Dil Ki Bandagi (Early Acess)

🌸 Weekend Surprise! 🌸

Since Dil Ke Karib chapters drop only Monday to Friday, I didn’t want you to go into the weekend without something extra special. So guess what?

💌 Here’s the next chapter of Raghav & Aarti’s journey—before anyone else gets it. It’s my little gift to you, my exclusive newsletter fam 🫶

👉 Read it now and feel the emotions unfold as we dive deeper into their world. This is just between us, so soak it in! 😭❤️

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👇 After reading, hit reply to share your thoughts with me—what do you think will happen next? I’m dying to know! 💭✨

Enjoy the weekend, my loves—and get ready for Monday’s big return to all the drama and heartache of Dil Ke Karib!


Enough of me let’s dive in Chapter

The air in the room was thick and oppressive, as if the night itself was alive, watching him. In the stillness, Raghav slept fitfully, caught in a nightmare that had become all too familiar. But tonight, it wasn’t just a memory. It was alive—alive and clawing its way into his soul.

Raghav gasped in his sleep, his body stiffening, his breath quickening as the scene unfolded around him, like a tragic play with no escape.

He was back in the same place—a small, dimly lit room. The walls were lined with shadows, flickering, alive with the echoes of pain. His first wife lay on the bed, pale as death, blood staining the sheets. She was still, too still, and in her arms—no, in his arms—was the tiny, fragile child that had died moments after birth.

His hands trembled uncontrollably, his fingers numb, as though the life had drained from them. His throat was tight, his breath shallow, as though the air itself had turned to lead. It felt heavier than it should have, colder, as if the weight of a thousand broken dreams was pressing down on him. His heart thundered in his chest, the pain a suffocating, crushing force that made it hard to breathe.

He had experienced the same image every night since that fateful day, the haunting memory of loss and grief etched into his soul. But today something feels different.

But then—then the scene shifted. The air grew colder, the shadows darker, and the world blurred, spinning. And suddenly, the lifeless body in his arms wasn’t his child anymore.

It was Aarti.

Her body lay limp and cold, blood soaking into the bed beneath her. Her face was pale, her eyes shut, lifeless. Her beauty, the warmth of her presence, everything he had come to cherish about her was gone—erased, just like that. His fingers trembled as he tried to shake her awake, his voice rising in desperation.

A shattered slate lay beside her, broken pieces scattered like fragments of his shattered heart. It had once been her lifeline—her symbol of strength—and now, it was a cruel reminder of his helplessness.

"Aarti… Aarti, wake up!" He screamed, his hands trembling as they pressed against her unmoving chest. His voice cracked in desperation. "Aarti, please don’t leave me… I can’t lose you." His fingers shook as he pressed against her chest, trying to feel any sign of life.

But there was nothing. No sound. No movement.

Her body was deathly still. The silence was deafening.

His heart cracked, a raw, unbearable pain seizing him, and his throat constricted as though the air had been stolen from his lungs. "No, Aarti, no!" he screamed, but his voice was a whisper lost in the crushing silence.

He shook her, his hands frantic, his breath ragged. "Please, Aarti, don't leave me... I need you." But no matter how much he begged, no matter how violently he shook her, her eyes remained closed, her body cold in his arms. Despair shattered his voice.

The room was spinning, the walls closing in. His hands grew slick with blood. Was it hers? His? He couldn’t tell. All that mattered was the agony, the horror of losing her—the same horror that had stolen everything from him before.

He could feel it, the darkness creeping closer, wrapping around him like chains. He couldn’t save her. He couldn’t save them. And the world—his world—was slipping away.

Then, just as he was about to lose himself in the void of fear, a faint sound reached him. A soft, warm breath against his cheek.

“Aarti?” he gasped, his eyes snapping open in terror.

Raghav’s eyes flew open with a strangled gasp. For a moment, his mind spun in the haze of the nightmare. The darkness of the room felt real, the chill of sweat on his skin, but then—he felt her warmth beside him. His heart hammered in his ribcage, each beat a painful reminder of the nightmare that had felt so real. The cold sweat that had soaked his body felt like an icy shroud.

For a moment, he was disoriented, his eyes darting around the room, trying to piece together what was real. But then—he felt her.

Aarti.

She was still beside him, her warm body pressed close to his, breathing softly, the rise and fall of her chest a steady, comforting rhythm. He could feel her heartbeat, strong and alive.

Raghav’s hands were cold, slick with sweat, as they scrambled to pull her against him. His heart pounded like a drum, as if the beat could drown out the terror still gnawing at his insides. His chest constricted with the weight of his emotions, his mind spinning in circles, unable to escape the nightmare.

“You’re here,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with panic, his tears spilling out, unbidden.

Aarti stirred, sensing his distress. Her eyes fluttered open, and she immediately reached for him, sensing the fear in his voice, the trembling in his body.

"Ji?" Her voice was soft, soothing, a lifeline pulling him back from the edge. "What happened?" She moved her hand and touched his face. "You're crying ." He shook his head, unable to form the words to explain, but grateful for her comforting presence.

