Author pov....

Rani screamed loudly, her voice echoing through the room. "Why did you do this, Divya? Answer me!"

Divya stood there trembling, one hand pressed against her stinging cheek.

Tears rolled uncontrollably down her face as she looked at her mother with shattered eyes."Mummy..." she cried softly, "maybe you couldn't see

Rahul's pain... but I could."

Her voice broke with emotion.

"For the last two weeks, I watched him destroy himself slowly. He stopped caring about himself completely. I couldn't bear to see him like that anymore."

She wiped her tears with shaky hands before continuing."He loves Ishani. How could I let Ishani marry Karan when I knew that after the wedding, Karan would separate Ishaan from his own mother? How could I stay silent knowing Rahul was the only person who truly accepted both of them with all his heart?"

The entire room went silent.Vaibhav, Devnath, Malini, and Rajni stared at Divya in complete shock.

Rani's face hardened instantly. "I don't care about all this!" she snapped angrily. "Rahul would have moved on eventually after Ishani's marriage."

Divya looked at her mother in disbelief.

"When will you understand, Mummy?" she cried. "Ishani was already married once before, and even then Rahul could never forget her. Then how could he ever forget her after seeing her become someone else's wife again? He would have broken completely this time."

Vaibhav stepped forward with a troubled expression. "Divya... you should have told me that Karan wanted to separate Ishaan from Ishani."

Divya turned toward him, tears still falling from her eyes."And then what would you have done?" she asked painfully. "Would you have stopped the wedding? Tell me, Vaibhav... does my brother's love mean nothing to anyone?"

Vaibhav let out a helpless sigh, unable to answer her question.

"There was no wedding! It never happened!" Rani's voice pierced through the room, sharp and hysterical. "Rahul, get up this instant! Rahul, are you listening to me?"

Deeksha and Deepak froze, their faces turning ashen. They had seen Rani angry before, but never like this her rage was palpable, vibrating through the air.

Rani marched over and grabbed Rahul's hand, trying to yank him upward. "Rahul, stand up!"

But when he didn't respond, she stopped. Her breath hitched as she looked at him closely. He looked... wrong. His eyes were unfocused, his body swaying like a doll with broken strings.

"Divya, what have you done to him?" Rani screamed, spinning around to face her. "Why is he like this? Why isn't he saying anything? Deepak, speak up! What did you all do to my son?"

Bhavya stepped into the line of fire, her voice trembling. "Aunty... I gave Rahul a drug injection. He's not in his senses right now."

The words hit Rani like a physical blow. She stared at Bhavya in pure horror. "You... you did what to my Rahul?"

"Aunty, he'll be fine," Bhavya whispered, backing away in fear. "It's just for a few hours. He'll wake up soon."

"I never expected this from you, Bhavya," Rani said, her voice dropping to a chilling, disappointed whisper. "Today, you have fallen so low in my eyes that I can't even look at you."

Ishani, who had been sitting frozen beside Rahul, finally moved. She stood up slowly, her movements robotic.

With trembling fingers, she untied the gathbandhan the sacred wedding knot and let it drop. Without looking at anyone, she turned and bolted toward her room, the sound of her sobbing echoing down the corridor.

Vaibhav chased after her. "Ishani! Wait!"

But the door slammed shut. The heavy click of the lock felt like a finality.

Inside, Ishani collapsed against the wood, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked at herself in the mirror.

The sindoor burned like fire on her forehead the mangalsutra felt like a heavy chain around her neck.

She was married to Rahul. The reality crashed over her. "Why me?" she sobbed into her hands. "Why does this always happen to me?"

Outside, the knocking was relentless. "Ishani, open the door! Baccha, please open up!" Vaibhav called out, his voice laced with panic.

Malini stood beside him, tears streaming down her face. "Ishani, talk to us, beta!"

The chaos and the shouting finally reached little Ishaan. Seeing everyone crying and frantic, the toddler burst into loud, frightened wails.

Vaibhav quickly scooped him up, cradling his head. "Shh, Ishaan... nothing happened. Mumma is just resting. Don't cry, my jaan."

But Ishaan wouldn't stop his cries grew louder, more desperate.

Inside the room, the sound of her son's pain acted like a splash of cold water on Ishani.

She wiped her face hurriedly, smoothed her hair, and pulled the door open.

She immediately took Ishaan from Vaibhav, pulling him close to her chest.

"What happened, my baby? Why is my prince crying?" she said, forcing a bright, shaky smile. "See? Mumma is right here. I'm fine!"

Vaibhav watched her, his heart aching. He could see the wreckage in her eyes behind the forced smile. "Ishani... are you really okay?"

"I'm fine, Bhaiya," she said, her voice tight and brittle.

Malini looked at her daughter standing there in her wedding finery, holding her child while her world fell apart and broke down into fresh tears.

She couldn't bear to see Ishani's strength it was more painful than her grief.

Karan's mother watched the entire spectacle unfold, her face contorting with indignation.

She turned toward Vaibhav, her voice sharp and accusing. "Vaibhav, what on earth is this? What has your family done to my Karan? He was supposed to marry Ishani today! I do not accept this marriage. Bring Ishani back right now the wedding with my Karan will happen as planned!"

Divya, who had been crying throughout the ordeal, suddenly wiped her eyes. A spark of defiance flickered in her gaze. "Ishani is married to my brother now," she said firmly. "It would be better if you took your son and your relatives and left this house immediately."

Karan's mother bristled. "I am not speaking to you! I am talking to Vaibhav."

"Vaibhav is my husband," Divya shot back, stepping forward. "And I am speaking on his behalf. Please leave, or I will be forced to say things that might humiliate you in front of everyone. Don't make me do that."

Infuriated, Karan's mother's face turned a deep shade of red. "This marriage won't last!" she cursed, her voice trembling with rage. "It will crumble before it even begins. Mark my words!" With a final, hateful glance, she rounded up her relatives and Karan, storming out of the venue.

The silence that followed was broken by Rani's cold, hard voice. She turned to Divya, her eyes devoid of any motherly warmth. "Divya... from this moment on, I have no relationship with you. As far as I'm concerned, you are dead to me."

