Chapter 27
Meera
“I don’t know, beta,” Dad says, releasing a heavy sigh that makes his shoulders sag.
I take a moment to study him as I sit beside him on the bed. There’s no anger in his expression, nor is he upset. Just an overwhelming concern that tells me he’s already imagined every possible way this could turn out badly, one that would end with me getting hurt.
I let out a sigh of my own. I knew he wouldn’t be thrilled about my choosing Dev, but this is something I need to face head-on instead of leaving it to time.
I need Dad to see Dev the way I do, because they both hold irreplaceable places in my heart, and I refuse to live my life caught between the two men who shape my world.
That’s why I woke up before Dev and came straight to Dad’s room, hoping I could make it right.
Yesterday, things went fine, at least on the surface. But there was an invisible awkwardness when we all sat together for lunch and dinner. Every exchange felt forced, just to maintain civility, and that isn’t something I want to live with forever.
“Dad, I know this isn’t easy for you—” I begin, gathering every ounce of courage, but he cuts me off.
“You’re right, it’s not easy for me.”
I swallow. “I know you’re not happy with my decision.
But Dev matters to me, and you matter just as much.
I can’t spend the rest of my life being pulled between the two men I love the most. I don’t want to choose one at the cost of losing the other.
I just…” I trail off, then gather myself.
“I need you to try, Dad. To give him a fair chance. Not for him, but for me.” I meet his eyes, pleading.
“Because I can’t be truly happy if you and Dev stay on opposite sides of my life. ”
Dad sinks back against the headboard. “That man’s life isn’t clean,” he says, his voice heavy, and I catch my bottom lip between my teeth.
“He carries burdens, beta, the kind that can pull you under. And as a father, I can’t turn a blind eye to that.
The last thing I want is to see you crumble because of it. ”
My heart won’t let me walk away from Dev, not even after knowing exactly who he is.
“Dad, I know Dev’s life isn’t simple. I know he carries things most people would run from.
I am not blind to the risks, nor am I na?ve.
” My voice shakes for a moment, but I don’t back down.
“But none of it changes the way he loves me. I’ve seen him care for me in ways that matter more than anything else.
” I reach for his hand and hold it in mine.
“And I can’t live my life avoiding everything that scares you.
I have to choose what makes me happy. And he makes me happy.
I just… I need you to try, Dad. To see him the way I do. ”
Dad’s eyes flash with a mix of fear and frustration. “Have you forgotten what he did? How he forced you into a marriage? How he hurt your mother and me?” His voice rises slightly. “You can ignore it, beta… but I can’t pretend it never happened.”
I take a deep breath. “Dad, I haven’t forgotten anything.
I know how much it hurt all of us. I also know my marriage didn’t begin the way it should have.
It started with anger, resentment, and hurt.
But Dev—” I pause. “He stood by me even when I didn’t know I needed him and was too lost to hate him.
He stayed up nights when I had headaches.
He even cooked for me… when he’s the worst cook you could imagine.
” I let out a teary laugh. “Dad… he could have broken me. But he didn’t.
The man I love—he fights for me, loves me, and does everything he can to make me smile. ”
“I want to believe you. But how do I let go of the fear that he could hurt you again?” He looks down at his hands.
“I’ve spent my entire life trying to protect you.
It’s not easy to switch that off. Not even when I see the way you look at him.
” His voice softens, breaking just a little.
“Please, understand beta. Asking me to trust a man whose entire world is the opposite of safety feels like too much.”
I feel my chest tighten, but I stay quiet, letting him speak.
He rubs a hand over his face in exhaustion. “I just can’t live in fear, watching my child take a path I dread. Standing on the sidelines, praying I won’t be the one left to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart.”
I squeeze his hand. “I know it’s hard, Dad. But if you try, truly, honestly, we can all move forward without this fear controlling us. Please.”
“You really love him enough to take on everything he comes with?”
“Yes,” I reply with hesitation. “I love him. All of him. Not just the easy parts, but everything he carries with him.” I take a shaky breath before continuing, “And in choosing him, I won’t break, Dad. If anything, it feels like I am finally doing something right. I am choosing my marriage.”
“You speak as if you’ve already made up your mind,” he says with quiet defeat.
“I have, because I know what I am fighting for.”
His throat bobs, the first real crack in his stern composure.
“I suppose, as a father, I have to respect what makes my daughter happy.” Before I can let out a shriek of happiness and thank him, he speaks again, “I am not giving my approval. But…” He hesitates, exhaling.
“I am willing to try. To see the man you see.” He pats my cheek gently.
“Just don’t make me regret trusting your heart, beta. ”
I lean my forehead against his shoulder. “I won’t, Dad,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. “I promise. I’ll make you proud, and I’ll make sure he never hurts me the way you fear.”
