Raman's POV

The day after the fire was a blur of activity. Engineers, electricians, and workers swarmed the factory, assessing the damage and beginning repairs. Despite the chaos, I couldn't shake off the conversation I had with Ishita last night. Her unwavering support had given me strength, but the weight of the impending threats still hung over me.

By noon, the initial damage control was in full swing. The engineers confirmed the wall repairs would start on Sunday, and the electricians were busy fixing the short-circuited wires. I decided it was time to dig deeper into the mystery of my father's alliance with Ashok. I needed answers, and I knew exactly where to start: the old family records stored in the study.

Ishita found me there, buried under stacks of dusty files. "Raman, what are you looking for?"

I glanced up, momentarily distracted by her presence. "Anything that might explain why my father is backing Ashok. There has to be something in these old records."

She nodded and pulled up a chair beside me, ready to help. Together, we sifted through years of documents, from old business agreements to personal correspondences. Hours passed in silence, broken only by the rustling of paper and the occasional frustrated sigh.

As the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, Ishita stumbled upon a letter, yellowed with age and hidden between two thick ledgers. "Raman, look at this."

I took the letter from her and began to read. It was a correspondence between my father and Ashok's father, dated over thirty years ago. As I read, pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. The letter detailed a secret deal between the two families, one that involved a significant financial loan from Ashok's family to mine.

"This loan," Ishita said, pointing to the figures in the letter, "it saved your family's business back then."

I nodded slowly. "And it seems there was an agreement for future support in return. My father must feel indebted to Ashok's family, which is why he's backing him now, despite everything."

"But Raman," Ishita interjected, "that doesn't justify Ashok's actions. He's stealing from you, sabotaging your business."

"You're right," I agreed. "It doesn't. This loyalty to the past is blinding my father to Ashok's true nature."

We sat in silence for a moment, absorbing the gravity of what we had discovered. The past had a long shadow, and it was clear that my father was caught in it.

"We need to confront him," Ishita said firmly. "He has to understand what's really happening."

I sighed. "It's not going to be easy. He's stubborn and proud. But you're right. We need to try."

Just then, Romi burst into the study, his face flushed with excitement. "Bhai, Bhabhi, everyone's gathering in the garden for a family lunch. You two should come."

I looked at Ishita and saw the weariness in her eyes. "Let's take a break," I suggested. "We need it."

She smiled, nodding. "You're right. A little break will do us good."

As we walked to the garden, hand in hand, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. For a moment, we could leave the problems behind and enjoy the company of our family.

The garden was abuzz with laughter and chatter. My stepmother, Mrs. Bhalla was busy setting the table, while my grandparents, Dadi and Dadaji, were playfully arguing over the best way to arrange the flowers. Mihir and Romi were helping, their banter lightening the mood. I couldn't help but notice the cold glares Dadi and Dadaji sent Mrs. Bhalla's way is a reminder of the tension that simmered beneath the surface.

"Ishita! Raman!" Dadi called out, waving us over. "Come join us!"

We took our seats at the long table, surrounded by the warmth and love of our family. The food was delicious, and the conversation flowed easily. For a while, I allowed myself to relax and simply enjoy the moment.

As the lunch progressed, I found myself watching Ishita. She was laughing at one of Romi's jokes, her eyes sparkling with joy. I realized how lucky I was to have her by my side. Despite the challenges ahead, I knew we could face them together. Though, I never wanted to involve her in this mess.

After lunch, the family moved to the shaded area of the garden, where Romi had set up a small picnic area. Ishita and I found a quiet spot under a large tree. She leaned against me, her head resting on my shoulder.

"This is nice," she murmured. "Being here with everyone. It feels...normal."

I nodded, wrapping my arm around her. "We need moments like these. To remind us what we're fighting for."

She looked up at me, her eyes full of affection. "Raman, no matter what happens, we'll face it together. I promise."

I bent down and kissed her softly. "I know, Ishita. And I promise the same."

We stayed like that for a while, savoring the tranquility of the moment. The problems we faced were still there, but for now, we had each other and the support of our family.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Romi suggested a game of charades. The family eagerly agreed, and soon, the garden was filled with laughter and playful competition. Ishita and I were on the same team, and we worked together seamlessly, guessing each other's clues with ease.

For a few hours, we were able to forget about the fire, the sabotage, and the secrets. We were just a family, enjoying each other's company.

As the evening drew to a close, I felt a renewed sense of hope. The road ahead would be tough, but with Ishita and my family by my side, I knew we could face anything.

For the first time, I have felt that i have a family. Her presence in my life had made a lot of changes, good ones. If there is no one, then she will be. I can look it into her eyes. This growth in our relationship is evident. I don't know what the future held for us, but I am sure that I would be no longer alone. Though I have her support but I can't risk her life. If working together into it makes us closer to each other, then I will let it be, but I have to protect her. I don't know what will be the next move of Ashok, but I need to do something.

For that first thing, we need to do is to confront Papa. Only he can answer all of my questions.