CHAPTER 25 : "CONFESSION, HEARTBREAK & EASING INSECURITIES"

"Target still not completed". But this update is for my genuine readers.

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After a pleasant breakfast with the Singhania family, Kashi said, "Aunty, I need to leave now," as she decided to head back to Jhansi.

Shalini, who had taken a liking to Kashi's sweet nature, quickly replied, "Beta, stay for a while longer. There's no need to rush."

Kashi offered a soft smile and said, "Aunty, I really need to go. Maa is not well, and the girl staying with her will also leave today. I also have to go to work at the textile factory, so I won't be able to stay here for now. I need to reach the factory by afternoon."

Seeing the concern in Kashi's eyes, Shalini nodded, understanding the urgency in her voice. "If it's urgent, I won't insist you to stay, beta. But do visit us again soon, okay? It was lovely having you here."

Kashi smiled shyly, folding her hands and slightly bowing her head as a sign of respect. "Thank you so much, Aunty and Uncle, for letting me stay here. I'm truly grateful."

Shalini gently took Kashi's hands and said, "Please, beta, don't thank us again and again. You're always welcome here."

Kashi's heart warmed at their kindness, but she knew she had responsibilities waiting for her back in Jhansi. She was still lost in her thoughts when Rajendra spoke up.

"Beta, how will you go?" Rajendra asked, concern evident in his voice.

Before Kashi could respond, Vishwanath, who had just entered the room with Raghavendra, overheard the conversation.

"Uncle, I will take an auto to the bus stand and then there's a direct bus to Jhansi," Kashi explained.

Shalini, who saw Vishwanath entering the hall, quickly interrupted, "Kashi Vishu can drop you, at least to the bus stand."

Kashi immediately shook her head. "No, no, Aunty. I can go on my own, really. No need to trouble Vishwanath ji."

Rajendra chimed in with a gentle smile, "It's okay, beta. You're our guest. It's our responsibility to ensure you reach home safely."

Before Kashi could protest further, Vishwanath, smiling brightly, said, "Yes, maa, I'll drop Kashi to the bus stand."

Rajendra nodded approvingly. "Good. Vishwa beta, after dropping Kashi, come to the office. Raghavendra and I will meet you there."

Vishwanath nodded again, his heart light with happiness. Rajendra and Raghavendra left for the office.

Vishwanath turned to Kashi and said with a gentle smile, "Let's go, Kashi."

Kashi nodded, giving Shalini a quick hug and a sweet goodbye before following Vishwanath to the car. As they sat in the sleek black vehicle, a comfortable silence enveloped them.

Kashi sat in the car, her hands nervously fidgeting in her lap. The silence between them was almost tangible, and the only sounds were the low hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of the trees outside.

Vishwanath finally broke the silence, his voice soft but filled with intent. "Kashi........" he began, his eyes fixed ahead, "Before I drop you at the bus stand, I want to take you somewhere."

Kashi, startled by his sudden request, blinked in surprise. "Where, Vishwanath ji?" she asked softly, her brows furrowing in curiosity.

He glanced at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just tell me, will you come?"

Kashi hesitated but as she looked into his eyes, all the confusion melted away. She gently nodded, trusting her beloved Veer ji.

Vishwanath's smile widened as he turned the car in another direction. The winding roads led them to a familiar location, and Kashi soon realized where they were headed. They pulled up in front of the same farmhouse where he had brought her after the revelation of his true identity. She looked at him with confusion.

"Vishwanath ji, why have we come here?" Kashi asked softly.

Vishwanath didn't answer immediately. Instead, he got out of the car, walked to her side, and opened the door for her. He extended his hand, waiting for her to take it. After a moment of hesitation, Kashi placed her small hand gently in his much larger one. He helped her out of the car and led her, not into the farmhouse, but towards the back.

"This way," he murmured, leading her to the back of the farmhouse. Kashi's curiosity grew with every step, and soon they arrived at a large, majestic garden.

Kashi was astonished by the beauty that lay before her. A vast, breathtaking garden stretched out behind the farmhouse, adorned with fountains, trees bearing various fruits, and vibrant flowers. A small pond lay ahead, its water gently rippling, with colorful fish swimming just beneath the surface. The scene was like something out of a fairytale, and Kashi, once again, found herself mesmerized.

She was still lost in the beauty of the garden when Vishwanath called her name softly, "Kashi....."

Startled, she looked towards him. "Hum yaha kyun aye hai, Vishwanath ji?" (Why have we come here, Vishwanath ji?) she asked, confused.

Vishwanath's eyes softened as he gazed at her. "Kashi, main tumse kuch baat share karna chahta hoon. Yeh jagah mere liye bohot special hai, aur iss liye main tumhe yahan laya hoon. Mujhe tumse ek important baat kehni hai." (Kashi, I wanted to share something with you. This place is very special to me, and that's why I brought you here. I need to tell you something important)

Kashi's heart began to race. She was unsure of what Vishwanath was going to say, but she remained silent, waiting.

