In Rajvansh Mansion,

The mansion was filled with laughter and giggles as the elders of the Raizada and Rajvansh families were sitting together and chatting happily. The atmosphere was warm, cheerful, and full of family love.

Prapti smiled emotionally and said,

"Pata hi nahi chala bacche kab bade ho gaye. Ab dekhiye Anubhav aur Shaurya ko, kal tak chhote the aur ab dekho, bade bhi ho gaye aur shaadi bhi ho gayi."

(We didn’t even realize when the children grew up. Just look at Anubhav and Shaurya, till yesterday they were kids and now they have grown up and even got married.)

She spoke with pride and a little nostalgia.

Kritika nodded in agreement and said softly,

"Bilkul sahi keh rahi ho tum. Bacche itne bade ho gaye hain ki ab sabki shaadi ki umar ho gayi hai."

(You are absolutely right. The children have grown so much that now it is time for everyone to get married.)

Her tone carried both happiness and a mother’s concern.

Hearing this, Pratikshit smirked playfully and said,

"Wow mom, toh ab aap meri bhi shaadi karwane wali hain? Waise aap chaho toh aapko dhoondne ki zaroorat nahi, main khud hi dhoond leta hoon. Bas aap bata dijiye kab karwaengi."

(Wow mom, so now you are going to get me married too? If you want, you don’t need to search for a girl, I can find one myself. You just tell me when you will arrange the wedding.)

He spoke jokingly, trying to tease everyone.

Prapti glared at him and said in a strict motherly tone,

"Pehle dhang ki job dhoondh ke stable ho ja, phir dekhenge teri shaadi ka."

(First find a proper job and become stable, then we will think about your marriage.)

Everyone smiled at her typical mother response.

Just then, Drishti entered the hall and heard the last line. She immediately joined the teasing and said,

"Maa, par isse shaadi ke liye haan kahega kaun? Maan lo kisi andhi aur bholi bechari ladki ne haan keh bhi diya, toh mujhe nahi lagta uska baap ise haan bolega."

(Mom, but who will even say yes to marry him? Even if some blind and innocent girl agrees, I don’t think her father will say yes to him.)

She said with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying irritating him.

Pratikshit glared at her and replied dramatically,

"Mera toh phir bhi theek hai. Ho gaya toh main ghar jamai ban jaunga. Par tujhe toh koi kutta bhi haan na bole."

(I’ll still be fine. If needed, I’ll become a live-in son-in-law. But no one will even say yes to you, not even a dog.)

His tone was teasing but full of sibling sarcasm.

Hearing this, the elders burst into laughter at their banter, while Drishti huffed angrily and said,

"Haan toh kutta toh tu hai! Aur tujh jaise ladke ko meri jutti bhi haan na bole."

(You are the dog! And even my shoe wouldn’t say yes to a boy like you.)

She crossed her arms, pretending to be very angry.

Pratikshit placed his hand on his chest dramatically and said,

"Oh really? Kya kharabi hai mujh mein? What do you mean by ‘mere jaisa ladka’? Oh… ab samjha… mere jaisa handsome, dashing aur clever ladka kehna chah rahi ho. Tumhara afsos hai ki tum jaise gadhi aur andhi ko mere jaisa samajhdaar ladka mil bhi nahi sakta."

(Oh really? What is wrong with me? What do you mean by a boy like me? Oh… now I understand… you mean a handsome, dashing and clever boy like me. It’s your bad luck that a foolish and blind girl like you can never get a smart guy like me.)

He smirked proudly, making everyone laugh again.

Drishti glared at him angrily and pointed her finger at him, about to shout back —

but suddenly she saw Shivam entering the hall.

In a second, her anger disappeared and she made cute puppy eyes, then ran towards him and said sweetly,

"Chote papa, dekhiye na… yeh mujhe gadhi aur andhi bol raha hai."

(Uncle, look at him… he is calling me a donkey and blind.)

Her tone turned innocent instantly, making everyone laugh even more at her dramatic change.

