"Every new beginning is a quiet promise whispered by the soul—of hope, courage, and the magic waiting just beyond the first step. Here's to laughter, love, and all the magic this new chapter brings!"

The moment Taani stepped onto the driveway, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. The sprawling mansion stood tall, bathed in the golden glow of the evening sun. The scent of marigolds, roses and a lot of different flowers from the garden mixed with the distant aroma of spices wafting from the kitchen—home. A place of love, chaos, and endless laughter. A place she had missed more than she had realized.

She belonged to a big, boisterous family and lived in what could only be described as a mansion—a place where chaos and love coexisted in perfect harmony. Life here could get overwhelming at times, but now that her MBA was finally behind her, all she wanted was to soak in the comfort of home and spend quality time with her loved ones.

"Amma, hum aa gaye!" (Grandma, I'm home!) She called out, her voice bubbling with excitement. A wide smile spread across her face as she rushed inside, her eyes searching for the one person she had missed the most.

The moment she spotted her grandmother, she didn't hold back. She ran straight into her arms, hugging her tightly, the warmth of the embrace filling the empty space in her heart.

"Aree meri laadli!" Her grandma's voice quivered as she cupped Taani's face. "Kahan chali gayi thi tum? Humari aankhein taras gayi tumhe dekhne ke liye." (Oh, my darling, where had you gone? My eyes ached to see you.) Her wrinkled hands trembled slightly as she patted Taani's cheeks, as if making sure she was real and not just a figment of her longing. A teary smile graced her lips as she cupped her darling granddaughter's face, pressing a loving kiss on her forehead.

Then, as tradition dictated, she bent down to touch Taani's feet—a gesture of deep love and respect in Indian households.

Taani, caught off guard, quickly stopped her. Instead, she gently patted her head, whispering a silent prayer for her happiness and health.

"Ab kahin jaane ki zarurat nahi hai hume chhod kar itne dino ke liye." (Now, there's no need to leave us for so many days again.) Amma chided, gently patting Taani's cheeks in affection.

Taani grinned, eyes twinkling. "Aapko chhod kar hum kaise kahin ja sakte hain, Amma?" (How could I ever leave you, Amma?) She teased playfully.

Her grandmother huffed, but the fondness in her eyes betrayed her. "Baatein karwa lo bas!" (You and your sweet talk!) She muttered, shaking her head with a smile.

Taani glanced around, noticing the quiet hum of conversations coming from the other side of the house. Something felt different. The usual commotion of her family wasn't just background noise today—it carried a certain excitement, a gathering of sorts.

"Achcha, waise baaki sab kahan hain?" (Oh, by the way, where is everyone?) she asked, scanning the hall, her curiosity piqued.

Dadi's eyes twinkled with delight. "Arey, tum bohot achche samay pe aayi ho!" (Oh, you've arrived at the perfect time!) She exclaimed, gripping Taani's wrist eagerly. "Sab hall mein baithe hain, meri ek saheli aayi hai apne bete aur bahu ke saath. Chalo, tumko sabse milwate hain hum." (Everyone's sitting in the drawing room. One of my friends has come to visit, along with her son and daughter-in-law. Come, I'll introduce you!)

Taani's eyes widened slightly at the prospect of meeting new guests right now, in this state.

She had just traveled, her hair was a mess, and exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.

"Par Dadi, aap dekho toh mujhe, mai kitni kharab lag rahi hoon! Pehle muhh toh dho lene do." (But Grandma, just look at me! I look terrible! Let me wash my face first.) She tried to pull away, but her grandmother's grip was firm.

Dadi waved off her concerns with a chuckle. "Bilkul gudiya ke jese lag rahi ho, ab chalo!" (You look just like a doll, now come!)

Realizing she had no way out, Taani let out a dramatic sigh and followed her grandmother into the drawing room, already bracing herself for the inevitable flurry of emotions that would greet her.

And she was right. 

The moment she stepped in, her gaze swept across the room, there they were—her people. Mom, Dad, Bhaiya, Bhabhi, her little niece, Chachi, and her cousin.

A warmth spread through her chest, so overwhelming that her throat tightened. For a brief moment, she just stood there, memorizing their faces, their laughter, their presence—something she had taken for granted all these years.

She blinked, feeling her vision blur. She had missed them. More than she had realized.

"Taani! Tum kab aayi?" (Taani! When did you arrive?) Her mother, Siya, rushed toward her, her face alight with joy. Before Taani could even respond, her mother wrapped her in a tight embrace, squeezing her like she was afraid she might disappear again.

"Bas das minute pehle." (Just ten minutes ago.) Taani murmured, smiling into her mother's shoulder, her heart swelling with warmth.

A sudden, excited squeal rang through the room.

"Didi!"

Before she knew it, her younger cousin, Kavya, dashed toward her and threw her arms around her.

