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“We don’t expect you to forget the past, but please consider the future,” Vishnu insists. “If Ayaan and Meher get married, Ayaan will be compelled to put aside his manipulative tendencies and safeguard your political career.”
“This is unbelievable. My own people, all of them, are going against me,” Dad exclaims, glaring at Vishnu.
“I would never turn against you,” Vishnu retorts firmly, his voice no less than a promise. “I’m just fulfilling my duty and looking out for the best interest of the Walia family. This is our best option.”
I watch in amusement as Vishnu and Aksh join forces to convince Dad. It’s an unexpected alliance, with Aksh bhai wanting my happiness and Vishnu eager to safeguard Dad’s career. And they both seem genuinely concerned.
Dad looks at me, and I can see the struggle in his eyes. He loves me and wants the best for me, but Ayaan can never be his choice.
“I don’t trust him,” he shoots back, taking a deep breath.
Aksh ignores his statement and comes near me. He grabs my arm and turns me around to face him directly.
“Do you want to marry Ayaan or not? Be honest, Meher. Can you forget Ayaan, move on and marry someone else if your father suggests it? Will you be able to do it?”
His direct question puts me in a dilemma. I haven’t even fully processed my own thoughts about whether I should agree to marry Ayaan at this point in our tumultuous relationship. But he is the only one I’ll ever marry.
“Meher, say something,” Aksh bhai’s hands grip my shoulders, rousing me from my thoughts. “Do you love Ayaan?” His question carries newfound resolve this time.
“Yes,” I confess, a declaration I’ve withheld for too long, now laid bare before my family. “It’s him or no one else,” I affirm, locking eyes with Dad.
Tears stream down my cheeks, knowing my reply has hurt him. But it’s time for him to accept this truth.
Dad reluctantly nods and leaves, but not before giving me a pointed look. I can’t help but smile at the absurdity of the situation. My life is like a soap opera, and Ayaan’s proposal is just the beginning of the drama. I don’t know if I should be thankful to Aksh bhai and Vishnu today for trying to convince Dad. Because deep down, I know I love Ayaan, and maybe, just maybe, marrying him is the solution to all the chaos.
The moment Dad leaves, Vishnu turns to me.
“As far as I know, your father will never agree to his daughter’s relationship with Kailash Shergill’s son, given their long-standing enmity. But this time, he has too much to lose if he doesn’t make this decision. That’s the only reason I’m on your side,” he explains.
I nod, understanding his perspective, and then, his gaze shifts to Aksh bhai.
“I hope you are not fooling us again this time,” Vishnu inquires. “Seeing you on Meher’s side, fighting for her love, is not something anyone of us can easily digest coming from you.”
Aksh glares at him. “I don’t need to justify myself to you.”
He then comes forward and looks at me apologetically. Since the truth of his deceit against Dad has come out, we never had a one-on-one conversation again. This is the first.
“I’m sorry, Meher,” he begins. “I know an apology is not enough to forgive me. In my quest for vengeance, I failed to realise how much I was hurting my baby sister—the one I vowed to protect since the day she was born, and I saw her for the first time.”
Tears shimmer in his eyes, and I’m taken aback by his raw emotions. He reaches out and gently holds my hands in his own.
“I’m sure you don’t remember this, but when you were little, I used to dress you up like your pretty dolls and proudly introduce you as my little sister to all my friends. I wouldn’t let them play with you because I feared they might accidentally hurt you. I was fiercely protective of you, Meher. I don’t know how I could forget all that and tarnish your dignity by exposing your love affair in the media and creating that defamatory scandal,” he confesses, his grip on my hand tightening as he fights back his tears.
“If possible, please forgive me. I will never give you any more opportunity to hate me. I promise,” he manages to say before releasing my hand and walking back to his room.
It’s heart-warming to witness Aksh bhai reminiscing about our cherished childhood moments. He genuinely feels guilty for his actions, and I believe it’s better late than never. When I share this with Devika bhabhi, she might reconsider her decision to return to Walia House and forgive him. I’m not sure about Aksh bhai’s true feelings regarding his attempt to undermine Dad’s political position, though. However, I sense that he truly regrets going against his own family and hurting them unjustly. And he deserves another chance if he truly regrets his actions.
I quickly dab away my tears, refusing to let them weaken me any further. While it’s reassuring to know that Aksh bhai and Vishnu are supportive of my relationship with Ayaan, I can’t afford to take anything lightly anymore. With a determined resolve, I grab my phone and send a message to Ayaan, asking him to meet me tomorrow night at Josh pub in Juhu, the place where we had met once before. There are important matters we need to discuss before I can give him my final decision on his marriage proposal. If the Walia family is going to consider accepting his deal, we must ensure there are no regrets down the road.
*****************
Josh Pub – Next Day
I step into the dimly lit Josh pub, the soft glow of the lights casting a seductive ambience around the place. My heart races as I scan the room, searching for Ayaan. The noise of laughter and music fills my ears, but my focus is solely on finding him.
And there he is, sitting at a secluded corner table, looking every bit like a Greek god in his elegant attire. A sharp black suit tailored to perfection hugs his form in all the right places, emphasising his masculine physique. The way he runs a hand through his dark locks, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, has the attention of every woman around him, including the ones dancing on the floor.
His eyes are glued to his phone screen, but suddenly, as if sensing my presence, he looks up, and our gazes lock. I feel goosebumps erupt on my skin as I see the dark intensity in his eyes. He’s delighted to see me, even more so because I’m the one who arranged this meeting, but his expression darkens as soon as he spots Vishnu by my side. Before making a decision about the marriage deal, I informed Aksh bhai and Vishnu about the meeting with Ayaan. I wanted to make sure that the deal not only aligned with our interests but also worked in Dad’s favour. Vishnu personally escorted me, taking charge of my safety instead of sending other guards.
