"Sometimes, it's not the answer that shakes you, but the question you weren't ready to hear."

After seeing her grandson's stubbornness, Meenal couldn't help but take it a step further. Her voice softened, but there was an undeniable tinge of emotional blackmail in her words. 

"Aakhir meri bhi to umar ho rahi hai, marne se pehle ek baar apne parpota ya parpoti ka muhh to dekh lu kam se kam, ki wo bhi naseeb nahi hoga mujhe?" (I'm also getting old. Before I die, I at least want to see the face of my great-grandson or great-granddaughter... or will I not be privileged enough for that either?)

Yuvi flinched at the weight of her words, but he didn't back down. Meenal knew she was playing on his emotions, but she wasn't going to give up easily.

After all, if her grandson was stubborn, she was just as determined—and a bit more cunning in getting her way.

Aadesh, sitting nearby, felt a pang of concern for his mother. His voice cut through the heavy silence. "Maa, shubh shubh boliye." (Mom, please, speak of auspicious things.) 

He knew she was getting a little dramatic for Yuvi's sake, but he couldn't stand to hear her speak of herself like that.

He could never bear the thought of losing her, and he would do anything in his power to protect her from harm, both physical and emotional.

"Dadi, aap aise kyun bol rahi hain?" (Grandma, why are you saying such things?) Yuvi shot back, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken. 

He had no intentions of giving in to Dadi's relentless pursuit of a marriage conversation. "Main aapko kuch hone nahi dunga. Aur itni bhi kya jaldi hai shaadi ki? Abhi nahi toh kuch saalon mein toh ho hi jaegi." (I won't let anything happen to you. And what's the rush for marriage? If not now, then it'll definitely happen in a few years.)

"Aur agar itni hi jaldi hai, toh Rishi ki kara do, waise bhi ise kuch kaam nahi hai." (And if you're so eager, just get Rishi married, he's not doing anything anyway.) Yuvi casually threw Rishi under the bus, hoping it would shift the focus away from him.

Rishi's face lit up with mock offense as he leaned forward, voice rising with a hint of sarcasm. "Kuch kaam nahi hai toh kya, mujhe hi bali ka bakra bana doge ab? Hadd hai yaar!" (Just because I don't work, you're going to make me the scapegoat now? This is too much!)

"Aur waise bhi, mujhe to abhi apni bhabhi ke saath time spend karna hai aur shaadi mein naachna hai. Meri hi wife aa gayi, tab thodi na main ye sab kar paunga!" (Anyway, I want to dance at your wedding and spend time with my sister-in-law. Once I get married, I won't be able to do any of this!) His words were teasing, but there was an underlying amusement in his tone as he looked straight at Yuvi.

Yuvi's face twisted into a scowl, his eyes narrowing at Rishi. "Tu meri wife ke saath kyu time spend karega?" (Why would you spend time with my wife?) The jealousy in his voice was unmistakable, even though he had no intention of marrying anytime soon. 

It didn't matter—he wasn't ready to share anything with anyone, especially not when it came to his future wife.

Rishi raised an eyebrow and smirked knowingly. "Woah! Aap toh shaadi ke pehle hi itne possessive ho rahe ho, huh?" (Woah, you're getting possessive even before you're married?) Rishi teased, thoroughly enjoying poking at his older brother.

"Aur kyun nahi time spend karunga main? Bhabhi hongi wo meri, haq hai yeh mera!" (And why wouldn't I spend time with her? She'll be my sister-in-law, it's my right!)

Yuvi, unable to control his temper any longer, snapped, "Aas paas bhi bhatke na toh muhh tod dunga tumhara!" (I swear I'll break your teeth if you even dared to wander around her.) His voice was full of anger, and his fists were clenched, ready for a showdown.

The entire family watched in stunned silence as the two brothers continued their playful (yet heated) back-and-forth.

Aadesh, observing the chaos unfold, rubbed his forehead in exasperation. 'One doesn't want to marry, but is already possessive over his non-existent wife, and the other is demanding to spend time with his non-existent sister-in-law. Are they even my children?!' He thought, shaking his head in disbelief at the childish argument.

Meenal, sensing things were getting out of hand, slammed her palm onto the table, the sharp sound breaking the tension in the room. "Achha, shaant!" (Okay, quiet!)

Her voice rang out with authority, immediately getting both Yuvi and Rishi to stop in their tracks. "Ye kya bachon ki tarah lade ja rahe ho tum dono?" (Why are you both arguing like kids?)

