𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 - 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐑

14.

Author's POV

The next morning, Aarti was busy with her kitchen chores when she noticed Anshuman walking towards the door. Her gaze followed him for a moment before she turned to Paridhi, whispering something in her ear.

Paridhi, occupied with her own tasks, glanced up just in time to see Anshuman heading out. Without wasting a second, she called out.

"Bhai!"

Anshuman stopped in his tracks, turning slightly to look at her.

"Breakfast toh kar lijiye. Nasta taiyar hai," she said, her voice gentle.

His eyes flickered toward her, but his gaze seemed to shift just past her shoulder, landing on Aarti for a brief moment.

"Nahi, main bahar se kar lunga," he replied curtly, already turning away.

"Bhai, wait. Please come. You have come home after such a long time. It will not look good if you eat outside."

Before he could protest further, she grabbed his arm gently, guiding him towards the dining table.

"Paridhi, stop-"

Ignoring his half-hearted protest, she smiled and said, "Breakfast maine hi banaya hai. Aap kha lijiye." She placed a plate in front of him, her tone leaving no room for argument.

As she set down the final plate, Aarti quietly walked out of the kitchen area.

Anshuman's gaze lingered on the doorway for a second before he picked up the spoon, silently beginning to eat.

Paridhi sighed softly, relief washing over her as she watched him eat without further resistance.

Just then, Paridhi's Nani entered the house, brimming with energy and excitement. Behind her, a man carried a box and placed it on the table before leaving.

The family gathered in the hall, curious about the commotion. Paridhi's Nani turned to her dadi, who looked confused.

"Congratulations, samdhan ji! Here, have some sweets!" Nani said cheerfully, handing out sweets to everyone.

Paridhi's heart sank as she heard her Nani's next words. "We found a match for Paridhi, and the boy's family has agreed!"

Her breath hitched, and panic set in. She hadn't expected the process of finding a groom to happen so quickly or easily.

Noticing the unhappy expressions around her, Nani frowned. "Why do you all look so glum? He's from a very good family. The boy is very rich, highly respected, and their household has everything. Servants, luxuries-Paridhi won't face any difficulty. She'll live like a queen." She paused and thought to herself, Except for one thing.

"And the best part," Nani continued aloud, "is that Paridhi won't have to go far. The boy is from this very village."

"Who is it?" Rajesh asked, breaking the tense silence.

Nani beamed. "Kalyani Thakur's grandson."

The moment the words left her mouth, everyone's eyes widened in shock.

"This marriage cannot happen," Rajesh said firmly.

"Why not?!" Nani exclaimed, visibly annoyed. "The boy is wealthy, comes from a good family, and has everything one could ask for. What more do you need?"

"You don't understand-"

"I understand everything," Nani interrupted sharply. "In fact, why don't we ask the person whose marriage we're talking about? Paridhi, tell me. If you don't like the boy, we'll refuse the proposal."