Niya's pov:

The house felt different after that day.

Quieter.

Colder.

As if Papa's anger lived in the walls.

Nyra barely slept that night.

I could hear her muffled crying through the darkness, each sob cutting me from the inside.

The next morning, she gathered all her courage and walked toward Papa, who was reading the newspaper.

"Papa," she whispered, voice trembling. "Can we talk? Please?"

He didn't look up.

The rustling of the pages was his answer.

"Papa... please," she begged softly.

"Just listen once. I... I can't end things like this. I can't pretend my feelings don't exist."

Silence.

Not even a flicker of response.

I stepped forward too.

"Papa, she isn't wrong," I said gently. "She just--"

He folded the newspaper without lifting his eyes.

"Not now."

The words were sharp.

Cold.

Final.

Nyra's shoulders fell, her eyes filling instantly.

I tried again the next evening.

Papa was in the balcony this time, staring at the traffic outside.

"Papa... we're just asking for a chance to explain," I said, keeping my voice steady.

He didn't reply.

"Papa, please don't be angry with her," I continued. "She didn't do anything wrong. She just--"

"Niya," he said quietly, not turning around.

"I don't want to talk about it."

His voice didn't rise

but the wall he had built was unbreakable.

For days...

we tried.

Nyra crying, begging, standing at his door, whispering "Papa, just once, please..."

Me trying to reason, trying to soften him.

Mom trying to mediate, holding her head in helplessness.

But Papa?

He didn't speak.

Not a word to Nyra.

Barely a few to me.

His silence screamed more than anger ever could.

And then...

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱.

Papa called everyone to the living room.

His tone was clipped, formal, emotionless.

Nyra looked at me nervously.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

I squeezed her hand. "I'm here."

Mom stood near the sofa, worried, already sensing something terrible.

Papa cleared his throat.

"I've spoken to Malhotra ji," he said flatly.

"He wants to bring a proposal for Nyra."

Nyra froze.

Her fingers slipped from mine.

Papa continued, as if discussing the weather, not her life:

"He has a son. Well-settled, stable, good family. They will come on Sunday to see her."

Nyra's lips parted in horror.

"Papa... no. Please no."

Papa didn't even look at her.

"It's the right thing. This chapter ends here."

Nyra stumbled back, shaking.

"I don't want to marry anyone else!" she cried.

"You can't do this to me! I love Sahish!"

Papa's eyes flashed with restrained fury.

"And I said this topic is over."

Nyra sobbed. "Papa please..please don't force me--"

"You will respect my decision," he said sharply.

"You have already made enough mistakes."

Nyra collapsed into the nearest chair, crying uncontrollably.

Mom rushed to her. "Nyra beta, please--"

But Nyra pushed her hands away, breaking down completely.

I stepped forward, tears burning my own eyes.

"Papa... this is not fair," I whispered. "You're punishing her for loving someone."

He didn't respond.

He didn't waver.

His decision was iron.

"The meeting is on Sunday," he repeated.

"Be prepared."

He walked away after that, leaving devastation behind him.

Nyra cried into her palms.

Mom cried silently beside her.

And I stood there, heart breaking in my chest

watching my sister's future being handed to someone else,

while the man she loved didn't even know

that her world was collapsing.

Author pov:

Sunday came too fast.

The house was filled with forced preparations fresh flowers, new cushion covers, tea snacks Mom prepared with trembling hands.

But there was no happiness.

Nyra sat on the edge of her bed, wearing a simple suit Papa chose, looking like a ghost of herself.

Her eyes were swollen, her voice gone.

Niya sat beside her, brushing her hair gently.

"Niya..." she whispered, breaking. "He'll think I'm happy about this marriage. He'll think I chose this."

Niya hugged her tightly. "No he won't. I'll make sure he knows."

But even as niya said it, fear clawed my chest because Papa had made it clear:

No contact with Sahish.

No calls.

No messages.

Nothing.

And he was watching us like a hawk.

The Malhotras Arrived..

A black car pulled up at the gate, sleek and expensive.

Two men stepped out first Mr. Malhotra and his assistant.

And then he stepped out.

Aadrik Malhotra.

Tall.

Well-dressed.

Sharp jawline.

A calm, unreadable expression.

He walked with the quiet confidence of someone who was used to being respected without saying a word.

Mom greeted them nervously.

Papa's face was stiff, too eager to impress.

Nyra sat beside me, hands trembling.

"Please don't make me marry him," she whispered.

Niya squeezed her fingers. "I'm here. I won't let them force you."

Aadrik's eyes scanned the room... and stopped on Nyra.

He didn't smile.

He didn't flirt.

Just observed calm, analytical.

Papa asked Nyra to serve tea, and she walked forward slowly, eyes lowered.

Aadrik watched her silently.

After a moment, his father spoke, "She's very graceful."

Papa smiled proudly.

Nyra looked like she wanted to disappear.

Meanwhile... Sahish

At that exact moment, outside our house, someone tried calling again.

Sahish.

He had been trying for days.

Calling, texting, showing up to her hostel, her office

but Nyra had disappeared from his life overnight.

And today, he reached the gate of our house.

He tried to step inside,

but Papa blocked him at the door.

Papa's voice was ice cold.

"If you come near my daughters again, I will call the police."

