Isha nodded and walked towards his room. She knocked softly and heard his voice.

“Do minute maa!”

(Two minutes maa!)

“Mai hu Om! Papa keh rhe the tumne-”

(It’s me Om! Papa told me you-)

Isha gasped when the door was swiftly opened and she was pulled inside. Omkara pinned her to the wall beside the gate while swiftly locking it, as he caged her in.

Isha’s heartbeat rose dramatically when she noticed that he was shirtless and water droplets fell from his hair down to his deliciously naked chest.

“O-om? Ye kya-kya kr rhe ho?”

(Wh-what are you d-doing?)

Om traced the tip of his nose against her neck, making her bite her lip to control her moan.

“Why didn’t you tell me the reason for your denial?”

Her eyes fluttered close when he placed his lips against the column of her neck, making her grip his shoulders tightly.

“Mahi di ke saath jo hua uski wajah se dari hui hai na?”

(You’re scared because of what happened with Mahi di, right?)

He whispered and her eyes snapped open in surprise. Her wide, shocked eyes met his calm, knowing ones.

“I…how do you…”

“Maa ne bataya mujhe. Kya hua Mahi di ke saath. Phir se wo sab repeat na ho isliye mana kr rhi hai na? Just tell me, Isha. Hum saath honge toh sab manage ho jaayega.”

(Maa told me. What happened with Mahi di. You’re denying so that all that doesn’t repeat, right? Just tell me Isha. We’ll manage everything if we’re together.)

Isha shook her head.

“You don’t understand, Om. Bhut kuch hua tha. Maine dekha hai di ko rote huye, papa ke aage bheek maangte huye apne pyaar ki. But he didn’t budge. Mai nhi hu itni strong ki wo roz roz ki ladaiya lad sku unse. Mai apna pyaar sacrifice kr skti hu lekin unki aankhon mai wo jo disappointment hai di ko lekar wo mai apne liye nhi dekh skti, Om.”

(A lot happened. I have seen di cry and beg for her love in front of papa. But he didn’t budge. I am not that strong to fight daily. I can sacrifice my love but cannot see the disappointment in his eyes for myself that he has for di.)

She whispered. Om looked at her for a moment. 

“Aur agar mai tumhare saath ye ladai ladu toh?”

(And if I fight alongside you?)

She shook her head, knowing her father wouldn’t agree.

“Itna asaan nhi hai unhe manana-”

(It’s not easy to convince him-)

She was cut off by his lips on hers. Her eyes widened as he placed soft pecks on her lips. He pulled back and she blinked at him in shock.

“Tum saath ho toh mai koi bhi ladai lad skta hu, Isha.”

(I can fight anything if you’re with me, Isha.)

She was past the listening phase. Her gaze was stuck on his lips. She looked into his eyes for a brief second. And then, without another word, she lunged forward, threading her fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth down on hers.

Om released a small sound of surprise, before wrapping his arms around her waist and back and pulling her impossibly close as he deepened the kiss.

He pulled back when he felt her tears and looked at her in concern. Isha launched herself in his arms, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. He held her securely and rubbed her back and she sobbed quietly.

“Isha! Breathe meri jaan. Sab thik hoga. Mai hu na.”

(Everything will be fine. I am here.)

“Tum…tum nhi jaante, Om! Tumne nhi dekha tha…di ko papa ke aage rote huye…mai thi…maine dekha hai…unhe di ke aansun tak nhi dikhe…aaj bhi nhi dikh rhe…wo…wo kabhi nhi maanenge…wo apni betiyon ko khone ke liye taiyar hai lekin….lekin apni zid chhodne ko nhi.”

(You...you don’t know, Om! You did not see…di crying in front of papa…I was there…I have seen it…he did not even see di’s tears…he don’t see them even now…he will never agree…he is ready to lose his daughters but…but his adamancy.)

She cried and looked at him with fearful eyes. Om cupped her face and moved them towards the bed. He sat down and pulled her on his lap, sideways. She kept her head on his shoulder and let her tears fall.

