Married to My Brother-in-Law, In Love with His Brother (Early Acess Ch 4)

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The house felt suffocating, heavy with incense and sorrow. Meenal sat on the floor, hands trembling as she held the baby close. The 13th day had arrived—the day of the teravi, the ritual to honor the departed. According to tradition, this was the day they would perform the teravi, the ritual to honor the soul of the departed.

But there was no honor left in her heart. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at the altar. Every prayer, every chant, every offering felt like a cruel mockery.

Meenal’s eyes lingered on the baby in her arms. His tiny fingers clutched at her blouse as he slept, unaware of the storm swirling around them. She pressed a kiss to his forehead, feeling the weight of the promise she’d made to her sister. I will protect him. Always.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft murmurs of her parents, who were preparing for the ceremony. The whispers behind her back were louder than ever—gossip about her staying here, unmarried, in her brother-in-law’s house. Her presence alone would draw attention, and they couldn’t afford the shame. It was expected that she would return to her own parents’ house after today.

But what about the baby? The question lodged itself in her chest like a knife. What happens to him?

Her father’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Meenal, it’s time. We need to leave after the ceremony.”

Meenal nodded, her throat tight. She knew what this meant. Her life was no longer her own. Not without her sister.

Later, as the family sat around the makeshift altar in the living room, performing the final rites, Meenal’s mind kept drifting. She wasn’t present, not truly. She felt disconnected from everything—the chants, the incense, even the baby in her arms. She was drifting, lost in a sea of grief.

But when the ceremony ended and silence fell, the storm she’d been avoiding finally hit.

Her parents stood, exchanging looks that Meenal couldn’t ignore. Her mother cleared her throat. “Meenal, there’s something we need to discuss.”

The words felt like a weight pressing on her chest.

“Your brother-in-law has no one,” her father said, the concern in his voice palpable. “Thakur Shahab… He’s alone. He needs help with the baby.”

Meenal’s eyes snapped up. “What are you saying?”

Her mother hesitated before speaking. “You are the closest kin Thakur Shahab has now, Meenal. The family’s honor and your duty to this child are paramount. Marrying him is the only course of action that preserves both.”

Meenal’s world tilted. Marry Rajveer? The thought was nauseating. The man who had abandoned her sister in her final moments. The man who never once shed a tear for her sister. The man who stood in the doorway just days ago, claiming the child as his, coldly and without remorse. And she loves Aditya; if it was staying, then she would marry him to stay here and take care of her sister's baby.

"I cannot marry him," Meenal said, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with the weight of her defiance. "The very thought is unbearable."

Her mother’s face fell. “Meenal beta… sometimes life doesn’t give us choices. We do what’s needed, not what we want.”

“I am not marrying him,” Meenal repeated, this time with more force. “The baby doesn’t need him. He needs love. He needs someone who cares.”

Her father, though quiet, looked concerned. “You cannot live here without the protection of a man’s name. You will be disgraced, and worse, you’ll drag this family maan samaan with you.”

“I would rather live in dishonor than lose my dignity.” Meenal’s voice trembled, but her resolve burned fierce. “I cannot let myself become a shadow of my sister.”

“I love my sister’s child. But I will not marry that man. Not for anyone, not even for the baby.” 

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Just then, Rajveer appeared in the doorway, his face an impassive mask. His ceremonial white attire was pristine, but his eyes were colder than ever. His gaze flicked to the baby in Meenal’s arms before his sharp voice cut through the air.

“You’ve held him long enough,” Rajveer said, his tone cold and commanding. “He belongs to me now.”

Meenal’s chest tightened. “What?”

“You are her aunt,” Rajveer continued, stepping closer. “But I am his father. And he belongs to me. To my name.”

The words felt like a slap. Meenal’s arms tightened around the baby, her eyes burning with fury. “So now you are remembering you have a child. Where were you when he was born, when my sister was taking her last breath?” she spat, standing up and confronting him. “You didn’t cry when she died. You didn’t even hold her hand as she left this world. And now you want to claim her son as your own? You’ll never have him.”

Rajveer’s eyes hardened. “He is my son, a Thakur. You’re just an aunt. The family name must endure, and you’ll have no part in that,” he said, his voice flat.

Meenal’s fury erupted. “You never cared about him,” she spat. “You didn’t care for my sister, and now you want to take everything from me. You won’t even let me keep the last piece of her. You’re a monster.”

Rajveer’s gaze flicked over to Aditya, who had remained silent until now, watching the exchange unfold. He stepped forward, his voice filled with hesitation. “Bhai… how can you take care of a newborn alone?”

Rajveer’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing. “This is not your concern.”

Aditya recoiled, caught between family loyalty and the truth of what he witnessed. He said nothing, his gaze shifting to Meenal, filled with silent anguish. The tension in the room crackled like electricity, sharp and uncomfortable. Meenal stood between the two men, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. All she knew was that this child was hers to protect—and no one would take him from her.

Rajveer’s gaze turned icy as he reached out for the baby. “You may be his aunt,” he said coldly, “but I am his father. And he belongs to me. Not you.”

Meenal’s heart shattered as Rajveer’s cold hands closed around the baby, wrenching him from her arms. She recoiled, desperate, but it was too late. The baby’s wail of protest pierced the air as Rajveer tightened his grip.

“No!” Meenal cried, her voice breaking. “You can’t—please don’t take him from me. He’s all I have left of her!”

Rajveer’s expression remained unchanged as he turned to leave. “Leave. There is nothing for you here anymore. With your sister gone, you have no place in this house.” Her legs faltered, and Meenal sank to her knees, overcome by a grief so deep, so suffocating, it felt like the very air had been stolen from her. She watched, powerless, as Rajveer carried the child away. The baby’s cries pierced the air like a final condemnation, echoing in her soul, the last remnant of her sister slipping away.

The baby’s cries echoed in her ears as Rajveer walked away, carrying him like an object, like something to be owned. Each cry was a dagger to her heart, each one dragging her deeper into the void of her despair.

She stood frozen, her hands trembling at her sides, her chest heaving with silent sobs.

“I am sorry, Meenal,” Aditya whispered, his voice heavy with regret. His hand hovered on her shoulder. “I’ll try to speak with him, Meenal, but there’s not much I can do... It’s his decision, and you know how that goes.”

Meenal could barely hear him. She could barely think.

Her sister was gone. The baby was gone.

And she was left with nothing.

*****

Author’s Note:

This chapter was raw. It was painful to write, and I imagine it was just as intense to read.

“A Broken Bond” isn't just about the rituals of loss—it's about the invisible grief of being pushed aside, of loving fiercely in silence, of being told your love isn’t enough because of who you are. In Meenal’s world, duty often drowns choice. But in this chapter, she takes her first true stand. 💥

Her refusal to marry Rajveer? That wasn’t just about rejecting a man—it was her way of saying: “My love is not conditional. My dignity is not negotiable.” 🙅‍♀️💪

This story is a slow burn of heartbreak, strength, and defiance. And it only gets more intense from here.

📢 If this chapter moved you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment, share your favorite line, or just let Meenal know she’s not alone. Your support means everything. 💬💞

Until next time—
Stay strong. Stay loud. Stay human.
📝💫 — Shaar Shree