As soon as the bedroom door opened, every conversation in the living room stopped.

Every pair of eyes turned towards it.

It had been almost two hours since Akanksha had gone inside.

Two hours of pretending to be normal.

Someone had been scrolling through reels. Someone had been checking their phone. Gullu had tried to start random conversations twice. Rohit and Suzane had even argued over something completely meaningless.

But none of them had really been present.

Their minds had been stuck behind that closed door.

What was happening inside?

Would Yogesh finally tell her everything?

Would Akanksha get angry after hearing about the planning?

Would she forgive him?

And what would happen to Yogesh once everything was finally said?

Sorab had barely touched his phone during those two hours. He knew Akanksha. He knew how much she had been carrying inside herself, and he also knew how badly Yogesh had been struggling.

He was worried about both of them.

Then the door opened.

Akanksha came out first.

Everyone immediately looked at her face.For a second, they thought she had come out alone.

Then Yogesh stepped out behind her.

The room went completely silent.

Gullu's eyebrows lifted.

Rohit looked at Suzane.

Suzane looked at Sorab.

No one said anything.

Yogesh had actually come out.For days, they had been trying to convince him to leave that room.

"Come downstairs."

"Eat something with us."

"Let's go for a drive."

"At least sit with us for ten minutes."

He had refused everything.

But Akanksha had gone inside once.

And now he was standing there.

It wasn't a victory.

No one looked at it that way.

For them, Yogesh simply stepping out of that room felt like a tiny sign of hope.

Maybe he was finally ready to stop hiding from everyone.

Maybe he was finally ready to take one small step back towards his life.

Nobody considered it some kind of victory.

It wasn't.

It was simply... hope.

Maybe he was finally willing to take one small step back towards everyone.

Akanksha and Yogesh walked towards the living room.

Everyone automatically adjusted themselves.

Gullu was sitting on the single bean bag. Subhangi was occupying one corner of the chair. Rohit and Suzane were on the sofa, while Sorab was sitting at one end of the other sofa.

Akanksha quietly sat beside Sorab.

Yogesh stopped for a moment and looked around.

There was nowhere left.

He looked slightly awkward.

Akanksha noticed.

"You can sit."

Her voice was hoarse.

Yogesh looked at the empty space beside her.

"Yahin?"

Akanksha gave him a small look.

"Haan. Aur jagah dikh nahi rahi mujhe."

There was a tiny pause.

Yogesh nodded

.

"Hmm."

He sat down beside her.

Not too close.

Not too far.

Just enough distance to make it clear that neither of them knew what was normal anymore.

Everyone noticed their faces.

Their eyes were red and swollen.

There were faint tear marks on Akanksha's cheeks.

Yogesh looked exhausted.

But nobody asked.

Not because they didn't care.

Because they cared enough to know that this wasn't the right moment.

Sorab finally broke the silence.

"Akku..."

She looked at him.

"You okay?"

Akanksha hesitated.

"Yeah."

Sorab waited.

She gave a tiny shrug.

"I mean... I'll be okay."

Sorab nodded slowly.

"Okay."

Subhangi looked towards Yogesh, who was rubbing his forehead.

"Yogesh?"

"Haan... bas achanak se lights..." He paused, searching for the words. "Thoda headache ho raha hai."

"Lights dim kar dete hain," Gullu immediately said.

He got up and dimmed the lights.

Soon, the room was lit mostly by the soft light from the hallway and a small lamp beside the sofa.

He didn't ask anything else.

"Better?"

Yogesh looked around.

"Haan."

"Good."

Gullu sat back down.The room became softer and quieter.For a few moments, nobody knew what to say.

Then Gullu suddenly clapped his hands.

"Achha, tum dono kahin nahi ja rahe abhi."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Kyun?"

"Khana order kar diya hai."

"Hum ghar jaake bhi kha sakte hain."

"Bilkul nahi."

Gullu pointed towards her.

