Arshad and Nadia sat in his study in front of each other with his father's letter in between them.

"Arshad... What's wrong with you? Are you in your right senses? You cannot do this... I won't let you", Nadia said

"I didn't find any other way to fulfil Abbajaan's dream", Arshad said

"Your father wouldn't have wanted you to fulfill your dream like this", Nadia said

"You are refusing just because she is a hindu?", he asked

"Yes, that's a big reason but I have other reasons as well... We know nothing about her... And you know they are given too much freedom and don't know how that girl is... What if she had had relationships before? We know nothing about her character", Nadia said which made Arshad fume in anger.

"And you call yourself progressive? What's wrong if a girl tries to find a partner for herself ? I didn't think you tag such girls as characterless. If that's the case, Zeenat too found a partner for herself... She chose me, what do you say about her?", Arshad asked his mother sternly.

"Arshad... Aren't you ashamed to talk like this about this khaandan's(clan) daughter?", Nadia reprimanded her son sternly.

"Didn't you think even once before talking about someone's daughter?", Arshad questioned

"I was just asking about the girl because I know nothing about her, I don't have any problem if a girl tries to find a partner by herself but it's the shameless ways and acts this generation especially from those families commit that I am not okay with", Nadia said

"I am not okay with such shameless acts either. I can assure you, she is not one of them... A girl who can sacrifice her whole career to look after her sick grandfather can never commit such acts... Rest you will know when you meet her", Arshad said

"What about the big people in the community, do they support this?", Nadia asked

"If someone can't think about the welfare of the people and silently watches their destruction in the mask of protecting religion, then that someone's opinion doesn't matter to me... I'm doing this for the welfare of our people, it's enough if they understand me, even if they don't, I don't have much problem, I do what should be rightfully done", Arshad said

"But you cannot pick enemity with the entire community while sacrificing your life for them too", Nadia said

"Sacrificing? Ma begum, Arya Awasti isn't a charity case that you call a sacrifice. It's equally hard for her, in fact even harder, because she has to live here, not the other way around, and don't forget, I went to them with this proposal, not the other way." Arshad said he may not be able to love her, but he would always respect her, or at least until she wouldn't commit something hard to forget or forgive.

The mother-son argued for hours but Arshad was clear on his stand.

"This is your final decision?", Nadia asked hoping against hope.

"We'll go to their place tomorrow. Be ready by 10", Arshad told his mother before returning to work. Nadia sighed and walked away praying to God to make Arshad change his decision.

-------------------------

"Dad... What's wrong? I'm seeing you from the past one week, you look so tensed... I know it's not about your friend, now tell me what is it?", Arya asked sitting beside her father after their dinner.

Prateek's eyes widened at realization, it's already a week? That means will Arshad come to his place with his elders the following day? Is that even possible? Will his family agree? That's unlikely right? His daughter, his Arya wouldn't have to sacrifice her life, no he wouldn't let her.

"Pappa... You are sweating", Arya said wiping Prateek's forehead with the paper napkin.

"I... I'm fine", Prateek said and got up...

"Dad... Please tell me what's wrong, you don't seem fine, you weren't like this even when your best friend went into coma... What is it that's eating you?", Arya asked

"Nothing... Nothing," Prateek said, leaving for his room and locking his door, perplexing Arya.

She is worried sick for her father but knows he won't say anything even if she kept asking, so she thought to give him some space for the time being but she didn't realize this space will change her life forever.

--------------------------

"Madam, Arshad Saab is here, should we let him in?", theie gate keeper asked Kiara who picked the intercom.

Last time, the guard allowed Arshad's car inside, and Arya gave him an earful and threatened to fire him if he allows anyone especially them inside without anyone in the family's permission.

Kiara let them in and Arshad walked in while Nadia was a bit hesitant to follow her son inside. Arya who saw Arshad walking in, stormed towards him. She hated this man because of the amount of tension he gave her father in the office.

"Please wait outside... I'll inform dad", Arya said standing his way to walk inside. Nadia who was walking behind her son was taken aback by the harsh tone Arya used on her son, well no one till now used that tone on Arshad before.

Arya's eyes softened a bit seeing Nadia.

