The next morning, Rudransh was already in his office when Yuvraaj entered.

There was a knock.

Yuvraaj placed a thin black folder on the desk and remained standing.

Rudransh did not look up immediately. He continued signing the document in front of him, his expression unreadable.

“Report.”

Yuvraaj slid the folder toward him. “Krisha Mathur.”

Rudransh finally lifted his eyes.

“That was fast.”

“There wasn't much to find.”

Rudransh stopped.

“What do you mean?”

Yuvraaj opened the folder. “Twenty-four years old. Graduated. No current job. Lives with her parents. No criminal record, no financial irregularities, no suspicious business connections, no known association with anyone from the Rathore Group, and no public controversies.”

“Friends?”

“One close friend. Lakshita Kapoor. They've known each other for years.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Nothing.”

“Ex-boyfriend?”

“Nothing significant.”

Rudransh's eyes narrowed.

“Nothing?”

Yuvraaj shook his head. “Her life is... boring.”

A faint crease appeared between Rudransh's brows.

“Boring?”

“completely.” Yuvraaj turned a page. “College, family, job applications, occasional outings with her friend. She doesn't party much, doesn't have a questionable social circle, doesn't maintain any connection with politicians or businessmen, and there is no unexplained source of money.”

Rudransh leaned back in his chair.

“And her family?”

“Father, Devendra Mathur. Small business. No major debts. No serious disputes. Mother, Meera Mathur. Homemaker.”

Yuvraaj closed the file.

“I checked everything I could.”

Rudransh stared at the folder.

Something about it bothered him.

Not because there was something suspicious.

Because there was nothing.

Mahendra had chosen a girl whose entire life appeared painfully ordinary.

No hidden scandals.

No secret relationships.

No dangerous connections.

No obvious reason for the marriage.

Rudransh finally pushed the folder aside.

“Fine.”

Yuvraaj looked at him. “That's it?”

“Yes.”

“You don't want me to dig deeper?”

“No.”

Yuvraaj studied his brother's face for a moment before nodding.

He turned to leave.

“Yuvraaj.”

He stopped.

“Not a word about this to anyone.”

A knowing smirk appeared on Yuvraaj's face.

“Of course, Bhaisa.”

He walked out.

Rudransh remained alone.

His fingers tapped once against the desk.

Mahendra was hiding something.

That much was obvious.

But if he had managed to keep Krisha's entire life this clean, there was nothing Rudransh could find by investigating her.

And he wasn't going to waste time chasing ghosts.

If Mahendra wanted this marriage so badly, then he would get it.

But he would get it on Rudransh's terms.

Rudransh picked up his phone and called his father.

Mahendra answered after the second ring.

“Yes?”

“I've decided.”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

“About the marriage?”

“Yes.”

Mahendra's voice softened slightly. “You will meet Krisha?”

“No.”

The silence returned.

Rudransh continued calmly, “I don't need to meet her.”

“Rudransh—”

“I said I don't need to.”

“Then how do you intend to—”

“Marriage.”

Mahendra went quiet.

Rudransh leaned back in his chair.

“If this marriage is going to happen, it will happen directly.”

“You haven't even spoken to the girl.”

“I don't need to.”

“She deserves at least a meeting.”

“She deserves nothing .”

Mahendra's expression hardened on the other side of the call.

Rudransh continued before he could answer.

“You have already decided everything without asking me. You've spoken to her family. You've made promises. You've even put my mother's property behind this marriage.”

His voice remained frighteningly calm.

“So now I will decide how it happens.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“A temple wedding.”

Mahendra frowned.

“Temple?”

“Yes.”

“Rudransh, this is not some business contract that can be completed in an hour.”

“It will be.”

“There are families involved.”

“Her parents will be there.”

“And ours?”

“Only the necessary people.”

Mahendra was silent.

Rudransh's gaze hardened.

“No media. No business associates. No guests. No announcement. No photographs released to the public. Nothing.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't want the world knowing about my marriage.”

Mahendra's voice became stern. “You cannot simply disappear and get married.”

