Romance
Sunil Shetty’s granddaughter starts day with modi ji prayers
Deepika needs a solid comeback - and no, King won't be it
Kyunki lost 35-40% of its audience
Why Kajol Doubted PATHAAN's BO Collection?
IRE vs IND 28th June at Belfast,2nd T20I,India tour of Ireland, 2026
Chapter 8 (The Love Story Nobody Survived)
The Silence After The Truth
“They were in love.”
The sentence settled into the tiny music shop like shattered glass.
Rajji forgot to breathe.
Beside her, Dheeraj stood completely still, the old cassette frozen in his hands.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Because suddenly every moment from the past few weeks rearranged itself painfully inside their heads.
Mahadev.
Bhanu.
The silences.
The unfinished sadness.
The hidden photographs.
And now—
this.
Rajji looked at Dheeraj slowly.
For the first time since meeting him—
fear entered the space between them.
Real fear.
The old shopkeeper sighed heavily.
“You both really didn’t know…”
Dheeraj swallowed hard.
“My father never mentioned Bhanu.”
“My mother never mentioned Mahadev either,” Rajji whispered.
The old man nodded sadly.
“That’s because after the separation… both of them stopped speaking about each other completely.”
The word separation hurt strangely.
Too personally.
Rajji tightened her fingers unconsciously around the edge of the cassette shelf.
“How serious was it?” she asked softly.
The old man looked at them carefully.
Then answered quietly—
“Serious enough to destroy two people.”
Hardoi’s Most Famous Love Story
The old man slowly sat down behind the counter.
Like someone preparing to reopen old wounds carefully.
“Back in 1998,” he began softly, “your parents were all Hardoi talked about.”
Rajji and Dheeraj remained silent.
Listening.
Almost afraid to interrupt.
“Bhanu was already becoming famous for her voice,” he continued. “And Mahadev… people respected him deeply. His compositions were magic.”
A faint smile touched the old man’s face.
“But together?” he laughed softly. “Together they were unstoppable.”
Rajji looked down at the cassette cover again.
Young Bhanu smiling at Mahadev like he was her safest place in the world.
The sight hurt unexpectedly now.
“They fought constantly,” the old man continued fondly. “Entire studio used to suffer because of them.”
Dheeraj blinked slightly.
That sounded painfully familiar.
“But no matter how badly they argued…” the old man smiled sadly, “…they always came back to each other.”
Rajji’s chest tightened.
Because suddenly all her own fights with Dheeraj replayed differently in her head.
The teasing.
The comfort.
The emotional pull toward each other.
Too similar.
Far too similar.
The Ego That Ruined Everything
“What happened?” Dheeraj asked quietly after a long silence.
The old man’s expression dimmed immediately.
“Success happened.”
The shop fell silent again.
“Bhanu became more famous,” he explained softly. “Mahadev became busier. Pressure increased. Expectations increased.”
Rajji listened carefully now.
Because somehow this no longer felt like someone else’s story.
“They loved each other deeply,” the old man continued, “but neither knew how to lose arguments.”
That sentence hit both Rajji and Dheeraj painfully hard.
“Bhanu was emotional,” he said gently. “Mahadev was patient… until he wasn’t.”
Dheeraj looked away slowly.
Because that sounded too familiar too.
The old man sighed.
“One misunderstanding became another. Ego entered quietly. Then pride became bigger than love.”
Rajji swallowed hard.
“And nobody apologized?”
The old man smiled without humor.
“Both waited for the other person first.”
The answer broke something softly inside her.
Because suddenly—
their parents no longer felt like tragic romance.
They felt human.
Too human.
The Last Fight
The old man looked toward the rain-stained window beside the shop.
As though he could still see the past there.
“The final fight happened inside SurSangam Studios,” he said quietly.
Dheeraj’s expression changed slightly.
“That studio still exists.”
“Hm.”
The old man nodded slowly.
“That day they fought badly. Worse than usual.”
Rajji felt strangely cold suddenly.
“About what?”
The old man hesitated.
“Respect. Priorities. Ego. Love.” He sighed softly. “Sometimes people stop hearing each other properly after too much hurt.”
Neither Rajji nor Dheeraj interrupted now.
The old man continued quietly—
“Bhanu believed Mahadev had stopped understanding her.”
Rajji’s breath caught instantly.
Because those exact words—
she herself had almost felt once.
“And Mahadev…” the old man paused sadly, “…he became tired of proving feelings every day.”
Dheeraj froze.
Something painful flickered across his face.
Because suddenly the story felt less like coincidence—
and more like a mirror.
The old man’s voice softened further.
“Then one day she walked away.”
Silence.
Only the old song playing softly in the background remained.
“And he didn’t stop her.”
That sentence shattered the room completely.
Rajji closed her eyes briefly.
Because somehow—
that hurt her too.
Sworn Enemies
“What happened after that?” Dheeraj asked eventually.
The old man laughed softly.
But there was no happiness in it.
“They became strangers publicly.”
Rajji frowned slightly.
“Publicly?”
The old man nodded.
“They avoided events together. Refused interviews mentioning each other. If one attended a music function, the other wouldn’t.”
Dheeraj stared down at the cassette silently.
“And privately?” he asked quietly.
The old man looked at him carefully for a long moment.
Then answered softly—
“Privately… I don’t think either of them ever moved on.”
The words settled painfully between Rajji and Dheeraj.
Because suddenly hope and fear arrived together.
Rajji looked toward Dheeraj slowly.
And for the first time since the almost-confession outside—
neither knew what to say anymore.
Because now their feelings no longer felt simple.
Their parents’ love story stood between them like a warning.
A haunting.
A future that might repeat itself.
And perhaps the cruelest part of all—
was realizing Bhanu and Mahadev had once looked at each other exactly the same way Rajji and Dheeraj had begun looking at each other now.
The Walk Back Feels Different
Neither Rajji nor Dheeraj spoke for a long time after leaving the music shop.
Hardoi moved around them normally.
Scooters passed by.
Street vendors shouted prices.
Someone nearby played an old Kumar Sanu song on a radio.
But for both of them—
everything felt distant now.
Like the world had suddenly become quieter.
Too quiet.
Rajji walked beside Dheeraj slowly, clutching the old cassette tightly against her chest.
Usually, silence between them felt comfortable.
Tonight it hurt.
Because too many things remained unfinished between them now.
The almost confession.
The way he had looked at her outside the shop.
The truth about Bhanu and Mahadev.
Everything tangled painfully together.
Dheeraj finally spoke first.
“You okay?”
Rajji laughed softly without humor.
“Do I look okay?”
Dheeraj looked away briefly.
“No.”
Silence returned again.
And somehow it felt heavier now.
The Fear Neither Says Properly
They stopped near the quieter road beside the old market.
The same place where, barely an hour ago, everything between them had almost changed forever.