"Rani! Don't say such things in anger," Devnath pleaded, stepping in. "We need to handle this calmly, with a peaceful mind."

"Nothing will be handled!" Rani snapped.

But before she could say another word, Divya's eyes rolled back. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.

"Divya!" the family screamed in unison.

Vaibhav's heart skipped a beat. Panic surged through him as he rushed to her side, cupping her pale face in his hands. "Divya? Divya, look at me! Open your eyes!"

When she didn't respond, Deepak stepped forward urgently. "Bhaiya, we need to get her to a hospital. Now!"

"Yes, the hospital," Vaibhav murmured, his voice thick with fear. He gathered her into his arms, lifting her in a bridal carry.

Rani watched them, a flicker of genuine fear crossing her face for a split second, but she forced herself to remain standing by Rahul's side, refusing to move.

Devnath, however, didn't hesitate he followed closely behind Vaibhav as they rushed toward the car.

Night slowly settled over the house, wrapping everything in a painful silence.

Ishani and little Ishaan had cried themselves to sleep, holding each other tightly as if they were afraid the world would tear them apart if they let go.

Ishaan's tiny fingers clutched Ishani's clothes while tears still stained both their faces.

Malini sat nearby, watching them with moist eyes and a heart full of ache.

A faint smile of love appeared on her face seeing the mother and son together, but it disappeared the moment her gaze fell on the sindoor in Ishani's hairline and the

mangalsutra around her neck.

Her breath hitched."What will happen to Ishani now?" she thought helplessly.

The shock still hadn't left her. Rahul loved Ishani... and somehow, they were already married. Yet Rahul himself didn't even know the truth.

He was unconscious, trapped in a state where he couldn't even understand what had happened around him.

"What will happen when he wakes up?" Malini wondered fearfully. "Will he accept Ishani and Ishaan... or will everything shatter again?"

Outside the room, Rani sat silently, her swollen eyes fixed on Rahul. He lay motionless on the sofa, his body weakened and half-paralyzed because of the drugs. The sight of him broke her heart.

After seeing the storm of anger inside Rani, Deeksha and Bhavya quietly left with Rajni, not daring to say anything further.

Rani folded her trembling hands before God and prayed endlessly.

"Please make both Rahul and Divya fine... they are my children..."

Her tears rolled down continuously as fear consumed her heart.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, the doctor finally spoke to Vaibhav and Devnath.

"She fainted because of stress during pregnancy," the doctor explained seriously. "Please take proper care of her. She is carrying twins, and her surroundings need to stay peaceful and positive."

The words shook both men deeply.

Devnath stood frozen, worried sick for his daughter. The fear in a father's eyes was impossible to hide.

Vaibhav lowered his head in guilt. His chest felt unbearably heavy as the realization hit him again and again because of him, both his sister and his wife were suffering today.

Deepak gently held Vaibhav's shoulder, noticing the guilt slowly crushing him from inside.

"Vaibhav bhaiya..." he said softly, trying to reassure him, "Di is fine now. Please don't scare yourself like this."

Vaibhav gave a silent nod, but the tension on his face refused to disappear.

Deepak then turned toward Devnath, who, lost in his own thoughts. His eyes looked restless, like a father silently breaking apart while trying to stay strong for everyone.

"Uncle, please sit down," Deepak said respectfully. "You shouldn't take this

much stress."

Devnath inhaled deeply and forced himself to stay composed."I'm alright..." he replied quietly. "As long

as my daughter is fine, I'm alright."

But the slight tremble in his voice exposed the fear hidden inside his heart.

A few moments later, Divya slowly began to regain consciousness. Her fingers moved weakly before her eyes fluttered open.

The room looked blurry at first, but then her gaze settled on Vaibhav sitting beside her bed.

He looked exhausted... guilty... terrified.

Divya frowned faintly. "What happened...?"

The moment Vaibhav heard her voice, he immediately leaned closer.

"Divya..." Relief washed over his face. "Are you okay? Is your head spinning? Should I call the doctor

again?"

Divya slowly shook her head. "No... I'm fine."

Vaibhav looked down for a moment, unable to meet her eyes properly. His voice became heavy with regret.

"I'm really sorry, Divya," he whispered. "I gave you so much stress..."

Divya stared at him in confusion before speaking softly.

"No, Vaibhav... this isn't because of you." Her eyes filled with worry again. "I was worried because of Rahul."

The mention of Rahul made Vaibhav's expression fall completely.

He ran a hand through his hair helplessly before speaking in a broken voice.

"If I had agreed earlier... for Rahul and Ishani's marriage..." he said slowly, "then maybe none of this would've happened. Your condition wouldn't have become so bad."

Divya's eyes widened in shock.

"You..." she whispered disbelief covering her face, "you accept their marriage now?"

Vaibhav let out a painful sigh and finally looked at her properly.

"Rahul is a good person, Divya," he said honestly. "I've known him since childhood. He has always respected relationships... always cared for others before himself."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"But when you first told me he loved Ishani..." He gave a bitter smile at himself. "I thought it was just temporary attraction. I mean... people don't usually fall deeply in love with someone older than them so easily."

He paused, guilt clearly visible in his eyes."But I was wrong."

The room fell silent.

"For the last two weeks..." Vaibhav continued quietly, "I watched Rahul destroy himself little by little. The pain in his eyes... it wasn't attraction. It was real love."

Divya listened silently.

"I started feeling guilty," Vaibhav admitted. "Very guilty."

His voice cracked slightly as he continued."I wanted to stop the wedding at first... I really did. But then I saw Ishani."

A faint sadness crossed his face.

"She had agreed to the marriage herself. And for the first time in so long... she actually looked happy."

He lowered his eyes helplessly.

"And after seeing that... I couldn't take that happiness away from her."

Divya looked at Vaibhav's guilt-filled face and smiled faintly despite her weakness.

"It's okay," she said softly. "You accepted Rahul and Ishani's marriage... that alone makes me happy."

Vaibhav looked at her quietly for a moment before shaking his head.

"No, Divya," he said emotionally. "I should be thanking you."

