Karan's POV
I was too nervous to go to work today, so I took a day off. I kept thinking about one thing—what my sister's answer would be.
A pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. Priya.
"Why are you stressing so much?" she asked gently, resting her head on my back. "Madhu will definitely say yes."
I turned around and wrapped my arms around her. "How do you know? Did she tell you anything?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. She didn't tell me—and she won't tell anyone. Not even Vasu. But I have a feeling she loves him. She's holding herself back because she's worried about you, Vasu, Sharadha Aunty, and our parents."
I sighed and rested my forehead against hers. "You're probably right. She always thinks about others before herself."
Just then, my phone rang.
Priya glanced at the time. "It's time to pick up Meenu," she said.
"I'll come," I replied.
"No," she said firmly. "You stay here. They need you more than Meenu does right now."
Reluctantly, I agreed.
A while later, when Priya's car returned, I stepped outside. The moment Meenu saw me, she screamed, "Daddy!" and ran into my arms. I lifted her up, smiling as she excitedly told me about her day.
Then my eyes fell on something that made me freeze.
Vasu's car.
"What the hell is Vasu's car doing here?" I muttered.
"Daddy, no bad words," Meenu scolded me seriously.
"Sorry, princess," I said. "Your future uncle doesn't have a brain."
Priya looked at me, panic in her eyes. "Why is Vasu's car here? If he's home… then where is Madhu?"
I handed Meenu to Priya. "Take her inside. I'll deal with this."
I called Vasu. No answer.
I called Madhu. No answer.
"I swear I'm going to kill that idiot," I muttered and started walking toward his house.
Just then, my phone rang.
Vasu.
"Yeah, buddy," he said casually.
I exploded. I asked where he was, whether he had confessed, and why his car was parked at home.
He laughed. "Relax. I'm at home. See for yourself."
He pulled back the curtains—and there he was, calm and relaxed.
Then I heard it.
"Vasu! How long will you be on the call?"
Madhu's voice.
My heart stopped.
"I'm coming, Madhu!" he replied.
I froze.
"She's with you?" I asked quietly.
"Yes, buddy," he said. "She said yes. I'll talk to you later—my girl is waiting."
The call ended.
I just stood there, stunned… then smiled.
They finally made it.
I went back inside. Everyone was sitting in the living room. Priya rushed to me.
"Did you talk to Vasu? Where is Madhu?" she asked.
I smiled.
She narrowed her eyes. "Why are you smiling?"
I held her hands. "Why don't we leave them alone for now?"
She froze. Then slowly smiled. "It's a yes… isn't it?"
I nodded.
She hugged me tightly, laughing. "That stupid girl! Why did she take so long?"
I informed my parents and Sharadha Ma. Everyone was overjoyed.
Suddenly, Talia burst in. "Where is Madhu? She's not answering my calls!"
I smiled at her. "Relax. When she comes home, hug her tightly."
She frowned. "What are you saying?"
"She said yes to Vasu."
Talia screamed and jumped in happiness.
My phone rang again—Vasu.
He asked for one last favor: to prank Madhu by pretending we were against their relationship.
I warned him, "If she breaks, I'll break you."
He promised he'd handle it.
I sighed, looking at my family.
Everything was finally falling into place.
Karan's POV
At first, everyone thought Vasu's plan was a bad idea. But in the end, one thing mattered more than anything else—Madhu's happiness. So they agreed.
Still, there was worry.
What if Madhu couldn't handle it?
What if she broke, thinking both families were against her?
I reassured them. "Vasu will be with her. He won't let her fall."
We were all sitting in the living room when the doorbell rang.
My mother stood up.
My heart skipped.
"Pappa… it's them," I whispered, sitting beside my father.
He closed his eyes briefly. "God, please give my daughter the strength to handle her mother."
"I hear you, Pappa," I whispered back with a wink.
Then I sighed dramatically.
"My sister is dead."
Madhu's POV
When my mother questioned me, my words tangled instantly.
"Sorry, Mamma… I… I got—"
She raised her hand, stopping me.
"Come inside. Both of you."
And she walked away.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned to Vasu. He squeezed my hand gently, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.