Now it felt fragile.
Uncertain.
Rajji looked toward him carefully.
For the first time since meeting Dheeraj—
she didn’t know how to stand beside him anymore.
Because suddenly every feeling came attached with fear.
“What are you thinking?” Dheeraj asked quietly.
Rajji hesitated before answering honestly.
“That this is bad.”
Dheeraj’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Our parents hate each other,” she whispered. “Not dislike. Hate.”
Neither denied it.
The old man’s words still echoed painfully inside both of them.
Sworn enemies.
People who avoided each other publicly for decades.
People who turned love into rivalry so bitter that even their names disappeared from each other’s lives.
Rajji suddenly remembered every single time Bhanu became irritated hearing Mahadev’s compositions on radio.
The way she changed channels instantly.
The coldness in her expression.
Not heartbreak.
Anger.
Pure anger.
Dheeraj had seen it too in Mahadev.
Whenever old interviews mentioned Bhanu—
his father either walked away or switched the television off completely.
No sadness.
Only bitterness.
And somehow that reality hurt more.
Because it meant:
love had not survived.
The Goodbye That Hurts More
A cold breeze moved softly through the empty road.
Rajji looked down briefly before speaking.
“I think we should go home.”
The sentence sounded painfully formal.
Dheeraj noticed too.
“Hm.”
Neither moved immediately.
Because suddenly everything between them felt dangerous.
Like one wrong step could destroy things before they even properly began.
Rajji tried forcing a smile.
“This is officially the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
Dheeraj laughed softly despite himself.
A tired laugh.
“Same.”
For one tiny second, the familiar warmth returned again.
And somehow that made everything worse.
Because now both knew exactly what they were losing.
Before even having it fully.
Rajji looked at him carefully.
There were so many things she still wanted to say.
About Delhi.
About missing him.
About how terrifyingly important he had become.
But now—
none of it felt safe anymore.
So instead she whispered quietly—
“Goodnight, Dheeraj.”
Not teasing.
Not dramatic.
Just sad.
Dheeraj looked at her for a long moment before nodding slowly.
“Goodnight, Rajji.”
Neither hugged.
Neither smiled properly.
And neither realized heartbreak had already entered their story before love even got the chance to.
Rajji Opens The Cupboard Again
That night, Rajji couldn’t sleep.
The old cassette lay beside her while Bhanu’s hidden photographs remained scattered across the bed.
Young Bhanu looked so different in them.
Softer.
Happier.
Nothing like the guarded woman Rajji knew now.
Rajji slowly opened the old cupboard again and searched more carefully through forgotten papers and files.
Then suddenly—
a newspaper article slipped out.
Rajji unfolded it slowly.
The headline read:
“Bhanu Shukla Walks Out Of SurSangam After Massive Fallout With Mahadev”
Below it was a blurred photograph of Bhanu leaving the studio angrily while Mahadev stood behind her with an equally cold expression.
Neither looking back.
Neither stopping the other.
Rajji’s chest tightened painfully.
She kept reading.
Cancelled concerts.
Professional rivalry.
Music labels choosing sides.
Interviews where both refused to mention each other’s names.
Then one line made her freeze completely:
“Sources claim Bhanu and Mahadev refuse to ever share a stage again.”
Ever.
Rajji looked toward the smiling photographs from before.
How did people go from that much love…
to this much hatred?
The thought terrified her.
Because suddenly—
loving Dheeraj no longer felt beautiful.
It felt doomed.
Mahadev’s Music Room
Across town, Dheeraj stood alone inside Mahadev’s music room.
The old cassette still rested beside the piano.
This time he searched through old files stacked inside cabinets and shelves.
Concert brochures.
Award invitations.
Magazine interviews.
And then—
a torn newspaper clipping.
The headline read:
“Bhanu Calls Mahadev ‘The Biggest Mistake Of Her Career’”
Dheeraj froze.
Another article underneath it:
“Mahadev Refuses Collaboration Offer With Bhanu Bajpayee”
And another.
Years of bitterness preserved in paper.
Cold interviews.
Sharp public statements.
Professional hostility.
Dheeraj slowly sat down beside the piano.
Because suddenly the reality became unavoidable.
This wasn’t an old tragic love story waiting for reunion.
This was war.
Long-term.
Permanent.
And somewhere between those years of anger—
Rajji and Dheeraj had unknowingly fallen in love with each other anyway.
Rajji Finally Asks Bhanu
The next morning felt unbearably tense.
Rajji barely slept.
Every old photograph, every article, every sentence from the music shop replayed endlessly inside her head.
Bhanu, meanwhile, moved around the kitchen normally.
As if nothing had changed.
As if Mahadev’s name had not quietly returned to this house after decades.
Rajji watched her mother silently for several minutes before finally speaking.
“Ma…”
“Hm?”
Rajji swallowed carefully.
“Who is Mahadev Tiwari?”
The knife in Bhanu’s hand stopped moving instantly.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous silence.
Bhanu slowly looked up.
For one second—
something unreadable crossed her face.
Shock.
Then anger.
Cold anger.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Rajji’s heartbeat quickened.
“So it’s true.”
Bhanu immediately turned away again.
“I asked you something.”
Rajji stepped closer slowly.
“I know about you and Mahadev Uncle.”
The sentence shattered whatever calm remained in the room.
Bhanu placed the knife down sharply.
“Who told you?”
“There’s an old music shop near the market—”
“I asked WHO told you.”
Rajji blinked.
Because suddenly Bhanu’s voice sounded nothing like the soft mother she knew.
It sounded bitter.
Wounded.
Rajji answered quietly.
“The shop owner.”
Bhanu laughed once.
A humorless laugh filled with old resentment.
“Of course.”
Silence returned again.
Then finally Rajji whispered—
“Did you really love him?”
Bhanu looked at her slowly.
And for the first time—
Rajji saw genuine hatred in her mother’s eyes.
“Yes,” Bhanu answered bitterly. “And that was the biggest mistake of my life.”
Bhanu’s Side Of The Story
Rajji sat across from her mother quietly while Bhanu stared out the kitchen window for a long moment.
Then finally—
“He was selfish,” Bhanu said coldly.
Rajji frowned slightly.
“But everyone said—”
“Everyone saw the music,” Bhanu cut her off sharply. “Nobody saw what happened behind it.”
The bitterness in her voice startled Rajji.
Bhanu folded her arms tightly.
“I loved him when he had nothing,” she whispered. “I stood beside him through every struggle.”
Her eyes hardened instantly afterward.
“And the moment success came… everything changed.”
Rajji listened silently now.
“Mahadev wanted control over everything,” Bhanu continued bitterly. “My music. My choices. My career.”
“That’s not what the shop owner said.”
Bhanu laughed sharply.
“Because people only remember romantic stories. Not reality.”
