle it."
That hit differently.
Monika stared at him for a second.
Then said quietly, "Fine."
She turned away.
And walked out.
The room fell silent.
Dhruv looked at Rudra slowly.
"…You messed up."
Rudra didn't respond.
Lakshmi clutched her notebook tighter, watching the direction Monika left.
Then she looked at Dhruv.
"This is your fault."
"My fault?" he blinked.
"Yes! If you didn't start all this—"
"Oh wow. Blame shifting."
"You literally stole my notebook!"
"For educational purposes!"
"There was nothing educational about that!"
He stepped closer. "I learned that you get very aggressive."
"And I learned you have no sense."
They stood face to face again.
Still arguing.
Still not walking away.
Rudra watched them for a moment—
Then turned and left silently.
---
Outside in the corridor, he found Monika standing near the window, her back facing him.
He stopped a few steps away.
"You're angry."
She didn't turn. "No."
"You are."
"I said no."
A pause.
Then she added quietly, "I just don't like chaos."
Rudra stepped closer.
"It won't always be controlled."
"I know," she said. "But that doesn't mean we ignore it."
He looked at her profile.
There was no anger in her face now.
Just… concern.
"You care," he said.
She turned this time.
"Yes," she said simply.
"For them."
A pause.
Then, softer—
"And for this place."
Rudra held her gaze.
Something in his expression shifted.
Not visibly.
But enough.
"I'll handle it," he said.
Monika blinked slightly.
That was new.
"Okay," she said quietly.
---
From the staircase above, Damodar watched everything.
Every argument.
Every reaction.
Every shift.
His smile returned.
"Cracks," he murmured softly.
"They've started."
And this time—
His eyes lingered on Rudra.
Not with admiration.
But with intent.