"I missed you, Di!" Kavya's voice was thick with emotion, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Taani laughed softly, overwhelmed yet incredibly happy. She cupped Kavya's cheeks gently, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Aww, I missed you too, Kavu."

"Tumne bataya kyun nahi ki tum aa rahi ho? Main airport aa jata na tumhe lene!" (Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have come to pick you up at the airport!) Aveer's voice was full of mock exasperation as he pulled Taani into a firm hug. She smiled, hugging him back before he bent down to touch her feet—a sign of respect she had always found both amusing and endearing coming from her elder brother.

She placed her hand on his head in blessing, a fond smile on her lips. "Khush raho." (Stay happy.) She said.

Just as Aveer straightened up, Taani hesitated for a second before mumbling, almost sheepishly, "Umm... airport nahi, railway station." (Umm... the railway station, not the airport.)

Silence.

For a brief moment, Aveer blinked at her, as if trying to process her words. Then—

"What!?" Aveer's voice shot up. The entire room went still at his sudden outburst.

"You took a train? Alone!?" His brows furrowed, jaw tightening as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Taani, do you even realize how unsafe that is?" His voice rose with every word, eyes blazing with a mix of anger and concern. "Aur hume pata bhi nahi tha ki tum ghar aa rahi ho! Agar raste mein kuch ho jata toh?" (And I didn't even know you were coming home! What if something had happened on the way?)

Taani winced, already expecting this reaction. She stole a glance around the room—yep, everyone was watching, including the guests, their amusement barely hidden.

"Bhaiya, kuch hua toh nahi na?" (Bhaiya, nothing happened, right?) She reasoned, her voice calm but firm. "Aur main AC compartment mein thi, it was pretty safe." (And I was in an AC compartment, it was pretty safe.)

"Pretty safe!?" Aveer echoed incredulously. "You think I'll be at peace after hearing that!?"

Taani sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Bhaiya, trains are safe, I am old enough to travel alone, and most importantly—look!" She dramatically gestured towards herself. "I am standing right in front of you, perfectly fine and in one piece."

Her casual response only fueled Aveer's frustration further. "Tum dobara kahin nahi jaa rahi ho!" (You are not traveling anywhere again!) He declared, crossing his arms. "Aur agar mujhe pata chala tum bina bataye kahin gayi toh..." (And if I find out you left without informing us...)

Taani's eyes widened in panic. Okay, this was not something she had anticipated. She still remembered the extreme persuasion it took—fake crying, tantrums, emotional blackmail—to convince him to let her go for her internship. And now, here he was, banning her from ever traveling again!?

"C'mon, bhaiya! That's not fair!" She whined, quickly switching tactics. She pouted then widened her eyes just enough to make them look glossy and blinked up at him like a lost puppy. She even let out a small sniffle for extra effect. The ultimate weapon.

Aveer faltered. His jaw clenched and for a moment he looked torn. Taani bit back a smirk, already knowing his next words.

"Okay, okay! Fine!" He groaned, immediately wrapping her in a hug. "Bas, bas! Ro mat!" (Okay, okay! Just don't cry!) He ran a hand over her head affectionately. "Lekin dobara aise mat karna, samjhi?" (But don't do this again, understand?)

Behind his shoulder, Taani wiped her nonexistent tears and flashed a victorious wink at her bhabhi. In response, her bhabhi stifled a laugh and gave her a thumbs-up. Mission accomplished.

"Papa!" Taani called out, her voice filled with happiness as she rushed toward Ranveer, throwing herself into his arms for a tight hug. She adored as well as admired him, and he was her rock—always supporting her through everything.

"Meri rani beti, humesha khush raho." (My darling daughter, always stay happy.) He kissed the top of her head affectionately, then gently pulled away, giving her space to greet the others.

"Namaste, Chachi," Taani said with a warm smile, enveloping her aunt in a loving hug.

"Taani, tum toh aise gayab hui jaise apne sasural hi chali gayi ho! Kya humari yaad nahi aayi? Ek phone call bhi nahi kiya tumne." (Taani, you vanished as if you've already gone to your in-laws' house! Didn't you miss me? You couldn't even spare a phone call.) Chachi playfully slapped her cheek, her words laced with jest.

Taani couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly. 'Why does every conversation with her start and end with marriage? How eager is she for me to get married?' She thought sarcastically, but smiled nonetheless.

"Chachi, sach mein time hi nahi milta tha," (Aunty, I honestly didn't have any free time.) Taani replied, trying to avoid the topic.

Just then, her two-year-old niece Kiara, with her round, innocent eyes and chubby cheeks, called out in her adorable baby voice, "Buaa!" She was as cute as ever, trying to wriggle her way off her mother's lap. With little wobbly steps, Kiara immediately toddled over to Taani, her tiny legs unsteady but determined. Without missing a beat, she jumped into Taani's arms.