"My mother...", Arshad introduced

"Rajini... Bring water to the guests", Arya said, showing her palm towards the living room...

Arshad's eyes twinkled at her soft gesture towards his mother and her respect to the elderly despite her hatred towards a particular sect. He was sure she would have made him sit in the porch if he was alone.

"I'll call dad... I'm sure you have come for him?", Arya said and Nadia nodded while Arshad looked at her eyes, that never hid her internal feelings, whether it's compassion, hate, love Or gratefulness.

"Di... Please sign these papers... Please... One last time di, I won't repeat it", Karan whined, walking there.

"Karan...", Arya reprimanded her brother for barking anything and everything without even noticing the guests sitting in their living room. "Go and call dad...", she told her brother snatching the paper in his hands.

Arya gave a small formal smile to Nadia and walked in.

It's time for morning prayer and Aarti, since Karan & Kiara are downstairs, Arya started the puja and then carried the Aarti in the whole house in the ground floor.

Nadia observed the ground floor of the house filled with hindu Gods, and seeing Arya's prayers, Nadia understood she is very religious and gave a look to her son, who blinked his eyes at her.

"Karan... Did you inform bade papa about the guests?", Arya asked her brother sternly.

"I did, di", Karan answered with a frown.

"Who makes guests wait? What's this? If he is busy, he should have told", Arya chided and walked towards the staircase but Karan stopped her.

As soon as Karan informed Prateek, he started sweating profusely, Karan walked down without waiting for Prateek's reaction. Prateek thought to make them wait for some time and maybe AWS will get the message and leave?

"Di... Bade papa will come, first think about this letter na... Please sign it", Karan pleaded but Arya didn't respond.

"Kiara... Go and call Bade papa, tell him guests are waiting for half an hour now", Arya said

Nadia and Arshad got impressed at her sense of treating guests despite her personal feelings.

Kiara walked upstairs to call Prateek again while Karan kept pleading his sister for the signature. He missed lectures frequently and his principal issued a warning letter to him and only if he gets it signed by a parent/guardian, will he let him enter the class and Karan knew if he misses anymore classes he would have to repeat the semester due to low attendance.

"Have breakfast first", Arya said filling his plate.

Kiara too came back and Arya served her too. After the breakfast, she handed then their tiffins and walked out to send them off.

"Eat your tiffins, I have kept extra tiffin in the car, give that to your friends, but this... Only you will finish", Arya warned both of them...

"Did you mix something in this? Tell us the truth?", Karan teased his sister earning a slap on his arm...

Kiara bid bye to her sister and got into her car and the driver drove off...

"Di... I promise, I would never repeat my mistake, from now on I would do anything to make you proud, I won't miss any lectures. I am sorry, I am really sorry", Karan said

"Okay, now go", Arya said with a smile.

"I can't attend any lectures without your signature on this... So please ma'am, autograph", Karan requested handing her the letter.

"I have already signed the letter and put it in your bag last night, this is just the photocopy", Arya said, making Karan open his mouth widely.

"Why all this drama then?", Karan whined

"To make you realize your mistake, the tension on your face from last evening when I refused to sign converted into fear this morning and the same fear will stop you from committing the same mistake again, now stop whining and go...", Arya said

Nadia smiled at the little act Arya pulled while Arshad looked at the woman with amusement.

"You took photocopy of this printed letter and then signed the original one, and hid it in my bag, and made me beg you from morning showing this xerox? Di... So shameless you are, how can you be so cruel?", Karan taunted

"Cruelty is when I get this letter framed and send it to chachu - chachi as their anniversary gift, maybe I should do it", Arya teased her brother.

"They are a lot less stricter than you are... Hitler", Karan said and walked away, but came back again, hugged his sister and left with a 'bye' making Arya smile at her brother and sister.

Her smile dimmed when she walked inside and saw Prateek isn't here till now. She got furious.

"Dad must be occupied with something, he will be right here", Arya said politely. Whoever it is, she didn't like making people wait. She stormed towards her father's room to get him downstairs, if he didn't want to have a conversation with them, he should say it to their face, not make them wait like this. She didn't approve this kind of behavior.

