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“They want to meet me,” Varun said. “This weekend.”

Shaurya blinked and then broke into a grin. “Wait! This happenedsix days ago, and you’re telling me now?”

Varun shrugged. “You’ve been dealing with your own storm, man. And honestly? I didn’t want to make you jealous.”

Shaurya rolled his eyes. “Oh, please.”

But then, he leaned forward and clapped Varun on the shoulder. “Congrats. If the Mehras are inviting you over to their place, I can already hear the wedding bells.”

Varun laughed, but there was a wistful look in his eyes. “Yeah… I hear them too. I really hope we both get our happily ever afters.”

Shaurya’s smile faltered slightly.

“All we need to do,” Varun continued, “is figure out how to break through that fortress called Keshav Raichand and make him see what you and Nandini have.”

Shaurya leaned back in his chair, exhaling hard.

He knew Varun was right. It wasn’t about convincing the world anymore. It was about convincingoneman.

One man who had locked every emotional door and thrown away the keys. But Shaurya wasn’t ready to walk away from the woman he loved. That wasn’t even an option.

Just then, a knock resounded through the door. Meera went to open it and Lakshmi stepped in, breathless, worry written all over her face.

Shaurya stood up immediately. “What happened?”

“Grandpa has asked Nandini to pack her bags,” Lakshmi said urgently.

Shaurya froze. “Pack? What do you mean? Why?”

“He’s taking her to London this weekend.”

“London?” Shaurya snapped. “But she’s supposed to sign the deal with her investor this weekend.”

“Yes,” Lakshmi nodded. “As soon as she signs the deal with the investor, Grandpa is taking her to London that same night. He’s already made all the arrangements.”

Shaurya’s hands curled into fists. “What the f*ck?”

“He told me to take a month off. Which means… they’re not planning to come back anytime soon.”

Shaurya’s expression darkened.

“Nandini wanted to call you, but right now, she’s trying to convince him to cancel the trip. He won’t listen. Her father’s already been asked to book the tickets. It’s all set.”

A tense silence followed. Then, Shaurya stood up abruptly and stormed towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Varun asked, alarmed.

“To end this. I’m done being polite. If that old man won’t hear me out, I’ll force him to listen.”

Varun, Meera, and Lakshmi exchanged a quick glance and hurried after him. They knew exactly what Shaurya was walking into and what might erupt if two equally stubborn men had a face-off now.

Raichand Villa

Nandini stood in her grandfather’s bedroom, her voice raw from pleading over and over again, but he remained unmoved.

Grandpa stood calmly near his wardrobe, pulling out a folded woollen sweater and inspecting it as though her words were nothing but background noise. The open suitcase lay on the bed, half-packed with his essentials. Shirts, scarves, medicine pouches… all neatly arranged. He refused to meet her eyes.

“Daadu, why now? Why London?” Nandini asked, her voice a mix of frustration and heartbreak. “Just last month, you told Mom and Dad that this time of the year, the mango season, was sacred to you. How can you leave when the trees are just about to bear fruit?”