“Hum sochenge na kuch. Ki kaise manana hai uncle ko. Mai baat krunga-”

(We will think of something. Of how to convince uncle. I will talk to-)

“Nhi! Nhi Om! Wo pasand krte hai tumhe. Lekin agar tum pyaar ki baat krni jaaoge wo kuch nhi sunenge…kuch nhi samjhenge…di apne pyaar ke liye lad gyi…mujhme himmat nhi hai papa se ladne ki Om. Mai nhi kr paaungi.”

(No! No Om! He likes you. But you talk to him about love…he will not listen to anything…di fought for her love…I am not courageous to fight papa, Om. I will not be able to do it.)

She cried and he held her tighter.

“Mat ladna. Bas mera saath de dena. Mai lad lunga, Isha. Hum unke against nhi jaayenge. Lekin agar wo ziddi hai toh hum bhi apni baat pr ade rahenge. Hmm? We won’t fight. We will object peacefully.”

(Don’t fight. Just be alongside me. I will fight, Isha. We will not go against him. But if he is adamant, we will also stick to our words. Hmm?)

She looked into his eyes. He silently begged her to trust him. Give him this chance. She nodded and rested her head back on his shoulder. He sighed and kissed her head.

Om was thinking about how to find a solution for Isha’s father’s thinking. And he realised that the first step was to mend his relationship with Mahima.

Both the families were at Isha’s place. 

“Waise uncle…aap Mahima di ko kya de rhe ho unke baby shower pr?”

(By the way uncle…what are you giving Mahi di on her baby shower?)

Naresh’s smile fell and he looked away.

“Isha bata rhi thi ki ek hafte baad hai unka baby shower. Ab tak toh shopping ho gyi hogi na?”

(Isha was telling me her baby shower is a week later. You must have done the shopping by now?)

He asked again. Naresh clenched his fists. He didn't even know when his daughter was due. 

“Hamari…baat band hai usse. Tum nhi jaante beta-”

(We...don’t talk to her. You don’t know-)

“Mai jaanta hu uncle. Maa ne bataya tha. Lekin uss baat ko 5 saal ho gye hai. Inn 5 saalon mai aapne ek baar bhi di se baat krne ki koshish nhi kri?”

(I know uncle. Maa told me. But it’s been 5 years. You did not try to talk to her even once in these 5 years?)

He struck again, knowing very well that his words were hitting where he wanted them to.

“Hum sabki marzi ke bina shaadi kri usne. Wo zindagi usne apne liye khud chuni hai. Sirf isliye ki wo aaj khush hai…mai usse sahi nhi maan skta-”

(She got married without our consent. She chose that life for herself. Just because she is happy today…doesn’t mean she is right-)

“Toh kab sahi maante uncle?! Jab wo aapka decision maan leti aur apni puri life aapki sharton pr jeeti, apni khushiyon ko maar kr?”

(When would she be right then?! When she would have accepted your decision and lived her life on your terms, by killing her happiness?)

Naresh froze and stared at Om. Isha bit her lip as her eyes moved between the two. Om shook his head in disappointment.

“Past mai huye ek incident ki wajah se aapne apna saara future uske upar decide kr lia. Aur sirf apna hi nhi, apne bacho ka bhi.”

(You decided your entire future based on an incident in the past. And not just yours, your kids’ too.)

Naresh looked away, his eyes tearing up with the reminder of his sister. But Om wasn’t going to stop.

“Hum sab jaante hai jo buaji ke saath hua wo bhut painful tha sabke liye. Lekin sachai ye hai uncle ki usme aapki galti thi.”

(We understand it was difficult after what happened with buaji. But the truth is that you were at fault that time.)

Everyone looked at him in shock at his blunt statement. Om didn’t falter and continued while looking straight into Naresh’s eyes.

“Aapne buaji ko support kia…bina ye janne ki koshish kre ki wo insaan kaisa tha jiske saath aap apni behen ko bhej rhe hai. Na aap usse shaadi se pehle mile aur na hi buaji se shaadi ke baat unke halchaal puchhe.”

(You supported buaji…without trying to know the kind of man you were sending your sister with. Neither did you meet him before marriage nor tried to know about her condition after marriage.)

Naresh’s fists clenched and his lips quivered but he maintained the tough facade.