Monami (in mind) - Ho sakta hai main kal uski ho jau, jisko uncle ne pasand kiya hai. Karan ji zaroor koi mazaak kar rahe honge, ye sab kuchh kabhi sach nahi ho sakta, kabhi bhi nahi!

Considering everything what he wrote and what she felt a mere joke, with thoughts of meeting Aneesh in her mind, Monami finally slept while the moon and the stars smiled sheepishly at these turns of destiny whose destination is known by none.

The next morning, Monami woke up with an unusual feeling and hope in her heart which was unknown to herself also. For the first time, she didn't know what to wish for. According to her, the guy who's chosen by Raghuveer can be a perfect match for her and the words which described Karan's feelings for her were a  mere joke. But is this the whole truth? She herself doesn't know.

Supriya excitedly entered Monami's with a beautiful saree in her hand along with some jewellery. Monami stood up in surprise seeing her.

Monami - Aunty, aap yaha?

Supriya - Haan beta, aaj ladke wale dekhne aa rahe hain na tujhe, ye saree pehen lena..bahot jachegi tujhpe. Aur haan beta, achhe se taiyaar hona...pure mann se. Main to itni khush hoon ki maine Karan ko aate waqt mithaai laane ke liye bhi bol diya!

Hearing Karan's name, a strange warmth filled Monami's heart which was bothering her a lot. Shrugging any other thoughts, she just picked up the saree and went to get ready. After a few minutes, when Monami came out of the bathroom, wearing the saree, she looked ethereal but still dull.

Detangling her hair while staring at nothing, Monami was only thinking about that one thing or rather that one person. She closed her eyes for a minute and the visual that gives her peace again came in front of her eyes making her smile wide. Since yesterday, this was the first time she had smiled. But soon, she shrugged off every thought and quickly went downstairs.

As Monami went in the kitchen, she saw Supriya instructing all the cooks and house helps which somewhat increased Monami's anxiety. Seeing Supriya and Raghuveer so excited made Monami's heart thump and right now, all she was thinking about was their happiness and all the things they've done for her.

Supriya's gaze fell on Monami and her lips curved into a wide smile. She hurriedly went to Monami and pecked her forehead while cupping her face, like a mother.

Supriya - Arre waah beta, kitni pyaari lag rahi ho!

Raghuveer entered the kitchen and heard what Supriya said and wanted to agree with it but somewhat the dullness on Monami's face was irking him. Even in the most difficult situations, he has not seen such confusion and fear on her face.

Raghuveer - Haan Supriya, pyaari to lag rahi hai lekin beta, ek baat bata..aaj iss pyaare se chehre ka noor kyu uda hua hai? Koi baat hai kya?

Monami got startled by how Raghuveer got to know about her but immediately just lowered her eyes. She can't let them know what's going in her mind after what all they've done for her all through her life. With slight wet eyes, which Monami immediately hid from SuVeer, she just shook her head and hugged Raghuveer, surprising him. 

Raghuveer (caressing her hair) - Kya ho gaya gudiya? Sab theek to hai na?

Supriya (smiling) - Ghabra rahi hai vo, itna bada din hai aaj..dil to ghabrayega hai. Aap nahi samjhoge!

Raghuveer just shook his head and Supriya and Monami just chuckled and everything seemed right, although it wasn't. On the huge highway, Karan was in his luxurious car, driving to Raghupur with the sweets which his mother has asked him to bring along while he was unaware of the reason behind the sweets. Suddenly, the car halted as Karan got stuck in huge traffic in front of him and he slammed the steering in frustration.

Karan (to himself) - Ahh, not this traffic! Pata nahi kya ho raha hai, traffic and this restless feeling. Kya ho raha hai mujhe? Ye ajeeb si bechaini kyu ho rahi hai?!

Being unaware of the weird restless sensation in his chest, Karan just waited being struck in the heavy traffic while on the other side, Aneesh, Monami's potential groom and his father, Akhilesh have arrived and were seated in the lawn along with Supriya and Raghuveer who had welcomed them. While those four were in the lawn, Monami was in the kitchen, trying to stabilize her heartbeats while preparing the tea. Her hands were shivering while pouring the tea in the cups and she was sweating like hell in fear and nervousness. 

In the lawn, the elders were having casual conversation while laughing while Aneesh had his eyes fixed on the gate, from where Monami is supposed to come. Raghuveer noticed it and chuckled. 

Raghuveer - Kya baat hai Aneesh beta, lagta hai bahot intezaar kar rahe ho humari bachi ki?

Upon hearing Raghuveer's words, Aneesh turned red as Akhilesh laughed at him while teasing him with his elbow. Raghuveer signaled something to Supriya, and she nodded and stood up. 

