(Unedited)

Vansh continues, "I want to ask you if you will marry me in three days?" Vansh bows his head down, not wanting to gaze at her.

Aaliya stared into his eyes with an intense gaze, "Is it Baba?" Hearing her words, Vansh gulps, blinking continuously.

"It's him right? He is forcing you? And, you agreed?" A lone tear falls from the corner of her eyes.

Vansh didn't reply, avoiding the eye contact with her but, Aaliya was adamant about fixing her gaze on his. She was searching for an answer and the silence from Vansh told her everything. She fumes in anger, shrugs off his hands from her shoulder, takes back the bowl of Kheer from the slab, and walks out of the kitchen.

She finds her Brother sitting on the dining table. She makes her way to him in fury. She placed the bowl on the table with a loud thud which made Deepak surprise and he widened his eyes open to glancing Aaliya's anger.

Vansh follows Aaliya and comes to the living room.

"Bhai, you wanted to eat Kheer, right? Here, it is. Enjoy!" She made her way back to her room in fury.

"Princess?" Vansh called her.

"Aaliya?" Deepak also calls her.

But, she doesn't listen to anyone and she closes herself into the room.

Vansh makes his way to Deepak, who is busy sniffing the fragrance of the Kheer.

"If I am not wrong, she didn't agree. Did she?" Deepak speaks nonchalantly taking the first bite of the kheer.

"Umm. " Deepak sucked his lips while feeling the taste of Kheer.

Vansh growls at Deepak, "She didn't. But, I also told you that I'll not force her." Vansh snatches the Kheer bowl from Deepak.

"It's for me." Vansh furrows his eyebrows.

Vansh stirs the kheer in a swift motion and sniffs the fragrance of it before heaving the bite.

"Now, should I talk to her about the marriage? You know, she will agree to everything I say." Deepak glares at Vansh, who is having the first bite.

Vansh gulps the kheer, "Aren't you taking advantage of your sister? I told you clearly, that I don't want to force her into marriage. I want her to willingly accept our marriage."

"She will not agree unless I talk to her," Deepak speaks in a louder tone.

Deepak takes the bowl back from Vansh and starts eating the Kheer. Meanwhile, Vansh plunges into his deep thought, "If I had to force her, I wouldn't have waited for her this long. I would have taken action the moment she turned eighteen but I decided to wait because I wanted her to accept me willingly not like a forced relationship."

Flashback starts

Vansh outside Aaliya's house, standing near his car was about to leave for his office when he heard his phone ringing, "Jii baba" (Yes, father.) He speaks, placing the phone against his ears.

"Vansh mujhe tumse baat karni hai, study room mein aao." (Vansh, I want to talk to you, come to the study room.) Aaliya's father speaks from the other side and he hangs up the phone after speaking.

Vansh headed back inside the house and made his way to the study room.

When he knocked on the door, he heard the voice of Aaliya's father saying, "Andar aajao Vansh." (Come inside Vansh)

The moment Vansh enters inside, he sees Baba sitting on his chair and Deepak is seated opposite the chair on the couch.

"Baba, aapne bulaya?" (Baba, you called me?) Vansh speaks calmly.

"Betho Vansh," (Sit, Vansh) Deepak calls him to sit beside him.

Vansh sat on the couch with curiosity in his mind about what an urgent matter Baba had to talk about. Also, why is Deepak here? As from last night's argument they had, they still haven't sorted it out. Vansh still has to talk about Aaliya to Deepak.

"Vansh you remember, once you told me that I'll be the one to choose a girl for you to marry?" Baba speaks while playing with the paperweight.

Vansh remembers, that when he turned eighteen he promised Baba that Baba would be the one to choose a girl for him. Vansh at that time thought that whenever Aaliya agreed to get married he would ask for her hand to Baba and he was sure that Baba would agree to it.

But now, when Aaliya agrees to give him a chance, he is still ready to wait for her to agree to the marriage and obviously that would take time.

Vansh was furious at why suddenly Baba was talking about his marriage. Is he planning to marry him? Or does he know about him and Aaliya?

Vansh with astonishment says, "Yes, I remember Baba."

"Now is the time. I have found a good girl for you. And I think she is suitable for you." Baba says in his stern voice. It was a demanding tone.

