Sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves.

Nandini's POV,

I woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains, blinking away the remnants of sleep. As I shifted, I noticed Ansh still curled up beside me, his little hand clutching mine as he slept peacefully, his tiny snores barely audible. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him, his cherubic face so serene and innocent. Gently, I leaned in and kissed his forehead, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me.

But as I pulled away, the smile faltered, and reality hit me hard. Today wasn't going to be easy. My thoughts immediately drifted to the people who were coming to meet me-people who would judge me, look me up and down, decide my worth in a matter of minutes, and expect me to somehow be... what? A perfect match for some stranger?

I tried to push the thought away. It's just a meeting. That's all. Just a casual meeting, and then I'll reject them. No big deal.

But then the doubt crept in. What if Dad pushes me into something? What if he decides for me, and I have no choice but to comply? What if this is one of those situations where I say no, but the decision is already made for me?

I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that churned in my stomach. If my father decided something, nothing and no one could change his mind.

I sighed, sitting up on the bed and carefully removing my hand from Ansh's grip so I wouldn't wake him. I grabbed the pillow next to me and placed it gently beside him, tucking him in a little more. He barely stirred, his little face still relaxed in a peaceful slumber. I smiled again, but it was bittersweet.

Shaking off my thoughts, I stood and went into the bathroom, trying to freshen up. The pressure was mounting, and it felt suffocating. After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and forced myself to take it one step at a time. Get through today, Nandini. It's just lunch and a meeting. Nothing more.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Ansh sitting up on the bed, rubbing his eyes. He looked so adorable, his messy hair sticking up in all directions, his small features still sleepy. My heart melted. I sat down beside him, my fingers brushing through his hair as I kissed his head.

"Good morning, Choco Pie," I said softly, my voice laced with affection.

He smiled sleepily and threw his little arms around me in a hug. "Good morning, Bua," he mumbled, still half asleep.

I couldn't help but laugh. "When did you wake up, huh? I asked, ruffling his hair.

He pulled back slightly, blinking up at me, and then said, "Five minutes ago... maybe ten? I don't know."

I chuckled at him, but just as I opened my mouth to say something else, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I called out, my heart still heavy with thoughts of the day ahead.

The door opened, and in walked Prisha Bhabhi, with a soft smile on her face. As soon as Ansh saw her, his face lit up, and he practically leaped into her arms.

"Mumma!" he squealed, hugging her tightly.

She chuckled, her voice full of warmth. "Did you sleep well, my little one?" she asked, smoothing his hair back gently.

"I did, Mumma! I didn't trouble Bua," Ansh said, looking up at her with a proud smile.

Bhabhi raised an eyebrow and glanced over at me, a teasing smile on her lips. "Is that true, Nandini? He was a good boy?"

I nodded with a grin. "He was perfect. No trouble at all," I said, my voice light, even though I could feel the tension creeping back into my chest.

"Good boy," she said to Ansh, kissing him on the cheek. "Now, come on. Let's get you ready for the day. You have a school picnic today."

Ansh groaned playfully but allowed her to help him get up from the bed. She turned to me and added, "Breakfast is ready. Why don't you come down when you're ready?"

"Sure," I replied, managing a small smile.

As Ansh left the room with her, I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment longer, trying to steady my racing heart. The reality of the situation was sinking in deeper. I had to meet these people today, whether I liked it or not. What would they be like? Would they judge me? Would they expect me to fall in line with whatever my father wanted?

I couldn't let myself spiral into that panic. Stay calm. You've been through worse. This is just a meeting. Nothing more.

I stood and took a deep breath, pulling myself together. I couldn't afford to fall apart today, not with everything happening around me. I quickly changed into something comfortable and headed downstairs for breakfast.

As I entered the kitchen, I was greeted by the familiar scent of eggs and toast. But even that couldn't calm the storm brewing inside me.

"Morning, Nandini!" Mom greeted me cheerfully, setting a plate down in front of me. "I hope you're feeling better this morning."

I forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, Mom."

She smiled, but I noticed the slight hesitation in her eyes, as though she were waiting for something-waiting for me to say something, maybe to express excitement about the meeting. But I didn't. Instead, I picked up my fork, trying to focus on the food in front of me.

"Ansh is already getting ready," she continued her voice light. "It's a good thing he's so excited about you being here."

I didn't respond right away, instead focusing on my plate. The conversation drifted, and I found myself lost in my thoughts again.

I kept running over the same scenarios in my head. The meeting would go fine, right? I could meet them, make small talk, and then make my excuses. That was the plan. But if my father pushed me into something more-if he insisted on me saying yes to something I didn't want-how could I escape that?

