The team returned from their shopping spree and gathered in the conference room for an important meeting. Today, they were meeting with Aanya, the marketing manager who was overseeing a massive endorsement project for Dream 11. 

"Guys, this is going to be epic!" Hardik exclaimed, high-fiving Shreyas as he took a seat.

"Epic toh hai!" Ishan chimed in. "Ek saath hum sabko screen pe dekh ke fans pagal ho jayenge!"

" Dream11 has always been a top sponsor, but this time, it's on another level. Sabko crores milne wale hai is baar."

Hardik grinned, slapping his hands together. "Bhai, yeh toh celebration ke layak hai! We should party after this shoot is done."

Yuvi chuckled. "Party toh banta hai, lekin pehle ad shoot kar lo. Aur haan, pata hai? Mujhe lagta hai, hum sab se zyada screen time toh tumhare 'captain cool' ko milega," he said, nodding towards Dhoni.

Dhoni rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Arre, sab milega, sab milega. Pehle details toh sun lo," he said, looking at Aanya

"Okay, okay, settle down, everyone!" Aanya spoke up. "Alright, gentlemen, this is going to be one of the biggest ad campaigns Dream11 has done. We are banking on your camaraderie and star power. It's not just a single ad; it's a whole series — print, digital, television, everything. And since this is a Dream11 campaign, it's all about choosing your dream team, right? So we're going to have segments where you challenge each other, almost like a fantasy match showdown. And of course, you'll be paid handsomely for your time and participation."

"Matlab hum sabko individual ads bhi milenge?" Ishan Kishan asked eagerly.

"Yes, exactly," Aanya confirmed. "

"Yeh toh bohot badiya hai," Yuvi said, glancing at Rohit and Virat. "Aur suna hai, Rohit aur Virat ke liye kuch special ads bhi hain?"

Virat chuckled. "Haan bhai, kuch aur brands bhi saath mein tapak pade hain. Looks like we're in for a busy season."

"Busy but profitable," Rohit added with a grin.

"Main toh apne ghar pe ek naya gym banwa lunga," Hardik declared. "Aur KL ko free membership dunga," he added with a wink.

"Waah waah, shukriya Hardik," KL Rahul laughed.

Aanya clicked on a few slides. As the team watched, she couldn't resist turning to Rohit with a flirtatious smile. "Rohit, you're going to be the highlight. I mean, of course, everyone will be there, but you're the one the fans can't get enough of."

Rohit chuckled awkwardly, shifting in his seat. "Thanks, Aanya. But it's a team ad—sabka highlight hoga."

Aanya flashed a smile in his direction. "But it will be special for you.The brand really sees you as a key ambassador." She gave him a quick wink, which made a few of the younger players exchange amused looks. They'd all noticed Aanya's not-so-subtle interest.

 "And Rohit, Virat — you both have solo segments as well. We've got some big brands onboard for individual promotions. Virat, you'll be doing one for Puma, and Rohit, we've secured a spot for you with a new luxury watch brand. It's going to be fantastic."

"Great," Virat nodded, though he caught the way Aanya's expression softened every time she looked at Rohit. He glanced over at Rohit, who seemed oblivious, busy talking with Ishan and Shreyas.

Rohit finally turned towards Aanya with his usual laid-back smile. "Sounds good, Aanya. It's going to be a busy few weeks, but we're all up for it."

"By the way," Shreyas cut in, "Where's Vritika bhabhi? I thought she'd be here with us for the meeting."

Rohit's smile softened at the mention of her name. "She's taking some rest. It was a long shopping trip. She'll join us later."

"Must be nice tagging along with the team, doing nothing." Aanya commented.

Virat's eyes narrowed at Aanya's snide remark. He didn't appreciate the jab at his sister. "Actually, Vritika handles a lot behind the scenes for us," he replied calmly. "She's hardly 'doing nothing.' In fact, some of my best deals have her input stamped all over them."

"Yeah." Rohit added. "She was going to come with me here but I forced her to rest a bit. "

"Ah, we missed her, man," Ishan joked. "She brings so much energy into the room."

"Yeah, but she will come at the time of shoot right..we will enjoy then." Rishab said.

"Actually, I was going to suggest that we keep the girlfriends, wives, and... 'other people' away from the set. We wouldn't want any unnecessary distractions, right?" Aanya said.

Dhoni crossed his arms. "Aanya, I don't think anyone on this team would be distracted by their families," he replied firmly.