Vansh doesn't know, who Baba has found for him and he is confused about what to reply with so he says, "But, Baba, I am still not ready for the marriage."

"Let him be Baba, if he doesn't want to marry her. We will find a good match for Aaliya." The moment Vansh completes his sentence, Deepak jumps in as he knows Vansh likes Aaliya.

Vansh advanced his gaze towards Deepak as he was surprised if he heard him correct. 'Were they actually talking about me and Aaliya?' Vansh thought.

Baba sighs, "Vansh! I have always taken you as my child. And I have seen you grow up to be a fine man. I acknowledge your intelligence towards your business and thus I find you suitable for my daughter."

Vansh widens his eyes in surprise or shock. He was confused about whether he should be happy or upset listening to the words of Baba. And thus he has a little smile on his face unknowingly.

Baba says, "I want you to get married to Aaliya, and that too in three days."

Vansh's smile vanished as soon as he heard Baba.

"Three days?" He quirks his eyebrows.

Deepak carelessly says, "Yes, in three days. You and Aaliya need to get married in three days."

"But, how is that possible?" Vansh scoffs standing up in his position.

Baba replied, "Don't worry about arrangements. Deepak will take care of it."

"It's not about the arrangements. Baba!" Vansh inquires.

"If you are worrying about Aaliya, then leave her to me." Deepak glances at Vansh assuring him.

Vansh parted his lips to speak but was interrupted by Baba, "So, it's settled, you both will get married in three days and that's final." Baba speaks in his demanding tone as if the words he said were the final words and will not be changed.

"Baba, I...I respect your decision but please give me some time. Let me talk to Aaliya. Let me ask her if she wants to get married." Vansh humbly puts his point forward.

"What's there to talk Vansh? Aaliya will do what his father and brother will decide. She will agree to the marriage with you and that too in three days." Baba scoffs with confidence in his voice.

"But, why three days? Can't we extend the date of the marriage?" Vansh questions in his restless tone.

Baba in his demanding and louder tone, "Vansh, it's decided that Aaliya will get married in three days. It's either you agree to the marriage or I'll find another match for her. But, remember Vansh, she will get married in three days and I'll make sure of that."

Vansh wet his lips in shock. Listening to Baba's stern voice, he was sure that there was something that Baba wasn't saying. But, that was not the important part now. The important topic was how Aaliya reacted when she heard about their marriage.

"You both can leave now," Baba speaks closing his eyes, leaning his head to the chair's head.

Vansh gulped as he fists his palm in anger and left the room.

Deepak stood up and exhaled sharply, "Baba, if Vansh doesn't agree to the marriage. Are you going to find another match for her?"

Baba still kept his eyes closed and smirked, "Vansh will agree to the marriage. And, hence there will be no need to find another man."

"How are you so sure about it?" Deepak questions as he widens his eyes.

"Because I know he loves her. Meine Vansh ko pala hai aur bahut achee se janta hu ki voh kab kya sochta hai. Vansh will never let Aaliya marry someone else." (I have brought up Vansh and know very well what he thinks when and where.) Baba smirks again.

Deepak quirks his eyebrows, "Toh aap pehle se jante the ki voh Aaliya ko pasand karta hai? Aapne kabhi bataya kyun nahi? Aur agar apko pehle se pata tha toh phir Mayank ki family kyo aayi thi Aaliya ko dekhne?" (So you already know that he likes Aaliya? Why didn't you ever tell me? And if you had known earlier, then why did Mayank's family come to see Aaliya?)

Baba sighs as he opens his eyes and glances his gaze to the window outside, "Main bahut pehle hi samjh gaya tha ki Vansh Aaliya ko pasand karta hai. Par uss waqt tak usne apne dil ki baat Aaliya ko nahi batayi thi toh mujhe ese laga ki shayad Vansh sure nahi hai issiliye meine Mayank ki family ko bulaya rishte ke liye but phir jab aaj Aaliya newspaper padhne ke bahane se mujhe bata rahi thi ki Mayank ne usse kese treat Kiya toh mujhe bahut gussa aaya. Aur meine Puri sachai samjhne ke liye Mayank ko uthva liya. Usne mujhe sab kuch bataya or meine faisla liya ki Aaliya ke liye Vansh hi sahi or best choice hai."

