"Sometimes, a quiet decision made in a familiar room can change the course of a lifetime."

Sumitra sat on her bed, her expression firm yet thoughtful as she called Ranveer and Siya into the room. Her heart was steady, but she knew the conversation ahead wouldn't be easy.

As they settled onto the couch across from her, she took a deep breath.

"Hume tum dono se Taani ki shaadi ke baare mein baat karni hai." (I need to talk to you both about Taani's marriage.) She said, her voice calm yet firm.

Ranveer stiffened immediately. He opened his mouth to protest, but she raised a hand, silently asking him to listen first.

"Tum dono jaante ho apni Taani ke liye hum kabhi bura nahi sochenge," (You both know I would never want anything but the best for Taani,) she continued, her gaze shifting between them. "Rishta achcha hai aur hum jaante hain Taani wahan bohot khush rahegi." (This proposal is a good one. I truly believe she will be happy in that family.)

Siya's breath caught in her throat, her fingers instinctively clutching the edge of her saree.

A lump of unease settled in her chest, heavy and unshakable, as she exchanged a glance with Ranveer. His jaw tightened—he already knew something was off.

She swallowed hard, but the dryness in her throat made it difficult to speak. "Aap kiski baat kar rahi hain maa?" (Who are you talking about, Maa?) She asked in a low tone.

"Aadesh Singhania's elder son, Yuvraj."

Ranveer's eyebrows lifted in recognition. So that's why they had visited so suddenly a few days ago.

The pieces were falling into place, but he still didn't like the idea of his little girl being spoken for without her knowing.

Instead of immediately agreeing, Ranveer got up and paced near the window. He clenched his jaw, staring outside, trying to gather his thoughts.

After meeting and getting to know them, he knew the Singhanias were good people, but the idea of someone else deciding Taani's future unsettled him.

"Kya wo sab yahan pe isi iraade se aye the maa?" (Was that their reason for coming here, Maa?) he asked, his tone sharper than intended. "Did they come with this proposal in mind?"

Sumitra sighed. "Nahi, Aadesh aur Divya ko bhi kuch nahi pata tha Ranveer. Ye to meri aur Meenal ki ichcha hai ki hum apni dosti ko rishtedari mai badal dein. Aur kya kharabi hai us parivar mai?" (No, Aadesh and Divya had no idea. This is something Meenal and I wish for. We want to turn our friendship into family ties. And tell me, what fault do you find in their family?)

As Siya listens to Sumitra, she absentmindedly smooths the pleats of her saree—something she does when she's nervous. She doesn't even realize her hands are shaking until Ranveer places his over them.

Alternatively, Siya notices Taani's childhood photo on a nearby shelf—her daughter smiling, carefree, still hers. The thought of letting her go nearly breaks her. She had always known this day would come, but why did it feel so soon?

"Maa, ye saare faisle jaldbaazi mai nahi lene chahiye," (Maa, decisions like these shouldn't be rushed,) Siya cautioned, her voice trembling under the weight of her desperation. "Aur Yuvraj ka kya? Usne haan kiya? Kya wo ye rishta chahta bhi hai?" (And what about Yuvraj? Does he even want this? Has he agreed?)

Her pulse pounded as she searched Sumitra's face for reassurance, for any sign that this was still just a conversation, not a decision already set in stone.

Ranveer, sensing the turmoil brewing inside his wife, reached for her hand, his thumb tracing soothing circles over her skin. But Siya's fingers trembled in his grasp, her fear refusing to be eased.

She knew Sumitra well—once she made up her mind, it was near impossible to change. And Taani—her sweet, obedient daughter. If her grandmother asked her to say yes, she would—regardless of what her heart truly wanted.

Sumitra exhaled, the firmness in her gaze softening as she took in Siya's distress. She hadn't intended to cause this pain, yet it was inevitable.

'A mother can never truly be ready to part with her daughter.' But marriages weren't about readiness—they were about responsibility. 

