The weather outside was calm yet beautiful. Dark clouds had covered the sky, while a cool breeze gently passed through the garden. The fragrance of wet soil still lingered in the air as it had drizzled a while ago.
The leaves of the trees swayed softly with the wind, making the atmosphere peaceful enough to hear nothing except the sound of nature. Away from both families, Rudra and Anika stood in complete silence.
Anika's eyes wandered around the beautiful garden, observing every little detail as if it was the most important thing at that moment, while Rudra stood a few steps away from her with one hand inside the pocket of his trousers.
His posture was straight, his expression cold and unreadable, and his sharp eyes looked ahead without paying attention to anything around him.
Neither of them was willing to start the conversation first. The silence between them was neither comfortable nor awkward—it was simply empty. After taking a small breath, Anika finally decided to break the silence.
"Mr. Rudra... mujhe nahi lagta ki mujhe abhi shaadi karni chahiye."
Her voice was calm and respectful. She wasn't nervous; she was simply stating what she truly felt.
Without even changing his expression, Rudra replied in the same emotionless tone,
"Maine bhi kabhi is marriage meeting ke baare mein nahi socha tha."
His answer surprised her slightly. She slowly turned towards him before speaking again.
"Agar aap bura na maane... toh aap shaadi kyun nahi karna chahte?"
For the first time, Rudra looked at her. His gaze remained cold.
"Woh mera personal matter hai. Mujhe nahi lagta kisi aur ko usme interfere karna chahiye."
There wasn't anger in his words, only a clear boundary. Anika immediately nodded with understanding.
"You're right. Mujhe nahi poochna chahiye tha."
She didn't argue or feel offended. Instead, she respected his decision, which made Rudra quietly notice that she wasn't forcing the conversation.
After a brief silence, Anika spoke again while looking at the flowers in front of her.
"Main bhi abhi shaadi nahi karna chahti. Maine abhi apne dreams ki sirf shuruaat ki hai. Mujhe apni pehchaan banani hai."
"Main chahti hoon ki pehle main apne sapne poore karun... uske baad hi shaadi ke baare mein sochu."
Rudra listened without interrupting her. A few seconds later, he replied,
"Toh apne sapne poore kijiye. Uske baad kisi aur ko dhoondh lijiye... kyunki main aapke liye nahi hoon."
His words were straightforward, without emotion or hesitation. Instead of getting offended, Anika gave a small smile.
"Waise bhi... main yahan apni marzi se nahi aayi. Mere ghar mein decision mera hi maana jaata hai... isiliye mujhe lagta hai agar main mana kar dungi toh sab maan jayenge."
Rudra simply gave a small nod.
"Acchi baat hai."
Then Anika looked towards him with curiosity.
"Waise... aap yahan aaye hi kyun? Agar aap bhi shaadi nahi karna chahte?"
For the first time, Rudra let out a very soft sigh.
"Dadi."
Just one word. Anika couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"Same."
For a brief moment, both of them shared the same understanding. They weren't connected by love, attraction, or friendship.
They were simply two people who had been brought to the same place because neither of them could refuse their grandmother.
After a few seconds, Anika folded her hands lightly and looked towards him.
"Toh phir ek hi solution hai..."
Rudra raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Hum dono andar jaakar mana kar dete hain."
Without wasting another second, Rudra answered,
"Theek hai."
Both of them believed that once they went inside and refused, the marriage meeting would end there itself.
Neither of them knew that inside the house, both families had already made a decision that was no longer in their hands.
Both of them turned around and calmly walked back towards the living room, believing that within the next few minutes everything would end. Neither Rudra nor Anika looked worried anymore.
Both were certain that once they clearly refused the proposal, their families would understand.
However, the moment they stepped inside the living room, both of their footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
The scene in front of them completely froze them in their places. The entire atmosphere had changed.
Both families were smiling happily. Rajeshwari and Savitri were warmly hugging each other while the elders exchanged beautifully wrapped gifts.
The kavya happily applied tilak to nandini and meera and everyone congratulated each other as if the marriage had already been finalized.
Laughter echoed throughout the house. The happiness on every face made it look like no one was waiting for Rudra or Anika anymore.
Anika looked around in complete confusion. Her eyebrows knitted together. She slowly looked towards Rudra before whispering,
"Yeh... yeh sab kya ho raha hai?"
Rudra's sharp eyes observed the exchanged gifts, the smiling elders, and the decorated thali placed in the center.
His jaw tightened. After a few seconds, he calmly replied in a low voice,
"Ab kisi se poochne ki zarurat nahi hai..."
He looked straight ahead.
"...kyunki decision humare aane se pehle hi ho chuka hai."