Rishi, still with his childlike pout, turned to Dadi for support. "To dekhiye na dadi, ye kaise mujhe bhabhi ke saath time spend karne se mana kar sakte hain?" (Grandma, how can he stop me from spending time with my sister-in-law?) He whined, looking for an ally in his ongoing war with Yuvi.

Divya, who had been silently observing, couldn't hold back. She raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with amusement. "Oh mahashay! Kon si bhabhi? Kiski bhabhi?" (Oh Mr.! Which sister-in-law? Whose sister-in-law?) She gave Rishi a look that seemed to ask, 'Are you even serious right now?'

Rishi, undeterred, shrugged casually. "Abhi nahi hain, kabhi toh hongi na!" (I don't have one now, but someday I will have one, right?) He gave an innocent little shrug, as if he hadn't just set off an entire chain of arguments.

Divya, unimpressed, folded her arms. "Haan toh, jab hogi tab ki tab dekhi jaegi. Abhi drama karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai." (Yeah, we'll deal with it when you actually have one. No need to do all this drama right now.)

Rishi, now in full melodramatic mode, threw his hands up in frustration. "I want a sister-in-law! Yuvi bhaiya, get married—" His voice cut off abruptly as Yuvi's eyes narrowed dangerously at him, daring him to continue.

"Humne tumhare liye ek ladki pasand ki hai." (We have chosen a girl for you.) Dadi's words landed like a bomb, catching Yuvi off guard.

He nearly choked on his food, his throat suddenly dry. It wasn't the first time his family had teased him about marriage, but the directness of Dadi's statement hit him hard. 

Rishi, on the other hand, seemed oddly pleased by the announcement, flashing a grin as if he were the one they were talking about. He leaned over and gave Yuvi a gentle pat on the back, enjoying his brother's discomfort.

"Aur hum chahte hain ki mana karne ke pehle tum ek baar achche se soch lo." (And we want you to think about it carefully before saying no.) Dadi's voice was firm but kind, a clear hint that she was hopeful Yuvi might reconsider.

Divya, sitting nearby, rolled her eyes internally. 'Way to rip the bandaid, Maa.' She thought to herself, knowing there was absolutely no way Yuvi would agree to this now.

Yuvi, still recovering from the shock, swallowed hard before responding with a forced calm. "I've already thought about it, I don't want to marry." He said, trying to regain control over his erratic heartbeat. His hands still trembled slightly, but his resolve was firm.

Dadi, not deterred, continued, "Bola hai to time lo aur aaram se jawab do. Humne abhi tumhare phone pe uski photo send ki hai, ek baar dekh lo. (I'm telling you, take your time and think it through. I've already sent her photo to you, take a look.)

"Humari saheli ki poti hai wo, Tanisha Mittal naam hai ladki ka aur bohot hi achche ghar ki hai."  (She's the granddaughter of my friend, her name is Tanisha Mittal, and she comes from a very respectable family.) Dadi smiled, clearly pleased with herself for arranging the introduction.

Yuvi was a little taken aback. Tanisha... His mind ran over the name, intrigued. 'Such a pretty name. I wonder what she looks like.' he thought, even as he picked up his mobile, curiosity starting to stir.

But he couldn't help muttering to himself, "I won't change my answer, but for your sake, I'll take a look."

Rishi, leaning closer with his usual cheeky grin, nudged Yuvi with his elbow. "Oh please, stop it bro. I know the drama. You're dying to look at her." His teasing tone made Yuvi roll his eyes, but his irritation was mounting. He turned to glare at Rishi, silently telling him to back off.

"Rishi, just stop it now!" Divya scolded him, her voice firm. Rishi threw up his hands in mock surrender, signaling Yuvi to continue with the task at hand, his playful grin still in place.

Yuvi finally opened the photo on his phone and froze, his eyes widening slightly at the image in front of him.

It was a candid shot of the girl, caught mid-laughter. She was gently pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, her brown eyes sparkling with light, and her face illuminated by the soft glow of the sun. 

The picture was stunning. She was so beautiful, so effortlessly mesmerizing, as if every feature about her was designed to captivate.

Yuvi felt an unexpected flutter in his chest, but he immediately shut it down, refusing to let himself be swayed. 'It's just a picture, Yuvi. Don't get ahead of yourself.'

"She's so beautiful, dadi!" Rishi couldn't hold back, his voice full of admiration. He peered over Yuvi's shoulder, clearly impressed by her beauty. "You get me married to her, I don't mind."

Yuvi's frustration flared at Rishi's comment, but he didn't respond directly.