"Dad... You'll come downstairs this very instant and talk to Mr. Siddiqui and his mother... I won't hear anything, you have 2 minutes", Arya commanded not knowing she is shooting herself in the foot.

Prateek wiped his sweat, calmed himself and walked downstairs.
Arya came down and in the next 2 minutes, Prateek was there. Arshad smiled at how this strong daughter of Mr. Prateek Awasti can make him do anything.
Nadia and Arshad got up seeing Prateek walking there. Despite the power he held, Prateek appreciated the respect Arshad showed, but he would have appreciated if he is a bit considerate too.

"Assalamu Alaikum", Nadia greeted him respectfully.

"Wa Alaikum Assalam", Prateek responded instantly without much thinking, as he got used to it staying with Rahman.
Saying it didn't feel like a sin for Prateek as his faith never talked about other faiths disrespectfully, maybe because it was the oldest faith in the world and nothing else existed other than it.

He used to respond to Rahman with it, and sometimesRahman used to greet him with 'Ram Ram'. Religion never came in between the friends but now the same became a big problem to his daughter's life that too because of his friend. He would never forgive his friend for doing this, thought Prateek.

Prateek realized how he just replied, and looked around to see if his daughter is around and sighed mentally not finding her.

"N... Namaste, we'll can talk in my study", Arya came with coffee for the three just then.
"Arya, send coffee to my study with Rajini", Prateek told his daughter.

"Use Chachu's study in the downstairs, dadu's physiotherapist will be here in a while so...", Arya said and Prateek understood.

Narayan will be brought outside during his physiotherapy and there are chances he could spot Arshad and his mother if they talk in Prateek's study which is upstairs, so Arya asked them to occupy Saket's study room downstairs.

"Okay...", Prateek nodded and walked towards his brother's study and the mother-son followed.

Nadia's opinion and doubts about the girl's character changed after seeing Arya. She instantly liked Arya, she is beautiful, intelligent and had a strong value system, but wished she belonged to their community.

The three of them settled in Saket's study and soon Rajini followed with coffees.

"Rajini... Make sure no one disturbs us, shut the door while you go", Prateek ordered

"Not even Arya didi?", Rajini asked, because usually any order that's passed in the house excludes Arya, no one can order her, it doesn't apply to her.

"Can anyone stop her if they want to?", Prateek asked and Rajini shook her head... "Exactly... But please try that she doesn't enter this room", he added, Rajini nodded and left from there.

"My daughter is the strongest, she doesn't follow rules, sets her own and makes sure everyone around follows it", Prateek said proudly, subtly hinting that he couldn't make her do things he want, she would act on her own beliefs.

"That's exactly how I wanted my daughter-in-law to be, Mr. Awasti... My son, as you know is the chairman of PSL holdings, one of the top investment firms in the world, that's not it, he also leads our whole community in the country, he handled all this alone, along with keeping our family safe and happy providing all the comforts in the world. Now it's high time he needs a strong pillar at home to support him, sometimes a caring, strong and peaceful home can help men survive harshest of the harsh storms", Nadia said surprising even her son.

She is talking as if they came to ask for Arya Awasti's hand out of love for her, not due to business and other reasons.

"My daughter can make the strongest, caring and peaceful home when she loves the people in it, or else she can bring the destruction no one can ever anticipate", Prateek said

"Mr. Awasti... You wanted me to ask your daughter's hand formally, and I'm here for the same with my mother, think about it", Arshad said calmly, by then Prateek understood Arshad's strength is in his calmness.

"I know the situations have forced for this marriage, Mr. Awasti. But I give you ny word, Arya will be the only wife Arshad will ever have, and she will get the respect as his wife there, unless she harms or disrespects my family. I know this might be one of the concerns you'll be having", Nadia said

"Our religions, customs, families everything is different, Arya... She won't agree", Prateek said trying to make them understand.

"Looks like not just her, you also need some convincing, but I'm sorry Mr. Awasti, I can't do more than this, you need to weigh your options and take a decision... You have 3 days to let us know your decision", Arshad said and got up followed by Nadia.

"We'll take your leave now", Nadia politely said, Prateek barely nodded and Nadia felt bad seeing his condition. She looked at her son to talk to him but his calm yet rigid face told her, he wouldn't hear anything about this.

