Unspoken ~ KaYu SS ~ Chapter 3 on pg 1

Yug and Kairi silently struggle with their growing love for each other - until something unusual happens that changes everything

Chapter 1

It was a monsoon evening in Delhi — the city's chaos softened by the rain, headlights smearing into long silver streaks on the wet streets. The air smelled of earth, of promises, of things left unsaid.

In his quiet office, Yug Sinha sat at his desk, unmoving, as if the storm outside echoed the storm within. He was known to be calm, decisive, brilliant in the courtroom — but tonight, all his logic failed him.

Across the room, Kairi Sharma stood by the window, watching the rain, or at least pretending to. She wasn't looking at anything, really. She was trying not to look at him.

They had come here to finish a case file together. But neither was working. Neither could speak the words that had been weighing on their hearts for weeks now.

The Unspoken Weight

Finally, Yug broke the silence, his voice low, tentative.

"Kairi... are you okay?"

She startled a little, like his voice had pulled her from some deep thought. She turned, offering him a small smile, the kind that hid more than it revealed.

"Yes... just a little tired."

Yug nodded, but inside, his heart twisted. He knew how hard she was working — juggling her studies, her internship, her family responsibilities. He wished he could say what was on his mind — that he saw her, admired her strength, cared for her... loved her.

Instead, he lifted his coffee mug and held it out to her.

"Here, have this. Might help a bit."

Their fingers brushed as she took it, and their eyes met — his guarded, intense gaze holding her softer, uncertain one. The office, the rain, the world outside seemed to disappear for that heartbeat.

The Near Confession

Kairi hesitated, then spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yug... sometimes I feel like there are things we should say out loud... before it's too late."

Yug felt his heart stutter. His throat went dry. Was this it? Was this the moment?

"Kairi..." he began, his voice softer than he intended, the shield around his heart trembling at the edges.

But at that very moment — a loud clap of thunder rattled the windows.

The spell was broken.

Kairi gave a nervous laugh and took a step back. "Looks like the storm's getting worse..."

Yug closed his eyes for a second, silently cursing the moment lost. When he opened them, she had already turned back to the files, trying to look busy, trying to act like nothing had happened.

And so they sat there, two hearts heavy with unsaid love, separated not by distance — but by silence.

Outside, the rain kept falling — just like their unspoken feelings.

The Story Continues: Stranded Together

The storm outside grew wilder, the wind howling through the cracks of the old office building. Rain lashed against the windows in sheets, and the city beyond blurred into a swirl of lights and shadows.

Yug glanced at his watch, then at his phone — no signal. The clock ticked past 11 PM.

"Kairi... I think we should wrap up. I'll drop you home," he said, his tone gentler than usual, concern edging his words.

Kairi hesitated, looking out at the storm. The roads were already flooding. Even from the third floor, they could hear the rising water sloshing against car tires on the street below.

"I don't think we can leave, Yug. It's really bad out there," she said quietly.

Yug sighed, pushing a hand through his hair. She was right. He walked over to the window beside her and stared out. The city, usually buzzing even at this hour, was eerily still — as if the rain had swallowed its voice.

"Looks like we're stuck here for the night," he muttered.

Kairi gave a small, uncertain laugh. "I hope you don't mind the company."

Yug turned to look at her — really look at her — and for a second, the softness in his eyes slipped through before he masked it again.

"No," he said, shaking his head, voice low. "I don't mind at all."

Moments of Nearness

The power flickered — once, twice — then went out completely, leaving only the glow of the city lights filtering through the rain and the occasional flash of lightning.

Kairi shivered slightly as a cold breeze swept through. Yug immediately took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"You should've said you're cold."

"I didn't want to bother you," she said, holding the jacket tight around herself, her heart beating faster — not from the cold, but from his nearness, his quiet care.

Yug moved to his bookshelf, pulling out a flashlight. He switched it on, its soft beam casting long shadows across the room.

"Come on. Let's sit — no point standing around pretending to work anymore."

They settled on the old leather couch at the corner of his office, the storm their only soundtrack.