(I understood long ago that Vansh likes Aaliya. But till then he did not tell about his feelings to Aaliya so I thought that maybe Vansh was not sure that is why I called Mayank's family for the relationship but then today Aaliya on the pretext of reading the newspaper told me how Mayank, treated her made me very angry. And I kidnapped Mayank to understand the whole truth. He told me everything and I decided that Vansh is the right and the best choice for Aaliya.)

Deepak nods as he understands his baba.

Baba says, "Shaadi ki tayaariyaa shuru karo. Marriage will take place after three days." (Start the arrangements of marriage.)

Deepak nods as he leaves the room.

Deepak finds Vansh outside the study room. Vansh was walking briskly here and there with one hand in his beard and the other in his waist. Vansh seems restless and finds himself in a difficult situation. His eyes were tensed and his body structure was anxious.

Deepak sighs, "Vansh don't think too much, let me talk to Aaliya. I assure you she will agree to the marriage." Deepak places his hand on Vansh's shoulder, providing him a comforting squeeze.

Vansh abruptly grabs Deepak's collar in one go. Vansh with his intense and angry gaze, "Are you really her brother?"

Deepak stuns listening to Vansh's words as if he was thinking why Vansh is asking something like this. In reply, Deepak nods slightly.

Vansh scoffs, tightening his grip on his collar, "You are not because if you were her brother then you would have first asked her if she is really ready for the marriage and not fixed her marriage without her consent."

Vansh in his hoarse and angered voice, "You are not that Deepak who once bore the severe punishment of getting several hits by the belt on his back just for the sake of her sister. So that his sister can study further and opt for the course she wants."

Vansh loosened his grip on his collar, pushing him back on his chest, "You are not the same brother to her sister, who used to avoid playing with his friends just because he had to take care of her little sister."

Vansh scoffs, "And, that same brother didn't even bother to ask if her sister wants to get married or not? I don't expect anything from Baba but I do from you. The same man who I know will go to every extent to get her sister's happiness."

Deepak's eyes filled with tears as he felt all the childhood memories played as a movie in his mind. He gulps as he remembers how important her sister is for him. How he managed to take care of her sister when she most needed her mother and father. Vansh's words were the dagger being stabbed in Deepak's heart several times.

Deepak wipes his tears, "Vansh If I could tell you the reason, believe me, I would have."

Vansh scoffs as he is disinterested in listening to Deepak's excuse.

Deepak sighs, wetting his lips, "The last night when I found out that you like her, I was angry. I was hurt. I was anxious. How could my best friend not tell me such an important truth about my sister? I couldn't sleep last night. But later I gave it a thought and realized why you didn't tell me that you like her. I realized that you were waiting for the right time to get her approval."

Deepak takes a few steps towards Vansh, filling the gap between them. Deepak exhaled sharply, "I forced you in the morning to let you speak about your feelings in front of Aaliya to let my sister know that there is someone beside me and her bhabhi, who loves her equals as us or maybe more than us."

"Vansh I find you suitable for her and so does Baba. He knows that you like her and Mayank is with Baba." Deepak adds placing his hand again on Vansh's shoulder.

Vansh with his astonishing gaze asks, "Did you tell Baba about us and how did Baba find Mayank? I couldn't find him last night."

"I didn't tell Baba about you guys. He knew way earlier and he told me about it a few minutes earlier. And regarding Mayank, I don't know how Baba found him but Baba told me that he is with him and he won't trouble Aaliya anymore."

Vansh further questioned, "But what's within three days? Why is Baba and you so adamant about getting us married in three days?"

Deepak sighs in disappointment, "I can't tell you that but trust me, I am doing this for Aaliya. It's for her betterment. So, please let me talk to her because I know how my sister will agree to the marriage."

Vansh in his less angry tone, "Deepak If I let you talk to her, I know she will agree to the marriage, and believe me, I want to marry her but that will be called as forcing her into the marriage. And I don't want to force her, I want our relationship to be mutual. If I wanted her to force me into a marriage, I would have done it way earlier."