Divya frowned slightly. "Thanking me for what?"

Vaibhav's eyes turned serious.

"For saving Ishani from Karan."

His voice carried both pain and relief.

"If Ishani had married him..." he paused heavily, "she would've been separated from Ishaan forever."

The thought alone made his chest tighten."And I could never watch that happen."

He looked at Divya with genuine gratitude."You protected both of them when no one else understood the truth." His eyes softened. "Thank you, Divya... truly."

Divya rolled her eyes lightly, trying to ease the emotional atmosphere.

"How many times will you thank your own wife?" she teased with a weak laugh. "I already know whatever I do... I do what's right."

Vaibhav finally smiled after so long, the heaviness on his face softening a little.

Slowly, he placed his hand gently on her stomach, his eyes instantly becoming emotional.

"I'm sorry, baby," he murmured lovingly to their unborn children. "Papa troubled your mumma a lot, didn't he?"

Divya smiled warmly and placed her hand over his.

"No," she whispered softly while looking at him, "Papa didn't trouble anyone."

For a brief moment, the room felt peaceful again.

Just then, the door opened.

Devnath walked inside hurriedly, worry still visible on his face.

As soon as he entered, Vaibhav and Divya instinctively pulled their hands away from each other. Vaibhav quickly stood up from beside the bed.

The moment he saw Divya sitting awake, relief flooded his eyes.

"Divya!" he said immediately, walking closer. "Are you alright now?"

Divya looked at her father gently.

"Papa, I'm fine now," she said softly. "You must've gotten so worried because of me, right?"

Devnath walked closer to the bed, his worried eyes fixed on Divya as if he was still afraid she might collapse again.

"If you suddenly lose consciousness like this," he said softly, his voice filled with a father's fear, "then of course I'll worry, beta."

Divya gave him a small reassuring smile."I'm fine now, Papa."

But Devnath wasn't convinced so easily. The tension on his face remained.

"From now on," he said firmly yet gently, "you don't need to stress about anything anymore. You're pregnant, Divya. You should understand yourself what is good for your health and what isn't."

Divya let out a quiet laugh, trying to lighten his mood.

Seeing her smile like that, Devnath shook his head helplessly."This isn't something to laugh about, beta."

His serious tone immediately made Divya fall silent. The room became calm again for a moment before

Devnath finally looked toward Vaibhav."Can we take Divya home

now?" he asked.

Vaibhav straightened slightly. "I haven't asked the doctor yet, Papa. I'll

go and check once."

Devnath nodded slowly. "Alright."

Vaibhav quietly walked out of the room, leaving behind a heavy silence.

Divya and Devnath sat there for a few moments, simply looking at each other.

There was love between them... but also unspoken disappointment.

Finally, Devnath broke the silence.

"What you did today with Rahul and Ishani..." he said slowly, his voice calm yet deeply serious, "was very wrong, Divya."

Hearing that, Divya immediately lowered her head."But Papa..." she said softly, trying to defend herself,

"Rahul loves her. And even Vaibhav has accepted their marriage now."

A faint hope appeared in her eyes.

"So what's wrong if they're married?"

Devnath sighed deeply, as though the situation itself exhausted him.

"What difference does Vaibhav agreeing make, beta?" he asked gently.

"It's Rahul and Ishani who have to spend their lives together."

His words made Divya fall silent.

"They are the ones who should decide whether they truly want to marry each other or not."

His voice became firmer. "But you took that decision away from both of them."

Divya looked up at him slowly.

"So... you don't think Ishani is right for Rahul?" she asked quietly, hurt hidden in her tone. "You don't like her as his life partner?"

The moment those words left her mouth, Devnath's expression changed.

"I never said that," he replied immediately.

His eyes softened with emotion.

"Ishani is my daughter too, Divya. Just like you are."

Divya looked at him silently.

"I love her just as much as I love you," he continued, his voice filled with sincerity. "And that is exactly why I want her to have the right to choose her own life."

A faint helpless smile appeared on his face."Just like you always live your life your own terms... I want the same freedom for Ishani too."

"But if Rahul and Ishani both accept this marriage..." Divya asked carefully, searching her father's face for an answer, "then you won't have any problem with the fact that Ishani is older than Rahul?"

For a moment, Devnath simply looked at her.

Then he spoke calmly, without hesitation."No," he said softly. "I won't have any problem."

His expression turned warm as he continued,"If I get a daughter-in-law like Ishani, then why would I ever complain?"

The sincerity in his voice instantly eased the fear inside Divya's heart.

A wave of relief washed over her. She hadn't even realized how tense she had been until now.

Slowly, a small smile appeared on her face. In her heart, she thought,

"Now only mummy and Ishani are left... If both of them accept this marriage too, then maybe everything will finally become alright."

Vaibhav entered the sterile hospital room.

Seeing him, Devnath looked up expectantly. "Vaibhav, Divya can go home now, right?"

"Yes, Papa, she can," Vaibhav replied with a quiet nod.

"That's good," Devnath said, a small sigh of relief escaping him. He turned toward Divya. "Come on, Divya, get up. Let's go and see if Rahul has regained consciousness yet."

At the mention of Rahul, a fresh wave of anxiety washed over Divya. Her heart hammered against her ribs. The drug Bhavya gave Rahul... what state must he be in right now? The guilt and fear were eating her alive, but she forced herself to move.

Vaibhav reached out, taking her arm firmly but gently, and led her out of the hospital.

Deepak was already waiting in the driver's seat. Devnath climbed into the front, while Vaibhav and Divya settled into the back.

"Shall we leave?" Deepak asked.

"Yes, let's go," Devnath replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Inside the quiet house, Rahul lay motionless. He still hadn't regained consciousness.

Rani paced the floor, her face etched with worry. Unable to take the silence any longer, she dialed Bhavya's number.

"Rahul still hasn't woken up, Bhavya," Rani said, her voice trembling with tension.

"Don't worry, Aunty," Bhavya replied on the other end. "He'll be awake in a little while."

Rani disconnected the call abruptly. She felt a surge of pure rage toward Bhavya.

