THE IMPETUS - To Be With You

"You want me to marry Devesh, Ajji?" Dhara almost shouted, her voice shaking. "Aap mujhe force kar rahi ho? No... I can't do this. Sirf Uma ki kasam ke liye main apni zindagi barbaad nahi karungi. Mera nephew mera hai... aur main kasam khati hoon, bhai ki marzi ke khilaaf koi bhi usse mujhse alag nahi kar sakta."

"Par rishta bura toh nahi hai, Dhara. Uma ki family"

"To hell with Uma's family!" Dhara snapped, her eyes burning. "Mujhe unki dafa nahi padti. Main apni zindagi unke rules pe nahi chalane wali. Aur Devesh..." she scoffed, almost laughing bitterly, "he is not at all my type."

Ajji leaned forward, her tone sharp. "Toh phir kaun hai tera type?"

Her heart stopped. For a second she forgot to breathe. Kaise kahun... kaise bataun ki jo insaan mere dil mein hai... woh Siddharth hai?

But then reality hit her like a stone. Their parents had already ruined everything. Siddharth's brother's proposal had come, and with that, every dream shattered. A lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to swallow it. She wouldn't cry here, not in front of Ajji.

If not Siddharth... then no one, she promised silently.

She turned away, holding the baby tighter. Akash stirred in her arms, his tiny face resting against her shoulder. She pressed a kiss to his head and whispered in her heart, "Mujhe koi rishta nahi chahiye. Agar mere paas tu hai, toh main akeli nahi hoon."

And without another word, Dhara walked into her room, her steps heavy but her resolve unshaken.