Married to my Brother in Love, In Love with His Brother (Early Acess Ch 29)

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Chapter 29 Lower your Gaze

The Agan carried a quiet weight that morning, the marble floor cool beneath polished leather sandals, the rising sun cutting sharp angles through the jali windows. A soft breeze stirred the fine silk of Meenal’s sari as she entered, her head respectfully covered, though her face remained unobscured. She stood slightly behind Kamini Devi, summoned to "observe" but fully aware that her presence here was a deliberate gesture.

The men were already assembled.

Rajveer sat tall at the head of the courtyard platform, his sherwani immaculate, his shoulder held still under richly embroidered fabric. His face was calm, but there was an unspoken sharpness to him, like a blade sheathed but restless. Despite the dull ache beneath his controlled posture, he exuded authority.

Aditya stood just behind, his eyes steady but unreadable. As always, watchful.

Across from them stood Somesh, the village head’s son—young, ambitious, and confident enough to mistake opportunity for entitlement. Flanked by his father’s aides, he bowed slightly before speaking, his tone dipped in honeyed courtesy.

“You understand, Thakur Sahib," Somesh began, "our families have long prospered side by side. The eastern fields have been left untended for years. My father’s men have kept them productive out of loyalty, but perhaps it's time to formalize the arrangement, to everyone’s benefit.”

The words floated gently into the open air, but the ambition beneath them was sharp.

Rajveer's gaze didn’t waver. “Fallow does not mean abandoned. The land remains ours.”

Somesh’s smile twitched. “Of course, but with growing responsibilities and shifting alliances, shared stewardship could strengthen both houses. These boundaries were drawn generations ago. Times change, Thakur Sahib.”

Aditya spoke then, his voice low but cutting. “Curious that your father never raised this before. Why now, Somesh?”

The young man’s expression stiffened, the calm mask slipping momentarily.

Meenal, standing behind, felt her breath catch. This was more than a simple land discussion. This was a quiet battle for power, for legacy. The weight of centuries balanced on polite words.

Kamini Devi’s veiled satisfaction radiated beside her, the matriarch content to let the men spar, knowing her influence reached farther than either Somesh or Aditya realized. She is not Rajveer's mother nor the old thakur's, but the power that Rajveer handed her was no less than her own mother would have if she were alive. It was a secret that only the two of them shared.

Somesh recovered quickly, nodding as if amused. “It is simply practical. My father has always respected your family’s leadership. But the village is growing. Stability benefits us all.”

Rajveer’s voice cooled further, the edge beneath his tone unmistakable. “Stability is not achieved by dismantling foundations. Our boundaries stand. Loyalty is not for sale.”

A brief silence stretched, thick and heavy. Even the birds seemed to hold their breath in the courtyard.

Somesh’s eyes flicked briefly—too briefly—toward Meenal. A calculated glance. Harmless to most. But Meenal saw it for what it was. A small, unspoken threat. She held his gaze, her eyes steady and unyielding. She was the Thakurain, and men here knew better than to underestimate her. The tension in the air was palpable, a storm waiting to break.

Rajveer’s fingers curled faintly against his chair’s carved armrest. He had seen the glance too.

Aditya’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his face remained passive. The air grew tighter.

Finally, Somesh bowed again, polite but retreating. “As you wish, Thakur Sahib. We have no desire for discord.”

Rajveer held his gaze for a moment longer before nodding once. “Good. And lower your gaze as you leave." Meenal watched the exchange with a knowing smile, her presence a silent force in the room. The power dynamics were shifting, and everyone could feel it.

The meeting dissolved, attendants dispersing quietly into the morning haze. Yet beneath the calm exit, the fault lines had shifted.

As the men drifted away, Kamini Devi leaned toward Meenal, her voice a mere whisper beneath the soft clink of departing footsteps.

“See how well your husband commands his world, bahu,” she said, her words wrapped in honey but barbed beneath. “Trust me, Rajveer is trying to change; maybe you should too. Allow him a little space in your heart before it's too late." Meenal's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face before she composed herself with a nod. Kamini Devi's words lingered in the air, leaving a subtle tension that would continue to simmer beneath the surface long after the meeting had ended.

He's changing, and that's what scares her the most. She fought the silence, but what truly unsettled her was the quiet transformation unfolding within him—and perhaps, within herself.

But before she could fully grasp the feeling, two tiny arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her attention back to the present moment. Meenal looked down to see her son looking up at her with wide eyes. "Maa…hungry?" he asked, his voice innocent and pure. Meenal smiled down at him, the dangerous stir of admiration fading away as she focused on the love and innocence in her son's eyes.

"Let's go make some food together," she said, her eyes on her back only seeing Rajveer staring at her with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. She knew that despite the challenges she faced, moments like these with her son were what truly mattered in life. Arun is life. She felt grateful for the simple joys and love that filled her heart in that moment, knowing that her son's presence was a gift that she would always cherish.

Even when loneliness crept in, she held Arun’s small hand, anchoring herself to the only certainty life had offered her.

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Author’s Note:

My dear readers 💖,

Lower Your Gaze may seem like a simple power negotiation — but beneath every polite word lies a battlefield. In this world, legacy is protected not only by titles, but by posture, glances, and silence. Rajveer is learning how to command respect without force. Meenal, in turn, is learning how much silent strength she carries. ⚖️

And yet, even as these battles unfold in the open courtyard, the greatest war remains within — the slow, unsettling shift inside both of them. ❤️‍🔥

Kamini Devi’s quiet words hold truth: Can change truly come if one isn’t brave enough to open their heart? Meenal fears it—and yet, she feels it happening.

Then there’s little Arun — always bringing us back to what truly matters. His innocence is the anchor that keeps Meenal grounded when the tides of politics and emotion threaten to pull her away. 👩‍👦💞

💭 I’d love to hear your thoughts:

• Do you sense Rajveer’s transformation? Is it genuine?

• And is Meenal ready to trust again, or is she too scared of what that might cost?

The next storm is building, my loves. And not everyone will leave untouched. ⚔️🌪️]

✨ Drop a ❤️ if you’re rooting for Meenal. Or comment what you think Kamini Devi’s true intentions are...?

With silent tension, shifting hearts, and innocent hands,
— Shaar Shree ✨