Aarav sat in his room, carefully working on a painting, his fingers stained with different shades of color as he meticulously added details to his artwork. He reached out for a brush, feeling around for it on the table, and just as his fingers grasped it, he heard his mother's voice echo from the hallway.

"Aarav, ready ho jaa," his mother, Rano, called out.

Aarav paused, his hand freezing mid-motion. "Maa, kisliye?" he asked, already sensing the answer but still hoping for something else.

"Ladki waale aa rahe hai tujhe dekhne," Rano replied, her tone firm.

Aarav's heart sank. He placed the brush back on the table and slowly turned to face his mother, who had now entered his room, a determined look on her face. "Maa, kyun? Aap janti ho mera sach janne ke baad koi bhi mujhse rishta nahi karega," he said, his voice tinged with both frustration and resignation. The truth of his condition-his blindness-was something that often overshadowed his life, despite the warmth and love he carried inside him.

Rano's expression hardened. "Behis mat kar Aaru, mujhse. Teri shaadi hogi, zaroor hogi," she insisted, her tone unyielding. It wasn't just about finding Aarav a wife-it was about societal expectations, her desire to see her son live a 'normal' life, to feel that she had fulfilled her duty as a mother.

Aarav sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. He knew that resisting would only make things more difficult. "Thik hai Maa, main hota hoon tayyar," he finally agreed, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. He added softly, "Par mujhe pata hai kya hoga..."

Rano, however, refused to listen to his doubts. Her face softened as she smiled, hopeful that this time things would be different. She walked over to him and gently touched his shoulder. "Aaru, sab thik ho jayega. Bas tu taiyar ho ja," she said before walking out of the room, leaving Aarav standing there with a mix of resignation and sadness.

As she left, Aarav turned back towards his painting, staring at the unfinished strokes on the canvas. He didn't need sight to know how things would unfold. He had experienced this routine before-the hopeful visitors, the polite smiles, and then the quiet rejection after they learned the truth. Still, for his mother's sake, he would go through it again.

Anirudh had overheard the entire conversation between Aarav and Rano as he passed by the hallway. His heart ached for Aarav, knowing how much his brother was hurt by the constant pressure of marriage and the rejection that followed. Unable to stay silent any longer, he approached Rano.

"Maa..." he called softly, trying to find the right words.

But Rano turned to him with a cold glare. "Main tumhari Maa nahi hoon," she replied sharply, her voice filled with disdain.

Anirudh clenched his jaw for a moment, but then spoke with quiet frustration. "Mrs. Rano! Kyun aap usey hurt kar rahi hain? Meri toh insult karne mein aap koi kasar nahi chhodti, par apne sage bete ko bhi aap baar-baar bahar waalo ke saamne insult karti rehti hain," he said, his voice rising slightly as the weight of years of tension started to pour out.

Rano's eyes narrowed, her anger palpable. "Main uska bhale ka soch rahi hoon, samjhe tum! Aur tum hote kaun ho mujhe sahi galat samjhane waale?" she snapped. Her tone dripped with venom as she stepped closer. "Tum jalte ho na mere bete se, kyunki usey sab kuch mila hai! Isliye tum aise keh rahe ho."

Anirudh's fists clenched at her words, but he remained composed. He took a deep breath, knowing there was no point in trying to reason with her. "Aapko jo sochna hai, sochiye," he said quietly, his voice calm but firm.

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away, his steps heavy with frustration and sadness. He knew Rano would never see him as anything more than an outsider, no matter how much he had done for Aarav or the family. Her words cut deep, but he had learned to carry that pain in silence.

As he moved down the hallway, he could hear the faint sound of his heart beating faster, his thoughts clouded with the same question that always haunted him-how much longer could he bear this? But even with that weight pressing down on him, he couldn't stop himself from caring for Aarav. That bond was stronger than any insult or rejection Rano could throw his way.

Anirudh entered Aarav's room, and without even looking, Aarav could sense his presence. A soft smile formed on Aarav's lips, as if just knowing his brother was near brought him comfort. "Ani," he called, "mere liye koi shirt nikal de."

Anirudh didn't say a word. He walked over to Aarav's wardrobe, searching for a shirt that would suit the occasion. Finding a crisp one, he handed it to Aarav, who slowly began to wear it. As Aarav adjusted the shirt, Anirudh spoke quietly but with certainty. "Yeh rishta pakka hoga," he said, his voice filled with conviction.