Sahish's face broke.

"Sir, please just let me talk to her once. She didn't even tell me--"

"She doesn't need to," Papa snapped.

"She is getting engaged soon. Leave."

Sahish's world shattered right there.

Papa shut the gate on his face.

Niya Sees Him

She went to the balcony for a moment to breathe...

...and froze.

There, outside the gate, stood Sahish.

Broken.

Crying.

Desperate.

"Niya..." he whispered when he saw her. "Is it true?"

Tears instantly filled her eyes.

She looked back at the living room

Papa watching everything

Malhotras waiting

Nyra dying inside

She mouthed silently:

"I'm sorry."

Sahish covered his face, shaking.

Her heart squeezed painfully.

But before she could run to him

Papa appeared behind her.

"Go inside," he ordered.

She wiped her tears and walked back, her breaths trembling.

Niya's POV:

Aadrik Notices Everything

While I sat beside Nyra again, trying to calm her shaking hands, I felt someone's gaze on us.

I looked up.

It was Aadrik.

He was watching Nyra's trembling fingers...

her red eyes...

her silence...

...and then his gaze slowly shifted to me, observing the tension between us.

There was intelligence in his eyes

the kind that saw more than others thought he did.

He wasn't fooled by the decorations or the forced smiles.

Papa asked him, "Would you like to speak to Nyra privately?"

Aadrik glanced at Nyra, waiting.

Nyra's fingers tightened around mine hard enough to hurt.

Her lips trembled.

Her eyes begged.

Don't make me do this.

Don't let this happen.

But Papa's glare was already burning into both of us.

And then, before anyone could stop it

Nyra nodded.

"Yes."

Her voice didn't sound like hers.

It sounded like something breaking.

A relieved smile lit up Papa's face.

A polite smile appeared on Mr. Malhotra's.

Aadrik gave a soft, respectful nod...

...completely unaware that the girl agreeing to marry him was doing it out of fear, not choice.

I looked at Nyra in disbelief.

"Didi--" I whispered.

She shook her head faintly and lowered her eyes, tears forming again.

Papa announced proudly,

"Good. Then we'll proceed."

My stomach twisted.

His smile felt like a victory

but for us, it felt like defeat.

After what felt like eternity, both cameback,

Nyra was still nervous and scared.

And suddenly..

"May I have a word with Niya?"

The question came from Aadrik.

Everyone blinked in surprise including me.

Papa frowned.

"Why Niya?"

Aadrik spoke calmly, "She seems... closest to Nyra. I just want to ask a few things about the family."

His tone was polite but layered with curiosity.

Before Papa could object, Mr. Malhotra smiled,

"Of course. Let them talk."

And that was how I found myself walking to the balcony with a man who was about to marry my sister.

I didn't know whether to be terrified or furious.

Outside, the wind was cool.

My hands shook slightly, from stress and fear and everything in between.

Aadrik stood beside me tall, composed, the kind of calm that didn't come from ignorance, but observation.

For a moment, he didn't speak.

Then,

"Your sister is not happy."

I froze.

He wasn't asking.

He was stating a fact.

I looked away.

"What makes you say that?"

Aadrik turned his eyes toward the living room where Nyra sat, stiff and silent.

"Her hands were shaking the entire time.

Her eyes were red before we arrived.

And you..."

He paused, studying me.

"...you look like you're carrying her fear along with your own."

I swallowed hard.

He noticed everything.

I didn't know what to say.

He looked at me more gently now.

"Is something wrong? You can tell me."

His voice wasn't demanding.

It wasn't aggressive.

It was... surprisingly soft.

And that softness melted something in my chest

a tiny, fragile thing I didn't know was there.

I shook my head quickly.

"No, nothing's wrong. She's just... nervous."

Aadrik held my gaze for a long moment.

Too long.

Like he could see right through my lie.

Finally he nodded.

"I see."

But his eyes told me

he didn't believe me.

A Moment I Didn't Expect

When I turned to go inside, my foot slipped slightly on the uneven tile.

Before I could fall, a strong hand caught my wrist.

I gasped.

Aadrik held me firmly but gently

his touch steady, warm.

For the first time, our eyes met properly.

His grip loosened immediately, almost respectfully.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

My cheeks burned.

"Y-yes. Thank you."

I tried pulling my hand back

but he didn't let go immediately.

Not out of force.

Out of concern.

He looked at the mark his fingers accidentally left on my wrist, his brows tightening.

"You're shaking," he said quietly.

I jerked my hand back, embarrassed.

"No, it's just... a stressful day."

Aadrik didn't smile.

He didn't flirt.

He didn't act dramatic.

He simply said

"If there's something I should know...

you can tell me.

Even if others can't hear it, I will."

My heart fluttered.

Not romantically.

But in shock.

Someone

finally

was offering to listen.

Inside the House

Nyra sat stiff, staring at her hands.

Papa was already discussing dates with Mr. Malhotra.

I watched my sister's pain.

I watched her broken expression.

And beside me...

Aadrik watched me.

The man everyone assumed was cold, reserved, unreadable...

...noticed the girl no one else looked at.

And for reasons I couldn't explain,

I knew this wasn't the last time

Aadrik Malhotra would step into my story.

Or into my life.

...........................🤍...........................