" yaar... Waise bhi kitne time baad mili hai tu. Humein toh jaise bhool hi gayi hai. Pata hai na, main tera dost hua karta tha?"

He put a hand dramatically over his heart.

Akanksha gave him a tired smile.

Akanksha looked at Sorab.

Sorab smiled faintly.

"He's right."

She sighed.

"Fine."

Gullu smiled triumphantly.

"Dekha? Main jeet gaya."

Rohit laughed

.

"Isko bas mauka chahiye hota hai."

"Main toh naturally convincing hoon."

Gullu said

"Naturally irritating bhi," Suzane added.

"Thank you."

Akanksha couldn't stop a small laugh.

It was brief.

But everyone noticed.And nobody made a big deal out of it.They simply continued.

After a moment, Suzane looked at Akanksha.

"Waise, tu humein yaad bhi karti hai?"

Akanksha looked offended.

"Of course."

"Haan? Toh call kyun nahi kiya?"

"Time nahi mila."

"Ek message?"

"Wo bhi nahi."

Suzane narrowed her eyes.

"Accha."

Akanksha smiled awkwardly.

"Sorry."

"Fine. Maaf kiya."

Rohit immediately interrupted.

"Humko toh bilkul yaad nahi kiya."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Aapko kyun karungi?"

Everyone laughed.

Rohit put a hand over his heart.

"Wow."

Gullu leaned towards him.

"Beizzati hui hai."

"Bahut."

Akanksha smiled.

For the first time since coming out of the room, her shoulders looked slightly relaxed.

Yogesh sat quietly beside her.

He didn't participate.

But he listened.

Sometimes his lips curved into a small smile when someone joked.

Sorab noticed.

He didn't say anything.

A few minutes later, Suzane suddenly said,

"Girls' night out?..."

Akanksha looked at her.

"What?"

"We're doing it."

"When?"

"Jaldi."

Suzane started counting on her fingers.

"Tu, main, Niharika, Subhangi..."

She looked at Akanksha.

"And no boys."

Rohit immediately protested.

"Excuse me?"

"Nobody asked you."

"Why am I being excluded?"

"Because it's a girls' night."

Gullu raised his hand dramatically.

"Human rights violation."

Subhangi laughed.

"Human rights?"

"Yes. We are being discriminated against gender...hame bhi to moka milna chahiye na....."

Rohit nodded seriously.

"Exactly."

Suzane rolled her eyes.

"You two are impossible."

Akanksha smiled.

"Let them come."

Suzane looked at her in disbelief.

"No! That's exactly how girls' night becomes boys' night."

Gullu looked towards Yogesh.

"Tu kuch bol. Humari side se."

Yogesh looked up.

"Hmm?"

"Hum aa sakte hain na?"

Yogesh looked at the group, then at Gullu.

"Main toh... waise bhi nahi aaunga."

Everyone looked at him.

Gullu sulked

"Traitor."

A faint smile appeared on Yogesh's face..

"Sorry."

It was barely a sentence.But it was the first time he had willingly joined their conversation.No one pointed it out.

They just let it happen naturally.

After a while, Rohit picked up his phone.

"Achha, kuch music lagao. Mood thoda better karte hain."

He connected his phone to the speaker.

A soft song began playing.

Nobody spoke for a while.The music filled the room.Akanksha pulled her knees up slightly and rested her chin against them.Subhangi occasionally whispered something to her.

Akanksha answered quietly.

Yogesh sat beside them, looking at his phone.

After a few minutes, Akanksha glanced towards him.

"Headache zyada hai?"

He looked up.

"Hmm?"

"Headache."

"Oh."

He hesitated.

"Nahi... ab thoda better hai."

"Okay."

She nodded.

She thinks something even though he had hurt her..and she hadn't forgotten what he did..still don't know why she cared for him.

A small silence followed.

Yogesh looked at her.

"Tu..."