“I can.”

“Rudransh.”

“I am not asking for permission.”

The words landed heavily.

Mahendra closed his eyes for a moment.

“You are making this unnecessarily complicated.”

“No. I'm making it simple.”

Rudransh looked toward the city through the glass wall of his office.

“You wanted me to marry her. Fine. I will.”

His voice lowered.

“But there will be no engagement, no grand ceremony, no announcement, and no unnecessary meeting beforehand.”

“And after the wedding?”

“She comes home with me.”

Mahendra remained silent.

Rudransh continued, “And one more thing.”

“What?”

“No one outside both families knows her identity as my wife.”

Mahendra's eyes narrowed.

“You expect me to hide my daughter-in-law?”

Rudransh's expression turned cold.

" Mai usse shaadi kr rha hu , itna hi kafi hona chahiye apke liye "

Mahendra sighed.

“You really have made up your mind.”

“Yes.”

“Why a temple?”

Rudransh's fingers tightened slightly around his phone.

“Because I don't need faltu ka tam jam .Just a simple formality wedding in a temple .thats it .

There was another pause.

Then he added quietly,

“And because if I am going to enter a marriage I never wanted, I don't intend to spend a fortune celebrating it.”

Mahendra face hardened

" Shaadi koi formality ni hoti rudra.And i will not let you disrespect her "

Rudransh scoffed .

" Formality ki baat aap na krein baba sa. toh behtar hoga , Aap abhi bhi hmare sath reh kr ek formality hi kr rhe hai .Apni so called achanak se jagi hui responsibilty nibah rhe h apne beton ke liye .Tab kaha the aap jab hmein apki sbse zada zarurat thi hn?"

Mahendra face hardened but there was also guilt on his face . " Rudransh" He said in warning tone .

Rudransh's face immediately hardened.

“Sach hi kaha maine baba sa ”

Mahendra stopped.

The room on Rudransh's side fell silent.

Finally, Mahendra said, “I'll speak to Devendra.”

“Do that.”

“And Rudransh…”

“Yes?”

“You should at least see her once before the wedding.”

“No.”

“She is going to be your wife.”

“I'll meet her at the temple. Zada directly bolu toh seedha at mandap .”

Mahendra knew that tone.

The conversation was over.

Rudransh ended the call.

He placed the phone on the desk and stared at the closed folder containing Krisha Mathur's entire life.

Twenty-four years old.

Simple family.

No scandals.

No secrets he could find.

Just an ordinary girl.

He should have felt relieved.

Instead, something about that simplicity irritated him.

Because nothing about his own life had been simple for a very long time.

He closed the folder.

Across the city, Krisha Mathur had no idea that her wedding had already been decided.

She did not know the groom had refused to meet her.

She did not know the wedding would take place in a temple.

She did not know that almost no one would know about it.

And most importantly—

she had no idea that the man she was about to marry had entered this arrangement with one purpose only.

To uncover the truth his father was hiding.

Rudransh stood from his chair.

The decision was made.

There would be no grand Rathore wedding.

No celebration.

No cameras.

No society pages.

No announcement.

Just a sacred fire, two families, a few witnesses—

and a marriage that neither of them understood yet.

Rudransh picked up the velvet box containing his mother's key and locked it inside the drawer.

His eyes remained cold.

“Let's see, Krisha Mathur,” he murmured under his breath, “what exactly did my father see in you?”

Krisha's POV

There was something different about the house that evening.

I couldn't explain what it was.

Everything looked normal.

And yet, the house didn't feel normal.

Maybe it was because Papa had barely spoken since he came home.

Usually, the moment he entered, he would call out for Mummy, ask what was for dinner, complain about traffic, and then somehow end up asking me whether I had heard back from any of the jobs I'd applied for.

Today, nothing.

He had come home almost forty minutes ago.

And he had been sitting in the same chair ever since.

I stood at the kitchen doorway, watching him from a distance.

His hands were clasped together, elbows resting on his knees, his gaze fixed somewhere on the floor.

Papa wasn't someone who worried easily.