Deepak parts his lips to speak but Vansh interrupts him, "So, do me a favor and don't talk to her about marriage. She will be hurt."

Flashback ends

Vansh's Pov

Deepak watching me completing the whole bowl of Kheer, clicks his tongue and says, "I told you she would not agree to a marriage like this."

I placed the bowl back on the table, and fixed my gaze towards him, "And I also told you, I don't want to force her. If she agrees willingly, I'll marry her but if she doesn't want to get married now, I'll personally take the matters into my hands and will make sure that the marriage will not take place."

"Are you going against Baba?"

"I don't want to but I can't neglect her as well," I said, leaving the house.

When I reached the entrance of the house, I heard him shouting, "Where are you going? Won't you talk to her before leaving?"

"Ussi ke liye hi jalebi aur rabdi lene ja raha hu, bina iske voh nahi manane wali." (I am going to buy Jalebi and Rabdi for her only, without this she won't agree.) I replied shouting as well.

"Par pehle gate toh khulva ke jao uske kamre ka." (But, first tell her to open the door.) Deepak shouts again.

"Voh nahi kholegi apne kamre k gate." (She will not open the door.) I yell.

Deepak shouts, "Toh tum baat kese karoge usse?" (Then, how will you talk to her?)

"I will handle it. You please go and sleep." I drag the sentence, sitting in my car.

********

Vansh's Pov

After half an hour, I came back to her house. I parked the car and stepped out of it. I didn't enter her house because I knew she would not open the door. After all, she is the daughter of Prem Singhania (Baba). Hence, her anger and stubbornness are similar to him.

It was already twelve in the night. I have to talk to her and then go back to my house. From the morning to the night, I have been running from the office to her house, back and forth.

I made my way to the back side of the house where the window of her room was quite visible. As expected the lights were on in her room and the window was opened.

There is a huge mango tree behind her house and with the help of that, I started to climb to her room's window. I grabbed the carry bag slung in between my lips which carries the jalebi and rabdi, one of the favourite sweet dishes of my princess.

With a lot of difficulty and a little bit of scratches on my skin, I reached her room with a struggle. I lay a deep sigh as I saw her sitting on the bed. Her hands were tugging her knees and she rested her head on them.

Every slow step I take toward her bed, I can hear her sobs in between. She must have been crying for a long time. I was avoiding every noise so that she wouldn't get scared by my sudden presence.

I bend my right knee to crawl on the bed, followed by my left knee. The soft mattress pressed the moment I placed my right knee on it. I was stunned by my position and glanced at her. She was in the same position as earlier, her head down. I thought she would understand that there was someone in the room but she budged as if she was asleep or she didn't realize that someone was in the room.

I took a few steps ahead on the bed and calmly with a soft tone, I said, "Princess?" I caressed my right palm on her head softly.

She flinched with my touch and headed up to stare at me. For the first few good minutes, she didn't utter a word but fixed her gaze into mine.

Her eyes were swollen up because of crying. Her subtle makeup was ruined and her eyes were teary. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her index finger and glared at me once again.

As if she was confirming, what is she seeing? And finally, after a very long pause, she jumped on me and hugged me. Her hands were tied around my neck and her head rested on my left shoulder.

At the same moment, my one hand went to her head and caressed her hair from the back and the other hand landed on the mattress to support my body as she suddenly jumped on me.

I gasped as it was the first time she hugged me. It was sudden and a beautiful feeling. I could hear my heart racing fast and by default, she could also.

She tightened her hug on me and I realized our chests were colliding with each other. I didn't utter a word and so did she. It was a complete silence in the room. I gave her a moment of herself without even moving from my place.

I gulped and she finally spoke, "V..Vansh..." She stutters.

I caressed her hair in up-and-down movement softly, still intact in our position, "Am I not my Baba's daughter? Why is he treating me like this?" She sobs.

"You are! You are his daughter." I said.

"I don't want to get married now. I want to complete my study. I want to apply for a job. I want to mend my relationship with my Baba and with the wedding, it will not be possible. Besides, getting married is not on my list." She breaks the hug, still her hands on my neck and her pleading gaze into mine, "Baba, takes you as your son right? Please talk to him. He will listen to you. Tell him, that if he doesn't like me, I will not show my face to him. I will keep my distance from him. I will not do those silly things to attract his attention. I'll be a good daughter and I promise I won't expect anything from him. But, just tell him, that he doesn't marry me off now. Tell him to give me a few years and I promise after that I will marry the one he chooses." She cries as she barely completes her words.