"Siya, meri bachchi, humpe bharosa karo," (Siya, my child, trust me,) she said, her voice carrying both warmth and resolve. "Hum kabhi bhi is kaam mai jaldbaazi nahi karenge. Taani ki khushi mai hi humari khushi hai. Aur baat rahi Yuvraj ki, to usne abhi koi jawaab nahi diya hai. Abhi se chinta karne ki koi zarurat nahi. Hum bas aap dono se ye baat batana chahte the." (I would never rush such an important decision. Taani's happiness is my happiness. And as for Yuvraj, he hasn't given his answer yet. There is no need to worry. I only wanted to be transparent with both of you.)

Under the weight of such unexpected news, Siya forced herself to steady her breath, willing her emotions into silence. Beside her, Ranveer swallowed hard, his throat tightening against the storm of words he dared not speak.

If he opened his mouth now, his voice would betray him. Instead, he exhaled slowly, grounding himself in the silence, then gave a small, measured nod.

"Hum is baare mein Taani se tab hi baat karenge jab Singhanias ka koi jawab aaye." (I will talk to Taani when we hear from the Singhanias,) he finally said.

His voice was measured, but the underlying tension was unmistakable. "Tab tak, is baare mein koi baat nahi hogi. Aur Maa—agar wo mana kare, to koi usse zabardasti nahi karega decision change karne ke liye." (Until then, no one mentions a word of this to her. And Maa—if she says no, no one will pressure her to change her decision.)

For a long moment, Sumitra held his gaze. Then, with a quiet nod, she relented. "Of course."

She gestured for them to continue with their day, but as Ranveer guided Siya out of the room, an unsettling silence followed them.

The conversation had ended, but the weight of it remained. This was just the beginning. The storm was yet to come.

*Singhania's residence*

A Few Days Later — In the Drawing Room

Meenal hadn't mentioned Taani or the topic of Yuvi's marriage again. She wanted him to choose Taani on his own, not because of any kind of pressure.

But days had passed, and he still hadn't given an answer. Frustration gnawed at her. It was time to bring it up again.

As a servant poured tea for both of them, she finally broke the silence. "Tumne us baare mein kuch socha?" (Have you thought about it?)

Yuvi sighed, already exhausted by the conversation. "Not again, Dadi." His voice was sharp, defensive.

In truth, he had thought about it—far more than he dared to admit. And the more he did, the more tangled his thoughts became. 'Why did I meet that girl?' He clenched his jaw. 'It's all because of her.'

Meenal wasn't one to give up easily. "Kya tumhari life mai koi aur hai?" (Is there someone else in your life?) She asked, searching his face for any sign of hesitation. She wasn't asking out of mere curiosity—she was wishing for an answer that aligned with her hopes.

Yuvi rolled his eyes. "Of course not, Dadi. Agar koi hota to mai aapko bata chuka hota na?" (Of course not, Dadi. If there was, don't you think I would've told you already?)

The absurdity of the question annoyed him. 'Like I would keep something like that a secret?'

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mai bas abhi shaadi nahi karna chahta hu. Jab maine mana kar diya hai to aap kyu usi baat ki zid lagaye hue ho?" (I'm just not ready to get married right now. Why do you keep insisting when I've made it clear that I don't want this?) His voice rose with frustration, sharper than he intended.

The moment the words left his mouth, regret gripped him. He saw the shift in his grandmother's expression—the slight tremble of her lips, the dimming of her eyes.

"Hum bas chahte the ki tum humara bhi thoda khayal karo." (I just wish you cared a little more about me, that's all.) Meenal's voice was quiet, but heavy with hurt. "Humne apni zubaan di hai Sumitra ko, aur tum us ladki se ek baar mil bhi nahi sakte? Tum chahte ho hum apni saheli se kiya hua wada yun hi tod dein? Kya tumhe humari thodi si bhi parwaah nahi?" (I gave my word to Sumitra and here you are, not willing to meet the girl even once? Do you really want me to break a promise I made to my dearest friend? Don't you care about me at all?) Her voice wavered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Yuvi's stomach twisted. He hated this. Hated seeing her upset because of him.