The Quiet Between Them

Minutes passed in silence. But it wasn't uncomfortable. It was charged — with the weight of everything they hadn't said.

Kairi hugged her knees to her chest, glancing at him through the corner of her eye. "You know... I always thought you'd be the last person I'd ever be stuck in a storm with."

Yug smirked, his usual sarcasm soft for once. "And I always thought I'd never let anyone in my space long enough to get stuck with me."

Their eyes met again. The storm raged on, but inside, all they felt was the warmth of being close, of being seen, even in silence.

Neither spoke the truth. Neither crossed that line.

But that night, stranded together, their hearts spoke all that their lips wouldn't.

The rain kept falling. And maybe — just maybe — it was washing away a little bit of the distance between them.

Night Fades into Dawn

The storm outside roared through most of the night, but inside Yug's office, the storm in their hearts was quieter — no less powerful, just unspoken.

Yug and Kairi had sat on opposite ends of the couch, close enough to feel the warmth of the other, but far enough to keep the truth caged. Kairi eventually dozed off for a while, Yug watching over her in the dim light, his jacket draped around her shoulders, his heart aching with everything he wished he could say.

By the time the rain eased, the first light of dawn was breaking over Delhi.

The Return Home

The drive back was quiet. The world felt fresh after the night's storm, the air cool, the streets washed clean. But between Yug and Kairi, the air was heavy — thick with the weight of all that had been left unsaid.

As they pulled up outside Sinha Mansion, Kairi turned to him with a tired but genuine smile.

"Thank you, Yug. For last night... for everything."

Yug simply nodded. His usual sharp words were lost in the gentleness of the moment.

"Anytime, Kairi."

She slipped out of the car, walking toward the outhouse where she lived, while Yug stood watching until she disappeared inside.

The Twist

Yug entered the mansion, running a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the night's emotional weight. He was halfway to his room when Shaurya, his usually cheerful and easy-going brother, called out to him.

"Yug! Wait. I need to talk to you. It's important."

Yug frowned slightly, noting the seriousness in Shaurya's tone. "What's up?"

Shaurya glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then pulled Yug aside into the study.

"I've been trying to find the right time to say this... and maybe after last night, I can't wait any longer," Shaurya said, his voice filled with nervous excitement.

Yug's heart sank, though he didn't know why yet.

Shaurya continued, a smile playing at his lips.

"Yug... I think I'm in love. With Kairi."

For a second, the world seemed to tilt under Yug's feet.

"Kairi?" Yug managed, his voice steadier than he felt.

Shaurya nodded eagerly. "Yes. I didn't mean for it to happen. But she's incredible — the way she takes care of her siblings, the way she stands up for what's right. I just... I can't stop thinking about her."

Yug forced a smile, his heart pounding, his mind racing.

"That's... unexpected," he said quietly.

Shaurya laughed softly, mistaking Yug's tension for surprise. "I know, right? But I'm serious about this. And I wanted you to be the first to know. I... I think I want to tell her. Soon."

Yug stood there, silent, torn between the love he had buried in his heart and the brother who had unknowingly just shattered him.

Outside the study window, the morning sun rose higher — bright, warm, and completely unaware of the storm now brewing within Yug Sinha.

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To be continued.

This is amazing and interesting. Please do continue can't wait to read the next part

Chapter 2

The Storm Within Yug

The study felt smaller than ever, the walls closing in as Shaurya’s words echoed in Yug’s mind.

“I think I’m in love with Kairi.”

Yug forced himself to nod, to smile, to be the brother Shaurya needed him to be. But the moment Shaurya left the room, excitement still bright in his eyes, Yug sank into the nearest chair — his mask cracking the second he was alone.

He pressed his hands to his face, taking slow, deep breaths.

What was he supposed to do now?

The woman he loved — the one he had kept hidden in his heart, thinking there was time, thinking they would figure it out — now suddenly felt further away than ever. How could he stand between his brother and what Shaurya believed was love? How could he let go of Kairi without ever having had her?