The room fell silent again.
Then softly—
“He stopped seeing me as a partner.”
Rajji’s chest tightened.
“He started seeing me as competition.”
The sentence hurt unexpectedly.
Bhanu looked away briefly before continuing.
“We fought constantly toward the end.” Her jaw tightened. “And one day I realized something horrifying.”
“What?”
Bhanu’s eyes turned painfully distant.
“That loving someone is meaningless if they stop respecting you.”
Rajji swallowed slowly.
Because suddenly this story no longer sounded dramatic.
It sounded broken.
Deeply broken.
Yash Entered Later
“What happened after you separated?” Rajji asked quietly.
Bhanu exhaled slowly.
“At first?” she smiled faintly without happiness. “War.”
Rajji stayed silent.
“We destroyed each other publicly. Interviews. Concert politics. Music labels.” Bhanu laughed bitterly. “Immature nonsense.”
Then her expression softened slightly for the first time.
“Years later… I met your father.”
Yash.
Rajji looked toward the family photograph hanging nearby.
Bhanu’s voice finally became calmer.
“He was kind.” A pause. “Stable.”
Not passionate.
Not consuming.
Not like Mahadev.
Rajji noticed immediately.
“I didn’t marry your father because I was deeply in love,” Bhanu admitted honestly. “I married him because I was tired.”
The honesty stunned Rajji.
“Tired of fighting,” Bhanu whispered softly. “Tired of emotional chaos.”
Then quietly—
“Your father gave me peace.”
And somehow that sentence felt even sadder.
Mahadev’s Side
Across town, Dheeraj sat alone inside Mahadev’s music room holding the old newspaper articles tightly.
Mahadev entered a few minutes later before immediately stopping.
Because his son almost never touched those files.
“What are you doing here?”
Dheeraj looked up slowly.
“I found out about Bhanu Bajpayee.”
The reaction was immediate.
Mahadev’s expression hardened instantly.
“Who told you about her?”
Dheeraj hesitated briefly.
“There’s an old music shop near the market. The owner recognized your photograph.”
For a moment, Mahadev said nothing.
Then he laughed coldly under his breath.
“Of course he did.”
Silence filled the room heavily.
Dheeraj looked toward the old piano quietly.
“She was important to you once.”
Mahadev’s jaw tightened immediately.
“Important?” he repeated bitterly. “That woman nearly ruined my life.”
The bitterness in his voice startled Dheeraj.
Even after all these years—
the anger still sounded fresh.
“For years,” Mahadev continued sharply, “people painted me as the villain while Bhanu played victim everywhere.”
Dheeraj frowned slightly.
“That’s not how she remembers it.”
Mahadev looked toward him instantly.
“You spoke to her?”
Dheeraj quickly shook his head.
“No. I asked Rajji about it.”
Mahadev blinked once.
“Rajji?”
“Bhanu Bajpayee’s daughter,” Dheeraj clarified carefully.
For a second, Mahadev simply looked irritated rather than suspicious.
Then his expression darkened again.
“Stay away from that entire family.”
The force in his voice stunned Dheeraj slightly.
“You still hate her that much?”
Mahadev laughed bitterly.
“Hate?” He looked toward the old piano quietly. “No, Dheeraj.”
A pause.
Then coldly—
“I simply learned exactly what kind of person Bhanu Bajpayee truly is.”
Silence settled heavily inside the room again.
And Dheeraj quietly realized something terrifying:
if Mahadev reacted this strongly just hearing Bhanu’s daughter’s name—
what would happen if he ever discovered the truth?
Vidya Brought Silence
Dheeraj sat quietly while Mahadev slowly walked toward the window.
“For years after the separation,” Mahadev said quietly, “I couldn’t even enter a studio peacefully without hearing her name.”
His voice carried exhaustion now instead of rage.
“She turned every disagreement into public humiliation.”
Dheeraj frowned slightly.
“That’s not how she remembers it.”
“Of course not.”
Silence followed.
Then Mahadev’s expression softened faintly at the mention of another memory.
“Then I met your mother.”
Vidya.
The bitterness in his face eased slightly.
“She was nothing like Bhanu.”
Dheeraj listened quietly.
“No drama. No chaos. No emotional games.” Mahadev exhaled slowly. “Just calm.”
Not fire.
Not passion.
Peace.
Dheeraj understood the difference immediately.
“I married Vidya because she brought stability into my life,” Mahadev admitted honestly.
Then colder again—
“And because I never wanted to repeat the mistakes I made with Bhanu.”
The Final Warning
That night, two conversations ended almost identically.
In Bhanu’s house—
Bhanu held Rajji’s hand tightly and said firmly—
“Listen to me carefully.”
Rajji looked up silently.
“You will never keep any relation with Mahadev or his family.”
The words landed heavily.
“Ma—”
“I mean it.”
Bhanu’s voice carried years of bitterness now.
“That family only brings pain.”
Rajji’s chest tightened painfully.
Because suddenly Dheeraj no longer felt like just Dheeraj.
He felt forbidden.
Across town—
Mahadev looked directly at Dheeraj and said coldly—
“I don’t want Bhanu Bajpayee’s name mentioned in front of me again.”
Silence.
Then harsher—
“And stay away from her family.”
Dheeraj stared at his father quietly.
Because somehow the cruelest part of all this was realizing:
their parents had not merely fallen out of love.
They had built entire lives trying to erase each other afterward.
------
To be continued.
Chapter 9 (Some Goodbyes Happen Before Love Begins)
The Night Neither Sleeps
That night, neither Rajji nor Dheeraj slept properly.
Rajji lay awake staring at the ceiling while Bhanu’s bitter words replayed endlessly inside her mind.
“Never keep any relation with Mahadev or his family.”
Not anger.
Not concern.
Hatred.
Years-old hatred.
And suddenly every beautiful moment with Dheeraj felt painfully fragile.
Meanwhile across town, Dheeraj sat alone near the window of his room long after midnight.
Mahadev’s cold voice still echoed inside his head.
“Don’t take Bhanu Bajpayee’s name in front of me again.”
The bitterness had shocked him.
Not because his father hated Bhanu.
But because after all these years—
he still hated her enough for the pain to sound fresh.
Dheeraj closed his eyes briefly.
Then remembered Rajji laughing at the airport.
Fighting over chips.
Holding his sleeve during turbulence.
The way her voice softened whenever she said his name.
And suddenly losing her felt unbearable.
But keeping her?
That suddenly felt impossible too.
The Message
At 1:13 AM—
Rajji’s phone lit up.
Dheeraj.
Her heartbeat immediately betrayed her.
She opened the message slowly.
Can we meet tomorrow?
Rajji stared at the screen silently.
Because deep down—
she already knew what this meeting would be.
Still, after several painful seconds, she replied:
Okay.
Neither texted afterward.
