The Royal Silence

57. Her Safe Place

"Daadi... can you please stop glaring at me?" I finally asked after feeling her eyes burning holes into my face for the last ten minutes.

She narrowed her eyes even more while placing paratha on my plate. "Then where is my granddaughter-in-law?"

I sighed. "Sleeping."

Daadi paused. "Still?"

"Yes, still," I answered calmly before taking a sip of coffee.

"And you came alone?" Daadi asked suspiciously as if I had committed some huge crime.

I looked at her blankly. "What was I supposed to do? Carry her downstairs wrapped in blanket?"

"That's not a bad idea," Dadu muttered while reading the newspaper, earning a glare from Daadi.

"Yugant..." Daadi looked back at me. "You didn't leave her alone after making her upset again, right?"

I blinked. So this is what she was thinking.

God.

I rubbed my forehead tiredly. "Daadi, she's asleep because she slept late and I did not wake her up because I did not want to disturb her."

Daadi's lips formed a small 'O'.

The suspicion instantly disappeared from her face, replaced by satisfaction.

Actually no-happiness.

And that made me narrow my eyes at her.

Why was she this worried about Dhwani all the time? Not that I minded... but still.

Daadi suddenly smiled to herself and looked at Dadu. "See? I told you Dhwani wrapped him around her little finger."

"Daadi..." I warned.

"What daadi?" She glared.

I exhaled, completely done.

"She was tired."

"And whose fault was that?" Dhrithika walked in, grinning as she stole toast from my plate.

I coughed instantly. "Mind your business."

"Ohh my God," she gasped dramatically, looking at Daadi. "Look at bhaiya blushing."

"I'm not blushing."

"You literally are."

I looked away while everyone started laughing.

"What happened? Why is everyone looking so happy?" Samarth asked as he pulled the chair beside me and sat down.

Beside me.

Yeah... this older version of his is still not digesting properly. Ever since last night, he's been acting strangely normal with me.

"Nothing," Dhrithika answered dramatically. "Yugant bhaiya was just telling us Dhwani is asleep and he didn't wake her up."

"Ohh," Samarth nodded knowingly before looking at Daadi. "Actually, she's not a morning person. But don't worry, she'll get used to it slowly."

Daadi sighed. "I wasn't worried about that. I was worried whether this idiot troubled her again or not." She pointed at me with a spoon.

"Daadi..." I groaned.

Samarth chuckled lightly beside me. "That concern is valid though."

I slowly turned my head towards him. "Whose side are you on exactly?"

"My sister's, obviously." He answered shamelessly while taking toast from the tray. "But since you're her husband now, unfortunately I have to tolerate you too."

"What a sacrifice," I muttered.

"It is." He nodded seriously. "You're very annoying."

Dhrithika burst out laughing while Daadu folded his newspaper down slightly. "I'm enjoying this new relationship."

"It's not a relationship," Samarth said instantly.

I leaned back on the chair. "Yeah... it's worse."

"Exactly," he muttered while focusing on his plate. "Unless some people actually want to sort things out."

"Unless some people actually know how to talk instead of punching first," I replied, taking a sip of coffee again.

He let out a dry laugh. "Some people deserve the punch first."

"And some people love acting like overprotective bodyguards twenty-four seven."

"At least I protect my people properly." He finally looked at me.

I raised my brows. "Ohh really? Then why does your sister end up injured every second day?"

"That's because she married another stubborn idiot."

"Correction," I pointed at him with a spoon. "She was already stubborn before marrying me."

Dhrithika looked between both of us excitedly. "Wow... you both are fighting so calmly today."

"We're not fighting," we both said together then looked at each other. And then looked away instantly.

Daadu shook his head. "Both of you behave like divorced husbands fighting for child custody."

"Daadu!" Dhrithika choked on juice laughing.

I rubbed my forehead while Samarth sighed dramatically. "See? This is why I don't talk here."

"You literally started it," I shot back.

