RADHE RADHR READER'S.

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For a few moments...

No one spoke. Meera cupped Abhimanyu's face with trembling hands

."Abhi! Kitni baar bola hai bina bataye bahar mat jaana!"

"Mumma..."

She interrupted him."Nahi! Pehle mujhe dekhne do." She checked the scrape on his forehead, then his bruised knee, and finally his scratched hands. "Oh God... forehead pe bhi chot lag gayi." Vikram sighed in relief before lightly tapping Abhimanyu's head." Hero banne gaya tha ?"

Abhimanyu rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I wasn't becoming a hero, Papa..."

"I was helping her." Only then did everyone finally look at the tiny black cub sleeping peacefully in his arms. Vivaan blinked."...Yeh billi hai?" Anu frowned. "Ye black billi?" Aarav leaned closer.

"Guys..."

"...I don't think that's a cat."

Raghav carefully observed the cub. His expression turned serious. "This is a black panther cub."

"What?!" everyone exclaimed together. Anu immediately hid behind Naina."Yaar... yeh humein kha toh nahi jayegi?" The adults couldn't help but laugh. Abhimanyu hugged the cub protectively."Nahi! She's a baby."

The cub yawned at that exact moment, making everyone smile. Naina looked at Abhimanyu. "Ab batao, hua kya tha?" Abhimanyu took a deep breath. "My football went into the trees."

"I heard her crying."

"She was trapped under a broken crate and a net."

"I tried to pull it..."

"...then I slipped." He pointed to his scraped elbow. "Then she almost fell into a ditch."

"So I caught her." Everyone listened silently. Meera's eyes filled with tears. "You could've gotten seriously hurt..."Abhimanyu looked down. "But Mumma..."

"...she would've been alone."

Silence.

Raghav gently placed a hand on Abhimanyu's shoulder. "You did a brave thing, champ."

"But next time..."

"You call an elder first." Abhimanyu nodded immediately. "Sorry, Dadu."Just then, the tiny cub let out another weak cry.

"Mew..."

It nuzzled closer to Abhimanyu. He smiled. "I think she's hungry." Anya peeked from behind Naina."Aww..."

"She's actually cute." Vivaan chuckled. "Cute? She's literally a baby panther." Anu grinned. "Future bodyguard mil gaya Abhi ko."

Everyone laughed. Abhimanyu looked at the cub for a long moment. Then suddenly his eyes sparkled.

"I know!"

"I'll call her..." He thought for a few seconds.

"...Filo."

The family looked at him."Filo?" Aarav asked. Abhimanyu nodded excitedly."Because she's tiny...""...and I like the name!"

Anya giggled. "Hi, Filo!" The cub slowly opened her sleepy green eyes. Almost as if she recognized her name. Abhimanyu's smile widened.

"See!"

"She likes it."

He looked at Vikram and Meera with puppy eyes. "Mumma..."

"Papa..."

"Please."

"Can Filo stay with us?"

Both parents exchanged a glance .Meera folded her arms. "Abhi..."

"She's not a puppy."

"She's a panther."

"She'll grow up." Vikram nodded. "And wild animals need special care." Abhimanyu's smile faded. "I'll take care of her."

"I'll feed her."

"I'll study after feeding her."

"I'll wake up early."

"I'll even eat karela without complaining." The entire family burst into laughter.

Vivaan laughed so hard he had to hold Aarav's shoulder. "Record this!"

"Abhimanyu voluntarily eating karela?"

"History has been created!" Even Raghav laughed. Meera tried to hide her smile. "So now you're ready to eat karela?" Abhimanyu nodded seriously. "Every Sunday." Anya gasped dramatically. "Mumma! He's serious!"

Naina smiled. "I think Filo has already adopted Abhi." The little cub stretched one tiny paw......and rested it on Abhimanyu's arm. The boy looked at everyone hopefully.

"So..."

"Can she stay... please?"

The elders exchanged another look. No one had an answer yet.

But one thing was certain—

From the way Filo refused to leave Abhimanyu's arms... 

And the way Abhimanyu held her close...

A bond had already been formed. One that neither of them was ready to break.

The next afternoon...

The familiar sound of a car entering the Oberoi Mansion echoed through the driveway. "They're here!" Anya shouted excitedly, running toward the entrance. "The Kapoor's!" Anu yelled as he raced behind her. Within seconds, everyone gathered near the main door. As soon as the car stopped, Jay jumped out first.

