It's been almost two hours since they went inside. They didn't allow anyone else to come inside. Sid, Karthik, Kavya, and I are sitting down on the couch. The rest of the relatives are also spread across the living and dining rooms. It is almost 5 PM and everyone is waiting. I tried calling Sharanya multiple times. Her phone is switched off.

Just then my mom opened the door and asked me to join them. I looked at Sid.

"What is this? A cult meeting? They are asking one by one to join?" Sid mumbled beside me.

I went inside to see my parents, Arjun's parents, Srikanth, Arjun, Amit dadu in the room. As soon as our eyes met, Srikanth and my dad lowered their heads guiltily.

"Pinky, there is a situation. This marriage has to happen. Otherwise, our company would be bankrupt", before I interrupt my mom stopped me and continued, "You and Arjun have to marry to avoid it"

I looked around at everyone. All are looking serious. Dad, Srikanth, and Arjun are not looking at me.

"Mom, what are you talking about? What is the connection between this marriage and our company?"

Mom and Lakshmi aunty explained everything to me.

"Are you guys mad? I am not marrying di's fiancée just for the sake of a stupid contract. It's just a contract. You can retract it" I told them.

"Anu, you don't understand. What will all the relatives think?" my mom tried to reason with me.

"Who cares what they think? It is not a medieval period where if not one daughter, you can get another to get married. This is the 21st century. And think about di. I know you all are angry with her. But this is not correct."

And so the discussion between Ananya and our mothers continued for twenty minutes. She is looking at me often and pleading with me with her eyes to say something. When she understood that I am not going to speak she started glaring at me.

Our dads, Srikanth and Amit dadu are silent. They told her about the contract but didn't tell her about the consequences. By the looks of it, Srikanth and her dad are not going to tell her. I can understand. They are feeling guilty towards Ananya. They are not able to ask her to do this for the sake of their company.

No matter how much our moms tried to convince her, Ananya didn't budge. She is clear in her head that she is not marrying the guy her sister loves. She is not going to betray her sister. They are not telling her the entire truth. If she has to make a decision, she has to know the truth.

I know once she knows about the entire contract, she won't say no.

I know that I am not going to make this easy for her.

I know I am going to make her decide between her sister and our families.

I don't have a choice too.

It is time I take matters into my own hands.

"Aunty, I want to talk to Ananya alone. Please leave us", I interrupted their heated discussion.

"Arjun..." Srikanth started to interrupt me.

"I am just going to talk to her Sri. Let me handle this", I told him.

Our moms took everyone out to the living room. I closed the door.

"Arjun, don't do this. She loves you a lot. Don't betray her. If you say no to this marriage, they won't pressure us. You know she and I just sorted our differences. Don't do this to us. Please. All our three lives will be destroyed", she started as soon as they left the room.

"Ananya, listen..."

"No. you listen to me. I am not sacrificing my sister's happiness for just a stupid contract. I know you are angry with her. I know you are thinking that she betrayed you. You are right. She is at fault. But, don't punish her like this. Don't make this decision in anger. It's just a simple contract Arjun. We can cancel it and postpone the marriage", she tried to convince me.

This is the first time she spoke this long to me. She always gives me one-word answers.

I got fed up with her reasons. She is repeating the same words that she will never marry the person her sister loves like a broken tape recorder. I just want to complete this blasted marriage so that I can sleep. My head is pounding and I snapped at her.

"Stop it Ananya. Do you think I want to do this?"

"Do you even know what will happen if this marriage doesn't happen?" I asked her.

"Your father's company shares will fall. Your father and brother would be bankrupt by the end of this month. And there is a good chance that your father will end up in jail."

She looked shocked with her mouth open.

"Listen to me Ananya. You know that my parents are not happy with my choice of bride. They accepted it only for me. But, when your father got to know this, he was worried that Sharanya might face problems in the future. So he made a deal with my father to secure Sharanya's future so that she can be financially independent. He did an M&A with Care hospitals and submitted the documents to the court. M&A will start once the marriage happens. If not, then the court has the power to liquidate our companies' assets." I told her.

"Care hospitals will lose a lot of money. But, we won't go bankrupt. But, your father's company just entered into share market last year and they will go bankrupt. Even we can't help financially"

"Don't look at me like that. I am not the one who insisted on this deal. Your father insisted on this so that your sister won't have any trouble with this marriage. He was sure that my family won't let this marriage happen. He made this deal so that my family cannot stop this marriage. The legal documents are already in court, so no one can stop the consequences if this marriage doesn't happen. He did it in such a way that my family can't turn their back on your sister as well as this deal gives financial support to your sister so that she doesn't have to depend on me or my family" I told her.

"Now your sister ruined her own marriage and left everyone in this chaos. So stop your drama of being me your sister's love and so you don't want to marry me. Cut all this crap, get ready and come to the mandap if you don't want your family to pay", I commanded her and left the room.

I know I took her choice. But, someone has to do it. She will never voluntarily agree to this marriage. I can't let both families suffer just because of one selfish person.

"She is ready for the marriage" I went to the living room and told everyone.

"We will go and see the preparations", our dads left along with our moms. Amit dadu came and patted me on my shoulder and left.

I looked at Karthik. He, Sid, and Srikanth are together. Sid is glaring at me. I am sure Srikanth filled them in on what is going on. Srikanth and Karthik are just looking without any emotions.

Srikanth nudged Sid and signaled him to go to Ananya. I know he doesn't dare to face Ananya.

"She needs him now. He can calm her", Srikanth told me as if asking me permission to send Sid to Ananya.

"Sri, he is her friend. She doesn't have to change anything in her life or ask me permission for anything" saying I too left for the farmhouse along with Karthik.

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