He pulled her closer, his hands desperate as they clung to her, as if afraid to let go. “I saw you… I saw you die. I saw you in my arms, lifeless. And I couldn’t wake you up.” His voice cracked, his fear evident in every word. "I couldn’t save you, Aarti. I couldn’t—"

Aarti’s eyes widened with understanding, and her heart ached for him. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “Shh... I’m here, Ji. I’m alive. You’re safe now.”

Raghav’s voice was hoarse, breaking. "It felt too real, Aarti. I saw you—cold, lifeless. I couldn’t save you." His breath shuddered as he pulled her close, desperate for the warmth of her presence.

Aarti kissed his forehead softly, trying to soothe him, trying to take away the fear that had rooted itself so deep in his heart. "You didn’t lose me. I’m here with you. Always."

Raghav’s shaking fingers traced her face, as if memorizing the softness of her skin, as if needing to make sure she was still real. He pulled her face to his, kissing her forehead, her eyes, and each tear that fell from her cheeks.

"I can’t lose you, Aarti," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I can’t. I won’t. I won’t let you share the same fate as… as she did. I will protect you from it. I promise, Aarti." His hands trembled as he spoke, but the resolve in his voice was unmistakable.

Aarti cupped his face, her thumbs gently brushing away the tears that continued to fall. "I’m here, Ji. I’m not her. I’m not going anywhere."

But Raghav’s pain was palpable. He had lost so much, and now, he feared losing her too. The thought of bringing a child into this world—into a life like his—felt like a betrayal. He couldn’t risk it. Not when it meant losing Aarti too. No, he couldn’t bear that again. Not when she was the only light left in his darkness. He feared his touch would taint her. That his past would cling to her like a curse. That his demons, long buried, would rise to claim her too. He couldn't let that happen.

Aarti’s heart broke for him, but she also knew that fear couldn’t define their love. She gently kissed him, pulling away only to look him in the eye. "Shh…take deep breaths. We have to face our fears together. You are not alone in this."

Raghav swallowed hard, his breath shaky. He was afraid—terrified, even—but in Aarti’s arms, he also felt something else. Hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could fight through this together.

“I promise you, Aarti,” he whispered. “You won’t share her fate. You will never face that pain. I won’t let it happen. But I need you to promise me something too…”

Aarti kissed him softly, reassuring him, “I promise, Ji. We will face everything together. I won’t let you carry this burden alone.”

The nightmare is vivid, a haunting and almost real experience that throws Raghav into a panic, not only reliving the trauma of his first wife’s death but also amplifying his fear of losing Aarti. His emotional breakdown and the deep connection between the two create a powerful moment of intimacy and vulnerability. Tomorrow morning they both have to leave the village to keep the family away from village gossip and judgment, but for now, they find solace in each other's arms, knowing that they are stronger together. The love between them is a beacon of hope in the darkness of their past traumas.

The promise they make to each other—of facing their fears together—sets the stage for their future, where love will be their anchor.

What they didn’t yet realize was that they were each fighting a quiet war—one for the right to read, the other for the right to be loved. But in each other, they had found a shared strength. And perhaps, just perhaps, that would be enough. In that moment, with Aarti’s warmth wrapped around him like a promise, Raghav felt it—the tiniest spark of hope. Maybe they could weather the storms ahead. Together.

*****

💬 Author’s Note

Have you ever woken up from a dream that felt too real to shake? 😔 One that clung to your skin like a second heartbeat, refusing to be forgotten?

This chapter is that dream—for Raghav, and maybe, in some way, for you too. 🫀

Writing this was raw. Heavy. Necessary. It cracked me open. Because this isn’t just about grief or trauma—it’s about what happens after. 🌒 About the silent wars we fight long after the world has moved on. It’s about how love can be both terrifying 💔 and redemptive 💖. How sometimes, the people we hold closest are the ones who help us rewrite the stories our past keeps whispering to us. 🕊️

This chapter is a turning point. Not because the past is erased, but because Raghav chooses to keep going. 💪 With Aarti. With love. With hope—however fragile. And if you felt your heart ache, or your breath catch—good. That means you’re in it with them. That means you see them. 👁️❤️

✨ If this chapter moved you, sit with it. Share it. 📖💬 Let me know what you felt, what lingered. Because stories like this aren’t meant to be read in silence—they’re meant to be held, remembered, and passed on. 🧡

We’re just getting started.
🌩️ The storm is far from over. But so is the love. 💫 Stay with me.

—With all my heart,
Shaar Shree🖊️📚

If this chapter made you feel something, share it with your friends who need to feel the power of Raghav and Aarti’s love. The more, the merrier! ❤️ Let’s keep building this incredible community of readers who see the beauty in even the darkest moments.

Have you ever had a moment where you feared the things you love would slip through your fingers? I’d love to hear your reflections—whether it’s a memory, a moment of loss, or just a feeling. Share with me.