Maithili walked in, a trace of surprise flickering across her face as she spotted Poornima and Vinod sitting in the living room.

"Poornima Aunty? Vinod Uncle? What a surprise!" she exclaimed, her lips curving into a smile. "Hello!"

Poornima returned the smile, carefully masking the gravity of the conversation they had been having just moments ago.

Maithili stepped forward and embraced them warmly before turning to her mother. "Maa, you're home early? Is everything alright?"

Sushma hesitated, a brief flicker of uncertainty crossing her face before she spoke. "There's something important we need to discuss."

Maithili's brow furrowed. "What is it?"

A heavy silence settled over the room as Poornima and Vinod exchanged a glance. The moment had arrived.

Poornima gestured toward the sofa. "Come, sit down, Maithili. We need to talk to you about something."

Maithili's eyes darted between them, sensing the unusual seriousness in their expressions. A twinge of nervousness settled in her chest as she slowly lowered herself onto the sofa.

"You're making me nervous, Aunty. What's going on? Is everything okay?"

Poornima took a deep breath, her voice steady yet gentle. "Maithili, you know how much Vinod and I love you, don't you?"

Maithili smiled, albeit warily. "Of course, Aunty. You both are like my second parents."

Poornima reached out, taking her hand in a comforting grasp. "There's a marriage proposal for you."

Maithili blinked, caught completely off guard. "A... proposal?"

Sushma placed a soothing hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Yes, beta. But before you say anything, hear them out."

Maithili turned to Poornima, still struggling to process the sudden revelation. "Who...?"

Poornima exhaled softly. "Abhiram."

The name sent a jolt through Maithili. She stared at them in stunned silence before whispering, "Abhiram? As in... Abhi Ram? Abhiram Sinha? The businessman?"

Poornima nodded.

Maithili let out a shaky breath, shaking her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. "You... you're saying you want me to marry him?"

A long, weighted silence followed.

She swallowed hard, disbelief evident in her voice. "Aunty, what is this sudden proposal? Abhiram is married... he has a daughter."

Poornima gently cut her off. "He was married, Maithili. Myra... she doesn't have a mother."

Maithili sighed, leaning back as her mind raced. "I understand, Aunty. But... Abhiram and I... we come from completely different worlds. His background, his status... everything is different. We have nothing in common."

Vinod, who had been listening patiently, finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Maithili, Abhiram wasn't born with a silver spoon. He came from a middle-class background just like us. Whatever he is today, he built on his own. You know this better than anyone. So this isn't about class differences."

Maithili exhaled deeply, rubbing her temples. "Do they know about this?"

Poornima nodded. "I spoke to Amrutha and Rajesh yesterday. They said they would talk to Abhiram. By now, he would have heard about it."

Vinod leaned forward slightly. "Maithili, what are you thinking? What do you want?"

Maithili's throat felt tight. She looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Uncle... do you really think I can do this? That I can be a wife... and a mother to a child who isn't mine?"

Sushma's heart clenched at the vulnerability in her daughter's voice.

Poornima's tone softened, filled with warmth. "Maithili, I won't lie to you. This won't be easy. But I also know the size of your heart. I have seen how you love, how deeply you care. If there is anyone who could embrace both Abhiram and Myra with open arms... it's you."

Maithili lowered her gaze, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She had never imagined herself in this position.

Did she want this?

The weight of the question settled heavily on her chest.

For the first time in a long time, she didn't know the answer.

She hesitated, then turned to Poornima. "Aunty... you said you spoke to them. Did you tell them about my condition?"

Sushma's expression tightened. "Maithili, now is not the time to bring that up."

Maithili's eyes hardened. "No, Maa. My marriage is always related to you."

Sushma opened her mouth to protest, but Poornima intervened. "Her concern is natural, Sushma. You can't just brush it aside." She turned back to Maithili, her voice steady. "Yes, I told them everything, including the reason why you never considered marriage before."

Maithili's heart pounded. "And? What did they say?"

"Amrutha and Rajesh were understanding. They have no objections. If you have any concerns, I suggest you speak with Abhiram directly. Meet him, talk to him. Don't make any decisions without knowing where he stands."

Maithili remained silent, her mind spinning.

And then... an image of Myra flashed through her thoughts.

That little girl with bright, trusting eyes. A child who had already lost so much.

Would she be able to love Myra the way she deserved?

Would she be able to give herself to a man with a past, a man carrying responsibilities beyond just being a husband?

Could she do this?

Sushma's voice broke through the silence, gentle yet unwavering. "Beta, this is your decision. No one will force you. But I want you to ask yourself... not whether you can do this, but whether you want to."

And that... was the real question.

Maithili sat in silence, her mother's words echoing in her mind.

"Not whether you can do this, but whether you want to."