She couldn't wrap her head around it Bhavya loves Rahul, yet she was the one who had orchestrated this entire mess and forced his marriage to Ishani.

Malini stepped out and saw Rahul still lying there, motionless. Her eyes flickered to Rani, but the words died in her throat she couldn't bring herself to say a thing.

Rani caught Malini's gaze for a fleeting second before deliberately looking away, treating her like a stranger.

Malini stood frozen for a moment she had never seen Rani behave with such cold indifference. Feeling the heavy silence, Malini quietly retreated back inside.

A little while later, the front door

opened. Devnath, Vaibhav, Deepak, and Divya walked in. Their eyes immediately went to Rahul, who hadn't moved an inch.

Seeing Divya back home safe brought a momentary flicker of relief to Rani's face, but it was quickly masked by a wave of resentment.

Still stung by the recent events, Rani turned her face away the moment their eyes met.

"Hasn't Rahul woken up yet?" Devnath asked, his voice laced with concern.

Rani snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm and hurt. "No, he hasn't. Why don't you see for yourself what your daughter has done to him?"

"Rani, enough," Devnath pleaded, his expression weary. "Divya is unwell. Please don't say anything more to her right now. She's pregnant, and we cannot afford to give her any more mental stress."

Rani fell silent, though her jaw remained tight with unspoken anger.

Vaibhav gently guided Divya to the sofa and made her sit down.

"Mummy, I understand you're worried about Rahul," Vaibhav said firmly but respectfully. "We all are. But please, don't yell at Divya like this. We need to stay calm."

Rani fell silent after hearing Vaibhav's firm words, though the air between them remained thick with resentment.

Vaibhav sighed and made his way toward Ishani's room.

Malini was standing nearby, her face etched with exhaustion. She looked up as he approached. "Is Divya alright, beta?" she asked softly.

"Yes, she's fine now," Vaibhav replied with a tired nod.

He pushed the door open slightly and looked inside. Ishani and Ishaan were there, clinging to each other in their sleep, seeking comfort in the only way they knew how.

The sight of them huddled together, looking so vulnerable, made Vaibhav pause.

"Is Ishani okay?" Vaibhav whispered.

"Hmm," Malini murmured, her voice heavy. "She cried herself to sleep."

Hearing that, a sharp pang of guilt and sadness shot through Vaibhav.

Seeing the wreckage of his family's happiness laid out before him, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow for what they were all going through.

Meanwhile, Deepak stepped forward and began lifting Rahul, preparing to take him back to his own house.

Vaibhav noticed the movement and frowned in confusion."Where are you taking him?" Vaibhav asked.

Divya spoke up softly, her voice

weary. "Mummy is taking him home, Vaibhav."

Vaibhav stood there in silence, watching them carry Rahul away until they disappeared from sight. A heavy, uneasy stillness settled over the house.

As night fell, the exhaustion finally took over. One by one, everyone retreated to their rooms, seeking an escape in sleep from the day's chaos.

But Rani couldn't leave. She stayed right there by Rahul's side, refusing to move, watching over him as the hours ticked by in the dark.

It was 4 a.m. in the morning. Rani, sitting there the whole time, slowly drifted off to sleep inside Rahul's room.

By then, Rahul's intoxication had started to wear off. His whole body ached badly. He blinked his eyes repeatedly and slowly got up. He turned the light on.

As soon as the light came on, Rani woke up with a jolt. She looked at him and said, "Rahul, are you okay?"

Rahul nodded slightly.

Rani immediately asked, "Should I call the doctor?"

Rahul, confused and weak, said, "What happened to me? Mummy... my whole body feels so heavy."

Rani let out a tired sigh and sat down beside him. Her voice turned serious as she said, "Your sister... Bhavya, along with Deepak and Deeksha... they all got you married off to Ishani."

Rahul remained dazed, his mind still not functioning clearly. He tried to process what Rani had just said, but it didn't make sense to him. He felt as if he had heard something wrong.

He frowned and asked slowly, "What did you say?"

Rani looked at him with a heavy expression and repeated, "Divya... they got you married to Ishani."

The moment those words reached his ears, Rahul froze completely.

He just kept staring at Rani, as if trying to convince himself that he had misunderstood.

After a long pause, he finally spoke again, his voice shaking slightly, "Say it again... what did you just say?"

Rani looked at him firmly and said, "Instead of Karan, they made you sit there... and they got you married to Ishani."

Now it finally started sinking into Rahul's mind.

She continued, her voice sharper, "Rahul, understand this properly. You should refuse this marriage. Do you hear me?"

Rahul fell into a deep shock. His thoughts scattered completely.

After a moment, he asked in a confused voice, "How is Ishani? What did she say...? She must be so disturbed, right? Why did they do all this... what did Di even do..."

He suddenly got up from the bed, his

body weak but his emotions overpowering everything. He started walking towards the door.

Rani quickly stopped him. "Where are you going, Rahul?"

Rahul replied without looking back, "I'm going to ask Divya di... Deepak, Deeksha, and Bhavya. Why did they do this? Why did they ruin Ishani's life like this? She must be hating me right now..."

Rani's expression hardened as she said, "Are you even listening to yourself, Rahul? All you can think

about is Ishani... not yourself?"

Rahul stopped for a second and turned slightly. His voice broke as he said, "Mummy... of course I'm worried about Ishani. They all ruined her life by marrying her to me."

Rani grabbed Rahul's shoulder tightly, her eyes filled with frustration and helplessness.

"Have you truly gone mad in Ishani's love?" she said emotionally. "You only think about her. You don't notice anyone else anymore. The moment you woke up, you started saying 'Ishani... Ishani...' again."

Rahul stayed silent. He just stood there quietly, listening to her words without defending himself.

Rani's voice softened a little as she looked at his pale face. "Can't you see your own condition, Rahul? Look at

yourself..."

Rahul slowly lowered his eyes. A painful smile appeared on his lips before he finally spoke in a tired, broken voice."No, Mummy... I can't see anything except Ishani anymore."

Rani looked at him silently.