"And you continued it."

"And you enjoyed it."

"And so did you."

Daadi clapped her hands once. "Enough! Can you both just go and sort things out already? Or are you planning to keep pushing each other's buttons like this forever?"

Neither of us answered.

I focused on my breakfast while Samarth suddenly found his toast very interesting.

Daadu lowered his spoon on his plate a and looked at us. "See? Same ego. Same attitude. No wonder you both kept fighting."

"It's not ego," Samarth muttered.

"Ohh yes," I scoffed. "Because punching me every second day was clearly emotional maturity."

"And you were very innocent, right?" he shot back instantly. "You literally provoked me on purpose."

"Because you reacted like a bull every time."

"At least I reacted honestly instead of bottling things up and exploding later."

That was supposed to be my line because he was the one who exploded every time after assuming things.

I looked at him properly this time. "You think you know everything?"

"No," he answered calmly now. "But I know enough to understand neither of us can keep doing this anymore. Not after Dhwani."

Daadi looked between both of us carefully before sighing. "Finally. One sensible sentence came out from your mouths."

Dhrithika leaned toward Daadu and whispered loudly, "Should we leave them alone? Feels like couple counseling."

"Dhrithi," both of us warned together.

She grinned shamelessly. "See? Even synchronization is back."

Samarth clenched his jaw, suddenly pushing his chair back as he stood up.

"Come to the garden. Right now."

He looked straight into my eyes while saying it, his tone calm... but not really calm.

Then he turned and walked outside without waiting for my answer.

The whole table went silent.

Dhrithika blinked once. "Ohh God... should we call an ambulance beforehand or after?"

"Dhrithi," Daadi warned.

"What? I'm just being prepared emotionally."

I exhaled slowly, placing my cup down.

Daadu folded his newspaper properly this time and looked at me over his glasses. "Go."

I raised my brows. "What if he punches me again?"

I couldn't risk any scar on my handsome face anymore.

"Then punch him back and finish the matter today itself," Daadu replied before taking another sip of tea.

"Wonderful parenting," I muttered under my breath while standing up.

Daadi pointed her finger at me instantly. "No fighting."

"I'll try," I answered honestly.

Because with Samarth Rathore... nothing was guaranteed.

As I walked outside, I found Samarth standing in the garden, watching two pigeons aggressively pecking at each other with like they were in the middle of some serious argument.

I walked over and stood beside him silently.

My eyes stayed on the birds when suddenly a third pigeon entered the scene and started bothering one of them.

The funny part?

The first two pigeons immediately stopped fighting each other and turned together toward the third one. Both started attacking it instead, chasing it around aggressively until the poor pigeon flapped its wings and flew away like it suddenly realized it had entered the wrong battlefield.

A smile formed on my lips and a chuckle escaped me.

Beside me, Samarth chuckled too.

We looked at each other for a second-

And suddenly an old college memory flashed through both our minds.

That was us.

Always fighting. Always arguing. Ready to punch each other over the dumbest things.

But the moment some third person tried to interfere between us?

Finished.

That person's social life would end right there.

And now?

Now we don't even need a third person to start a fight. Time really changed too many things between us.

"Did you give Dhwani the medicine last night?" Samarth asked, folding his arms over his chest while still looking ahead.

Obviously.

I can never take risks when it comes to her.

"Of course," I replied, my tone instantly serious.

He nodded once, like he expected that answer. "Did she ask anything?"

"She was half asleep. She barely understood what was happening," I answered honestly, then looked at him properly. "Now can you finally tell me what exactly those medicines are for?"

He sighed, like he was preparing himself for a battle he didn't want to fight.

"Dhwani has thyroid," he finally said. "Hyperthyroidism."

For a moment, I couldn't process the words properly.

Thyroid?

Is that why she always looked so fragile? So thin? Why she dealt with anxiety, weight loss, restlessness... all of it?

"Since when?" was the only thing I managed to ask.

"Since I found her-" he stopped abruptly.

