Aarna's POV:

After the pooja was over, Daksha Akka hugged us and went along with Arjun Bava. My dad and pedda nanna(father's older brother)already left the temple.

While holding the hand of Advith, I was about to get into the car along with Yuktha Akka and Rishu but Indra Anna stopped me.

I told Advith to go to his mother to which he agreed and went to Sadhvi Vadhina. After he left, I looked at my brother.

"Dad asked me to bring you along with me." He informed me.

"Why..?" I asked him to which he shrugged his shoulders.

"Wait here then. I will inform Yuktha Akka and come." I told him and went to Yuktha Akka to inform the same. After informing her, I came back to Anna.

We both went to his house. After reaching there, I got down from the car and went inside the house while Anna was parking the car.

Peddamma was sitting in the living room and talking to someone over the phone.

"Where is pedda nanna..?" I went to her and asked her in a low voice to which she mouthed me that he was in the study room.

Indra Anna too came inside and followed me to the study room. We both were about to enter the room but I held his hand to stop him from entering after hearing their conversation.

"Now Daksha is married and she still has Yuktha and Aarushi with her. But what about when they both will also get married in the future. She just can't live outside or in your house forever..right. She has to have her own family and a home to call as her own. That's why I took this decision. I already failed in mending the relationship between her and her mother and I don't want to fail as a father too." My dad said to my pedda nanna.

"I understand your concern..Eeshwar. She is my daughter too. I agree with you. Do what you feel is right. I liked that match. We will convince her together. I am sure, she will agree with it." Pedda nanna replied to my dad.

After hearing their conversation, I got a clear understanding of what they were talking about. I tightened my hold on Anna's hand while biting my lips anxiously.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen against your will. I will make sure of that." He assured me after realizing my inner turmoil.

After saying this, he stormed inside.

"Babaay(dad's younger brother). I understand your concerns for her but I don't want her to get married this early. If she is a burden to you, I am glad to take care of her. Just don't impose your decisions on her." He told my dad in a heated tone.

"Indra..mind your words and tone." Pedda nanna shouted at him.

I immediately went inside to stop him from saying something hurtful to my dad and to prevent the argument that was going to break down between them.

"She is never a burden to me..Indra and you know it too. I would be glad to take care of her my whole life. If she stays in front of my eyes, I don't have to worry so much about her well being, since I am going to be there to take care of her. But ask her, will she come and stay in her house.? Aaru, will you come and stay in that house from now on..?" He asked me in a sardonic tone to which I looked down and shook my head slowly.

"See. She never agrees to stay there. You don't know what I am going through. I always want to keep my family happy, still, there are so many disturbances. Radhika became a stranger to her own daughter. Aaru became a guest in her own house and I became a mere silent spectator." He said and removed his glasses to rub the tears in his eyes and continued.

" I am not imposing my decisions on her. I will proceed with this proposal only if she agrees with it. I just want her to have a own family. I agree, you will take care of her but for how long..? Most importantly, we don't need to take care of her. She can earn on her own with her qualification and can live her life happily but it will be a lonely life and at the expense, where we all have to worry about her safety and well being." My dad looked at me and I turned my face aside to cover my tears.

"I never took any wrong decision in her life. Trust me in this decision too. I will be glad if you agree to this marriage. She isn't going to marry any outsider. He is Shekar's son and your friend. Are you still going to deny it now..?" He asked my brother to which he shook his head in defeat.

"I am sorry for my earlier words. It isn't my intention to hurt you..babaay. I know it is a good match but still, you know about his situation..right. Then how can you ask your daughter to marry him.? I agree..he is my friend and I want him to move on from his past but not at the cost of my sister. Call me selfish. She is a girl who lives happily in her own world. I just don't want to put her in a complicated situation." He said and I didn't understand his words even a bit.

"Indra..she is lucky to have a brother like you. I am glad that you took her side instead of your friend. But I will ask her some questions. Then all your worries will be washed away with her answers." My dad told him and turned to me. He placed a hand and caressed my head lovingly.

"Aaru..Are you really happy or are you pretending to be happy.? Do you always smile naturally or do you use it as a shield to cover your pain.?" He asked me and I looked down, not knowing what to answer him.

"Tell me. dear," He lifted my head and made me look at him and it was the last straw. I immediately hugged him and broke down on his chest.

"Silly girl. I know what you are going through. Do you think a father will be so ignorant to even notice the pain of his children..? I know how much you love your mom and I also know the reason why you never stay with us. If you stay there, you fear that by any chance her hatred for you might increase." I cried even more after hearing his words. What he has said is so true. That's my ultimate fear. That's why I never even tried to go in front of her.

"But can I tell you something.? She never hates you and in fact, loves you a lot. The problem is she doesn't know how to express it and never even tried to show it because of your innocent mistake back then." He said and I immediately looked up to his face.

"Really..? Is it really true.? She doesn't hate me as I believe." I asked him in a hopeful voice.

