Abhimanyu woke up the next morning to find Misha gone from the room. After getting ready, he headed downstairs, where Hruday informed him to stay home as they were expecting a guest. Deciding to stay a little longer, Abhimanyu nodded, though he couldn't help but notice Misha's absence. Out this early? He thought, frowning slightly. But he shrugged it off just as Aavyan approached him.
Arnav, who had spent the entire night fuming with anger, woke up still in a tense state. After freshening up, he returned to his room but immediately sensed something was off. He paused, realizing his coat-which was usually laid out on the bed before he returned-was missing, along with the person who typically placed it there. Memories of last nightâs argument flashed in his mind, and he closed his eyes in frustration. How could you... he cursed silently.
"Damn it," Arnav muttered under his breath, his fingers rubbing his temple irritably. Sweetheart, I yelled at her. How could you, Arnav? You shouldâve spoken to her gently...sheâs so naive. Damn it, he berated himself, grinding his teeth. With a sigh, he ran his hand through his hair, frustration mounting.
In a hurry, he dressed and went downstairs, hoping to see Arthi. Hrudhay, however, informed him that a guest was arriving and suggested he wait. Glancing towards the kitchen in the hope of catching a glimpse of her, he was interrupted as Ekansh called him over. With a resigned sigh, Arnav walked toward his brothers, who were already gathered in the room.
"Whoâs coming?" Abhimanyu asked with a frown. Aavyan shrugged.
"I donât know. Dad just told me to wait," Ekansh replied casually.
"Who the hell are we waiting for? I donât have time for this," Arnav snapped, irritation clear in his voice. Ekansh chuckled.
"Whatâs the hurry? Itâs not like the house is on fire," he teased. Aavyan stifled a laugh as Arnav shot Ekansh a sharp glare.
"You're right. Should I set the house on fire, so you can decide whether to keep talking like an idiot or actually hurry up?" Arnavâs tone was ice-cold. Abhimanyu sighed, and Ekansh looked away, annoyed, while Aavyan gulped, fully aware that Arnav might be serious-even if it was just sarcasm.
"Bhai, donât provoke him. Do you want us all to burn alive?" Aavyan whispered to Ekansh, shooting him an exasperated look. Ekansh sighed, realizing Aavyan was right; Arnav looked ready to kill if they kept pressing him.
As they waited, Hrudhay entered with a man following closely behind. Everyone turned toward them as the man approached, causing Abhimanyu and Aavyan to exchange shocked glances. Ekansh ground his teeth at the sight, while Arnav, his face expressionless but annoyed, looked on, wishing he could just see his Sweetheart.
"Everyone, meet Vikram Deshmukh-the young and accomplished businessman," Hrudhay announced with a smile. Vikram returned the smile as Dada and Dadi Ma approached. Isha came down the stairs, followed by Arthi, who quickly ducked behind Isha upon seeing Arnav. Misha entered from outside and, noticing everyone gathered in the hall, exchanged a glance with Abhimanyu before looking away and moving toward Isha and Arthi.
"Whatâs he doing here?" Ekansh muttered to Abhimanyu his tone frustrated.
"Ekansh, calm down," Abhimanyu whispered back. Aavyan just looked on, watching as his father introduced Vikram to everyone. Vikram respectfully took Dada and Dadi Maâs blessings.
"Everyone, I have an announcement and a decision to share," Hrudhay began, his voice warm. Everyone turned toward him, waiting for his words.
"Vikram is here because I have decided on a marriage arrangement for Ishani-with Vikram Deshmukh," Hrudhay announced, pride evident in his tone. Abhimanyu and Ekansh stood stunned, while Aavyan almost stumbled back and Arnavâs frown deepened.
"Dad, what are you talking about?" Ekansh asked, his voice tense with confusion and frustration. Vikram looked at him, a smug smirk on his face.
"I believe itâs time for Ishani to marry, and I couldnât find a better match than Vikram Deshmukh," Hrudhay said, looking pleased. Ekansh looked ready to protest, but Abhimanyu held him back, and he reluctantly stepped aside, visibly annoyed.
"He looks like a hawk," Arnav remarked casually, casting a sidelong glance at Ekansh as the family engaged Vikram in conversation.
"Exactly. I always thought he seemedâ¦.. cold. I donât understand what Dad sees in him," Ekansh replied, his voice laced with irritation. Arnav sighed.
"His look suits him-hawk-like. And as for his lack of emotions, I donât think youâre exactly sentimental either," Arnav teased with a smirk. Ekansh shot him a glare.
"Sometimes, I canât believe youâre actually my brother," Ekansh retorted sarcastically, As Arnav was glancing around for Arthi, but she was nowhere in sight.
