"Growing up means letting the people you love spread their wings. But every protective heart secretly wishes they could keep them safe forever."

The morning after the Khannas' visit...

Breakfast at Rathore Mansion was unusually lively.

Or rather...

Unusually dramatic.

Vivaan placed his glass of milk on the table with a determined expression.

"I've decided something."

Advik raised an eyebrow.

"Should we be worried?"

"Very."

Vivaan nodded seriously.

"From today..."

"Our Twinny is not allowed to have a boyfriend."

The dining table fell silent.

For exactly three seconds.

Then—

Advik clapped dramatically.

"I second the motion!"

Vihaan pointed his spoon like a judge.

"Motion accepted."

Aadhya looked up from her toast.

"...What?"

Rudransh sighed, already knowing where this conversation was heading.

"Can we at least hear the reason first?"

Vivaan folded his arms.

"Boys are trouble."

Advik nodded wisely.

"I used to be a teenage boy."

"So I know."

Vihaan added,

"And we've all seen how some people behave."

Aryaveer calmly sipped his coffee before speaking.

"We're not saying every boy is bad."

"We're saying we don't want anyone hurting our sister."

Aadhya blinked.

"You all discussed this?"

Veeransh answered simply,

"Last night."

She stared at them in disbelief.

"You had a meeting..."

"...about my imaginary boyfriend?"

Advik coughed.

"It was a very productive meeting."

Vikram looked at his sons with an amused smile.

"And what exactly was the conclusion?"

Vivaan proudly announced,

"No boyfriend."

"Ever."

Aadhya couldn't help laughing.

"You all sound impossible."

Vihaan leaned forward.

"Pumpkin..."

"We've seen how deeply you care about people."

"If someone ever broke your heart..."

He shook his head.

"We wouldn't be able to see you cry."

Rudransh smiled gently.

"Dove..."

"You trust people very easily."

"That's one of the things we love most about you."

"But it also means you could get hurt."

"We only want you to be careful."

Aryaveer nodded.

"We're protective because we love you."

"Not because we want to control your life."

"We simply hope that, whenever the time comes in the future, anyone you choose treats you with the respect and kindness you deserve."

Advik looked horrified.

"Future?"

"There is no future."

"There is only..."

He dramatically pointed at Aadhya.

"...our Munchkin staying ten years old forever."

"I'm fifteen!"

"Details."

Everyone laughed.

Even Veeransh smiled.

Then he quietly added,

"I don't want anyone making you doubt your worth."

"You spent too many years believing you weren't enough."

"You deserve someone who reminds you every day that you are."

Aadhya looked at each of them.

Her heart felt warm.

She knew this wasn't about rules.

It was about love.

Still...

She decided to tease them.

She folded her arms.

"So..."

"What if I do have a boyfriend one day?"

The six brothers froze.

Vivaan looked personally offended.

"No."

Advik pretended to faint.

"Someone catch me."

Vihaan dramatically pointed toward the ceiling.

"I reject this conversation."

Aryaveer pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Sunshine..."

"You're enjoying this."

She smiled innocently.

"Maybe a little."

Then she asked the question none of them had expected.

"What will you do when I get married?"

Complete silence.

Vivaan's spoon slipped from his hand.

"No."

Advik stared at her.

"...Married?"

"Yes."

"One day."

"Not today."

"But someday."

Vihaan looked at Rudransh.

"Did she just say married?"

Rudransh sighed.

"I'm afraid she did."

Veeransh quietly looked away.

He hadn't even thought that far ahead.

The idea of his little sister leaving home one day...

Made his chest tighten.

Aryaveer leaned back in his chair.

"I've suddenly decided..."

"...I don't like this breakfast conversation."

Aadhya burst into laughter.

"You all knew this day would come eventually."

Vivaan immediately shook his head.

"I never agreed to it."

Advik looked at Vikram.

"Papa, please tell her she's wrong."

Vikram chuckled.

"I'm afraid I can't."

All six brothers turned toward him together.

"Papa!"

Vikram smiled warmly.

"My sons..."

"Every daughter grows up."

"And one day..."

"She may choose a life partner."

He looked at Aadhya lovingly.

"Our job isn't to stop her from growing."

"It's to make sure she always knows she has a home to come back to."

The brothers became quiet.

Aadhya walked around the table.

She stood behind Vivaan and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"I was only teasing."

He looked up.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"I'm not thinking about any of that."

"I'm thinking about school."

"My exams."

"And all of you."

He smiled in relief.

"Good."

Then she looked at every one of her brothers.

"You know what I want more than anything?"

"What?" Aryaveer asked.

She smiled softly.

"I want the person I become in the future..."

"...to make all of you proud."

Vihaan immediately stood up.

"Impossible."

She frowned.

"Why?"

"Because we already are."

Advik nodded.

"Very proud."

Rudransh smiled.

"You don't have to earn that."

Veeransh gently patted her head.

"You've had us wrapped around your finger for a long time now, Chhoti."

Vivaan grinned.

"And that's never changing."

Aadhya laughed.

"So..."

"No boyfriend meetings anymore?"

Advik looked at the others.

"We'll... postpone them."

Vivaan corrected him.

"We'll keep them ready."

Everyone burst into laughter.

As breakfast came to an end, Aadhya looked around the table.

Sometimes their protectiveness was over the top.

Sometimes it was embarrassing.

Sometimes it made her laugh until her stomach hurt.

But after spending so many years wondering if anyone cared...

She would gladly accept six overprotective brothers who worried too much.

Because beneath every dramatic rule...

Every teasing argument...

And every impossible "boyfriend ban"...

Was one simple truth.

They loved their sister with all their hearts.

And that was more than Aadhya had ever dreamed of.

To Be Continued...