Dil Ke Karib (Early Acess Ch 21)

🎉 How was last Chapter did it make heart pump or stop.

🛎️ New to Nandini and Rajeev’s world? No worries! Catch up on Dil ke Karib (Chapters 1–20) on my website before diving in. Her story is just getting started… 💔✨

🔥 Don’t miss:
Married to My Brother-in-Law, In Love with His Brother — dropping Mon–Fri at 9 PM
Dil ke Karib — continuing Mon–Fri at 9 AM

✨ Two stories. Two time slots. One unforgettable journey.

Now, let’s dive back into the latest chapter… 👇

******

The moon dipped lower in the sky, casting long silver streaks through the sheer curtains of the bedroom window. Nandini hadn’t moved from her perch by the sill, her knees drawn to her chest, her eyes dry but heavy.

Rajeev stirred.

He hadn’t slept either.

He had heard something. Or maybe he’d felt it — a shift in the air, a crack in the rhythm of their tentative peace. He rose without a sound, padding across the floor in the soft cotton kurta he always wore at night.

When he reached her, he didn’t speak. He just sat beside her, his shoulder brushing hers.

They stayed like that for a long time.

Then, softly, almost without breath, he asked, “Why are you awake so late?”

Nandini’s heart lurched. A pause too long. A silence too loud.
How could she tell him the fear Vikrant had stirred still hadn’t left her?

She took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain her restlessness without causing alarm.

She could have lied. But the quiet between them had grown sacred.

“I can't sleep,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “There's something on my mind that I can't shake.”

Rajeev turned, concern sharpening the softness in his eyes. “Tell me?”

She hesitated.

She looked at the man she trusted most. Maybe it was time to share her truth.

“Do you hate me?” she asked, eyes lowered.

Hate. Rajeev flinched as if struck.

“What?” His voice was low, wounded. “Why would you think that?”

Nandini drew in a sharp breath. “Because I was forced into your life. I—” she hesitated. “Sometimes I feel like a burden you never wanted.”

Rajeev looked at her — really looked — then reached out, his hand hovering before gently brushing hers.

“You’re not a burden,” he said. “You’re the choice I made. Not the panchayat. Me.”

She blinked, tears catching the moonlight. “Then why did you always stay so silent?”

He chuckled softly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Because I thought silence would protect you. But maybe it only made things worse.”

She turned fully to him. “I want to know you. Not just the man they gave me — but the boy who used to make the whole village laugh. Where did he go?”

His expression softened. “Maybe he’s been waiting… for a reason to come back.”

He bit his lip, rubbing the back of his neck. “So you know me better than I thought,” he said with a small smile. “I’ve been so caught up in trying to be the responsible husband that I thought silence was the only way to protect you. But I promise to open up more and share my thoughts and feelings from now on.”

He reached for her hand, then hesitated — sensing she might need time to breathe. "Like now. But I hope you’ll also share yours with me. Let’s work on building something stronger. Together.”

Nandini looked at the moonlight shimmering across Rajeev’s face. A quiet peace settled inside her. She felt a wave of relief wash over her.

“Then why do I still feel impure?” she whispered. “Like I’m something to be ashamed of, even when you say I’m not.”

“No one but you knows what happened with me in the past. You stayed silent to protect my dignity — even when they blamed you. But silence still speaks, Rajeev. I felt it.”

Rajeev met her gaze. “Your past never defined you, Nandini. I didn’t fall for your history — I stayed for who you are now. Your heart is what mattered to me. The body may carry scars, but it’s the heart that defines a person.”

She swallowed. “And how do you see me…?”

He took her hand gently. Leaned closer.

“You’re the woman who stood for me when no one else did. Who held her head high when they tried to crush her spirit. That’s the woman I chose.”

He paused, brushing a tear from her cheek.

“You’re not your past, Nandini. You’re the love you give. The strength you show.”

She didn’t hold back. Her arms wrapped around him, tight and trembling, pulling him into an embrace heavy with grief, with healing — with the kind of love that’s earned, never owed.

"Ji….there is something else I need to tell you," she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with emotion.

Rajeev just held her close and whispered back, “Tell me, then. I’m here for you — always.” Nandini took a deep breath and finally revealed the secret she had been carrying for so long, knowing that Rajeev would be there to support her no matter what.

But then the scent of basil and sandalwood wafted from Rajeev, calming her nerves. "Not today," she thought, feeling a sense of peace wash over her as she leaned into his embrace. Today, she would simply bask in the love and comfort he offered, knowing that tomorrow would bring its own challenges to face together.

"Tomorrow then…" Rajeev patted her back gently, understanding her unspoken words. Together, they sat in silence — no words needed, only the quiet promise of facing whatever came next.

******

📚 Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

So… how did this chapter sit with your heart?

We all carry insecurities — some loud, some hidden beneath years of silence. Tonight, beneath a moon-drenched sky and behind soft curtains, Nandini finally gave voice to hers. 🌙

It wasn’t easy. It never is.

That quiet fear of not being enough… of being “too much”… of being broken in a world that demands wholeness — maybe you’ve felt it too.

But Nandini’s truth — raw, whispering, brave — reminds us of something beautiful:
✨ Healing begins the moment we stop pretending we’re okay.
And Rajeev? He didn’t try to fix her. He listened. With his heart. With presence. With love.

💭 Let’s reflect together:

• What stirred in you as you read this chapter?

• Do you see yourself in Nandini, or perhaps in Rajeev’s quiet strength?

• Are you enjoying their journey… or would you love to see it twist, deepen, or surprise you?

This story is yours as much as mine. Let’s build it together — raw, real, and resonant.

💌 If this chapter touched something inside you:

✅ Tap that ❤️ to let me know you’re here.
📝 Share your thoughts — even a single line can ripple deeply.
🔁 Send this to someone who needs the reminder: “You’re not your past.”

Thank you for walking beside these characters — for feeling with them, and for honoring the quiet battles we all fight.

Tomorrow holds more. A deeper truth. A softer light.
Until then… rest easy, and know you’re seen.

With love and storylight,
Shaar Shree ✨🌸