Chapter 12
When the room finally drowned in silence, Aariv sat down on the bed slowly, his body numb. His mind replayed Veer’s words over and over “You are free. I don’t want you. You’re nothing to me.”
Each syllable pierced him anew, yet he couldn’t let go of the image of those same lips against his last night, that searing kiss which still haunted him. How could the same man who claimed not to want him have kissed him with such intensity?
His fingers brushed his lips, trembling. His heart whispered the question his mind refused to face: What if… I wanted him to mean it?
A sob broke out of him, muffled quickly into the pillow. He didn’t understand why the rejection hurt more than the force, why Veer’s denial felt more cruel than his claim. All Aariv knew was that he was no longer who he had been yesterday. Something had changed inside him, and he couldn’t undo it.
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Veer forced the thought away as he reached the dining hall. The long table was already set, silver cutlery gleaming, and the family was gathered , Rajnath reading a newspaper, Rudra twirling a spoon absentmindedly, Ridha scrolling her phone, and Shanti fussing with dishes like always.
Veer took his chair at the head of the table without a word.
It was Shanti who broke the silence, her mother’s eyes always restless until satisfied.
“Aariv kahan hai?” she spoke softly, glancing towards the staircase.
Veer didn’t even look up from his plate. “Room mein hai. Aa raha hoga.”
“Kaisa hai vo ab?”
Shanti’s voice trembled slightly genuine concern for the boy who had entered their home in such a terrifying way.
Veer’s jaw tightened. He finally looked at her, tone clipped. “Maa, vo aayega toh aap khud hi puchh lena.”
The dismissal was sharp enough that Shanti pressed her lips together, though her eyes lingered towards the stairs with worry.
Just then, footsteps were heard soft, hesitant. Aariv appeared, descending slowly, dressed neatly but his small frame seemed swallowed by the large shirt he wore. His eyes flickered nervously at the sight of everyone watching him.
Ridha instantly rose, rushing to his side with her natural warmth. “Aariv, come, sit here.” She pulled out the chair beside her and made him sit gently, as if he were a younger brother. Her eyes scanned him carefully. “Ab thik ho tum?”
Aariv lowered his head. “Ji… ma’am.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Ridha frowned at the formality. “Call me di. Like these two idiots do,” she gestured to Rudra and Veer.
Aariv blinked, surprised, then nodded shyly. “Ji… di.”
Ridha’s smile softened, and Shanti’s heart melted seeing the fragile boy at her table. But Veer… Veer’s eyes lingered only for a second before shifting away, face unreadable.
Breakfast went on quietly. Shanti served Aariv extra parathas, Ridha filled his glass, while Rajnath and Rudra observed silently, picking up on the tension Veer brought into the room.
The clatter of cutlery stopped when Veeransh abruptly pushed his chair back and stood.
His commanding presence drew all eyes to him.
“Di,” he said flatly, glancing at Ridha, “Aariv ko guest room mein shift kar dena. Main office jaa raha hoon.”
The words dropped like a bomb.
Shanti froze mid motion. Ridha stared at him in disbelief. Even Rajnath’s newspaper slipped a little. Aariv, who had been sipping water nervously, lowered his glass with trembling hands, his gaze falling to the table to hide the sudden moisture in his eyes.
Ridha was the first to speak, her voice sharp. “Veer, tum pagal ho gaye ho kya? Shaadi ki hai uske saath. Tumhara life partner hai. Dusre kamre mein kyun rahega vo?”
Veer’s jaw flexed. He didn’t flinch under her fiery tone. “Nahi maanta main is shaadi ko,” he said with chilling finality. “Aur aap log bhi maan lijiye is baat ko.”
Shanti gasped. “Veer, tumhe samajh aa raha hai tum kya keh rahe ho?”
He met her eyes briefly, unshaken. “Bohot achhe se samajh aa raha hai, Maa. Aur yahi sach hai.”
The table fell into stunned silence. Aariv’s chest rose and fell unevenly, his hands clenching in his lap.
Ridha slammed her hand on the table, eyes blazing. “Veer, uski puri zindagi kharab ho jaayegi! Tujhe samajh aa raha hai? Tere saath shaadi hui hai uski. Kaun apnaayega use ab?”
For the first time, a flicker of something dangerous crossed Veer’s eyes. His lips curled in a bitter half smirk as his voice dropped to a tone laced with steel. “Aur Kiski itni himmat hai?”
The possessiveness, the jealousy in his tone startled everyone. Ridha’s anger wavered for a second, then returned. “To tu chahta kya hai, Veer? Haan?!”
Aariv couldn’t bear it anymore. He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping back.
His small voice cut through the tension, trembling but steady.
“Koi problem nahi hai. Main guest room mein reh lunga.”
Everyone turned to him.
His eyes were glistening, but his lips carried a forced calm.
“Bas mera samaan… hotel room se le aana hoga. Main le aaunga. Aur…” he paused, swallowing the lump in his throat, “main Yug ko dekh ke aata hoon.”
Without waiting for a response, Aariv turned and walked away, his back stiff, his pace quick like a boy running from a battlefield with invisible wounds.
Veer’s eyes followed him, dark and unreadable. His jaw worked, fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t stop him.
A heavy silence filled the dining hall once Aariv disappeared. Veer’s face gave nothing away. Without a word, he turned and strode out, his presence leaving the room colder than before. The sound of the front door shutting echoed like a final command.
Shanti collapsed onto her chair, covering her mouth in shock. Her heart ached for the boy who had been dragged into their world like this.
Rajnath quietly folded his newspaper, his sharp eyes thoughtful, but he didn’t speak. Rudra leaned back, his expression unreadable, though his gaze had lingered long on the door Aariv had taken.
Ridha, however, was seething. Her fists were balled tight, her face red with fury. She stood suddenly, her chair toppling behind her. “Fucking idiot,” she spat, her voice shaking with rage.
Without another word, she stormed upstairs, leaving the others stunned in her wake.
The dining hall fell into heavy silence again, each family member lost in thought, the echo of Veer’s harsh words still poisoning the air.
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