28-02-2026, 12:15 PM
Chapter 140– The Marriage Trap
Bangalore – Bharath’s Family Home – Two Days After Their Arrival
The ancestral house in Bangalore’s old-money locality stood solemn under the late-afternoon sun.
Bharath’s Thar pulled into the driveway with a low growl. Manya sat in the passenger seat, cradling her two-year-old daughter in her lap.
The little girl — dark curls, wide curious eyes — clutched a small stuffed rabbit and stared at the big house with innocent wonder.
Bharath killed the engine. He looked at Manya — soft, almost reverent.
“Ready?”
Manya nodded — small, practiced smile.
Bharath stepped out first. Opened the back door, unbuckled the child, lifted her gently into his arms.
The girl giggled, wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Up we go, princess.”
Manya followed, smoothing her dupatta, eyes scanning the house like she was stepping into a battlefield disguised as home.
The front door opened before they reached it.
Bharath’s mother,silver hair in a neat bun, simple cotton saree — stood frozen on the threshold.
Her eyes went from Bharath, to Manya, to the child in his arms. Shock. Recognition. Then — something guarded.
“Bharath…?”
He smiled — genuine this time.
“Ma… I’m back and i have decided, this is my family.”
The old woman’s hand flew to her mouth. Tears welled — but they were mixed with hesitation.
Manya stepped forward — respectful, head slightly bowed.
“Aunty…”
Bharath’s mother didn’t move to embrace her. She looked past Manya to her husband, who had appeared behind her — retired, stern, shoulders rigid.
The father’s eyes narrowed at Manya.
“So… you came back.”
Bharath set the child down gently. She clung to his leg.
“I want to marry her,” Bharath said — voice clear, final. “Only her. This time no one can split us.”
The father’s face hardened.
“You said the same thing years ago.
You married someone else. She married someone else.
Now you bring her back with a child?”
Bharath’s jaw tightened.
“I was wrong. I was weak. But now I know — she’s the only one. She always was.”
Bharath mother stopped them..
Whatever let them come inside.. and have a talk with us..
Bharath father guarded down.
The mother looked torn — one hand on her husband’s arm, the other hovering as if she wanted to reach for the child.
“She left you once,” the father said coldly.
“She chose another man. Bore his child.
Why should we believe this isn’t another convenience? Another mistake?”
Manya’s eyes filled with tears — perfectly timed.
“Uncle…did you forget we are Scared. You have Pressured us, my family. I thought I had no choice.
But I never stopped loving Bharath. Not for a single day.
This child… she’s innocent. She needs a father. A real home.”
The little girl looked up at the old man — big eyes, shy smile.
Bharath’s mother’s heart visibly softened. She stepped forward, knelt to the child’s level.
“What’s your name, kutti?”
The girl whispered: “priya.”
The mother’s eyes misted.
“A beautiful name.”
The father exhaled — long, heavy.
he was against her from the beginning,” his inner voice said “I still don’t trust this.
But… he saw his son’s face. he saw how he looks at her. And the child — innocent.
Then he said: If this is truly what you want, Bharath… we will not stand in your way.
But know this: This is your choice..”
Bharath nodded — solemn.
“I wil take care..”
The mother pulled Manya into a tentative hug.
“Welcome home, I always wished you to be my daughter in law but he and entire family wanted him to marry a rich women.
sorry lets past be past..
I will speak with family and plan for your marriage..”
Manya bowed her head — perfect picture of humility.
“Thank you, Aunty…
she didn't address Bharath father.. she had her own irritation with hiim, the man who changed her life upside down.”
Upstairs – Guest Room
Bharath set priya on the bed. She immediately started jumping on the mattress, giggling.
Manya watched from the doorway — soft smile.
Bharath turned to her.
“I’ll go get some utensils and things for her — plates, cups, toys. She’ll need them. You rest.”
Manya nodded.
As soon as Bharath left the room, her phone buzzed — Vikram.
She answered immediately — voice low.
“He’s here. With his parents. They agreed — reluctantly. His father still doesn’t trust me.”
Vikram’s voice — calm, measured.
“Good.
Let me keep it short...
Now the next step. Argue with him.
Convince him to get his father’s assets under your name — for the baby’s future.
Make it emotional. Make him feel it’s his idea.”
Manya glanced toward the door.
“I will.”
She ended the call. Took a slow breath. Composed her face into something vulnerable.