"Abhiiii!"

He ran straight toward Abhimanyu."Oye birthday boy! Suna hai tu jungle explorer ban gaya? "Abhimanyu scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Bas... thoda sa."

Then...

A small figure stepped out from behind Jay. Ishika.

She was smiling...

Until she saw the white bandage on Abhimanyu's forehead. Her smile disappeared instantly. She walked straight to him. Without saying a word...

She folded her arms. Abhimanyu gulped.

"...Butterfly?"

No answer.

"Ishi?"

Still nothing.

Then she spoke. "Tum hero banne gaye the?" Abhimanyu blinked. "N-No..."

"Jhoot."

"I wasn't—"

"You got hurt!"

Her voice was louder than usual. "You didn't even think once?"

"What if something happened to you?"

"What if you had fallen properly?"

"What if..."She stopped, her eyes becoming watery. "You scared everyone."

The entire Oberoi family watched quietly. Jay whispered to Vivaan, "Bas... ab Abhi gaya." Vivaan nodded dramatically. "Bhagwan uski aatma ko shanti de." Abhimanyu looked guilty. He slowly held both his ears.

"Sorry..."

Ishika looked away. "I'm not talking to you." He took one tiny step closer. "But Butterfly..."

"No."

"I said sorry."

"No."

"I got chocolate."

"No."

"I'll give you half."

"No."

 "I'll give you all." Jay gasped dramatically."Abhi offering chocolates?"

Aarav placed a hand over his heart. "Aaj toh suraj west se nikla hai." Everyone laughed except Ishika .Abhimanyu sighed.

Then he gently held her little hand. "Ishi..." She finally looked at him. "I promise."

"Next time I won't go alone."

"If I ever have to help someone..."

"I'll call the elders first."

"And..." He smiled softly.

"I'll never leave my Butterfly alone." Her angry expression slowly melted. "You promise?" He immediately stretched out his little finger. "Pinky promise." She hooked hers with his. "Pinky promise."

The adults smiled. Meera quietly wiped away the tears in her eyes. Naina nudged her playfully."See? Gussa bhi kitna pyaara karti hai."Just then...

"Mew..."

Everyone looked down. The tiny black panther cub peeked out from the little basket beside Abhimanyu. Jay jumped back.

"AYE MAA!"

"Yeh kya hai?!" Riya burst into laughter." Jay Bhaiya dar gaye!"

"I did not!"

"You screamed."

"I was... surprised."

Vivaan folded his arms. "Haan haan... 

surprise ka volume thoda zyada tha." 

 The entire hall burst into laughter. Ishika slowly walked toward the basket. The tiny cub looked up at her with curious green eyes. "So..."

She whispered. "You're the one because of whom my Maan became a superhero. "The cub tilted her head. "Aww..." Ishika smiled despite herself.

"So tiny."

Abhimanyu carefully picked the cub up. "This is Filo."

"Filo?" Jay frowned." Kaunsa naam hai yeh?" Abhimanyu grinned proudly. "I chose it."

Aarav nodded dramatically. "Then no one is allowed to question it."

"Exactly!" Anya agreed. Ishika gently stroked Filo's tiny head with one finger. The cub sniffed her hand...Then licked her finger. Ishika's eyes widened. "She likes me!"

Abhimanyu puffed out his chest proudly. "Obviously."

"She knows you're my Butterfly." Jay immediately interrupted ,"Bas bas!"

"Ek taraf Butterfly..."

"Ek taraf Panther..."

"Abhi Disney movie bana raha hai kya?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Even Raghav couldn't hide his smile. Abhimanyu hugged Filo carefully .Filo yawned, curled against his chest, and fell asleep within seconds. Jay looked at the sleeping cub. "Waah."

"Do minute pehle jungle ki sherni..."

"...ab dekho."

"Abhi ki pocket-sized bodyguard." Vivaan chuckled."Nahi..."

"Yeh bodyguard nahi."

He pointed at Filo and then at Abhimanyu. "Yeh dono toh ek hi team ke hain."

Everyone looked at the little boy cuddling the tiny panther. The bracelet gifted by Ishika gleamed on his wrist .Filo slept peacefully in his arms. And for the first time...

The Kapoor and Oberoi families realized...This tiny black cub wasn't just another rescued animal. She had already become part of their family.

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RADHE RADHE ..