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✨ Two stories. One unforgettable journey.

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

******

Chapter 37 Who is Sobha?

The door creaked open.
Rajeev’s grip on Nandini's hand tightened, his pulse drumming.
This was it. The confrontation they both dreaded.

Standing in the doorway was their mother.

"Ma?" Rajeev whispered, stunned.

Her face was tight, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line. Behind her, in the dim corridor, stood Vikrant—arms crossed, wearing a cold, smug smile.

Nandini’s breath caught as their mother’s sharp gaze swept over her, pausing at her belly, her bandaged hand, and her drawn face.

"What am I hearing, Rajeev?" she asked, her voice tight. "I came here hoping what Vikrant told me was nonsense. But..."
She glanced at Nandini’s belly.
"He says... this child isn’t yours."

"Not again. Maa," Rajeev stammered, trying to find the right words to explain the situation. The air in the room grew heavy with unspoken tension as their mother waited for an answer, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and disappointment.

"Not me, but Vikrant." Their mother spoke with a tone of accusation, causing Nandini's heart to race with fear. Rajeev's eyes widened in shock as he realized the magnitude of the situation they were now facing.

“Maa, I told you before, and I’ll say it again. Nandini carries my child. And I trust her—completely.” Rajeev finally managed to say, his voice filled with conviction. Nandini felt a wave of relief wash over her as she saw the understanding dawn in their mother's eyes, softening the hard lines of her face. "And who is Vikrant to judge my wife, whose face he hasn't even seen yet?" Rajeev added, defending Nandini with unwavering support. Their mother's expression softened even more, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes as she realized the unfairness of her accusations.

"And Vikrant, don't you think you have overstayed in our house long enough?" Raghav, Rajeev's older brother, interjected with a hint of annoyance. "Massi must be missing you back home." Rajeev shot Raghav a warning look before turning back to his mother, hoping she would see reason.

Vikrant's jaw clenched as he struggled to contain his frustration. "Well, it's so lovely in here that I forgot about the time," he said through gritted teeth. "But a few more days won't hurt, right?" Vikrant added with a forced smile, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere in the room.

Raghav smiled, patting Vikrant on the back. "Of course a few more days won't hurt, but I got a letter from Massi this morning; they are arranging your marriage next month. So, she wants you to go back home as soon as possible to discuss the details." Vikrant's forced smile faltered, his mind racing with thoughts of marriage and leaving his peaceful retreat.

"Marriage? But Bhai, now…”

"Yeah, I went with your father to see the girl from two villages over. She is a nice girl; you will like her," Raghav continued, trying to reassure Vikrant about the upcoming marriage. Vikrant nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement at the thought of meeting his potential future bride.

"Wait, I remember her name was Sobha, the daughter of Munshi from the neighboring village," Raghav added, trying to jog Vikrant's memory about the girl he was supposed to marry. And the name made something click in his mind, and his legs shook with a sudden realization. His forced smile cracked. The name Sobha hit him like a stone. A bead of sweat trickled at his temple as he tried to hold his composure.

"Bhai, are you sure it's Munshi Ji's daughter, Sobha?" Vikrant asked, feeling a sense of unease creeping in. Raghav nodded confidently, "Yes, it's her. You'll see when you meet her at the wedding."

And just as Vikrant walked out of the room, leaving all four alone, Rajeev looked at his brother. He knows this marriage is not something Vikrant is looking forward to. He could see the uncertainty in Vikrant's eyes as he left the room, knowing that this wedding might not be as simple as it seemed. And maybe Raghav planned it all.

Their mother sighed, her fingers brushing Rajeev’s shoulder.
“I will believe you, my son. But beware—even a trusted heart can be fooled when poison is whispered long enough.”
She turned one last time to Nandini, her eyes lingering. The doubts hadn’t fully vanished.

*******

💥 Author’s Note 💔✨

Well. That escalated quickly, didn’t it? 😳

I don’t know about you guys, but I was literally holding my breath when Maa walked in. That gaze? That silence? That pause at Nandini’s belly? My poor nerves. 😩

And then Rajeev… MY MAN. 🥹 The way he stood tall, defended Nandini without hesitation, full of conviction. 🩷 This is exactly the kind of man you want standing beside you in a storm, right? 😭

But let’s not ignore the snake 🐍 in the room—Vikrant. His smirks, his games… And now Raghav has thrown him a little surprise of his own. 😏💍

Oh, Vikrant, you didn’t see that one coming, did you? 👀

But let’s not get too comfortable… because of Maa’s words at the end?

"Even a trusted heart can be fooled when poison is whispered long enough."
Yep. That gave me chills too. 😬

🚨 Now tell me, my darlings:
👉 Will Vikrant back off?
👉 Will Rajeev's Maa truly accept Nandini?
👉 Or is more poison yet to be poured? 😨

👉 And who is Sobha, and what did Raghav plan exactly?

Drop your theories below! 💬🔥
Your comments literally fuel me! ❤️

And trust me, you won’t believe what’s coming next. 👀🔥

📸 And don’t forget to follow me on IG @authorshaarshree for exclusive sneak peeks, spoilers, and behind-the-scenes chaos! 🎉✨

#TeamRajeev #ProtectNandini #FamilyDramaUnfolds #VikrantPlottingAgain #StayTuned #DilKeKarib

With tenderness, hope, and fire,
Dil Ke Karib — by Shaar Shree ✨