Veena's voice grew urgent as she tried to urge the Kothari family to leave.
"We shouldn't stay here any longer. This girl is only going to insult us further."
But Vihaan's response was firm. "No one is going anywhere."
The family looked on, surprised by Vihaan's determination.
Vihaan walked toward Gauri, a strange softness in his eyes. To everyone's shock, he took rose petals from a nearby basket. With a deep breath, he showered the petals on Gauri, who stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The crowd gasped in surprise, and Gauri's smile faltered for a moment, her eyes searching Vihaan's face for answers.
Then, in front of everyone, Vihaan went down on one knee, rose petals scattered around him. He looked up at Gauri with deep emotion.
"Gauri… are you ready to spend your life with me as your soulmate?"
Gauri's eyes widened, her face a picture of shock and disbelief.
Urvashi, Shyom, Yug, and Raani beamed with happiness, while Veena's face twisted in rage and disapproval.
Gauri's voice was barely audible as she murmured, "How can you…?" She seemed lost for words, wondering how Vihaan could so easily agree to her challenge.
She tried to turn away, but Vihaan's hand reached out, gently yet firmly grasping hers. Before she could react, he slid the ring onto her finger.
Gauri's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the ring, her face a mix of emotions.
Vihaan stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Now that your demands have been fulfilled, you will no longer have any problem with our wedding."
His voice dipped into a subtle warning.
"Otherwise… you already know what will happen."
Gauri's eyes flashed with conflict, her gaze darting between his face and the ring now gleaming on her finger.
Far away, deep inside the dark cavern, Nishigandha stood at the entrance, the shadows wrapping around her. A commanding, authoritative voice echoed from the depths, and a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness.
"You will not permit the union between Sarvansh and that girl," the figure decreed coldly. "I do not know why, but I feel that girl will become a grave problem for us. Their marriage must be prevented at all costs."
Nishigandha's eyes gleamed with determination, her lips curving into a wicked smile.
"I swear on my dark powers… I will ensure their marriage never takes place."
---
Later that evening, Gauri stepped into the house and froze.
On the table lay expensive jewelry, silk sarees, and glittering ornaments, all neatly arranged. Gayatri's eyes shone with greedy delight as she ran her fingers over the jewelry, a smile stretching across her face.
Charvi came to stand beside Gauri, worry written across her features.
Gauri's gaze hardened as she asked, her voice low but sharp,
"Who sent all this?"
Charvi sighed softly. "The Kotharis… they sent it through their driver."
Gauri's eyes lingered on the sparkling ornaments. For anyone else, they might have been treasures. But to her, they were chains—mocking chains. Her gaze dropped to the ring still on her finger, and her chest tightened. The memory of Vihaan forcing it on her returned like a bitter echo. The ring seemed to taunt her, reminding her of the leverage he held over her life.
Gayatri clasped her hands together, her face glowing with joy.
"Finally, Gauri! You made the right choice by agreeing to marry Vihaan. Look at this—our fate, our fortune… it's all about to change!"
Her laughter rang through the room, triumphant and eager.
But behind Gayatri's happiness, Gauri's face remained somber, her eyes filled with unspoken resistance.
Meanwhile, at the Kothari mansion, Veena's voice cut through the air like a blade. Her eyes blazed with fury as she said,
"I told you all that girl isn't fit to be part of this family! But no one listened. You all saw how she humiliated us—calling us to such a shameful place!"
Her words left the hall heavy with silence.
Yug, who had been quiet till now, finally spoke up, his tone steady yet respectful.
"Aunt, I think I know why Gauri did it. She knew you and Bhaiya would get angry if she pulled a stunt like that. She probably thought Bhaiya might change his decision to marry her."
Veena turned sharply to him, her eyes narrowing, but Yug continued firmly,
"If Gauri were really a cheap and selfish girl, she would be urging to marry into our family. After all, it would change her life and fortune in an instant. But she isn't like that. She has self-esteem and self-respect. That's why she doesn't care about our money."
A murmur spread among the family members, some exchanging uneasy glances.
But Vihaan's voice broke the silence, cold and resolute.
"I don't care what she is or what she does. I'm only marrying her for the sake of it."
The weight of his words settled heavily in the room, leaving Yug and the others staring at him, wondering what exactly he meant.