Golden Rays of the sun peeks through the glass window as the curtains were slightly parted & it fall on a peacefully sleeping madhu's face making her stir in her sleep & soon she opened her sleepy eyes..she looked at the timepiece kept on the side table.. It shows Past 7.. She shook her head.. Usually she wake up earlier than this but the effect of the pill that she had taken last night made her sleep a bit more time.. Getting off the bed she walks to washroom for her morning rotine.. Changing into a new pair of clothes after her shower she stepped out of her room & headed towards the hall where her father is sitting on the couch reading news paper as usual.. A smile crossed on her lips seeing her father, her best friend, & what not...?? He is her everything.. She took kitten steps towards him making sure that he is unaware of her presence... Reaching right on his back she circled her hands around his neck, hugging him saying "Happy Birthday, Papa.. "

"Hey, sweety.."shamseer Malik, her papa, her best friend, & He her  everything said smiling.. 

"come..sit.. "he said by patting the place beside him on the couch..madhu went to him & sat there.. 

"Now say, what gift my papa want from me today.. ??"madhu asked him by hugging him from side smiling happily..Malik's lips automatically pulled up into a smile seeing his daughter smiling.. After his wife's death, he lived for her..His daughter is his everything as if he is for her.. Even a single tear in her eyes crush his heart.. He was already shattered seeing her devastated state but now his face lit up seeing his daughter smiling so warmly.. Before also she used to smile at him but it never reached her eyes but now things seem different & he felt it's the right time to ask her what he wanted.. 

"U will give me anything that i ask??"Malik asked her turning to her.. 

"yes.."she said.. 

"I want U to get married, madhu.. "the bomb falls right on her head .. Seeing the change in her expression he said "I will never force you dear.. U r my everything.. If u don't like then no need, don't know y I'm behaving like a typical father but after all I'm your father, like every fathers me too want to see my daughter leading a happy life with her husband & children, but in any way if it hurt u, then.. "he paused for a moment "Ur happiness is the only thing i want.. It's the biggest gift that u can ever give me..."he said by caressing her hairs ..

"I.. I.. Give me some time papa .. I want to think.. "she said in a low tone.. 

"Take ur own time sweety, if it is negative or positive I don't care, I just care for u & ur happiness.. I don't want to do any thing against ur will.. "he said.. Nodding her head madhu stood up & left from there to her room.. Once she reached in her room she closed the door & give in to her tears.. It's been 3 yrs still she isn't able to forget anything.. She went to the wardrobe & opened it.. She took a small box from it which is kept there with her clothes.. She opened it and takes a folded paper from it.. She unfolds it & read.. A drop of tear rolled down her cheeks.. "Papa is right.. I should move on.. I hurts my papa a lot even though he didn't deserve it.. I can't hurt him more.. "with the thought she folded the paper & kept it back & went to hall for informing her father about her decision.. She saw him sitting on the same position where he was when she went to her room... He was lost in thoughts.. Taking a deep breath she went to him & called him to get his attention.. 

"Papa.. I'm ready for the marriage..."she said by controlling her tears which is ready to fall off her eyes at any moment.. 

"madhu... R u willingly agreeing for this..? "Malik asks unable to believe his daughter's words through he felt very happy hearing it.. As a reply she shakes her head smiling it's better say forced a smile on her face for her father.. 

"I'm so happy for u madhu... "he smiled with happy tears in his eyes, it was enough for madhu.. She smiled at him & left from there.. 

***   ***   ***

"Rishu, v want to know the reason.. Y don't u want a marriage now..?"radha asked her son losing her patience...

"I just don't want to get married, Mom.. "he said her calmly, as possible as he can..

"V want to know the reason that y u don't want a marriage now..??" radha asked him again.. 

"I don't want a marriage now, that's it.."he said with finality.. 

"U r 28 Rishu..."radha said him.. 

"so what..??"rk asks getting irritated.. 

"U r in marriageable age now, U won't get any girl if v keep waiting.. "radha said him.. 

"Then i don't want a marriage, okay..??"he said & furiously walks away leaving radha in tears.. She is not getting y her son is like this.. She know something is wrong with him but she failed to find what it is.. 

**Ding-Dong**

Hearing the calling bell she went to open the door to find sikky, rk's bestie standing there.. 

"Namasthea, Auntyji.. "sikky politely greets her.. 

"Hah.. Sikky beta, come inside.. "she said by smiling.. Sikky walked inside & found tears in her eyes.. 