Bharath returned twenty minutes later — arms full of bags: plastic plates with cartoon characters, a sippy cup, a small teddy bear, fresh milk packets, biscuits.
Manya sat on the bed, holding priya close.
Bharath set the bags down.
Noticed her expression.
“What’s wrong?”
Manya looked up — eyes glistening.
“I’m scared, Bharath. For her. This house… your family… everything is new. Your father still doesn’t trust me and i dont trust him as well, he was the one who split us, he was the one made me marry another man.
What if something happens to you? What if they change their mind later?
I want her to have security. A future she priya rely on.”
Bharath knelt in front of her.
“She will. I’ll take care of both of you.”
Manya shook her head — tears spilling now.
“No… I mean real security. What if something happens to you? What if your family turns against us again?
I lost so much already. I can’t lose her future too. Please… do something for her.
Bharath: Im already here what else you want? Ask me
Manya: Put everything in her name — property, accounts, anything. As a gift. For love.”
Bharath stared at her — then at priya playing with the teddy bear.
Manya continued — voice breaking.
“I feared for her life before. I can’t live like that again. Please…”
Bharath swallowed hard. The child looked up at him — innocent eyes, trusting smile.
“Okay,” he said quietly. “I’ll do it. Everything in her name. As a gift. For love.”
Manya reached out — touched his cheek.
“Thank you.”
Next Day – The Scene
Bharath staged it perfectly.
He sat with his parents at the dining table — Manya beside him, priya on his lap.
“I want to transfer everything to priya's name, Manya will be the gaurdian and holds power..” he said.
“Properties, investments, company shares. As a gift. For her future.”
His mother’s eyes widened.
“Bharath… that’s everything.”
His father looked at him — long, searching.
“i dont feel to do, why should i do that, its early you two are not married yet, is this a demand.?”
Bharath looked at Manya — then at the child.
“not a demand, its my promise to protect her, She’s my family now. All of it is hers.”
The father exhaled.
“I wont admit to it.."
If you want you share all the one in your name.. i dont need to give it to any
Bharath mom, intervened, its okay, we will take something for us and give rest to you bharath, its upto you to transfer or not, to her. but do it after marriage not now
Manya bowed her head — perfect picture of gratitude.
Inside, she smiled.
The trap was closing.
Bangalore – Bharath’s Family Home – Two Days After Their Arrival
The ancestral house in Bangalore’s old-money locality stood solemn under the late-afternoon sun.
Bharath’s Thar pulled into the driveway with a low growl. Manya sat in the passenger seat, cradling her two-year-old daughter in her lap.
The little girl — dark curls, wide curious eyes — clutched a small stuffed rabbit and stared at the big house with innocent wonder.
Bharath killed the engine. He looked at Manya — soft, almost reverent.
“Ready?”
Manya nodded — small, practiced smile.
Bharath stepped out first. Opened the back door, unbuckled the child, lifted her gently into his arms.
The girl giggled, wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Up we go, princess.”
Manya followed, smoothing her dupatta, eyes scanning the house like she was stepping into a battlefield disguised as home.
The front door opened before they reached it.
Bharath’s mother,silver hair in a neat bun, simple cotton saree — stood frozen on the threshold.
Her eyes went from Bharath, to Manya, to the child in his arms. Shock. Recognition. Then — something guarded.
“Bharath…?”
He smiled — genuine this time.
“Ma… I’m back and i have decided, this is my family.”
The old woman’s hand flew to her mouth. Tears welled — but they were mixed with hesitation.
Manya stepped forward — respectful, head slightly bowed.
“Aunty…”
Bharath’s mother didn’t move to embrace her. She looked past Manya to her husband, who had appeared behind her — retired, stern, shoulders rigid.
The father’s eyes narrowed at Manya.
“So… you came back.”
Bharath set the child down gently. She clung to his leg.
“I want to marry her,” Bharath said — voice clear, final. “Only her. This time no one can split us.”
The father’s face hardened.
“You said the same thing years ago.
You married someone else. She married someone else.
Now you bring her back with a child?”
Bharath’s jaw tightened.
“I was wrong. I was weak. But now I know — she’s the only one. She always was.”
Bharath mother stopped them..
Whatever let them come inside.. and have a talk with us..
Bharath father guarded down.
The mother looked torn — one hand on her husband’s arm, the other hovering as if she wanted to reach for the child.
“She left you once,” the father said coldly.
“She chose another man. Bore his child.
