The decision had been made.
For the first time since opening Jugaad Junction, they weren't just surviving… they were actually planning to improve their lives. It sounded like a good idea.
But the problem was simple—
They were the ones doing it.
Morning sunlight filled the guest house as Ragz stood in the middle of the hall like a leader ready for war.
"Today, we fix this place."
Zoro raised his hand like a school student.
"Question… do we know how to fix anything?"
Fixer cracked his neck confidently.
"Relax. I've watched many videos."
Ragz frowned.
"…That doesn't make you an expert."
"Confidence does." Fixer replied with a smirk.
Meher stood quietly in the corner with Ayaan, watching them like she already knew how this would end.
And she was right.
Because chaos started within five minutes.
Fixer brought buckets of paint, placing them carefully in the center.
"Okay, simple plan. We paint the walls, fix the furniture, and make this place look alive."
Zoro picked up a brush dramatically.
"I will paint with emotion."
Ragz rolled his eyes.
"Just paint properly."
At first, things went surprisingly well.
Ragz carefully painted one side of the wall.
Fixer worked on fixing a broken table.
Zoro… tried.
But then—
"OOPS."
Everyone froze.
Ragz slowly turned.
Zoro stood there… covered in paint.
Completely.
From head to toe.
The bucket had fallen.
On him.
On the floor.
On everything.
Silence.
Fixer blinked.
"…You became the wall."
Ragz closed his eyes.
"…Why?"
Zoro looked at himself, shocked.
"I slipped… and then the bucket attacked me."
Ragz shouted—
"BUCKETS DON'T ATTACK!"
Fixer couldn't stop laughing.
"This is why we can't have nice things."
Meanwhile, paint slowly spread across the floor like a disaster movie.
Ragz rushed forward.
"STOP IT FROM SPREADING!"
Zoro tried to move but slipped again—
THUD!
Now he was lying on the floor.
Covered in paint.
Defeated.
"…I think I am part of the design now."
Meher shook her head but couldn't hide a small smile.
She placed Ayaan safely aside and stepped in.
"Move."
Ragz pointed at the mess.
"Can you fix this too?"
Meher looked at him calmly.
"No. But I can stop it from getting worse."
She quickly grabbed cloth and started cleaning the paint before it spread further.
Fixer joined her seriously this time.
"Okay… damage control."
Zoro, still on the floor, raised his hand.
"What about me?"
Ragz looked at him.
"You stay there. You're already a masterpiece."
After an hour of struggle, the place looked slightly better.
Not perfect.
But definitely improved.
Walls had fresh paint.
Furniture was somewhat fixed.
And Zoro… finally looked human again.
Everyone collapsed on the floor, exhausted.
Ragz took a deep breath.
"…We actually did something."
Fixer nodded.
"Yeah… and we survived."
Zoro added proudly—
"And I sacrificed my dignity."
Ragz smirked slightly.
"You never had it."
For a moment, laughter filled the room.
A rare, genuine moment.
Then slowly, silence returned.
A calm one this time.
Ragz looked around the guest house.
It still wasn't great.
But it wasn't hopeless anymore.
He stood up and walked toward the window.
Meher was standing there, holding Ayaan, looking outside quietly.
For a few seconds, Ragz just watched her.
Then he spoke softly—
"…Why did you really come here?"
Meher didn't look at him.
"I told you. I needed a place."
Ragz shook his head.
"No. I mean… why alone? With a baby?"
Silence.
For the first time, her expression changed.
A little.
Not weak.
But… heavy.
"…Some questions don't have easy answers."
Ragz didn't push further.
He just nodded.
"…Fair enough."
Ayaan giggled softly, breaking the tension.
Meher smiled faintly.
Ragz looked at them.
And for some reason…
It didn't feel strange anymore.
It felt… right.
Meanwhile, behind them—
Fixer whispered to Zoro—
"Something is cooking."
Zoro nodded dramatically—
"Yes… love story begins."
Ragz turned instantly.
"I CAN HEAR YOU!"
Both of them froze.
"…We were talking about food." Zoro said quickly.
Ragz shook his head.
"Useless."
But deep down…
For the first time in a long time…
He didn't feel completely lost.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
This broken place was slowly becoming something more.
Not just a guest house.
Not just a shelter.
But a place…
Where strangers were turning into something else.
Something strange.
Something real.