Vishwanath looked at her, his gaze steady and filled with emotion as he gently held her hands. "Kashi.... I know you deserve something grander than this, par.... abb main aur intezaar nahi kar sakta." (But....now I can't wait any longer.)

Kashi's breath hitched. Her heart began to race as she realized what this moment was.

Kashi," he continued, his eyes locking onto hers, filled with sincerity. "Main tumse bohot pyaar karta hoon. Tum meri zindagi ki woh roshni ho jise main kabhi khona nahi chahta. Tumhare bina main adhoora hoon. Tumhari innocence, honesty, hardworking nature, tumhari cute habits, sab kuch.... I have fallen for everything about you. Main apni zindagi ka har ek pal tumhare saath bitana chahta hu." His voice was soft but firm as he poured his heart out. "I love you Kashi, I love you so much."

(I love you very much. You are the light of my life that I never want to lose. Without you, I am incomplete. Your innocence, honesty, hardworking nature, your cute habits. I have fallen for everything about you. I want to spend every moment of my life with you." His voice was soft but firm as he poured his heart out. "I love you, Kashi, I love you so much.)

Before Kashi could even react, Vishwanath knelt down on one knee in front of her, holding the box open, revealing a delicate, diamond studded sparkling ring.

"Kashi, will you marry me? Will you become the queen of this king?"

Kashi stood there, frozen in shock. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this. Her beloved Veer ji, confessing his love for her, proposing to her. It was all too much, too overwhelming. Her heart raced as she tried to process his words. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words got stuck in her throat.

And then, as if her heart had taken control, a voice inside her whispered: Yes, say yes......you love him too. She wanted nothing more than to be with him, to give in to her love for him. She had fallen deeply for this man, who was kind, protective, and everything she had ever dreamed of. But before she could utter a word, doubts flooded her mind like a storm.

How could she fit into his world? He was a king, a man of immense power and wealth. And she....she was just an ordinary girl with a simple background, burdened by responsibilities and insecurities. She could never be the queen he deserved. Vishwanath ji's world was grand and glittering, while her world was small and weighed down by her past and obligations.

And then, as if to seal her doubts, the words of Rajendra uncle and Shalini aunty echoed in her mind. Vishwanath's alliance had already been fixed. His marriage was supposed to happen with someone else, a wealthy girl from an influential family. If she said yes, it would not only bring humiliation to Vishwanath's family but also to Rajendra uncle, who had always treated her with respect.

She couldn't be selfish. She couldn't let her feelings cause so much pain to everyone.

"No...." she whispered, barely able to hold back the tears threatening to spill over.

Vishwanath's face fell as her words sank in. "Kashi....?"

"No, Vishwanath ji, I cannot marry you," she said, louder this time, her voice breaking. "We can never be together...."

With those words, she turned away from him, tears finally streaming down her face as her heart broke into pieces.

Her tears flowed freely now, each one a testament to the pain she felt in rejecting the man she loved.

Vishwanath's heart shattered at her words. A tear escaped his own eye, but he quickly wiped it away. He stood up slowly, his expression one of hurt but also determination. "Kashi, main tumhe kabhi force nahi karunga apna proposal accept karne ke liye. Lekin tumhe mujhe yeh batana hoga ki mujhme aisi kya kaami hai jis wajah se tumne mujhe reject kiya hai." (Kashi, I will never force you to accept my proposal. But you have to tell me what flaw I have that made you reject me?)

Kashi's breath hitched at his question. Kaami? (Flaw?) How could he think there was something wrong with him? Kashi thought, her tears fell harder as she shook her head, trying to find the words.

"Kashi, please...." Vishwanath's voice was softer now, almost pleading. "Tumhe mujhe batana hoga, kyun main tumhe deserve nahi karta?" (You have to tell me why I don't deserve you?)

Unable to bear it any longer, Kashi finally turned to face him, her tear-streaked face full of anguish. "Aap kaisi baat kar rahe hai, Vishwanath ji? Kaami aap mein nahi hai, kaami mujh mein hai!" she cried, her voice trembling. "Main aapko deserve nahi karti. Aapki duniya aur meri duniya bohot alag hai. Aap ek raja ho, bohot bade aadmi ho.... aur main.... main sirf ek gareeb, aam ladki hoon. Jiske upar bohot saari responsibilities hain. Main kabhi aapki duniya ka hissa nahi ban paungi, Vishwanath ji."

(What are you saying, Vishwanath ji? The flaw is not in you, it's in me! she cried, her voice trembling. I don't deserve you. Your world and my world are very different. You are a king, a very powerful & influential person and I....I am just a poor, ordinary girl burdened with many responsibilities. I can never be a part of your world, Vishwanath ji)

Her words were broken, hysterical, as her shoulders shook with the force of her sobs.

