Jheel’s eyes remain fixed on the auto rickshaw’s meter because Randhawa House is located in a very upscale and posh area where no public buses operate. As the fare keeps increasing with every passing second, her heartbeat too begins to rise in panic. She’s completely aware that she barely has enough money left for her return journey, and if she ends up spending everything just getting there, she has no idea how she’ll make it back. The fear of being stranded with no money grips her tightly. After reaching a certain point, unable to contain her anxiety, she suddenly shouts out loud.

“Stop...”

Startled by her loud voice, the auto driver immediately slams on the brakes and looks back at her with a confused expression. She quickly gets out in a hurry, checks the meter for the fare, hands him the money, and says politely.

“Thank you for bringing me this far. How much farther is Randhawa House from here?”

“Oh, it’s still quite a bit further inside. Hop back in; I’ll drop you there.”

“No, I only wanted to come up to this point. Here, please take this. Just show me the way; that’s all I need.”

The auto driver gives her a brief stare, shrugs, and, without another word, adjusts his auto and drives off. Watching him disappear down the road, Jheel mutters under her breath with an annoyed expression.

“What a strange man… He didn’t even bother to tell me the way. Anyway, no worries. Someone or the other will definitely show me the way.”

Without wasting any more time, she begins walking ahead, determined.

Meanwhile, Taksh is driving fast, the urgency evident in his every movement. He knows very well that Jheel is coming home today, and he doesn’t want to miss this opportunity at any cost. In fact, he left a very important meeting midway just to be there before her arrival. To him, Jheel coming home is far more important than any business deal. He is clear about one thing, he doesn't want her to face his father and aunt all by herself. He knows how many questions they’ll bombard her with, and he has also noticed that Jheel sometimes struggles with confidence under pressure. He doesn't want that to become a reason for either of them to reject her or misjudge her. That’s why, for her emotional security and so that he remains close to her at all times, his most practical plan is to appoint her as his mother’s caretaker. That way, she’ll always have a reason to stay near him without raising suspicion.

Just as Taksh speeds down the road, his foot suddenly slams the brake pedal hard. He feels a jolt in his chest, he's sure he just saw Jheel. The car, however, has gone slightly ahead by the time he realizes it. Looking back through the rearview mirror, he sees her casually walking ahead, taking in the sights of the area with quiet curiosity. He narrows his eyes, watching her closely through the mirror, and wonders aloud to himself.

“Why is she walking all the way here? The house is still quite far. Did the auto driver drop her at the wrong place?”

Without wasting another moment, he jumps out of the car. Jheel, who had been admiring the upscale houses around her, stops abruptly when she sees Taksh standing directly in front of her. But in the very next second, her face lights up with a wide, heartwarming smile. She runs over to him and cheerfully says.

“Good evening, sir… You live around here? The auto driver said, The house is still very far.”

“Then why did he drop you here? The house is still deep inside the locality.”

“He didn’t drop me. I asked him to stop. I told him I’d get down right here. By the way, sir, how far is your house from here?”

Every time Taksh listens to her speak, he finds himself completely lost in her innocent charm. There’s something so pure and unaffected about her simplicity that it continues to enchant him without fail. Smiling gently, he replies.

“Come on, I’m heading home... Get in.”

He walks back towards the car and opens the door to sit, but notices that Jheel hasn't moved at all. Turning around, he sees her still standing, staring hesitantly at the car. With a slight grin, he snaps his fingers in the air to regain her attention and playfully says,

“I told you to sit in the car, not just keep looking at it.”

“No, sir… How can I go with you like this? You’re my professor at college, and if I end up getting this job here, you’ll also be my employer. Wouldn’t it look a bit inappropriate for me to sit in the car with you like this?”

“So let me get this straight, your professor sees you walking all alone on the road and still drives off, leaving you behind. That would look appropriate… And if you do get the job and you’re working under me, and because of that you’re refusing to even sit in the car with me, what does that say about me? That I’m some kind of cruel or inappropriate boss?”

He raises an eyebrow with mock seriousness, his words laced with a touch of sarcasm but also warmth, hoping she understands that all he wants is to make sure she’s safe and not alone.

“No sir, I didn’t say anything like that. Your imagination truly goes beyond all bounds.”

“It’s not just my imagination. If you say that sort of thing to anyone, they’ll draw the same conclusion. Anyway, let’s not discuss this matter any further. You need to go to my house, and I need to go there too. At this moment, we are heading to the same destination. If you could please get in, we can avoid further delays and arrive there more quickly."

Jheel immediately runs toward the passenger side and quickly gets into the car. Taksh, concealing his smile, also takes his seat. Even after putting on her seatbelt, Jheel sits gripping it tightly, almost rigid in posture. Observing her from the corner of his eye, Taksh comments with a slight smirk:

“There’s no need to be scared. I’ve never had an accident till today.”

Jheel quickly turns her head to look at him, trying to process what he said. Then, turning her gaze back to the road, she replies:

“Maybe you’re an expert in not having accidents… But accidents just tend to happen around me. I’m an expert in attracting trouble.”

The moment she says this, Taksh can’t control his laughter and bursts out laughing. Jheel instantly turns her face toward the window, slightly embarrassed, and mutters:

“Sir, I’ve got a really bad habit of talking nonsense. I say whatever comes to my mind without thinking, just like how we used to talk back home. I haven’t been able to shake the habit yet. I’m sorry.”

