Charvi sat down beside her sister, her brows knitted in worry. "What will you do now, Didi?" she asked softly, her voice trembling. "Will you sacrifice your happiness for a mom who has never loved you… or even me?"
Gauri lifted her tear-filled eyes to Charvi. Her lips quivered, but her voice was steady when she spoke.
"I agree, Charvi… she is selfish. She never cared for us the way a mother should. But…" her hand tightened around the ring, "…she is still our mom. And do you remember? Dad… he loved us dearly. When he left this world, he placed her responsibility on me."
Charvi's eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Gauri's voice broke as she continued, "If Mom goes to jail… if something happens to her, how will I face Dad? What will I tell him, Charvi, if… if we ever meet on the other side?"
Silence filled the room, broken only by the storm outside. Charvi hugged her sister tightly, unable to find words. And as Gauri leaned into the embrace, her tears spilled freely—caught between duty, love, and the suffocating weight of sacrifice.
Gauri slowly wiped her tears, forcing her expression into calm resolve. Her eyes hardened with determination as she looked at Charvi.
"Mr. VK is blackmailing me to marry him?" she said, her tone steady now. "Fine then… but I'll do something that his family dislikes the most. He'll be forced to change his decision himself."
Charvi frowned, confusion written all over her face. "What do you mean, Didi? What are you planning?"
Gauri placed her hand on Charvi's shoulder, a faint, almost mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Don't worry about it. Just trust me."
Charvi searched her sister's eyes but could find no clue. Gauri had shut herself behind that determined gaze.
The storm outside rumbled on as if echoing the secret brewing in Gauri's heart. She turned away, gripping the ring in her palm, her silence keeping her plan locked away—leaving Charvi, and anyone watching, in restless suspense.
The rain had stopped, and the Kothari family gathered in the hall. Urvashi approached Vihaan, curiosity etched on her face.
"Did you manage to convince Gauri?" she asked.
Vihaan's expression was confident. "Don't worry, Gauri will have to accept my proposal."
Veena's voice cut through the conversation, her tone laced with skepticism. "Instead of a blessing, Gauri will only be a curse to us."
Pratham Vanshi's eyes sparkled with wisdom as she gently admonished her. "Veena, let go of your obstinacy."
Vihaan's phone rang, breaking the conversation. He answered, and Gauri's voice was on the other end.
"If you want to marry me, come with your family to the address I'll send you," Gauri said, her tone firm.
Vihaan's eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and determination. "Okay."
The line went dead, and Vihaan looked at his family, a hint of a smile on his face. "It's settled, then."
The Kothari family arrived at the address Gauri had sent, and their eyes widened in shock. They found themselves at a party venue, surrounded by loud music and revelry.
On the stage, a veiled dancer was performing, her movements seductive and captivating. Men in the crowd were spraying money on her, their faces flushed with excitement.
Shyom turned to Vihaan, confusion etched on his face. "Why did Gauri bring us here? What's going on?"
Vihaan's expression was perplexed. "I have no idea what's cooking in her mind."
The veiled dancer began to dance around Vihaan, her movements teasing and provocative. Vihaan's irritation grew, and he tried to step back.
But the dancer persisted, her dance becoming more sensual and attention-grabbing. Finally, she pulled off her veil, and the Kothari family's jaws dropped in shock.
It was Gauri, her eyes sparkling with mischief, her smile radiant.
Vihaan's eyes narrowed as he approached Gauri. "What's the meaning of all this?" he demanded.
Veena's face twisted in disgust. She looked like she was about to be sick.
Gauri's smile never wavered. "This is my reality. I'm a bar singer, a dancer. If you still want to marry me, you have to propose to me in front of everyone."
Vihaan's eyes widened in shock, his face pale. He stared at Gauri, unsure of what to say or do next.
Gauri's eyes sparkled with a mix of challenge and defiance. "I am the same girl you called cheap and threw money on. But today, you'll have to do things differently."
Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Today, you'll have to throw rose petals on me and go down on your knees, asking for my hand."
The Kothari family looked on in shock, their faces reflecting their horror and embarrassment. Vihaan's eyes seemed to bore into Gauri's, a mixture of anger and humiliation burning within them.
Raani leaned in close to Yug, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think Bhaiya will agree to Gauri's demands?"
Yug's expression was uncertain. "Only time can tell."
The two cousins exchanged a worried glance, their eyes darting back to Vihaan, who stood frozen, his face a mask of conflicting emotions.
Gauri's eyes gleamed with a knowing look as she gazed at Vihaan. She thought to herself, "Mr Vihaan you will never succumb to my demands due to your ego. You will quit, unable to bring yourself to ask for my hand in marriage."
A hint of a smile played on her lips, as if she had already foreseen the outcome.
Vihaan's expression softened as memories flooded his mind. He recalled how his mother, Veena, had been attacked by the witch Nishigandha, and how only his marriage with Gauri could protect them from every dark force.
As he looked at Gauri, their eyes locked in an intense gaze. The air seemed to vibrate with unspoken emotions, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing else mattered except the connection between them.