Dil Ke Karib (Early Acess Ch 8)

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Rajeev didn’t answer, but he didn’t look away.

And somehow, that was enough.

Nandini stayed under the banyan tree long after he had left. The plate of mangoes rested beside her, its quiet gesture heavier than any confrontation. She hadn’t touched the mangoes. She wasn’t ready. She wasn't deserving.

She stared at it, unmoving, as the light faded and the shadows crept longer across the courtyard.

Rajeev didn’t come home that night. Nor the next day.

He went to town with his brother to buy seeds for the upcoming planting season.

The cot next to hers remained untouched, his blanket folded neatly, his scent slowly fading into the fabric of absence. The silence left in his place was different from the one they shared the day before — this one echoed. It tapped at the corners of her chest, like fingers drumming on a door she wasn’t ready to open.

In the kitchen, Maaji moved with mechanical precision. She didn’t talk to her. She didn’t offer Nandini help or comfort. There was no anger in her silence, only a watchfulness that stung more than words could.

Nandini washed the rice alone. She fed the cow. She swept the front step twice, just to fill the time. There was help around the house, but Nandini couldn't bring herself to ask for assistance. She felt the weight of Maaji's gaze on her back, a silent reminder of the rift between them that seemed impossible to bridge. The tension in the air was palpable, suffocating any chance of reconciliation.

By mid-afternoon, the sun pressed down hard. The air in the house grew thick and slow. Nandini stepped out into the courtyard, veil drawn low, seeking breath — space — something that felt like her own.

That’s when she heard the voice.

Low. Male. Familiar in a way that sent every muscle in her body locking into place.

She turned instinctively toward the sound, her eyes narrowing beneath the edge of her veil.

There, just beyond the courtyard wall, by the old neem tree near the gate — stood a man.

He laughed — soft, familiar, unforgivable — as he spoke to her father-in-law, who leaned on his cane, nodding with a faint smile. It was a rare sight. Warmth in Babuji’s expression was not easily won.

The man’s profile shifted as he turned slightly, and in that moment, her breath caught.

She knew.

Not by name. Not by words.

But by the way he tilted his head when he spoke.

By the curve of his mouth.

By the old, unhealed scar near his cheek — the one she used to trace with her fingers like a secret.

Him.

Her vision swam. Her heart pounded so hard it drowned out the rest of the world.

He was here.

Talking to her father-in-law.

Standing inside the very walls that should have been safe.

Nandini shrank back, the edge of her pallu pulled tighter across her face, fingers trembling beneath the fabric. She dared not speak. She dared not move.

How dare he stand there so easily?

Did Babuji not know who he was? Did anyone?

A faint wind rustled the leaves. Somewhere nearby, a crow cried.

And then came the crunch of footsteps on gravel.

She turned.

Rajeev.

Dust on his kurta. Tiredness in his shoulders. But it was his eyes that held her still — sharp, scanning, confused.

He slowed when he saw the man.

His father turned cheerfully. “Ah! Rajeev. Look who came to visit. Your cousin!”

Nandini’s stomach dropped.

The world tilted, losing all sound.

Cousin.

The word hit like a stone between her ribs.

She stepped back — her heel scraping stone, breath catching mid-thought.

That scar. That laugh.
No name rose in her throat — only the memory of breath stolen in a locked room.

Rajeev blinked. His brows drew together, subtle tension pulling at the corner of his jaw. “You’re always dropping by without notice, aren’t you?” he said flatly.

“He was on his way to town. Dropped by,” his father replied, waving it off. “Staying the night.”

The cousin turned then, catching Nandini in his gaze.

But her face is hidden in the veil.

Something cold slid down her spine. His eyes stared as if they could see right through the fabric, making her feel exposed and vulnerable.

She couldn’t breathe.

Rajeev followed his cousin’s gaze, his own landing on Nandini.

She had not moved.

“Is everything alright?” he asked, taking a step toward her.

She didn’t respond.

He looked back at the man. His cousin. "She is my wife, your bhabhi." Rajeev announced proudly, making her turn to face him, her heart pounding in her chest.

“You’re married? When?” The words made Nandini clench inside, her pulse stumbling as panic surged.

Why now? Why, when I had just learned to breathe again? She thought to herself, trying to compose her thoughts, wanting to run.

"Long story..." her father-in-law interrupted. Nandini felt a sense of relief at the interruption, grateful for the distraction.

She glanced at Rajeev, wondering how she would ever tell him that his cousin is the one who ruined the woman he's trying to protect so hard. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to face the truth and the consequences that would follow.

"Bahu… Tell your Saas that her nephew came to visit me last night," her father-in-law said with a mischievous smile. "And prepare some Kheer this little nawab likes," he added with a chuckle.

Nandini didn’t answer. She turned slowly, walked to the stove, and placed a pot on it. Her hands trembled as she measured the milk. She would have to confront him. Sooner or later. Even if it shattered everything. This man had not only betrayed her trust but was now a threat to peace and harmony that she was trying to maintain in her new household. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the confrontation that was inevitable.

As she walked inside, the walls felt thinner. The house smaller.
The truth pressed against her chest like a secret wrapped in barbed wire.

She would have to tell him.

But not yet.

****

Author’s Note 💫

What an emotional rollercoaster, right? 😲 The familiar face that reappears—was it what you anticipated? Or did it leave you shocked and questioning everything? Let’s talk!

I’m so grateful to have you along for this journey through Nandini’s world. This chapter marks a huge turning point, doesn’t it? From the heavy silence in the house to the unsettling revelation about Rajeev’s cousin, things are definitely about to get more complicated. But what does that mean for Nandini? 🤔 Will she find the strength to confront the past, or will the truth remain locked away? Let me know your thoughts—what emotions are you feeling right now? And what do you think is coming next? 🙈💔

I can’t wait to hear from you, and as always, thank you so much for your support and love! Every comment, every share, means the world to me. Let's continue unraveling this story together.

Until next time, and thank you again for being part of this journey! 💖✨

Shaar Shree