The elders shook their heads, smiling, knowing this kind of teasing was normal in the family, and the hall once again filled with laughter.

As soon as Shivam heard this, his expression turned serious and he glared at Pratikshit.

Drishti was the youngest child of the family and also the second girl born after seventeen generations, so she was loved by everyone — but she was especially dear to Shivam. Because of that, he could never tolerate anyone making her upset.

Shivam slowly started walking toward Pratikshit.

Seeing this, Pratikshit immediately stood up from the sofa, getting nervous, and said quickly,

"Ch… chote papa, usne mujhe pehle kutta bola tha, isiliye maine bhi bola."

(Uncle… she called me a dog first, that’s why I said it too.)

But Shivam didn’t stop. His face remained calm, which made Pratikshit even more scared.

Shivam took out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.

Then he said in a cold, strict voice,

"Lagta hai tumhe internship se chhutti mili hui hai, isliye tumhe zyada aaraam mil raha hai."

(Looks like you have been getting leave from your internship, that’s why you are getting too much free time.)

He paused, then spoke on the phone, still staring at Pratikshit,

"Lagta hai tumhare hospital mein doctors bahut zyada ho gaye hain, isliye interns ko chhutti dene lage ho. Tum kaho toh tumhare hospital ke specialist ko kahin aur bhejne ki tayari karu?"

(Looks like your hospital has too many doctors, that’s why you have started giving leave to interns. If you want, I can arrange to send your specialist somewhere else.)

Hearing this, Pratikshit’s eyes widened in shock.

He immediately said nervously,

"Chote papa please, yeh karne ki zarurat nahi… I’m sorry."

(Uncle please, there is no need to do this… I’m sorry.)

But before he could say anything more, the person on the other side of the call said something.

Shivam nodded slightly and said,

"Jaldi karo."

(Do it quickly.)

Then he hung up the phone.

As soon as the call ended, Pratikshit glared at Drishti, and she was standing there with a wide mischievous grin.

Pratikshit quickly made puppy eyes and said,

"Chote papa please na… I’m sorry. Yeh mat kijiye. Aap kahenge toh main room se bhi bahar nahi nikalunga, I promise. Bas unse kahiye phone na kare."

(Uncle please… I’m sorry. Don’t do this. If you say, I won’t even leave my room, I promise. Just tell them not to call.)

Just then, his phone started ringing.

He looked at Shivam with scared puppy eyes and said softly,

"Chote papa…"

Shivam glared at him and said firmly,

"Phone uthao."

(Pick up the phone.)

Then he glanced at Drishti, smiled slightly at her, and calmly sat back on the sofa with the elders as if nothing happened.

Pratikshit looked at Drishti and muttered under his breath angrily before picking up the call.

From the other side, a professional voice said,

“You have to come to the hospital immediately. Your leave has been cancelled.”

Hearing this, Pratikshit closed his eyes in frustration and replied,

“I will come.”

Drishti crossed her arms, grinning proudly, and said teasingly,

"Jao jao, mazdoor. Kaam chhod kar yahan aise baithe ho. Chik chik, kaamchor kahin ke."

(Go, go worker. Leaving your work and sitting here like this. Always complaining, such a lazy person.)

Pratikshit glared at her and cursed her under his breath, but he didn’t dare say anything loudly.

Because if Shivam heard him again, then the evening leave he was supposed to get would also be cancelled, and he might have to stay in the hospital till midnight.

This had already happened many times.

For the last two months, he had hardly gotten any leave — even on Sundays — and whenever he did, it was usually cancelled because of Drishti’s complaints.

Frustrated but helpless,

Pratikshit picked up his keys and left for the hospital, while the elders in the hall kept smiling, already used to this everyday drama.

After Pratikshit left, the elders slowly settled back into their seats, and the conversation naturally shifted again toward marriage.

Prapti leaned forward with interest and asked,

"Toh Kartavya ki shaadi kab karani hai?"

(So when are you planning to get Kartavya married?)

Her tone was curious yet excited, like someone already imagining wedding celebrations.

