His wife

AN SUDDEN CHANGE

The Bharadwaj and Singh families gathered in the grand dining hall of Singh Haveli for lunch. The long table was laden with an array of delicious dishes, and everyone chatted happily, catching up after so many years. Kritika sat between her brother Krish and her cousin Surbhi, trying to ignore Karan's intense gaze from across the table. She could feel his eyes on her, a constant reminder of their earlier confrontation.

As everyone settled down, Ravinder Kumar Singh cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "It's wonderful to have the Bharadwaj family here with us," he began. "We have much to discuss, especially about the future."

Shanti Devi nodded in agreement. "Yes, and speaking of the future, we should talk about marriage, especially Karan's."

Kritika's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Karan, whose expression remained unreadable. She felt a mix of fear and defiance, remembering his words from earlier.

Mr. Bharadwaj smiled warmly. "It's a good time to discuss this. Kritika and Karan have known each other since childhood. It would be a good match."

Before Kritika could react, Poonam Sharma, her bua, spoke up. "Actually, we were thinking about my daughter, Diksha, and Karan. They would make a lovely pair, don't you think?"

The room fell silent. Kritika's eyes widened in shock, and she looked at Surbhi, who was equally stunned. Karan's family exchanged confused glances, clearly taken aback by this unexpected twist.

Shanti Devi's face lit up with delight. "Yes, yes! Diksha would make a perfect bride for Karan. She's beautiful, talented, and from our own family. It's a perfect match!"

Mr. Bharadwaj tried to mask his surprise. "Poonam ji, we have always considered Kritika for Karan. This is a bit sudden."

Poonam smiled sweetly. "I understand, but Diksha is the perfect age and temperament for Karan. She's eager to settle down and would bring happiness to both families."

Kritika felt a pang of betrayal. She had always known her bua was envious, but this was unexpected. She glanced at her parents, who were equally surprised. Sunaina Singh, her mother, looked worried, while her father, Pawan Kumar Singh, remained stern and silent.

Karan's father, Abhinav Singh Bharadwaj, cleared his throat. "Poonam ji, while we appreciate your suggestion, this decision is significant for both families. We should consider the feelings of everyone involved, especially Karan and Kritika."

Karan's grandmother, Janki Devi, chimed in softly. "Yes, we should not rush into this. Let's hear what Karan has to say."

Karan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "I appreciate the proposal, Poonam ji. Diksha and I would indeed make a good match. I am ready to accept this proposal."

A wave of shock washed over Kritika. She glanced at Krish, who looked equally stunned. Surbhi squeezed her hand under the table, offering silent support.

Kritika felt a mix of emotions—confusion, betrayal, and a renewed determination to assert her independence. She knew she had to speak up. "I need to say something," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I don't want to marry Karan. I have dreams of continuing my studies and becoming a government officer. Marriage is not in my plans right now."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Poonam looked displeased, but Shanti Devi's face hardened with disapproval. "Kritika, you should think about your family's honor. This is a good match."

Pawan Kumar Singh, her father, frowned. "Kritika, you need to consider what's best for the family."

Kritika took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "I am considering the family, but I also have to consider my future. I want to study and build a career. Please understand."

Sunaina Singh, her mother, looked torn but finally spoke up. "Maybe we should respect Kritika's wishes. She has always been ambitious and hardworking."

Abhinav Singh Bharadwaj nodded thoughtfully. "Kritika's ambitions should be respected. We can discuss this further and make a decision that considers everyone's happiness."

Karan's expression remained unreadable, but he finally spoke. "If Kritika doesn't want this, we should respect her decision. I am fine with Diksha."

Poonam's face brightened, while Shanti Devi looked displeased. "Well, if that's what everyone agrees on, then let's proceed with Diksha's proposal."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the tension lingered. Kritika felt a mix of relief and gratitude for her mother's support and a renewed determination to pursue her dreams.

As the lunch continued, Kritika resolved to focus on her studies and ambitions. She knew she had a challenging path ahead, but with her family's support, she felt emboldened to face whatever challenges lay ahead.