"Honestly, I canât believe it either," Arnav replied with a smirk. Ekansh sighed, resigned to the fact that their conversations never lacked a touch of irritation.
"He seems suitable for Ishani," Arnav said casually, causing Ekansh to shoot him a glare. Aavyan sighed, while Abhimanyu considered the statement thoughtfully.
"Are you serious? He only knows how to pick a fight, and Ishani barely even raises her voice," Ekansh replied, sounding incredulous. Arnav raised an eyebrow at him.
"How would you know?" Arnav asked with a smirk, making Aavyan chuckle before he chimed in.
"Because Vikram is practically Ekansh Bhaiâs sparring partner. Every time they meet, itâs like theyâre about to declare war," Aavyan said with a laugh, earning another glare from Ekansh.
"He has issues with our whole family. I donât even know why he agreed to this," Ekansh muttered, and Aavyan nodded in agreement.
"Youâre right, Bhai," Aavyan replied, but before they could continue, Vikram approached them on his way out.
"Iâll take my leave, Mr. Abhimanyu Rathore," Vikram said with a polite smile. Ekansh glared at him, while Abhimanyu returned the smile. Vikram gave Ekansh and Aavyan a final nod before walking away.
As soon as Vikram was out of sight, Ekansh turned to Hrudhay with frustration.
"Dad, what is all this? Did you even ask any of us about this-especially Ishani?" he demanded, irritation clear in his tone. Hrudhay simply smiled at him.
"Ekansh, weâll discuss this later," Hrudhay replied calmly. Ekansh looked away, still annoyed.
"Alright then, Iâll be leaving," Arnav said with a cold tone, but Hrudhay stopped him.
"Stay back, Arnav. We have one more guest coming," Hrudhay said sternly, and everyone looked at him in surprise.
A few moments later, a young man entered the mansion, smiling warmly. Hrudhay welcomed him with a smile and led him inside, standing before everyone with him. For a brief second, the manâs eyes met Ishaâs before he looked away.
"Everyone, this is Adithya Agnihotri, the sole heir of the Agnihotri family and the new CEO of Agnihotri Companies," Hrudhay announced with pride, as everyone greeted Adithya.
"And Iâd like to announce that our Isha will be marrying Adithya," Hrudhay added with a smile. Adithya looked slightly uncertain but nodded, while everyone else stared in shock. Ishaâs eyes widened at her fatherâs words, and she stumbled back, Misha quickly catching her.
"Dad, are you serious? Ishaâs marriage?" Ekansh exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. Aavyan was still processing the events, while Arnav looked visibly irritated.
"Ekansh, donât. Letâs discuss this after the guests leave," Abhimanyu muttered to him, and Ekansh nodded reluctantly, understanding his brotherâs words. Abhimanyu himself seemed equally exasperated by the situation.
Meanwhile, Adithya took blessings from Dada and Dadi Ma before sitting down on the sofa to chat with them.
"Isha, dear, could you bring something for Adithya to drink?" Dadi Ma requested with a smile. Isha, however, looked annoyed.
"Why should I?" she replied irritably, causing Adithya to glance at her, noting her frustration.
"Itâs alright, Dadi Ma. I donât need anything," Adithya said kindly, smiling at her. Dadi Ma nodded but shot a glare at Isha before returning to her conversation with Adithya.
"He looks likeâ¦.." Ekansh began with a frown, trailing off. Aavyan raised an eyebrow at him.
"A cardinal?" Ekansh finally said, uncertainly, and Aavyan looked puzzled as they continued talking among themselves, standing away from the family and subtly mocking the guests.
"For the first time, I agree with you," Arnav said nonchalantly. Ekansh whistled, amused.
"Look's like Someone doesnât like this âcardinal," Ekansh said with a smirk, side-glancing at Arnav, who looked away with a sigh.
"What even is a cardinal?" Aavyan asked, sounding exasperated. Ekansh looked at him with a deadpan expression.
"If youâd paid more attention to basic knowledge, maybe Iâd actually consider you as my brother," Ekansh said sarcastically, making Aavyan glare.
"Well, guess what-Iâve never abandoned my wife in the middle of the road, not even when I was drunk," Aavyan shot back with a smug smile. Ekansh ground his teeth, clenching his fists.
"Aavyan, he was drunk at the time, you know that," Abhimanyu warned, and Aavyan pressed his lips together, annoyed.
"I know. But once spoken, words are words. True or false, I like to use them as weapons. Look at him now-silent, as if he actually did it," Aavyan replied, raising an eyebrow. Arnav chuckled, but Ekansh remained quiet, haunted by a memory he hated.
"Iâm Adithya Agnihotri," Adithya said coolly as he introduced the himself, to them. Abhimanyu merely nodded, while Aavyan smiled and introduced himself in return.