Anika immediately turned towards him in disbelief.
"Kya?"
Before either of them could react... Rajeshwari happily called out,
"Rudra! Anika! Idhar aao, beta."
Both of them were pulled towards the center of the living room by their grandmothers.
Neither of them even understood what was happening. Before they could open their mouths...
The priest placed the shagun thali in front of them. Rajeshwari lovingly made Rudra sit while Savitri made Anika sit beside him.
Both of them exchanged shocked glances. They wanted to speak. They wanted to stop everything. But every second someone else began another ritual.
Rajeshwari lovingly placed the shagun on Anika's lap. Savitri blessed Rudra.
The elders showered flowers upon them. Someone happily exclaimed,
"Mubarak ho!"
Another elder smiled brightly.
"Bhagwan dono ki jodi hamesha salamat rakhe."
Rudra remained completely expressionless. Anika sat there speechless. It all happened so quickly that neither of them even realized... Their first marriage ritual had already been completed.
Just then Rajeshwari looked towards the family priest with excitement.
"Pandit ji, shaadi ke liye sabse acchi date kab hai?"
The priest carefully opened his panchang and observed it for a few moments before smiling.
"Agar shubh muhurat ki baat karun...Toh ek hafte baad ka din sabse uttam hai."
He turned another page.
"Uske baad agla shubh muhurat seedha ek saal baad hai."
The moment those words left his mouth... Rajeshwari immediately stood up with excitement.
"Toh phir ek hafte baad hi shaadi hogi!"
Savitri happily agreed.
"Bilkul! Humein aur intezaar karne ki zarurat hi kya hai?"
The entire room erupted into applause. Everyone smiled happily. Wedding preparations began to be discussed instantly.
Meanwhile...
Only two people stood there in complete silence. Rudra Rana. Anika Mehra.
Both of them still hadn't been given even a single chance to say...
"We don't want this marriage."
And perhaps...
That was the moment they both realized... For the first time in their lives... The decision was no longer theirs.
Finally, after almost an hour of laughter, conversations, and endless wedding discussions, it was time for the Rana family to leave.
The atmosphere remained warm as both families stood near the entrance of the Mehra residence. Rajeshwari and Savitri hugged each other once again like the childhood friends they had always been.
The elders exchanged blessings while everyone smiled, completely satisfied with the meeting. Only one person stood there with tears burning behind her eyes.
Anika Mehra.
She forced a small smile onto her face so that no one would notice the storm inside her. She still couldn't believe that her own family had finalized the biggest decision of her life without even asking her once.
Meanwhile on the other hand rudra was still not able to stand any more there so he already left .
Rajeshwari slowly walked towards her and lovingly cupped her face.
"Khush rehna, beta."
Before Anika could respond, Rajeshwari embraced her tightly like a grandmother welcoming her own granddaughter home.
Soon, Nandini and Meera also hugged her warmly.
Nandini smiled affectionately and said,
"Bas ek hafte aur... phir tum Rana Mansion ki bahu ban jaogi."
Before Anika could react, Rajeshwari gently interrupted her. She lovingly stroked Anika's head and smiled.
"Bahu nahi..."
She looked at everyone before saying proudly,
"Hamare Rana parivaar ki beti banegi yeh."
Those words filled the room with warmth. Everyone smiled emotionally. But instead of comforting Anika...They only made her heart ache even more.
A small smile remained on her lips... While her eyes silently begged someone to understand what she truly wanted.
After exchanging their final goodbyes, the Rana family finally left the Mehra residence. The sound of their cars slowly disappeared into the distance.
Silence filled the house. Anika stood there motionless. The red tilak was still visible on her forehead, reminding her every second that the first ritual of a marriage she never wanted had already been completed.
She slowly raised her trembling fingers and touched the tilak. The reality finally hit her. Without saying a single word...She turned around and hurried upstairs. Ignoring everyone who called her name.
She entered her room.
Bang!
The bedroom door shut loudly. Within seconds...
Click.
She locked it from inside. The smile she had been forcing for the last hour disappeared completely. Tears rolled down her cheeks one after another. She looked around her room helplessly.
Her sketchbook...Her fabric samples...Her fashion designs...Everything she had worked so hard to build. Her dreams. Her career.
Everything felt as if it had slipped out of her hands in a single evening. Unable to control herself anymore, she grabbed the nearest cushion and threw it across the room.
Then another. The flower vase on the table crashed onto the floor. Her design files scattered everywhere.
She cried uncontrollably.
"Kisi ne mujhse ek baar bhi nahi poocha..."
"Ek baar bhi nahi..."