Instead, he turned sharply, moving the phone out of Rishi's reach. "Kaam karle apna, ghus mat mere mobile mai." (Mind your business and stay away from my phone.) He snapped, already feeling irritated by the whole situation.

Tanisha was undeniably gorgeous, there was no doubt in that. Her soft features, the way her eyes shone with life—it was all there. But Yuvi couldn't shake the feeling that this kind of beauty often came with a price.

She looked like she had been pampered her entire life, probably a product of a rich and privileged upbringing.

He could already imagine her as one of those girls who would throw tantrums when things didn't go her way, demand attention and things he wasn't ready to provide. 

He had met plenty of girls from well-off families, and they had all been the same—self-absorbed, entitled, and demanding.

He had no desire to spend his life caring for someone who expected the world handed to them on a silver platter.

'I don't have time to take care of a big spoiled baby. I'm better off alone,' Yuvi thought, a final, resolute conclusion forming in his mind as he turned off his phone and set it down on the table.

As he looked up, he realized everyone had been watching him intently. His ears turned slightly pink with embarrassment.

He cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "I don't want to get married right now, Grandma." The words were firm, though they didn't have the same conviction they had before.

Meenal, sitting across from him, looked disappointed. She had hoped that once Yuvi saw Tanisha's picture, he would be struck by her beauty, just as she was. 

But instead, it seemed like her grandson wasn't ready for this step after all. Her eyes softened, but she said nothing, the silence between them speaking volumes.

She could see that Yuvi was being stubborn, unwilling to even meet or get to know the girl his family had chosen for him. 

Frustration simmered within her, but she decided to play her cards a little differently. "Hum humari saheli ko zubaan de chuke hain Yuvi. Ab humari izzat aapke haath mein hai. Aapko jaisa theek lage, waisa kariye aap." (I've already given my word to my friend. Now my reputation is in your hands. Do whatever you feel is right.)

With that, Dadi got up from the table, her movements deliberate and final as she walked towards her room, leaving behind a tense silence.

Yuvi's head snapped toward his father, his frustration apparent. "Dad, she's not being fair! She's practically blackmailing me into this. She knows I wouldn't say no to her." Yuvi nearly groaned, his hand running through his hair in exasperation.

His mind raced, 'Where the hell did this whole marriage idea even come from?'

Aadesh sighed, his voice calm but trying to offer some perspective. "I know it's a lot, but at least meet her once, try to get to know her. Who knows, maybe you'll end up liking her." He glanced at Yuvi, knowing how stubborn his son was.

"I don't want to do any of that!" Yuvi snapped, storming out of the room, his anger boiling over, leaving his father to quietly watch him go.

Rishi, who had been listening quietly until now, broke into a grin as Yuvi stormed off. "I knew you guys were up to something," he said, his voice full of amusement.

"I'll be honest though, you still managed to surprise me." He chuckled, following Yuvi out of the room, clearly enjoying the drama.

Divya, who had been watching her son walk away, frowned deeply. "Do you think we did the right thing?" Her voice was filled with concern, knowing full well that she was trying to do what was best for her son, but she couldn't ignore the uncertainty gnawing at her.

Aadesh looked at his wife with conviction. "We know that Taani is the perfect choice for Yuvi." His belief in the decision was unshaken, even though his own heart felt a little heavy.

Divya's gaze hardened, her worry palpable. "Yeah, but let's not be selfish here. What if Yuvi becomes the wrong choice for Taani?" Divya's worry was clear in her voice.

She desperately wanted Taani to be part of their family but never at the expense of her happiness.

Aadesh nodded slowly, a glint of sadness in his eyes. "Only time will tell. I just want the best for both of them."

He wasn't sure what the future held—but he had a feeling it had already begun.

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

So much happened—emotions, drama, and a little bit of scheming too! What did you think of this chapter. Are you team "Dadi did the right thing" or team "Yuvi deserves a warning first"? 

I genuinely can't wait to read your thoughts! Please don't forget to vote and drop a comment—your love, suggestions, and reactions make my day a thousand times better.❤️

Reading your comments literally feels like a warm hug, so keep them coming!

Shukriya and lots of love!✨

PS - If today's your birthday, then a BIG warm hug and the brightest wishes to you! 💐✨

May your heart always be full of love, your smile never fade, and your dreams take flight in the most beautiful ways.🌺

You deserve all the happiness this world has to offer.

Happy Birthday, sunshine!🎂🌈

-Your Author

Exquisite🕊️