Rahul continued, his voice trembling with emotions he could no longer hide."What should I do? Tell me... because every second, every moment, I only think about her. I just want her to stay happy... to stay okay." His eyes turned moist. "And when she gets hurt... it hurts me even more than it hurts her."

He pressed his hand against his chest as if trying to calm the heaviness inside him."She's always in my mind, Mom...constantly. No matter how much I try, I can't stop thinking about her. Her face, her voice, her tears... everything stays with me."

"The day Ishani said yes for this marriage..." he whispered, "that day itself, I understood she wanted Karan. She chose that life for herself."

His throat tightened, but he continued."And after hearing that... what right did I have to stand in between?"

Rahul smiled bitterly. "You know

what the funniest thing is, Mummy? Every time her wedding talks happened with Karan... I died a little inside.But still... I agreed every single time."

"Why?" Rani asked emotionally.

"Because she was happy," Rahul

replied instantly, as if that answer had always lived inside him. "I only wanted her happiness. Even if that happiness never included me."

Silence filled the room.

Rahul sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, looking completely broken now.

"I kept a stone on my heart and accepted everything," he murmured. "I told myself again and again... 'Rahul, if Ishani wants this marriage, then let it happen.'"

His eyes became red with held-back tears."You think I never dreamed about her becoming mine?" he asked with a painful smile. "I did... every day."

His voice cracked."But dreams don't matter when the person you love wants someone else."

Rani stood frozen, unable to say a word.

Rahul looked up at her, helplessness visible in every inch of his face.

"I loved her so much, Mummy... that even while breaking apart, I still prayed she would get married peacefully." He swallowed hard. "Even if that marriage was with Karan."

A tear finally rolled down his cheek.

"And now suddenly they tied her life to mine..." he whispered shakily. "How am I supposed to believe this is real? How am I supposed to face her eyes... when all this happened against her wishes?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing unevenly."I can bear her hatred," he said softly. "But I can't bear her pain."

After hearing all of Rahul's words, Rani quietly walked out of the room.

She couldn't bear it anymore.

Watching her own son break apart so slowly in front of her eyes was becoming unbearable. Every word Rahul spoke carried so much love, pain, and helplessness that it shattered something inside her too.

As soon as she left, Rahul broke down completely.

Tears rolled endlessly from his eyes as he kept thinking about the same thing again and again.

"What have they done...?"

But more than himself, only one thought tortured him.

What must Ishani be going through right now?

He wiped his face quickly and looked at the clock.

It was 4 in the morning.

Rahul let out a shaky breath and thought that everyone in the house must still be asleep. Slowly, he sat back down on the bed, restless and lost inside his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Ishani slowly woke up.

The moment her eyes opened, her

breath got stuck.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

The sindoor in her hairline... the mangalsutra around her neck... the heavy bridal lehenga she was still wearing...

Everything screamed one truth at her.

She was married.

And not to Karan.

Her hands trembled slightly.

Without saying a word, she walked towards the bathroom. As the cold water fell over her, memories of the wedding started flashing in her mind.

The fire.

The vows.

And then-

Rahul's face.

The moment she had seen him sitting there instead of Karan.

Ishani shut her eyes tightly."Why didn't I stop it?" she thought painfully. "Why didn't I refuse when I saw Rahul during the pheras...?"

Water kept pouring over her, but she remained frozen under the shower.

Slowly, she slid down and sat on the floor.

Covering her mouth with both hands so no sound could escape, Ishani broke down into uncontrollable tears.

Bhavya and Deeksha were quietly having breakfast in the morning, but tension hung heavily in the air.

Just then, Deepak came downstairs, looking restless and irritated.

"I'm leaving early for the police station today," he said while picking up his keys.

Deeksha looked at him in confusion. "Why?"

Before Deepak could answer, Bhavya let out a sign and said, "He's scared of Rahul. If Rahul sees him today, he'll definitely beat him up."

The moment she said that, fear instantly appeared on Deeksha's face.

Deepak glared at Bhavya angrily. "All of this is happening because of you, Bhavya! If you hadn't drugged Rahul, none of this would've happened."

Bhavya immediately went silent.

For a moment, guilt flashed across her face, but she quickly hid it behind stubbornness.

"What's done is done," she muttered quietly. "Now we just have to face Rahul together."

Deepak laughed bitterly."I'm not facing anything," he snapped. "You both are women. Rahul won't hit you. But me? He'll kill me."

His jaw tightened in frustration and fear."And I don't want to get humiliated in front of Mannat," he continued angrily. "I don't want my daughter seeing her father getting beaten up by his own friend."

He grabbed his car key quickly.

"I'm leaving,"Deepak hurried toward the main door, wanting to leave the house before Rahul woke up.

But the moment he opened it-

His blood ran cold.

Rahul was standing right in front of him.

Silent.

Still.

Terrifyingly calm.

His eyes were swollen red, not just from anger... but from an entire night of sleeplessness.

Deepak instantly stepped back in fear. "Rahul..." he spoke nervously, forcing out a weak smile. "You woke up early..."

Before he could finish-

Slap.

Rahul slapped him so hard that Deepak nearly lost his balance.

The sound echoed through the house.

Deepak quickly held his burning cheek, panic filling his face.

"Please... not here," he whispered hurriedly. "Hit me outside if you want. Mannat might wake up... she'll see all this..."

Rahul grabbed Deepak's collar aggressively and slammed him against the wall.

"Now you remember your daughter?" Rahul's voice trembled with rage. "Didn't you think even once before ruining someone else's daughter's life?!"

Deepak looked completely shaken.

"Rahul, listen to me-"

"NO!" Rahul roared.

Another slap landed across Deepak's face.

Rahul's breathing had become uneven. Years of friendship, trust, and respect were burning into ashes inside him.

"How could you do this to Ishani?" Rahul shouted. "How could you all

force her into this?!"

Hearing the noise, Bhavya and Deeksha rushed downstairs.

The moment they saw Rahul repeatedly slapping Deepak, both froze in fear.

"Rahul, stop!" Deeksha cried.

But Rahul wasn't listening anymore.

