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Author's POV
Shivansh's mother, Meera, suggested a trip to the Mandir (temple) after the meal, in the evening, saying it would be a peaceful way to begin their gathering. Isha's parents agreed, albeit with slight hesitation.
" There is a temple nearby; we all keep going there occasionally, We really like visiting that temple." she said with a smile.
Isha's parents agreed, though they exchanged a glance filled with quiet curiosity.
At the Mandir, the air was serene, filled with the fragrance of incense and the sound of temple bells. After completing the puja (prayer), everyone moved to the temple garden, a tranquil space filled with lush greenery and vibrant flowers.
the group performed the puja together. Shivansh's grandmother Geetanjali led the prayers, her dignified presence inspiring a quiet respect. Afterward, they all moved to the temple garden, a serene space filled with vibrant flowers and the soothing sound of chirping birds.
The group sat together, the atmosphere calm yet carrying a sense of unspoken tension.
Breaking the silence, Shivansh's grandmother Geetanjali Raghuvanshi spoke with a gentle yet firm voice. "I have something important to discuss with you," she said, addressing Isha's parents. "It's about Isha."
Isha's father Vikram leaned forward slightly, intrigued and cautious. "About Isha? What is it?"
Isha's father and mother exchanged a glance, surprised by the unexpected turn in the conversation. Respectfully, they nodded for her to continue.
"We believe that Isha and Shivansh would make an ideal match," the grandmother stated. Her words were met with stunned silence from Isha's parents.
Isha's father, trying to process the proposal, finally spoke. "But... this is unexpected. Shivansh comes from a royal family. He is the king of Jaipur. We are communists-our values, our lifestyles... they are worlds apart and our values are very different. This feels... impossible."
Understanding their shock, Shivansh's father, Abhimanyu gently interjected. "We know this may come as a surprise, but it is not about status or wealth for us. It is about Isha. She is an extraordinary young woman-kind, fragile, yet strong and independent. She respects tradition while embodying modern values. These are rare qualities, and we see them in her. We believe she would be the perfect partner for Shivansh."
After a pause, Isha's father replied, "We cannot give you an answer immediately. This decision will depend on Isha. Whatever her decision is will be ours as well."
The grandmother nodded gracefully. "Of course. Take your time."
Before the group could stand to leave, Isha's father asked one more question. "Why Isha? Shivansh is young, successful, and well-respected. There must be countless women who would be honored to marry him. Why are you so certain about my daughter?"
Shivansh's mother smiled warmly. "Because Isha is unique. Her heart, her values, her ability to balance tradition and modernity...her respect for others... she stands out in every way. Shivansh needs someone who can ground him, who can challenge him and complement him. We believe Isha is that person."
" You saw both of them, right? Even then, you want them to get married? Didn't you see how they fought? They can't handle being together." Vikram said while thinking something deep.
"Hamne dekha, magar jo humne dekha woh aapne nahi dekha. Iss tarah Shiv aur Isha ke beech jo hua woh yeh saabit karta hai ki Isha sach mein alag aur khaas hai. Kyunki woh aage jaake bhi apne liye aur sach ke liye khadi hoti hain, aur yeh koi buri baat nahi hai, balki ek achhi baat hai. Agar unhe lage ki kuch galat ho raha hai, toh woh chup nahi rahengi, chahe samne kitni bhi badi takat kyun na ho.
Yeh cheez unki strength aur individuality ko dikhata hai. Unme woh sari qualities hain jo ek leader ya ek rani mein honi chahiye-woh independent hain, self-reliant hain, fearless hain, courageous hain, aur soft-hearted bhi hain. Woh sach mein ek strong aur compassionate ladki hain. Humein jo ek rani chahiye, woh qualities unme hain. Hum chahte hain ki Isha, humari ghar ki bahu bna or jaipur ki rani sa."
( We saw, but what we saw, you did not. The way things unfolded between Shiv and Isha proves that Isha is truly unique and special. Because she stands up for herself and the truth, even in the future, and this is not a bad thing-in fact, it is a good thing. If she feels something wrong is happening, she will not stay silent, no matter how powerful the opposition might be.
This reflects her strength and individuality. She possesses all the qualities needed in a leader or queen-she is independent, self-reliant, fearless, courageous, and also soft-hearted. She is truly a strong yet compassionate girl. The qualities we seek in a queen are within her. We want Isha, as our house daughter in law and rani sa of jaipur. )
Isha's mother, still visibly processing everything, changed the subject slightly to ease the tension. "The temple garden is beautiful, isn't it? It feels so peaceful here."
