The next morning...

Sunlight poured into the dining hall as everyone gathered for breakfast.

Arnav sat at his usual seat, reading the morning newspaper while sipping his black coffee.

Revati served breakfast with her usual warmth.

Raghav discussed a few office matters.

Only Avni remained unusually quiet.

She kept absentmindedly stirring the spoon in her plate.

Revati noticed first.

"Beta..."

"Kuch pareshaan ho?"

Avni looked up and smiled faintly.

"Nahi Dadi..."

"Bas..."

"I wanted to ask something."

The newspaper slowly lowered.

Arnav's eyes lifted toward her.

"Hm?"

She clasped her hands together nervously.

"Mr. Rajvanshi..."

"Can I... start working again?"

Silence spread across the table.

Raghav spoke gently.

"Beta..."

"Kaam karne ki zarurat hi kya hai?"

"Yeh ghar tumhara hai."

Avni smiled gratefully.

"Mujhe pata hai, Uncle."

"Aur main aap sabki bahut shukraguzaar hoon."

"But..."

She looked down.

"Roz subah uthkar lagta hai..."

"Main kisi aur ki zindagi jee rahi hoon."

"Mujhe apna past yaad nahi."

"Mujhe khud nahi pata main kaun thi."

She took a slow breath.

"Bas ek cheez ajeeb si lagti hai..."

"Jab main kitchen mein hoti hoon..."

"...toh dil ko sukoon milta hai."

"Lagta hai..."

"Jaise wahi meri pehchaan thi."

She looked at Arnav.

"I don't want money."

"I don't even want freedom."

"I just..."

"...want to find myself."

Revati's eyes became moist.

Raghav quietly looked away.

Arnav folded the newspaper.

"No."

One word.

Calm.

Absolute.

Avni nodded slowly.

"I understand."

"I shouldn't have asked."

She stood.

"Sit."

She stopped immediately.

He looked directly at her.

"You won't work outside."

She lowered her eyes.

"Ji."

"Not because I don't trust you."

"...Because I don't trust the world outside."

Everyone looked at him.

His voice remained calm.

"Until your memory returns..."

"Your safety comes first."

A long silence followed.

Then he spoke again.

"If cooking helps you remember..."

"...you'll work."

Hope slowly returned to Avni's eyes.

"But only inside Rajvanshi Empire."

She blinked.

"The executive office canteen."

"It's inside our headquarters."

"My security team is already there."

"You'll start tomorrow."

For a few seconds...

She simply looked at him.

Then smiled.

A genuine...

Heartfelt smile.

"Thank you..."

"Mr. Rajvanshi."

He picked up his coffee.

"Finish your breakfast."

---

The Next Morning

The mansion felt unusually cheerful.

Revati stood near the temple holding a small bowl.

"Dahi-cheeni."

"Pehle din ke liye."

She lovingly fed Avni.

"Bhagwan tumhe hamesha khush rakhe."

Avni bent down.

"Dadi..."

She touched her feet.

Then Raghav's.

"Bless me, Uncle."

Raghav smiled warmly.

"Hamesha khush raho."

"Apni pehchaan zaroor dhoondh logi."

Outside...

A black Mercedes waited.

The driver respectfully opened the rear door.

"Madam."

"Sir ne gaadi bheji hai."

Avni looked surprised.

"He remembered..."

Revati smiled knowingly.

"Woh bolte kam hain..."

"Par dhyan sab par rakhte hain."

A small smile touched Avni's lips.

---

Rajvanshi Empire

The car entered through the service entrance.

Exactly as she had requested.

She had only one condition.

"No one should know..."

"...that I'm related to Mr. Rajvanshi."

The kitchen manager nodded respectfully.

"As you wish."

Within minutes...

The kitchen transformed.

Without recipes.

Without measuring cups.

Her hands moved effortlessly.

Every cut...

Every spice...

Every flame...

Came naturally.

The senior chefs exchanged surprised glances.

"Professional training..."

"Iske bina impossible hai."

Soon...

The aroma spread throughout the building.

Lunch hour began.

Employees filled the dining hall.

The first compliment came quietly.

"This tastes amazing."

Then another.

"And the dal?"

"Perfect."

"I've never eaten office food this good."

Soon...

The entire canteen buzzed with praise.

Standing quietly behind the serving counter...

Avni listened silently.

For the first time...

She felt useful.

Maybe...

Somewhere inside these recipes...

She would find herself.

---

Just then...

Veer entered with his usual dramatic energy.

"Bhabhi!"

Avni smiled.

"Devar ji."

He looked at the food.

"So..."

"Yeh sab aapne banaya?"

She nodded nervously.

"I hope everyone likes it."

Veer picked up a spoon.

One bite.

Then another.

He dramatically closed his eyes.

"Haye..."

"Bhabhi..."

"Aapne toh canteen ko restaurant bana diya."

She laughed.

"Itni tareef mat kijiye."

"Nahi."

"Sach bol raha hoon."

He leaned closer.

"Ek problem hai."

She looked worried.

"Kya hua?"

"Boss."

"Woh yahan lunch karne kabhi nahi aate."

Her smile faded just a little.

"Oh..."

"I thought..."

She stopped herself.

Veer noticed.

"You were waiting?"

She immediately shook her head.

"Nahi..."

"Bas..."

"Socha tha..."

"Agar woh taste karte..."

"...toh pata chal jaata kaisa bana hai."

Veer's smile softened.

"Bas itni si baat?"

"Hmm."

She looked down shyly.

"He likes black coffee..."

"...so I thought maybe..."

She didn't complete the sentence.

Veer understood everything.

He quietly picked up an empty tray.

"Ek kaam kariye."

"Boss ke liye wahi lunch pack kar dijiye."

She looked surprised.

"Lekin..."

"Woh mana kar denge."

Veer grinned.

"Woh meri tension hai."

Slowly...

Hope returned to her face.

She carefully packed the food.

Placed a small bowl of halwa beside it.

Then prepared fresh black coffee herself.

Before closing the lid...

She paused.

"Devar ji..."

"Agar unhe pasand na aaye..."

"Toh please sach bata dijiyega."

Veer smiled reassuring

ly.

"Boss jhooth nahi bolte."

"Main bhi nahi bolunga."

He picked up the tray.

Then looked back playfully.

"Waise..."

"Good luck, Bhabhi."

---

Chairman's Office

Arnav was signing documents.

A knock interrupted him.

"Come."

Veer entered carrying the tray.

Arnav looked up briefly.

"I didn't order lunch."

Veer placed it on the desk anyway.

"I know."

"This wasn't ordered."

"It was made."

Arnav's eyes shifted toward the lunchbox.