Chapter 16: A Difficult Decision

Veeresh did not sleep that night.

He remained seated on the balcony until dawn, thinking about his grandfather's words, Poornima's life, and his own children.

As the first rays of sunlight entered his room, he had made a decision.

After getting ready, he walked towards Mahendra Rathore's room.

Mahendra was reading the morning newspaper when he heard a knock.

Mahendra: "Come in."

Veeresh entered.

Mahendra looked up.

Mahendra: "Good morning, beta."

Veeresh took a deep breath.

Veeresh: "Dadu..."

Mahendra folded the newspaper.

Mahendra: "Yes?"

Veeresh looked straight into his grandfather's eyes.

Veeresh: "I am ready for the marriage."

Mahendra smiled softly. There was relief in his eyes, but he remained composed.

Mahendra: "Thank you for thinking about it."

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "I'm not doing this because of your ultimatum."

He paused.

Veeresh: "I thought about her... and her children."

Mahendra stood up and placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder.

Mahendra: "That is all I wanted."

Just then, Mahesh entered the room.

Mahesh: "So...?"

Mahendra smiled.

Mahendra: "He has agreed."

Mahesh looked at his son with pride.

Mahesh: "I'm proud of you, Veeresh."

Mahendra then added,

Mahendra: "The wedding will honor both families."

Veeresh looked at him.

Mahendra: "There will be a nikah according to her family's traditions and a Hindu wedding ceremony according to ours. Both will take place with the complete consent of both families and the couple."

Veeresh nodded respectfully.

Veeresh: "As long as everyone is comfortable with it."

At that moment, Yash and Aarav walked past the open study door and overheard the conversation.

Yash stopped in his tracks.

Yash: "Marriage?"

Aarav looked at Veeresh in disbelief.

Aarav: "So soon?"

Yash's face hardened.

Yash: "You moved on that quickly?"

Before Veeresh could explain, both brothers turned around.

Aarav: "Come on, Bhai."

Without waiting for a reply, they walked away.

Veeresh lowered his head.

The words had hurt more than he expected.

Mahesh placed a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

Mahesh: "Don't let their anger break you."

Veeresh sighed.

Veeresh: "They think I'm replacing their mother."

Mahesh shook his head.

Mahesh: "No, son."

He looked toward the doorway where his grandsons had disappeared.

Mahesh: "Right now, they're hurt and confused."

He smiled gently.

Mahesh: "One day, when they become fathers themselves..."

He paused.

Mahesh: "...they will understand the weight you carried."

Veeresh remained silent.

Mahesh: "They may hate you today."

He squeezed his son's shoulder gently.

Mahesh: "But one day, they will come back to you."

Mahendra looked at his grandson with confidence.

Mahendra: "Some relationships need time to heal."

Veeresh looked out of the study window.

He had accepted the marriage.

Now, he knew the hardest journey was only beginning—not winning a bride's trust, but earning back the love of his own children.