"It truly is," Shivansh's uncle agreed. "The Mandir is well-maintained. I noticed the murals during the puja-they were exquisite."
"They were," Isha's father said, nodding. "We often come here as a family. It's a place that helps clear the mind."
The conversation shifted for a while to lighter topics-the city, the temple, and their shared experiences growing up in Delhi and Jaipur. Slowly, the tension eased, though the proposal remained in the back of everyone's minds.
The conversation left Isha's parents deep in thought as they returned home with Shivansh's family. Upon arriving, they were greeted by an unexpected sight-Shivansh and Isha standing together in the garden, engaged in conversation. The scene was striking, the two of them appearing to complement each other effortlessly.
Shivansh's aunts whispered among themselves, their faces lighting up with smiles. "Don't they look good together?" one said softly.
"Don't they?" his mother replied softly.
As if sensing the family's arrival, Isha and Shivansh turned toward them. Isha hesitated for a moment, then walked over with Shivansh at her side.
"How was your visit to the temple?" Isha asked politely, looking at her parents and Shivansh's family.
"It was wonderful," her father said, his voice steady despite the unease still lingering from the conversation. "The garden was especially peaceful."
"It truly was," Shivansh's grandmother added. "We had a meaningful conversation there as well." Her eyes rested briefly on Isha, a knowing smile on her face and raised a brow to shivansh asking what are doing with isha.
Shivansh rolled his eyes and chimed in, his tone casual yet thoughtful. "Isha was telling me about how much she loves that place."
"It's one of my favorite spots in the city," Isha admitted, glancing at Shivansh for a brief moment before looking back at her family.
The atmosphere grew lighter as the group headed inside. Shivansh's family, though carrying a hidden agenda, joined in the cheerful conversations.
Compliments flowed as they settled down-about Isha's home, her hospitality, and the warmth of her family.
But beneath the surface, the weight of the royal family's proposal lingered, waiting for Isha's decision to shape the next steps of their intertwined fates.
The families entered the house, and though the day continued with laughter and conversation, the weight of the proposal lingered in the minds of Isha's parents. They knew a decision had to be made, but they also knew it was Isha's heart that would lead the way.
After entering the house, everyone noticed the lively sounds of laughter and the hum of a movie playing in the living room. Curious, they all moved toward the sound and found Arjun, Ishika and Prisha, and Veer, aviyansh and Dhruv sitting together, engrossed in a movie.
As soon as they saw the elders, the group paused the movie and stood up respectfully.
"Sorry, we didn't realize you'd be back so soon," Arjun said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
Shivansh's uncle, Abhimaan smiled. "No worries. It's good to see young people enjoying themselves."
The atmosphere was light and cheerful as the group chatted briefly before shifting their focus to dinner.
"I think it's time we start preparing for dinner," Isha's mother said, glancing at the clock.
Shivansh's mother nodded enthusiastically. "Let's head to the kitchen. We'd love to help out."
"Absolutely," Shivansh's aunt chimed in. "Cooking together would be fun!"
Just as the women were about to make their way to the kitchen, Isha stepped forward, blocking their path. Ishika and Prisha quickly joined her, forming a playful barrier.
"You don't need to do anything," Isha said confidently, though there was a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"We've already taken care of dinner," Ishika added with a grin.
Isha's mother raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Isha cooked dinner for everyone?"
Isha flushed slightly. "Well... not exactly."
Prisha stepped in to explain. "Ishika and I made dinner. Isha helped with the dessert. She made something sweet for everyone."
The women exchanged surprised and amused glances. Shivansh's grandmother smiled warmly. "That's wonderful! We're excited to see what you've prepared."
"You'll love it," Ishika said confidently, giving Isha a reassuring nudge.
With that, everyone settled down, and the meal was served. The table was filled with delicious dishes prepared by Ishika and Prisha, and at the end of the meal, Isha brought out the dessert she had made-a Kheer as sweet dish that left everyone pleasantly surprised.
"This is excellent," Shivansh's grandmother said, taking a small bite of the dessert. "Did you really make this, Isha?"
Isha nodded, feeling both proud and shy under the attention. "jii..."
"Well, you've done a great job," Shivansh's mother said warmly. "It's clear you've put in a lot of effort."
Shivansh, sitting across from Isha, couldn't resist teasing her slightly said in a mocking tone. "I didn't know you could cook. But this is safe to eat means it is edible, right."