Why should we believe this isn’t another convenience? Another mistake?”
Manya’s eyes filled with tears — perfectly timed.
“Uncle…did you forget we are Scared. You have Pressured us, my family. I thought I had no choice.
But I never stopped loving Bharath. Not for a single day.
This child… she’s innocent. She needs a father. A real home.”
The little girl looked up at the old man — big eyes, shy smile.
Bharath’s mother’s heart visibly softened. She stepped forward, knelt to the child’s level.
“What’s your name, kutti?”
The girl whispered: “priya.”
The mother’s eyes misted.
“A beautiful name.”
The father exhaled — long, heavy.
he was against her from the beginning,” his inner voice said “I still don’t trust this.
But… he saw his son’s face. he saw how he looks at her. And the child — innocent.
Then he said: If this is truly what you want, Bharath… we will not stand in your way.
But know this: This is your choice..”
Bharath nodded — solemn.
“I wil take care..”
The mother pulled Manya into a tentative hug.
“Welcome home, I always wished you to be my daughter in law but he and entire family wanted him to marry a rich women.
sorry lets past be past..
I will speak with family and plan for your marriage..”
Manya bowed her head — perfect picture of humility.
“Thank you, Aunty…
she didn't address Bharath father.. she had her own irritation with hiim, the man who changed her life upside down.”
Upstairs – Guest Room
Bharath set priya on the bed. She immediately started jumping on the mattress, giggling.
Manya watched from the doorway — soft smile.
Bharath turned to her.
“I’ll go get some utensils and things for her — plates, cups, toys. She’ll need them. You rest.”
Manya nodded.
As soon as Bharath left the room, her phone buzzed — Vikram.
She answered immediately — voice low.
“He’s here. With his parents. They agreed — reluctantly. His father still doesn’t trust me.”
Vikram’s voice — calm, measured.
“Good.
Let me keep it short...
Now the next step. Argue with him.
Convince him to get his father’s assets under your name — for the baby’s future.
Make it emotional. Make him feel it’s his idea.”
Manya glanced toward the door.
“I will.”
She ended the call. Took a slow breath. Composed her face into something vulnerable.
Bharath returned twenty minutes later — arms full of bags: plastic plates with cartoon characters, a sippy cup, a small teddy bear, fresh milk packets, biscuits.
Manya sat on the bed, holding priya close.
Bharath set the bags down.
Noticed her expression.
“What’s wrong?”
Manya looked up — eyes glistening.
“I’m scared, Bharath. For her. This house… your family… everything is new. Your father still doesn’t trust me and i dont trust him as well, he was the one who split us, he was the one made me marry another man.
What if something happens to you? What if they change their mind later?
I want her to have security. A future she priya rely on.”
Bharath knelt in front of her.
“She will. I’ll take care of both of you.”
Manya shook her head — tears spilling now.
“No… I mean real security. What if something happens to you? What if your family turns against us again?
I lost so much already. I can’t lose her future too. Please… do something for her.
Bharath: Im already here what else you want? Ask me
Manya: Put everything in her name — property, accounts, anything. As a gift. For love.”
Bharath stared at her — then at priya playing with the teddy bear.
Manya continued — voice breaking.
“I feared for her life before. I can’t live like that again. Please…”
Bharath swallowed hard. The child looked up at him — innocent eyes, trusting smile.
“Okay,” he said quietly. “I’ll do it. Everything in her name. As a gift. For love.”
Manya reached out — touched his cheek.
“Thank you.”
Next Day – The Scene
Bharath staged it perfectly.
He sat with his parents at the dining table — Manya beside him, priya on his lap.
“I want to transfer everything to priya's name, Manya will be the gaurdian and holds power..” he said.
“Properties, investments, company shares. As a gift. For her future.”
His mother’s eyes widened.
“Bharath… that’s everything.”
His father looked at him — long, searching.
“i dont feel to do, why should i do that, its early you two are not married yet, is this a demand.?”
Bharath looked at Manya — then at the child.
“not a demand, its my promise to protect her, She’s my family now. All of it is hers.”
The father exhaled.
“I wont admit to it.."
If you want you share all the one in your name.. i dont need to give it to any
Bharath mom, intervened, its okay, we will take something for us and give rest to you bharath, its upto you to transfer or not, to her. but do it after marriage not now
Manya bowed her head — perfect picture of gratitude.
Inside, she smiled.
The trap was closing.
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