Kairi Senses the Change

Later that day, Kairi crossed paths with Yug in the garden as he returned from a phone call. She offered him her usual warm smile.

“Hey… everything okay? You seem… I don’t know, distant.”

Yug hesitated. He could see the concern in her eyes — the softness that had drawn him in from the start.

“I’m fine, Kairi,” he said — too quickly, too flatly.

She frowned, stepping closer, searching his face for the truth.

“You’re lying. Did I do something?”

“No,” Yug said, and the word felt like it tore at his chest. “It’s not you. I just… have a lot on my mind.”

She wanted to ask more — but something in his tone stopped her. She nodded instead, her heart sinking. The sudden distance between them felt sharper than ever.

A Shift in Their Bond

From that moment, things began to change.

Where once there were long, stolen glances, now Yug avoided meeting her eyes. Where once there were quiet moments filled with unspoken comfort, now there was silence — heavy with tension.

Kairi felt it — the wall he was building between them. And she didn’t understand why.

Yug watched her from afar, his heart breaking a little more each day. But he had made a choice: to protect his brother’s happiness, even if it meant burying his own.

And so, their love remained hidden — trapped between duty, silence, and the cruel hand of fate.

The Visit That Changes Everything

It was a calm morning at the Sinha Mansion. Birds chirped softly in the garden, and the fresh air carried the scent of damp earth from last night’s storm. Yug sat at the breakfast table, staring at his untouched tea. His mind was far from the room — until Indrani Sinha’s voice snapped him back.

“Yug, beta, come with me,” she said, her face glowing with purpose. “There’s something important we need to do this morning.”

Before he could ask, she continued, lowering her voice with excitement.

“I want us to go to Kairi’s house — to the outhouse. We should formally speak to her about Shaurya’s proposal.”

Yug froze, his heart pounding. But he could only nod. What else could he do?

Indrani didn’t wait. She stood, smoothing her saree, and motioned for him to follow. Together, they walked across the manicured lawn toward the outhouse — Indrani brisk and eager, Yug trailing behind, each step heavier than the last.

At Kairi’s Door

Inside, Kairi was humming softly as she folded the laundry, her siblings playing nearby. The morning sunlight filtered through the windows, catching the warm smile on her face. It was an ordinary day — until she glanced out the window and saw Yug and Indrani approaching the outhouse.

Her heart skipped a beat.
Yug. And his mother. Coming to see her.

A flush rose to her cheeks, her hands freezing mid-fold. She blinked rapidly, her breath catching in her throat.

He’s come... with his mother. Oh God... is this... is this finally happening? she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with hope.

Excitement bloomed wildly in her chest. Her mind was already racing — had he finally decided to speak to Indrani about them? Was this their moment?

She rushed to the mirror, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, straightening her kurti. Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the creases. Her heart thudded in her chest as she darted one last glance toward the gate — they were just steps away.

When the doorbell rang, she practically floated to the entrance.

She opened it, her eyes glowing, her smile wide with anticipation.
“Yug… aunty… please come in.”

Yug didn’t meet her eyes. His jaw was tight, his gaze flickering everywhere but her. Kairi’s brows furrowed for a fleeting second — but Indrani’s presence and smile kept her grounded in the possibility.

Indrani stepped inside, holding a small silver tray with sweets, her voice warm.
“Kairi beta, we’ve come with a special request. We’d like to ask for your hand—”

Kairi’s heart leapt. Her breath caught. Her eyes flew to Yug. She swore she saw a flicker of something in his gaze — longing? Nervousness? Was he as overwhelmed as she was?

She clutched the edge of her kurta, trying to contain her smile, her eyes shining. This was it. This was the moment she’d secretly dreamed of.

Indrani continued with a radiant smile, unaware of the silent storm brewing inside Kairi.

“—for Shaurya.”

The words hit like thunder on a clear day.

Kairi blinked.
“For… Shaurya?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper — thin, stunned.

Indrani nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. We’re so happy about this. I know Shaurya will be the perfect match for you. He's already spoken to Yug. Everything’s falling into place so beautifully.”

