Diya Kumari cradled her warm cup of tea in her hands, the steam curling up and dissipating into the air around her. Opposite her, two ladies sat with expectant expressions, their eyes darting towards her with growing urgency. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken questions. Diya could feel their anticipation, yet she was enveloped in her own thoughts, unwilling to engage. The vibrant colours of their outfits contrasted sharply with her calm demeanour, adding to the tension in the room. She took another slow sip, savouring the warmth while silently deciding to keep her answers to herself for now.

"Diya Ji—" Diya Kumari grunted and hardened her eyes, forcing the lady to stop her sentence. 

"I stand firm in my decision, and I won't reconsider. My son is already married to a woman from that household, which means he is practically your brother-in-law. Even if my son were to divorce your sister, do you truly believe you would have a chance to marry him? Do you honestly think that he would choose to marry the sister of his ex-wife?" Diya Kumari said, her voice steady as she fixed her gaze on Simrita and Radhika, an air of authority surrounding her words.

Radhika clenched her jaw, a mix of frustration and bitterness swirling within her. Deep down, she understood that her dreams of marrying Padmanabh had slipped through her fingers, but her heart ached at the thought of him being with Vrishali. It stung to know her sister now held the man she once longed for, and the jealousy burned like a flame. If she couldn't have Padmanabh as her own, then she couldn't bear the thought of him belonging to her sister either. The idea twisted within her, leaving a bitter taste that lingered far too long.

"You are going to let my silly sister from New York be the wife of Sawai Padmanabh Singh?" Radhika confidently asked. There was a sense of mockery in her tone. 

Diya Kumari tried not to lose her control. "Leave it for me to decide. And—" Diya Kumari narrowed her eyes at Simrita. "Your daughter better watch her tone before it irritates me more." There was an underlying threat, and Simrita knew better than to play with Diya Kumari. 

Diya Kumari let out a weary sigh as she gently placed her delicate teacup on the polished coffee table, the warmth still radiating from the brewed tea. From her bag, she carefully extracted a sealed brown envelope, its edges crisp and unblemished, and set it beside her cup with a soft thud. Glancing at Simrita, she invited her to pick it up. A look of confusion passed between Simrita and Radhika, their brows furrowing in curiosity as they pondered what secrets the envelope might hold. 

Simrita carefully tore open the envelope, her curiosity piqued. As she did so, a photograph slipped out and fluttered to the floor. Bending down, she picked it up, her eyes widening as they fell on the image of a man in his early thirties. Confused and intrigued, Simrita held the picture closer, her brow furrowing as she whispered, "Who is this?"

"Heard of Thakur Mahendra Kumar?"

"Yes, isn't he the one who owns the biggest manufacturing company in Rajasthan?" 

"Hmm, right."

"What about him?" Radhika questioned, coming straight to the point.

"Simple, I know the intention behind your interest in marrying my son." Radhika's eyes flared with anger.

"And I know the intention of why you wanted me to marry your son." Radhika fired back.

"Careful. . ." Diya Kumari stated. 

"He is the son of Mahendra Kumar. I already spoke to him. If you two are interested, he will ask Radhika's hand for marriage to your in-laws." 

Simrita felt a rush of happiness inside her. Mahendra Singh is a wealthy businessman with factories across India. Radhika would become affluent if she married Mahendra Kumar's son. "We will think about it," Radhika said.

"There isn't time to ponder this. He is seeking a bride, and if you both hesitate, I can't assist."

"Okay, we two agree to this. We will arrange everything and wait for the message," Simrita replied. Money and properties speak a lot...

Diya Kumari smiled softly, her fingers rhythmically tapping against her thigh as she observed Simrita engrossed in examining the photograph. The sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow on their surroundings, and Diya felt a sense of relief, realizing she no longer needed to worry about the others. However, her thoughts drifted to Vrishali; a cloud of concern lingered. Yet, despite the uncertainty, she remained hopeful that a solution would soon reveal itself.

She knew that Padmanabh was a tough nut to crack and that he wouldn't like being separated from Vrishali. He deeply respected his grandparents and would not go against their wishes or happiness. Given his nature, it wouldn't be surprising if he was already working on making his marriage work. 

Knowing his steadfast character, it wouldn't be surprising if he was already strategizing ways to navigate the challenges in his marriage, determined to find a path that would keep him and Vrishali together. She needs to level up her game and try to find something that would give her time and make them part ways. 

*

Vrishali groaned as she wandered around her room, looking at the mess she had made. There were clothes everywhere. Her Mum was on Facetime. "I'm not understanding what to pack." 

"Pack ethnic wear, darling. You will be wearing mostly dress suits. Pack two sarees for the main darshan and your nightwear. That's it." 

"Okay." Vrishali set her phone down on the table with a soft click, taking a moment to survey her collection of dress kurtas. Each piece was a vibrant splash of colour, adorned with intricate patterns and delicate embroidery. She carefully sifted through the garments, her fingers gliding over the fabric as she sought the most stunning options. After selecting a couple of her favourites, she turned her attention to the sarees her mother had chosen. With great care, she lifted the elegant drapes, their luxurious textures shimmering in the light, and gently placed them in her trolley, ensuring they were nestled safely among her other treasures.

"Am I overpacking?"

Gauravi laughed. "No, you are not overpacking. Don't forget your nightwear and other essentials." 

"Okay, where is Dad?"

"He went out with his friends. Saturday night drinks."

"Cool, are you home alone?"

"Nope, I'm going to Smith's house for movie night, and then I need to pick up your dad."

"Awe, I miss you guys so much. It feels so weird without you two and New York. I'm not sure how long will it take for me to get habituated over here." 