Listening to her words filled my eyes with tears. And I swallow the thick lump of saliva down as I let down a sigh, "If you don't want to get married, we will not get married. I promise." The words left unknowingly. Deep down in my heart, I wanted her to ask for the marriage but I can't be selfish now. I have to think about her as well and that is she doesn't want to get married.

She nods and I wipe her tears. I could see the trust in her eyes. A little satisfaction lingers on her face as she hears my promise.

I removed her hands from my neck and she took them back as she realized, she had been holding me for a long time. I stepped out of the bed and her eyes followed me.

I went near the table, where I placed the carry bag of Jalebi and Rabdi. I took the bag and made my way back to the position in the bed.

"This is for you," I said.

She took the bag and peeked inside, "What is it?"

"Something that can make you smile," I mumbled.

She opened the bag and took out the two boxes and opened them.

Aaliya's Pov

"Jalebi and rabdi?" A sweet smile appeared on my lips as soon as I opened the box.

He hums with a smile. I grasped the jalebi on my fingers and poured the rabdi onto it. I took the very first bite and I mumbled, "Umm.." as the sweetness took over my mouth.

I completed that single jalebi on my hand while forgetting about Vansh. Although I could feel his eyes on me I was too busy with my Jalebi and Rabdi. They are one of my favorite sweets.

"I remember every time bhai used to bring them for me," I mumbled by chewing the jalebi.

"It was Deepak who brought them for you," Vansh utters.

"Is it?" I asked and he hummed.

But then suddenly my mind went backward and remembered hearing my Bhai's voice coming from his room to mine. And I am sure he didn't leave his room for quite a long time but then why is Vansh lying?

'If bhai didn't leave his room, then Vansh would be the one who brought the Jalebi and Rabdi.' I thought, glancing at him.

When I saw Vansh, I noticed his face. His eyes were intense and his face was slightly paled. His eyes were fixed on me and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. There was something in his eyes that had been making me look into them for a long time.

But why was he like this? What was he thinking? I forgot about my Jalebi and Rabdi when my eyes landed on him. And, I noticed that he hadn't blinked once. Did he forget to blink?

And the words came out of my mind, "Blink, Vansh!" I mumble softly.

And he blinks, wetting his lips, averting his eyes to everywhere except on me.

"I. I should leave." He stutters as he gasps.

I held his wrist stopping him. "Wait."

He turned his face towards me while his eyes dug into the mattress.

I stood up and took a paper and pen out from the drawer beside the bed.

"Write my name on it," I said handing him the paper and pen.

He quirks his eyebrows at me, "But why?"

"Do it for me," I asked and he wrote my name on it.

He handed me the paper and then he left. The moment he left, I took out the note from the carry bag.

Whenever Bhai brought the Jalebi and Rabdi for me, It had a note in the carry bag and similarly today as well the note was there.

I read the note, "You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life. You're in charge of your own happiness. Aaliya!"

I checked the note, I got it from the carry bag and the one Vansh wrote my name on. And, guess what?

The handwriting was similar. I again opened my drawer and took out the several notes that I collected whenever I ate the Jalebi and Rabdi that Bhai brought.

And, the handwriting was similar in every note. Every single note contains a new quote that encourages me and every time I thought it was Bhai who wrote it for me.

But, in the end, I realized today that it was always Vansh who brought them for me and the one who wrote the note for me.

I felt a different feeling stung in my heart and stomach. It was a new sort of feeling and a smile appeared on my face unknowingly. I laid down on the mattress holding the note in which he wrote my name on it. And, I didn't realize when I fell into a deep slumber.

To be continued.....

A/N: Hello everyone, I am sorry for the late update. This is a very long chapter. Hope you guys won't feel bored. I had a writer's block but I have managed to write the chapter. Hope you will enjoy it.

Also, I thought about letting Vansh stay the night with Aaliya but then I felt it would be too soon.

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