Aanya gave an insincere laugh. "Of course, of course. I didn't mean anything by it. Just wanted to keep things professional. It's a big project, after all."

"Uski chinta aap mat karo.Last time she and Sakshi bhabhi were on set, they made sure the shoot wrapped up an hour early. The crew was amazed!"

Aanya's smile faltered slightly, realizing she had walked into a wall of defense from the team. "I see. Well, I guess it's just a matter of preference. But sure, if everyone is okay with it..."

"You should be glad, Aanya. Less time wasted means more time for other things, right?"

Aanya forced a smile, realizing there was no winning this one. "Absolutely. I appreciate the input. I'm sure having her on set will be... beneficial."

Rohit gave a small smile. "Great. Then it's settled. 

******

After the meeting, Rohit had left to catch his flight for home. He was going back to Mumbai. All the year he had been avoiding his family because they were trying to marry him to some girl. He had argued so much over the phone. He said he wasn't coming if it was still the same. But his father had said he wanted to discuss something related to property. 

But he knew it was a trap. But he still went. Because he wanted to end this once and for all.

He stepped out of the terminal into the familiar city. The city that never slept. For most, it was a city of dreams. For Rohit, it was his home.

 As he exited the airport, he saw his father waiting standing by the car He was a man who rarely showed any emotion on his face. He was flanked by his mother, who smiled widely at Rohit.

"Arrey, beta, it's been so long," Sumitra exclaimed, reaching out to hug him.

Rohit hugged her back. "You said there was something important about property," he said, getting straight to the point. "I hope this isn't another attempt to—"

"Property discussion hi karni hai," Ramesh interrupted sternly "Come, sit in the car. We'll talk on the way."

Rohit frowned, slipping into the backseat as his father started the car. "Where are we going in such a rush?"

"Beta, hum ladki dekhne ja rahe hain."

"Ladki dekhne?" Rohit couldn't hide the annoyance in his tone. "I knew it! Maa, I thought you called me here because you missed me. Not for this!"

"Kya kar sakte hain?" Ramesh interjected from the driver's seat. "We've already fixed a meeting. The girl's family has been waiting to meet you."

"I told you both before. I'm not interested in this shaadi-vaadi. I'm not ready for this, especially not some arranged setup."

"Beta, ek baar mil lo. It won't kill you," Sumitra coaxed. "She's a very nice girl, well-cultured. Sanskari ladki hai, bilkul tumhari pasand ki."

Rohit let out an exasperated sigh. "I already love someone," he said quietly, looking out the window as the city zipped by. "I don't want to meet anyone else."

The car fell silent. His parents exchanged a look.

"Rohit, these big-city girls, they are not good for settling down. They are too modern, too independent. They don't understand our culture or our values." his father said.

"Really, Papa?" Rohit snapped, turning to look at him. "You don't even know her. You're making assumptions about someone you've never met."

"I don't need to meet her to know the type," he muttered. "The kind of girls you meet in your line of work... they're not the kind of women you bring home to your parents."

Sumitra placed a hand on Rohit's knee gently. "Beta, we just want what's best for you. This girl we're taking you to meet, she comes from a good family. They have traditional values. She'll make a good wife, a good daughter-in-law."

Rohit scoffed.

Sumitra's eyes filled with tears. "Beta, we're not against you. We just want to see you happy. This girl is very nice. Can you not meet her, just once, for our sake?"

Rohit looked away. The tears in his mother's eyes made him feel guilty.He knew she meant well, but she couldn't see how their insistence was suffocating him, pushing him further away.

"Fine," he said quietly. "I'll meet her. But this doesn't mean I'm agreeing to anything. I'm only doing this because you asked."

"Shabhash! Dekhna ek baar miloge na, toh na nahi keh paoge."

Rohit glanced out of the window. His mind wandered to Vritika, her laughter, her voice. He knew his heart was already taken. It was stolen by his Ritz. He had his heart no longer to give to anyone else."

The car pulled up to a grand, lavish house in upscale neighborhood of Mumbai. Rohit stepped out, adjusting his shirt and running a hand through his hair, trying to mask his irritation.

His parents were already at the door, exchanging pleasantries with the girl's family. As he approached, they turned and greeted him warmly.

"Rohit beta, finally! Come in, come in."

Rohit nodded forcing a polite smile as he stepped inside.