His eyes flickered toward me for a second, like he almost revealed something he wasn't supposed to.

Then he looked away. "Since her teenage years," he corrected calmly.

"Was that medicine last night for this?" I asked, my gaze fixed somewhere ahead, on the trees... or maybe nowhere at all.

"Yes," Samarth replied. "She has a habit of forgetting her night dose, so I always make sure she takes it."

"She never told me about this..." I murmured.

It wasn't a question. And he knew that.

"Maybe she didn't trust you enough to tell you yet."

That stung more than it should have.

She married me behind a veil... fought the whole world for me... and still didn't trust me enough with something as important as her health?

"When was her last check-up?" I asked, pushing that feeling aside.

"Before she went to Florence. She was doing fine before that... but not anymore."

I hummed slowly. "I'll arrange another appointment."

I turned slightly, ready to leave. Doesn't matter if she trusts me right now or not... I can at least try to become someone she does trust.

"Yugant..." Samarth stopped me before I could walk away.

I looked back at him, raising my brows slightly. He walked towards me.

"That's just a very small part of her life you found out today," he said quietly. "And trust me... she's been through too much. If you go to her directly and start asking questions, it won't help. She might not even agree for a check-up then."

I frowned slightly. "Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Make her trust you," he answered instantly. "Make her feel safe enough that she comes to you herself. Make her feel loved... understood... trusted. In a way where she tells you about her problems, her past, her present, everything."

Past.

That word caught me again.

I understood the present. I understood the future.

But why did it feel like every time Dhwani's past came up... there was something I didn't know?

"Alright... thanks for letting me know," I said, exhaling slowly.

We stood there silently for a few seconds. Thinking he had nothing else to say, I turned to leave.

"So you came here only to talk about Dhwani? Not to sort things between us?" his voice stopped me again.

I wanted to punch this bastard right there.

I looked back at him blankly. "What exactly am I supposed to do? Listen to your breathing and fucking romanticize it?"

He chuckled suddenly. "It's not like you never did that. Remember that girl in college who was stalking you? You literally told everyone you were gay and interested in me just to get rid of her...."

Before he could continue, I lunged forward and slapped my hand over his mouth.

"Shut up!" I hissed through clenched teeth, looking around the garden like the walls themselves might expose me.

Samarth was laughing behind my hand like an idiot.

"I swear to God," I muttered, dragging him slightly closer by his collar, "if you tell this to Dhwani or literally anyone in this house, I will bury you alive in this garden itself."

He pulled my hand away, still laughing. "Relax. You were very convincing though."

"I was desperate!"

"You held my hand in front of that girl."

"Because you weren't cooperating!"

"You also called me handsome."

"I HAD TO SELL THE STORY PROPERLY!" I whisper-yelled.

Samarth bent slightly, laughing harder now. "God... your face right now."

Seeing him laugh, I couldn't control myself either, and a warm smile finally broke across my face.

"You're a fucking bastard," I muttered, shaking my head. "I hope your balls get stuck in your zipper one day and nobody comes to save you."

Samarth laughed harder, holding his stomach now. "Wow. Such deep concern for your best friend."

"Ex-best friend," I corrected instantly.

The smiles slowly faded from both our faces.

The air suddenly felt heavier again.

"So... it's finally over?" he asked quietly, like it was me who broke everything between us and not him.

"You ended it first." I replied flatly.

"Yeah..." he muttered, and for the first time, he actually sounded like he regretted it.

A few seconds passed before he spoke again. "Can we... I mean... sort things out between us? For Dhwani."

"No," I answered instantly. "You don't need to fix things for Dhwani. She's an important part of my life just like she's yours. You don't need to compromise."

"And what if I want to do this for us?" he asked, finally looking at me properly this time.

I let out a dry laugh. "For us? Didn't you make it very clear that we're nothing now?"

"Yeah... I did," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But let's just go back to how we were."

