Chapter 11: chapter 11

“Imara…Shekhawats are a well..”“Reputed family…” Imara snapped defiantly, interrupting her father. Her anger boiled over as she continued, “It’s always about reputation, isn’t it? Your reputation, their reputation, the reputation of your business, their business, blah, blah, blah... Do any of you even stop to consider the people involved in a situation?”The room fell into a stunned silence, realising the gravity of Imara’s words. While Sanjay saw Virender’s proposal as a chance for his daughter to start anew, he understood the weight behind her frustrations. He had never forced her into anything, yet he felt compelled to share his perspective.But it didn’t take long for Imara’s eyes to well up with tears, her gaze fixed on her father with a mix of resentment and longing. The flood of emotions inside her threatened to explode. She yearned to clutch her father’s collar and demand answers for why he had ruined her life, when he had always professed his love for her above all else in this world.The pain in Sanjay’s heart was unbearable, witnessing the many tears his daughter had shed over the past year because of him, because of the decision he had made for her without considering her wishes. Hadn’t he vowed, when she was born, to never let her cry? And yet, he now stood as the sole source of pain his daughter was going through.With a hope of easing his daughter’s anguish and anger, Sanjay replied to her, “This time it is about people, Imara. It is about Anu and Taru, who look up to you because you are their elder sister. Your approval would make this day the happiest day of their lives. If I wasn’t convinced Adhiraj is a good person, I wouldn’t be telling you this. But, even if your refusal means that Anu and Taru wouldn’t be getting married today, we wouldn’t force you. You can walk out of here of your own will, but if you can, meet your sisters once before you leave, they would be really happy to see you after so long.”Imara couldn’t bear to hear another word from anyone, and she stormed out of the room. She, too, longed to meet her sisters in person and witness firsthand their overflowing happiness as they celebrated a major milestone in their lives—their weddings. It wasn’t that she was going to give an answer; no, after meeting her sisters, she would leave the rest in God’s hands and leave from here. Deep down, she believed that the threat of cancelling the wedding was nothing more than a manipulative scheme.Driven by her determination, she approached the bridal room. Along her way, she unexpectedly caught sight of Adhiraj stepping out of a room with a worried expression etched on his face. His robust physique, fit body, towering stature, and undeniable confidence exuded from his very being. Feeling his gaze upon her, she purposefully ignored him, pretending he didn’t even exist. Focusing her attention ahead, she marched into the bridal room, yet his image continued to linger in her thoughts.“Di…” surprised gasps escaped Anika and Tarushi the moment Imara stepped into their room, leaving them in utter shock. Overwhelmed with emotion, Vibha quickly approached Imara and embraced her in a warm hug. Neither of the three had any idea about the turmoil that had just occurred in Sanjay’s room. However, just like Imara did with Suvika, she detached herself from Vibha without returning the hug.As Anika and Tarushi observed their mother’s face fall, they also noticed their sister’s reluctance to accept their love once again. In an effort to lighten the mood, the girls shared a soft giggle and cheerfully asked, “How do we look?” while pointing towards their bridal attire.Vibha graciously exited the room, allowing the sisters to have their privacy. On the other hand, Imara couldn’t contain her genuine smile as she admired her sisters’ stunning appearance from head to toe. The intricate golden designs on their vibrant red bridal lehenga, complemented by a peach dupatta, was truly enchanting. The captivating colour only enhanced the beauty of the brides, prompting Imara to embrace her sisters with open arms and express her heartfelt wish, “Congratulations!”Feeling the warmth of their sisterly bond, Anika and Tarushi held Imara tightly. Eventually, Tarushi guided Imara towards the couch. With a rush of emotions, Tarushi shared every detail about Samrat’s determination to marry her, even mentioning the involvement of a matchmaker. Imara’s body froze as her eyes blinked in both surprise and curiosity. In a gentle whisper, she inquired, “You both love each other?”Tarushi nodded and gestured towards Anika, expressing, “This girl here doesn’t believe that Atharv loves her like she does. She thinks it is all by chance that the matchmaker presented him as the prospective groom for her.”Blushing, Anika playfully swatted Tarushi’s arm, unaware of the unease creeping into Imara’s expression. As panic settled in her chest, Imara hastily gulped down some water, thinking about the consequences of Virender’s words. What if he actually went through with it and the wedding was called off? She glanced at her sisters, seeing the joyous smiles on their faces as they prepared to marry the ones they truly loved.In a moment of impulsive honesty, Imara blurted out, “What if either of the families had refused?”The smiles on their faces immediately faded, and Tarushi poured her heart out. “I can’t even imagine being with anyone else besides Samrat, Di. I love him so much. I don’t know what would I have done if we weren’t getting married.”That statement struck a chord in Imara, and she found a reflection of herself in her sister. If only someone had understood what she was going through back then, things could have turned out completely different.Her train of thought was disrupted by Anika’s gentle nudge, bringing her back to reality. “You’ll be staying for the wedding, right?” she asked.Shaking her head, Imara rose from the couch and hurried out of the room. Her mind raced to find a solution that would spare her from having to say yes. Just then, she noticed Virender leaving Sanjay’s room and overheard him speaking on the phone. “Prepare for me to address the media. There will be no wedding,” he uttered.Imara’s face turned pale, and her eyes darted towards the closed door of the bridal room. Every single incident, every thought, every emotion she had endured in the past began to replay in her mind. A single tear escaped her eye as she imagined her sisters suffering the same pain. The mere possibility of them going through the countless sleepless, tearful, and lonely nights sent a chilling shiver down her spine.Just then, her phone vibrated, pulling her attention away. She saw a message from Isha, who had sent her a link to the latest news. The headline blared that the wedding between the Shekhawat heirs and Rathore sisters might not take place.In that moment, Imara was overcome with a sense of helplessness. She knew she couldn’t rely on her family for support; she was trapped in this mess all by herself, just like always. As she pondered her limited choices, a voice called out, “Imara!”She turned around to find Virender standing there. Filled with anger, she snapped, “Is it your routine to force people into fulfilling your wishes?”With a gentle smile, Virender motioned for her to follow him to his room and led the way. Imara had no choice but to reluctantly walk behind him, asking, “What is your obsession with me marrying your asshole grandson?”“Language Imara,” Virender asserted as soon as they entered the room. “He is going to be your husband.”“I never said yes…”“You are thinking about the repercussions if you said ‘No’.”“Why are you cornering me? You would get many girls out there for people like your stature. Why me?”“Because three sisters under one roof would maintain the unity of my family,” Virender expressed, aware that he wasn’t revealing the entire truth to her.Disagreeing, Imara shook her head, prompting Virender to assure her, “I promise you, Imara, I will ensure your complete freedom. Your business and your life will not be affected. I will give you five more minutes to decide before I address the media outside. It’s your choice what the final announcement will be: three weddings or no wedding.”Wide-eyed, Imara looked at Virender. He had once again resorted to threats and nonchalantly exited the room. Feeling frustrated, she stomped her foot and followed him outside. It was then that she noticed Vibha, on the verge of collapsing near the entrance to the bridal room.In sheer panic, Imara bellowed, “Maaa….”