Akanksha turned towards him.

"Hmm?"

He seemed unsure whether he should continue.

"Tu... theek hai?"

She stared at him for a second.

Then looked away.

"I don't know."

Yogesh nodded.

"Okay."

Another silence.Then Akanksha quietly said,

"Tu bhi nahi hai."

Yogesh looked at her.

A faint, tired smile appeared.

"Shayad."

Neither of them said anything after that.But somehow, that tiny exchange felt heavier than a long conversation.

A little later, Rohit suddenly stood up.

"Bas. Ab enough sadness."

He extended his hand towards Suzane.

"Dance."

Suzane laughed.

"Pagal hai?"

"Yes."

She eventually took his hand.They started doing some ridiculous dance in the middle of the room.Gullu started laughing.

"Rohit, please yarr...itna mat hasa...!"

"Why? I'm an artist."

"Artist nahi, problem ho."

Akanksha laughed quietly.Yogesh looked up from his phone.For a few seconds, he watched them.Then he smiled.

Just a little.

Subhangi noticed but said nothing.

Soon everyone was laughing and taking videos.Suzane grabbed her phone.

"Everyone look here!"

She turned the camera towards Akanksha.Akanksha gave a small smile.

Then the camera moved towards Yogesh.He looked at it, slightly confused.

"Smile!"

Yogesh tried.

It came out more like a tired half-smile.

"Bas," Suzane said. "Itna hi mil raha hai."

Gullu laughed.

"Progress hai."

Yogesh looked at him.

"Chup."

Everyone laughed again.For a few minutes, things almost felt normal.

Almost.

Then Subhangi's phone rang.She checked it.

"Khana aa gaya."

Gullu immediately stood.

"Chal!"

They went downstairs to collect it.

Soon they returned with several bags.

"Come on!" Gullu announced. "Khana!"

Everyone got up.

Plates were brought from the kitchen.

Sorab and Suzane started taking the food out.Rohit arranged the plates.

Akanksha was helping with the glasses.Then she noticed Yogesh wasn't there.

She looked towards the sofa.

He was still sitting.

She walked over.

"Tu nahi aa raha?"

He looked up.

"Main?"

"Haan, tum."

He gave a small smile.

"Bhook nahi hai."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Khale kuchh ese kab tak chalega.."

"I know."

"Toh?"

"I'll eat later."

She sighed.

"Yogesh."

"Hmm?"

"Chal."

He looked at her for a moment.

Then quietly stood up.

"Okay."

She turned around and walked towards the table.He followed.

Nobody said anything.But Sorab saw them coming together.He looked down and continued serving food.

At the dining table, conversation slowly started again.

"Rohit, tune paneer itna kam kyun Diya muje?"

"Because everyone else is also eating it."

"Toh?"Main bhi insaan hoon."

Gullu laughed.

"Tu insaan nahi, bhukkad hai."

"At least I'm honest."

Akanksha smiled.

"Give me that."

She reached for the bowl.

Rohit immediately moved it away.

"First tell me you'll share."

"Main kyun share karungi?"

"Because friendship."

"Friendship mein khana share nahi hota. Khana khatam hota hai."

Gullu laughed.

"Ye hui na baat."

Sorab shook his head.

"Akku hasn't changed."

Akanksha smiled.

"Obviously."

Yogesh was mostly quiet.

He ate slowly.

Very little.

Akanksha noticed.

She didn't comment immediately.

Instead, she quietly pushed one of the dishes slightly closer to him.

"Ye le."

He looked at her.

"I'm okay."

"Okay hai toh kha."

He hesitated.

"Tu?"

"Main kha rahi hoon."

He looked down.

"Thanks."

Akanksha paused.

Then simply nodded.

"No problem."

It was such a small exchange that nobody commented.But both of them seemed aware of it.

As dinner continued, the conversation moved from one topic to another.

Suzane told a funny incident.Rohit interrupted her halfway through.

