Spoiler :-(believe me , you are not ready for this twist)
Aashvik asked, his voice laced with suspicion, "So… this woman is your wife?"
Ekansh gave a silent nod.
Before the air could settle, Ryaan — ever the excited one — chimed in with enthusiasm, "Yes! Meet our bhabhi, Dr. Akshita."
The moment the name left Ryaan’s lips, something inside Aashvik froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief. He took a step forward, almost involuntarily, as if dragged by a force from the past.
He whispered, almost breathless, "Akshita? You mean... Akshita Malhotra?"
Akshita slowly nodded, her expression unreadable.
Aashvik stood there, stunned — like a man who had just seen a ghost from a life he thought he’d buried long ago.
Without breaking eye contact, he turned sharply to Ekansh and asked, voice barely steady, "Is she… is she that Akshita? The same girl who used to play with us? The one who used to call me Aashu?"
Ekansh, unaware of the storm brewing beneath, nodded again.
Aashvik’s voice cracked with emotion, "Do you remember me, Akshu? I’m Aashvik… your Aashu… It’s been twenty—"
Before he could complete the sentence, Ekansh suddenly snapped, voice sharp like a blade, "Enough. Shut up now, everyone."
The room fell into heavy silence.
The tension was thick. The entire family exhaled, unaware they’d been holding their breath — because Aashvik had come dangerously close to revealing something…
Something that wasn’t just buried…
Something forbidden.
Something even Ekansh didn’t know.
Aashvik looked at Ekansh, then at Akshita, and instantly realized—this wasn’t the time.
His lips parted, then shut tight again. He gave a slow, knowing nod and stepped back.
He understood now.
The past wasn't just the past anymore.
And the secret... was still alive.