Chapter 10: A House That Noticed His Absence
903 Words
For once, Arjun Malhotra arrived home exactly on time for dinner.
The grand gates of the Malhotra residence closed behind his car, and even before he stepped inside, he knew something was wrong.
The house was awake.
Lights glowed warmly. Voices echoed from the dining room. The smell of freshly cooked food lingered in the air—food he rarely tasted anymore.
“Unbelievable,” his mother’s voice rang out the moment he entered. “Unbelievable.”
Arjun paused, then smiled faintly. “Good evening, Mom.”
She stood with her arms crossed, eyes sharp, disbelief written all over her face. “So you do exist,” she said. “I was beginning to think you only lived on television.”
Arjun chuckled lightly and walked toward the dining table, where the entire family was already seated—his father Vikram Malhotra, calm and observant; his cousin Riya, composed as ever; and his two younger sisters—Ananya, the outspoken second-born, and Meera, the youngest, wide-eyed and curious.
He pulled out a chair and sat down as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
“What is it, Mom?” he asked casually. “Why are you looking at me like I’ve committed a crime?”
“Well,” she replied sharply, taking her seat, “nowadays I don’t know if you still live in this house. We share the same roof, yet I never see you. I only see you on TV. Can you believe that?”
“Come on, Mom,” Arjun said lightly. “I’ve just been busy.”
“Busy?” she scoffed. “You eat dinner outside every day. You come home when everyone is asleep. And suddenly, today, you’re here on time?”
She leaned forward slightly. “Tell me—did you argue with Lina today? Is that why you came home early?”
The table went quiet.
Arjun froze for half a second.
“Mom,” he said, exasperated, “can’t I just come home early and eat dinner with my family?”
Ananya snorted. “Wow. I thought you forgot that food is cooked in this house.”
“Let your son be,” Vikram interrupted calmly, lifting his hand. “He’s allowed to live his life.”
Arjun gave his father a grateful glance.
Before the tension could settle, Ananya leaned forward excitedly. “Brother, tomorrow we’re going on a school trip. Can I use the car you bought recently? I promise I’ll be careful.”
Arjun didn’t even hesitate. “You can take any car in the garage—except that one.”
Ananya blinked. “Why not that one?”
“Because it’s not available,” he replied simply.
“Are you using it?” she pressed.
“No,” Arjun said calmly. “I disposed of it.”
The table erupted.
“What?” his mother gasped. “Disposed of it? That car is new! You bought it just last week!”
Ananya groaned dramatically. “Honestly, brother, you could have gifted it to me instead of throwing it away.”
Arjun smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I’ll surprise you.”
Riya watched silently, her eyes narrowing just slightly.
Meera, the youngest, suddenly lit up. “Brother, I saw you on TV today!”
Arjun raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Were you watching TV instead of studying?”
“Come on, brother, that’s not the point,” she said impatiently. “I saw you with a lady. Is she my sister-in-law?”
Arjun paused.
“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “Maybe.”
Meera clapped her hands. “Finally! I have a sister-in-law! And by the way—she’s beautiful.”
Arjun’s ears turned red.
“Yes,” he admitted softly. “She is beautiful.”
“Woooi, woooi!” Ananya laughed loudly. “Someone is in love!”
Arjun shot her a warning look, but his smile betrayed him.
“So tell me,” Ananya continued mischievously, “what gift did you give our sister-in-law on such a special day?”
Arjun rubbed the back of his neck. “I planned to give her a pearl necklace… but she chased me away.”
The family leaned in.
“And?” Meera asked eagerly.
“And she stole something else from me,” Arjun continued, blushing slightly, “and claimed it was my gift to her.”
His mother clicked her tongue knowingly. “I wondered how my son came home this early. So you were chased away.”
“Mom—”
“If he’s not chased away, he doesn’t know the way back to his own house,” she added dryly.
“Come on, Mother,” Arjun protested. “What did I do wrong?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You tell me. You don’t see anything wrong?”
Arjun only smiled, shaking his head slightly as the family laughed around him.
But behind the humor, his mother watched carefully.
She had seen that smile before—rare, unguarded, dangerous.
And she knew one thing for certain:
Her son was already too deep.
As dinner continued, laughter filled the room, but her thoughts darkened.
So this is Lina Sharma, she thought.
The girl who makes my son forget his home… and smile like this.
And for the first time that evening, she made a silent decision.
This would not be allowed to continue.
- Writer