"Oh, meri pyari Kiki! I missed you so much!" Taani exclaimed, her heart melting as she held Kiara close. Kiara, giggling, planted a slobbery kiss on Taani's cheek, leaving a sticky trail of saliva. Taani chuckled, her love for the little girl overwhelming. 'Goodness, she smells so sweet... I could eat her up!' Taani thought, deliberately sniffing her and rubbing her nose against Kiara's soft neck, making her giggle louder.

As Taani began to lower Kiara back to the ground, the toddler clutched a few strands of her hair in her tiny fists and burst into tears, refusing to let go of her aunt.

"Taani, ye hain humari school ki saheli Meenal Singhania, unke bete Aadesh aur unki bahu Divya. Aur Meenal, ye hai humari poti Tanisha, jise hum sab pyar se Taani bulate hain." (Taani, this is my school friend Meenal Singhania, along with her son Aadesh and daughter-in-law Divya. And Meenal, this is my granddaughter Tanisha, whom we all lovingly call Taani.) Grandma made the introductions, her voice warm and full of affection.

As Kiki continued to cling to her like a little koala, Taani gently turned to greet the guests, the toddler safely cradled in her arms. "Namaste Dadi, Namaste Uncle and Aunty," she said with a respectful bow of her head, her palms pressed together in a traditional greeting.

"Namaste beta" (Greetings, child) Meenal said kindly, her hand coming to rest on Taani's head in an affectionate gesture.

"Lagta hai sabki laadli ho tum yahaan." (Looks like you're everyone's darling here.) Divya aunty teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

Taani blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed by the attention, but she couldn't help but smile. "Keh sakte hain..." (You could say that...) she replied, her tone light-hearted.

"Betho!" (Sit!) Kiki suddenly commanded, her tiny voice full of authority as she tried to pat the sofa, urging Taani to sit. The room erupted in laughter at Kiki's unintentional charm, with her arms still wrapped around Taani like a little monkey refusing to let go.

The laughter created a warm atmosphere, and everyone settled into their seats. The chatter resumed, and the conversation shifted to Taani.

"Taani, kya kar rahi ho tum aaj kal?" (Taani, what are you up to these days?) Uncle Aadesh asked, his tone curious.

"Uncle, I just completed my MBA. Actually, I was away for the past month, wrapping up my final internship as a part of it." Taani responded casually, gently bumping Kiki on her lap. The little one let out a delighted laugh, which made Taani smile with pride.

"Arey waah, lagta hai papa aur bhai ke business mein madad karne ka iraada hai." (Oh wow, looks like you plan to help out your father and brother in their business.) Uncle Aadesh said with a proud smile.

"Yes, that's the plan, but let's see," Taani replied with a nonchalant shrug, her smile softening. "I haven't really decided yet."

Her words were sincere. After two years of intense studies, completing her MBA, she wasn't sure if she was ready to jump right into the family business just yet. There was still so much to explore, so much to figure out about what she truly wanted.

"Well, if you ever get bored here, Singhania Industries would be happy to have you. My son Yuvraj is running the business now that I've retired, and he can guide you if you're interested. In fact, if you want, you could join us—my younger son Rishiraj is also working under him. You'd have plenty of fun with him around." Aadesh said, a warm smile on his face.

"Trying to steal my daughter already, Aadesh?" Ranveer teased, pulling Taani closer, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulder. "She's not going anywhere anytime soon." His eyes softened as he looked at her, the love for his daughter evident. He meant it—Taani was his little girl, and no one was taking her away.

Aadesh chuckled, "Well, she's so talented, how could I not ask? If I had my way, I'd take her with me right now."

"Sach mein, hume to pata hi nahi tha, aapki itni pyaari beti bhi hai." (Seriously, we didn't know you had such a sweet daughter as well.) Divya said, her gaze lingering on Taani with warmth. 'Oh, how I'd love to make her my daughter-in-law. Yuvi could really benefit from having someone like her in his life, to keep him grounded. They'd be perfect together... their kids would be so beautiful. Wait, Divya, stop! Focus! Okay, I'll talk to Aadesh and Maa about this later... maybe they'd be on board with the idea,' she thought, all the while smiling fondly at Taani.

Taani's cheeks flushed as they spoke about her. Though she was chatty and outgoing, she always felt shy when the spotlight was on her like this. Compliments had a way of turning her into a blushing mess.

Meanwhile, Meenal and Sumitra exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes glinting with mischief. They had been scheming for weeks now. Not long ago, Meenal had confided in Sumitra about searching for a suitable bride for her grandson. Sumitra, unable to resist, had eagerly told her about Taani, sending a picture that immediately charmed Meenal.

Today, Meenal had come to let the families meet casually, without raising suspicion. She knew the time would come soon to subtly test the waters—and maybe even let fate take the lead. It was a surprise for both families that Taani had returned today, and Meenal couldn't help but regret not bringing Yuvraj along. But she was certain the two would meet eventually—everything was falling into place.

