Junoon E tishnagi

Chapter 10: *Clash of Tempers*

The night was calm and cool, the kind of peaceful evening that promised warmth and comfort inside the Rai Singhania mansion. *Ansh* and his mother *Pranali* arrived home together, having driven back from work after an emotionally charged day. Ansh's mood had shifted, the day's tensions weighing on him. Despite his hard exterior, his mother always brought a sense of calm into his life—an anchor in the storm of his emotions.

As they stepped into the grand foyer of their home, *Ansh's grandparents*—*Ankur* and *Parvathi*—were there to greet them, as they always did, with warmth and affection.

**Parvathi (smiling brightly):** 
"Arre, Ansh beta, aa gaye tum dono? Kaisi rahi tumhara din, Pranali?"

Pranali smiled as she hugged her mother-in-law, glad to be home after such a long day.

**Pranali:** 
"Achha tha, Maa. Lekin Ansh ke saath thoda time guzarna zaroori tha. Woh kabhi kabhi apne aap ko door kar leta hai."

Ansh walked up to his grandparents and hugged them as well, the faint smile on his face surprising even himself. There was something about being home that softened his hardened edges, if only briefly.

**Ansh:** 
"I'm fine, Daadi. Just work stuff."

The family made their way to the dining table, where dinner had already been set up. The spread was large, filled with all of their favorite dishes. They sat together, talking, laughing, and enjoying the warmth of each other's company. For a moment, Ansh allowed himself to forget about the pressures of work and the ongoing battle he was waging with Aarohi.

But the peace didn't last.

Just as dessert was being served, *Abhinav Rai Singhania*—Ansh's father—entered the room. His presence cast a dark shadow over the light-hearted atmosphere, and everyone immediately fell silent. Abhinav's eyes scanned the table, settling on his son with a smug expression.

**Abhinav (sarcastically):** 
"Ah, the great *Ansh Rai Singhania* has returned home. How nice."

Ansh stiffened in his chair, the smile vanishing from his face. He kept his gaze focused on his plate, refusing to acknowledge his father's taunt.

**Pranali (quietly):** 
"Abhinav, please..."

But Abhinav wasn't interested in keeping the peace.

**Abhinav (mockingly):** 
"It's funny, isn't it? You think you can run this empire, but you can't even face your own father."

Ansh's fists clenched under the table. His temper was rising, but he had learned long ago that reacting only gave his father more power. Instead, he stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

**Ansh (coldly):** 
"Good night, everyone."

Without another word, Ansh turned and left the dining room, ignoring his father's smirk as he went upstairs to his room. He could feel the heat of his anger bubbling just beneath the surface, but he pushed it down. He didn't want to lose control—not here, not in front of his family.

Abhinav, however, wasn't finished. The moment Ansh left, he turned his attention to Pranali. His eyes darkened, and in a sudden, violent motion, he grabbed her arm tightly, yanking her toward him.

**Abhinav (angrily):** 
"Yeh sikhaya hai tune apne bete ko? Mujhe ignore karna, meri izzat ko kuch nahi samajhna?"

Pranali winced in pain as Abhinav tightened his grip. The rest of the family gasped in shock, but before anyone could intervene, Ansh reappeared, his eyes blazing with fury.

**Ansh (shouting angrily):** 
"Nikal jao abhi ke abhi iss ghar se, *Mr. Singhania*! Aapki himmat kaise hui meri maa ko haath lagane ki?"

Ansh stormed across the room, grabbing his father's arm and pulling him away from his mother. The rage in his eyes was undeniable, and the room seemed to tremble with the force of his anger.