Dil Ke Karib (Early Acess Ch 9)

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The ladle moved in slow, steady circles.
White ribbons of milk swirled in the bronze pot, hissing softly along the rim. Nandini stood over the stove, her hand trembling faintly as she stirred. The air in the kitchen was thick with heat — not just from the fire, but from everything unsaid, unwelcome, and unresolved.

She watched the milk rise — a pale froth gathering along the rim. It threatened to boil over, to spill, to make a mess she couldn’t clean.

She didn’t let it.

She lifted the pot slightly off the flame with her free hand, calming it. Then returned it. Stirred again.

Milk obeyed heat and time. Memory did not.

Muted laughter drifted in from outside. Male voices — one too familiar, even now.

She gripped the ladle tighter, knuckles paling. The scar. That laugh. Her fingers remembered before her mind allowed it — the press of skin, the ice of fear, the night she learned silence was cheaper than survival.

A door creaked behind her.

She didn’t turn.

The rustle of a cotton sari entered her awareness. Slow, deliberate. Maaji.

“Too much sugar,” Maaji said behind her. The words weren’t unkind, but they didn’t offer shelter either.

Nandini blinked down at the pot. She hadn’t added sugar yet.

“I haven’t—” she began.

Maaji stepped closer. “Your hand is shaking. Can’t even do a simple task.”

Nandini looked up, feeling the weight of her disapproval.
Her right hand, the one holding the ladle, was in fact trembling. Just slightly. Enough to betray her.

She set the ladle down, ashamed. “I’ll make another batch.”

"And waste this one..." Maaji's voice trailed off, the unspoken consequences louder than her words.

Nandini swallowed hard. “I’ll add milk. A little mawa. It’ll even things out.”

Maaji said nothing. She stood there a moment longer — not judging, not helping, simply watching.

“Good thing you know how to fix things,” she said at last, her voice softer but unreadable. “Remember, whether it’s food or family — it’s all about finding the right balance.”

Nandini nodded, grateful for the small chance at redemption.

“Even when things seem irreparable,” Maaji added, patting her shoulder, “there’s always a way to make amends.” And then she walked away.

The words lingered longer than they should have.
Maybe that’s where Rajeev got his patience. From her.

Nandini stirred the kheer as Maaji’s words echoed. Fixing things, even when they seem impossible.
Maybe she would tell Rajeev. About his cousin — the one who betrayed her.
But would he believe her over his own blood?

Only time would tell.

She sighed and began slicing almonds. Slowly. Each cut a breath held and let go.

The rhythm grounded her.

Until it didn’t.

A memory snuck in sideways — a door clicking shut, footsteps behind her, her voice caught in her throat. His breath warm at her neck. Her hand frozen at her side.

Back then, her body hadn’t belonged to her at all.

She blinked hard. Looked down.

A slice of almond had curled into the milk like a feather. Fragile. Suspended.

A scream sat behind her teeth.

She stirred instead.

Later, Rajeev found her in the hallway, hands folded neatly, face composed beneath her veil.

“You didn’t eat lunch,” he said quietly.

She didn’t look up. “I wasn’t hungry.”

He nodded, hesitating. “You didn’t touch the mangoes either.”

Her breath caught. He noticed that?

“They were tangy,” he added, almost defensively. “From our tree.”

She looked at him then, properly — saw the worry in his face, the patience he wore like armor.
He was gentle. And somehow, her silence felt like betrayal.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

That was all.

It wasn’t enough.

That night, when the sky burned copper and lanterns swayed in the warm breeze, Babuji called her to the courtyard.

“There’s a bundle by the neem,” he said, wiping his brow with the edge of his gamcha. "Can you bring it?" She nodded, grateful for the distraction.

She wrapped her pallu tighter and stepped outside. The wind stirred the dust in soft swirls.

The bundle wasn’t there.

But he was.

Leaning casually against the neem tree, arms folded, smile thin and sharp.

“Oh, Bahbi,” he said, staring at her through the veil of her pallu. “So how is life with Rajeev?”

Nandini froze. Her palms dampened instantly. She said nothing.

“I’m your Devar,” he said, almost amused. “You don’t need to hide from me.”

He stepped forward.

She didn’t move.

Had he always been this sinister? How had she been so blind to the darkness in his eyes?

“Strange,” he murmured, glancing toward the house. “You feel familiar. Did we ever meet?”

Her heart raced. Her hand clenched on her pallu.

The world narrowed to the space between them — her body alert, her soul recoiling.

“So I heard about your scandal with Rajeev. I must say, your boldness is admirable.”

Her chest tightened. Her throat constricted.

She stared at him, disbelief cracking across her face like shattered glass.

She wanted to run. To slap him for his audacity, for his betrayal, for the way he ruined her life — with his fake love, his broken promises.

But her body froze. Her mind spiraled.

Then — a hand on her shoulder. Firm. Steady.

She didn’t need to look.

“What are you doing here?”

Relief bloomed in her chest. Rajeev. His presence was light in her dark.

“Rajeev, I was just talking to Bahbi,” the cousin said, his voice slick with mock innocence.

Rajeev’s eyes darkened. His jaw clenched. He took a step forward.

“You talk to her when I’m there,” he said. Calm. Too calm. “I don’t want my wife’s name dragged through the mud by someone like you.”

He took Nandini’s hand and turned away.

Relief came.

But so did guilt.

*****

Author’s Note 💫:

Wow, we’re really starting to dive deep into Nandini’s story now, aren’t we? 😮 I can feel the tension building between her and the people around her! How are YOU feeling about her journey so far? What do you think of Rajeev and his family—are they really who they seem? 🤔

Things are about to get REAL in the upcoming chapters (trust me), and Nandini is going to have to face some serious challenges. 😬 How would you react if you were in her shoes? Would you stay silent, or would you fight back? 💪

👉 Can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Don’t forget to drop a comment below. Tell me what you really think about what’s happening, and don’t hold back! Do you see a way out for Nandini, or is she stuck in a web of lies?

If you’re enjoying the drama (because we all know it’s only just beginning), hit that vote button, share with your friends, and stay tuned for the next chapter! 🔥 Your support means the world to me—thank you so much for being here. 💖

Until next time, let’s keep unraveling this story together. 👀 What do you think is going to happen next? The secrets are just getting started... 😉

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

Shaar Shree