"Asliyat mein toh aur bhi khoobsurat hai." (She's even more beautiful in person.) Meenal remarked, her eyes filled with admiration.

Sumitra widened her eyes at her as nobody knew that she had already seen Taani's picture before. "Mera matlab hai, aapki Taani bitiya bohot khoobsurat hai." (I mean, your daughter Taani is very beautiful.) Meenal quickly corrected herself, but Aadesh's sharp gaze lingered on her, suspicion creeping into his mind. He knew his mother didn't make casual mistakes—she meant what she said, and that made him wonder what her playful, yet devious, mind was plotting now.

At that moment, the servants entered with a tray of steaming tea cups, plates of biscuits, and an assortment of snacks. They carefully arranged the refreshments on the center table.

"Namaste, Ramu kaka!" Taani greeted the head caretaker of the house with a wide, genuine smile. Her love for Ramu kaka was apparent—he was a constant presence in her childhood, always there when she needed him. He'd make her laugh when she was upset, and together they'd tend to the garden, planting flowers and vegetables. He even taught her how to ride a bicycle, and she'd follow him around like a shadow, always eager to imitate whatever he did.

"Arey Taani bitiya, tum kab aayi? Safar theek raha? Kuch pareshani toh nahi hui na raaste mein?" (Oh Taani dear, when did you come? Was the journey alright? You didn't face any hardships on the way, did you?) Ramu Kaka asked, his face lighting up with a broad smile. As was his custom, he knelt down to touch his forehead to her feet, treating her with the same reverence he reserved for 'ghar ki Lakshmi' (Goddess Lakshmi).

Taani gently patted his head, offering her blessing with a soft "Khush raho, Ramu kaka." (Stay happy, Ramu Kaka.)

Ramu Kaka's affection for Taani was unspoken but profound. She was like a daughter to him, the eldest daughter of the house who had always been around, bringing light and joy. Whenever she wasn't home, it felt as though something was missing. The house never quite felt whole without her lively presence.

Taani's family knew the depth of the bond she shared with Ramu Kaka—he always referred to her as his lucky charm, and they had countless memories together. But for the Singhanias, it was a surprising sight to witness the kind of connection she had with him.

"Sab theek tha, Ramu kaka, aaram se pohoch gaye the ghar." (Everything was fine, Ramu Kaka. I reached home safely.) Taani reassured him.

"Train se!" (By train!) Avi muttered under his breath once more, still fixated on the fact that she had traveled alone on a train. His concern for her safety was palpable.

"Arey bas bhi kar do, bhaiya!" (Enough already, Bhaiya!) Taani said, rolling her eyes, her playful irritation evident.

"Namaste Shini mausi!" (Greetings, Shini Aunty!) Taani called out with a bright smile as she spotted the cook, who had been a constant presence in their house for as long as she could remember. She affectionately called her "Shini mausi," a testament to their close bond. Over the years, Shini had taught her how to whip up various dishes, from simple comfort foods to elaborate feasts.

"Namaste, Taani! Toh aaj khaane mein rajma chawal bana doon phir?" (Greetings, Taani! Should I make rajma rice for dinner then?) Shini asked, already knowing that this was Taani's favorite dish.

"You're a Godsend, Shini mausi!" Taani responded, her face lighting up with excitement. She missed Shini's cooking the most while she was away in Mumbai. No matter how many times she ordered food from restaurants, nothing ever compared to the warmth and flavor of Shini's rajma chawal.

The Singhania family exchanged glances, clearly impressed by Taani's genuine affection for the house staff. They were struck by her humility and kindness.

It was a rare sight—someone born into wealth who treated everyone with equal respect. They couldn't help but admire her even more. Now, they were more certain than ever that Taani would be a perfect match for Yuvraj.

She seemed to embody everything they were looking for in a daughter-in-law—a perfect blend of grace, humility, and warmth, someone who could carry their family name with pride.

All that was left now was for Meenal to bring up the idea of Taani's marriage, and then it would be a matter of getting both the bride and the groom to agree. Easy right? Not at all!

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

I'm back—this time with a brand new story, and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you all!

Six years ago, I dipped my toes into the world of writing. Things didn't quite go as planned back then, but with time, experience, and a lot more clarity, I'm ready to give it another shot. This story is close to my heart, and I finally have a clear vision of how I want it to unfold. I can't wait to take you along on this journey with me!

Your support means the world to me. Every read, vote, and comment encourages me to write faster and better, so please don't hold back—I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Also, if any actor or actress comes to mind while reading who you think could portray the characters, do share your suggestions! I'm still figuring out the perfect faces for them, and your ideas might just help bring them to life.

Shukriya & lots of love✨

Your author

-Exquiste🕊️