Third Person's POV
"What did your grandson do? Why did Aakriti outright reject him? She even said that she would marry anyone else but not him. She never rejected anyone, no matter how lacking that person might be, but she rejected your perfect grandson. Did he hurt her? I will not tolerate anyone hurting her, even if he is your grandson." Aakriti's Dadu said in anger.

"Relax. I have sent you a picture. Check it." Dhruv's Dadu said calmly.

"I don't have time for your nonsense. Just answer my questions."

"Just check the picture and you will get all the answers."

There was a pause for a few minutes.

"When did this happen? She allowed him to carry her. She didn't slap him or push him. They look so good. No evil eye should fall on them. They look perfect. So why did she reject him? But you know what she said that she will marry anyone but not him."

"Do I need to tell you, isn't it obvious because she is scared?"

"Scared to fall in love? But she is ready to marry."

"Because she feels that staying away from Dhruv is all that matters. Even if it has to be marrying an absolute stranger."

"Are you saying that she is falling in love with your grandson? My Granddaughter. My Aaku is falling in love. Really. She hates the word love the most is actually... Ahhh. I am so happy." Aakriti's dadu said and excitement was visible in his tone.

"What are you happy about, idiot? Did you forget that she rejected marrying my grandson? So their chances of marrying are equivalent to none. How are you going to get them married?"

"What about your grandson? Does he wish to marry Aaku, or is it just because of you forcing him? If it is like that, then let's not get them married, or else my Aaku will suffer. She should remain unmarried rather than be in a loveless marriage. It ruined my son's life; I can't let the same happen to my granddaughter."

"Do you think I can force my grandson about anything? He is more stubborn than his father. He is madly in love with her. He was restless because she was not picking up his call. He forgot his ego and asked me to fix a date between him and her. When I mentioned that Aakriti might get married to someone else, he was fuming with anger. He rushed from his office without caring about his schedule just to see her. My workaholic grandson forgot his work for her. What more proof do you want?" Dhruv's dadu explained.

"Oh. Now how will we get them to marry each other? How will I convince my granddaughter?" Aakriti's dadu asked

"Think about it yourself. Don't you feel ashamed for troubling a patient?"

"Patient my foot. But what if all this is just our wishful thinking and they don't have such thoughts for each other?

"Have you lost your mind because of old age? One moment before, you were thinking about how to convince Aakriti, and now you are in doubt."

"She is very precious to me. I want her to get married because life is difficult without a partner. She is capable of taking care of herself all alone, but I want her to have someone on whom she can rely. I am worried because only I know how stubborn she can be sometimes."

"Stop worrying; let the kids handle it."

"Easier said than done. If I leave it to her to make things right, she will remain single all her life."

"Test Dhruv if you are so worried. He is coming to Delhi. I will tell him to meet you. Now get lost. Let me rest."

Dhruv's POV

We were having dinner when Dadu told me that Aakriti rejected me. I choked on my food. Karan and Kabir looked at me with wide eyes.

"Somebody can even reject my perfect brother. Is the world going to end? Such a tragedy can also happen." Kabir said.

"Is it funny?" I said, glaring at him, and he kept quiet.

"Dadu, what exactly happened?" I asked him, trying to calm myself. Wasn't she getting close to me? What happened all of a sudden?

"She is ready to marry someone else but not you. Why?" Dadu asked me. What the heck? She is ready to marry someone else but not with me. Why? Why Miss Nanda? I was angry and anxious.

"Bhai," Karan and Kabir yelled, bringing me out of my trance. They both looked at me worriedly. I realized that I had broken the glass in my hand and my hand was bleeding. Why, when it's about you, Miss Nanda, do I lose my mind and composure?

"Dhruv. Control your anger. Do you want to get married to Aakriti?" Dadu asked me in a serious tone.

"Dadu Is that even a question to ask? I want to get married to her and only her. No one else." I said sternly. Why did you reject me, Miss Nanda? You better have a valid reason because I am going nuts just thinking about it.

"Do you love her?" Dadu asked me with a serious tone.

"I do." Karan and Kabir looked at me with wide mouths. I am not a fool like you both to ruin my love life. I know what I want in my life. But I cannot confess my feelings to Aakriti. I thought that we were getting close and you were opening your heart to me. But it seems like it was just my wishful thinking.

"My friend Aakriti's grandfather wishes to get you both married as soon as possible. But Aakriti's rejection made him doubtful about you. You need to convince him." Dadu said.

"Dadu, don't worry. I will handle this matter." You will only marry me, Miss Nanda. Just wait for me. I will not allow you to get married to anyone else. But what should I do with my stubborn baby?

Aakriti's POV

"Di. I missed you so much." Ruhi said and jumped on me. She is like a tiny chipmunk. Lively and adorable.

"I wish I could say the same to you." I said, teasing her.

"Di."

"OK. OK. Fine. Even I missed you a lot." I said, and she got down.

"Aaku How are you?" Auntie (Rajveer's mom) asked me.

"Auntie, I am absolutely fine. I missed you so much." I said and went to hug her.