Downstairs, the loud sound startled the entire Mehra family. Everyone looked towards the staircase in panic. Savitri immediately stood up.
"Anika!"
Her parents hurried upstairs. Her grandfather repeatedly knocked on the door.
"Beta... darwaza kholo."
Her mother spoke worriedly.
"Anika... please... kya hua?"
But no answer came. Only the muffled sound of her sobbing...And the sound of something else falling inside the room. The entire Mehra family stood outside her door in silence.
For the first time... They realized that perhaps...In their happiness...
They had forgotten to ask the one person whose answer mattered the most.
Meanwhile...On the other side...
Rana Mansion.
The atmosphere inside the mansion was colder than the weather outside.
The living room, which was usually filled with laughter, had fallen into complete silence.
A silence so heavy...
That no one dared to breathe loudly. Everyone from the Rana family was present.
Rajveer and Rajeshwari sat on the sofa with serious expressions. Mahendra and Vikram quietly stood behind them. Nandini and Meera had just returned after making sure little Ayaan had fallen asleep. Armaan and Advik stood silently beside each other.
For once...
Neither of them teased anyone. Neither of them spoke. Because they knew...
This wasn't an ordinary family argument. In front of everyone...Stood Rudra Rana.
His sharp jaw was clenched. His eyes had turned bloodshot with anger. The veins on his neck were clearly visible. Both of his fists were tightly closed. His knuckles had turned red...
As if moments ago he had punched something with all his strength just to control the storm inside him.
No one dared to say a word. The silence itself had become frightening.
Finally...
Rajeshwari gathered the courage to speak. Her voice was soft.
"Beta..."
Before she could complete her sentence...Rudra's patience shattered. He looked at everyone with burning eyes. His cold voice echoed throughout the mansion.
"BAS"
The room fell even quieter. A second later... His voice became louder.
"JUST SHUT UP I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A SINGLE WORD. NO ONE. NOT A SINGLE FUCKING WORD FROM ANYONE"
His breathing had become uneven. For the first time in years...The family witnessed the anger Rudra had buried deep inside himself.
He looked directly at everyone.
"Kitni baar kaha tha maine...Mujhe shaadi nahi karni. Mujhe apni zindagi mein kisi aurat ki zarurat nahi hai. Phir bhi..."
He laughed bitterly.
"AAP SAB NE MERI EK BHI BAAT NAHI SUNI."
His sharp gaze shifted towards Rajeshwari.
"Aap sab ne meri zindagi ka faisla kar already liya...mujhse pooche bina."
No one interrupted him. No one even had the courage. Rajveer slowly stood up.His voice remained calm.
"Rudra...Yeh shaadi honi hi thi. Isi liye humne yeh rishta rakha. Aur ek hafte baad tumhari shaadi hogi."
Those words became the final spark. Rudra's eyes filled with unbearable pain hidden beneath his anger.
He looked at everyone one last time. Then asked in a broken voice,
"Kya kisi ne kabhi socha...ki Rudra bhi khush rehna chahta hoga?"
Complete silence. He continued,
"Jo meri zindagi mein pehle hua...kya uske baad bhi aap sab chahte hain..."
He stopped. His jaw tightened. His eyes closed for a brief second. As if speaking even one more word was impossible. He swallowed every painful memory back into his heart.
Without completing the sentence...
He turned around. And walked towards the main door.
Bang!
The mansion door closed behind him. Silence returned. No one moved. No one spoke.
Armaan immediately took a step forward.
"BHAI!"
Before he could leave... Advik gently held his wrist. His voice remained calm.
"Nahi. Usse waqt chahiye."
Armaan looked towards the closed door. Then silently nodded.
On the other side... Nandini couldn't hold back anymore. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Seeing her eldest son break down after so many years... Had shattered her heart. Meera slowly sat beside her and held her hand.
Everything became silent once again. After a long moment...
Rajeshwari spoke softly.
"Kal baat karenge...Ab sab apne kamre mein jao."
Without saying another word... Mahendra and Nandini walked upstairs. Vikram and Meera followed.
Soon after...
Armaan and Advik also left for their rooms. Within a few moments...
The once crowded living room became empty. Only two people remained.
Rajveer Rana and Rajeshwari Rana. Rajveer quietly placed his hand over hers. He looked towards the closed mansion door before saying softly,
"Chinta mat karo...Subah tak Rudra shaant ho jayega."
Rajeshwari didn't answer.
She simply kept looking towards the direction where her eldest grandson had walked away.
For the first time... A small fear entered her heart.
She had always believed she understood Rudra better than anyone. But tonight...
She realized...
There was still a pain inside him... That even she could not reach.
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