Just then, Aadesh, Divya, and Rishi came downstairs, their conversation fading the moment they sensed the tension in the room.

Aadesh immediately rushed to his mother's side. "Maa, aap theek to ho?" (Maa, are you alright?) He frowned when he saw her discreetly dabbing at her eyes. At her age, even a little stress could take a toll on her health.

Meenal gently brushed him off, shaking her head. "Hume bhookh nahi hai. Tum log khana kha lo, hum aaram karne ja rahe hain." (I'm not hungry. You all go ahead and have dinner. I need to rest.) With that, she turned and slowly made her way to her room.

Yuvi let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. His stomach churned as he watched her walk away, skipping dinner because of him. The last thing he wanted was to cause her distress, yet that was exactly what he was doing.

Damn this marriage.

Damn this entire situation.

"What happened here?" Divya asked, concern etched into her face as she glanced between Yuvi and Meenal's retreating figure. She made a mental note to check on her mother-in-law later.

Yuvi let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "Like you all don't already know."

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the room, needing space before he said something he'd regret.

"Ye baat to hadd se zada bigadti ja rahi hai." (This matter is escalating beyond expectations.) Aadesh said as they all made their way towards the dining room.

Hours had passed since dinner, but sleep evaded Yuvi. The weight of the evening still pressed against his chest. As he walked into the house, exhausted and nursing a dull headache, he noticed the soft glow of the porch light. His steps faltered when he saw his parents sitting outside, their faces etched with worry.

Curious, he moved closer, keeping to the shadows, straining to hear their hushed conversation.

"Maa ki tabiyat theek nahi hai, Aadi," Divya sighed, rubbing her temple in frustration. "Unhone dawai lene se bhi mana kar diya. Mujhe unki bohot chinta ho rahi hai." (Maa is not feeling well, Aadi. She even refused to take her medicines. I'm really worried about her.)

Aadesh exhaled heavily, his voice weary. "Chinta to mujhe bhi hai, par ab kya kar sakte hain? Yuvi ko force bhi to nahi kar sakte na hum." (Even I am worried, but what can we do? We can't force Yuvi either.)

Yuvi clenched his fists at his sides. His grandmother's health was worsening because of him. He had never seen her refuse her medicine before—never.

The guilt pressed down on him like a boulder.

He had made a promise. A promise to his Dadaji in his final moments—to take care of everything, to be the shield that protected this family. And now, because of his stubbornness, his Dadi was suffering.

His chest tightened.

'Why did I have to be the firstborn?' he thought bitterly.

Dragging a tired hand down his face, he turned toward his room, his headache now a distant concern. Sleep wouldn't come easily tonight.

Next day : Dinner time

The dinner table was unusually quiet as everyone dug into their food, the clink of cutlery was the only sound breaking the silence.

Yuvi glanced at his grandmother, her frail figure making his chest tighten. She looked fragile, thinner than he remembered, and it weighed heavily on him.

He couldn't be the reason for her suffering.

"I will do it."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. The room fell deathly silent. All eyes were on Yuvi, their shock palpable.

Meenal froze, her hands hovering over her plate, unsure if she had heard him correctly. The hesitation in her gaze was clear—she couldn't bring herself to believe that after everything, he was finally agreeing.

"I will marry Tanisha."

Everyone's breath caught. What had changed? What made him so suddenly agreeable? Meenal's heart raced with excitement, her joy barely contained as she let out a relieved sigh and finally allowed a smile to break through.

"Itna bada faisla lene se pehle, usse ek baar mil to lo at least." (You should at least meet her once before taking such a significant decision.) Divya interrupted, her heart racing with a strange sort of tension at Yuvi's sudden declaration.

Yuvi gave a humorless chuckle. "As if that would make any difference." he muttered quietly.

"Aap log chahte the hum time lein, soch samajh kar faisla kare, ab humne faisla kar liya hai. And I've decided that I'll marry her." (You guys wanted me to take my time and think about it, now I've decided. I'll marry her.)