I quickly finished my breakfast, barely noticing what I had eaten. It was time to face the day, and no amount of thinking would change it.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly out of the window. The world outside seemed calm and peaceful-a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. My fingers absentmindedly traced the embroidery on the cushion I held in my lap. No matter how hard I tried, my mind kept racing back to the inevitable: meeting the so-called "potential groom" my father had chosen for me.

The knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and Prisha Bhabhi stepped in, her face bright and cheerful as always. She carried a neatly folded saree in her hands, its soft blue fabric shimmering under the light.

"This," she said, holding the saree up, "is what you're wearing today."

I sighed, already feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me. "Bhabhi, I-"

"Shh," she interrupted with a wave of her hand. "No excuses. You're wearing this, and that's final."

I let out a resigned sigh and stood up, knowing there was no use arguing with her. She walked over to me, placed the saree on the bed, and motioned for me to sit down in front of the mirror.

As I sat, she began gathering my hair, brushing it gently. "You know," she said, her tone light, "you're going to look stunning in this. Everyone downstairs is going to be speechless."

I chuckled bitterly, my reflection in the mirror showing the faintest hint of a smile. "Bhabhi, they're not coming to admire my looks. They're coming to evaluate me, like some sort of product on display."

Her hands paused for a moment before she continued working on my hair. "Nandini, that's not true. They're coming to meet you. And who knows, maybe this guy-"

"Don't," I said, cutting her off. "Don't start with the 'what if he's your soulmate' speech. We both know how my luck with family decisions has been so far."

She sighed, setting the brush down and meeting my eyes in the mirror. "Nandini, you have to stop thinking like that. Not every decision made by your family is going to ruin your life."

I turned to face her, my eyes narrowing. "Really? Do I need to remind you of what happened when they decided to send me to New York? Or when they blamed me for things I didn't even do? Tell me, where in all of that was my well-being considered? Nothing is hidden from you Bhabhi"

She looked at me, her eyes soft with understanding, but also a hint of determination. "I'm not saying they've always been right, Nandini. But not every situation has to end in disaster. Sometimes... sometimes things happen for a reason. What if this guy turns out to be different? What if he's the one who makes everything better?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "The one who makes everything better? Please, Bhabhi. Let's not romanticize this. My life isn't a fairytale, and I'm certainly not waiting for some knight in shining armor to come and save me."

She placed her hands on my shoulders, squeezing them gently. "I'm not asking you to believe in fairytales, Nandini. I'm just asking you to be open to the possibility that not everything has to be bad. Maybe-just maybe-something good could come out of this."

I looked down, unable to meet her gaze. "It's hard to believe that when you've been let down so many times."

She knelt in front of me, taking my hands in hers. "I know you've been hurt, Nandini. And I know you're scared. But you're not alone in this. I'm here, Rudraksh is here, and even Ansh. We're all rooting for you."

I smiled faintly, squeezing her hands back. "You always know what to say to make me feel better, don't you?"

"It's my superpower," she said with a grin, standing up and grabbing the saree. "Now, let's get you dressed. You've got people to charm today."

"People to reject, you mean," I muttered under my breath, earning a playful glare from her.

She helped me drape the saree, her hands working with practiced ease. The fabric was soft against my skin, its blue hues bringing a warmth I hadn't expected. She stepped back, admiring her handiwork, before moving on to do my makeup.

As she worked, I found myself relaxing a little. Something was calming about having someone fuss over me, even if it was for something I didn't want to do.

"There," she said finally, stepping back to admire the finished look. "You look... perfect."

I glanced at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me. The soft curls framing my face, the subtle makeup highlighting my features, the elegant drape of the saree-it was all so... not me.

She must have noticed the uncertainty in my expression because she placed her hands on my shoulders again. "You're beautiful, Nandini. Inside and out. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise."

I smiled weakly, my nerves returning in full force. "I hope you're right, Bhabhi."

She smiled and kissed the top of my head. "I'm always right. Now, take a deep breath and relax. Everything's going to be fine."

She picked up the scattered makeup brushes and headed for the door. "I'll be downstairs helping Ma with the last-minute preparations. If you need anything, just call me, okay?"

I nodded, watching as she left the room. The door clicked shut, and suddenly, the room felt too quiet.

I sat back down on the bed, my hands gripping the edge of the mattress. My mind was racing again, filled with doubts and fears. Prisha Bhabhi's words had been comforting, but they hadn't erased the anxiety bubbling inside me.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. It's just one meeting, Nandini. Just one. You've faced worse before, and you'll get through this too.

But even as I tried to convince myself, the unease lingered. Because deep down, I knew this wasn't just another meeting. This felt like the beginning of something I wasn't ready for.

Nandini's POV ends.

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Kiara ❤️❤️