Because both understood:
some conversations changed everything forever.
One Last Time
The next evening, they met near the quieter lakeside road outside Hardoi.
The same place where college students usually came for peace and couples came for secrets.
Today it held heartbreak instead.
Rajji saw Dheeraj standing near the railing before he noticed her.
And suddenly—
everything hurt.
Because nothing about him had changed.
Same calm face.
Same quiet eyes.
Same person she had begun loving without permission.
Dheeraj looked up slowly when she approached.
For a second—
neither spoke.
Neither smiled.
And somehow that silence already said too much.
Rajji stopped beside him quietly.
The wind moved softly around them.
Far away, the lake reflected fading evening light.
Beautiful place.
Terrible day.
“You came,” Dheeraj said softly.
Rajji almost laughed at the irony.
“Of course I came.”
Because no matter how much this hurt—
she would always come if he asked.
That realization nearly broke her further.
The Truth They Don’t Want
Dheeraj leaned against the railing slowly.
“Our parents are never going to accept this.”
Not “might not.”
Not “probably won’t.”
Never.
The certainty in his voice shattered something inside Rajji immediately.
“I know.”
Silence followed.
Painful silence.
Rajji looked down at her hands quietly.
“I tried telling myself maybe they’d calm down,” she whispered. “But my mother…” she exhaled shakily, “…she hates your father.”
Dheeraj nodded once.
“My father too.”
Again silence.
Because suddenly they were no longer just Rajji and Dheeraj.
Now they carried generations of resentment between them.
Rajji laughed softly without humor.
“This is insane.”
“A little.”
“We didn’t even do anything wrong.”
“I know.”
“Then why does it feel like we already lost?”
The question stayed unanswered.
Because both felt it too.
The Confession That Comes Too Late
The wind grew colder around them.
Rajji looked toward the lake while speaking quietly—
“You know the worst part?”
Dheeraj turned toward her slightly.
“What?”
“I think…” she swallowed carefully, “…I was already falling in love with you before I even realized it.”
The sentence broke him quietly.
Because he felt exactly the same.
Dheeraj looked down briefly before answering softly—
“I know.”
Rajji finally looked at him then.
And for the first time since the music shop—
all the unspoken feelings stood openly between them.
No teasing left.
No pretending left.
Just love arriving at the worst possible time.
Dheeraj’s voice lowered slightly.
“I think I started falling for you at the airport.”
Rajji laughed weakly through tears.
“You insulted my chips.”
“You threatened security.”
“You laughed at me.”
“You were cute.”
Rajji’s eyes closed briefly.
Because hearing it now hurt too much.
Everything beautiful suddenly felt tragic.
The Decision That Breaks Them
After a long silence, Dheeraj finally whispered—
“What do we do now?”
Rajji didn’t answer immediately.
Because there was no good answer.
Fight their families?
Break their parents further?
Turn two already broken households into battlefields again?
And for what?
A love story that had barely begun?
Tears gathered silently in Rajji’s eyes now.
“We stop,” she whispered painfully.
The words physically hurt to say.
Dheeraj looked at her immediately.
Rajji forced herself to continue.
“Our parents already destroyed each other once.” Her voice trembled slightly. “I can’t do that to them again.”
Dheeraj closed his eyes briefly.
Because deep down—
he knew she was right.
And somehow that made it worse.
Rajji wiped her tears quickly, frustrated at herself.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“I know.”
“You were supposed to stay some random annoying guy from Delhi.”
Dheeraj laughed softly despite the ache in his chest.
“And you were supposed to stop talking eventually.”
Rajji cried harder after that.
Because even now—
he still knew exactly how to make her smile.
Goodbye, Rajji
The sky darkened slowly around them.
Neither noticed time passing anymore.
Only the terrible awareness that this was ending before it properly began.
Rajji looked at Dheeraj carefully.
Trying to memorize him.
The calmness in his face.
The softness in his eyes.
The person who had somehow become important too quickly.
“I don’t think I can see you again,” she whispered.
Dheeraj’s jaw tightened painfully.
But after a long silence—
he nodded.
Because loving her had already become difficult enough.
Losing her publicly later would destroy them both.
Rajji stepped backward slowly.
Every instinct inside her screamed not to leave.
But fear was stronger now.
Family was stronger now.
History was stronger now.
“Take care of yourself,” Dheeraj said quietly.
The sentence sounded devastatingly final.
Rajji nodded shakily.
“You too.”
Neither hugged.
Because they both knew:
if they touched each other now—
neither would have the strength to walk away.
So instead—
Rajji turned first.
And walked away slowly without looking back.
While Dheeraj stood near the lake watching the person he loved disappear from his life before their story even truly had the chance to begin.
Life Continues Cruelly
The days after the goodbye felt unnatural.
Like both Rajji and Dheeraj were pretending to live normally instead of actually living.
Rajji stopped laughing loudly.
Stopped arguing over tiny things.
Stopped smiling at her phone.
Bhanu noticed the change immediately.
“You’ve become quiet lately,” she observed one morning while arranging flowers in the living room.
“I’m tired.”
“You’re always tired now.”
Rajji forced a small shrug and looked away before her mother could study her face too carefully.
Because every corner of Hardoi reminded her of Dheeraj now.
Tea stalls.
The old market.
The road near the lake.
Even songs had become dangerous.
Especially old songs.
Meanwhile across town—
Dheeraj was failing equally badly at moving on.
His friends noticed first.
“You’re becoming depressing,” Arjun declared bluntly during lunch.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“You stared at a chips packet for two minutes yesterday.”
Dheeraj looked personally attacked.
“That’s unrelated.”
“It’s emotionally VERY related.”
Dheeraj ignored him professionally.
But the truth remained unbearable:
everything reminded him of Rajji too.
Especially silence.
Because somehow she had filled his days so completely that now even peace felt empty without her voice inside it.
They Stop Themselves Repeatedly
At first, both nearly texted each other constantly.
Rajji typed:
I miss you.
Deleted it.
Dheeraj typed:
Are you okay?
Deleted it.
Again.
And again.
Until eventually fear settled into routine.
Days passed without messages.
Then weeks.
And somehow that hurt even more.
Because now the distance had become real.
Permanent.
Bhanu Makes A Decision
One evening, Bhanu entered Rajji’s room carrying tea with unusual seriousness in her expression.
Rajji immediately became suspicious.
“What happened?”
Bhanu sat beside her quietly.
“There’s something important I need to discuss.”
Rajji frowned slightly.
Which lasted exactly five seconds.
Until Bhanu calmly said—
“I fixed your marriage.”
The world stopped.
Rajji stared at her mother blankly.
“What?”
Bhanu continued naturally—
“His name is Kalyan Kumar. MLA Raghav Kumar’s son.”
Rajji blinked once.
Then again.
“No.”
Bhanu looked up sharply.