Kairi’s world tilted. She staggered back half a step, as if her body needed space to absorb the blow. Her eyes darted to Yug — searching, pleading — but he stood silently, lips pressed into a line, his pain buried beneath layers of restraint.

There was no correction.
No denial.
No protest.
Only silence.

Kairi’s smile faded slowly, like light draining from the day. Her fingers, still clutching her kurta, began to tremble.

Inside, something cracked — sharp, clean, final.

And yet, she managed to nod, eyes glassy, lips parting with a soft, “I… I see.”

But the truth was, she didn’t. Not at all.
Not anymore.

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To be continued.

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Chapter 3

Shattered Silence

Indrani went on, oblivious to the quiet devastation in Kairi’s eyes. “We know it’s not the most traditional setting, but we didn’t want to wait. Shaurya insisted. He really admires you, Kairi — your simplicity, your strength… and we think this alliance would benefit both families.”

Yug remained motionless beside her, his eyes still refusing to meet Kairi’s. His silence was louder than any confession.

Kairi swallowed hard, nodding again — the motion mechanical now, her body moving on autopilot while her heart threatened to cave in.

The voices around her began to blur. Her siblings giggled in the background, still playing, unaware that their sister’s heart was breaking in real time.

She felt lightheaded. Her knees nearly gave out, but she masked it with a polite smile, stepping aside to let them in.

“Please… sit,” she managed, her voice hoarse.

They took their seats on the modest sofa. Kairi sat on the floor across from them — partly because there wasn’t enough space, but mostly because her dignity was crumbling, and she couldn’t bear to be on their level right now.

Indrani set the silver tray on the table. “We’ll speak to your relatives too, of course. I know your father’s… situation must make things complicated.”

Kairi stiffened.

She had never minded people knowing her father was in jail. It was a fact she’d come to live with. But somehow, hearing it now — in the same breath as a marriage proposal not meant for her — made it sting in a new, humiliating way.

Yug finally looked at her.

It wasn’t a bold gaze. It wasn’t defiant. It was apologetic. Drenched in guilt. The kind that said I wanted to fight for you, but I couldn’t.

She held his gaze a second longer, then blinked away — because if she didn’t, the tears would come.

“Kairi?” Indrani’s voice brought her back. “I know this is sudden. We’ll give you some time. But I truly believe Shaurya will keep you happy.”

Shaurya.

The boy she’d barely spoken to. The one who thought teasing her at wedding functions counted as courtship. The one whose mother was now offering a future Kairi had once imagined — but with the wrong groom.

She offered another small nod, the kind that hurt her neck more than it should have.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” Kairi whispered, her smile faltering.

Indrani patted her arm kindly. “Take your time, dear. I know you’ll give us the answer we hope for.”

The visit didn’t last long after that.

When Indrani and Yug stood to leave, Kairi followed them to the door, her smile forced but polite. She wished she could slam the door shut behind them. Instead, she folded her hands and said softly, “Thank you for thinking of me.”

Indrani beamed. “Of course, beta. You’ll make a lovely bride.” She touched Kairi’s head lightly in blessing, then turned to Yug. “Shall we, beta? We have a few more things to check with the pandit.”

Yug gave a slight nod and turned to leave, but Kairi stepped forward suddenly — her voice catching.

“Yug,” she said, her tone barely above a breath.

He stopped, his back stiffening, but didn’t turn.

“Did you… know?” she asked. “About this?”

He didn’t answer right away. When he finally did speak, his voice was low and tight. “It was Shaurya’s idea. He… really likes you.”

Her heart clenched. “And you?”

Silence.

She waited. For a heartbeat. Two.

But there was nothing more.

Yug hesitated at the threshold. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something — maybe everything. But all that came out was:

“Take care, Kairi.”

She met his gaze — steady now, hollow.

“You too, Yug.”

The door clicked shut.

And Kairi stood there for a long time, her back against the wood, her eyes fixed on nothing.

Outside, the morning had shifted into harsh afternoon light.

Inside, her little siblings called out for her — but for once, Kairi didn’t answer.

She slid to the floor, buried her face in the folds of a half-folded bedsheet, and wept.