The mother-son walked out of Saket's study and walked towards the door when they saw Arya standing beside the dining table biting her nails with a tensed face. A woman few years older to Arya was sitting at the dining table and tasting the different dishes placed in front of her.

"At least this?", Arya asked and the woman shook her head after tasting.
"Purvi... Please let him eat at least this... It's his birthday tomorrow, and I want to make tomorrow memorable for him. Dadu(paternal grandfather) badly wanted to eat this, but because of your srrict diet, I haven't given him his favorite food in the past few months... Please just ket hik cheat for tomorrow ", Arya pleaded

"Madam... I'm your dadu's nutritionist as well, not just your best friend, and my answer is 'No', he can't have so much spice", Purvi replied making Arya huff in annoyance.

"Purvi... Please...", Arya whined but quickly changed her demeanor when she saw Arshad and Nadia walking out.

Nadia stopped and turned to Arya, gave her one last look before saying...

"Khuda Hafiz(May God protect you/usually said when someone is leaving)", Nadia said, Arya stared blankly at her for a second, if it was someone else greeting her like that, she wouldn't have responded but there's something in Nadia that made her respond.

"Jai Shri Ram", Arya greeted, with a 'namste' (folded hands)

Nadia nodded and followed her son out.

Purvi stood shocked at the exchange, she found them in Arya house, she is aware of her friend's hatred for some people, she never allowed them in.

"Who are they and what happened to you? I thought you hate them? And what's Jai shree Ram, who says that in today's time", Purvi asked

"I do, dad has some business with them, so I can't do much... And yeah, people don't say that these days, but they should start saying it... Anyway, stop talking about it and let's get back to the tasting, try others and tell me what all can I prepare for dadu tomorrow", Arya said and Purvi nodded, getting back to work.

----------------------

Prateek sat in his study the whole day in the pretext of working from home. His heart beating wildly thinking of the consequences. He can't see his family suffering again, he can't lose a family member, a parent again due to lack of money. He remembered the excruciating pain he felt losing his mother, that too due to his inability to earn enough money for her treatment. He can't let his father through the same fate.

But is there any other way? He had earned enough assets but all his assets would be frozen if he was detained and he believed AWS's power to make it happen. How would the society treat his family after all those. They would not only be crushed financially, but emotionally too. No, he can't let them suffer that fate but did he have the courage to ask such a big sacrifice from his daughter, despite knowing her hatred and what she would go through by staying every day with them. No, he didn't have the courage to see his daughter like that, neither did he have the courage to see his father dying due to lack of treatment. Karan and Kiara's future? His brother and sister-in-law who believed in him, will now face humiliation... It's better to die than seeing all this, he thought.

Trigger Warning - Self - harm/Suicide is mentioned

Prateek wrote a letter to his family. He was a coward, he knew. He couldn't see his father or daughter suffering, he knew they would suffer even after he dies, but at least then AWS won't force his daughter to marry him, if he is dead, AWS can't case on anyone as Rahman was in coma and Prateek was dead, no other person owned the products in Veteix Inc. So his family will at least do well financially, yes, they would he shattered with his death but it's better than asking his daughter to make the sacrifice.

He took the bunch of sleeping pills in his hand and is about to swallow them when his daughter bursted opened the door.

"Dad, come fast... We pla...", her words stuck in her throat seeing more than half a bottle of sleeping pills which were in her father's palm now on the floor.

Her eyes quickly went to Prateek's sweating face, then to the letter on the side table. She realized what he was about to do, the strong Arya Awasti stumbled on her feet, but she took support of the door. Her brain froze refusing to react.

"I was... Wasn't able to sleep, so tak.. taking a pill but these all spilled", Prateek fumbled, she would have believed his lie if she didn't know him.

What if she didn't storm to his room? What if they didn't plan to make their grandfather cut cake at midnight? What if he had proceeded with it? No... She lost her mother years ago and now she would have lost her father too... Didn't he think of her before taking such a step?

"Arya...", Prateek called for his daughter, the tears in his eyes finally brought her from the shock.

She stormed towards him and slapped his cheeks left and right, not too harsh but enough to bring some sense in him...
And finally tears slipped from her eyes.