"Uncle, look at you, still looking so handsome. If you weren't married to Auntie, you would still be the most eligible bachelor in India; girls might fight each other to win your heart." I said and side-hugged him. I am very close to all my friend's parents. They love me like their own daughter.

"Look at you, teasing an old man for fun." Uncle said, and smacked my arm lightly and we all started laughing.

I saw Rajveer and Naina coming towards us. Looking at Naina, I realized why this idiot didn't object to marrying all of a sudden. He must have been over the moon replacing his brother and marrying her.

Here this idiot is happy marrying his brother's would-be bride, and there that idiot Aarav is falling in love with Sachi when he is supposed to get married to Riddhima by the end of this month. My friends and their defective brains.

Rajveer introduced me to Naina. I handed them the gift that I brought for them. We talked for a while, and then I decided to leave. Auntie was trying to stop me for dinner, but I left hurriedly. If I stayed here for dinner, Auntie would make me eat till my neck.

I looked at the time and decided to go home. Dadu might be sleeping now. The key trembled in my hand, but I somehow turned it in the lock, the faint click of the door echoing louder than it should have. I froze for a moment, my heart thudding against my ribcage. I feel like I am entering a lion's den, and at any moment a lion would pounce on me.

I stood at the threshold and looked at the dark house. I sighed in relief. It shows that Dadu had slept and all the helpers were also resting.

I took tiny steps towards her, ensuring not to make any sound.

Luckily, Dadu didn't know that I was coming today, or else he would be waiting for me to get all the answers.

My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard; every breath became a struggle when I realized that I had agreed to marry anyone. What was I thinking? Being so close to Dhruv scared me so much that my brain stopped working. I promised Dadu something that I am not capable of doing. I couldn't bring myself to marry someone, not even Dhruv; Dad's anger, pain, and disappointment flashed in my mind, and I shuddered.

Just as I was about to climb the stairs, the sound of footsteps from the kitchen scared me, and I froze in my place. My pulse skipped a beat. I pressed my back against the wall, taking support. Praying it wasn't him. I turned and saw him standing in the distance holding a bowl in his hand and a spoon in his mouth.

He looked at me with some guilt. I realized what he was doing. He is eating sweets again. It felt as if two thieves caught each other.

"I—uh—I didn't know you were still awake!" I asked him.

Dadu raised his eyebrow. "I should be asking you that. What are you doing sneaking around in the middle of the night, young lady?" I can't say that I am avoiding you, Dadu. Let me just scold him so he will forget everything.

"Dadu. You are eating sweets again. How many times have I told you not to? Why don't you listen to me? Ok, let it be. I will forgive you this time. I am feeling so sleepy. I am going to sleep. Bye, Dadu." I said and rushed towards my room, not giving him a chance to speak. I love you, Dadu, but just let me go today.

************************************************

🥰🥰💕💕

Hello! I hope you liked this chapter..................

Do vote and comment.....................

Share this story with your friends.................

Do follow me...............

Take care bye..........

There was a pause for a few minutes.

"When did this happen? She allowed him to carry her. She didn't slap him or push him. They look so good. No evil eye should fall on them. They look perfect. So why did she reject him? But you know what she said that she will marry anyone but not him."

"Do I need to tell you, isn't it obvious because she is scared?"

"Scared to fall in love? But she is ready to marry."

"Because she feels that staying away from Dhruv is all that matters. Even if it has to be marrying an absolute stranger."

"Are you saying that she is falling in love with your grandson? My Granddaughter. My Aaku is falling in love. Really. She hates the word love the most is actually... Ahhh. I am so happy." Aakriti's dadu said and excitement was visible in his tone.

"What are you happy about, idiot? Did you forget that she rejected marrying my grandson? So their chances of marrying are equivalent to none. How are you going to get them married?"

"What about your grandson? Does he wish to marry Aaku, or is it just because of you forcing him? If it is like that, then let's not get them married, or else my Aaku will suffer. She should remain unmarried rather than be in a loveless marriage. It ruined my son's life; I can't let the same happen to my granddaughter."

"Do you think I can force my grandson about anything? He is more stubborn than his father. He is madly in love with her. He was restless because she was not picking up his call. He forgot his ego and asked me to fix a date between him and her. When I mentioned that Aakriti might get married to someone else, he was fuming with anger. He rushed from his office without caring about his schedule just to see her. My workaholic grandson forgot his work for her. What more proof do you want?" Dhruv's dadu explained.

"Oh. Now how will we get them to marry each other? How will I convince my granddaughter?" Aakriti's dadu asked

"Think about it yourself. Don't you feel ashamed for troubling a patient?"

"Patient my foot. But what if all this is just our wishful thinking and they don't have such thoughts for each other?

"Have you lost your mind because of old age? One moment before, you were thinking about how to convince Aakriti, and now you are in doubt."

"She is very precious to me. I want her to get married because life is difficult without a partner. She is capable of taking care of herself all alone, but I want her to have someone on whom she can rely. I am worried because only I know how stubborn she can be sometimes."

"Stop worrying; let the kids handle it."

"Easier said than done. If I leave it to her to make things right, she will remain single all her life."