Not just for the boy who didn’t choose her.

But for the girl who still thought he would.

Flashback: How They Fell for Each Other

It hadn’t started like a grand love story. There were no dramatic declarations, no fireworks — just a series of moments, quiet and unmistakable.

Kairi first noticed him when she was rushing across the street, holding Gujiya’s hand while balancing a bag of vegetables. A motorbike sped past too close, and she stumbled. Before she could fall, a steady hand caught her elbow.

“Careful,” Yug had said, his tone firm but not unkind.

That hand lingered a second longer than necessary before he let go.

After that, he seemed to always be around. At first, just polite nods when they crossed paths in the market or temple. Then, longer conversations while waiting for the bus. He would carry an extra umbrella on days it looked like rain. She would save him a portion of her favourite mango pickle when he helped her siblings with homework. No one said it was love. But it was there.

One evening, during the festival at the temple, Kairi was lighting diyas by the steps when a gust of wind blew them out. She sighed and began relighting them. Without a word, Yug knelt beside her, shielding the flames from the wind with his hands.

Their fingers brushed.

Neither of them moved away.

She had glanced at him then, and something in his eyes had looked back with the same question her heart was whispering — Is this real? Is this us?

That night, as they parted without saying anything, her heart had raced for the first time.

No promises were made.

But the silences between them had grown full of meaning.

Until now. When that silence suddenly felt like betrayal.

Flashback: From Yug’s Eyes

It was never supposed to be her.

Yug told himself that often, especially in the beginning — especially when it started happening in ways he couldn’t control.

The first time he really noticed Kairi was the day she had marched into the local ration shop and firmly demanded her fair share, despite the grocer’s condescending tone. Her voice didn’t tremble. Her eyes didn’t flinch. And when she left — children in tow, pride intact — Yug found himself watching her long after she disappeared around the corner.

After that, she became a quiet presence in his days. Unavoidable. Familiar. Dangerous.

She laughed with her whole face — even when life clearly hadn't been kind. She took care of her siblings like a mother, not a girl barely in her twenties. She stitched school uniforms at night and sold spiced peanuts in the afternoon. And yet, she found time to feed stray dogs and light a diya every evening without fail.

One day, when Yug dropped off a file to Shaurya at the tea stall, he saw her reading to Gujiya from a tattered storybook. Her voice was animated, eyes sparkling. The world had bruised her, but she still managed to make fairy tales feel real. That did something to him.

He started timing his errands to cross paths with her. She never noticed at first — or maybe she pretended not to. But every now and then, she’d catch him with a small, knowing smile and say nothing. That silence grew between them, warm and loaded.

Then came the night of the temple fair.

Kairi had worn a simple green kurti. No makeup, no jewellery. But she glowed — like home, like peace, like everything Yug had forgotten how to want.

He saw her struggling with the diyas, the wind relentless. Before his mind could stop him, his feet had already moved.

When their hands touched, he didn’t let go immediately. Couldn’t.

For the first time in years, he had wanted something just for himself.

But Yug wasn’t free to want like that.

Not when his family’s future was hanging by threads. Not when his mother had begun speaking of alliances and sacrifices. Not when Shaurya — younger, braver, more open-hearted — had walked into the same story and said the words Yug never dared to.

He’d tried to stay away after that. He told himself it was the right thing.

But every time he passed by the old temple steps, he remembered her fingers trembling as she lit the flame.

And every time her name came up in conversation, something in his chest ached — not quite jealousy, not quite guilt, but something far worse:

Regret.

Back to the Present: Kairi’s Restless Night

The night after the day when Indrani brought Shaurya’s proposal, Kairi lay awake, staring at the ceiling of her small room, her mind replaying every moment — Yug at her doorstep, silent. His eyes speaking of pain, but his lips sealed.

Why didn’t he say anything?
Did I imagine everything between us?
Was I wrong to hope?

Her heart was heavy, but a part of her refused to believe that Yug had truly wanted this proposal for Shaurya. She needed answers — not for pride, but for peace.

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To be continued.