“What?”
“I said no.”
The answer came instantly.
Almost instinctively.
Bhanu’s expression hardened immediately.
“Rajji—”
“You fixed my marriage without asking me?!”
“He’s educated, respected, well-settled—”
“I DON’T CARE!”
The sudden desperation in Rajji’s voice startled even herself.
Bhanu stood slowly now.
“This alliance is good for you.”
“I don’t want it!”
“And why exactly not?”
Rajji froze instantly.
Because she could not answer honestly.
She could not say:
Because I love someone else.
Especially not someone connected to Mahadev.
So instead she whispered helplessly—
“I’m not ready.”
Bhanu’s expression softened slightly.
“Rajji,” she said quietly, “sometimes stability matters more than emotions.”
The sentence hurt strangely.
Because Bhanu had no idea how deeply those words echoed her own past.
But she still didn’t know about Dheeraj.
Didn’t know Rajji had already fallen in love quietly.
To Bhanu, this was simply a good marriage proposal for her daughter.
Nothing more.
Unfortunately for Rajji—
it felt like losing Dheeraj all over again.
Kalyan Kumar
The news spread through Hardoi quickly.
Because politician families guaranteed gossip professionally.
“Rajji Bajpayee’s marriage fixed!”
“Kumar family alliance!”
“Big political connection!”
Everyone seemed delighted except Rajji herself.
Kalyan Kumar arrived three days later with his family.
Polite.
Well-dressed.
Respectable.
And completely wrong.
Rajji sat through the family meeting mechanically while aunties admired jewelry and discussed wedding possibilities.
Kalyan smiled pleasantly at her.
“You’re very quiet.”
Rajji almost laughed at the irony.
Because once upon a time—
someone else used to complain she talked too much.
The memory hurt instantly.
Kalyan continued politely—
“My mother says calm girls make the best wives.”
Rajji’s chest tightened painfully.
Somewhere deep inside—
she heard Dheeraj’s voice instead:
“You’re louder here because you’re comfortable.”
And suddenly sitting beside Kalyan felt unbearable.
Dheeraj Learns The Truth
Dheeraj found out accidentally.
Arjun mentioned it casually during lunch.
“Did you hear?” he asked while scrolling through his phone. “Some politician’s son is getting engaged to Bhanu Bajpayee’s daughter.”
The spoon slipped from Dheeraj’s hand instantly.
Arjun froze immediately.
Because suddenly the atmosphere changed completely.
“What?”
Dheeraj grabbed the phone silently.
And there it was.
A photograph of Rajji sitting beside the Sharma family.
Beautiful.
Quiet.
And heartbreakingly unhappy.
The caption beneath it shattered him completely:
“Rajji Bajpayee’s marriage alliance fixed with Kalyan Sharma.”
For several seconds—
Dheeraj couldn’t breathe properly.
Something sharp spread slowly through his chest.
Arjun looked horrified now.
“Oh no…”
Dheeraj stared at the photograph silently.
Because suddenly losing Rajji no longer felt temporary anymore.
Now she was truly slipping away into someone else’s life.
And the cruelest part of all—
was knowing neither Bhanu nor Mahadev had any idea their old hatred had already destroyed another love story too.
Rajji Tries To Fight Back
The house had become unbearable.
Every day brought:
Rajji felt trapped inside someone else’s life.
Bhanu moved through everything efficiently.
Calmly.
Like a mother simply preparing for her daughter’s future.
Because she still had no idea what was actually breaking inside Rajji.
“Try this color,” Bhanu said one afternoon while holding up a maroon saree.
Rajji looked exhausted already.
“I don’t want to.”
Bhanu frowned slightly.
“You can’t reject every outfit.”
“I don’t want this marriage.”
The room fell silent instantly.
Bhanu slowly lowered the saree.
“Rajji…”
“No, Ma, please.” Her voice cracked slightly now. “At least listen to me once.”
Bhanu sighed tiredly.
“Kalyan is a good boy.”
“I don’t love him.”
The words escaped before Rajji could stop them.
Bhanu looked startled for exactly one second.
Then her expression hardened slightly again.
“Love is not enough to build a life.”
Rajji froze.
Because suddenly those words sounded less like advice—
and more like regret.
“I don’t want to marry someone just because he’s suitable,” Rajji whispered painfully.
Bhanu stepped closer slowly.
“You think marriage is about excitement?” she asked quietly. “No, Rajji. Marriage is about stability. Respect. Peace.”
Rajji looked away quickly.
Because the irony hurt too much.
Bhanu believed she was protecting her daughter from emotional pain.
She had no idea Rajji was already living inside it.
Dheeraj Starts Falling Apart Quietly
Meanwhile, Dheeraj had become impossible to live with.
He stopped attending family dinners properly.
Stopped replying during conversations.
Stopped composing music halfway through.
Even Mahadev noticed eventually.
“What’s wrong with you lately?”
“Nothing.”
“You look distracted.”
Dheeraj almost laughed.
Distracted?
No.
Destroyed sounded more accurate.
Because every time he closed his eyes—
he imagined Rajji beside another man.
Smiling politely.
Wearing wedding jewelry.
Becoming someone else’s future.
The thought physically hurt.
Arjun finally cornered him one evening.
“You still love her.”
Dheeraj looked away silently.
“That’s not even a question anymore,” Arjun muttered softly.
Dheeraj leaned back against the chair tiredly.
“I let her go because I thought it would hurt less eventually.”
Arjun stayed quiet.
Dheeraj laughed once without humor.
“It got worse.”
The honesty in his voice hurt even Arjun.
Rajji Breaks Down
Three days before the official engagement ceremony—
Rajji finally broke.
Completely.
She sat alone inside her room staring at the engagement lehenga spread across the bed.
Red.
Heavy.
Beautiful.
And it felt like a death sentence.
Her phone lay nearby.
Still holding Dheeraj’s old messages.
Still impossible to delete.
Tears blurred her vision slowly.
Because she suddenly realized something terrifying:
she would rather spend her entire life fighting with Dheeraj—
than live peacefully without him.
The realization arrived too late.
Painfully too late.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
Rajji’s heartbeat jumped instantly.
For one impossible second—
she thought it might be him.
But it was Mehak.
Are you okay?
Rajji stared at the message silently.
Then finally typed:
No.
And for the first time since the breakup—
she cried properly.
Not quietly.
Not gracefully.
Completely.
Dheeraj Sees The Engagement Card
The official engagement invitations arrived two days later.
One eventually reached Mahadev’s house too through political contacts.
Mahadev barely glanced at it before placing it aside carelessly.
But Dheeraj saw the name instantly.
Rajji Bajpayee & Kalyan Kumar
Something inside him cracked silently.
His hands trembled slightly while holding the card.
Engagement.
Not rumor anymore.
Reality.