"We miss you too. . . It's a matter of a few months before we move to Jaipur permanently. We will be visiting you regularly." 

"I can't wait to meet you two and have our dinners." Vrishali spent the next thirty minutes talking to her Mum as Gauravi dressed up for the movie night with the Smiths. When the call ended, Vrishali packed the rest of her luggage. They will be leaving for Tirupati early in the morning by flight. She hadn't seen Padmanabh as he was busy wrapping up work at his office. 

She had her dinner alone when she saw the note left by Padmanabh saying he would be coming home late. She went to sleep around 12:00 am with thoughts of Padmanabh and their upcoming trip. 

*

Padmanabh massaged his forehead while leaning back in his chair, feeling exhausted. He had finished working on the files and was too tired to get up. His stomach was growling, reminding him that he hadn't eaten. Opening his eyes, he noticed his untouched dinner sitting on the table. Finally, he stood up and moved to the sofa, where he began packing his luggage while eating dinner. It was almost two a.m.

*

Vrishali glanced at her fingers, uncertain whether to knock on Padmanabh's door. Taking a deep breath, she finally decided to do it and knocked. The door opened, revealing a tired-looking Padmanabh with wet hair standing before her, his luggage by his side.

"Good morning," Padmanabh said. "Good morning."

"I was going to call you." Vrishali stepped aside to make space for him to step out. He was about to say something when his phone started ringing. Vrishali stood there as he answered the call. 

"We will be having breakfast with everyone. They are waiting for us. You got everything you need, right?" 

"Yes." Padmanabh nodded appreciatively as he took the trolley from her grasp, their eyes briefly meeting in a moment of connection. Vrishali walked ahead, her mind swirling with thoughts about Padmanabh's stunning new haircut. 

The stylish cut framed his face perfectly, accentuating his features and giving him an effortlessly cool vibe. Recently, he had also begun to grow a beard, which added an alluring ruggedness to his overall appearance. He was undeniably attractive, but with the addition of the beard, he became irresistibly handsome, leaving her heart racing as she couldn't help but steal glances whenever she could. 

*

Everyone settled down to have breakfast. Vrishali and Padmanabh stayed quiet and listened to Narendra and Falguni Devi speak. Padmanabh noticed Diya Kumari's behaviour towards Vrishali. Thankfully, she didn't say anything to Vrishali. 

"There will be media waiting for us at the airport entrance. They want to take our family pictures," Diya Kumari spoke.

"We are not interested in your political life. Padmanabh doesn't like it when people take his pictures, and I don't think Vrishali is okay with them taking pictures. It would be better if the media doesn't get involved this time," Bhawani Singh spoke. 

"I agree with Dadaji. It's our private space with family. I wouldn't be comfortable with media," Padmanabh said. Diya Kumari nodded, worried that the media would discover Vrishali. She didn't want pictures of her with her son to be published. It would be better for everyone if they remained unaware of Vrishali. 

*

Vrishali and Padmanabh settled into the back seat, with Vrishali's bag in the middle. While Padmanabh checked his emails, Vrishali gazed out of the window. They were taking two cars to the airport because her in-laws travelled in the other vehicle.

She felt a sense of contentment being in the same space as Padmanabh rather than Diya Kumari. Glancing over at him, she admired the way his side profile captured the light, highlighting his strong jawline and the thoughtful expression on his face as he focused intently on his iPad. "Are you busy with work?" she asked, breaking the comfortable silence that enveloped them.

Padmanabh broke his concentration and looked at Vrishali. "Going through a few emails. I won't be working."

"Good." Vrishali gave him a warm smile before shifting her gaze to the window. 

They reached the airport, someone had transferred their luggage. Vrishali had no idea, so she stood beside Padmanabh. There were a few people at the entrance.  Padmanabh handed Vrishali sunglasses and a mask. 

"Put them on. They aren't going to know your face." Vrishali took them and put them on while he did the same. "Come on, stay close." Padmanabh gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist before intertwining their hands, guiding her toward the gate. 

Vrishali's gaze was drawn to their clasped hands as she marvelled at the warmth radiating from his touch, flooding through her palms and up her arms. A sense of comfort enveloped her, making her heart flutter. She instinctively tightened her grip around his hand, captivated by the unspoken bond that pulsed between them. Though her hand was small and delicate compared to his, it filled her with joy, as if their differences only highlighted the strength of their building connection.

*

They had finally arrived in the bustling town of Tirupati, a place rich in culture and spirituality. As their suites were being prepared, Vrishali took the opportunity to engage in a lively conversation with Falguni Devi, sharing stories and laughter amidst the backdrop of the vibrant surroundings. 

Meanwhile, Diya Kumari and Narendra chose to step away and enjoy a cup of tea with a group of influential politicians, discussing matters of significance. Across the room, Padmanabh sat quietly, struggling to keep his eyelids from drooping, the hum of conversation around him making it increasingly hard to stay awake.

After twenty minutes, their suites were ready, and their luggage had already been placed inside. Padmanabh handed the keys to Falguni Devi and Bhawani Singh, who were assigned to different floors. Meanwhile, Vrishali felt tense, knowing she would share a suite with Padmanabh. Her heart raced with tension at the thought of sharing the space with Padmanabh, the complexities of their relationship creating a whirlpool of emotions within her.

Vrishali felt a flutter of excitement as she prepared for the trip, looking forward to the precious moments she would finally get to share with Padmanabh. It had been a challenge lately, as he often seemed to vanish into the depths of his office, buried under work. This time, she hoped their journey would provide the opportunity for connection and warmth, away from the distractions of daily life.

"Pacho?"Vrishali turned around to see Padmanabh smiling at someone, looking surprised. A sudden unease dropped into the pit of her stomach.

*

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