"Auntyji, U were crying..?? "she asked her confused.. 

"No beta, it's..it's nothing.. Something had gone in my eyes.."radha said by fumbling with her words.. 

"Patil..bring something to drink & eat.. "radha ordered one of the servant there.. 

"No auntyji, I don't need anything.. "sikky tried to decline it politely but gave in before radha's insist..

After a few chit chat sikky asked her "what's the matter, auntyji..??"..radha looked him confused...

"I know u were crying.. What happened..?? "sikky asked by making his question more clear to radha.. Seeing radha silent sikky asked her "Again marriage matter came up..??"..Radha nodded her head..

"I don't know what to do.. He is so stubborn.. "she said sadly...

"I will talk to him.."sikky said..

"U will..??"radha asks with hope in reply sikky nods his head with a smile.. 

Rk was sitting on the bed frustrated with himself.. He is burning in his sorrow & everyone want see him married.. Damn..!!

"Rk.. "he turns hearing a familiar voice & finds his friend standing there.. 

"Hey, sikky..?!!"he went to him delighted..

"what a pleasant surprise.. "rk says by smiling.. 

"How r u.. ??"sikky asks him with a equal smile.. 

"U know how am i.. "his face falls a bit.. 

"it's been 5 years.. Still u can't forget..??"sikky asked him.. 

"until i die.. "he said.. 

"u should move on.. "sikky said for which rk stared at him in disbelief.. 

"sikky.. After knowing all u r saying this to me..??"rk asks his friend by running his fingers through his hairs to calm down his nerves.. 

"I don't want to marry anyone...I can't.. "he says by closing his eyes tightly...

"Rk...I think u should hear ur parent's words.. "sikky said to him rk whose eyes are  welled up with up hot tears.. 

"No, I won't.. I can't.."rk said.. 

"Rk stop behaving like this.. U r hurt, y u want to hurt ur parents too..?? At least for them.. Just try man.. U can.. U may fall in love again.."sikky said..

"No way.."rk stated..sikky signed loudly.. 

"ok.. If u r thinking like that then don't, at least agree for the marriage for ur parents sake.. If u hurt them more, Rk even god won't forgive u.. "sikky said... 

"what u want me to do, sikky..??"he asked by wiping his tears which r freely flowing down his cheeks.. 

"say yes for the marriage.. "sikky said.. 

"say my Mom that I'm ready for the marriage.. "he said by making a strong face..sikky looked him surprised & hugged him.. 

One week later 

In Malik Mansion 

"Madhu..Did u get ready..??they will reach here by anytime.. "Malik excitedly calls out for his daughter.. 

"hah.. Papa.. "came madhu's voice from inside room..

Malik hears the sound of a car soon they heard the sound of doorbell & one of the servant went to open the door & as Malik assumed it was none another than kundras.. He warmly welcomed them inside.. 

"Make urself comfortable, please.. "Malik said.. 

Mohan, radha & Rk sat on the couch while Malik sat on the single seater opposite to them..

"I will call madhu.. "Malik said..

"Madhu.. "he called her & madhu came there with juice tray in her hand & gives it to her would be in-laws.. After that she went back to her father like an obedient child, by that time the maids placed snacks on the small glass tea table in between them ...radha looked at mohan & gave him an approval smile & then smiled at madhu & she returned the smile.. Radha gestured Mohan to proceed further.. 

"Malikji, v like the girl & v r ready to go on with this alliance.. "Mohan said with a smile.. 

"But before that v should ask our children na.. Rishu, did u like the girl..??"radha asked rk a bit nervously & he give them a slight nod more to radha's relief.. 

"do you want to talk with her..??"Mohan asked him.. 

"yes.. "this time he replied.. 

"Madhu.. "Malik calls & madhu smiles at him & went with rk to have some private talk.. Soon they reached her room.. He cleared his throat to say the things he wanted to say her.. 

"I want to say u something.. "rk starts.. 

"hmm.. "

"That.. I.. "he was about to say but then he remembers sikky's words.. Then thousands of questions popped up in his mind.. Should he say her..??or shouldn't he..?? Will she agree for the marriage after knowing it..?? Or she will scream out the truth to everyone.. 

"yes.. "madhu said him gently seeing him standing there still.. 

"Ah.. That.. Did u like me.. I mean.. This.. Marriage.. "he blabbers without knowing what to say.. 

"I want to say something to u.. "she said him which gained his attention.. 

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