Mahadev noticed his expression faintly.
“You know them?”
Dheeraj answered too quickly.
“No.”
Mahadev nodded absentmindedly and walked away.
Leaving Dheeraj alone with the card.
Alone with the unbearable realization that Rajji was slipping further away every single day—
while he stood doing absolutely nothing.
The Voice Note
That night, Rajji couldn’t sleep again.
The engagement outfit still lay untouched beside her.
Her chest hurt constantly now.
Like grief had settled there permanently.
At 2:07 AM—
without thinking properly—
she opened Dheeraj’s chat.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for several seconds.
Then stopped.
Instead—
she recorded a voice note.
Soft breathing filled the silence first.
Then finally, her trembling voice:
“I hate this.”
A pause.
A broken inhale.
“I tried really hard to stay away from you.”
Another silence.
Then quietly—
“But everything still feels like you.”
Rajji closed her eyes tightly.
Tears slipped down her face silently now.
“And I think… a part of me is always going to belong to you.”
The voice note ended abruptly afterward.
Rajji stared at it for several seconds.
Then before fear could stop her—
she pressed send.
Miles away—
Dheeraj’s phone lit up in the darkness.
------
To be continued.
Chapter 10 (Love Returns Even After Goodbye)
The Voice Note At 2:07 AM
Dheeraj stared at his phone for several seconds before pressing play.
Rajji’s trembling voice filled the darkness quietly.
“I hate this.”
His chest tightened instantly.
Then came the silence between her words.
The kind that sounded like someone trying not to cry.
“I tried really hard to stay away from you…”
Dheeraj closed his eyes briefly.
Because he had tried too.
And failed too.
Then finally—
“And I think… a part of me is always going to belong to you.”
The voice note ended.
But Rajji’s pain remained echoing inside his room long afterward.
For several seconds—
Dheeraj simply sat there breathing unevenly.
Then suddenly stood up.
Decision replacing heartbreak almost violently.
Because one terrifying realization had finally become unavoidable:
losing Rajji hurt far more than fighting for her ever could.
Rajji Regrets Sending It
The moment Rajji woke up the next morning—
panic arrived instantly.
The voice note.
OH GOD.
She sat upright in bed immediately and grabbed her phone.
Seen.
2:11 AM.
No reply.
Rajji covered her face with a pillow dramatically.
“Excellent,” she muttered miserably. “Emotional destruction complete.”
Maybe he hated her now.
Maybe she had made things worse.
Maybe—
A knock interrupted her spiral.
“Rajji!” Bhanu called from outside. “Kalyan’s family is coming for lunch today.”
Rajji’s stomach dropped again.
Reality returned brutally.
The engagement.
The marriage.
The future she didn’t want.
Her phone remained silent beside her.
And somehow that hurt too.
Dheeraj Makes A Choice
Across town, Dheeraj had not slept at all.
Arjun found him sitting near the window at sunrise still holding his phone, Rajji’s voice note replaying quietly in the background.
“You look terrifying.”
Dheeraj looked up slowly.
“I’m going to lose her.”
Arjun’s expression softened immediately.
“Then stop her.”
The answer came instantly.
Like it was obvious.
Dheeraj laughed tiredly and looked away toward the pale morning sky outside.
“It’s not that easy.”
“No,” Arjun admitted quietly. “Nothing about this situation is easy.”
Silence followed.
Heavy silence.
Then Dheeraj finally spoke again—
“I thought staying away would protect everyone.”
“And?”
Dheeraj looked down at Rajji’s chat.
Her last message still sat there painfully.
A part of me is always going to belong to you.
His chest tightened again.
“And now she’s miserable.”
The truth settled quietly between them.
Arjun leaned back in the chair beside him.
“So what are you going to do?”
For several long seconds, Dheeraj said nothing.
Then finally—
with heartbreaking calm—
“I’m going to let her go.”
Arjun frowned immediately.
“What?”
Dheeraj exhaled slowly.
“Our parents already destroyed each other once.” His voice lowered slightly. “I can’t become the reason they start all over again.”
“But you love her.”
Dheeraj smiled faintly.
A broken smile.
“That’s exactly why I have to stay quiet.”
Arjun stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re seriously just going to watch her get engaged?”
The question hurt visibly.
But after a painful silence—
Dheeraj nodded once.
“Yes.”
The single word shattered the room.
Because both men understood what it truly meant:
Dheeraj had chosen heartbreak consciously.
And somehow that made it even more tragic.
After a long moment, Arjun finally asked softly—
“Then why are you still here?”
Dheeraj looked down at his phone again before answering quietly—
“Because even if I can’t stop it…”
his voice almost broke now,
“…I still want to see her one last time.”
Kalyan Notices Something Wrong
Lunch at the Bajpayee house felt painfully suffocating.
Relatives smiled.
Aunties discussed engagement decorations.
Families spoke about venues, guest lists, and jewelry while Rajji sat beside Kalyan Kumar mechanically stirring her tea without drinking it.
Then suddenly—
“Are you unhappy?”
Rajji blinked and looked toward him.
Kalyan’s expression remained calm.
Not accusing.
Just observant.
“You haven’t smiled once properly since I met you,” he said softly.
Rajji immediately looked away.
“I’m just tired.”
Kalyan stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Then after glancing toward the busy relatives nearby, he spoke again carefully—
“If you’re uncomfortable with this marriage… you can tell me.”
The gentleness in his tone nearly made things worse.
Because Rajji genuinely didn’t dislike him.
He was kind.
Respectful.
Good.
And that somehow made her guilt even heavier.
Rajji forced a small smile that never reached her eyes.
“It’s not about you.”
Kalyan noticed the sentence instantly.
His expression changed slightly.
Not anger.
Not suspicion.
Just quiet understanding.
The silence between them stretched for several seconds before he finally asked softly—
“Then what is it about?”
Rajji’s fingers tightened unconsciously around the teacup.
For one dangerous second—
Dheeraj’s face flashed through her mind.
His voice.
His eyes.
The way he had said:
“I love you.”
Rajji swallowed painfully.
Then looked away again before her emotions betrayed her completely.
“I just…” she whispered weakly, “…don’t think I’m ready for all this yet.”
Kalyan studied her quietly.
And perhaps somewhere deep down—
he understood there was more she wasn’t saying.
But he didn’t push further.
Instead he nodded once slowly.
“Fair enough.”
The conversation ended there.
But the heaviness between them remained.
The Engagement Day
Hardoi had never looked louder.
The Kumar house and Bajpayee residence were overflowing with guests, flowers, lights, political banners, distant relatives, and enough gossip to sustain the town for months.
Traditional music echoed through the decorated lawn while aunties moved around carrying trays of sweets and jewelry like generals preparing for war.
And in the middle of all that celebration—
Rajji felt nothing.