Aarav paused for a moment, his hands stilling on the buttons as he tried to reach for Anirudh. "Sach... main bhi janta hoon, Ani," he replied, his voice heavy with unspoken pain.

Anirudh, feeling the weight of Aarav's emotions, stepped closer. "Aarav, tum bahut ache ho, saaf dil hai tumhara," he said, trying to soothe his brother's doubts, his voice soft but firm.

Aarav let out a deep sigh, his hands falling to his sides. "Usse sachai nahi badal jayegi, Ani. Mujhmein ek bahut badi kami hai... koi bhi ladki aisa pati nahi chahegi jo usey dekh hi nahi sakta," he said, his voice breaking slightly as the pain he usually kept hidden seeped into his words.

Anirudh, unable to bear the sadness in Aarav's voice, quickly cupped his brother's face in his hands. "Mera bhai bahut acha hai," Anirudh said, his voice strong with love and belief. "Mera dil kehta hai yeh rishta pakka zaroor hoga."

Aarav could feel the sincerity in Anirudh's words, and despite the doubts gnawing at him, a smile crept onto his face. His brother had always been his strength, the one who never let him lose hope, even when he himself felt like giving up. "Tere dil ki baat sach ho jaye, Ani," Aarav whispered, his voice filled with gratitude and a glimmer of hope.

Anirudh gently patted Aarav's cheek, offering him the silent reassurance that no matter what happened, he would always be there.

Downstairs in the grand hall of the Oberoi Mansion, the atmosphere buzzed with quiet anticipation. Rano and Alok stood near the entrance, ready to welcome the prospective bride and her family. As the large wooden doors swung open, they greeted them with polite smiles.

"Namaste, Oberoi ji!" Rajesh, the girl's father, said warmly, his hands folded in respect.

Rano smiled graciously and gestured for them to sit. The family settled down on the plush couches, their eyes glancing around the opulent surroundings. Rano's gaze fell on Anjali, the girl in question. She was dressed modestly in a light pink saree, her nervousness evident in her delicate smile.

Rano, casting a warm smile toward the young woman, said, "Anjali beta, bahut sundar ho tum! Mere bete ke saath ek dum perfect lagogi." Her tone was filled with pride, clearly hoping this match would proceed smoothly.

Anjali smiled politely, her nerves barely contained, and she waited for Aarav to make his entrance. Moments later, the soft sound of footsteps echoed as Aarav appeared, carefully taking each step while holding onto Anirudh's hand for support. As the two brothers made their way downstairs, Aarav exuded quiet confidence despite relying on Anirudh for guidance. Once seated on the couch, Aarav tried to sense his surroundings, using subtle gestures to feel the presence of those around him.

As the conversation resumed, Rajesh curiously asked, "Business toh tum hi sambhalte ho na?"

Aarav smiled gently and, still holding Anirudh's hand, replied, "Main kaise sambhal sakta hoon? Mera bhai sab sambhalta hai." He tilted his head slightly toward Anirudh, acknowledging his brother's constant support. "Main toh paintings banata hoon," Aarav added, with a hint of pride.

Anjali, assuming that Aarav had simply chosen a different path, smiled, admiring his decision. "That's nice... aapne apna passion chuna, family business nahi," she said, her tone admiring.

However, Aarav sensed the disconnect and turned to his mother, his expression one of slight confusion. "Maa, aapne inhe bataya nahi?" he asked, his voice quiet but concerned.

Rajesh, now curious, asked, "Kya nahi bataya?"

Before Aarav could speak, Alok interjected with a smile, "Toh Rajesh ji, rishta pakka samjhu?"

Rajesh hesitated, "Haan, lekin yeh..." He started, unsure of how to proceed.

But Rano quickly chimed in, eager to push things along. "Are bhai sahab, baatein toh hoti rahengi... muh mitha kijiye!" She said, trying to divert the conversation as she offered sweets.

Aarav, feeling uneasy, attempted to speak again, but no one seemed to notice his discomfort. The conversation continued without pause until Anjali, still seated beside Aarav, asked softly, "Aapko main kaisi lagi, Aarav?"

Aarav paused for a moment, his brow furrowing as he responded honestly, "Sorry, main aapko dekh nahi sakta, sirf feel kar sakta hoon." He gently raised his hand, attempting to touch her face to better understand her presence.

Anjali froze at his words. Her eyes widened in shock as she quickly jerked his hand away. "What?? Aap dekh nahi sakte?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

The sudden outburst caused a heavy silence to fall over the room. Aarav, his heart sinking, lowered his hand slowly, the sting of rejection unmistakable. The hopeful energy in the room was replaced by an awkward tension as everyone waited to see what would happen next.

