At the center was a silver serving bowl of steaming shahi paneer, its creamy saffron-hued gravy glowing under the chandelier light. Right beside it, a pot of slow-cooked dal makhani, rich and buttery, released an inviting aroma. A platter of tandoori rotis and garlic naans was placed next to basmati jeera rice, topped with crisp fried onions. For the health-conscious ones like Raiansh and Piyali , there was a separate dish of quinoa salad with fresh pomegranate, feta, and mint, and steamed vegetables tossed in ghee and black salt. In one corner, Tanushri and Diya's favorite stuffed lauki koftas in tomato gravy — sat in a covered ceramic bowl. A hot desi Chinese touch also made its way to the table, Veg hakka noodles with chili paneer for the Gen Z. On the side tray, freshly cut cucumber, tomato, onion salad with lemon wedges and a bowl of homemade mint chutney completed the essentials. And just when it felt complete  Nandini Singhania herself brought out the final piece, A warm tray of gajar ka halwa topped with slivered almonds and cashews, the scent of cardamom gently floating through the room.

The dining hall of the Singhania estate glowed. At the head of the table, as always, sat Devansh Singhania, dignified and silent, the patriarch whose presence commanded respect without saying much. To his left, his ever-graceful wife Shivangi sat with warmth in her eyes, occasionally leaning in to softly remind the servers to offer seconds. Facing Devansh, at the opposite head of the table, was his eldest son Rajeev, sitting upright with quiet pride. Beside him sat Nandini, calm and composed, her gaze moving between her children and grandchildren, soaking in the togetherness. To Devansh's right, sat Abhimanyu and his wife Akriti, exchanging occasional smiles. Seated near them were the younger generation — Kabir, poised and quietly lost in thought, Yug, Naksh, and Raiansh, their voices blending in light conversation. Piyali sat beside Raiansh, gently serving him a spoon of rice with her usual affection. Next to them were Paridhi and Riaan, deep in discussion about something between bites. Shourya and Tanushri sat close by, their fingers brushing under the table when no one was watching, sharing quiet glances and soft laughter. On the left side of Shivangi, sat Aman and Sandhya, their presence steady and gracious, next to her was Jeevika, and beside her the seat meant for Arjun, currently in Manali. Further down sat Yatharth, teasing Ivaan as Alia joined in, while Arohi nudged Diya about something, making her laugh. Jay sat with them, lovingly helping his daughter Kiara, who was nestled between her parents, Rajeev and Nandini, chattering away between spoonfuls of halwa.

Just as the laughter from one end of the table began to settle, Devansh Singhania looked up and asked gently, "Jeevika beta, when is Arjun coming back from Manali?" Jeevika, who had just passed the bowl of dal to Sandhya, smiled warmly, "Papaji, he'll be home tomorrow afternoon." Devansh nodded with a satisfied hum, visibly pleased. He then turned slightly toward his right and asked, "Kabir, how was the surgery today?" Kabir, who had been quietly having his meal, looked up and replied with calm clarity, "It went well, Dadaji. The boy's vitals stabilized — it was successful." Before anyone else could react, Shivangi Dadiji chimed in with a teasing sparkle in her eyes, "Successful toh hamesha hoti hai hamare Kabir ki surgeries... bas shaadi ka case hi atka hua hai!" The table burst into laughter. Even Devansh chuckled and added, "Woh toh sabse complex case hai. Kabir ke patience se hi solve hoga." Kabir could only shake his head slightly, a rare smile tugging at his lips as the teasing continued. Abhimanyu, wiping his hands with a napkin, leaned in curiously, "By the way, I heard tomorrow you have the AIIMS board meeting. When are you leaving?" Kabir nodded, composed as ever. "At 10 a.m., Papa." While the elders talked, at the other end of the table, the Gen Z squad was in their own world of chaos. Alia, Arohi, Ivaan, and Yatharth were laughing over some ridiculous meme Yatharth had shown under the table, trying to suppress their giggles. That set off Naksh and Riaan, who joined in, clearly not wanting to miss the fun. Across the table, Tanushri, trying not to laugh while chewing, gave a helpless glance to Shourya, who simply chuckled and said, "Dinner with them feels like a youth festival every day." The room was full — of laughter, warmth, legacy, and love. Just how A perfect Dinner ended with the usual teasing, laughter and aroma of the cooked food.

The hallways of the Singhania Mansion were quiet now, the post-dinner laughter had finally faded. A gentle Himachali breeze drifted in through the open windows as the hills outside basked in moonlight.

Still in his kurta, Kabir found Alia's door ajar, a soft yellow light spilling into the corridor. He knocked gently. "Alia?" Inside, Alia, in a hoodie and pyjamas, was surrounded by NEET prep materials. Her hair was in a messy bun, glasses perched on her nose, a determined frown etched on her face. Seeing him, she offered a small, tired smile. "Bhaiya! You're still up?" "I should be asking you that. Drowning in books again?" Kabir picked up a biology guide, flipping through it. "You've underlined everything. Studying or painting?" Alia chuckled, leaning against him as he sat beside her. "I want AIIMS Shimla. Like you, Yug bhaiya and yatharth bhaiya. No mistakes." Kabir's eyes softened. "Alia your dedication is incredible. But don't burn out. The goal isn't to be me, yu or yatharth but to be better, in your own way." She nodded, biting her lip. "Thanks for checking on me." "Always." He kissed her head, a gesture from her childhood. The door creaked open, and Yug burst in, hair disheveled, brandishing a packet of protein bars. "Kabir bhai, kitchen raid successful! Last icecream . Half?" Kabir smirked. "I'd rather sleep." Yatharth followed,  balancing a plate of fruit. "I come bearing apples and sarcasm." "Wow, 3rd year MBBS thinks he's giving a TED Talk," Yug retorted. "You two make medicine look like stand-up," Kabir teased. Yug plopped onto Alia's beanbag, Yatharth cross-legged on the floor. "Don't stress," Yug told Alia. "I cracked NEET first try and still hate bones." "She'll top AIIMS just to prove she's smarter," Yatharth grinned. "Exactly," Alia said, mock-proud. "Enough ego. Lights out in 30. Early rounds and lectures await," Kabir announced. They nodded, momentarily subdued, but the room still buzzed with laughter. Kabir paused at the door, turning back. "Remember, you three are doing amazing. Keep going." "We'll remember until the next viva," Yug quipped. "Or Maa steals our phones again." They all laughed, Alia's smile the brightest, reassured she wasn't alone. She had her brothers, her pillars.

Later all went into their room.

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- [Pristi Scrolls]