After getting Raghav's head bandaged, Raj ji brought him home. Seeing the blood on his shirt, Yamuna ji was terrified and ran outside. By then, Chandrika ji and Aman ji had arrived, along with Monty's mother, Basundi.
As soon as they entered, Basundi grabbed Raghav by the collar and raised her hand to slap him, but Raj ji caught her hand mid-air and shook it off, saying –
"Are you in your senses, Basundi behen? You're raising your hand on a child..."
Basundi pushed Monty forward and said –
"Look how badly your son beat up my boy… broke his hand, poor thing! Just because he's the son of a rich man, does he think he can do anything to us poor people? That we'll always stay silent?"
She showed Monty's bandaged hand to everyone.
Raj ji intervened –
"Listen, behen ji, it was Monty who hit first – I saw it with my own eyes. And look at what your son has done to Raghav. And anyway, Raghav didn't even hit hard enough to break Monty's hand."
Basundi started fake crying loudly, drawing more neighbors to the scene. She cried out to everyone –
"Look at these rich folks' drama… my child's hand is broken and now they're blaming him instead."
Raj ji stepped forward and said –
"Why are you making a mountain out of a molehill? Why drag everyone into a fight between kids? And for the record, Raghav is completely innocent."
Basundi made a face and said –
"Of course, you'll take your future son-in-law's side! After all, your daughter's going to marry him, right? A rich groom landed in your lap, and now you'll lick his boots! Everyone in this neighborhood knows about their relationship. And since you're not rich enough, you'll just bow down to them! Right, Sarla?"
Sarla, who was Radha's mother and also jealous of Siya, chimed in –
"Yes yes, she's absolutely right. After all, you have to respect your future son-in-law."
Raj ji, an honest and self-respecting man, couldn't bear to hear this anymore. He folded his hands and said –
"Enough! I accept that I may not be worthy of having Raghav as my son-in-law, but that doesn't mean you can slander my character or integrity. I beg you—please leave me in peace."
Seeing this, Raghav's eyes welled up and he clung to Raj ji. Yamuna ji too broke down and hugged Siya.
But Siya's eyes burned with rage—whether at the crowd or for Raghav, only she knew. For a little girl to watch her father folding his hands in front of others... the feelings that rise inside are impossible to describe in words.
Aman ji stepped forward and said –
"Look, behen ji, don't turn a small kids' fight into something so big. Just tell us—what do you want? Raghav can apologize. That's fine. Raghav, come and say sorry to Monty."
Raj ji interrupted –
"But bhai sahib..."
Aman ji held up his hand to stop him –
"Raj sahib, no one becomes smaller by apologizing. If an apology will bring her peace, then so be it."
Basundi came forward and said –
"What good will an apology do? Will it heal my son?"
Aman ji, getting irritated, asked –
"Then what do you want?"
Basundi said –
"One lakh rupees… for my son's treatment."
Raj ji said –
"Oh, so this entire drama was just to extract money! Listen carefully, behen—since Raghav did nothing wrong, you won't get a single penny."
Aman ji called for his checkbook, wrote a cheque of one lakh rupees, and flung it at Basundi's face –
"Take this and get out. And keep your son away from my Raghav!"
Raj ji protested –
"But bhai sahib…?"
Aman ji placed a hand on his shoulder and said –
"No Raj... this one lakh means nothing compared to your integrity. There's no point in arguing with such people. Come, let's go home."
Raj ji –
"No, you take Raghav. I have a few things to finish and will come later."
Aman ji –
"Alright, as you wish. But don't take their words to heart."
Raj ji smiled and said –
"With a friend like you, even insults feel like blessings."
Aman ji hugged Raj ji and started to leave with Raghav, but Raghav clung to Raj ji's shirt. Understanding his feelings, Raj ji walked back home with him.
Inside the house, Chandrika ji brought everyone water and asked –
"But how did all this happen? Raghav, you never fight with anyone..."
Raj ji explained everything. Chandrika ji held her head and said –
"Everyone takes advantage of my innocent son. Thank god you were there, bhaiya, otherwise who knows what they would've done to my child."
Raj ji –
"Come on, behen, Raghav is like my own son. But I'm still angry at that Basundi. How dare she accuse him like that? And bhai sahib, by giving her money, you made it look like Raghav was guilty."
Aman ji, lowering his head –
"I just couldn't watch your dignity being trampled, Raj. You're like a younger brother to me. I couldn't tolerate anyone pointing fingers at your character."
Raj ji looked at Raghav, who had fallen asleep—perhaps from the pain and exhaustion.
Raj ji said to Chandrika ji –
"Behen, change his shirt and let him sleep. He's very tired..."
Chandrika nodded, and Raj ji carried Raghav to his room and tucked him in.
Coming downstairs, Raj ji said –
"Brother, your father was on the phone back then. He must have seen Raghav getting hurt. Do call him, he must be worried."
He handed Raghav's phone to Aman ji, who walked outside to call his father.
Raj ji also went outside with Yamuna and Siya. Kabir was still sitting there silently. No one had noticed him. He had been so scared seeing blood on his brother's shirt, he couldn't speak a word.