Deepak tried holding Rahul's hands helplessly. "It wasn't only my fault!" he shouted desperately. "Divya di and Bhavya made this entire plan-"

Rahul turned toward Bhavya for one second.

That one look was enough to make her step back in fear.

Then Rahul looked back at Deepak and laughed bitterly in disbelief.

"So what?" he snapped. "You couldn't stop them? You couldn't say no? Was your brain dead?!"

Another hard slap hit Deepak's face.

Deepak stumbled badly this time.

Rahul's eyes filled with tears of anger as he shouted, "You drugged me... made me sit in someone else's place... and destroyed Ishani's entire life!"

The hall fell silent after his words.

Because for Rahul, this wasn't about betrayal anymore.

It was about Ishani.

And the pain they had forced upon her.

Rahul kept hitting Deepak without stopping.

Slap after slap.

All the helplessness, heartbreak, anger, and pain inside him were pouring out onto Deepak.

And Deepak... just stood there silently, taking every hit because somewhere deep down, he knew he deserved it.

The loud noise soon brought everyone outside.

Rajni came rushing first, followed by Rani and Devnath.

The moment they saw Rahul violently grabbing Deepak by the collar, everyone froze.

"Rahul!" Devnath shouted.

He quickly went forward and pulled Rahul back from behind with force.

"What are you doing?! Leave him!"

Rahul struggled against his grip, tears already falling from his eyes."Why did you do this?!" Rahul yelled brokenly. "WHY?!"

Just then, Deeksha suddenly shouted loudly from behind,"Then what else were we supposed to do, Rahul?! You tell us!"

Rahul stopped.

Slowly, he let go of Deepak's collar and turned toward Deeksha.

Deeksha's eyes were filled with emotions too."We were scared of seeing your condition," she said emotionally. "And if Ishani di had married Karan... she would never have been happy with him."

Rahul frowned in confusion."What are you saying? Why are you talking like this? What did Karan do?".

Deeksha wiped her tears quickly before speaking again."After Abhay bhai cheated on her, Ishani di had barely started recovering from that pain... and then Abhay died."

Her voice trembled heavily."In one moment, her entire world was destroyed. She truly loved Abhay bhai, Rahul. More than anyone understood."

Rahul stayed silent, listening.

"For so long, she lived like she was just surviving somehow,"

Deeksha continued softly. "And then... little by little... she started trying to move forward for Ishaan's sake."

She paused before saying Karan's name."Then Karan entered her life."

Everyone quietly listened to her.

"Ishani di saw how much pressure everyone was putting on her for remarriage," Deeksha said. "And eventually... she agreed for the wedding."

Rahul lowered his eyes painfully.

"But Rahul..." Deeksha's voice turned firm, "Karan was not right for her."

Rahul slowly looked up.

"He would've separated Ishaan from her after marriage," she admitted quietly. "Maybe not immediately... but someday he definitely would have."

Rahul froze completely after hearing that. Shock spread across his face.

Because he knew one thing better than anyone-Ishani could tolerate pain herself... but never separation from her child.

Deeksha stepped closer to Rahul."That's why we had to do all this," she whispered emotionally. "Because no one could ever love Ishani di more than you do..."

Her eyes filled again."And no one could love Ishaan the way you already do."

Silence spread across the entire hall.

Nobody spoke.

Everyone just stood there quietly, absorbing the weight of her words.

Finally, Devnath walked toward Rahul calmly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Rahul," he said gently, "this matter won't get solved through fighting, anger, or shouting."

Rahul looked away silently, his chest still rising heavily.

"We need to sit together and talk properly," Devnath continued. "Only then will we find a solution."

His voice softened further "Come inside, beta."

Rahul stayed still.

"I'll call Vaibhav too," Devnath said. "We'll all sit together... discuss everything calmly... and find a way out of this."

Rani still stood there silently, but the anger inside her hadn't faded at all.

No matter what anyone said, she still couldn't accept Ishani as the right person for her son.

In her eyes, Rahul deserved a peaceful life... not more complications, pain, and responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Devnath gently held Rahul by the arm and took him inside before the situation could worsen

again.

Rahul walked silently, emotionally exhausted after everything he had heard.

Devnath made him sit down on the sofa.

Rahul leaned back heavily, his face blank, while his mind continued drowning in thoughts of Ishani.

Without wasting time, Devnath picked up his phone and called

Vaibhav and Malini, asking both of them to come immediately.

The atmosphere inside the house had become painfully tense.

One by one, everyone gathered there.

Deeksha stood quietly near the wall, guilt visible on her face.

Deepak avoided Rahul's eyes completely, his cheek still red from the slaps.

Bhavya stood silently too, nervous for the first time after realizing how badly everything had exploded.

Rajni stayed near Rani, watching everyone anxiously.

After some time Vaibhav, Divya, and Malini entered together.

The moment Malini stepped inside, her eyes immediately fell on Rahul.

He was sitting silently on the sofa, completely drained.

His eyes looked tired, his fists still clenched slightly, and the pain on his face was impossible to hide.

Malini's expression softened instantly.

She slowly walked toward him.

"Rahul..." she called gently, like a mother calming her wounded child. "Beta, are you okay?"

Rahul looked up at her. For a second, his eyes almost filled again.

But he silently nodded."I'm fine," he lied quietly.

Malini could tell he wasn't.

Nearby, Divya stood frozen.

For the first time since everything

happened, guilt truly appeared on her face.

She looked at Rahul nervously, unsure if she even had the right to speak to him anymore.

Still, gathering courage, she spoke softly,"Rahul..."

But Rahul didn't even turn toward her. Not even once.

The coldness in his silence hurt more than anger could have. Divya slowly lowered her eyes and stepped back quietly.

The entire hall remained tense.

Finally, Devnath broke the silence.

"Malini ji," he said calmly, gesturing toward the sofa, "please sit."

Then he looked at Vaibhav."You too, beta."

Both of them sat down slowly while everyone else remained standing around them.

Devnath took a deep breath before finally speaking."Malini ji..." his voice was heavy but steady, "Ishani is your daughter. Your responsibility. Your pride."

Malini silently listened.

