CHAPTER 27 #3
Meher rubs her stomach gently before continuing, “They are probably discussing that once they’re born, they don’t want to grow up fighting each other like this… like their father and uncle.”
Ayaan exhales heavily and looks away. Even Raghav’s jaw tightens as he avoids meeting Meher’s gaze.
“Can we please act like a normal family for at least a few hours?” Meher asks, glancing between them. “We’re leaving by evening anyway.”
Neither brother replies. Then she glares at both of them, clearly losing her patience.
“Siya and her mom are new here,” she adds. “This should not be their first impression of our family. Right now, both of you are behaving like two stubborn bulls while Paapa keeps trying to stop a war over breakfast.”
Ayaan finally drags a hand down his face.
“Fine,” he mutters. “Anything for you.”
Then he throws Raghav a hard look.
“Yeah. Even I can tolerate him for a few hours for you.”
“Tolerate?” Ayaan lets out a humourless laugh. “And here I thought I was the one suffering.”
Raghav immediately opens his mouth to retort when Meher throws her hands up in frustration.
“There we go again!” Meher shouts at both of them, this time loud enough for both brothers to finally shut up.
“Okay, relax,” Raghav responds first. “I’ll zip my mouth. Happy?”
Without waiting for an answer, he backs down and returns to his chair beside me. Even Ayaan sits back, exhaling hard as he focuses on his plate again.
I just sit there, processing all of this.
Whatever Raghav may be outside this house, inside this family…
he’s different. Still infuriating, but he cares about his family.
Now I know these brothers keep clashing not because they truly want to destroy each other, but because somewhere beneath all that rage, they are worried about one other.
This family actually loves fiercely. My gaze shifts to Meher and find her already looking at me. And then, to my surprise, she gives me a playful wink.
Suddenly, it hits me.
She did all of that on purpose. To stop the brothers from going at each other again and to make them behave for once.
A small smile tugs at my lips despite myself.
Shaking my head, I look down at my plate.
Meher Shergill definitely knows how to maintain peace in this family.
And judging by the way everyone, including the two stubborn men, instinctively listens when she puts her foot down, I have a feeling she’s been doing this for a very long time.
A few minutes later, everybody settles down again. Kailash Uncle resumes serving dosas as though nothing has happened. And slowly, the conversation begins to shift to safer topics.
“We have a huge family back in Mumbai,” Uncle tells Mom. “Meher’s father, her brothers and sisters-in-law, her cute nephew and niece, and our extended relatives. You’ve already met Trisha. Krish is her husband. You’ll meet everyone soon enough.”
One by one, he starts introducing each family member. He speaks about them with such fondness that it’s obvious how deeply connected this family is.
Mom listens attentively before asking, “Isn’t Meher’s father the Chief Minister?”
Meher instantly brightens.
“Yes, he is,” she says proudly. “Pratap Walia.”
She grins. “And these days he’s busy with the preparations for my baby shower, which is happening in two weeks. You both are coming with Raghav. No excuses.”
Mom smiles softly, while I remain quiet, listening to the easy flow of conversation around the table.
It feels strange. My entire life has only ever been Mom, Dad, and me. Samarjeet was never truly a brother, not in the way brothers are supposed to be. He was always distant, always somewhere beyond reach. But this family is different.
Bigger. Louder. Closer.
They talk about relatives, family celebrations, baby showers, friends who’re practically family, and loved ones spread across different cities who still find a way to stay connected. And now, I’m tied to all of them through Raghav.
Can I ever fit into something like this? Can I become what Meher seems to be so effortlessly… a daughter-in-law who belongs here and carries this family’s joys, worries, and responsibilities as her own? I honestly don’t know. And I’m not sure if that uncertainty scares me or intrigues me.
Raghav barely participates in the conversation. Most of his attention seems fixed on Kailash Uncle, answering only when spoken to. I lower my gaze to my plate. The dosa on it is almost finished.
Without even looking at me, Raghav reaches for the serving platter between us and slides the last fresh dosa onto my plate. The movement is so instinctive that I don’t think he even realises he has done it. His attention never leaves Kailash Uncle.
“We’ll be flying a day before the ceremony,” he says to Uncle. “For three days, maybe.”
I stare at the dosa now sitting on my plate.
Nobody else seems to notice. Or maybe they do and are pretending not to.
Honestly, my mind is already struggling to process far too many things at once.
This family. Their warmth. Their effortless way of including people into their circle and making them feel as though they belong.
And then there’s Raghav.
A man I should hate without question. Yet every now and then, he does these small, instinctive things without even thinking about them.
And even if those gestures are not grand, they are enough to charm any woman, leaving me all the more confused.
Because I don’t know what to do with them. Or with him.