That night, Nakshatra was the first to arrive at the dinner table.
She was starving — the kind of hunger that surpasses tolerance and starts to sting every inch of your being.
Soon, the rest of the household joined her.
There were five members in the Rana Cottage:
Siddharth Rana, the head of the house and Aryaman's father.
His elderly parents — the grandfather and grandmother, both immersed in the peace of old age.
Govardhan, the loyal old servant.
And…
Nakshatra — the most unusual member of this house.
Aryaman had brought her home a few years ago.
When she arrived, she was more like a wild creature than a child —
Her clothes stained with mud, scratches all over her limbs, eyes full of fear and rage.
She used to bite anyone who came near —
Her teeth were so sharp, they drew blood.
Siddharth had told everyone she was the daughter of an old friend,
but her behavior often made her seem... unstable.
Perhaps that's when Aryaman began to harbor resentment toward her.
At the dinner table, Siddharth took his seat and began conversation:
"Arya, how's school going, son?"
"All good, Papa," Aryaman replied with a smile.
"No mischief at school?"
"Oh come on, Papa. Have you received a single complaint about me?" Aryaman rolled his eyes.
"Good. If you keep being a good boy, I'll get you into your favorite school next year."
"Seriously, Papa?" Aryaman lit up — then suddenly added,
"But that maid shouldn't be there with me…"
"Arya!" Siddharth scolded sharply.
"She's your friend. A member of this house."
Aryaman sulked and looked away.
Govardhan served dinner.
Nakshatra began eating quickly — each bite as if it were her last.
Her speed drew everyone's attention.
Siddharth narrowed his eyes at Aryaman.
Aryaman looked down, avoiding his father's gaze.
Siddharth understood — Aryaman must've done something that kept Nakshatra hungry all day.
No matter how hard he tried,
the bitterness Aryaman felt toward Nakshatra
only seemed to deepen with time.
Siddharth took a small bite, then asked gently,
"Nakshatra, how was your day?"
She glanced up from her plate, and with a faint smile replied,
"It was good, Uncle…"
"Did you make any new friends at school?"
The question made Nakshatra freeze mid-bite.
She remained silent for a while, then replied in a flat, distant tone —
"I don't need friends, Uncle."
An awkward silence fell over the table.
Aryaman seized the moment to mock,
"Who'd even want to be friends with her, Papa?
She just stares at everyone with those creepy ocean-blue eyes and freaks them out."
"Arya!" Siddharth scolded again.
Grumbling, Aryaman went quiet — but continued glaring at Nakshatra.
She didn't react.
She lowered her head and quietly resumed eating,
as if she was long used to such moments.
Siddharth sighed deeply.
He realized — as much as he wanted Nakshatra to feel at home in this house,
Aryaman seemed equally determined to push her out of it.
After dinner, Nakshatra silently washed her plate, placed it in its proper spot, and walked to her room without saying a word.
Siddharth stood up and called out,
"Come to my room, Arya…"
Aryaman reluctantly nodded,
already guessing what was coming —
another one of those typical lectures:
Nakshatra is your friend, take care of her… she's special… blah blah blah…
He dragged himself toward his father's room.
"You called, Papa?"
"Yes, son, come sit here." Siddharth patted the space beside him.
Aryaman sat, preparing himself for another round of moral values.
"Arya, your grandma is leaving tomorrow…"
"I know…" he replied curtly.
"And your grandfather will be leaving in a few days too.
You know I can't stay home during the day…"
"Hmm…"
"So I want to give you responsibility for the cottage now."
"What?" Aryaman was taken aback.
"Yes. Who better than you to manage it?"
Aryaman's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why not your darling daughter?
Won't she ever be of use?"
Siddharth's tone turned serious.
"She's a girl, son… and one day, she'll get married and leave.
You're the one who'll stay with me."
Aryaman frowned.
"Why would she leave?
You brought her here — doesn't that make her one of us?"
Siddharth paused.
Then softly said,
"She's a person, son. Not property.
Anyway, I'll be going to Shimla for a few days.
Until I return, the cottage is your responsibility.
You know how important this time of year is…"
"I know, Papa. It takes a lot of work, doesn't it?"
"Yes. But more than that, it requires understanding the people in this house.
Their preferences, their emotions.
Because this home doesn't belong to just us —
it belongs to everyone who lives here.
So their rights are as important as ours. Got it?"
Aryaman nodded, a little more thoughtfully this time.
"Yes, Papa. I understand. I'll take full responsibility."
"Very good. Govardhan will explain everything to you starting tomorrow."
"Okay, Papa."
"Now go to bed. Goodnight."
"I love you, Papa."
"Love you too, son…"
Nakshatra stood in her balcony, gazing up at the moon.
A cold breeze tousled her hair.
In the distance, the eerie howls of wolves echoed from the forest —
Awooooooo…
She pulled her shawl tighter.
"Still not asleep?"
Siddharth's voice startled her from behind.
She turned quickly.
"Was just heading to bed, Uncle…"
She looked away.
Siddharth came up beside her.
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder and softly stroked her head.
"Arya didn't let you eat again today, did he?"
Nakshatra didn't respond.
"I'm sorry, beta…
I really do try to take the hatred out of his heart for you…"
His voice was tired, weighed down by guilt.
"It's okay, Uncle…"
She paused, then added,
"Anyway… skipping one meal doesn't kill you.
And I guess… I'm used to it now."
Her smile was faint, but her voice wasn't bitter —
as if she had made peace with the pain.
"But still, child—"
"You gave a roof to an orphan,
two meals a day, a life I could never have imagined…"
Siddharth cut her off —
"Don't call yourself an orphan again.
You're my daughter.
You are my daughter, Nakshatra."
There was no scolding in his tone — only affection. Only belonging.
Nakshatra looked into his eyes.
Then quietly wrapped her arms around him and whispered,
"I know, Uncle…
And I love you."
Siddharth patted her back and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too, beta."
They stood quietly for a moment,
as another wolf's howl echoed in the distance —
but this time,
it didn't sound frightening.
It sounded like a piece of a story.
"Now go to bed.
You have school tomorrow.
You finished your homework, right?"
"Yes…" Nakshatra nodded.
"Good girl."
He smiled, gently ruffled her hair, and walked away from the balcony.