"Sachchi?" (Really?) Meenal asked, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to keep her composure. Yuvi gave a deep breath of relief and nodded. His eyes met his grandmother's—finally—he saw the spark of hope return in her weary gaze.

"Haan dadi." (Yes grandma.)

A look of pure relief washed over Meenal's face as she rushed toward him, her arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Hume aap par pura bharosa hai Yuvi, aap kabhi uska dil nahi dukhaenge. Hum bata nahi sakte hum kitne khush hain, hum abhi jaake Sumitra ko ye khabar dete hain." (I have trust in you Yuvi, you will never break her heart. I can't tell you how happy I am. I'll go and give this news to Sumitra right away.)

She bounced out of the room, practically floating on air.

Yuvi's voice stopped her as she reached the door.

"Dadi, dawai khana mat bhulna." (Grandma, don't forget to take your medicine.) 

He gave her a small but concerned look. Meenal waved him off dismissively, too happy to care.

"You will love her, Yuvi. She's the sweetest person ever." Divya chimed in from the side, hoping to reassure him. She was still trying to make him believe this was the right choice.

Yuvi's lips pressed into a tight line, but he didn't respond. He simply let the words roll off him, not bothering to argue.

"We'll see," he muttered under his breath, his eyes hardening as soon as Meenal left the room.

Once they were alone, the tension finally broke. Aadesh raised an eyebrow.

"What made you agree to it all of a sudden?" His voice was careful but curious.

Yuvi let out a bitter laugh, irritated. "This was what you all wanted, right? So why are you questioning me now?"

His father's words made his pulse quicken with annoyance. "I just hope Taani doesn't have to pay the price for your decision," Aadesh said quietly, but it hit Yuvi like a slap.

His teeth ground together. He hated how even now, his father's concerns lay with that girl. The girl who started all this.

Yuvi's voice was low, barely containing his anger. "She can reject the proposal if she doesn't want to marry me. I don't care."

With that, Yuvi abruptly pushed his chair back from the table and stormed out of the room. His mind raced with plans for his work, anything to distract him from the impending wedding.

Rishi, sensing his brother's distress, got up quickly, telling their parents, "Don't worry about bhaiya, I'll take care of him."

Divya turned to Aadesh, her face etched with worry. "I don't have a good feeling about this, Aadi. Maybe we should talk to maa about not going forward with this."

Her words hung in the air, tinged with fear. She had a sinking feeling that Taani would be the one to pay for this decision. The thought of her being pulled into this marriage under false pretenses made her heart ache.

Aadesh shook his head slowly, his hand rising to rub at his forehead in exhaustion. "She wouldn't listen now, Divya. Not after Yuvi has agreed to it himself. Maa is under the impression that once they're married, Yuvi will fall in love with Taani. That they'll find a way to make it work."

Divya bit her lip, her worry growing deeper. "But what if he doesn't? What if Taani ends up heartbroken, and Yuvi's resentment grows even stronger? This isn't a love match, Aadi, and everyone is assuming that it will be. We all know what that kind of pressure does to people."

Aadesh let out a tired sigh, his eyes clouded with concern. "I know. But sometimes, even the best intentions don't go the way we hope." He leaned back in his chair, looking worn out. "I don't know what to do either. We can't force Yuvi to change his mind now. The question is, how do we make sure Taani doesn't get hurt in the process?"

Mittal's residence

After dinner, Taani didn't feel like heading back to her room. Instead, she sat in the drawing room, absorbed in her mobile, while Sumitra remained deeply focused on the newspaper.

Suddenly, the quiet of the evening was interrupted by the ringing of the phone, and Sumitra picked it up to answer a call from Meenal.

"Hello, Meenal."

"Sumu, shaadi ki taiyariyan shuru kar de, Yuvi ne haan keh diya!" (Sumu, start preparing for the wedding, Yuvi has agreed!) Meenal exclaimed joyfully, her excitement spilling over into her voice.

Sumitra couldn't contain her happiness and let out a delighted shriek. Taani's heart skipped a beat as she watched her grandmother, her own emotions stirring with confusion.