The atmosphere in the grand hall grew tense as Rajesh's shock was palpable. His voice, edged with disbelief, cut through the uneasy silence. "Alokji! Aapka beta andha hai?" he asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Rano and Alok remained silent, their faces a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. They knew this revelation would be a blow, but the extent of the reaction was unexpected.

Anjali, her voice tinged with disappointment and anger, addressed Rano. "Aunty! Aapne apne bete ki tasveer dikhayi, itna kuch kaha kitna acha hai aapka beta, par yeh nahi bataya ki wo dekh nahi sakta..." Her words were harsh but held a note of betrayal, reflecting her own sense of being misled.

Rano, trying to salvage the situation, began to explain, "Beta, mere bete ki achai..."

But before she could finish, Rajesh's frustration erupted. "Apne paas hi rakhiye! Mere beti zindagi bhar ek andhe ki patni banke nahi bita sakti hai, Ranoji. Aap business ke bahane apna bojh hamare upar daalne chale they! Main apni beti ki zindagi barbaad nahi karunga, samjhe aap?" His words were sharp and final, filled with the anger of a father unwilling to see his daughter in a difficult situation.

Tears welled up in Aarav's eyes as he listened to the harsh words. The pain was evident on his face, but Anirudh's anger flared up in response to the insult. "Mr. Rajesh! Mera bhai anda hai toh kya use jeene ka haq nahi hai?? Aap uske ghar mein khade hoke uski insult kar rahe hain... Get out from here!" he said, his voice rising with a mix of hurt and fury.

Aarav reached out and gently held Anirudh's hand, trying to calm him. "Nahi, Ani, sach hi bol rahe hain yeh... Main bojh hi hoon aur yeh bojh koi ladki kyun uthaye," he said softly, his voice breaking as he acknowledged the painful truth.

Rajesh, feeling his anger dissipate into a mix of regret and resolve, began to leave. Alok stepped in, trying to mediate. "Rajesh, please..."

But Rajesh was resolute. "No, Alok!" he said firmly, and with that, he exited the mansion, his family trailing behind him.

As the door closed behind them, the room fell into a deep silence. Rano, her face a mix of anger and frustration, turned on Anirudh. "Kya zaroorat thi tumhe bolne ki? Hum baat kar rahe they na," she scolded him, her voice filled with resentment.

Anirudh, still seething, looked at her, the pain of the day etched clearly on his face. The situation had spiraled out of control, and the weight of what had just transpired hung heavily in the air. The hall, once a place of hopeful meetings, now felt heavy with the sting of rejection and the shadow of disappointment.

Alok slumped into a nearby chair, the weight of the failed alliance hitting him hard. His voice was heavy with frustration and sadness. "Rano, kya karunga main? Phir se mere bete ka rishta nahi hua!" he lamented, his tone filled with resignation and defeat.

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, Aarav quietly got up and made his way to his room. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, the sting of rejection and the burden of his family's disappointment weighing heavily on him. He stumbled through the door of his room, his usually steady hands now trembling as he tried to find his paintbrush. His mind was so disturbed that he struggled to locate it, the room seeming to blur around him.

Finally, he found the brush, but his attempts to paint were futile. The strokes were erratic, the colors blending into chaotic smears on the canvas. The artistic expression he usually found solace in now seemed to mock his distress.

Just then, Anirudh entered the room, his concern evident as he noticed Aarav's struggle. He walked over and gently took the brush from Aarav's unsteady hands. "Aaru," he said softly, his voice filled with empathy.

Aarav managed a faint smile, though his eyes were clouded with sorrow. "Tu kyun dukhi ho raha hai? Main toh pehle se janta tha yahi hoga... Par dekhna meri wajah se maa papa ki bhi beizatti hoti hai," he said, his voice tinged with both resignation and self-reproach.

Anirudh, seeing his brother's pain, reached out and took Aarav's hand in his own. "Sab thik hoga!" he reassured him, his voice firm but comforting. He pulled Aarav into a warm embrace, holding him tightly as if to shield him from the world's harshness.

In that moment, the warmth of Anirudh's hug provided a stark contrast to the cold disappointment that had just unfolded downstairs. The two brothers stood in a silent embrace, their shared understanding and bond offering a momentary respite from the storm of emotions. For Aarav, the reassurance from his brother was a small but significant source of comfort, reminding him that, despite the setbacks, he was not alone.