"Every nickname tells a story. And every story begins with someone deciding you're family."

The next morning, Rathore Mansion was once again filled with excitement.

Today was the last day to submit the school picnic permission forms.

Vivaan had checked his backpack three times already.

"Twinny!"

"Did you pack your consent form?"

Aadhya smiled.

"It's in my folder."

"You checked?"

"Twice."

Vivaan nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

Aryaveer, who was having breakfast, looked up.

"I've signed both forms."

Rudransh added,

"And keep your medicines with you during the trip."

"I don't take any medicines now, Bhaiya."

"I know."

"I'm just saying."

Advik grinned.

"Take chocolates instead."

"Very important."

Vihaan laughed.

"I support this advice."

Veeransh simply reminded,

"Keep your phone charged."

Vikram smiled at all of them.

"Our daughter is going on a picnic."

"Not climbing Mount Everest."

Everyone laughed.

A little later...

Vivaan and Aadhya reached school.

The campus buzzed with excitement.

Students hurried toward the administration office to submit their permission slips.

Teachers stood nearby, collecting forms and answering questions.

Siya waved enthusiastically.

"Aadhya!"

"Over here!"

Kiara held up her signed form proudly.

"Mission accomplished."

Dev dramatically saluted the teacher while submitting his form.

Kabir shook his head.

"You really have too much free time."

Arjun chuckled.

"He'll probably salute the bus driver too."

"I absolutely will."

The six friends chatted happily in the courtyard after submitting their forms.

Everyone was discussing what snacks to bring.

Dev insisted they should carry enough chips to feed the entire bus.

Kabir argued they should also pack fruits.

"No one eats fruit on a picnic."

"I do."

"You're Kabir."

"That's true."

Everyone laughed.

Aadhya smiled as she listened to their playful argument.

She was about to say something when a polite voice interrupted.

"Hi... Aadhya?"

She turned around.

A senior boy from Class XI stood a few steps away.

He looked slightly nervous but smiled politely.

"Hi."

He adjusted the strap of his backpack.

"I wanted to ask if you'd—"

Before he could finish...

A familiar voice came from behind.

"Aadhya."

She turned instinctively.

Vihaan had just finished submitting the senior students' permission forms and was walking across the courtyard with a few of his classmates.

The moment he noticed a senior talking to his little sister...

He calmly changed direction.

Without any hurry...

Without looking angry...

He walked over with complete confidence.

Stopping beside Aadhya, he smiled politely at the boy.

Then casually placed one arm around Aadhya's shoulder.

"Need something?"

His voice was calm.

Friendly.

But protective.

The senior boy suddenly looked much less confident.

He glanced at Vihaan.

Then at Aadhya.

"N-no..."

"I was just..."

"I was just asking about..."

His brain clearly stopped working.

"...homework."

Aadhya blinked.

"Homework?"

The boy nodded a little too quickly.

"Y-yes."

Vihaan smiled kindly.

"Good."

"If it's about homework, she'll help."

The senior swallowed nervously.

"Actually..."

"I just remembered..."

"I already finished it."

"Thank you."

Before anyone could say another word...

He turned around and walked away at almost double speed.

Halfway across the courtyard...

He looked back once.

Saw Vihaan still standing there.

And walked even faster.

There was a moment of complete silence.

Then...

Dev burst into laughter.

Kabir adjusted his glasses, trying—and failing—to hide his smile.

Kiara covered her mouth.

Siya was laughing so hard she had to hold Arjun's shoulder.

Even Arjun couldn't stop chuckling.

Just then, Vivaan came running over.

"What happened?"

Dev pointed toward the retreating senior.

"He looked ready to transfer schools!"

Vivaan immediately started laughing.

"I didn't even get to see it!"

Advik, who had come to school to drop off some documents for Vikram and happened to be passing through the reception area, spotted the group from a distance. Curious, he walked over.

"Why is everyone laughing?"

Dev eagerly narrated the whole incident.

By the end...

Even Advik was laughing loudly.

"You scared him!"

Vihaan looked genuinely confused.

"I didn't do anything."

"You practically gave him an elder-brother warning without saying a word," Arjun said with a grin.

"I was just standing."

"You were standing like a security guard," Dev replied.

Vivaan folded his arms proudly.

"That's my brother."

Vihaan shrugged innocently.

"I'm just protecting my sister."

He looked down at Aadhya, who was still laughing.

A few loose strands of hair had escaped her braid.

Her cheeks were slightly pink from laughing so much.

Without thinking...

He smiled.

"Come on, Pumpkin."

The laughter stopped.

Everyone looked at him.

"Pumpkin?" Vivaan repeated.

Advik blinked.

Aryaveer, who had just arrived to pick up some documents from the principal before heading to work, happened to witness the scene from the corridor.

Even he raised an eyebrow.

Vihaan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I..."

"It just..."

"...came out."

For a second...

No one spoke.

Then Advik dramatically pointed at Aadhya.

"So now we have..."

"Munchkin."

Vivaan immediately joined in.

"Twinny."

Rudransh, who had accompanied Aryaveer to school for a health awareness meeting, smiled as he reached them.

"Dove."

Aryaveer looked at Aadhya with a gentle smile.

"Sunshine."

Everyone turned back to Vihaan.

"And now..."

"Pumpkin."

Aadhya looked at all of them.

Then at Vihaan.

She tried to stay serious.

She really did.

But the image of the terrified senior boy running away popped into her mind again.

She burst into laughter.

Real laughter.

The kind that made it impossible to breathe properly.

Her school bag slipped from her shoulder.

Arjun caught it before it hit the ground.

"Careful."

"I'm trying!"

she managed between laughs.

Even Veeransh, who had just finished a meeting with the principal regarding the school's annual charity event and was walking toward the parking area, saw the scene from a distance.

He didn't know what had been said.

But seeing Aadhya laughing so freely...

He smiled to himself before quietly walking on.

As the school bell rang, everyone began heading toward their classrooms.

Vivaan walked on one side of Aadhya.

Vihaan ruffled her hair gently.

"Come on, Pumpkin."

This time...

She answered without hesitation.

"Coming, Bhaiya."

Vihaan smiled.

It suited her perfectly.

Round cheeks when she smiled.

A bright, cheerful face.

Cute enough to make everyone want to protect her.

From that day onward...

Only Vihaan ever called her—

Pumpkin. 🎃

And just like the others...

It wasn't merely a nickname.

It was another reminder...

That she belonged to six brothers who each loved her in their own special way.

Twinny.

Munchkin.

Dove.

Sunshine.

Pumpkin.

Only one nickname remained...

Waiting quietly for the day when the last guarded heart would finally open.

To Be Continued...