It felt more like stepping into a five-star hotel than a home. He could see that the girl's parents were well-off, possibly even more than he had imagined from his father's vague descriptions.

"Namaste," Rohit greeted.

"Namaste, Rohit ji!" the girl's father beamed at him. He was dressed in a tailored suit that looked like it had been custom-made. "We've heard so much about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet. Please, make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you," Rohit said taking a seat on the plush sofa, glancing around the room.

The girl's mother was wearing an expensive silk saree. "Beta, we've been looking forward to this meeting," she said"We've prepared some snacks and drinks. Please help yourself."

Rohit gave a curt nod. " Thank you."

The atmosphere felt stiff to him. He wasn't in the mood for small talk, but he knew he had to play along for his parents' sake.

After a few minutes of light conversation, the girl's father looked towards the hallway. 

"Shanti," he said to his wife, "why don't you call our daughter? I think it's time she joins us."

Rohit internally braced himself. He stared at the patterns of the carpet, trying to suppress his irritation.

The girl's mother nodded and disappeared for a moment. A hushed murmur could be heard from down the hallway, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching.

As the girl entered the room, Rohit looked up —

It was Aanya.

For a second, he thought he must be hallucinating. But no..... Aanya stood there, dressed in an  modest pastel saree, looking nothing like the flirtatious woman he had seen just hours ago at the meeting. Her hair was tied back neatly, her makeup was minimal, and she had a soft smile on her face.

"Namaste, uncle, aunty," she said, her voice sweet and respectful. 

Rohit stood up. "Aanya."

"Yes, yes, Rohit," his father said. "You both already know each other, don't you? We thought it would be a good idea — after all, working in the same field, you two must have so much in common!"

"Yeah see, such a good educated girl."

Rohit's jaw clenched.

"So," Aanya's mother said cheerfully "Why don't we give the youngsters some time to talk privately? You two must have a lot to catch up on."

Rohit wanted to refuse, to get up and leave, but he knew he had no choice. He gave a stiff nod, standing up. "Sure," he muttered.

Aanya stood as well. She gestured towards the hallway. "Shall we?" she asked.

Rohit nodded curtly and followed her out of the room.  "What the hell is going on, Aanya? You — here? Dressed like this?"

"Don't shout Rohit! Even I didn't know anything about this!"

"What do you mean you didn't know? You were just as much a part of this as anyone!" he hissed.

"I swear to you, I had no clue this would happen. I was just as shocked as you were when they told me to dress up for this... whatever this is"

"You expect me to believe that? You came here today, and suddenly, you're this perfect girl in front of my parents."

 "I'm not happy about this any more than you are. You think I want to be in this situation?"

"Great then, it's settled. You will go outside and deny this marriage Simple as that."

"My father will kill me!"

"I'm telling you, if you don't do it, I will. You know I have a girlfriend, Aanya, and I love her. I love her more than I could everanyone else. If you don't refuse this marriage yourself, I will reject you outright. It's better for you this way. Socho tumhe kisi ladke ne reject kiya...kya izzat reh jayegi tumhari.Go outside and reject this. Or I will."

Rohit walked away from there, fuming back to his parents. Aanya followed behind.

"Toh, kya decide kiya tum dono ne?"

Rohit glanced at Aanya, frustration bubbling up in his chest. He didn't even know what to say. The only thing he could do was look at her.

"I'm ready," Aanya said "I will marry Rohit."

Rohit's eyes widened in disbelief. He whipped his head towards her, his mouth slightly open in shock

"No, Aanya, this isn't—" Rohit started but his father cut him off before he could say more.

"That's amazing!" his father said "I'm glad to see you both are on the same page. How about we convey our answer tomorrow, in front of both families? This is a big step, and I want everyone involved to know we're serious about this."

"Papa-" 

"Let's meet tomorrow and finalize everything."

******

"I am not going to marry her!" Rohit shouted the moment they stepped back into their home. He had been holding it in ever since they left Aanya's house, and now it was spilling over.

"Rohit, calm down. You're being unreasonable. Aanya is a nice, well-mannered girl from a respectable family. What more could you possibly want?"

"No. Enough of this! Tell me the real reason for this. You have never interfered in how I live my life. You sent me away to Randhir chachu because we couldn't afford it and I understand. I never minded. And even you didn't care. So why now? Why so much interference from your side?"

"It's because of me." 

Rohit's head snapped towards his older brother. "Bhaiya? What do you mean it's because of you?"