"And now..." Devnath paused painfully, "whether right or wrong... whether planned or forced... the truth is that Ishani and Rahul are married."

Rahul's eyes immediately lifted toward his father in shock. He hadn't expected Devnath to say it so directly.

Devnath continued calmly,"So I want to ask you honestly... do you think Rahul is wrong for Ishani?"

The question stunned the entire room. Rahul immediately looked at Malini, almost afraid of her answer.

For a few seconds, Malini stayed silent. Then she looked at Rahul carefully.

And when she finally spoke, her voice carried both pain and affection.

She repeated softly. "How could Rahul ever be wrong for my daughter?"

Rahul's breath unconsciously slowed.

"We've watched him grow up in front of our eyes," Malini continued emotionally. "He has always been like a son to me."

Rahul lowered his eyes quietly.

"But yes..." Malini whispered painfully, "this marriage should never have happened like this."

The room fell silent again.

"No relationship should begin with deception," she added. "Especially not a marriage."

"But now..." Malini said after a pause, "what's done cannot be undone overnight."

Her eyes slowly filled with tears."And somewhere... maybe fate became cruel because it was tired of being kind to Ishani."

Rahul looked up at her again.

Malini gave a weak smile through her pain.

"My daughter has already suffered enough in one lifetime," she whispered. "If life has brought Rahul into her destiny now... then I only pray he becomes her peace, not another wound."

Rahul went completely still after hearing that. Because those words carried trust. A trust he suddenly felt terrified of breaking.

Devnath slowly nodded."You're right, Malini ji."

Then he turned toward Vaibhav, who had been quietly observing everything till now.

"Vaibhav," Devnath said seriously, "tell us honestly. What do you think about all this?"

"Papa... I don't have any problem," Vaibhav finally spoke after a long silence. "But before deciding anything, we should ask Rahul and Ishani what they want for their lives."

Everyone's eyes immediately turned

toward Rahul.

But Rahul stayed silent.

His face remained emotionless, yet inside him, everything was falling apart.

Devnath looked at him carefully before speaking."Rahul," he said calmly, "will you accept Ishani as your wife?"

The question hit the room heavily.

Rahul slowly looked up."Papa..." his voice came out tired and broken, "this marriage is wrong."

Everyone stayed quiet.

"I don't accept this marriage," Rahul continued painfully. "And Ishani doesn't accept it either."

Rani silently nodded at his words, while Divya lowered her eyes again.

But Devnath didn't react immediately.

Instead, he asked quietly,"And if Ishani accepts this marriage... then will you accept it too?"

Rahul froze.

For the first time, he had no answer.

Because the truth was terrifyingly simple-If Ishani ever chose him willingly, he would never be able to refuse her.

Devnath slowly stepped closer."Speak, Rahul," he said firmly. "Or do you want to ruin Ishani's life further by keeping her hanging between relationships and decisions?"

Rahul closed his eyes for a moment.

When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, helpless, and filled with surrender."Whatever Ishani decides... that's what will happen, Papa."

Everyone silently listened.

"If she wants to stay with me..." Rahul swallowed painfully, "if she wants to accept me as her husband... then she can."

His eyes lowered again."But if she doesn't..." he whispered, "then I won't force her."

The room fell completely silent after hearing him.

Because even now- Rahul was thinking about Ishani before himself.

Devnath looked at him for a long moment before nodding slowly.

"Fine then," he said calmly. "We'll ask Ishani herself."

Then he turned toward Vaibhav.

"Come, beta."

Vaibhav silently nodded.

Everyone left for Ishani's house together.

Only Rahul stayed behind and Bhavya stayed too.

The house became unusually quiet after everyone left.

Rahul sat alone on the sofa, leaning forward slightly, both his hands covering his eyes. His heartbeat refused to calm down.

Every second, the same fear kept growing inside him-What if Ishani rejected him completely?

What if she hated him now?

Bhavya stood nearby silently, watching him.

After gathering courage, she finally spoke softly,"Rahul... I'm really sorry."

Rahul didn't move.

Bhavya lowered her eyes.

"I shouldn't have done this to you," she whispered painfully.

Silence.

"But what was I supposed to do?" her voice cracked slightly. "I couldn't watch you destroy yourself like that. Drinking every day... hurting yourself... living like someone who had already lost everything..."

Rahul slowly removed his hands from his face and looked at her quietly.

His eyes looked tired beyond words.

Then softly, unexpectedly, he said,

"I'm not angry with you, Bhavya."

Bhavya looked at him in complete shock.

"What...?" she whispered.

Rahul gave a faint, broken smile."Because you love me too."

Bhavya froze.

"And doing all this..." Rahul continued quietly, "must've broken your heart too."

Bhavya instantly went silent.

Her eyes slowly filled, but she couldn't say a single word.

Because Rahul was right.

She had hurt him... yet somewhere in the process, she had destroyed herself too.

Rahul looked at her silently for a long

moment.

Neither of them spoke after that.

On the way to Ishani's house, Rani remained completely silent.

But inside her mind, only one thought kept repeating again and again.

Please let Ishani refuse this marriage.

Because according to her, only then could everything return to normal.

Only then could Rahul be saved from a life she never wanted for him.

After some time, everyone reached Ishani's house.

The moment they entered, they saw

Ishani sitting quietly on the sofa with Ishaan in her lap, feeding him small bites patiently while he kept talking in his innocent childish voice.

For a second, the scene made the entire atmosphere softer.

Devnath looked at Ishani silently.

There was exhaustion on her face.

Pain in her eyes.

And yet... she was still taking care of

everyone around her before herself.

"Ishani, beta..." Devnath called gently.

Ishani immediately looked up.

The moment she saw everyone standing there together, nervousness instantly spread across her face.

She slowly stood up.

But then her eyes accidentally met Rani's.

And the coldness... the silent hatred in Rani's gaze... made Ishani's heart sink.

She quickly lowered her eyes.

"Yes, Uncle?" she asked quietly.

Devnath stepped forward calmly.

"I need to talk to you alone for a few minutes."

Ishani looked uncertainly toward Vaibhav.