"No. Impossible." I turned my face away ready to flee but bfore I could walk away, he grabbed my arm. "It's possible, Yugant."

"You're late, Sam-"

Before I could even finish, a punch landed straight on my face.

"What the fu-" I stumbled back in shock while he grabbed my collar and pulled me close again.

"I said it's not late, which means it's NOT late," he snapped like some toxic girlfriend forcing reconciliation.

Then this psycho actually pulled out a friendship band from his pocket.

A friendship band from his pocket. At this grown age.

Before I could react, he tied it around my wrist aggressively. "There. Done. You're my best friend again and you cannot fucking deny it. Got it?"

I stared at my wrist. Then at him and then at the friendship band again.

"What are we? Twelve?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes." He nodded shamelessly. "And if needed, I'll punch you again to refresh your memory."

I looked down at the band once more. It was black. Simple. Exactly like the one we used to wear in college.

"You kept this up all these years?" I asked before stopping myself.

He instantly looked away. "Shut up."

"Oh my God," I gasped dramatically. "You missed me."

"I'll punch you again."

"You're emotional."

"I'm violent."

"You literally carried friendship band in your pocket waiting for reconciliation. That's worse."

His jaw tightened. "I hate you."

I looked at the band again before exhaling slowly.

Then without saying anything, I punched his shoulder hard and then pulled him into a hug.

His arms wrapped around me instantly. Tight.

Not that he liked hugs. He literally hated physical contact. God bless his future wife honestly.

But right now, none of that mattered.

We were hugging after years.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice slightly choking at the end. "I didn't even try to understand your situation back then."

My grip around him tightened slightly hearing that.

"And I'm sorry I let my ego ruin everything," I admitted. "I should've tried harder too."

He let out a breathy laugh."Damn... this is emotional."

"Shut up before I take my apology back."

"No, keep apologizing. Feels peaceful." He chuckled.

I pulled back just enough to look at him. "You cried, didn't you?"

"What? No." He instantly wiped under his eyes aggressively.

I stared at him blankly. "You literally just exposed yourself."

"Mind your business."

I laughed softly after what felt like forever.

And honestly? It felt good having my idiot best friend back.

"Wait... am I hallucinating or are you two actually hugging?" Dhwani's dramatic voice reached us.

We both turned instantly and found her walking toward us.

And holy hell.

Another saree.

Another dangerous blouse.

Those bangles. That exposed waist peeking every time she walked.

God really tests men unnecessarily.

"Did you guys seriously hug?" she asked again after reaching us, still looking shocked.

"Yeah," Samarth answered casually, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Yugant apologized, so I decided to forgive him."

Wow.

Look at this liar.

Dhwani moved and hugged him and of course he had no issue hugging his sister. Apparently his hatred for physical touch was reserved only for me.

"Ohh, I knew it," Dhwani beamed before walking straight to me. The next second, her arms wrapped around my torso tightly. "My husband is just a sweetie."

I looked at Samarth immediately. His face tightened at the word sweetie.

Interesting.

I was about to expose him and say he apologized first too... but honestly? Watching him get irritated was more entertaining.

So instead, I wrapped my arms around my wife and kissed her forehead softly. "I apologized because I wanted my wife happy."

Samarth clenched his fists.

"Aww, Yugant..." she melted instantly, cupping my face and pulling me down to kiss my cheek. "I'm so blessed to have you. You're so understanding and lovely."

I looked straight at Samarth and winked.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

"Dhwani... come here," Samarth suddenly muttered, grabbing her arm and pulling her to his side.

Asshole.

"What happened, bhai?" Dhwani looked between both of us suspiciously.

"Nothing happened. You're coming with me today. We're going out because I'm leaving tonight."

My smile faded slightly.

"Leaving? Where?" Dhwani asked, voicing exactly what crossed my mind too.

"I'm going back to Rajasthan. Mom and dad have already found out about your marriage and they're worried."

"Oh..." her voice instantly softened. Fragile. "But how will I stay without you?"

