One bright morning, as Preeta arrived at the Parihaar mansion, she was greeted by the usual sight of Meesha standing by the door, her little face lighting up at the sight of Preeta. Meesha eagerly ran toward her, arms outstretched, and Preeta couldn't help but smile as she scooped the girl up in her arms, twirling her around playfully.

"Good morning, Meesha!" Preeta greeted with a grin. "How's my favorite little one today?"

Meesha giggled, her small hands tugging at Preeta's kurti, eager for her attention.

"Good morning, Preeta!" came Pakhi's voice, warm and welcoming, from the hallway. Preeta smiled and turned to see Pakhi standing nearby, her expression gentle but thoughtful.

"Good morning, Pakhi aunty," Preeta replied, giving a respectful nod.

Pakhi's eyes softened as she watched the interaction between Preeta and Meesha. There was a hint of something unspoken in her gaze, a warmth that Preeta couldn't quite place. After a moment, Pakhi stepped closer to Preeta, her voice lowering slightly.

"Preeta, I wanted to speak to you about something," she said, her tone thoughtful but slightly hesitant. "Something personal, if you don't mind."

Preeta's curiosity piqued, and she nodded politely. "Of course, Pakhi aunty. What's on your mind?"

Pakhi glanced around to ensure they weren't overheard before speaking again. "It's about Rishabh," she said, her voice filled with a quiet urgency.

Preeta's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected this. "Rishabh?" she repeated, unsure where the conversation was going. "What about him?"

Pakhi sighed softly, her gaze distant for a moment. "Rishabh is... a wonderful man," she began, her voice tinged with both pride and concern. "But he's turning 29 soon, and he's been so focused on his work, on Meesha, on the family... I fear that he's not giving enough thought to his personal life. He's... he's never been in a serious relationship since he adopted Meesha, and I worry that he's letting the years pass by."

Preeta listened carefully, her expression calm but attentive. She knew that Rishabh had always been focused on his responsibilities, but she hadn't realized how much this was weighing on his mother.

Pakhi continued, her voice almost pleading now. "I know Rishabh values your opinion, Preeta. You've been so kind, understanding, and perceptive with everyone here. And I know that he trusts you. I was hoping... maybe you could talk to him, convince him to consider getting married. He deserves to be happy, and I think he needs someone who can understand him. Someone like you, Preeta."

Preeta felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of her name. She hadn't expected this at all. Her mind raced as she processed Pakhi's words. She had always been kind and supportive to Rishabh, but this request felt like a step into unfamiliar territory. Was Pakhi really asking her to encourage Rishabh to get married?

Preeta hesitated for a moment, glancing at Meesha, who was still clinging to her, oblivious to the weight of the conversation. She then looked back at Pakhi, whose expression was full of hope and concern.

"Pakhi aunty... I don't know if I'm the right person to talk to Rishabh about something so personal," Preeta said carefully, her voice steady but unsure. "I'm not sure how he'd react. He's such a private person, and I don't want to overstep."

Pakhi smiled softly, understanding in her eyes. "I understand, Preeta. I just... I want him to know that it's okay to open up, to consider his happiness, too. He's always putting everyone else first, but he deserves something of his own. A companion, a partner... I just want him to see that he doesn't have to carry the weight of everything on his own."

Preeta took a deep breath, glancing down at Meesha for a moment before looking back at Pakhi. "I'll think about it, Pakhi aunty. But I can't promise anything. Rishabh has to come to his own decisions in his own time. I can't force him into something he's not ready for."

Pakhi nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I understand, Preeta. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you. You've become such a close part of this family, and I know you care about him. I trust you."

As Preeta stood there, a sense of unease settled in her chest. Pakhi's words had touched something deep inside her, a quiet stirring of emotions she wasn't quite ready to confront. She cared for Rishabh deeply, more than she had realized, but the thought of intervening in his personal life was daunting.

Still, as she looked at Meesha, happily playing with her bunny in her arms, Preeta couldn't ignore the thought that had quietly crept into her mind. She wanted Rishabh to be happy, too. He deserved happiness, and if there was anything she could do to help him realize that, she would. But how? And where would that leave her?

With those thoughts swirling in her mind, Preeta excused herself from the conversation, offering a kind smile to Pakhi before heading upstairs. But as she walked through the grand corridors of the mansion, her heart felt heavier than usual, and the weight of Pakhi's request lingered in the air, unresolved.

-----

After finishing her session with Rukmini, Preeta walked slowly down the familiar corridors of the Parihaar mansion. She had been coming here every day now, growing accustomed to the luxury and the grandeur of the place, but today, her mind was clouded with thoughts of Pakhi's request.

