She stood there with a ray of hope in her doe-shaped eyes,heart palpating with dry lips.

She wets her lips by running her tongue on them while her fingers knotting behind her back in Hope. Hope of happening something good.

Her eyes looking at the man standing in front of her with a weary face and few white hair strands on his scalp among black hair.

He looks tired,old!

She saw him after so long.

She observed. And a pang of guilt hit her heart as she realised That she didn't spend much time with him. that she couldn't live with her father, couldn't care for him.

She observed him keenly as she was seeing him after so long. Sure, she met him in Her grandpa's funeral. But she couldn't see him properly,observe his tired face.

After observing him fully,she ran her eyes to her mother. Who was standing there beside her husband with a small smile and longing in her eyes. Her teary eyes were making her feel more guilty. For seperating a daughter from her mother.

She gazed at all her family members whom faces were just reflecting the pain,the longing in their eyes for her.

She missed them so much

She composed herself and blinked back the tears which filled her eyes seeing her family.

Just then someone cleared his throat. Naira looked at her father gazing at her. She looked at him expectantly.

"I called you to talk about something!" He started and she nodded at him to go on.

"Since childhood,you were a rebel. when we didn't want you to study. And didn't support you. You left the house and continued it. Every time you went opposite to us. Our opinion.. And I know you will continue the same. But as a father,can I ask you to do something?" He asked.

Naira looked up. And answered confidently and surely.

"Yes Papa,You can ask me to do anything. I will do.. But except leaving my studies."

She sure as hell did wrong by not concentrating on her relations,her bonds. But she would never consider her decision of continuing study wrong. She knows she was right and she is! So she can't leave her studies. Except that,she is ready to do everything which her father want.

Adesh,Her father's eyes turned icy. Seeing her daughter's stubbornness. He was still living in the age of 90s. Where making her daughter study was nothing but wastage of money.

His believes,his thoughts still hasn't  changed. And he never wants to change them.

But still he knew that it was not a problem to him. She can study like she was doing. He is not becoming a  restriction in it but won't support her in the thing he doesn't believe.

But Today,he wanted something different from her.

"As you know,every parents have some dreams for their children. The dream to see their children settle down,get married. So I want to fix your marriage. Atleast,you can give us this. You never fulfilled the duties of a daughter. So now you have opportunity to do that. If you will do this. Then maybe I can support in your useless studies.. even if I Don't want to. And You can live here again. Like you used to in your childhood."her father explained.

Naira's eyes widened listening her father's word. She could hardly believe her ears.

"Marriage?" She croakily asked.

"Yes.. just want to fix your marriage. It is my wish. Your father's wish. If you still want to run away from here then you can but remember Naira You have this last option with you. If you lost it. I wouldn't want to see your face again and our relation will be broken for good. So yeah,think about it." He explained acting non-chalantly.

While Sarita, Naira's mom fidgeted with her Sarree's pallu under the pleading gaze of her daughter.

While Ayush has the same expression of bewilderment which naira was carrying now.

"But Papa...marriage?  Pls papa. I don't wanna get married now." She pleaded.

"Don't worry. I will just fix your marriage. After your studies will be completed. You will be married off. But if you agree about this then there is no going back." Her father made it clear.

And naira just couldn't fathom what to do. She wanted her parents in her lives. But at the cost of kartik?

What will happen to them if her marriage will be fixed with someone unknown to her. That will be a betrayal to Kartik. His face flashed in front of her eyes. And she could feel tears filling in her eyes.

I can't leave him. She concluded. But can she leave her parents again when she has been given an opportunity to mend her relationship with them?

She could feel an immense pain in her head. Because of all this. She didn't know what to do. She wanted her parents. But not at the cost of him.

But she doesn't have any other option but to choose between them.

Between her loved ones. One who raised her,Loved her,moulded her in a person today she is and second who gave her a reason to live again,who made her dull life happy.

She was confused,Confused to choose whom? Everyone in the hall left to their rooms except Ayush who was upset, utterly upset seeing his sister in such a miserable condition.

He walked upto her engulfing her In a hug ..wanting to calm her down, wanting to do something for his sister. But he was helpless.

While Naira's heart sank when she thought that she can only have one of them in her life. Her parents or kartik.

Why can't this or change into and. Why can't she live her life with both of them.

She was told to choose between the two most important people of her life. Choose. she bitterly chuckled thinking about her misfortune. That how she can never be given full happiness. Everytime one piece is always missing in her life. When she finds out that one then another one gets missing.

She has been given choice. But Has she been really?