"Amma, kya hua hai?" (Amma what happened?)  Taani asked, her voice laced with confusion as she noticed the overwhelming joy on Sumitra's face.

"Wo khush to hai na? Uski marzi se hi kaha na usne?" (He is happy with it? He said yes on his own right?) Sumitra inquired, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Meenal hesitated for a moment, but then she decided to soften the truth.

"Khush kyu nahi hoga? Aur Taani ko kon mana kar sakta hai bhala?" (Why won't he be happy? And who can say no to Taani?) Meenal answered, trying to reassure her friend.

"Fir to achcha hai, chalo mai baad mai baat karti hu." (That's great then, I'll talk to you later.) Sumitra responded, still beaming with joy. 

Taani sat quietly, her impatience building as she waited for an explanation. As soon as Sumitra hung up the phone, she turned to her granddaughter, eager to give her the news. 

"Oh Taani! Mai kitni khush hu mai bata nahi sakti!" (Oh Taani! I can't even tell you how happy I am!) Sumitra's face was alight with happiness, and she rushed towards Taani to give her a hug.

But in her haste, she suddenly felt lightheaded. Black spots swirled before her eyes, and with a soft gasp, she fainted.

Taani's eyes widened in alarm. She sprang from her seat, rushing toward her grandmother. Her hands trembled as she tried to catch Sumitra's falling body, but she wasn't fast enough.

The weight of Sumitra's form gently lowered to the floor, and Taani carefully laid her down, her heart racing with panic.

"Papa! Papa! Bhaiya! Jaldi aao, dekho na Amma ko kya ho gaya hai!" (Dad! Dad! Brother! Hurry, something has happened to grandma!) Taani cried out frantically, her voice breaking with fear as tears welled up in her eyes. She had never seen her grandmother like this, the sight before her was absolutely terrifying.

Within moments, the house was filled with the sound of hurried footsteps. "Amma!" Avi called out as he rushed to Sumitra's side, supporting her neck and gently lifting her to lay her down on the sofa. "Ramu kaka, paani dijiye!" (Ramu uncle, give me water!) Ramu kaka quickly handed Avi a glass, and he sprinkled some water on Sumitra's face.

"Maa! Kya hua maa ko?" (Maa! What happened to maa?) Ranveer and Siya asked in unison, their concern evident in their voices. As they crowded around, Rajveer and Vanika also rushed in, their faces etched with worry.

"Rajveer, Dr. Sinha ko call karo!" Ranveer instructed urgently.

Taani, still trembling, wiped her tears away. "Pata nahi, papa. Meenal aunty ka call aaya tha unhe, aur pata nahi unhone kya kaha, Amma itni khush ho gayi ki humare paas aane ke liye aage badi aur behosh ho gayi." (I don't know, Dad. Meenal aunty called her, and I'm not sure what she said, but Grandma got so excited that she rushed towards me and fainted.)

Siya and Ranveer exchanged alarmed glances. They both knew exactly what had caused Sumitra's excitement: Yuvraj's agreement to the marriage.

Listening to this, Siya grew increasingly anxious. Sensing the ongoing turmoil within his wife, Ranveer attempted to console her, offering words of reassurance as vaguely as possible.

"Maa, don't worry. Amma will be alright. Dr. Sinha is on his way." (Mom, don't worry, grandma will be alright, Dr. Sinha is coming.) Taani stood up to embrace her mother, who clutched her daughter to herself in a comforting hug.

"Didi, ghabraiye mat, sab theek ho jaega." (Sis, don't worry, everything will be alright.) Vanika stepped forward, trying to comfort Siya as well, offering her a glass of water.

After a while, Dr. Sinha arrived and examined Sumitra.

"There's no need to worry. Her heartbeat spiked due to excitement, and she fainted from the strain. Just make sure she doesn't get overly stressed or upset. Her heart isn't strong enough for this, and next time, it could lead to a heart attack as well. That would be dangerous at her age. Ensure she rests as much as possible, and avoid any sudden movements," Dr. Sinha instructed, handing over a prescription for medication. "Make sure she takes the medicines on time." After that, Rajveer walked Dr. Sinha out.

