Dil ki Bandagi (Early Acess Ch 37)

💌 Want to read Chapter 38 early? Subscribe now and get exclusive early access! New chapters drop Saturday at 9pm.
Now, let’s dive into the story!

*****

Chapter 37: Why He Married Her

The new home lay silent, shadows gathering like restless ghosts in the corners. The oil lamp’s flickering flame cast trembling light across the rough wooden cot where Raghav lay, the floor beneath him creaking with every small shift—an unfamiliar sound that echoed too loudly in the still night.

How had it come to this? How had he—Raghav—agreed to marry Aarti? The question gnawed at him, twisting tighter with every passing moment.

He closed his eyes, memories flooding in like a tide.

It wasn’t just duty. Not just his own tangled fears and doubts.

It was more complicated. Darker.

If he hadn’t said yes, Aarti would have been married off to a man whose reputation curled in whispered warnings throughout the city. Wealth cloaked his cruelty, his temper masked by a polished smile—yet the scars he left told a darker story. Older than Raghav, with stories whispered in corners.

Raghav had heard the rumors—bruises masked by fine fabrics, nights filled with silent tears no one dared acknowledge.

Aarti—his Aarti—had no idea.

He stared at her sleeping face, her peaceful expression masking the turmoil that could have awaited her if he hadn't made that decision.

The truth was buried deeper still.

Her brother.
The diagnosis had come quietly, like a storm building far away—some strange illness with no name, no cure.
It drained their family’s hope along with their resources.

Her parents, desperate and frightened, had looked at their only daughter as a way out.

If they could marry her into a rich family—escape the burden of dowry for her, maybe even secure a reverse dowry for their younger daughter—they would grasp at the chance.

Raghav’s heart twisted.

Not because of Aarti. Never because of her.

But because of the world that forced her into choices she hadn’t made. Her parents saw her only as a way out—a bargaining chip in their desperate gamble against poverty. And Aarti? Innocent, unaware. She carried no weight of these silent sacrifices.

His fingers clenched the thin blanket. As he watched Aarti's hair cascading down her back, he made a silent vow to protect her from the harsh realities of the world, to shield her from the burden of expectations placed upon her by others.

He’d tried—imperfectly—to protect her. But when her parents pressed harder, relentless in their plans, he had no choice but to step forward. Offering himself as a suitor was never about desire; it was a desperate attempt to rewrite her fate, to give her a future he hoped would be kinder than the one her family had arranged.

He’d never wanted to marry, never wanted to weigh her down with his own feelings. But if he hadn’t stepped in, she might have been trapped in a life she never chose.

Aarti deserved more than shadows. More than silence.

He vowed, in that quiet darkness, that he would not let her suffer alone.

Not while he still had breath.

But first, he had to face his own ghosts—before they tore them both apart.

"Ji… are you still awake?” Aarti’s soft voice drifted through the dark, gentle as a breath.

He reached out instinctively, brushing her hair back from her face. The promise he’d made to protect her settled heavily on his shoulders. “I can’t sleep,” he whispered, his voice thick with unsaid fears.

"Should I rub your head for you?" Aarti asked, her concern evident in her voice. He shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "No, I just need to sort through some things in my mind," he replied, grateful for her offer of comfort.

Ignoring his protest, Aarti guided his head to rest in her lap. Her fingers found his temples, gentle and steady, tracing soothing circles that eased the storm in his mind. The warmth of her touch softened the ache inside him, grounding him in this fragile moment of peace. He closed his eyes, letting the quiet comfort of her touch wash over him.

"You know the best thing about you, Aarti?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

She shook her head, her fingers never leaving his temples. "You being a part of my life," he said softly, a small smile playing on his lips. "I don't know what I would do without you."

The best thing I ever did was step in—was choose her. He held her like a fragile secret, and for the first time in what felt like forever, peace wrapped around him—quiet, tentative—as the shadows watched and stayed still, for once.

******

Author’s Note:

Whoa, things are getting real! 🌆 Aarti steps into the city lights—education, independence, and a whole lot of “I’ve got this.” But wait… whoa Raghav what have revealed. So this why you married her.

So what are your thoughts on Raghav thoughts about there marriage. Is he a hero, or is this just the beginning of a complicated path?
Drop your thoughts below — don’t be shy! 👇🔥

And what Aarti learns the truth that she nothing but a pawn for her parents. 💥

✨ Don’t miss Chapter 38 — drop by Monday at 9 PM!
💌 Want early access? You know the drill—subscribe and be first in line!

Drop a 🔥 if you’re rooting for Aarti’s glow-up!

— Shaar Shree