Women surrounded her inside the bridal room fixing her dupatta, adjusting jewelry, complimenting her lehenga.
“Hayee, nazar na lage.”
“So beautiful.”
“Kalyan ji toh bas dekhte reh jayenge.”
Rajji smiled politely when required.
Nodded when necessary.
But inside—
everything felt numb.
Because despite trying desperately to bury it—
her heart still searched for someone else.
Kalyan Notices Again
Kalyan entered the room briefly with his sisters for the ceremonial exchange preparations.
He looked elegant in an ivory sherwani.
Respectable.
Well-mannered.
Good.
Everything a family wanted.
And still—
Rajji felt absolutely nothing.
Kalyan noticed her silence again immediately.
“You okay?” he asked softly while relatives remained distracted nearby.
Rajji forced a small nod.
“Hm.”
Kalyan looked at her carefully for a moment.
Then quietly said—
“You don’t have to pretend around me.”
Rajji’s eyes lifted slightly.
For one dangerous second—
she almost confessed everything.
About Dheeraj.
About the voice note.
About how her heart had already chosen someone else long ago.
But fear stopped her instantly.
Because once spoken aloud—
nothing would remain simple anymore.
So instead Rajji only lowered her eyes and whispered softly—
“I’m trying.”
Kalyan’s expression softened slightly.
The answer sounded too broken for him not to notice.
But before he could say anything else, relatives interrupted loudly again—
“Chalo chalo! Muhurat ka time ho raha hai!”
And the moment disappeared.
Dheeraj Arrives
The engagement ceremony began under dazzling lights and endless noise.
Guests gathered near the decorated stage while photographers shouted instructions every few seconds.
Rajji sat beside Kalyan mechanically while people smiled around them.
Then suddenly—
something shifted.
Not visibly.
Emotionally.
Like her heart recognized someone before her eyes did.
Rajji looked up instinctively.
And froze.
Dheeraj stood near the far end of the crowd dressed in a black kurta, partially hidden behind guests and floral decorations.
For one suspended second—
the entire world disappeared around her.
Only him remained.
His face looked calm.
But his eyes—
his eyes looked shattered.
Rajji stopped breathing properly.
Because suddenly all the pain she had tried suppressing returned at once.
Dheeraj had come.
Despite everything—
he had still come.
Across The Crowd
The engagement rituals continued around them.
Priests spoke.
Relatives laughed.
Cameras flashed endlessly.
But Rajji heard none of it anymore.
Because her eyes remained locked helplessly on Dheeraj standing across the crowd.
And the pain in his expression nearly destroyed her composure completely.
He wasn’t angry.
That would have been easier.
He simply looked heartbroken.
Like he was watching something precious slip away while being unable to stop it.
Rajji’s fingers trembled slightly in her lap.
Then suddenly—
Dheeraj looked away first.
As though watching her beside another man physically hurt too much.
That tiny movement broke something inside Rajji instantly.
The Ring Ceremony
“Ring pehnaiye!”
Cheers erupted around the stage.
The photographer moved excitedly.
“Madam smile please!”
Rajji looked down at the engagement ring in Kalyan’s hand.
Heavy.
Cold.
Wrong.
Then instinctively—
her eyes searched the crowd again.
Dheeraj still stood there silently.
Watching.
And suddenly Rajji remembered:
“I love you.”
Tears burned painfully behind her eyes.
Kalyan noticed immediately.
His expression changed slightly.
Concern.
Understanding.
Maybe even realization.
Across the crowd—
Dheeraj stood frozen for one final second.
Watching.
Watching the woman he loved sit beside another man while an entire crowd celebrated it.
And suddenly—
he couldn’t do it anymore.
The applause.
The lights.
The rituals.
Her trembling hands.
It all became unbearable.
Before anyone could notice properly—
Dheeraj turned and walked away quickly through the crowd.
Not dramatically.
Not angrily.
Just… broken.
Rajji saw it instantly.
And panic hit her chest so violently she almost stopped breathing.
No.
No no no.
Not again.
Not like this.
Her eyes followed helplessly as Dheeraj disappeared toward the outer lawn exit.
Every instinct inside her screamed the same thing:
If he leaves now, you’ll lose him forever.
Meanwhile, Kalyan slowly picked up the engagement ring again.
The priest smiled brightly.
“Chaliye beta, pehna dijiye.”
Guests leaned forward excitedly.
Photographers adjusted cameras.
And Rajji—
completely shattered.
Kalyan gently reached for her hand.
That was it.
The final moment.
The point of no return.
And suddenly—
Rajji snapped.
Before anyone understood what happened—
she jerked her hand away violently.
The ring slipped from Kalyan’s fingers—
and went flying across the stage.
Gasps erupted everywhere.
The music stopped abruptly.
The entire engagement lawn fell into stunned silence.
Rajji stood up immediately, breathing unevenly.
Tears burned openly in her eyes now.
“Rajji?!” Bhanu stood instantly in shock.
“Beta what are you doing?” Yash asked, completely confused.
But Rajji barely heard them.
Because her eyes remained fixed toward the direction Dheeraj had disappeared.
And before anyone could stop her—
Rajji lifted her lehenga slightly and ran.
Straight off the stage.
Straight through the crowd.
Straight toward him.
People moved aside in complete disbelief.
Relatives whispered loudly.
Photographers forgot to take pictures.
Bhanu stood frozen.
Because for one horrifying second—
the past flashed violently before her eyes.
A younger version of herself.
Running emotionally.
Destroying ceremonies.
Choosing love over pride.
Meanwhile Kalyan slowly stood up from the stage.
The engagement lawn remained completely silent now.
His mother looked shocked.
Relatives waited for outrage.
Humiliation.
Anger.
But Kalyan only looked toward the direction Rajji had run.
Then quietly—
almost sadly—
he smiled.
And finally spoke.
“I sensed something was wrong with Rajji from the moment I first met her.”
Bhanu looked at him helplessly.
“Kalyan beta—”
But he gently shook his head.
“She told me she wasn’t ready yet.”
The words landed heavily across the silent lawn.
Kalyan looked down briefly before continuing softly—
“And if that’s truly the case…”
A pause.
Then quietly—
“I promise I’ll come back and wear her this ring when she’s ready.”
The dignity in his voice only made the atmosphere more emotional.
Because suddenly nobody could even blame him.
Meanwhile far beyond the lights, music, and stunned crowd—
Rajji kept running through the dark Hardoi streets after the person her heart had already chosen long ago.
The Same Words Return Again
Now—
standing breathless beneath the dim Hardoi streetlights after running away from her own engagement—
Rajji finally reached him again.
“Dheeraj!”
He stopped walking instantly.
For one suspended second—
neither moved.
Dheeraj looked stunned seeing her there in full engagement attire, tears running down her face, jewelry trembling against her skin as she struggled to breathe properly.