Supriya - Ab jab sab intezaar kar hi rahe hain to main Monami ko bula hi laati hoon. Tab tak aap sab ye nashta lijiye na, sab Monami ne apne haathon se banaya hai. 

Supriya went in and here Raghuveer offered those snacks to both Akhilesh and Aneesh. As Supriya went in the kitchen, she immediately held Monami's hands and made her look into her eyes.

Supriya - Monami beta, chal bahar jaa ab, ye chai lekar. Dhyaan rakhna beta, vo log bahot acchhe log hain. Hm? Bilkul ghabrana nahi, gudiya!

With trembling hands and fastened heartbeat, Monami picked up the tray of tea and proceeded to go to the lawn. Her heart was racing so fast due to some unknown fear and all she wanted was to vanish right in the moment. But as it was impossible, she had to go, if not for herself but for the sake of Raghuveer's pride. With her head hung low and zero expressions on her face, Monami went in the lawn where Raghuveer along with Akhilesh and Aneesh have been waiting for her. 

The moment Monami entered, draped in that beautiful saree, Aneesh couldn't control himself and unknowingly stood up. This reaction of Aneesh's made the other two men chuckle inaudibly. Supriya came behind Monami and helped her keep the tray on the table and made her sit beside Aneesh. The moment she sat down, even Aneesh took his seat but not even for a second, he could take his eyes off her. 

Aneesh (in mind) - Kya khubsoorat ladki hai, ab tak kaha thi ye?! Mujhe kuchh nahi pata, shaadi karunga to isse hi! Isko to zindagi bhar apni hi banakar rakhunga!

The way Aneesh kept looking at Monami and stared at her without even blinking once, made Monami a little uneasy but she kept looking down. Supriya, Raghuveer and Akhilesh noticed it and smiled due to Aneesh's antics. 

Raghuveer - Akhilesh ji, ye hai humari bitiya, kuchh puchh lijiye agar aap chahe to.

Akhilesh - Aapki bitiya hai Sarpanch ji, kuchh puchhne-puchhane ki gunjaish hi nahi hai. Lekin fir bhi, beta..abhi kya padhai kar rahe ho aap? Aur kab tak khatam hogi aapki padhai?

Monami lifted her eyelids and with shyness in her eyes, looked at Akhilesh to answer him. And that was the moment when Aneesh saw her eyes and just started drooling over her. With politeness in her voice, Monami shifted a bit to answer Akhilesh. 

Monami (timidly) - Uncleji, main abhi MBBS kar rahi hoon, doctor banne ki padhai. Ye to aur 3 saal mein khatam ho jayega magar iske baad main MD bhi karna chahti hoon. 

Akhilesh nodded with a fake smile as he wasn't really interested in Monami's studies and her wanting to study even further than MBBS somewhat irked Akhilesh, but he really couldn't express what was going on in his mind. On the other side, Supriya and Raghuveer were feeling proud on how confidently yet politely put her perspective of her further studies and expected Aneesh and his family to understand and respect her decisions. 

On the other side, Karan was finally out of the hectic traffic and had entered Raghupur and was rushing towards his house as now his heart was pounding really heart and he was unknown to the reason. Pushing the accelerator more, he was in a hurry to reach his home and find his peace. But now, Aneesh and Monami have been insisted to talk in private, on the terrace, by Akhilesh. Though at first Monami was a little hesitant and skeptical but upon Supriya's insistence, she agreed and led Aneesh to the terrace. 

Monami walked ahead while Aneesh followed her, and they both stood near the boundary of the terrace at a respectful distance at each other. While Monami kept fidgeting with her fingers while looking down, being completely unhappy with the situation, Aneesh kept staring at her face, making her more uneasy. To break the ice, Monami thought to initiate as she has to do some conversation atleast for Raghuveer and Supriya. 

Monami - A..Aapne bataya nahi, aap kya karte hain?

Aneesh - Arre..mere kaam karne ki kya zaroorat hai. Pitaji sarpanch hain, unke baad main ban jaunga aur achhi-bhali zameen bhi hai humari!

This answer was a little setback for Monami as a guy with no ambition is a complete no for Monami and someone like Aneesh who's in the greed of his father's position just for the sake of the respect he'll be getting is not whom Monami wants in her life. 

Aneesh - Vaise ek baat kahu? Badi sureeli awaaz hai aapki! 

Monami smiled shortly and looked down taking Aneesh's words as a compliment not knowing what he really meant with his words. But what he said next gave Monami a bit of clarity of Aneesh's mindset. 