She knew that what Pakhi had asked of her wasn't something simple, or easy. It wasn't just about offering advice or support-this was about encouraging Rishabh to think about his future, to open his heart to the possibility of love and marriage. She felt a mixture of emotions-sympathy for Rishabh, confusion about her own feelings, and a growing sense of responsibility. She didn't know if she could do what Pakhi was asking, but she felt an undeniable pull to help in some way. Rishabh was someone who deserved all the happiness in the world, but she couldn't help but wonder what part she could play in that.

As she walked toward Rishabh's room, her steps slowed, and she took a deep breath to calm the swirling thoughts in her mind. The moment she reached his door, she hesitated for a split second. She wasn't sure what to expect-this was, after all, a personal conversation.

Knocking lightly on the door, she waited for a moment before Rishabh's voice called out from inside.

"Come in."

Taking another deep breath, Preeta pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was as neat and meticulously organized as she remembered. Rishabh stood by his desk, sorting through some papers. He looked up when she entered, and for a moment, their eyes met.

"Preeta," Rishabh greeted with a smile, his voice warm but still carrying the usual undertones of professionalism. "How's Dadi today?"

Preeta returned his smile, her heart fluttering slightly at the sound of his voice. "She's doing better. I showed her some new exercises for her legs, and she's committed to doing them daily."

Rishabh nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. I know she's been in a lot of pain lately, but with your help, I think she's improving."

Preeta smiled, feeling a sense of pride in her work. "It's my pleasure, Rishabh. She's a strong woman. She just needs a little more care, and I'm glad I can help."

A silence fell between them for a moment. Preeta felt the weight of the conversation she was about to initiate, but she couldn't turn back now. Pakhi's words echoed in her mind, urging her to step forward, to at least try to open Rishabh's heart to the idea of a future beyond his responsibilities.

"Rishabh," she began, her voice softer than usual, "there's something I need to talk to you about. Something that... that Pakhi aunty mentioned."

Rishabh raised an eyebrow, his expression curious but still calm. "What is it?" he asked, his tone neutral.

Preeta paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "Pakhi aunty... she's concerned about you. She's noticed how much you focus on your work and taking care of everyone, but she's worried that you're not paying enough attention to your own happiness. She mentioned that you're getting older, and she thinks it might be time for you to consider... a more personal life. A future with someone. Marriage, maybe."

Rishabh's expression softened slightly, but his gaze grew distant as he processed her words. There was a long pause before he finally spoke.

"I appreciate Mom's concern," Rishabh said quietly, his voice steady but with a hint of weariness. "But I've never really thought about marriage. I have Meesha to think about, my work, and everything else. There's not much room left for anything else."

Preeta nodded, her heart aching for him. She could see the weight of responsibility in his eyes, the way he carried everything-his family, his business, his daughter-on his shoulders. He was a man who had given so much to others, but it seemed that he had little left for himself.

"I understand," Preeta said gently. "But Rishabh, you deserve happiness too. You've been so focused on everything else, but you've never taken a moment to think about your own heart. About what you need."

Rishabh looked at her for a long moment, as if contemplating her words. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.

"I don't know, Preeta. I've always put everyone before myself. I guess it's just how I've been... I never really thought about it, not seriously."

Preeta stepped closer, her voice softening as she spoke from the heart. "I'm not saying you should rush into anything, or that you need to make any decisions right now. But you shouldn't dismiss the possibility of having someone in your life who can stand by you, someone who understands you-not just as a father or a businessman, but as a person, as a man who deserves love and companionship."

Rishabh looked at her, his eyes searching her face. There was a vulnerability there, something he rarely showed to anyone. For a moment, Preeta could see the man behind the responsibilities, the man who carried the world on his shoulders yet quietly yearned for something more.

"Preeta," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of hesitation, "I've never really thought about it that way. I suppose it's hard to imagine. I've been so focused on everything else... on making sure Meesha has everything she needs, on making sure my family is taken care of."

Preeta's heart went out to him, but she stayed firm. "You can't forget about yourself, Rishabh. It's okay to take a step back and think about what makes you happy. What do you want, aside from everything else?"

Rishabh stood there for a moment, lost in thought, his gaze drifting to the window as he processed everything Preeta had said. There was silence between them, but it was a silence filled with unspoken understanding.

Finally, Rishabh turned back to her, his expression thoughtful, though still guarded. "Maybe you're right," he murmured. "Maybe I need to start thinking about it."

Preeta nodded, her heart racing but her voice calm. "Just think about it, Rishabh. I'm not asking for anything. But you deserve to have your own happiness, too."

As she turned to leave, she felt a quiet sense of relief, as though a weight had been lifted. Rishabh hadn't said much, but she could tell that her words had made him think, at least for a moment. Whether he would act on them was another matter, but she hoped that someday, he would open his heart to the possibility of love and a future that wasn't solely centered on his responsibilities.

And maybe, just maybe, that future could include someone who cared deeply about him-someone like her.