Karna's gaze was hard, but he didn't respond immediately. He studied Diya for a long moment, as if trying to determine whether her apology was genuine.
Devi, sensing the tension, finally spoke, her voice softer than her husband's. "Apologies are a start. But the damage is done, Dheeraj. Dhruvansh is clearly hurt, and he's not talking to us from last night properly when we tried to talk to him last night after coming home from the party, he blamed us for keeping the truth from him."
Dheeraj swallowed, guilt gnawing at him. "I understand. And we're not asking for forgiveness right away. We just want to make things right, however we can."
Karna leaned forward; his face tinged with sadness for his son. "What's done is done. But let me be clear—our children are not to be targeted like this again. Diya, if you've truly learned from this, then show it in your actions and don't repeat this kind of thing. And whether he will forgive you or not it will be decided by him."
Diya nodded quickly; her eyes filled with tears once more. "I will. I promise."
There was a long, tense silence before Karna finally sighed, "We'll see," he said quietly, his voice weary.
Devi rose from her seat and gave a polite nod to her guests, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, even though her heart was heavy. Karna stood as well, his face neutral, betraying none of the hurt or anger that simmered beneath the surface.
"Dhruvansh," Devi called, her voice steady but soft. "Can you come to the hall? There's something important we need to address."
They all waited in silence, each of them unsure of how Dhruvansh would react. His anger the previous night had been fierce, and they were prepared for more of it.
After a moment, soft footsteps echoed down the hall. Dhruvansh entered the room, his expression calm and collected, a stark contrast to the fury and sadness that had consumed him the night before. He greeted everyone politely, his eyes lingering on Karna and Devi.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, his tone controlled and almost formal. He turned to Karna and Devi, and a warm yet measured smile spread across his face. "Good morning, Dad. Maa."
The sudden shift in his behavior took everyone by surprise. Karna and Devi exchanged a quick glance, confused by this sudden change in their son's demeanor.
Dhruvansh, however, seemed completely at ease. "I wanted to say I'm sorry," he continued, his voice steady. "I was angry last night, and I blamed you for everything. But the truth is, you did what you thought was best. I shouldn't have lashed out at you, especially when you've both done nothing but love me." He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at them. "I understand now. Even if we're not related by blood, you're still my family. And I'm grateful for that."
For a moment, the room was silent. Dheeraj, Riya, and even Karna and Devi were stunned by Dhruvansh's words. No one had expected him to come around so quickly after the emotional storm of the previous night. They had braced themselves for resistance, perhaps more anger, but what they got was something entirely different acceptance.
Karna's throat tightened with emotion, but before he could respond, he noticed something else. Dhruvansh's tone, while polite and seemingly heartfelt, carried a layer of cool detachment. The warmth he directed toward his parents was sincere, but there was something guarded in his demeanor—something slightly off.
After gathering himself, Karna spoke. "Dhruvansh, Diya is here to apologize for what happened last night."
Dhruvansh turned to face Diya, who was visibly nervous, shifting on her feet. He regarded her with a neutral expression, his eyes giving away none of the emotions that usually bubbled beneath the surface. His tone was calm but distant as he replied, "There's no need for an apology, Diya."
Diya blinked in surprise, clearly unprepared for his response. "But... I—" she stammered, searching for the right words.
Dhruvansh interrupted her gently. "What you said about me and my siblings being orphans—well, it's true, to some extent. We were born without the parents who brought us into this world." He glanced at Karna and Devi, and his voice softened slightly. "But that doesn't matter anymore. We have Dad and Maa now, and they've given us more than our birth parents ever could."
He then turned his attention back to Diya, his tone still polite but now colder, more formal. "So, there's really no need for an apology. It's all in the past."
While his words seemed forgiving on the surface, the tone in which he delivered them was too neutral, almost bordering on indifference. It wasn't the warm, understanding tone of someone who had truly let go of their hurt. Instead, it was the voice of someone who had moved on because they had no other choice, someone who had resigned themselves to a truth they didn't fully accept but were willing to tolerate.
Dheeraj and Riya exchanged uneasy glances. It was clear to everyone in the room that while Dhruvansh may have forgiven the events of last night, something fundamental had shifted in him. The coldness in his tone toward Diya, the way he addressed her as though she were merely an acquaintance and not the daughter of his parents' close friends, signaled that this incident had changed the way he viewed her—and possibly the way he viewed the entire world of the rich and privileged that the Chauhans represented.
Diya swallowed hard, sensing the distance between them. She had expected anger or resentment, perhaps even a confrontation. But this—this indifferent acceptance—felt worse somehow. It was as though Dhruvansh had already written her off in his mind, deeming her unworthy of the energy it would take to truly forgive or even despise her. He was simply... done.
Karna, sensing the awkward tension, tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. "We appreciate your words, Dhruvansh," he said carefully. "And I'm glad to see that you've come to terms with things. But this is something that's affected all of us, and it's important to make sure we've all learned from it."
Dhruvansh nodded. "I understand, Dad. I've learned my lesson."
There it was again, that neutral tone. Karna and Devi were still confused, trying to make sense of the change in their son's behavior. It wasn't that they didn't believe his words—they did. But they couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was still unresolved.
Devi, ever the intuitive one, reached out and touched Dhruvansh's arm gently. "Are you sure you're okay, beta?"
Dhruvansh smiled at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm fine, Maa. Really."
Karna exchanged another glance with Devi, both of them still processing the undercurrents in their son's behavior. But for now, they let it go, deciding that time would reveal what was truly going on in Dhruvansh's mind.
As the Chauhans prepared to leave, the atmosphere remained thick with unspoken tension, Riya trying to lighten the atmosphere thinks of something to say when she remembers that today is going to be the first day of Dhruvansh and Diya in the academy, so she decides to voice her thoughts saying," Ah! I forgot Dhruvansh today will be your first day in the academy along with Diya. And as you have already forgiven her from last night then why don't you both go to the academy together after getting ready."
Dheeraj thinking it will be awkward for the kids tries to suggest otherwise, " Riya what are you saying", but Riya cuts him off saying, " Oh please Dhruvansh has already forgiven Diya, and I am trying to make them sort their differences or whatever they have and what better way than some school walk together while talking about their differences."
Hearing Riya's suggestion all of them including Diya look towards Dhruvansh to which he just says, " I am okay with the arrangement."
When they finally said their goodbyes and the door closed behind them, Karna stood in silence for a moment, his gaze fixed on Dhruvansh. He couldn't help but wonder what had brought about this sudden change in his son. And though Dhruvansh seemed to have forgiven everyone, there was a part of Karna that feared this new calm was only a mask—one that might crack under the weight of the unresolved emotions still lingering beneath the surface.
For now, though, all he could do was wait.