Chapter 17: The Children's Plan

The moment Veeresh agreed to meet Poornima, the entire atmosphere in the courtyard changed.

Ajay looked as though he had just won a major election.

Rhea was trying very hard not to smile too widely.

And Ritesh looked ready to distribute sweets throughout Rajgarh.

Veeresh immediately became suspicious.

He knew that look.

It was the look his children got right before doing something dangerous.

Ajay clapped his hands together.

"Perfect."

Veeresh narrowed his eyes.

"Perfect for what?"

Ajay smiled.

"Now we can arrange the court marriage."

The silence that followed was absolute.

Veeresh stared at his son.

"What?"

Ajay nodded confidently.

"Yes."

"What?"

"Dad, hear me out."

"I don't want to hear you out."

Rhea immediately covered her face to stop laughing.

Ritesh looked equally amused.

Ajay remained completely serious.

"Dad, I know you."

Veeresh pointed a finger at him.

"That sentence never leads anywhere good."

Ajay ignored him.

"You'll meet her."

"Then you'll both start discussing responsibilities."

"Then you'll start discussing your children."

"Then you'll discuss the village."

"Then you'll discuss Delhi."

"And eventually you'll convince each other not to marry."

Veeresh opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Because that sounded suspiciously accurate.

Ajay immediately pointed at him.

"See?"

"That face means I'm right."

"Dad," Ajay continued dramatically, "we have watched you sacrifice your happiness for twenty-five years."

Veeresh sighed.

"Ajay..."

"So this time we're handling things."

"Handling things?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"By arranging your court marriage."

Veeresh nearly choked.

Rhea burst out laughing.

Ritesh laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair.

"Have all of you lost your minds?"

Veeresh asked.

"Possibly," Ritesh admitted.

"But with good intentions."

"That doesn't make it better."

"It does a little."

Veeresh rubbed his forehead.

"I haven't even spoken to the woman."

Ajay waved his hand dismissively.

"Technical details."

"Technical details?"

"Minor details."

"Ajay!"

Before Ajay could continue, Rhea jumped in.

"No, no."

She looked at her father.

"We are joking."

"Mostly."

Veeresh immediately focused on the word mostly.

"Rhea."

She smiled innocently.

"Dad, relax."

"There will be no court marriage."

"Thank God."

"Without your permission."

Veeresh closed his eyes.

The children laughed again.

Then Rhea became serious.

"Dad."

Veeresh looked at her.

"You agreed to meet her."

"Yes."

"That's enough for now."

She smiled gently.

"We'll talk to her side."

"We'll talk to Zara."

"We'll see what Auntie thinks."

Veeresh raised an eyebrow.

"Auntie?"

Rhea nodded confidently.

"Future Auntie."

"Rhea."

"Sorry."

"Not sorry," Ritesh whispered.

She kicked him under the table.

Ajay stood up.

"Fine."

"No court marriage."

"Thank you."

"For now."

"AJAY."

The entire courtyard erupted with laughter.

Even Veeresh couldn't stop himself.

For the first time in years, laughter filled the haveli like this.

Free.

Warm.

Happy.

After the laughter settled, Rhea smiled at her father.

"Don't worry."

"We'll handle the conversations."

"You just be free."

Veeresh shook his head.

"I don't think I've ever been less free in my life."

The siblings grinned.

Because they knew something he was still trying to deny.

For the first time in decades, Veeresh wasn't carrying the responsibility alone.

Now three stubborn children were carrying it for him.

And they were absolutely determined to see it through.

Far away in Delhi, Zara was preparing for a similar conversation with Poornima.

Completely unaware that the Thakur siblings had already begun planning a future several steps ahead of both their parents.

And if Veeresh knew exactly how many plans they had already made...

He would probably book the next flight out of Rajgarh.

To be continued...