Gullu started arguing with him.

Subhangi tried to settle them.Sorab just sat there laughing.

Akanksha joined in occasionally, teasing everyone whenever she got the chance.And slowly, her laughter began sounding a little more genuine.

After dinner, everyone moved back to the living room with dessert.The moment Akanksha saw the pastries, her eyes lit up.

"Wait."

She immediately looked at the box.

"Kitni hain?"

"Eight bas"

Gullu said

"Bas?"

"Ha."

Akanksha started counting.

"Ek... do... teen..."

Then she noticed one pastry left.

She looked at Gullu.

"Ye meri."

Gullu immediately picked it up.

"Why?"

"Because maine pehle dekh liya."

"Toh?"

"Toh meri."

"Main lene gaya tha."

"Toh uske liye medal chahiye?"

Rohit burst out laughing.Gullu looked at Sorab.

"Tu bata."

Sorab sighed.

"Akku ko de de."

"Why does everyone support her?"

Akanksha smiled proudly.

"Because I'm cute."

The room laughed.Gullu shook his head.

"Fine. Aadhaa."

He broke it.

Akanksha stared at the half piece.

"Ye kya hai?"

"Half."

"Mujhe poora chahiye."

"Dream on."

"Cheating."

"Bilkul nahi."

Akanksha looked towards Sorab.

"Sorab!"

"De de, Gullu."

"Sab iski side kyun hain?"

Akanksha grinned.

"Because I'm cute."

Yogesh, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly spoke..

"Ye le."

He held out his untouched pastry.

"Main meetha nahi khata."

Akanksha looked at him.

For a second, neither spoke.

Then she slowly took it.

"Okay."

No thank you.

Nothing more.

Yogesh simply smiled faintly.

He didn't need a thank you.

He knew she was still hurt.And he knew this was probably the most she could give him right now.

Later, when it was finally time to leave, Sorab stood up.

"Chal, Akku."

"Haan."

Everyone walked towards the door.

Akanksha hugged Subhangi.

"Doobara aana," Subhangi said.

"Time mila toh pakka."

"Girls' night?"

Akanksha smiled.

"That one is confirmed."

She hugged Rohit.

"Bye, jija ji."

"Bye, saali ji."

Gullu was next.As soon as she hugged him, he whispered dramatically,

"Agli baar dessert ke liye advance booking kar lena."

Akanksha laughed softly.

"Shut up."

She laughed.

Then she turned.

Yogesh was standing a little away from everyone.

Their eyes met.

There was an awkward pause.Neither knew what to say.Finally, Akanksha said softly,

"Bye."

"Bye."..he said

She turned to leave.After two steps, she stopped.She looked back.and said

.."Take care "

"You too." Yogesh replied

Akanksha nodded and walked out with Sorab and Suzane.

Yogesh stood there quietly.

Yogesh remained standing at the door.

Watching her leave.

Sorab looked back at him once.There was concern in his eyes.But he didn't say anything.

No one did.

Because everyone understood that this wasn't the end of the problem.

Akanksha hadn't suddenly forgotten everything.

Yogesh hadn't suddenly become okay.

But tonight, something had changed.

They had talked.

They ha

d sat beside each other.

They had eaten at the same table.

They had exchanged a few hesitant words.

And Yogesh had stepped out of his room.

Sometimes healing didn't begin with a big moment.

Sometimes...

It began with something as small as sitting down for dinner again.

They didn't know what.

Maybe Akanksha had forgiven him.

Maybe she hadn't.

Maybe Yogesh had finally taken his first step towards coming out of the darkness he'd been trapped in.

Or maybe this was only the beginning of something neither of them was ready to name yet.

But one thing was certain.

For the first time in many days, Yogesh had walked out of his room.

And perhaps...

that was the first step.

What happened between them?

Will Akanksha forgive him?

Will Yogesh finally find his way back to himself?