Sharma House – Dinner Table (Author POV)

The dining table was full.

Plates were served, food had gone lukewarm, glasses stood half-filled—

yet one chair remained empty.

Eight had already struck on the clock.

Rakesh Sharma broke the silence first, his voice calm but edged with concern.

“She isn’t back yet?” he asked, looking at his wife.

Amrita didn’t look up from her plate.

“She never comes home on time,” she replied curtly.

“It’s a daily routine for her now,” she continued bitterly.

“She treats this house like a hotel.”

Ashwani stayed silent, eyes fixed on her plate, fingers tightening slightly around her spoon.

Rakesh spoke again, firmer this time.

“It’s not good for her—coming home late, skipping dinner. It will affect her health.”

That was when Arjun finally looked up.

“She avoids coming home,” he said quietly.

Rakesh’s head snapped toward him, but Arjun didn’t stop.

“Shayad aap logo ne realise nahi kiya ho,” he continued evenly,

“but she’s under a lot of pressure. It’s her last year, and Papa—every conversation somehow turns into joining the company.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

“She’s fed up.”

Amrita scoffed lightly.

“Toh kya galat keh rahe hain hum?” she asked.

“Hum bhi toh uski bhalai hi chahte hain.”

Arjun turned to his mother, his voice sharper now.

“Woh bacchi nahi hai, Maa,” he said.

“She understands what’s good for her and what’s not.”

Amrita opened her mouth to argue—but no words came.

“And because of these constant taunts,” Arjun added,

“she doesn’t even talk properly to you anymore.”

Before Amrita could respond, Ashwani spoke up, her voice hesitant but firm.

“And… she deliberately failed her first semester.”

Everyone stilled.

Ashwani continued, meeting her father’s gaze.

“She knew that if she failed, you wouldn’t push her to join the company immediately.”

“She’s not brilliant enough to top exams with gold medals,” Ashwani said softly,

“but she is sincere enough to pass—if she’s not crushed under pressure.”

Arjun nodded.

“And if this continues,” he added,

“she might do it again.”

“This is her last year. If she fails again, her entire year will be ruined.”

Rakesh listened quietly. For once, he didn’t interrupt.

After a moment, he spoke, his voice low and conflicted.

“So what do you expect us to do?”

“Let her destroy her life?”

Before anyone could answer—

The front door creaked open.

Ashika walked in.

Her eyes swept over the dining table, taking in every face, every paused movement.

No surprise crossed her features—only tired acceptance.

Without a word, she walked past them toward the staircase.

“I’ll talk to her,” Arjun said immediately, standing up.

He followed her upstairs.

Ashika reached her room and was about to shut the door when Arjun blocked it gently with his hand.

She looked up, irritation flashing—

then softening the moment she saw him.

He smiled faintly.

“Am I not allowed inside?”

She stepped aside without a word.

For him, she always did.