"What will happen now?" Mitali bhabi asked.

"I think we should get Aryan and Shahana married. That's the best solution we have." Abhi suggested.

"I will not let my son marry that girl!" Alia said stubbornly.

"It's not the time for your stupid prejudices. I support Abhi." Purab said impatiently.

"Ask Pragya first. She may not agree with you." Alia thought that Pragya would decline accepting the marriage proposal.

Everyone looked at Pragya for her answer. She was confused. She couldn't decide which was the safer option.

"Pragya, say something. You are Shahana's sole guardian and your decision is important." Abhi urged her to speak.

"Di, please say yes. It's a sign from God. Even destiny wants to unite them. If you have ever considered me as your brother, you will not say no." Purab whispered.

After this, Pragya couldn't deny. She gave her approval for their marriage.

"Do whatever you want but I won't accept that girl as my daughter-in-law. " Alia declared and stormed out of the room.

-----

Shahana and Aryan were given tranquilizers so that they don't freak out due to the turn of events. So, they didn't have the opportunity to react.

Aryan was still sleeping in his room when Purab came to wake him up.

"Wake up Aryan. The haldi ceremony will start in a few hours." Purab said shaking him.

"Dad.....I'm not the groom, go and wake Ranbir up. Let me sleep for a few minutes more." he said groggily.

Purab understood that his mind hadn't still registered the fact of his marriage.

"Aryan, get up. It's your marriage too."  he reminded.

"What!?" Aryan yelled in surprise and sat up with a jerk. Slowly, the incidents of the day before came flooding to his mind.

"Here's your dress. Get ready and come down soon." he handed him a bag and left.

Thinking about Shahana's reaction, he went to the washroom to finish his morning chores.

On the other hand, Pragya went to Shahana's room to find her sleeping peacefully. She sat down beside her and caressed her head. This woke Shahana up.

"Good morning Shahana. Feeling better?" she asked gently.

"Good morning maasi." she greeted back and nodded her head in answer to the question.

"I know it's too sudden and difficult for you, but you have to accept the reality that you are going to get married to Aryan today." she said.

"But maasi, the promise....... Please believe me, we didn't do anything. I don't have the least idea how we ended up together in the room." Shahana said frantically.

"I know that you are innocent but the society won't understand. As I was the one who asked you to stay away from him, I am ordering you to stay with him forever. Now enough of these talks, get ready soon and here's your dress." Pragya said and went out to check the arrangements.

Shahana sat staring at the dress in her hand. How was she supposed to marry the same person whom she had been avoiding till yesterday?

-----

"Why are you so tensed, bro?" Ranbir, who was checking out himself in the mirror asked Aryan who was sitting with a poker face.

"Bro, I'm about to get married in a few hours and you are asking me why am I tensed?" he said unbelievably.

"What's the great deal in it? Even I'll get married today. I'm rather glad that Prachi will be only mine forever after today." Ranbir said while humming a tune to himself.

"But, it's different. You are getting married to your girlfriend while I didn't even ask Shahana's consent for this marriage. She is being forced to get married to me." he said sadly.

"We know that you like her and I guess she likes you too. So, don't worry much."

"She doesn't likes me. Didn't you notice that she didn't even glance at me once during the haldi ceremony."

"Is it so? I was busy staring at Prachi. She was looking damn beautiful today. I wonder if I will survive the ecstasy of seeing her in a bridal dress." Ranbir said, floating to his Prachi-land gradually.

Aryan didn't say anything further as he didn't want to spoil his best friend's wedding.

-----

"Come on, a bit of make up won't hurt either of you." Rhea said with a pout.

She was in charge of making both her sisters get ready for the wedding. She was trying to persuade them to let the makeup artists apply a bit more make up on their face.

After a lot of persuasion, argument and tantrums, finally, they were ready.

"You look the prettiest brides. Wait till Ranbir and Aryan see you." Rhea smiled. "Sit here quietly while I get ready in my room and don't dare to wipe any of the make up." she threatened before going.

"What's up? Why are you looking so glum?" Prachi turned towards Shahana when they were alone.

"I.....I'm sorry for spoiling your wedding." Shahana said sorrowfully.

"Why are you apologizing when you are not at fault? I'm rather happy that we will marry together." Prachi said assuringly.

"But, Aryan doesn't like me. He has agreed to marry me under pressure." Shahana shared her worry.

"Both of you should talk about this matter as soon as possible. Till then, think this as an arranged marriage." Prachi advised.

Prachi's words gave a little ray of hope to Shahana.

-----

"Please bring in the brides." the priest instructed.

Rhea went to bring Prachi and Shahana. As they descended down the stairs, everyone could not help but admire how beautiful they looked.

Ranbir was shamelessly gaping at Prachi like an idiot. Aryan fared no better. He was hypnotized by her beauty. Although he knew he was being selfish, he could not help but thank God once that the beautiful bride was only his.

A smack on the head from Vikram and Purab brought them back to the reality. Ranbir grinned while Aryan looked away.

Prachi and Shahana were made to stand in front of their respective grooms. All four of them were handed garlands.

During the exchange of garlands, Aryan tried to guess Shahana's thoughts by seeing her expression, but she was looking down the entire time.

The priest instructed them to sit down and called the brides' father for the Kanyadaan. 

"Who will do Shahana's kanyadaan? She has no father........" Mitali bhabi whispered audibly to Alia.

"I will. If Shahana considers Pragya as her mother-figure, I'm her father-figure." Abhi pointed.

Kanyadaan was followed by the seven rounds around the sacred fire, taking the vows of a happy conjugal life.

It was time for the grooms to put vermillion and tie the nuptial chain. Aryan picked a pinch of vermillion and calming his nerves, filled Shahana's hairline with it. He tied the nuptial chain around the neck, thus making her his wife.

After the priest declared them as husband and wife, there stood two couples. One, who were happy to have finally united and looking forward to a blissful future, while the other standing in apprehension of the impending future.