Reva broke the heavy silence.

Reva (calm but firm):

“My son… Aman.”

“He will marry Roshni.”

Sunita looked up, startled.

Sunita:

“But—”

Reva:

“I know everything.”

“Aman loves Roshni deeply.”

“And I have no objection to this relationship.”

“That’s why I want Aman to marry Roshni.”

Anil stared at them, disbelief written all over his face.

Anil:

“After everything that happened… your son is still willing to marry my daughter?”

Raghav stepped forward.

Raghav:

“My son loves Roshni.”

“If he doesn’t marry her… he will never marry anyone in his life.”

Those words hit Anil and Sunita hard.

They exchanged a long, silent glance.

They thought about Roshni.

Her mistakes.

Her fear.

Her broken state.

After a long pause—

Anil:

“Fine.”

“But the wedding will happen next week.”

“I don’t want any delay.”

Reva and Raghav’s faces lit up with relief.

---

Roshni Returns Home

At that moment, Aman entered the house, holding Roshni’s hand.

Roshni was terrified.

She knew what was coming.

Anil’s eyes burned with anger as he looked at her.

Sunita’s eyes filled with tears—relief and love—seeing her daughter safe.

Aman gently brought Roshni in front of her parents…

and then stepped back.

Roshni’s body trembled.

She couldn’t lift her eyes.

Tears fell silently.

Sunita moved toward her, but Anil stopped her with a sharp gesture.

Roshni finally looked up.

Roshni (crying):

“Pa… Papa… I’m sorr—”

Before she could finish—

A slap echoed through the room.

Silence fell.

No one spoke.

Everyone knew she was wrong.

Roshni looked down, crying uncontrollably. 😭

Anil (furious):

“Before leaving this house, did you think about us even once?”

“You left us for a stranger!”

“I was proud of you!”

“But you broke my trust… my respect… for an unknown man!” 😡

Each word cut deeper.

Roshni listened silently.

Because she knew— She had shattered their hearts. 💔

Sunita:

“Anil—”

Anil (loudly):

“No!”

“Don’t say anything!”

“She crossed every limit today!” 😡

Roshni (sobbing):

“Papa… I’m sorry… please…” 😭

Anil:

“You’re not my daughter!”

“If you were… you would never have done this!”

“Once again, I was betrayed… just like your—”

Sunita immediately stopped him.

Sunita:

“Anil, enough!”

Anil froze.

He realized what anger was about to make him say.

His voice turned cold.

Anil: I’ve decided.One week from now. You will marry Aman.😡

Roshni’s breath stopped.

Marriage?

Now?

After everything?

Her trauma… her fear… her broken heart—

She collapsed into sobs.

Roshni:

“I’m sorry, Papa…”

“I’ll never leave home again…”

“But please… don’t force me to marry anyone.” 😭

Anil:

“Why not?”

“What’s wrong with Aman?”

“He’s perfect for you.”

“And this decision is final.”

“Now go to your room.” 😡

Roshni ran upstairs, crying.

---

Aman’s Resistance

Aman stood frozen.

Aman (shocked):

“When was all this decided?”

“No one even asked me!”

Sunita:

“We know you love Roshni, Aman.”

“That’s why we agreed.”

Aman:

“Yes, I love her.”

“But I don’t want to force her.”

“Her happiness matters to me.”

“She clearly said she doesn’t want this marriage.”

Anil:

“She will agree.”

“Right now she doesn’t understand.”

“But later she will.”

Aman:

“But—”

Reva interrupted him gently.

Reva:

“We’ll talk at home.”

“Let’s go.”

Raghav:

“Tomorrow, then—engagement.”

Anil:

“Yes.”

They left.

Roshni’s Room

Roshni sat on the bed, emotionless.

Sunita gently applied ointment on her injuries.

Sunita (softly):

“Aman is a good man, Roshni.”

“He loves you.”

“You trusted a stranger… and saw what happened.”

“It was Aman who saved you.”

Memories flooded Roshni’s mind.

Raj’s betrayal.

Ashoka’s cruelty.

The terror.

And then—

Aman.

Standing between her and danger.

Protecting her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Sunita tucked her in and stroked her hair.

Soon, exhaustion pulled Roshni into sleep.

Anil stood outside, watching.

Once she slept, he entered quietly.

He placed his hand on her head…

kissed her forehead.

His eyes fell on the slap mark. Tears filled his eyes.

Sunita:

“If you love her so much… why don’t you show it?”

Anil (soft, broken):

“I’m angry because I was scared.”

“I’m strict because I’m afraid of losing her.”

“And you know why…”

They left the room silently.

The Next Morning

Aman still hadn’t gotten ready.

Raghav:

“Aman, hurry up.”

Reva:

“Go get ready.”

Aman:

“Mom… marriage isn’t a joke.”

“Roshni isn’t ready.”

“I won’t marry her by force.”

Raghav:

“Once married, everything will be fine.”

Aman:

“I don’t want a compromise.”

“I want a real marriage.”

“And Roshni doesn’t love me.”

Reva (firmly):

“Then you have two choices.”

“Marry Roshni…”

“Or marry Sweety’s teacher, Pooja.”

Aman stared at her in shock.

Sweety (excited):

“Yes, mamu! Teacher says you’re very handsome!” 😁

Aman:

“Shut up!” 😖

Ahana:

“Bhai… talk to Roshni once.”

“If she says no, we won’t go.”

Aman nodded. He went to his room.

After a long moment— He

called Roshni.

---

The Call

Roshni was getting ready for the engagement.

Her face was pale. Her heart heavy.

An unknown number flashed.

She answered.

Roshni:

“H-hello…”

Aman:

“Hello, Roshni.”

Hearing his voice— Her throat tightened.

Guilt crushed her.

She had rejected his love…

Yet he saved her.

She wanted to apologize.

But words failed her.

Silence stretched between them— Heavy with unsaid emotions.