"Dhwani..." Samarth sighed, holding her shoulders gently. "You know I can't stay with you forever."

"But bhai-"

"No crying now. We'll spend the whole day outside, just us."

She nodded slowly before turning toward me.

"Yugant... can I go? You don't have any problem, right?"

"You don't need my permission, love."

"I know," she said softly, walking closer again, "but you matter too. Your feelings matter too. I don't want to make decisions like I'm alone anymore... not when I have you beside me now."

I smiled slightly. "You can go. Just make sure to inform Daadi."

"Of course, I will. Take care," she said softly.

I waved lightly as both of them walked away together.

And suddenly... it felt weirdly quiet.

What stayed stuck in my head wasn't Samarth leaving tonight. It was Dhwani's reaction.

Or more accurately... the lack of reaction.

She barely responded when he mentioned uncle and aunty were worried after finding out about our marriage.

No excitement. No panic. No emotional questions. Nothing.

Sometimes, I genuinely felt Samarth meant far more to her than their parents did.

Then again... maybe that made sense.

For the last ten years, both of them lived believing their parents were dead.

And I think when life abandons you long enough, the person who stays beside you becomes your real family.

I spent the whole day outside with bhai.

First, we went to the amusement park because I absolutely love that place... and he knows it better than anyone.

It had been four years since we came there together, but the moment we entered, every memory came rushing back instantly.

The rides. The chaos. Me screaming unnecessarily on every roller coaster while bhai laughed at me instead of helping. Nothing had changed.

After that, he took me shopping and bought almost everything I liked even after I kept saying no. Then we ate outside, roamed around the mall for hours, and later ended up in the gaming section, competing like two kids over stupid games.

And honestly?

For the first time in a long while, I forgot everything else.

I forgot the stress. The confusion. The fear sitting inside me. It just felt... normal.

I didn't even realize how fast the whole day passed until we finally returned to the mansion.

It was around eight in the evening when Yugant entered inside along with Ishaan.

At the same time, Bhai came downstairs carrying his bag.

"Samarth... I think you should stay here for a few more days. We're planning to throw a reception party for Dhwani and Yugant," Daadu said as he walked toward us after noticing the suitcase in bhai's hand.

My eyes instantly brightened.

Honestly... that didn't sound like a bad idea at all.

"Yeah, Daadu is right, bhaiya. You should stay," Dhrithika added immediately.

Bhai shook his head slightly. "I'm really sorry, but I can't stay anymore. I have important things to handle back there."

"So does that mean you won't come to the reception either?" Daadi asked.

"I'll definitely come," he assured softly. "Along with mom and dad. Just fix the date first."

"Ohh yes..." Daadi sighed. "Your parents must be so worried. Their daughter got married so suddenly."

Then her voice softened even more. "Poor them... they couldn't even do the kanyadaan."

My eyes lowered. They didn't know.

They didn't know I never wanted anyone else to do my kanyadaan except bhai.

And he did it.

That was enough for me. I respected uncle and aunty. I genuinely tried to call them mom and dad too... but no matter how much I tried, my heart never accepted them in that place completely.

Maybe because parents are not just people who love you.

They are the people your heart feels safe with without trying.

"Doesn't matter, Daadi," bhai spoke up instantly, covering for me before anyone noticed my silence. "I'm everything for Dhwani anyway. Her brother, her father, her mother... I did it, so nothing feels incomplete."

I felt happy hearing that. But the next second another fear hit me.

If he leaves... how will I stay here alone?

I was still lost in my thoughts when a familiar masculine cologne surrounded me.

A hand wrapped around my shoulder gently.

I turned and found Yugant standing beside me.

"You alright?" he asked softly, squeezing my arm lightly.

I nodded quickly.

I was not alright. But I didn't want him to worry.

"Alright... it's time to leave now, Samarth," Ishaan interrupted while stepping forward and taking bhai's suitcase from him.

