Upto Chance

Part 7

Dadi sat on an armchair, Her hands clutched the armrests tightly, knuckles white with tension. The news of Karanveer's accident had shaken her, and her mind kept replaying the events of the day she had cornered Ragini in her room, as she tried to persuade Ragini to marry Karanveer.

"Ragini, you know how much I love you, right?" Dadi had started, her voice trembling with emotion. "You saw what happened with Laksh. You gave your all for him, and look how it ended. This time, it's different. Karanveer is a good man. He will take care of you. He will respect you."

"I'm not ready, this is too soon" She wishpered

Dadi sighed deeply, her heart heavy with a mix of frustration and sorrow. "No one ever is, Ragini. I know you're scared. But you have to trust me on this. I can't bear to see my family suffering anymore. It's difficult to breathe, there's a constant reminder of how everything turned out. Don't you realize it's not only you who's hurting, but my entire family?"

"Your family?" A dry chuckle escaped Ragini's throat as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Dadi felt a pang of guilt but pressed on. "Yes, my family. And you're a part of it, Ragini. You have been through so much, and I hate seeing you like this. I want to see you happy again. Please, for me, marry Karanveer. You owe this to me and to yourself."

Ragini wiped her tears, feeling cornered and overwhelmed by Dadi's emotional plea. She knew how much her grandmother had done for her, and the weight of that guilt bore heavily on her heart. Reluctantly, she had agreed, not fully understanding what she was committing to.

—--

The memory faded, and Dadi's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Dada Ji, who sat across from her, his face etched with concern.

"I miss her, you know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been six months since I last properly spoke with Ragini. She's become so distant. And now, with Shekhar informing me about Karanveer's accident, I can't help but worry. Did I make a mistake? Did I push her into something that might hurt her again?"

Dada Ji reached out and took her hand in his, his touch warm and reassuring. "You did what you thought was best for her. Sometimes, life requires us to make difficult decisions. Ragini is strong, and so is Karanveer. They will find their way."

"But what if they don't?" Dadi's voice broke, and a tear slid down her cheek. "I can't bear to think that I might have caused her more pain. I wanted her to be happy, to find peace after everything she went through with Laksh. Was I wrong to hope for that?"

Dada Ji gently wiped away her tears. "Hope is never wrong. You acted out of love, and that's what matters. We must have faith that they will grow to understand and support each other. Love takes time, and they have only just begun their journey together."

Dadi nodded, though her heart still felt heavy. "I just want to hear her laugh again, to see her eyes light up with joy. Is that too much to ask?"

"No, it's not," Dada Ji said softly. "And I believe that one day, you will. Until then, we must be patient and trust in the choices we've made."

"I've failed before, you know. With Shekhar and Janki. I thought I was doing the right thing, pushing Shekhar towards Janki, But look how that turned out. Shekhar could never truly let go of his first love, and Janki suffered for it. I failed them both, and I fear I might have failed Ragini too."

Dada Ji's face softened with empathy. "We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it. You were trying to protect them, to ensure their happiness. Sometimes, our best intentions don't lead to the outcomes we desire. But that doesn't mean we should stop trying."