“Rajji…”
She walked toward him immediately.
Almost angrily.
Almost desperately.
“You were leaving again?”
The hurt in her voice shattered him instantly.
Dheeraj looked away briefly.
“I thought…” he swallowed hard, “…I thought it would be easier for you if I disappeared quietly.”
Rajji laughed through tears.
“Nothing about this is easy!”
The rawness in her voice echoed through the empty road.
And suddenly all the pain both had been carrying finally burst open.
“You came there knowing it would hurt you,” Rajji whispered brokenly.
“I had to see you.”
“Why?”
The question escaped helplessly.
Dheeraj looked at her like the answer was painfully obvious.
“Because I love you.”
The world stopped.
Not dramatically.
Just completely.
Rajji stared at him silently.
Because after weeks of heartbreak, distance, fear, and pretending—
he finally said it.
And somehow hearing it now felt both beautiful and devastating.
Dheeraj’s voice lowered slightly.
“I tried staying away from you.” A pause. “It didn’t work.”
Rajji laughed weakly through tears.
“Same.”
Then softly—
“I love you too.”
And suddenly the goodbye near the lake no longer felt final anymore.
Because love—
terrible, stubborn love—
had returned anyway.
The Ring That Never Stayed
Dheeraj’s eyes slowly moved toward her trembling hands.
The engagement ring was missing.
His breath caught slightly.
“Rajji…”
A watery laugh escaped her.
“I threw it.”
Dheeraj blinked once.
“You WHAT?”
Rajji pointed dramatically behind herself through tears.
“I threw the ring and ran away from my own engagement like a mentally unstable Bollywood heroine.”
Despite everything—
Dheeraj laughed.
A real laugh.
Broken.
Disbelieving.
But real.
And somehow hearing that sound after so many painful days nearly made Rajji cry harder.
“I’m serious!” she complained emotionally. “Everyone is probably traumatized!”
“You shoved the ring away?”
“Yes!”
“In front of everyone?”
“Yes!”
Dheeraj stared at her for one long moment.
Then suddenly stepped closer.
Much closer.
“So you chose me.”
The softness in his voice completely undid her.
Rajji’s lips trembled immediately.
“I was always going to choose you.”
And that sentence—
that single honest sentence—
broke the remaining distance between them completely.
Almost
The confession settled between them quietly.
Warmly.
Dangerously.
And suddenly—
after weeks of heartbreak, distance, fear, and pretending—
there was nothing left hiding between them anymore.
Rajji looked up at Dheeraj slowly.
Really looked at him.
The exhaustion in his face.
The emotions he had clearly been suppressing all evening.
The pain still lingering in his eyes even now.
And despite everything—
he was still here.
Still choosing her too.
Dheeraj’s gaze dropped unconsciously toward her lips for the briefest second.
Rajji noticed immediately.
Her breath caught.
The night around them suddenly felt too quiet.
Too intimate.
Far away, faint engagement music still echoed somewhere through Hardoi.
But here—
beneath dim streetlights and trembling silence—
it felt like the world had stopped entirely.
Dheeraj lifted his hand slowly and brushed away a tear slipping down her cheek.
The touch was unbearably gentle.
Rajji’s fingers instinctively tightened against his kurta.
And that tiny movement nearly destroyed whatever self-control remained between them.
Neither spoke.
Because words suddenly felt unnecessary now.
Not after everything.
Not after:
Slowly—
carefully—
Dheeraj leaned closer.
Rajji did too.
Her heartbeat became uneven instantly.
One more second.
Maybe less.
Their breaths mixed softly now.
Close enough to feel.
Close enough to forget everything else.
And then—
both stopped.
Bhanu.
Mahadev.
The hatred.
The history.
Reality crashed back between them almost violently.
Dheeraj stopped first.
Not because he wanted to.
Because suddenly the reality of what had just happened crashed back into his mind—the broken engagement, the stunned silence, their families waiting behind them, and decades of hatred already existing between Bhanu and Mahadev.
The destruction left behind by one unfinished love story.
Rajji slowly opened her eyes too.
And she understood immediately.
The silence between them turned heavier now.
Not awkward.
Painfully aware.
Dheeraj rested his forehead lightly against hers instead, both breathing unevenly.
“We can’t hurt them like this,” he whispered softly.
Rajji’s chest tightened instantly.
Because deep down—
she knew he was right.
“I don’t want my mother to go through everything again,” she admitted quietly. “I saw her face back there…”
Dheeraj closed his eyes briefly.
“And I don’t want my father to spend the rest of his life hating me.”
The honesty in his voice hurt.
Because for the first time—
love no longer felt simple.
It carried families now.
Old wounds.
Consequences.
Rajji looked down slowly.
“So what do we do?” she whispered helplessly.
Dheeraj stayed silent for several seconds.
Then finally—
very quietly—
“We don’t become selfish.”
Rajji looked back at him immediately.
Fear flickered briefly inside her eyes.
Because for one terrifying second—
she thought he meant goodbye again.
But then Dheeraj gently held her trembling hand tighter.
“And we don’t lose each other either.”
The words stole her breath completely.
Dheeraj’s voice softened further.
“Our parents let ego destroy everything.” A pause. “We won’t.”
Something shifted inside Rajji then.
Not fear anymore.
Determination.
Because suddenly she understood:
loving Dheeraj did not have to mean destroying their families.
Not if they fought differently.
Not if they chose differently.
Rajji laughed weakly through her tears.
“We don’t even have a plan.”
Dheeraj smiled faintly.
“No.”
“Then what exactly are we doing?”
For the first time that night—
something warm returned to his eyes.
“Trying to save our love story before it becomes theirs.”
The sentence settled quietly between them.
And somehow—
for the first time since discovering Bhanu and Mahadev’s past—
hope returned without guilt attached to it.
Rajji slowly moved closer again, resting her forehead against his chest this time.
“No more running away?” she whispered softly.
Dheeraj rested his chin lightly against her hair.
“No more running away.”
And beneath the dim Hardoi streetlights—
their unfinished kiss remained suspended between them while Rajji and Dheeraj chose something harder than sacrifice:
they chose to fight for love without breaking the people they loved.
------
To be continued.
Introduction : Rajji and Dheeraj are bound by a marriage born of betrayal, fear, and dignity rather than love. As their feudal families clash...
Chapter : Melodious Encounter https://www.indiaforums.com/fanfiction/chapter/52348
Darlington Today presents ---- AN ARHIFF Iss Darr Ko Kya Naam Doon Summary: Khushi is an internet famous(kind of) 29 year old fashion designer...
Hi guys! It's been a while. But finally back with a new AR fic! Idk if anyone will read it so I'll decide if I want to post more on the basis of...
Book cover by Prii @SweetButSpicy. Thanks a million Prii for this wonderful book cover.
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
Current Affairs
84