At least, he never let us see it.

Even when business was slow, even when bills piled up, even when something went wrong, he had always carried himself with the same quiet certainty.

We'll manage.

That was Papa's answer to almost everything.

So seeing him like this made something uncomfortable settle inside my chest.

"Mummy," I whispered.

Meera looked up from the vegetables she was cutting.

"Hmm?"

"Papa ko kya hua hai?"

She paused for a second.

Then she gave me a small smile.

"Nothing. Bas thak gaye honge."

I frowned.

"Mummy, Papa itne chup kab se rehne lage?"

She looked toward the living room.

For the briefest moment, something crossed her face.

Concern.

Then it disappeared.

"Tu jaa, unse baat kar."

I didn't need to be told twice.

I wiped my hands on my kurta and walked into the living room.

"Papa?"

He looked up immediately.

And smiled.

It was the kind of smile parents gave when they didn't want their children to know they were worried.

"Idhar aa."

I sat beside him.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"Sab theek hai?"

His hand came up and rested over my head.

"Haan."

I lifted my face.

"You are lying."

He chuckled softly.

"Accha? Ab tu mujhe bhi pakadne lagi?"

"Of course. Main aapki hi beti hoon."

"Bahut hoshiyaar ho gayi ho."

" Mai paida hi smart hui thi papaaaaaa."

"Ji madam."

I smiled, but the smile didn't stay for long.

Because Papa's eyes still looked tired.

I studied his face carefully.

"Papa..."

"Hmm?"

"Kal jo aapne kaha tha..."

His expression changed.

Just slightly.

But I noticed.

"The proposal?"

I nodded.

He looked away.

"Krisha, mujhe tumse uske baare mein baat karni hai."

My stomach tightened.

I had spent the entire day trying not to think about it.

I had failed miserably.

Rudransh Rathore.

Even his name felt intimidating.

I didn't know the man.

I'd never spoken to him.

I'd never met him.

And yet, somehow, my life had suddenly become connected to his.

I straightened.

"Papa, aap sach mein chahte ho ki main ye shaadi karun?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at me.

And that was enough to make my heart sink.

Not because he looked angry.

Because he looked helpless.

"I want you to be safe."

I frowned.

"Safe?"

"Yes."

"Papa, shaadi aur safety ka kya connection hai?"

He exhaled slowly.

"Har cheez main abhi explain nahi kar sakta."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because some things are complicated."

"Then make them simple."

His lips pressed together.

I knew that expression.

Papa had made up his mind that there were things he wasn't going to tell me.

And somehow, that scared me more than anything else.

"Papa, if there is something wrong, you can tell me."

"I know."

"Then tell me."

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he reached for my hand.

His fingers closed around mine.

"Krisha, I would never knowingly put you in a situation where I thought you would be harmed."

I swallowed.

"Then why does this feel like you're asking me to walk into something I don't understand?"

He didn't answer.

That silence was answer enough.

I pulled my hand back slightly.

"I don't even know him."

"I know."

"He doesn't know me."

"I know."

"Then how can you ask me to marry him?"

His eyes lowered.

"Because I know his family."

I almost laughed.

"That isn't enough, Papa."

"I know."

"And what about me?"

He looked up.

"What about you?"

"What do I want?"

The question seemed to hit him.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he nodded slowly.

"You're right."

I hadn't expected that.

"I am?"

"Yes."

He turned his body toward me.

"You should have a say in this."

Something inside me softened.

Because that was my Papa.

No matter how complicated life became, he had never treated me like I didn't matter.

"Then tell me everything you can."

He took a deep breath.

"The man you would marry is Rudransh Rathore."

I looked down.

I'd already heard the name.

But hearing it again made everything feel more real.

"He's thirty."

I nodded.

"He is the eldest son."

Another nod.

"He's..." Papa hesitated.

"Strict?"

Papa gave a faint, humourless smile.

"That's one word for him."

I looked at him.

"Is he a bad person?"

Papa's expression became unreadable.

"No."

The answer came immediately.

"Then what is he?"

