Aditi tried to catch a glimpse of Advait, but before she could, Advait folded his hands in front of Ratan Sa, took his leave, and walked away...

After the remaining wedding rituals were completed, everyone returned to their respective homes.

Aditi didn’t say anything to her parents. She was waiting for them to speak first.

Morning, Chittorgarh...

Advait, dressed in a black shirt and silver pants, came downstairs and touched the feet of his Daadi Sa, Dada Sa, Baba Sa, Kaka Sa, and Kaki Sa.

Everyone gave him their blessings. Just then, Kamal Ji said to him, “What’s the matter? You touched everyone’s feet today...”

Advait replied, “Today, I really need your blessings... because if things go well, Pratap Industries will make a name for itself in Dubai too.”

At that moment, Advait’s mother, Geeta Ji, arrived with an aarti plate. She applied a tilak on his forehead, and Advait touched her feet. She said, “Chiranjeevi Bhav (May you have a long life)...”

Advait nodded silently.

Geeta Ji then gave a signal to Kamal Ji. As Advait was reading the newspaper, Kamal Ji said, “Son, I need to talk to you.”

Without looking up, Advait replied, “Go ahead, Baba Sa. You and Maa Sa both have every right to talk to me.”

Kamal Ji asked, “Can you promise to follow everything your Baba Sa says?”

Hearing this, Advait put down the newspaper and said, “I don’t understand what you mean... have I ever gone against your wishes?”

Kamal Ji replied, “There is one thing... something you’ve always said no to.”

Advait said, “If this is about marriage, then my answer is still no.”

Kamal Ji continued, “That’s exactly what I wanted to talk about. If you want to honor your father’s word, then there is something you must agree to.”

Hearing that, Advait stood up. Kamal Ji also stood and said, “I gave my word to my dearest friend Ratan Sisodiya — that his daughter would marry my eldest son, Advait. I said this the day his daughter was born... We fixed the alliance when you two were just children.”

There was no visible reaction on Advait’s face. He simply asked, “Why didn’t you tell me something this important before?”

Kamal Ji replied, “We were afraid... what if you went to Ratan Sa and declined the proposal? We couldn’t risk our friendship breaking.”

Advait said, “I’ve been saying since I was 17 that I’ll never get married. You could’ve just spoken to your friend once...”

At that moment, Dada Sa stood up and said, “Do you think this is some kind of game? In our times, alliances were made even before children were born. And those children, when they grew up, accepted those decisions with pride and respect.”

Advait closed his eyes in frustration. Kamal Ji added, “The girl we’ve chosen is no ordinary girl. She shares the bloodline of the people who inspire you. She will be just like them.”

Advait said nothing and began walking out to leave for the office without eating.

As he walked out, he spoke in a commanding voice, “I’m agreeing to this marriage only for my Baba Sa’s promise. Don’t expect anything more from me.”

Geeta Ji looked worried, while Kamal Ji and the rest of the family looked relieved. Geeta Ji went to the temple, joined her hands, and said,

“Dear Keshav, our son is extremely stubborn. If he’s said he’ll marry only for the sake of the family, then that’s exactly what he’ll do. I just hope our future daughter-in-law doesn’t suffer because of him... Please, only you can do something now. Our fate is in your hands.”

Saying this, Geeta Ji left. Advait sat in his car, fuming with anger. He kept scrolling on his phone repeatedly, frustrated — but what could he really do?

Meanwhile...

Urmila Ji walked into Aditi’s room. Knocking on the door, she asked,

“May I come in?”

Aditi, sitting on the bed with her laptop and books, replied,

“Of course, Maa Sa... come in.”

Urmila Ji entered and sat beside her. Aditi pushed her things aside.

Urmila Ji asked, “What are you studying?”

Aditi quickly tried to hide the books and said, “Oh, nothing much... just reading casually.”

But Urmila Ji took a book from her hand — and her eyes widened.

“Aditi, you’re preparing for UPSC? And you didn’t think to tell us, not even once?”

Aditi replied, “It was just a thought, Maa Sa. I brought the books just to see...”

Urmila Ji interrupted, “Forget about becoming an IAS officer now. That dream no longer matters. Your wedding has been fixed... and it’s happening very soon.”

Aditi was shocked. She thought maybe they had fixed her marriage with someone random.

“With whom, Maa Sa?” she asked.

“With the son of your Baba Sa’s friend,” Urmila Ji replied.

Aditi said, “Such a big decision... and no one thought to ask me?”

Urmila Ji explained, “This alliance was made the day you were born. He asked for your hand for his son right then.”

Aditi asked, “And what if I refuse?”

Urmila Ji’s expression changed. “If you say no, your Baba Sa’s years of earned respect will be ruined. The family you’re getting married into is even more wealthy and powerful than ours. If this alliance breaks, it could damage your Baba Sa’s image badly... We don’t even know how they’d react.”

Aditi, now extremely anxious, asked, “Who am I getting married to?”

“To Advait Pratap Singh, the son of Kamal Pratap Singh.”

Hearing this, it felt as if butterflies had started fluttering in Aditi’s stomach. A smile almost appeared on her face, but she controlled herself and said nothing.

Urmila Ji asked, “What does your silence mean, dear?”

Aditi simply nodded in agreement. Urmila Ji, overjoyed, kissed her forehead and said,

“May Lord Krishna bless you with all my happiness... May you always remain joyful.”

She left after casting off the evil eye from her daughter. Aditi looked at her laptop and books... and slowly ran her hand over them.

To be continue....