Vishwanath was taken aback, shocked to the core. He could never have imagined that Kashi, his Kashi, his strong, kind-hearted girl would think so low about herself. Vishwanath watched her break down and his heart ached seeing the depth of her insecurities. Somewhere, he had failed to protect her from these insecurities, and that realization tore at him. But right now, his only priority was to ease her fears, to make her understand how precious she was.

He gently grasped her trembling shoulders, his touch warm and steady,

speaking in a calm and assuring voice, "Kashi tum meri duniya ho.....aur tum jis duniya ka hissa nahi, mujhe uss duniya mein rehna hi nahi hai." (Kashi, you are my world....and if you are not a part of the world I belong to, then I don't want to live in that world.)

Kashi's sobs grew louder, and she tried to interrupt, "Par Vishwanath ji......."

(But Vishwanath ji......)

But Vishwanath quickly placed his finger on her trembling lips, silencing her, "Bohot bura bol liya tumne meri jaan ke liye, ab aur nahi," he said softly, his eyes locking with hers. "Ab main bolunga, aur tum suno gi." (You have said some very hurtful things about my jaan, but no more," he said softly, his eyes locking with hers. Now, I will speak, and you will listen)

Kashi's nose was red from crying, her eyes swollen, but even in her disheveled state, she looked breathtakingly beautiful to him. He gently cupped her face, wiping away the tears that continued to fall. Lifting her chin so she had no choice but to look at him. He made her look into his eyes, his gaze filled with nothing but love and sincerity.

"Listen to me, Kashi," he said in soft but firm voice laced with a protective anger "You think you don't deserve me? That you're too ordinary to be with me? How could you think so low of yourself?

"You are very precious to me, Kashi. You are not just part of my world, you are my world, he said, his voice filled with all the raw emotions.

Kashi blinked, more tears falling as she tried to process his words. "But I......"

"No, Kashi," he interrupted gently, "You're not just a girl with responsibilities. You're the woman who has become my strength. You think your burdens make you weak, but they make you stronger than anyone I know.

Your world is not separate from mine Kashi, in fact it's the only world I want to live in."

He pulled her closer, his hands steady on her shoulders, his voice soft but filled with conviction. "Kashi for me, you are not any ordinary girl burdened by responsibilities but a treasure, a rare diamond that deserves to be cherished."

Kashi looked into his eyes, her own filling with tears once again. Emotions swirled inside her, overwhelming her with their intensity. She wanted so desperately to tell him how much she loved him, how deeply she had fallen for the man standing before her, the man who, despite his power and status, had shown her nothing but kindness, humility, and an understanding that reached her very soul. Every word he spoke seemed to strip away the insecurities that had weighed her down for so long.

She longed to tell him how he had become her strength, how he had unknowingly healed parts of her heart she didn't even realize were broken. His words had touched her deeply, resonating in a place that had long been buried under the weight of her responsibilities and self-doubt. For the first time, she almost believed it was possible, that someone like him, someone so far from her world of poverty and simplicity, could love her purely for who she was.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked at him, the tears now slipping down her cheeks. He didn't care about her background, her status, or the fact that she wasn't the kind of woman his world expected him to be with. He loved her for her heart, for her spirit.

But then, again the thought of Maya's alliance with Vishwanath pierced her heart like a dagger. How could she let herself be the cause of humiliation and shame for his family? She couldn't let this go further.

Composing herself, she pulled her hands back and whispered, "Nahi, Vishwanath ji...... hum dono kabhi saath nahi ho sakte." (No, Vishwanath ji......we can never be together)

Vishwanath's heart dropped. He could clearly see the love in her eyes, so why was she holding back? Something was still troubling her, and he was determined to find out. Gently, he wiped the tears from her cheeks once again. "Kashi tumhari aankhon mein mujhe apne liye pyaar dikh raha hai. Toh phir kyun? Kyu nahi ho sakte hum saath? Please, mujhe batao....mujhe haq hai jaan ne ka." (Kashi, I see love for me in your eyes. So then why? Why can't we be together? Please, tell me.....I have the right to know.)

Kashi's resolve began to crumble under his soft plea. She could no longer hide the truth from him. She took a deep breath, her voice shaky as she finally began to speak. "Vishwanath ji aap....aapka rishta....." (Vishwanath ji, you.... your alliance)

But before she could finish her sentence, her phone rang loudly, interrupting the moment. Startled, Kashi instinctively tightened her grip on the phone she was already holding. "Ek minute, Vishwanath ji," (one minute, Vishwanath ji) she muttered, her hands shaking as she checked the caller ID. It was Riya. Kashi immediately answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Kashi!" Riya's panicked voice filled the air. "Aunty ki tabiyat bohot zyada kharab ho gayi hai! Main unhe hospital leke jaa rahi hoon.....Tum jaldi aajao!"

(Kashi! Riya's panicked voice filled the air. Aunty's condition has gotten really bad! I'm taking her to the hospital.....You come quickly!)

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