"Complicated."

I sighed.

I looked toward the window.

Outside, the sky had turned dark.

The streetlights had come on.

People were returning home.

Normal people.

Normal lives.

And here I was, sitting in my living room discussing a marriage with a man I had never even met.

"When Will I have to meet him papa .I will decide after that okay?"

Papa went silent.

That silence made my eyebrows draw together.

"Papa?"

He hesitated.

Then finally said,

"Rudransh doesn't want to meet you before the wedding."

I stared at him.

For several seconds, I genuinely thought I'd heard him wrong.

"What?"

"He doesn't want a meeting."

I blinked.

" Before the wedding?"

"No."

I let out a small disbelieving laugh.

"You're joking."

"I'm not."

"So... I'm supposed to marry a man I've never met?"

Papa's face tightened.

"Krisha—"

"No, Papa, seriously."

I stood up.

I couldn't sit anymore.

I began pacing slowly across the room.

"What kind of marriage is this?"

"I understand how it sounds."

"It doesn't just sound strange. It is strange. Uske pita shree phone krke mera hath mangte hai aur beta mujse milna hi ni chahta .Ye sab azeb ni hai papa ? Iska toh ek hi mtlb hota hai He doesn't want to marry me .He is just being forced "

He remained silent.

I turned toward him.

Papa looked at me.

"The wedding will happen in a temple."

I stared.

"Temple?"

"Yes."

"That's it?"

"No big ceremony?"

"No."

"No engagement?"

"Not in the usual way."

"No guests?"

"Only immediate family."

"No."

I shook my head.

I laughed once, but there was no humour in it.

"This is unbelievable."

Papa didn't interrupt.

I turned away.

I had imagined marriage before.

Of course I had.

Like every girl, I had sometimes wondered what my wedding would look like.

Not necessarily something extravagant.

But something warm.

Music.

Mehendi.

Haldi.

A hundred little things that I'd never admitted I wanted.

And now...

A temple.

A few people.

A man who didn't even want to see me before marrying me.

I folded my arms.

"Does he even want this marriage?"

Papa looked at me.

"He's agreed."

"That's not what I asked. Mai ye ni pucha ki usne hn ki ya na .maine ye pucha ki kya vo ye shadi krna chahte hai ya ni ?"

He didn't answer.

I looked away.

That was enough.

I suddenly felt very small.

Not because of Rudransh.

Because for the first time in my life, I understood that maybe my life wasn't going to unfold the way I had imagined.

"Papa."

"Hmm?"

"If I say no..."

His expression changed.

"You can say no."

The answer was quiet.

"But?"

"There will be consequences."

I looked at him.

"What consequences?"

He lowered his gaze.

"Things may become difficult."

"For whom?"

He didn't answer.

I sat back down.

My anger slowly faded into confusion.

I looked at my father.

Really looked at him.

His shoulders seemed heavier than they had this morning.

There were lines around his eyes that I hadn't noticed before.

He looked scared.

Not for himself.

For me.

And suddenly, I couldn't think only about my own fear.

"Papa..."

He looked up.

"Are you in trouble?"

His face went completely still.

That was the moment I knew.

Something was wrong.

I moved closer.

"Papa, please."

He shook his head.

"Don't ask me things I can't answer yet."

"Then at least tell me one thing."

"What?"

"Do you believe Rudransh Rathore will keep me safe?"

There was no hesitation this time.

"Yes."

His answer was firm.

And somehow, that one word mattered.

Because Papa wasn't a man who trusted people easily.

If he believed Rudransh could protect me, then perhaps there was a reason.

I looked down at my hands.

I was still afraid.

Of course I was. From whom does papa wants to protect me from ? Is there a threat or just a normal father instinct .

But beneath the fear was something else.

Trust.

Not trust in Rudransh.

I didn't know him.

Trust in Papa.

The man who had held my hand when I was six and terrified of my first day at school.

The man who had waited outside every exam centre even when I told him I could manage alone.

The man who had quietly given me money for college applications when I knew business had been difficult.