"What were you doing? Huh? What were you doing? Why Dad? Didn't you think about us? What would happened to your daughter dad? I already lost mumma... I can't live if something happens to you too... Why would you do such a stupid thing?", Arya asked holding her father's collar.

"Di... Badepapa... Come fast...", Karan shouted for them...

Arya quickly pushed all the pills to under the bed in case they decide to come here.

"Actually this isn't a good idea Karan, Kiara... Go back to sleep, doctor advised not to disturb Dadu", Arya said walking towards the door of her father's bedroom, trying hard to not fumble.

"Di... You always do this... I'll complain to badepapa", Karan said, stomping towards Prateek's room but Area's stern scolding stopped him.

"Stop behaving like a kid Karan, become mature, you are an adult", Arya scolded, to stop him from walking towards Prateek's room. Karan glared at her angrily before walking towards his room. Kiara too returned to her room fearing Arya's anger.

Luckily she didn't wake up her grandfather, otherwise he would have whined badly for not getting his cake cutting done, he is worse than Karan and Kiara.

Arya walked in to her father's room, locked it from inside, before settling on his bed with her hands on her head. The thought of what could have happened if she didn't come is causing her shivers.

"Will you open your mouth, now?", Arya shouted after 10 minutes of silence, startling her father.
"Answer me, Prateek Awasti, Why?", Arya asked her father holding his collar, but soon the tough facade dropped and she broke down sobbing hard.

"A.. Arya... My baby... Dad is sorry, dad is really sorry... I.. I didn't have a choice", Prateek said and Arya looked at him...
"I have to go to jail Or get you married to AWS... I can't do either... I am a coward... A coward, I am so sorry", Prateek broke down...

"Wait! What does that even mean? Dad... Be clear", Arya asked, wiping her tears, getting alert at her father's words...

"Wasim Siddiqui, Arshad's father is also a shareholder of Vetrix... Not just that... 7 out of our 15 top-selling products belong to him", Prateek said shocking Arya...

He detailed everything to her about the situation including Arshad's proposal...

Angry tears flew from Arya's eyes...

"You don't have to marry him, Arya... I can never ask you for such a thing, I can't let you suffer for my mistakes, and I will never forgive Rahman for this", Prateek said

"Rahman... Rahman... This man has wrecked our whole lives, don't take his name in front of me...", Arya said with pure disgust. 

"I...I don't know what to do", Prateek said, "I can't let you marry him... I... Arya, bache, please let me die... that's the only solution...", Prateek kept blabbering...

Trigger warning ends here

"I will marry him," Arya said. If it hadn't been so silent, Prateek wouldn't have heard her. 

"No... No...", Prateek shook his head.

"Dad... I will marry him... Don't worry... I'll set everything right, and if you think you'll solve all the problems by dying, then you are the biggest fool in this world... Look at you dad, I can't even recognize you, Are you the same Prateek Awasti who used to command the entire Vetrix? where's your strength?", Arya asked

"Arya... I know you won't trust me but you are the reason that I'm alive... I love you a lot my baby", Prateek said holding Arya's cheeks...

"Then live for me, dad... Marrying him isn't even 0.1% painful compared to losing you... You... Dad... You are very important to me... I love you so much dad, please live for me... Please, I beg you, I draw my strength from you... Please...", Arya begged and Prateek cried seieng his strong daughter so vulnerable...

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, I would never commit such things again, I'll live for you Arya, I'll live for you", Prateek said and Arya nodded.

The father-daughter talked for a while before Arya got up to leave. She took out a pill from the half-filled sleeping pills bottle and gave it to her father, as she is sure he couldn't sleep after all this without external help. Prateek quickly swallowed it with water. 

Arya took the bottle with herself, along with all the knives, and ropes with her.

"Arya... I won't repeat it my girl", Prateek said, his eyes begging his daughter to believe.

"I'm sorry dad, but I don't trust you", Arya said and walked away. 

---------------------------------------

"I'll become your destruction, Arshad Wasim Siddiqui", Arya said looking at his name mentioned in the company documents with pure hatred... She would make his life miserable, she vowed. 

Precap - Arya and her conditions, Arshad and his limits, the marriage.