Kritika sighed softly and replied,

"Uske liye shaadi dekhna abhi shuru kiya hai. Agar tumhari nazar mein koi hai toh batana. Pure teen saal baad ghar aaya hai, aur keh raha hai ki kaam hone ke baad use Australia jana hai. Toh maine bhi soch liya hai, shaadi karega tabhi ghar mein tik payega."

(We have just started looking for a match for him. If you have someone in mind, do tell me. He has come home after three whole years, and now he is saying that after finishing his work, he wants to go to Australia. So I’ve decided that only after marriage will he stay at home.)

Her voice carried a mix of determination, worry, and a mother’s possessiveness—she clearly didn’t want her son to leave again.

Hearing this, Dhruv and Pratik exchanged glances and shook their heads slightly, amused at how seriously their wives were planning their future daughter-in-law.

Pratik chuckled lightly and said,

"Are, tum shaadi ki baat kar rahi ho, pehle usse toh pooch lo."

(You’re already talking about marriage, at least ask him first.)

His tone was playful but practical.

Kritika immediately glared at him and replied firmly,

"Woh meri baat kabhi nahi talega. Agar tala, toh main apne tarike se manwaungi use."

(He will never refuse me. And even if he does, I will convince him in my own way.)

Her voice was calm but carried a clear authority and confidence of a mother who knows she will get her way.

Just then, Shivansh, who had been quietly listening till now, spoke thoughtfully,

“If you don’t mind… Choudhary’s elder daughter works in my office. She’s there to gain experience, and she is very polite and mature in nature.”

His tone was calm and suggestive, as if carefully placing an idea in front of the family.

Everyone turned their attention toward him.

Pratik raised his eyebrows slightly and asked,

"Tum Sammer Choudhary ki beti ki baat kar rahe ho?"

(You mean Sammer Choudhary’s daughter?)

Shivansh simply nodded in confirmation.

The room grew a little more attentive, as the conversation shifted from casual talk to a serious potential alliance, and curiosity sparked among everyone about this possible match.

As Shivansh nodded, the atmosphere in the hall shifted slightly—now filled with curiosity and interest.

Sameer Choudhary was not just any name.

He was a well-reputed businessman, known for his intelligence, discipline, and strong values. His company had been successfully handling multiple large-scale projects, and recently, he had entered into a collaboration with Shivansh’s company for a few important ventures.

Because of this professional connection, Shivansh knew the family quite well.

Shivansh leaned back slightly and said calmly,

“Sameer Choudhary is not only a brilliant businessman but also a man of principles. His reputation in the market is very strong, and his way of handling both business and family is commendable.”

The elders listened carefully, clearly impressed.

He continued,

“And his elder daughter… she works in my office under a senior team, not because she needs to, but to gain experience. She is grounded, respectful, and quite mature for her age.”

Prapti exchanged a glance with Kritika, both silently liking what they were hearing.

Kritika asked thoughtfully,

“Family kaisi hai unki?”

(How is their family?)

Shivansh replied,

“Very decent and well-cultured. They are modern in thinking but still deeply rooted in traditions.”

His words carried assurance, which made everyone consider the proposal more seriously.

Dhruv nodded slightly, impressed, while Pratik crossed his arms thoughtfully, already evaluating the match in his mind.

Kritika’s eyes softened, but there was still a hint of concern in her voice as she said,

“Sab theek hai… par Kartavya maanega ya nahi, yeh bhi dekhna padega.”

(Everything sounds good… but we still need to see whether Kartavya will agree or not.)

Prapti smiled knowingly and teased lightly,

“Tum toh keh rahi thi ki woh tumhari baat kabhi nahi talega.”

(You were saying he would never refuse you.)

Kritika gave her a slight look but couldn’t help smiling.

Meanwhile, Shivam, who had been quietly observing everything, finally spoke with a faint smirk,

“Ek baar mil toh lene do dono ko… baaki toh samajh aa hi jayega.”

(Let them meet once… the rest will fall into place.)

There was a quiet agreement in the room.