A clearing of the throat makes me lift my head, and I find Mom standing in the doorway, her eyes glistening. She walks slowly towards us and sits down beside me, her presence warm and steady… exactly what my trembling heart needs.
She gently cups my cheek. “I heard everything. Every word, beta.” A proud smile graces her lips. “You’ve grown so much… to understand the true meaning of love and what it means to hold a marriage together.”
A tear slips down my cheek. I blink hard and instinctively reach for the mangalsutra resting against my neck. My fingers curl around it, holding on tightly, as if anchoring myself to everything that matters.
“Mom,” I say, my voice trembling, “I know marriages aren’t perfect.
Even your marriage wasn’t perfect. But you built it.
You fought for it. You stood by each other, even when things weren’t easy.
You didn’t walk away.” I swallow, looking between both of them.
“I am married too, and this…” I lift the mangalsutra slightly from my throat, “I respect this bond,” I say softly.
“Not out of pressure… not out of fear of society… but because I chose to honour it. Because I don’t want to break something that still has so much life left in it.
I want this forever, the kind of marriage you both have.
The kind where way you fix things together when life gets hard. ”
Mom closes her eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek as she pulls me into a side hug, her forehead pressing lightly to my temple.
“You remind me of myself,” she murmurs. “When your father and I were still trying to understand each other… when we didn’t know if we’d ever fit.
But we kept trying. We kept choosing each other, even when it hurt. ”
Her words hit something deep in me, and I grip the mangalsutra tighter. “I want to do that too, Mom. I want to carry my marriage the way you carried yours. I want to give it the chance it deserves.”
Dad wraps his arms around both of us, and for a long moment, silence settles over the three of us. We cling to each other, letting the hug carry all the love, relief, and unspoken understanding between us.
We don’t know how much time passed until Mom pulls back, wiping her eyes with the edge of her dupatta.
“Beta, I need bakery bread. Can you please go and get it for me? I am planning to make cheese bread toast for my son-in-law.”
I bite my lip, smiling through my tears. “Mom… he’ll love it.”
Dad shoots her an exasperated look. “Already pampering him when I still haven’t given my hundred percent approval?”
“You can take your time with that,” Mom shrugs, wiping another tear. “But the truth is, he’s part of the family now, and you’re not going to make a fuss about it, old man.”
Dad scoffs, but there’s no real irritation there. Only reluctant tenderness.
Mom ignores him and looks at me. “Now go quickly and get the bread before he wakes up.”
I nod, my heart fluttering. I can feel it in my bones. Things are finally going to be right.
???
“Sweetheart, where are you?” Dev complains the moment I put the phone to my ear.
“Mom asked me to pick up bread from the bakery for breakfast,” I reply.
“You should have woken me. Why did you go alone?” His tone is half-scolding, half-protective, and I can already picture that over-annoyed, possessive look on his face.
“Well,” I say, tossing the bread into my basket, “Mom wanted to make it for you and surprise you. I didn’t want to ruin it by waking you. Besides,” I pause, smirking despite myself, “you looked way too drained, playing the role of the perfect son-in-law yesterday. I thought you could use the rest.”
“Will you stop being smart for once?” he growls, though I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Nope. I love getting a rise out of you,” I reply, already heading towards the checkout.
“I bet you do,” he agrees, then adds, “So are you coming soon, or do you want me to come get you?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” I smile as I place the order on the conveyor belt.
“If you’re not here in five minutes, I’ll come get you.”
“I’ll be there,” I say, rolling my eyes as I swipe my card.
“See you, sweetheart.”
I smile at the cashier, gather my bags, and head towards the exit.
“Love you,” I murmur, hanging up and slipping my phone into my purse.
I shift the shopping bag, open my car door, and toss it inside.
The second I shut the door, everything happens all at once.
A sudden force yanks me backwards. A hand clamps over my mouth, smothering my scream before it can escape.
I kick and thrash, panic rising through me as I try to break free, but I am overpowered and dragged into a waiting jeep.
I am immediately shoved inside, and the door slams shut behind me.
My knees and face slam hard against the seat, trapping me inside.
I am about to push myself up, but a hand pins me down, and a cold blade presses against my throat.
Panic explodes in my chest, my heart hammering wildly.
“Finally got you, bitch,” a strange, husky voice breathes against my ear.
My eyes sting, and numbness seeps into every part of me, draining the strength from my body and stealing my will to fight.
The hand over my mouth lifts, but before I can even gasp for air, rough hands wrench my arms behind my back.
A second later, the rope bites into my wrists as they’re bound tightly, cutting off any chance of escape.
Hot tears spill down my cheeks before I can stop them. Then a sudden, brutal blow crashes into the side of my head. The world around me tilts, and suddenly, everything goes black.