The thought of Abhiram stirred something in her. She knew of him—everyone did. His name carried weight in business circles, and his success story was well known. But beyond the name, beyond the achievements, who was he?

And Myra... that little girl.

Could she be what Myra needed? Could she be what Abhiram needed?

Maithili exhaled slowly, looking up at Poornima. "And Abhiram? What does he think?"

Poornima smiled gently. "We don't know yet, beta. He needs time, just like you do."

A strange sense of relief washed over Maithili. At least she wasn't the only one overwhelmed by this sudden turn of events.

Vinod leaned forward, his voice filled with quiet encouragement. "No one expects you to have an answer right now, Maithili. Take your time. Meet Abhiram. Talk to him. See if this is something that makes sense for you."

Maithili hesitated before nodding. That seemed fair.

Poornima reached for her hand once more, squeezing it gently. "I know this is a lot. But sometimes, the best things in life are the ones we never see coming."

Sushma, who had been watching her daughter closely, spoke then, her voice softer than before. "Whatever you decide, beta... know that I will stand by you."

Maithili glanced at her mother, feeling the weight of those words settle deep in her heart.

She took a deep breath and stood up. "Alright. I'll meet him."

She wasn't saying yes. She wasn't saying no.

But she was willing to take a step forward.

And sometimes, that was all fate needed.

Poornima's face brightened with hope. "Good."

Vinod smiled. "That's all we ask."

Maithili swallowed hard, her fingers unconsciously curling into fists at her sides. She had no idea what awaited her in that meeting, no clue what Abhiram would say or think.

As Poornima and Vinod stood to leave, Poornima turned to Sushma with a knowing look.

"Let's arrange the meeting between the kids and let them decide what they want."

Sushma nodded, her eyes drifting toward Maithili, who forced a smile, masking the storm brewing inside her.

A few minutes later, after Poornima and Vinod had left, Maithili stood up abruptly. "Ma, I'll change and come." Without waiting for a response, she disappeared into her room.

She changed quickly, but her mind was elsewhere. Everything felt surreal. How had her life shifted so suddenly in just a few hours? One moment, she was leading the life she had built for herself—predictable, safe, in her own control. And now, she was being asked to consider a future she had never even imagined.

She sighed, rubbing her temples before stepping out of her room.

Sushma was waiting in the living room, holding out a cup. "Maithili, here... have some coffee."

"Thanks, Ma." She took the cup, wrapping her fingers around it, but barely took a sip.

Sushma studied her daughter's face, seeing the quiet turmoil reflected in her eyes. "What are you thinking, beta?"

Maithili exhaled shakily, looking up to meet her mother's gaze. "Ma... do you think I can do this?"

Sushma's expression softened with understanding. "Maithili, only you can answer that. Just... meet him. Talk to him. Not as an acquaintance, but as a potential partner. See if this is something you can consider."

Maithili let out a nervous chuckle. "You make it sound so simple."

Sushma smiled knowingly. "It isn't. But life rarely is. There will always be situations that push you out of your comfort zone. As a mother, I can support you in any decision you take. I liked the boy and his family, but it is you who needs to think—are you ready to be a mother?"

Silence filled the room, thick with unspoken fears and hesitant hope.

Later that evening

After going home Poornima called Amrutha her voice carrying both relief and quiet excitement.

"Maithili has agreed to meet Abhi," she informed her.

Amrutha let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Really?"

"Yes," Poornima confirmed. "She wants to talk to him. See if this is something they can even consider. Talk to Abhi and ask when he's free so we can arrange their meeting."

Amrutha nodded, even though Poornima couldn't see her. "Of course, Poornima. We'll check with him and let you know."

There was a slight pause before Poornima added, "Also, Sushma wants to meet you both. She feels it's important."

Amrutha smiled. "I was thinking the same, actually. Let's fix a time soon."

After discussing briefly, they disconnected the call, agreeing to update each other once Abhiram gave his availability.

As soon as Amrutha put the phone down, she turned to Rajesh, her eyes filled with cautious hope.

"Maithili agreed to meet Abhi."

Rajesh exhaled deeply, a small smile forming on his lips. Somewhere in the corner of his heart, a fear had lingered—fear that Maithili would refuse the proposal outright.

Because if she had rejected it before even meeting Abhiram, it would only reaffirm their son's deepest belief.

"No woman willingly chooses to be a stepmother."

Rajesh had never forgotten Abhiram's words from that night. The pain behind them. The finality in his tone.

If Maithili had refused, convincing Abhiram to consider marriage in the future would have been nearly impossible.

But now...

Now, she was at least willing to meet him.

Rajesh saw this as a sign. A small but significant step toward something neither of them had dared to hope for.

He looked at Amrutha and said, "Now, it's up to them. After they meet, it's their decision to make. The rest is in fate's hands."