Avi gently lifted his grandmother once more, carefully walking her to her room to settle her into bed.

"Esi kya baat hogi jo Amma itni khush ho gayi?" (What could be the news that made her so excited?) Dhriti asked, cradling a sleeping Kiara in her arms. Hearing this, Siya started to rub her palms on her saree, trying to get her anxious mind to calm down.

"Hey bhagwan Siya, shaant ho jao ab!" (Oh God, Siya, calm down now.) Ranveer said as he sat beside her, offering her a comforting hug.

"Kya koi baat hui hai bhaiya, jo aap dono kisiko bata nahi rahe hain?" (Has something happened, brother, which you both are not telling us?) Rajveer asked, sitting down across from them. Everyone else took their seats as well.

Seeing Ranveer hesitate, it became evident that there was something they were keeping from the rest of the family.

"Bhaiya, kya baat hai, sab theek to hai na?" (Brother, what's going on? Is everything alright?) Rajveer asked with concern. No one spoke for a while. Siya looked up at Ranveer, nodding, signaling that it was time to share the news with everyone.

"Maa ne Taani ka rishta pakka kar diya hai." (Maa has fixed Taani's marriage.) As soon as he finished speaking, all hell broke loose.

"Kya? Rishta pakka kar diya? Kiske saath aur kisse puch kar?" (What? Fixed her marriage? With whom and with whose permission?) Avi shouted as he made his way back to the drawing room.

Dhriti placed a sleeping Kiara on the couch and rushed towards Avi to calm him down, all the while Taani sat there silently with wide eyes, still processing what her father had just said.

"Aadesh Singhania ke bade bete Yuvraj ke saath." (With the elder son of Aadesh Singhania, Yuvraj.) Siya, whose voice had turned hoarse, said with a little difficulty.

"Aadesh Singhania of Singhania Enterprises?" Rajveer asked vaguely recalling meeting Aadesh in a conference a few months ago. Ranveer just nodded his head.

"No way, papa, esa kuch nahi ho raha hai." (Nothing like that is happening.) Avi came and cradled his sister in his arms, who was yet to utter a word. "Tu tension mat le, hum esa kuch nahi hone denge." (Don't worry, we won't let it happen.) He said as he caressed her head.

While everyone else seemed distracted by their shock or anger, Taani was silently torn. Her grandmother's joyful shrieks still echoed in her ears, a stark contrast to the silence in her chest.

It was as if the world had shifted, and nothing felt right anymore, and how could they forget what the doctor had just said? 

They were not allowed to stress her in any way, and this would definitely upset her. They couldn't risk her health like that.

When she looked up at her father and saw the same helplessness on his face, she knew her decision had already been made. She would never jeopardize her grandma's health, even if it meant forgoing her own happiness.

Taani's hands trembled as she wiped away a tear she hadn't noticed falling. Her whole world changed, all in a few minutes and she couldn't do anything to help it. 'Why did it have to be Yuvraj Singhania of all the other people in the world!?' She thought.

The room felt like it was closing in on her, the walls pressing in as though every word was a weight on her chest. With a final glance at her family, she turned on her heel, each step feeling heavier than the last. 

Her family called out to her in concern, but she paid no attention. She just wished to get some sleep and wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

I hope you're all doing amazing today. I know it's been a little while since the last chapter—I'm really sorry for the delay, but I'm so grateful for your patience and continued support.

I've poured my heart into this chapter, and I truly hope it resonates with you. Please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed it and drop a comment—I absolutely love reading your thoughts and reactions. They mean more to me than you know.

Also, to anyone celebrating today:

Happy Birthday Sunshine!🎉🥳

May your year ahead be filled with good health, endless joy, success, and all the love you deserve. Sending you a big virtual hug!🎂💫

Shukriya and lots of love!✨

Until next time,

-Your Author

Exquisite🕊️