"Rohit, I'm sorry. I've been avoiding this for months, hoping it wouldn't come to this, but you deserve to know the truth. The reason our parents are pushing for this marriage... it's because of me and the mess I made."

Rohit's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about, Bhaiya? What mess?"

Rahul ran a hand over his face. "You know how the business has been struggling for a while now. We made some bad investments last year, and it left us in a pretty dire financial situation. I tried everything to fix it, but the debts kept piling up."

Their father interjected. "Rahul had to take loans from some big players, Rohit. Karja itna bad gaya  hai ki dhayad ye ghar bhi bechna pade."

Rohit's face turned pale. "You mean... you're selling me off like some business asset to clear your debts?"

Rahul's shoulders slumped. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, Rohit. I never wanted you involved. But Aanya's family offered us a way out. They knew about our situation. Her father approached us with a proposal — if you marry Aanya, they'd help us clear the debts and invest in the business to get us back on our feet. Aanya likes you and I don't see anything wrong with it, she seems like a good girl."

Rohit shook his head. "You've never asked for my help before. You never even cared when I had to live with chachu because we couldn't afford to keep me here. And now, suddenly, I'm the solution to all your problems?"

"I'm sorry, Rohit. I know I've let you down. But please understand, this is our last chance. If you refuse, I don't know what will happen to our family."

Rohit's face twisted with sadness and anger. He looked at his brother, his father, and finally his mother, who stood silently with tears brimming in her eyes. He took a step back.

 "You're asking me to sacrifice my happiness for a business deal?"

 "Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the people we love, Rohit. It's not fair, but this is the reality. You owe us. You should do this for your family." His father said.

"I owe you?"

"I sent to Mumbai. You are what you are because of me!"

"You sent me because you saw me as a burden!"

"I did what I had to do! We were struggling, and you were young. It was a difficult time, but I made sure you got a good education, a chance at a better life. And now, when we need you, this is how you repay us?"

"If you don't agree to this marriage, Rohit, you're not just turning your back on this family. You're turning your back on everything we've built. On every sacrifice we made for you."

Rohit's eyes filled with unshed tears. "You're the one who turned your back on me first," he said quietly. "And now you're asking me to give up the one person who has stood by me through everything? I won't do it. I can't."

With that, he turned on his heel to storm out of the room when a voice stopped him from behind.

"Yahi sikhaya hai kya Maine tumhe Rohit?" 

Rohit stopped in his tracks at the voice of his chachu. He turned.

"Chachu aap? Dekhiye n chachu ye log kya keh rahe hai..."

"Chalo mere saath ek minute." Randhir grabbed Rohit's hand and dragged him to his room. He pushed open the door to Rohit's room and pulled him inside, shutting the door behind them.

"Chachu, what are you doing? " Rohit snapped, yanking his hand free.

"Rohit you have no choice beta...You must marry this girl."

"Chachu aap bhi?" Rohit put a hand over his eyes. "Aap toh mere saath the... aap hi toh samjhte the mujhe. Aap se ye umeed nahi thi," he said

"Main tumhe majboor nahi kar raha, Rohit. Main bas tumse ye keh raha hoon ki apne parivaar ke liye ek baar socho. Tumhe lagta hai mujhe tumhara dard nahi samajh aata?"

Rohit let out a bitter laugh, tears stinging his eyes. "Aap samajhte hain? Toh phir kyun? Kyun kar rahe hain ye sab?"

Randhir swallowed hard. "Kyunki agar ye shaadi nahi hui, toh tumhare papa ke paas kuch bhi nahi bachega, Rohit. Unhone apne saare sapne tum par lagaye hain. You can't let your family down beta. You are the only hope now."

Rohit wiped away his tears. "Fine. Kitne paise chhaiye, main data hoon na. Bolo kitne chhahiye?"

"Bohot jyada hai beta."

Rohit gritted his teeth. "Kitne jyada, chachu?"

"98 crore. Hai tumhare pass?"

Rohit closed his eyes. 

"Nahi hai na..."

"Abhi nahi hai itne, lekin aa jayenge chachu. Main guarantee deta hu. Mere pass abhi bohot saare endorsements hai, ads hai.... aa jayenge."

