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He cupped her face, stroking her tears away. “I want to build a home with you. I want to have babies with you, and I want to pamper them and you so much that you forget there was ever a day when I hurt you and made you cry. I promise the only tears that will fall from your eyes hereon will be those born from joy. Please give me a chance. A last chance to set this right. I am sorry to hurt you so badly. I’ll do everything to earn back the love and trust I lost.”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Rohit had arrived. There was a long pause. The kind that felt like the air itself was holding its breath.

“You think a sorry is enough?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“No,” he replied. “But it’s a start. And if you give me a second chance, I swear I’ll spend every single day proving to you that you made the right choice.”

The next moment, they heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. Nandini pulled away from Shaurya in an instant and quickly wiped her tears, forcing herself to appear composed. Shaurya cleared his throat and straightened up just as Grandpa stepped into the kitchen, his eyes landing on both of them.

“Nandu, Rohit is here—” he began, but then stopped short, clearly surprised to find Shaurya standing there.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Shaurya? When did you get here? And what are you doing in the kitchen?”

“I just arrived,” Shaurya answered calmly, though his gaze never left Nandini. “I came to check on Nandini... it’s a big day for her, a big decision. And I thought if there’s someone else she has feelings for, now’s the time to say it. Before she meets Rohit.”

Nandini shot him a sharp, warning glare, but he ignored it. Grandpa frowned, sighing as he crossed his arms.

“You think I didn’t already ask her that?” he said. “The moment my idiot son sprung this meeting on us, I was the first to talk to her two days ago. She told me there was no one.”

Shaurya turned to Nandini, his expression hardening. “That was two days ago, Grandpa.”

Grandpa looked between them, clearly puzzled now. His tone softened. “Nandu… is there something I should know? It’s still not too late, dear. If there’s someone else in your heart, you can tell us.”

Nandini’s throat tightened. Her eyes locked with Shaurya’s. He didn’t say a word, but the message was clear in them.Say it now. Tell him. Tell your grandfather you love me.

She forced herself to look away and then turned back to her grandfather.

“No, Daadu. There’s no one else,” she said. “I’m ready to meet Rohit.”

Shaurya’s face darkened. He was clearly disappointed.

Grandpa let out another sigh, a weary one this time. “Alright then, come on out. He’s already waiting. Shaurya, you too. Don’t hover here like a ghost. Come outside.”

With that, he turned and walked off towards the living room. Nandini followed behind him. But just as she passed Shaurya, he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“You really want to do this?” His eyes were blazing now.

She yanked her arm free, and without a word, she turned and walked quickly after her grandfather.

Shaurya stayed behind for a second, exhaling sharply in frustration. Of course. How could he forget? Stubbornness ran in their blood. Both grandfather and granddaughter were stubborn to the bone when it came to making a point. And clearly, Nandini wasn’t going to make this easy. Not after what he’d done.

His jaw tightly clenched, he followed them out and stepped into the living room, ready to see exactly who he’d have to compete with.

**************

“Rohit!” Grandpa greeted warmly as he stepped into the living room.

Rohit Wadhwa had arrived with the polish and confidence of a man who knew exactly why he was here—as a potential suitor for the alliance. Tall and sharp-featured, he was dressed in a tailored blue blazer with a crisp white shirt underneath, looking every bit the eligible bachelor determined to make an impression. Just three years older than Nandini and alreadyrunning his father’s import-export business in Delhi, he carried himself with a self-assurance that was hard to ignore.

He greeted Grandpa with a respectful hug and handed him a small box of sweets. “For you, Grandpa. Mom sent these.”

“Ah, thank you. I can never say no to sweets,” Grandpa chuckled, taking the box from him. “Come, meet my granddaughter first for whom you are here.”

As if on cue, Nandini stepped in from the living room with a soft smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“This is Nandini, my granddaughter, my pride, and the only reason this big house still feels alive with love and laughter,” Grandpa introduced.