The afternoon sun was cruel.

Priya's father stood outside Rudra's house, holding a small cloth bag. He had come to meet his daughter and son-in-law . Sweat ran down his forehead, but his eyes searched only for one face-Priya's.

Rudra was not at home.

Rudra's mother stood inside the hall. She looked at Priya's father once and then turned away. She did not ask him to sit. She did not offer water.

Anu sat on the sofa beside her, eating fruits, watching everything quietly.

Priya saw her father from the kitchen doorway. Her heart jumped.

"Amma," she said softly, "my father has come."

"So?" her mother-in-law replied coldly.

Priya hurried to the kitchen, filled a glass with water, and moved toward the door.

Before she could step outside, her mother-in-law stopped her.

"Where are you going?"

"Amma, it's very hot," Priya said, her voice shaking. "At least let me give him water."

Anu spoke casually, without looking up.

"Why is she acting like this? He came to meet Rudra, not her."

Her mother nodded. "Exactly. You stay inside."

Or if you want to meet your father ask him about dowry.

Priya stood frozen, the glass trembling in her hand.

Outside, her father understood he was not welcome. He didn't complain. He quietly walked to the gate and sat on the stone ledge outside, directly under the sun, waiting for Rudra.

Priya watched from inside, tears filling her eyes.

Inside the house, Anu and her mother sat comfortably. They talked about festival shopping and laughed softly.

"Rudra will like this kurta," Anu said with a smile.

Priya couldn't bear it anymore.

She went to her mother-in-law again and folded her hands.

"Please, Amma," she begged. "Let me meet my father once. Or let me give him water. He's old. He's sitting outside in the heat."

Her mother-in-law's face hardened.

"If you step outside," she said, "don't come back into this house."

Anu looked at Priya with irritation.

"Stop begging," she said. "You always create scenes."

Priya's lips trembled. Slowly, she went back to the kitchen and poured the water into the sink. Her shoulders shook as she cried silently.

Outside, her father kept waiting.

After a long time, Rudra finally came home.

Priya's father stood up immediately, relief crossing his face.

Priya moved toward the door instinctively-but her mother-in-law stepped in front of her.

"You will not go."

Priya stood there helplessly, watching her father wipe sweat from his face while speaking to Rudra outside.

He had come with love.

He waited with patience.

And his daughter was not even allowed to give him water.

That day, Priya understood something she would never forget.

In that ho

use,

even a father's love had no place.