The man who had never once made me feel like a burden.

If he was asking me for something now...

Then maybe I could listen.

But listening wasn't the same as agreeing.

I looked at him.

"I have conditions."

For the first time that evening, Papa almost smiled.

"Of course you do."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"I will continue working after marriage if I get an opportunity."

He smiled , " Nobody is going to stop you from working betu .Its your life .Nobody , Not even me has the right to decide for you ."

"I won't stop meeting Mummy and you "

His eyes softened.

"Krisha, no one is going to stop you from meeting your mother and me .Who told you this?"

" Acha .Mai toh ase hi bol rhi thi .Vo kal serial mei dekha tha na saas sasur aur pati apni bahu ko Kehte hai aaj ke baad tum apne parivaar se kabhi ji milogiii and background mei vo ganna laga hota hai aaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Krisha said dramatically .Devendra listened to her and startrd laughing

" Oh god betaa , tum apni maa ki tarha serial dekhna band kr do "

Both started laughing and then suddenly krisha turned serious

"And if Rudransh doesn't like me?"

Papa went quiet.

I swallowed.

"If he doesn't want me after marrying me..."

My voice became smaller.

"Then what?"

Papa reached for my hand again.

"Then you will never have to stay somewhere you are not respected. You are my daughter .Just slap him hard across his face .Do chaar galliyan dena aur mere pass aa jana wapis "

I looked into his eyes. He was serious .I laughed .

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I nodded slowly.

Then another thought came.

"And he won't expect me to pretend that I love him?"

Papa's expression softened further.

"No."

"Because I don't."

"I know."

"I don't even know him."

"I know."

I sighed.

"Then why does this feel like I'm agreeing to marry a stranger?"

"Because you are."

I looked at him.

He smiled sadly.

"But sometimes, Krisha, people enter our lives as strangers and become something else."

I looked down.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

I didn't know.

I didn't know anything.

Not about Rudransh.

Not about his family.

Not about why Papa was so afraid.

Not about why a man like him would agree to marry a girl like me without even meeting her.

But I knew one thing.

My father had never asked me to trust someone blindly before.

And tonight, he was asking me to trust him.

Not Rudransh.

Him.

I took a deep breath.

"Okay."

Papa didn't move.

Perhaps he wasn't sure he'd heard me correctly.

I looked at him.

"I'll agree."

His eyes widened slightly.

"Krisha..."

"But I need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"If at any point you feel that this marriage is going to put me in danger..."

I paused.

"You tell me."

His face tightened.

"I will."

"No hiding things."

He looked away for a moment.

Then back at me.

"I promise."

I nodded.

"Okay."

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then Papa pulled me into his arms.

I closed my eyes.

His hand rested against the back of my head.

And for some reason, I suddenly felt like I was saying goodbye to something.

Not my family.

Not my home.

Something much smaller.

Something invisible.

I pulled away from Papa and wiped my eyes quickly.

"Papa?"

"Hmm?"

"When is the wedding?"

He hesitated.

"Very soon."

My heart skipped.

"How soon?"

" Tomorrow "

I stared at him.

"WtF— I mean Wth .Kal ? Papa kal ? Kal mtlb kal?"

He gave me an apologetic look.

"You agreed."

"I know, but I didn't know it would be that soon. Ek min that soon bhi ni papa Kal Seriously its kal "

Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped him.

And somehow, that made me smile too.

Then his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

The smile disappeared.

He stood up and walked toward the balcony before answering.

I watched him from the sofa.

I couldn't hear what the person on the other side was saying.

But I could see Papa's face.

His shoulders stiffened.

His expression changed.

And for the first time, I wondered if I had just agreed to something much bigger than a marriage.

Something I couldn't see.

Something everyone except me seemed to understand.

I hugged my knees against my chest.

My eyes moved toward the dark window.

Somewhere in Jaipur, a man I had never met was preparing to marry me.

And he had already decided one thing.

He would see me for the first time...

at the temple.

I didn't know what frightened me more.

The wedding.

Or the man waiting at the other end of it.