Vaibhav understood her fear immediately and gave her a small reassuring nod."It's okay," he said softly.

Ishani slowly nodded. "Come, Uncle."

As soon as she took a step forward, Ishaan tightly held her dupatta in his tiny fist.

"Mumma..."His small voice instantly melted Ishani's expression.

Malini quickly came forward with a soft smile."Come to nani, Ishaan. Let mumma talk for two minutes."

But Ishaan refused to leave Ishani's dupatta.

Ishani bent down slightly and kissed his forehead lovingly."Mumma isn't going anywhere," she whispered gently. "Stay with nani till I come back, okay?"

After a few seconds, Ishaan slowly let go.

Ishani smiled weakly and walked toward her room while Devnath followed behind her.

The moment they entered the room, Devnath quietly observed everything around him.

The room was simple.

"Close the door, beta," Devnath said softly.

Ishani quietly obeyed.

Devnath sat down slowly on the edge of the bed and looked at her."Come sit."

Ishani hesitated for a moment before sitting beside him carefully, keeping a respectful distance.

The silence between them stretched for a few seconds.

Then Devnath sighed deeply.

"So many years have passed..." he murmured. "And yet I never truly sat down and talked to you properly."

Ishani gave a faint nod.

"How are you, beta?" he asked softly.

The question was simple.

But for some reason, Ishani's eyes instantly became emotional.

Still, she forced a small smile."I'm fine, Uncle."

Devnath looked at her for a long moment.

Then he smiled sadly."You know..." he whispered, "people who are truly fine don't answer that quickly."

Ishani lowered her eyes immediately.

Devnath's expression slowly turned serious."I'm sorry, Ishani."

She looked at him, confused."For what?"

Devnath took a deep breath."For not understanding your pain sooner."

Ishani stayed silent.

"And..." he continued carefully, "for the pressure Rani put on you to marry Karan."

Ishani's face changed instantly.

Shock spread through her eyes.

"How do you know that?" she whispered.

A tired smile appeared on Devnath's face."Because I know my wife very well."

Ishani quietly looked at him.

"Rani was scared," Devnath admitted honestly. "Scared because Rahul loves you far more than he should."

The moment Rahul's name came between them, Ishani's eyes filled immediately.

"She wanted to separate you from him before his feelings became impossible to control."

A tear slowly slipped down Ishani's cheek.

She quickly wiped it away.

Devnath noticed... but pretended not to."But don't misunderstand her," he said gently. "Rani's heart is not bad."

Ishani immediately nodded.

"I know."

"She loves you too," Devnath continued softly. "All these years, she treated you like her own daughter."

Ishani smiled weakly through tears.

"Yes..."

"But when it comes to accepting you as Rahul's wife..." Devnath paused painfully, "her thinking changes."

Ishani's fingers slowly tightened around her dupatta.

"She sees your age difference. Your first marriage. Your past." His voice lowered further. "The fact that you're a widow... and a mother."

Ishani silently looked down at the floor.

Devnath's eyes softened seeing her pain."She still belongs to an older mindset, beta," he whispered. "She doesn't hate you."

Then after a pause, he added quietly,

"She's just unable to separate your past from Rahul's future."

Devnath looked at Ishani quietly for a long moment before speaking again.

"But I don't think like Rani, beta."

Ishani slowly looked up at him.

"With time, people should move forward," he said gently. "And with time, people should learn to change too."

His voice carried warmth now, the warmth of a father who had finally decided to listen to his heart instead of society.

"And a girl like you..." he smiled faintly, "is more than worthy of my Rahul."

Ishani's eyes instantly filled again.

"Rahul has suffered a lot, Ishani," Devnath continued softly. "More than he ever shows anyone."

He paused before saying the next words carefully."And now... I just want him to find peace."

His eyes softened deeply."And I know only you can give him that peace."

Ishani looked down silently, tears slipping onto her hands.

"And my Rahul..." Devnath smiled emotionally, "he will keep you happy all his life. I know my son."

Ishani closed her eyes for a second

hearing those words.

For the first time since the marriage happened... someone was speaking about her relationship with Rahul with acceptance instead of guilt.

Then Devnath finally asked the question he had come there for.

"But I didn't come here to force you, beta."

Ishani looked at him quietly.

"I came to ask you one thing honestly."

He leaned slightly forward.

"Do you accept this marriage?"

The room fell silent.

"Do you want to stay with Rahul?" he asked softly. "Do you want to spend your life with him?"

A tear rolled down Ishani's cheek.

"But Aunty..." she whispered painfully, "Aunty will never accept this marriage, Uncle."

Devnath immediately shook his head.

"That doesn't matter right now."

Ishani looked at him in surprise.

"What matters is what you want," he said firmly. "Your answer will decide everything."

Then more gently, he asked again,

"Tell me, Ishani. I want to hear your decision from your own heart."

Ishani's lips trembled slightly.

For a few seconds, she stayed silent.

Then slowly... with tears continuously falling from her eyes... she whispered,

"Yes, Uncle..."

Devnath listened carefully.

"I accept this marriage," she said softly. "And... I accept Rahul as my husband."

The moment those words left her mouth, relief spread across Devnath's face.

A genuine smile finally appeared in his eyes. He slowly placed his hand over Ishani's head lovingly.

"You made the right decision, beta," he said emotionally.

Ishani broke down more after hearing that.

Devnath's voice softened further.

"I only want all the sorrow in your life to finally end now."

Ishani kept crying silently.

Then Devnath smiled lightly and wiped one of her tears like a father comforting his daughter.

"Enough tears now," he said gently. "Start preparing yourself to come to Rahul's home."

Ishani nodded slowly through her tears.

Devnath stood up and walked outside the room. The moment everyone looked at him anxiously, he smiled.

"Ishani has accepted the marriage."

Instantly, relief and happiness spread across everyone's faces.

Malini closed her eyes thankfully.

Vaibhav smiled emotionally.

Divya's eyes filled with relief.

Even deepak and Deeksha looked calmer after hearing it.

But among all of them-Rani remained completely silent.

Because her heart still refused to accept what everyone else had already begun accepting.

.........................................................................................................

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