Randhir looked at his nephew. His face softened as he saw the desperation in Rohit's eyes. He placed a firm hand on Rohit's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Rohit," he said slowly, "Time nahi hai humare paas." He paused, searching Rohit's eyes. "Agar tum itna paisa laa paate ho, toh theek hai. Tumhari marzi, tumhari zindagi. Par agar nahi laa paaye, toh tumhe yeh shaadi karni padegi. Samjhe?"

Rohit stepped back. "Chachu, main iski naubat hi nahi aane dunga."

With that, Rohit turned away. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Aanya," he said sharply the moment she answered. "Meet me at Harbour Point. I need to talk to you. Right now."

"Rohit—"

"Now, Aanya," he snapped. "It's important."

Before she could respond, he hung up the call, shoving the phone back into his pocket. Rohit reached Harbour Point and scanned the area for Aanya.

He spotted Aanya standing by the railing. He approached her quickly. She turned at the sound, her face lighting up with a smile, but it faded when she saw the storm brewing in his eyes.

"Why did you say yes, Aanya?" Rohit demanded, cutting straight to the point. He stopped a few feet away from her.

Aanya tilted her head slightly. "Say yes to what?"

"Don't play games with me!" Rohit snapped. "To the marriage. Why did you agree to marry me in front of our parents?"

Aanya looked down pursing her lips. "Maybe because I like you? Why can't you ever see it?"

"Aanya, where is this coming from? You've never shown any sign that you actually cared about me beyond some casual flirtation."

"Maybe because I was scared!" she snapped. "Because I knew I didn't stand a chance against your perfect little girlfriend. You always made it clear that no one could take her place."

Rohit sighed. "I love her Aanya. You have no idea how much."

"Why? Why do love her so much when all she is doing is sabotaging you?"

Rohit stiffened. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice low but dangerous.

"Your family is in so much debt, you need all the money you can get. Then why did she cancel your brand endorsement with Dream11?"

"What nonsense?"

"I'm saying exactly what you heard. The Dream11 deal—the one worth crores—was rejected. Not by you, but by your sweet little girlfriend."

"That's impossible. I never said no to that deal. We needed that money... I—" He ran a hand through his hair, pacing in agitation. "Why would she do that? And how would you even know this?"

"Your manager called me," Aanya stated, "to confirm the deal. But then your girlfriend made him reject it."

Rohit's face went pale "No... she wouldn't do that."

Aanya gave a bitter laugh. "You can talk to your manager if you think I am lying."

Rohit's hand shook as he held his phone, dialing Ankit's number. The phone rang twice before his manager picked up.

"Hello? Rohit, kya hua?" Ankit's voice came through, cheerful and oblivious.

"Ankit, I need to ask you something important," Rohit said, his voice strained.

"Of course, go ahead."

"The Dream11 endorsement deal... you told me we were moving forward with it. Then why did I hear it was rejected?" Rohit demanded.

"Rohit...I rejected it because Vritika told me too."

Rohit felt a cold wave of realization wash over him. He gripped the phone tighter.

"And you didn't think to confirm this with me directly?" His voice was dangerously quiet.

"I'm sorry, Rohit. I really thought it was your decision," Ankit stammered. "I never imagined she would make such a decision without your consent. I—I should have checked with you. I'm really sorry, man."

Rohit took a deep breath. "Alright. Thanks, Ankit. I'll handle this."

 Rohit let out a frustrated growl and hurled his phone across the empty parking lot. It crashed against the concrete shattering the screen into pieces.

He grasped his hair with both hands, clenching his fists tightly as he tugged at the roots.

"I am so sorry Rohit. " Aanya put her hand on his shoulder. 

"Why would she do this?" he muttered under his breath. He sank down onto the curb, burying his face in his hands. He felt lost.

Aanya knelt beside him placing a hand on his shoulder. "Rohit, I'm sorry."

"She would never do something like that....I don't believe it."

"You still don't get it do you Rohit?. Vritika is an independent girl with a lot or self respect or arrogance just like her brother. "

"Stup up."

"She saw you getting famous, your endorsements growing. She saw your success, and I bet that hurt her pride. She couldn't stand to see you becoming bigger than her."

"I said shut the hell up! I don't want to hear another word from you."

Without another word, he stormed off. His heart ached with every step, but he couldn't stop himself. He needed answers, and he wouldn't rest until he got them, no matter where they led. 

He would hear it from her own mouth then only he would believe it.  And if it was indeed true....it left him with no choice.

******

A/N

Poor Ro.... What do you think? Has Vritika done it or is this a plot? 🫡🫡