Married to My Brother-in-Law, In Love with His Brother (Early Acess Ch 16)

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Rajveer stood by the window, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the room. His eyes never left Meenal and Arun in the garden, their figures small but sharp in his mind’s eye. They moved together with a fragile tenderness, a warmth that once belonged to him too—but now felt achingly distant.

Rajveer’s throat tightened as he watched them, a cold heaviness settling in his chest. Watching his son cling to Meenal’s embrace, Rajveer realized the harsh truth he had been avoiding: his family was fracturing, and he was partly responsible for the silence growing between them.

He recalled the fight—words thrown like stones, anger breaking free with a force he hadn’t intended. He’d shouted, yes. He’d been hard on Meenal again. But what hurt most was the cold that settled afterward, the way his son looked at him like a stranger—as if Rajveer were no longer the man he once admired.

A strange mixture of shame and sorrow swelled within him. How had he let things come to this? How had he become the storm in the house, the source of unrest rather than shelter?

The truth was, Rajveer had been hiding too—not from his family, but from himself. Behind his stern silence was a man trapped—held fast by pride and fear, unwilling to reveal the fractures beneath. And in trying to shield himself, he had pushed away the ones who needed him most.

He glanced at the cracked photo of Megha with her face now blurred, her only presence in his life now like this blurred picture. The guilt coiled tighter, a silent serpent he could neither ignore nor shake.

Rajveer knew he couldn’t change the past with empty words or regrets, but maybe—just maybe—there was still time to rebuild what was broken. To reach out, to apologize, to let his family see the man behind the silence.

For the first time in a long while, he made a silent vow: to be better—not just for Meenal and Arun, but for himself. To find the courage to face his pain, and in doing so, heal the wounds that bound them all in sorrow.

The sun dipped lower, and Rajveer’s fingers curled into a fist. Quietly, he turned away from the window and took a deep breath. Tomorrow, he would find the words. Tomorrow, he would try to mend the fissures that had long split his family.

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the quiet haveli. Meenal stood near the doorway, watching Arun hesitate just a few steps away from the closed door of Rajveer’s room.

Her heart pounded gently in her chest. She had encouraged her son with a careful mixture of hope and reassurance, knowing this small moment could begin to mend the invisible rift between father and son.

“Beta,” Meenal whispered softly, kneeling to Arun’s level. “It’s okay to say sorry. Baba will listen.”

Arun’s small hand tightened around the edge of his kurta, his lips pressed into a determined line. “But what if Baba’s still angry?”

Meenal smiled gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “Sometimes grown-ups are angry, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love us. And sometimes, love means being brave enough to take the first step.”

Arun nodded slowly, gathering his courage. “Okay,” he said quietly.

With tentative footsteps, Arun approached the door, stopping just short of it. He lifted his small hand, took a deep breath, and knocked once—softly.

Inside, Rajveer’s breath hitched. The knock was gentle but unmistakable. For a moment, silence stretched between them.

“Come in,” Rajveer’s voice came, rough but steady.

Arun pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside with wide, earnest eyes. “Baba… I’m sorry.”

Rajveer’s chest tightened. The rawness in the boy’s voice pulled at something deep within him. He stood and knelt down to Arun’s height, searching his son’s face.

Rajveer’s voice was low, rough around the edges. “I know you don’t hate him,” he said, though his own heart ached with the thought. “I never meant to cause pain… to you or to your Maa.” Rajveer brushed a tear from Arun’s cheek, the weight of his mistakes pressing down on him.

Arun’s face brightened a fraction, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Rajveer’s neck. “I’m sorry."

Meenal watched from the doorway, tears shimmering in her eyes. The silence between them was still there—but now, it was softer. A fragile thread of healing had begun. As she turned to leave, a steady, gentle hand caught her wrist, holding her back.

“Don’t go yet,” Rajveer whispered, his voice low, thick with emotion. Meenal turned, meeting the vulnerability she had not seen before in his eyes.

“There’s much left unsaid,” he whispered, eyes glistening.

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✨ Author’s Note ✨

This chapter peels back the silence to reveal the heartache and hope hidden beneath—sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones fought quietly inside us. Rajveer’s quiet reckoning reminds us that healing starts with courage, forgiveness, and taking the first step.

I know this chapter might feel a little slow, but sometimes the quiet moments carry the deepest meaning. Trust me, the next chapter is ready to bring more emotion and movement—you won’t want to miss it! 💫

If this moment moved you, or if you see a part of yourself or someone you love in this story, I’d love to hear from you! 💬 Drop a comment below and share your thoughts—your words mean the world.

💖 If you felt the emotion in this chapter, please like and share it to help this story reach those who might need a little light today.

Let’s keep this journey of healing and love going—together. 🌿

— With all my heart,
Shaar Shree ✨