Amrutha nodded. "Yes."

For the first time in years, they felt a flicker of hope for their son.

Dinner was unusually quiet that night.

Abhiram noticed the glances his parents exchanged, the silent communication they seemed to be having.

He raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

Amrutha sighed, setting down her spoon. "Abhi, take some time tomorrow—or tell me when you're free."

Abhiram frowned. "Why?"

Amrutha met his gaze directly. "Maithili agreed to meet you."

His hand, which had been holding his spoon, stilled. Slowly, he set it down, his expression unreadable.

"She agreed... to meet me?" he asked, as if needing to hear it again to believe it.

Amrutha nodded. "Yes. Poornima called this evening. Maithili is willing to meet and talk."

A shadow of skepticism passed over Abhiram's face. "Why?"

Rajesh, who had been silently observing his son, frowned. "What do you mean, why?"

Abhiram leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest. His voice was calm, but his mind was anything but. "She knows what this meeting is about. She knows I'm a single father. She knows that if she considers this, she would be stepping into a role that isn't easy. So why is she even agreeing to meet me?"

Rajesh sighed. "That's something only she can answer. And the only way you'll know is if you meet her and ask her yourself."

Abhiram nodded absently, his mind already racing with a hundred possibilities.

What was her reason?

Was she being pressured?

Was she just being polite?

Or... could she actually be considering this?

As he stood up to leave, Rajesh spoke again, his voice steady.

"Abhi, I know your doubts. I know what's going on in your head. But when you meet her, go with a clear mind. Don't let your fears dictate this meeting. Talk to her. Listen to her. And then, decide."

Abhiram didn't respond immediately. He simply gave a small nod before walking away.

But even as he entered his room, his thoughts refused to quiet down.

He wasn't sure if he was ready for this.

But the meeting was happening.

And one way or another, it was going to change things.

The night stretched long and sleepless for both Maithili and Abhiram.

Lying in bed, Maithili tossed and turned, her thoughts a tangled web of questions, doubts, and emotions she couldn't quite define.

What kind of man was Abhiram personally?

From everything she knew, he was a successful businessman, a self-made man who had carved his place in the business world through sheer determination. He was admired by many, taken as an inspiration.

And she was one of them.

She had followed his career, read about his journey, and respected his work ethic. But beyond the professional image, beyond the few brief interactions she had with him, she knew little about the man he was.

She had only seen him as a devoted father.

That much had been clear in those few hours they had spent together.

But what about the rest?

What had happened to his wife?

Was it a love marriage or an arranged one? Did he still love her? Did he still carry the weight of his past in his heart?

More than anything, she wondered—Did he even want to get married again?

Or was this just something his parents wanted?

Was he simply agreeing out of obligation?

And Myra...

Could that little girl ever accept her?

Could she look at her and see more than just a stranger trying to take her mother's place?

Would she ever be enough?

Maithili sighed, rubbing her temples, staring at the ceiling as if it held answers.

At the Sinha Residence

Abhiram stepped into his bedroom and found Myra fast asleep, clutching her unicorn plushie tightly against her chest. 

A faint smile touched his lips as he crouched down beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her forehead. His fingers lingered on her soft skin for a moment before he adjusted the pillow next to her, making sure she wouldn't roll off the bed.

She was his everything.

No matter what, he had to protect her.

Quietly, he rose to his feet and walked toward the door connecting his bedroom to his study.

Once inside, he closed the door behind him and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with practiced ease. He leaned against the desk, inhaling deeply, the smoke curling around him like his thoughts—dark and endless.

Why had she agreed?

What could be her motive?

He had been sure Maithili would refuse the moment she heard about the proposal.

Was she really that kind-hearted? Was she genuinely considering this... knowing what it meant? Or was she doing this for name, fame, or money?

He wasn't naïve. He knew some women saw a marriage like this as an opportunity—marrying into a well-established, influential family.

Was she just another woman looking for security?

The thought unsettled him.

But for some reason, Maithili didn't seem like that kind of woman.

He remembered the first time he had seen her.

The way she had spoken to him—brief, but direct. She had looked him in the eyes, unafraid, unpretentious.

What would she say when they finally met?

And more importantly—what did he want?

He exhaled a slow stream of smoke, staring at the glowing tip of his cigarette.

His heart was conflicted.

He wasn't afraid for himself.

He was afraid for his daughter.

If he let someone into their lives, it had to be the right person. Someone who wouldn't leave. Someone who wouldn't make Myra feel like she was an obligation.

He ran a hand down his face, feeling the weight of everything crashing over him. He needed to talk to someone—someone who would give him an honest perspective.

Without thinking further, he reached for his phone and dialed the only person who truly knew him.

His best friend.

Vikrant.

Maybe he could help him see what he was missing.