There are many dangerous people in Aarav's life.
The Null Sovereign.
Selene with a sword.
Mira, when emotionally cornered.
His grandmother has opinions.
But above all of them—
his mother.
Because, unlike everyone else—
She didn't need evidence.
She simply knew.
Which was why, the moment Aarav and Mira walked back inside from the balcony—
His mother looked up from the dining table, took one glance at their faces, and smiled.
That smile.
The peaceful one.
The terrifying one.
The one that meant she had already solved the mystery and was now waiting for entertainment.
Aarav stopped walking.
Immediately.
Like prey sensing a predator.
Beside him, Mira also froze.
Which was somehow more alarming.
Because if Mira were nervous, civilisation itself should be concerned.
Rohan, sitting with tea and zero survival instincts, looked between them and whispered loudly—
"Oh."
No.
Not oh.
Never, oh.
His sister looked up from her phone like a journalist receiving breaking news.
Her eyes widened.
Then—
"OH."
Worse.
Much worse.
His younger cousin entered from nowhere like a side character summoned by chaos.
"Did someone confess?!"
This house had no privacy.
No walls.
Only emotional surveillance.
Aarav made the mistake of speaking.
"No."
Too fast.
Too suspicious.
His mother calmly placed her teacup down.
Softly.
Like a judge setting aside mercy.
"Sit."
Not a request.
A sentence.
A life sentence.
Everyone sat.
Even Rohan.
Because idiots still recognised danger.
His father, from behind the newspaper, quietly lowered it by exactly two centimetres.
Supportive observation.
Ancient male instinct.
His mother looked at Mira first.
Not aggressively.
Warmly.
Which somehow made it worse.
"Beta."
Mira straightened like she had been called to defend a thesis.
"Yes?"
His mother smiled.
"Did my son say something stupid?"
Silence.
Aarav whispered,
"Betray me, and I'll haunt your future."
Mira didn't even look at him.
She answered with complete honesty.
"Yes."
Rohan fell off the chair.
His sister screamed.
His father muttered,
"Good girl."
Traitor.
The entire family is full of traitors.
Aarav looked at the ceiling.
He had survived gods for this.
His mother nodded, like this confirmed years of research.
"Expected."
Then—
the next attack.
She looked at Aarav.
"And did you mean it?"
No escape.
No strategy.
Only death.
He stared.
She stared back.
Mira looked away.
Which meant she cared.
Which made this infinitely worse.
Aarav took a breath.
And chose honesty.
Again.
Because apparently, he had learned nothing.
"Yes."
Silence.
Real silence.
Not comedic.
Not chaotic.
Just truth sitting in the middle of the room like a living thing.
His sister stopped smiling.
Even Rohan went quiet.
Because suddenly—
This wasn't gossip.
It was real.
His mother's expression softened.
Rare.
Powerful.
She nodded once.
Then said—
"Good."
Aarav blinked.
"What?"
She folded her hands.
"I would be offended if my son confessed to someone he did not truly respect."
That was not the reaction he expected.
Not even close.
She looked at Mira.
"You challenge him."
Then at Aarav.
"And he listens to you."
A pause.
"That matters."
Mira, for perhaps the first time in recorded history, looked speechless.
A historical event.
His mother continued.
"Love is easy when people are perfect."
She shook her head.
"Real love is choosing someone when they are stubborn, irritating, dramatic, and occasionally useless."
His father lowered the newspaper.
"…I feel targeted."
She ignored him.
"As she should."
Justice.
Beautiful justice.
Aarav sat there quietly.
Because beneath the jokes—
This mattered.
His mother wasn't teasing.
She was serious.
And somehow—
That made it feel even more real.
Then—
of course—
Selene walked in.
Because peace remained illegal.
She stopped.
Looked around.
Read the emotional atmosphere like a battlefield report.
And asked—
"Did someone finally confess?"
Silence exploded.
Rohan hit the table.
His sister began chanting,
"YES. YES. YES."
Aelina entered behind Selene, saw everyone's faces, and immediately understood.
Dangerous.
Too perceptive.
Nysera arrived last, carrying tea like an ancient goddess attending mortal drama.
She took one look at Mira.
Then Aarav.
Then simply said—
"Ah."
Traitor.
Supreme traitor.
Mira stood.
Immediately.
Strategic retreat.
"I am leaving."
His mother pointed to the chair.
"No."
She sat.
Because apparently, even future women from advanced centuries still obeyed Indian mothers.
Correct.
As nature intended.
His mother looked at all four girls now.
Calm.
Terrifying.
"I dislike confusion."
A warning.
The room straightened.
"If feelings exist, they should be respected."
She pointed at Aarav.
"This idiot will take time."
Fair.
Cruel.
Accurate.
Then at the girls.
"And all of you deserve honesty."
Silence.
No one joked.
Because this was the centre of it.
Not future wars.
Not destiny.
Choice.
Real human choice.
Aelina smiled softly.
"I agree."
Selene nodded once.
"As do I."
Nysera sipped tea like prophecy, enjoying itself.
"Expected."
Mira crossed her arms, still recovering from emotional exposure.
"…I hate that your mother is wise."
His mother smiled.
"I know."
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
Then—
His younger cousin, destroyer of peace, asked the forbidden question.
"So…"
A dramatic pause.
"Who gets first date rights?"
Chaos.
Immediate chaos.
Rohan shouted,
"Excellent question!"
His sister clapped like a villain.
His father reopened the newspaper for self-defence.
Aarav stood up.
"I'm leaving again."
Denied.
His mother's final judgement came like divine law.
"Fine."
Everyone froze.
She smiled.
Tomorrow night."
Silence.
"Family-approved dinner."
More silence.
"Aarav and Mira."
Absolute destruction.
Rohan screamed.
His sister ascended spiritually.
Selene looked impressed.
Aelina looked supportive and slightly dangerous.
Nysera smiled like fate itself had RSVP'd.
And Mira—
Mira looked at Aarav like she was deciding whether murder before marriage was socially acceptable.
Probably yes.
Definitely yes.
Aarav closed his eyes.
Because sometimes the universe didn't ask what you wanted.
Sometimes—
Your mother simply booked the date.
And honestly?
That was more powerful than destiny.