"It's okay," he said calmly. "We can handle this. Come on."
He even chuckled.
I didn't understand how he could be so relaxed when my legs were shaking. But I forced myself to walk inside.
The moment I entered the living room, everyone stared at me.
"What?" I asked nervously, placing my handbag on the table.
"Why is everyone staring at me?"
Silence.
Even Talia said nothing.
Something was very wrong.
"What is going on between you and Vasu?" my mother asked.
My heart skipped a beat.
I looked at her. Then at Vasu.
He was standing in the corner—calm, steady—nodding slightly at me and giving me a small wink.
How can he be this calm? I thought. I'm dying here.
"Enough drama," my mini-me snapped. "Just say it."
I took a deep breath.
"Okay," I said softly. "I want to tell you all something important."
My mother crossed her arms. "What is it?"
I cleared my throat. "Well… this isn't something that started recently."
Before I could continue, Talia yawned loudly.
"Sweetheart," she said lazily, "can you just say it already? I'm really sleepy."
I sighed inwardly.
Of all moments… this is when she chooses beauty sleep.
God help me.
"Beta, can you tell us what is going on?" my father asked, his tone calm—but the calm was worse than anger.
Before I could answer, the questions came flooding in, one after another.
"What happened?"
"What do you want to tell us?"
"What is going on?"
"Are you in love with someone?"
"What is going on between you and Vasu?"
The room began to spin.
It felt like I was drowning—air thinning, chest tightening, my thoughts slipping through my fingers. My vision blurred at the edges.
Don't screw this up, my mini-me warned sharply.
Think straight. You can handle this.
"Just stop it!" I shouted suddenly, standing in the middle of the living room.
"Everyone—just stop!"
The room fell silent.
My breathing broke apart, sharp and uneven. Panic crashed over me, fast and brutal.
Talia was beside me instantly. "Sweetheart, look at me," she said softly, rubbing my back. "Breathe in… now out."
She handed me a glass of water.
"No… I don't want—" I gasped.
My eyes found Vasu.
The pain in his face—the fear, the helplessness—grounded me more than anything else. I focused on him. On his steady presence. On his silent strength.
Slowly, my breathing eased.
Talia guided me to the sofa. I sat there trembling, my face buried in my palms, fighting the urge to fall apart completely.
After a moment, I stood up again.
"Listen," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "I want to tell you all something. It's about—"
"About what, sister?" my brother cut in.
He's not my brother right now. He's just a dumbass, my mind snapped.
"Just shut up!" I snapped back. "Let me finish."
Tell them now, my mini-me urged.
Don't run.
I took a deep breath and lifted my head.
"It's about me and Vasu," I said.
Every heartbeat thundered in my ears.
"Me and Vasu love each other," I continued. "It hasn't been happening for a long time. We confessed our feelings… just a few hours ago."
I closed my eyes.
This was it.
The storm.
The war.
I braced myself.
But nothing happened.
No shouting.
No accusations.
No slap.
No disappointment.
Silence.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Everyone was quiet.
Even my mother.
"Since when have you two been in love, beta?" my father asked gently.
I turned to him and told him everything—how we had held back, how we chose silence over selfishness, how we were terrified of hurting the family.
Throughout it all, Vasu didn't say a word.
He didn't step forward.
He didn't interrupt.
And that hurt more than I expected.
Then my mother spoke.
"What if we don't agree with your relationship, Madhu?"
My chest tightened. I turned toward her, forcing myself not to cry.
"I expected this, Mamma," I said softly.
Then, with a faint smile that hurt my face, I added, "I will wait."
I felt my father's eyes on me.
"I'm sorry, Pappa," I said, my voice breaking. "I know you didn't expect this from me. I wanted to—"
He stood up before I could finish.
"Come on, beta," he said gently, holding my hands. "It's nothing."
"Sorry, Papa," I confessed, staring at the floor. "I wanted to talk to you first… but when Mamma asked, I had to say it."
My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
"Let's… talk here itself," I whispered. "Please."
Sweat trickled down my spine.
I had never spoken to my father like this.
Never stood this bare in front of him.
And then—
Everything went dark.