Taksh doesn’t say anything in response. He remains quiet because, at the moment, he’s trying to maintain his professor-like demeanor. There are still many things he needs to handle at home, and if the others notice even a hint of familiarity or ease in his behavior toward Jheel, they might begin to suspect his intentions. Before doing anything openly, he knows he’ll first need to talk to Alok about everything. He’s confident that Alok will never object to his choice, but he wants Jheel to be accepted by the entire family, especially by his mother. Although she’s in no condition to express her preferences right now, somehow, with Jheel’s arrival, he feels a surge of hope. He strongly believes that if Jheel takes care of his mother, her genuine service might even help her recover.

A while later, they reach Randhawa House. As Jheel steps out of the car, she walks ahead, mesmerized by the grandeur of the mansion. Taksh steps out too and he looks at her. But instead of looking at him, she continues to walk forward, captivated by the house. He remains standing silently, enjoying her surprised expression. Suddenly, Jheel halts just in time to avoid bumping into him and quickly steps back. Trying to hide her astonishment, she immediately says,

“Sorry, sir… Actually, I’ve seen such big houses only from afar. Now that I’m standing right in front of one, it looks even grander than I imagined. I was just… a little overwhelmed.”

Taksh smiles softly and gestures for her to follow him inside. She quietly walks behind him.

Inside the living room, Priyanka and Alok are already seated. As soon as Jheel sees them, she joins her hands in a respectful greeting. Priyanka signals her to sit, and without indulging in formalities, she hands her a file and says,

“This file contains details about my sister-in-law. Go through it. There are many things I need to discuss with you. Since Taksh and Bhaiya are also here, it’s better if we talk openly in front of everyone.”

Priyank, who had just returned from outside, sits down after seeing Jheel. As she starts flipping through the file and reading, Alok says:

“We’ve already hired a nurse, but she doesn’t stay here permanently. The best thing is, she’s someone we trust. Before you, there was another caretaker who managed everything, and the nurse used to assist occasionally. Now that we’re hiring you, the nurse will take care of things during your college hours. But once you're back from college, will you be able to handle everything well? That’s my biggest concern.”

“Sir, I completely understand your concern. Look, without actually caring for a patient, I don’t want to make any promises. You may observe me for a week or even fifteen days, however long you feel necessary. I have no objection. You’re entrusting a family member to someone, and it’s your right to thoroughly verify that person.”

Alok is visibly pleased by her response. He glances at Priyanka, who smiles slightly. Priyanka then asks:

“But you're a student. You have college and studies to manage too. How will you balance everything?”

“Madam, except during exams, I won’t face any major difficulties. And I assure you, I won’t let my responsibilities become a burden. As I said, please observe me for ten or fifteen days. If I don’t meet your expectations, you’re free to fire me.”

Priyank's eyes haven’t left Jheel since the moment she entered. Jheel glances at him once, but he continues to look straight at her. The way she speaks and presents her views intrigues him deeply. Priyank, who usually avoids getting involved in family discussions, now speaks up:

“It’s clear you have some experience with patient care, and that’s good. But let me tell you this, if my mother suffers even a single scratch while in your care, you have no idea what the consequences will be.”

His words draw the attention of both Alok and Priyanka. Taksh also immediately turns to Priyank and says with a stern tone:

“Priyank, are you trying to scare her?”

But Priyank doesn’t seem affected in the slightest. Looking straight into Jheel’s eyes, he replies firmly:

“Not at all, bhaiya. I’m not trying to scare anyone. You may trust this girl… I don’t… You may believe in her experience... I don’t… We’ve been witnessing Mom’s condition for the past five years. You know very well how difficult her care can be at times. This girl is still in college, how can I be sure she can handle it all?”

Taksh opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, Jheel, without breaking eye contact with Priyank, responds confidently:

“To trust someone, you first have to observe their work. You must analyze them properly. Until you see me in action, how will you ever know how I work? Regarding harming your mother, I've received training to carry out my duties with complete accountability. Of course, I’m human. I’m not denying that mistakes can happen. But no one makes a mistake intentionally, and no one willingly harms another person. Anyone who does that, in my eyes, doesn’t deserve to be called human.”

A heavy silence falls in the room. Priyank keeps staring at her, and she doesn’t avert her gaze either. Priyanka watches the two silently, while Alok appears deep in thought. Priyank’s concern is valid, but after listening to Jheel’s words, Alok feels far more assured, this girl might actually be capable of taking care of his wife.

Taksh, meanwhile, has eyes only for Jheel. What he sees in her right now is confidence, unshaken and crystal clear. He turns to his father, who immediately says:

“Alright. You’ll stay here in this house. You can attend college on time, and no one will interfere with that. From breakfast to all your daily needs, we’ll take care of it. In return, your only responsibility is to look after my wife properly. I’m giving you a trial period of fifteen days. If everything goes well, you’ll receive the same salary we used to pay the previous caretaker, fifty thousand per month. And if you have any other requirements, feel free to let us know.”

Jheel immediately nods with a smile and then stands up, saying politely,

“Sir, when should I start?”

“From this very moment,”

Taksh answers before anyone else can. And just like that, every gaze in the room shifts and settles on him.