Aneesh - Main to chahta hoon ki shaadi ke turant baad hi hum khushkhabri le aaye taaki humare bacho ko aapki sureeli awaaz mein lori sunne ko mil sake!

The smile that Monami was trying to hold till now, immediately dropped listening to what Aneesh said. She herself loves kids a lot and really want to have kids but having kids immediately after marriage that too when its completely the guy's decision is something she's really not looking forward to. Monami started looking here and there being uncomfortable of Aneesh's words and that's when she realized something. 

It is the same place where a day ago, she was standing with Karan, in all her vulnerability and tears but felt the most of comfort without even having any named relation with him. But being with Aneesh at the same place, who can be her future groom, expressing just a little element of her true self seemed complicated to her and that's when the difference between a man and a boy hit her. 

While she looked around, Aneesh just kept blabbering about his huge amount of wealth and land he has and Monami was interested in none of them. Not being able to contain Aneesh's bragging about himself and his family, Monami looked past the boundaries of the terrace and what she saw, somewhat gave her a sense of security. A very familiar jet-black color car was approaching their house, and she knew who's the one in it. Unknowingly, a genuine soft smile appeared on Monami's face.

The smile that appeared on her face was something that she could never have with Aneesh and when he noticed it, he found it surprising.

Aneesh - Kya baat hai, bada muskura rahi hain aap meri baaton par!

Monami's trance broke and she immediately looked at Aneesh realising that he has mistook the purpose of her smile. She was about to shake her head and clear the air but that's when Supriya called Monami and Aneesh back in the lawn.

As they both went back in the lawn, their elders seemed to be very interested in what decision they've taken related to the alliance.

Supriya - Puchh liya beta jo puchhna tha?

Though there's nothing Monami said and it was only Aneesh talking without giving her a chance to express, but she still nodded her head. Akhilesh came ahead and nudged his elbow in Aneesh and asked her about his decision.

Akhilesh - Bata beta, kya kehna hai tera rishte ke baare mein?

Aneesh (blushing slightly) - Ah..pitaji, mujhe to Monami bahot pasand hain! Baaki..aao log dekh lijiye.

These words that came out of Aneesh's mouth seemed like a dagger that someone stabbed in Monami's gut and she saw all her dreams crashing down as she has this strong gut feeling that none of her ambitions would be praised in that household.

But contradictory to Monami's reaction, Supriya and Raghuveer were happy listening to Aneesh and shared a look of utter happiness. Akhilesh squealed in excitement and was about to hug Raghuveer, to congratulate him.

Akhilesh - Badhai ho sarpanch ji, ab to hum samdhi ban jayenge!

Raghuveer - Uh..aapko bhi bahut-bahut badhai magar Akhilesh ji, hume humari beti ka faisla bhi jaanna hai. Bata beta, kya faisla hai tera?

Akhilesh's face fell when Raghuveer said that he wants to know about Monami's decision also and that frustration was very evident on his face. According to Akhilesh, when Aneesh already liked Monami, then what's the need to even ask Monami about her opinion. But being forced to accept what Raghuveer said as he is the Sarpanch, Akhilesh kept mum.

Supriya (caressing Monami's hair) - Bata beta, tera kya faisla hai? Haan ya na?

Everyone's focus panned to Monami who had her head hung low, eyes ready to tear up any moment and chin that she was trying to control from wobbling. Her fingers fidgeted with each other in nervousness. While the others were taking her silence as shyness but only her heart knew what contemplation she's going through.

Amidst all, one thing was clear that Monami doesn't want to marry Aneesh at any cost. A guy who doesn't seem to respect her opinions, understand her dreams and ambitions can never be good husband but the moment she thought to spit out her decision, all the favours that SuVeer have done on her till date started coming in her mind as flashbacks.

How they accepted her when her own family abandoned her, how they treated her like their own daughter, how they supported her dreams, how they made her feel like a family and never forced her for anything and today, when all they want is just one thing from her, she can't be this selfish to not to contribute to pay back their favours. Monami lifted her eyes a bit and saw Raghuveer's eyes filled with the desire of seeing her as a bride and also held some expectations from her and she can sacrifice her own happiness but cannot see him being sad.

While her brain was busy reminding her of the great doings of SuVeer, her heart made her remember something else. Something that she felt with someone who isn't Aneesh. That comfort, that peace that her heart got with someone, which she can never get with Aneesh. Though Monami already know who that person is, she's just constantly denying to accept what her heart has already accepted.

Taking a deep breath, Monami was about to open her mouth to say something about her decision when a loud, shrill voice came from behind that made all of them look back in utter surprise.

-------------------

Thanks for reading! DO VOTE & COMMENT♥️