After chatting briefly, Adithya left, and as soon as he was gone, everyone turned to Hrudhay with stern looks-everyone, that is, except Dada and Dadi Ma. Hrudhay b,raced himself, clearly aware of the the convers,ation they were all e,ager to have.
"Dad, what is all this?" Ekansh asked in disbelief. Just then, Ishani entered the house, her is heart skipping a beat when she saw everyone gathered in the hall, each with a serious expression. For a moment, she panicked, wondering if theyâd discovered her secret. She gulped and walked over to Isha, standing close to her.
"Isha, what happened? Why does everyone look so serious?" she whispered anxiously.
"Your marriage has been fixed," Isha replied nonchalantly, leaving Ishani stunned.
"And Ishaâs marriage, too," Misha added with a smile. Ishani turned to her, feeling as if her heart might stop. With everyone looking so serious, she knew this wasnât a joke.
"Ekansh, you were there when I announced this decision. So what do you mean by 'what is all this' now?" Hruday said calmly, unfazed by his sonâs reaction. But Abhimanyuâs glare showed his disapproval.
"Dad, you canât just make life-altering decisions for someone without asking," Aranv said with a firm tone. He knew his father wouldnât make such a choice without careful thought, especially when it came to Isha and Ishani. Still, he felt they should have been consulted first.
"Weâre not saying marriage is a bad idea, but isnât this a bit sudden?" Aavyan added, frowning. Hruday listened quietly, his expression steady as the others watched.
"Dad, I donât understand how you made this decision without discussing it with any of us. Theyâre our sisters-you didnât even ask them," Ekansh said, his voice filled with frustration. "And to Vikram Deshmukh, of all people? The man hates our entire family!" Ekansh trailed off with disbelief.
"Ekansh," Hruday replied, his voice calm but firm, "I know about the business rivalry between you and Vikram, but that doesnât have to affect our personal lives. For your information, Vikramâs conflict with you is strictly business. He doesnât have any personal issue with our family. Heâs a man of integrity, and thatâs why I believe heâs a good match for Ishani." Hrudhay expressed with stern tone.
Then, turning to Isha, he continued, "As for Adithya, heâs the most eligible match for Isha. Iâve known his father for years, and their family is one of the most reputable in the country, second only to ours." Hrudhay said with smile.
He looked around the room, his expression softening. "Donât think I chose them without consideration. Iâve looked into their families, their values, and their backgrounds. After thorough thought, I am confident theyâre the best choices for my daughters." Hrudhay expressed with determined tone.
"Mr. Hruday Rathore, you canât simply decide someoneâs future," Abhimanyu said coldly. "Did you even ask Isha or Ishani? Did they agree?" Misha glared at him, irritated by his tone, while Dadi sighed. Hruday, however, only smiled.
"I believe my daughters trust me," he said, looking at Isha and Ishani with a gentle smile. "They know I would never do anything that isnât for their best." Hrudhay smiled faintly.
Isha and Ishani exchanged uncertain glances. After a moment, Hruday turned to Ishani with a warm tone. "Ishani, I apologize for not discussing this decision with you first. Tell me honestly-do you agree to this marriage? If you donât, I will never force you into something you donât want." Hrudhay looked with smile and everyone also waited for her decision.
"Bade Papa, whatever you decide, I will accept," Ishani replied softly, though her smile was slightly forced. Hrudayâs face softened with pride.
"I knew my daughter wouldnât disappoint me," he said warmly. Then he turned to Isha, who was visibly uncomfortable.
"Isha beta, whatâs your decision?" he asked gently. Isha felt torn-she wanted to refuse but couldnât bear to hurt her father. Finally, she replied, "Dad, I⦠I agree." Isha agreed as everyone smiled.
"Perfect, everything is set now," Hruday said with a pleased smile. Abhimanyu and Ekansh stormed out of the house, their frustration evident, while Aranv followed behind, leaving the hall tense and silent.
All of you
Happy Diwali Everyone ð
Bonus chapter again for Diwali
"Alright, I know this chapter might feel a bit boring, but hang in there-the next chapters are going to be anything but dull!"
Shine_134 I don't Schedule that when I will update chapter but anyway I will schedule a date.
Shrija26 you asked me to put vote target on chapter so From this chapter I am going to set vote target.
"Iâm not too focused on vote targets because I know that readers can enjoy the story even without voting. Just knowing youâre reading means a lot to me! But thank you for the suggestion-I always appreciate your feedback and will keep it in mind!"
Vote Target is 40 votes.
Tin_Tinni you asked to set a particular date or day to publish chapter
I will be updating in every Tuesday, may be sometime I couldn't.
All of you
May be I am going to publish next chapter till evening, i said may be so let's look forward.
Have a Great day
Happy Diwali and Deepawali ð