Morning sunlight spilled across the Rathore mansion, filtering through the curtains of Poornima’s room. Her head throbbed, a dull ache behind her eyes. She groaned softly, pressing her hand to her forehead.

Last night was a blur — fragments of music, tears, and… a man’s face.

His eyes. His scent.

And that kiss.

Her stomach twisted as bits of memory flashed — her whispering Pavan’s name, confessing everything she’d hidden for years. Shame burned through her. What had she done?

Before she could dwell on it further, a sharp knock sounded at her door.

“Poornima,” her mother’s voice called, firm and serious. “Come downstairs. Your father wants to talk.”

Something in her tone made Poornima sit up straight. She quickly changed into a pastel kurta and walked down to the living room, still fighting the headache and fog of last night.

Her parents sat side by side — Mr. and Mrs. Rathore — both looking uncharacteristically formal. Her father’s expression was calm but unreadable, while her mother’s eyes flickered with nervousness.

“Sit down,” her father said, gesturing to the couch.

Poornima frowned, uneasy. “What’s going on?”

Her father leaned forward, folding his hands. “We’ve made a decision. You’re getting married.”

Poornima froze. “What?”

Her mother smiled faintly, as if trying to soften the blow. “It’s all settled, beta. The Rajawats came this morning with the proposal.”

Her pulse quickened. “Rajawats?” she whispered. “You mean… Pavan?”

Her mother hesitated, then said softly, “No. Veeresh Rajawat.”

For a moment, silence filled the room — heavy, suffocating.

Poornima’s voice trembled. “Mom… Dad… please tell me this is some kind of joke.”

Her father’s tone was steady, businesslike. “It’s not. The proposal benefits both families. Veeresh is a powerful businessman, and it will strengthen our partnership with V Business. The wedding will be in two days.”

The words hit her like a slap. “Two days?” she shouted, standing up. “You’re marrying me off like some deal? Do you even hear yourselves?”

Her mother reached for her hand. “Poornima, calm down. Veeresh is a good man—”

“A good man?” she snapped, eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re calling him a good man? The same man I—” She stopped abruptly, guilt flickering across her face as she remembered her drunken confession, the kiss, the mistake.

Her father’s voice grew cold. “You will do this, Poornima. For the family. The media, the investors — everyone will be watching. We’ve already given our word.”

Tears burned in her eyes. “You took away everything from me. My position as CEO, you gave to Sahana after the merger. You took away the man I loved — you let her get engaged to him — and now this?”

Her voice broke. “Now you want me to marry his brother?”

Her father’s expression softened for a brief moment, but his decision remained firm. “You’re my daughter, Poornima. You’ll do what’s right for this family. Veeresh has already accepted.”

Poornima’s heart stopped.

He accepted?

Her legs weakened. “He… agreed to marry me?” she whispered, disbelief and dread mixing in her chest.

Her father nodded. “Yes. The engagement will be private today, and the wedding will follow. It’s decided.”

Without another word, Poornima turned and walked out of the room, her tears blurring everything around her. She stumbled into her bedroom, slammed the door shut, and sank onto the bed, trembling.

How could this happen?

How could Veeresh agree?

She remembered the way he looked at her last night — calm, unreadable. Now, it all made sense. He knew. He must have known.

He was doing this deliberately.

Her anger bubbled through the pain. She grabbed her phone with shaky hands and dialed a familiar number.

“Neha! Priyanka! Come to my house right now!”

Within an hour, her two best friends arrived — both looking anxious. Neha frowned. “Poornima, what happened? You sound like you’re about to explode.”

Poornima’s eyes were red as she paced the room. “They’re marrying me off. To Veeresh Rajawat.”

Priyanka gasped. “What?! That illegitimate guy? Are your parents serious?”

Poornima nodded, her voice trembling. “They’ve already fixed the date. Two days. And the worst part?” She clenched her fists. “He agreed. He’s doing this on purpose. He wants revenge. He knows everything.”

Her words came faster, desperate. “Last night, I… I drank too much. I thought I was talking to Pavan, but it was him. I told him everything. Every single thing. How I bullied him to get Pavan’s attention, how I loved Pavan since school. Everything.”

Her friends stared in stunned silence.

Neha swallowed hard. “So… he knows? All of it?”

Poornima nodded, tears spilling again. “And now he’s marrying me. I don’t know if it’s out of pity, or punishment. But I can’t do this, Neha. I can’t marry him.”

She fell onto the couch, her voice breaking into a whisper.

“He’s going to ruin me… the same way I ruined him.”

Outside, the wedding planners were already arriving, the mansion buzzing with preparations. But inside Poornima’s heart — chaos reigned.

And somewhere across the city, Veeresh Rajawat stood in his office window, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he stared at the wedding invitation draft in his hand.

> “Two days,” he murmured. “Let’s see how the queen of Rathores handles being mine.”