Isha chinched her jaw and said " If you're so scared, then don't eat it. And by the way, who's talking, the one who can't even make anything themselves? At least I'm trying."
The table burst into laughter, the tension from earlier conversations melting away. The meal was filled with lighthearted banter, shared stories, and warm camaraderie.
After dinner, the group moved back to the living room for tea and continued chatting late into the evening. Despite the underlying motive behind the royal family's visit, the day had brought the two families closer, leaving everyone with a sense of connection and anticipation for what lay ahead.
Shivansh's family had just left for their palace and the house felt quieter now, the tension still hanging in the air. As the door closed behind them, Shivansh's grandmother gave Isha's father a meaningful look, her eyes silently urging him to have a conversation with Isha. Isha's father nodded in understanding, though his expression remained serious.
Prisha, still processing the events of the evening, sighed. "I should go, it's getting late," she said, her voice faintly edged with exhaustion.
Devika immediately spoke up. "Arjun, please go and drop her home safely," she instructed, her tone gentle but firm.
Arjun nodded and stood up, signaling that it was time to leave. Prisha followed him, the two of them heading out the door. As they left, Isha's parents stayed behind, finally sitting down in the living room, the silence stretching between them.
Meanwhile, Isha and Ishika walked side by side, trying to make sense of the evening. They sat down in the living room, still a little shaken by everything that had happened. " Kitne pyaare log the na " Isha murmured, her voice still trembling slightly. "But vo Shivansh, lagta hi nhi ho meera aunty ke beta h aunty kitni sweet h or vo kitna cold, so arrogant. How can anyone live with that kind of... that kind of distance?"
( How wonderful those people were, right?)
( But that Shivansh, it doesn't even seem like he's my aunty's son. Aunty is so sweet, and he is so cold, so arrogant. How can anyone live with that kind of... that kind of distance? )
Ishika nodded, her expression thoughtful. "The kheer was amazing though," she said, trying to shift the conversation to lighter ground. "I mean, did you taste what you made, that was so tasty. "
But the conversation quickly fell away as both girls were still caught in the storm of their thoughts. In the other room, Isha's parents exchanged a nervous glance, the weight of the situation heavy between them. After a long pause, Isha's father cleared his throat and asked for attention.
"Isha," he began, his voice quieter than usual, "I need to talk to you about something important."
Isha, sensing the change in his tone, immediately sat up straighter. "What happen, Papa?" she asked, her concern rising.
Her mother spoke up, her voice calm but serious. " Tumare liye rishta aaya h."
Ishika looked at her mother, confused. "A rishta? Who?"
Isha, who had been sitting quietly, leaned forward. "Who is it,?" she asked, equally curious.
"It's Shivansh," Isha's father replied.
Ishika's eyes widened. "The one who just left?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes," Isha's father nodded, his tone heavy. And tell everything what happened in the mandir garden and shivansh's grandmother's decision.
Both Isha and Ishika stared at him, shocked and speechless. Isha felt her heart race, her thoughts in turmoil. She could barely comprehend what they were saying. They came here for this? For Shivansh?
"Shivansh..." Isha repeated, her voice trembling as the full weight of the situation hit her. "I can't... I can't spend my life with him. Apne dekhna h vo kaise h, hum dono ek sath nhi rahe sakte. It would be... torture. I don't want to marry him, Papa. I don't want to marry him. Aap mana kar do shaadi ke liye"
( You have to see how he is, we can't live together. )
( Please refuse the marriage. )
Her words hung in the air, thick with emotion. "Leave me alone," she added, her voice breaking. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Isha stood abruptly, her chest tight. She turned toward the hallway, intent on retreating to her room. But before she could take a step, her mother's voice stopped her.
"Ishika," her mother said gently, though there was a firmness behind her words. "Let it be. Go and rest. We'll talk about it later. She need time to think. And you can leave her alone in the guest room. This is a big decision for her."
Ishika's gaze met with devika isha's mother for a long moment. She was too overwhelmed to argue. She simply nodded and turned away, heading toward guest room.
As Ishika left, Arjun walked into the living room, his face lined with exhaustion. He looked at his parents, who were sitting in quiet contemplation.
"I'm going to my room," Arjun said softly, his voice tired. "I'll rest now."
Isha's father gave a small nod, his mind clearly elsewhere. "Yes, go rest. We all need some time."
After a moment of silence, Isha's parents also stood up, heading toward their own room. The house felt unusually still as the day's events hung in the air, waiting to be addressed in time.
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