"Yes, dear. She doesn't. In fact, she agreed to this marriage after a lot of persuasion from my side, that too unwillingly. I am not saying these things to mend your broken relationship in a day. I just want to clarify your misconception. At least you will be happy knowing that your mother is not hating you. Finally coming to this marriage. Are you okay with it.? If you aren't, I will immediately make a call to Shekar and say that it is a 'No' from our side." He asked me.

Though he said those words, I know he will be so happy if I agreed to this marriage. He is the person I admired the most and I know he won't take any wrong decision in my life. I can trust him with my life. So I told him the answer which he desired to hear.

"I agree with this marriage," I told him about my decision. He immediately hugged me and wiped my tears.

"Are you sure..? Aaru..you don't have to agree to this marriage just for my sake." He asked me in confirmation and I nodded at him firmly in an assuring manner.

"Aaru..think carefully before making the decision." My Anna pleaded to me but I already came to a decision.

"I gave it a lot of thought..Anna. Don't worry." I told him and he huffed out aloud.

"Hope you won't regret this decision." After saying this, he stormed out angrily and I knew, I would have a hard time convincing him.

Dhruv's POV:

I entered my house tiredly after having a typical day. In the living room, my dad was talking gleefully with someone over the phone but when he saw me, he masked it with a solemn expression and ended the call.

As for my mom, it was a different story. She sat on the couch with huge trolley luggage bags around her.

'Are they planning to go somewhere.?' I thought in my brain and gestured my sister about the same. She shrugged in return.

I just shook my head. Ignoring everyone, I marched towards the stairs but my dad stopped me in the middle.

"Dhruv, we have something to tell you," He said. I went back to him and nodded unsurely at him to continue.

"We found a suitable match for you and you are getting married." He said as a final say.

"What the hell!" I thought in my mind.

"We already had this discussion. You know very well that I don't want to marry anyone." I told him solemnly to which he sighed in return.

"Then I am leaving this house," Out of nowhere, my mom said this. After that, she took the luggage into her hands and marched towards the main door.

My dad and my sister followed her to stop her from going. So this was the reason for all this set-up. Thinking it as one of her dramas, I sighed and turned around to leave for my room.

"See. He doesn't care whether I stay here or not. What are you both convincing me for.? Let me live my life peacefully." She shouted at them and called the driver to put the luggage in the car. After that she went outside, followed by Aadhya and Dad.

'Is she really serious.?" I turned on my heels and went outside. I saw that she was really leaving and about to get in the car.

Aadhya was on the verge of crying, seeing her so serious about leaving and Dad stood aside watching everything silently.

I immediately went to her and held her hand before she could get in the car.

"Leave my hand,Dhruv." She said in a serious tone.

"No, maa and you aren't going anywhere," I told calmly.

"Why.? And who are you to stop me.? Just leave my hand. I will go away from you and you can live your life peacefully without any of my naggings." She said and tried to wriggle out of my hold. I didn't budge a little.

"Dhruv..will you leave me or not.?" She asked me with tears in her eyes.

Seeing this, I left my hold on her and she immediately got into the car and asked the driver to start driving.

Aadhya immediately held on to me and started crying.

"Anna, She is really going." She said this while sobbing.

I immediately marched to the driver's side and removed the car keys from the keyhole. After that, I went to my mom and looked at her through the car window after bending down a little.

"I agree with this marriage," I told her after a lot of struggle.

"I don't believe you." She said without turning her face to me.

"I promise ma. I will marry that girl whom you and dad have chosen for me." I said in a low voice.

"Can I trust you.? Promise me that you won't back down from this marriage for any reason." She asked me without any expression on her face.

"Yes. I promise to never back down from this marriage. Can you come inside now.?" I asked her. She sighed and got down from the car.

The driver was taking down the luggage from the car. I told him that I would take care of it and asked him to take his leave.

After he left, I lifted the luggage with my hands and I was astonished by the fact that the luggage was so light. So I immediately opened one of the luggage bags and saw that it was empty.

I immediately marched into the living room angrily and asked my mom.

"Why is the luggage empty.? Did you do all this drama just to make me agree with this marriage.?" I asked her in irritation.

"Yeah. What will you do now.? Are you going to break your promise.? " She asked me smugly and Dad stifled his laughter. I sighed and looked at Aadhya.

"Are you also part of this drama..?" I asked her and she immediately shook her head in denial.

After hearing her answer, I immediately stormed upstairs and reached my room. I shut the door with a loud thud and went directly to the washroom to get a bath with the cool water to calm myself.

After freshening up, I came out of the washroom and plopped myself on the bed.

"Dhruv.. You promised yourself that you won't fall for her drama yet you did. What a great day. Not once, you got fooled twice on the same day." I thought in my mind and closed my eyes with the thoughts of my unpredictable future.

Finally, they agreed on the marriage. Let's see what's the future holds for them.

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