"Test Dhruv if you are so worried. He is coming to Delhi. I will tell him to meet you. Now get lost. Let me rest."

Dhruv's POV

We were having dinner when Dadu told me that Aakriti rejected me. I choked on my food. Karan and Kabir looked at me with wide eyes.

"Somebody can even reject my perfect brother. Is the world going to end? Such a tragedy can also happen." Kabir said.

"Is it funny?" I said, glaring at him, and he kept quiet.

"Dadu, what exactly happened?" I asked him, trying to calm myself. Wasn't she getting close to me? What happened all of a sudden?

"She is ready to marry someone else but not you. Why?" Dadu asked me. What the heck? She is ready to marry someone else but not with me. Why? Why Miss Nanda? I was angry and anxious.

"Bhai," Karan and Kabir yelled, bringing me out of my trance. They both looked at me worriedly. I realized that I had broken the glass in my hand and my hand was bleeding. Why, when it's about you, Miss Nanda, do I lose my mind and composure?

"Dhruv. Control your anger. Do you want to get married to Aakriti?" Dadu asked me in a serious tone.

"Dadu Is that even a question to ask? I want to get married to her and only her. No one else." I said sternly. Why did you reject me, Miss Nanda? You better have a valid reason because I am going nuts just thinking about it.

"Do you love her?" Dadu asked me with a serious tone.

"I do." Karan and Kabir looked at me with wide mouths. I am not a fool like you both to ruin my love life. I know what I want in my life. But I cannot confess my feelings to Aakriti. I thought that we were getting close and you were opening your heart to me. But it seems like it was just my wishful thinking.

"My friend Aakriti's grandfather wishes to get you both married as soon as possible. But Aakriti's rejection made him doubtful about you. You need to convince him." Dadu said.

"Dadu, don't worry. I will handle this matter." You will only marry me, Miss Nanda. Just wait for me. I will not allow you to get married to anyone else. But what should I do with my stubborn baby?

Aakriti's POV

"Di. I missed you so much." Ruhi said and jumped on me. She is like a tiny chipmunk. Lively and adorable.

"I wish I could say the same to you." I said, teasing her.

"Di." She said whining.

"OK. OK. Fine. Even I missed you a lot." I said, and she got down.

"Aaku How are you?" Auntie (Rajveer's mom) asked me.

"Auntie, I am absolutely fine. I missed you so much." I said and went to hug her.

"Uncle, look at you, still looking so handsome. If you weren't married to Auntie, you would still be the most eligible bachelor in India; girls might fight each other to win your heart." I said and side-hugged him. I am very close to all my friend's parents. They love me like their own daughter.

"Look at you, teasing an old man for fun." Uncle said, and smacked my arm lightly and we all started laughing.

I saw Rajveer and Naina coming towards us. Looking at Naina, I realized why this idiot didn't object to marrying all of a sudden. He must have been over the moon replacing his brother and marrying her.

Here this idiot is happy marrying his brother's would-be bride, and there that idiot Aarav is falling in love with Sachi when he is supposed to get married to Riddhima by the end of this month. My friends and their defective brains.

Rajveer introduced me to Naina. I handed them the gift that I brought for them. We talked for a while, and then I decided to leave. Auntie was trying to stop me for dinner, but I left hurriedly. If I stayed here for dinner, Auntie would make me eat till my neck.

I looked at the time and decided to go home. Dadu might be sleeping now. The key trembled in my hand, but I somehow turned it in the lock, the faint click of the door echoing louder than it should have. I froze for a moment, my heart thudding against my ribcage. I feel like I am entering a lion's den, and at any moment a lion would pounce on me.

I stood at the threshold and looked at the dark house. I sighed in relief. It shows that Dadu had slept and all the helpers were also resting.

I took tiny steps towards her, ensuring not to make any sound. Luckily, Dadu didn't know that I was coming today, or else he would be waiting for me to get all the answers.

My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard; every breath became a struggle when I realized that I had agreed to marry anyone. What was I thinking? Being so close to Dhruv scared me so much that my brain stopped working. I promised Dadu something that I am not capable of doing. I couldn’t bring myself to marry someone, not even Dhruv; Dad's anger, pain, and disappointment flashed in my mind, and I shuddered.

Just as I was about to climb the stairs, the sound of footsteps from the kitchen scared me, and I froze in my place. My pulse skipped a beat. I pressed my back against the wall, taking support. Praying it wasn’t him. I turned and saw him standing in the distance holding a bowl in his hand and a spoon in his mouth.

He looked at me with some guilt. I realized what he was doing. He is eating sweets again. It felt as if two thieves caught each other.

"I—uh—I didn’t know you were still awake!" I asked him.

Dadu raised his eyebrow. "I should be asking you that. What are you doing sneaking around in the middle of the night, young lady?" I can't say that I am avoiding you, Dadu. Let me just scold him so he will forget everything.

"Dadu. You are eating sweets again. How many times have I told you not to? Why don't you listen to me? Ok, let it be. I will forgive you this time. I am feeling so sleepy. I am going to sleep. Bye, Dadu." I said and rushed towards my room, not giving him a chance to speak. I love you, Dadu, but just let me go today.