"The day six grown brothers became jealous of a puppy was the day everyone agreed that love in the Rathore family had no limits."

Nearly two weeks had passed since the little golden Labrador had arrived.

By now...

He knew exactly where everything was.

The kitchen.

The garden.

The library.

Vivaan's shoes.

Especially Vivaan's shoes.

The puppy had also made one important decision.

Every night...

He would sleep exactly where he wanted.

Which happened to be...

On Aadhya's bed.

Curled up beside her pillow.

One morning...

Vivaan marched into Aadhya's room without knocking.

"Good morning, Twinny!"

He stopped.

His eyes slowly moved toward the bed.

The puppy was fast asleep beside Aadhya.

His tiny head rested comfortably on her pillow.

Vivaan pointed dramatically.

"Excuse me."

"That's my place."

The puppy lazily opened one eye.

Looked at Vivaan.

Then...

Snuggled even closer to Aadhya.

Vivaan clutched his heart.

"He did that on purpose."

Aadhya burst into laughter.

"I don't think he understands you."

"He understands perfectly."

Just then...

The puppy stretched sleepily.

Aadhya gently kissed the top of his head.

"Good morning, baby."

From the doorway...

Advik gasped.

"Did everyone see that?"

She blinked.

"See what?"

"You kissed him."

"...Yes?"

Advik crossed his arms.

"I demand equal treatment."

The room erupted with laughter.

Aadhya rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Come here."

Advik immediately leaned forward.

She kissed his forehead.

"There."

He grinned proudly.

"I win."

Vivaan protested.

"Not fair!"

"My turn!"

Within seconds...

Vivaan and Vihaan both stood in front of her.

Aadhya laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bed.

"You all are unbelievable."

She kissed Vivaan's forehead.

Then Vihaan's.

"There."

Vihaan smiled.

"Our dignity disappeared a long time ago."

The puppy happily wagged his tail.

Completely unaware that he had started a sibling rivalry.

Later that afternoon...

Aadhya walked toward the garden carrying a book.

Tiny paws followed immediately.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She sat beneath the old mango tree.

The puppy curled up beside her feet.

Not even a minute later...

Vihaan walked past.

He stopped dramatically.

"Pumpkin."

She looked up.

"Yes?"

He pointed toward the puppy.

"We're still your brothers."

"I know."

"You've spent thirty minutes with him."

"And?"

"You've only spent twenty-nine with me."

She laughed.

"I'll make up the missing minute."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Inside the mansion...

Rudransh walked into the living room carrying a stethoscope.

Advik looked up from the couch.

"Why do you have that?"

Rudransh answered with complete seriousness.

"I need to perform a medical examination."

"On whom?"

He looked toward the puppy.

"Our newest family member."

The puppy wagged his tail happily.

Rudransh gently listened to his heartbeat.

Checked his ears.

His paws.

His eyes.

Everything looked perfect.

Advik folded his arms.

"So..."

"What's the diagnosis?"

Rudransh smiled.

"He appears healthier than everyone in this room."

Vivaan immediately protested.

"Because he gets all of Twinny's attention!"

That evening...

Aryaveer walked into the family lounge carrying a notebook.

He cleared his throat.

"I'd like everyone's attention."

Everyone looked up.

"Family meeting."

Advik whispered,

"This sounds serious."

Vivaan nodded.

"Very serious."

Aryaveer sat down with complete professionalism.

"The agenda for today's meeting..."

He paused dramatically.

"...How to regain our sister's attention."

The room exploded with laughter.

Vihaan immediately raised his hand.

"I support this meeting."

Advik nodded.

"Seconded."

Vivaan stood up.

"I have evidence."

He dramatically pointed toward the puppy.

"Exhibit A."

"Our competition."

The puppy barked happily.

As if proudly accepting the accusation.

Aryaveer pretended to write notes.

"Possible solutions?"

Advik raised his hand.

"Hide the puppy."

Rudransh looked horrified.

"Rejected."

Vihaan suggested,

"Bribe Aadhya with chocolates."

Advik nodded.

"Reasonable."

Vivaan proudly announced,

"I'll simply be cuter."

Advik looked him up and down.

"Best of luck."

Until then...

Veeransh had been quietly reading his book.

Without looking up, he calmly said,

"Chhoti hasn't read with me for two days."

Silence.

Every single person slowly turned toward him.

Veeransh finally looked up.

"What?"

Advik burst into laughter first.

"You too?"

Vivaan dramatically pointed.

"See?"

"I told you!"

"Even Bhaiya is jealous!"

Veeransh closed his book with a sigh.

"I didn't say jealous."

"You implied it."

"I stated a fact."

"You miss her."

"...Maybe."

The entire family laughed even harder.

Even Veeransh couldn't stop the corner of his lips from lifting.

At that exact moment...

Aadhya walked into the lounge carrying a tray of lemonade.

She stopped.

"Why is everyone laughing?"

Vivaan immediately pointed at Aryaveer.

"Emergency meeting."

She blinked.

"About what?"

Aryaveer calmly showed her the notebook.

Written neatly across the page—

Operation: Win Back Our Sister

Below it...

Advik had added—

Enemy: One Golden Labrador

Aadhya stared at the page.

Then at her brothers.

Then back at the notebook.

She couldn't hold it anymore.

She laughed so hard that tears filled her eyes.

"You all..."

"...are impossible!"

She set the tray down.

Then walked straight toward them.

First...

She hugged Aryaveer.

Then Rudranssh.

Then Veeransh.

Then Advik.

Then Vihaan.

Finally...

She wrapped both arms tightly around Vivaan.

"There."

"My six favourite brothers."

Vivaan smiled proudly.

"I knew we'd win."

Just then...

The puppy trotted over and nudged Aadhya's leg with his tiny nose.

She giggled.

Bent down.

And hugged him too.

Vivaan watched the scene dramatically.

He let out the deepest sigh anyone had ever heard.

"We still have competition."

Everyone burst into another round of laughter.

As evening settled over Rathore Mansion...

The family gathered in the garden.

The puppy chased butterflies.

Vivaan chased the puppy.

Advik chased Vivaan.

Vihaan recorded the chaos on Aadhya's new camera.

Rudransh reminded everyone not to trip over the flowerbeds.

Aryaveer shook his head, laughing despite himself.

Veeransh quietly threw a tennis ball for the puppy, pretending no one noticed.

Aadhya stood in the middle of it all.

Laughing.

Completely carefree.

Vikram watched the scene from the veranda.

His eyes moved from his seven children...

To the tiny puppy running between them.

Then to Nandini's portrait visible through the living room window.

A soft smile spread across his face.

He whispered so quietly that only the evening breeze heard him,

"It finally feels complete again."

And somewhere in the joyful chaos...

It truly did.

To Be Continued...