My eyes instantly filled with tears.

Bhai noticed immediately and walked toward me. "Dhwani..."

The moment he called my name, I broke.

I threw myself into his arms. "Please don't go."

His arms wrapped around me instantly as he rubbed slow circles on my back. "Don't cry, my silly girl. You're stronger than this."

"No... I'm not," I whispered, clutching him tighter. "I'll miss you, bhai."

What I really wanted to say was I'm scared.

Scared to stay in Mumbai again. Because this time, I'm not here temporarily. This time I have to accept that this city is my home now.

And I don't know if I can keep my past buried forever while living in the same place where it once destroyed me.

"Dhwani... stop crying, baby. You're making it hard for me to leave," bhai murmured, rubbing my scalp gently.

I hiccuped, clutching his shirt tighter. "I'm so scared, bhai... please don't go."

"You don't need to be," he said softly before pulling back slightly and cupping my face.

I wiped my tears quickly with the back of my hand.

God, I hated crying. Especially in front of so many people.

But right now, I just couldn't stop.

"What if..." my throat hurt as the words got stuck, and suddenly I became aware of Yugant standing beside us.

I turned toward him slowly. "Can you... please..."

Before I could even complete, he understood. He nodded once and stepped aside quietly, giving us space. And somehow, that made me feel worse.

I didn't want him to feel pushed away like this.

"Tell me," bhai said softly after wiping another tear from my cheek. "Why are you scared?"

"What if they return?" I whispered. "What if they find out I'm here... alive... and send me to the police again? I'm so scared."

"That won't happen, Dhwani."

"But what if it does?" I asked instantly.

It wasn't logic speaking anymore. It was fear.

The same fear that had stayed buried inside me for years.

"What if everyone here finds out about my past and starts looking at me differently? What if they think I'm some criminal too?" My voice shook badly now. "You won't be here then, bhai... who will stand beside me?"

Bhai's eyes moved toward Yugant for a second. He was standing at some distance with Ishaan, but I could still feel his presence around me somehow.

Then bhai looked back at me.

"Your husband will," he answered calmly. "He'll stand beside you. He'll protect you. Just trust him."

"But what if he thinks I was wrong?"

"You know why I never stopped you from marrying Yugant?" bhai suddenly asked.

I blinked and shook my head slowly.

That question had always stayed somewhere inside me.

"Because I know him," bhai said without hesitation. "I know the kind of man he is. He's stubborn, arrogant, irritating sometimes... but when it comes to people he loves, he never leaves them alone."

I stayed silent, listening carefully.

"He'll take care of you exactly the way I wanted someone to," bhai continued softly. "And honestly? Better than me in many things. You don't need to be scared anymore when Yugant is beside you."

My eyes slowly moved toward Yugant again.

He was listening to Ishaan seriously, unaware that my eyes were fixed on him.

"You just need to do one thing now," bhai added, lifting my chin slightly. "Never lie to him. Never hide things from him because of fear. Stay truthful to him, Dhwani. Let him know the real you... and trust me, he'll never let anyone hurt you."

My chest tightened as I realized bhai was right.

Because not once had he made me feel unsafe.

I gulped all the tears down my throat as a strange feeling of safety slowly wrapped around me. Warm... steady... calming.

Turning back to bhai, I nodded and tried to smile, though it didn't fully reach my eyes. "Please take care of yourself... and call me once you reach there."

"That's my girl," he smiled softly. "Stay like this. Smiling."

He leaned down and kissed my forehead before pulling me into another hug.

I closed my eyes and simply felt him.

His warmth. His protection. His presence.

And suddenly... I realized something.

I felt the same way in Yugant's arms too.

Or maybe... a little different.

A little deeper.

With bhai, I felt protected from the world.

But with Yugant... I felt like even my broken pieces were safe.

Even though he still didn't know how shattered they really were, he held me with so much care, so much warmth, as if his soul had already accepted every damaged part of me before even hearing the story behind them.