I stared at the raindrops, wondering if they were the tears shed by the clouds because they knew that they could never meet the ocean. My gaze snapped to the cooker as it whistled before I turned the knob, extinguishing the flame.

I went to the fridge to take out milk before I froze as my mother's frantic voice echoed in the house,"Nandini! Safeeya Bhabhi!"

I snapped out of my thoughts, something falling after me as I ran to my Dadajaan's room, freezing at my mother looking at Dadajaan with tears dripping on her face as he coughed, gasping for breath. I picked up the phone from the bedside table, unshed tears filling my eyes as I dialled the emergency number to the hospital with shaky hands.

Everything turned into a blur as Tayimama and Cabir stepped in the room and a few minutes later, the sirens of an ambulance could be heard as Dadajaan was taken in for treatment.

I blinked my eyes, snapping out as Cabir held out a water bottle for me and realization dawned on me that I was in a waiting room as my back aches due to sitting for hours on the hard chair, while my mother sits on the chair opposite to mine with Tayimama.

I took it, opening the cap and taking small sips, gulping it down my parched throat and handing it over to him before asking,"Did doctors say anything?"

My shoulders slouched as I blinked my eyes when Cabir shook his head. I nodded, my head pressing against the wall as I felt slight pounding in my head, as negative thoughts ran rampant in my mind.

I looked at the door as Tayajaan, Abbu and Chachu entered with frowns marring their forehead in concern. Tayaji went to Tayijaan, while Abbu moved to Ammi and Chachu came to Cabir, asking about the situation and took a seat beside me.

Everyone got up as the doctor entered the room, his expression neutral as he looked around before he said to Tayaji, "He is stable for now. But, he had a heart attack and we don't think he will be able to pull through due to his age. He has a few hours left and would require you saying your goodbyes."

Silence prevailed in the room as the doctor handed over the prescription to Tayaji before he expressed his apology and excused himself. Ammi and Tayimama's cries filled the room while Tayajaan kept his expression intact, but my Abbu and Chachu had tears pricking their eyes.

I wiped away the tears spilling through my eyes, as we moved to the hospital room where he was admitted. As the door opened, Dadajaan opened his heavy lidded eyes, smiling slightly at us, his expression peaceful as if he was ready to leave behind, finally quenching his thirst of uniting with Dadima after two decades of separation. I breathed out a sigh as everyone hugged him before following suit.

He pressed a kiss at the top of my head, his hand soothingly running through my hair before the door opened and the rest of my cousins flooded in, well, except for one. Everyone bid their goodbyes, but Dadajaan continued to stare at the door expectedly.

"I have called him. He is on his way," Tayajaan said, breaking the silence and we all breathed a sigh of relief as our eldest cousin who is, by the way, our Dadajaan's favorite because since his childhood days he had spent countless hours with him.

His eyes flickered around and everyone in turn at him because they couldn't help it. At five feet nine inches with raven hair and toned body, wearing black jeans paired with black shirt with sleeves rolled up till his elbows, showcasing the veins popping on his arms, made him a sight for sore eyes. The beard and the dimples, which occasionally presented themselves, lightened up his dominating aura.

Manik Riaz.

Dadajaan's smile stretched into a big smile, his eyes twinkling as Manik moved towards his bed. He hugged Manik, hitting him on his back before pulling away and silence prevailed before Dadajaan said to him,"Puttar, mere jaane se pehle sirf ek aakhri khwahish thi ki mai aapka rishta karvake jau kyuki hame malum hai ki aap ne kabhi nikkah nahi karna kyon ki aap kisi aur ki sunte hi nahi."

Manik opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Dadajaan when he continued, his voice slightly decreasing as he blinked his eyes in tiredness,"Humne aapke liye bahut waqt se ek ladki pasand kar rakhi hai aur ghar ke saare bade bhi hamare iss faisle se raazi hai."

I watched from the corner of my eye with a frown as Phupho's face lit up with a smile as she looked towards her daughter, Razia, who was blushing with her head bowed down. Phupho had been insisting on Dadajaan and Tayimama for Manik's nikkah with Razia, although the latter didn't give their answer yet. Maybe they might have taken the decision in the past few days.

I snapped out of my thoughts, as Manik nodded and asked,"Who is it?"

Dadajaan's eyes shifted to his parents, who gave him a smile before they shifted to my parents, who nodded in assurance and I held my breath as his eyes held mine, making Manik turn around in surprise as Dadajaan said,"Nandini."

•◇•◇•◇•

I opened my mouth then closed it as all the attention in the room turned to me. My breath hitched as my eyes clashed with Manik's, who was staring at me without giving away much of his feelings before he turned to Dadajaan without a word.

"Ammi," I said, my voice slightly shaking,"Can I talk to you privately for a moment?"

Ammi nodded. I could feel everyone's eyes on my back as we both stepped out of the room and took my mother to the corner and whisper yelled,"What is this, Ammi? How could you take such a decision without my consent?"

"Nandini, meri jaan, calm down," Ammi said, cupping my cheeks as she wiped the tears that I didn't realize were flowing down my cheeks,"You know Manik since childhood, and how good natured he is. Moreover, you know that your Abbu hasn't been doing financially well and he is worried sick of how he will marry you in a well to do family. Please don't reject this rishta. He will treat you like a queen."

I let out a shaky breath and whispered,"You go in. I need some minutes to decide."

She nodded and kissed my forehead before walking in, closing the door after her. I released a breath, placing my head at the back of the wall as my thoughts were running rampant as I thought of how it would be to marry a man who expresses himself with a few words since childhood, and whose rich and throaty laugh rarely grants us with its presence. Then I thought about the respect and love he showers on his parents and everyone around us, even though he is slightly Khadoos. Though, I don't think I had it in me to decline a dying man's wish. I breathed out, sending a short prayer before entering in.

•◇•◇•◇•

Everyone stared at me, their lips stretching into a smile as I nodded before Manik sighed and accepted the decision while I averted my eyes downwards, still unable to comprehend the sudden change my life was about to take.

After that everything turned into a blur and soon, I watched Manik sighing at the bottom of the Nikah Nama before the papers were handed over to me. My shaky hands held the pen, swallowing as I sighed my name at the bottom of the paper, and tying my fate to a man who still felt like a mystery even after living under the same roof for years.

The hospital room filled with the chorus of 'Mubarak's' and we took Dadajaan's blessings, and he smiled at both of us as he said,"Hum hazir nahi hoyenge. Lekin hum chahte hai ki aap apna Nikah dhum dham se manaye ki pure shehar koh pata chale ke Riaz khandan ki sabse badi bahu aayi hai."

We both nodded and stepped back, moving towards our elders while the environment turning jovial, forgetting the grief that was coming about as everyone congratulated us and planned about the upcoming wedding in the house. Everyone was so lost in the small bubble of happiness for a moment, that they fogot about two women who were eyeing us, cursing our fate and the happiness of a journey that didn't even begin yet.

Thank you for reading!

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