Part 77
The fear, the uncertainty—of what it would mean if he let himself fall.
He glanced away, the walls he had built up so carefully still standing, but cracking at the edges.
M- I don’t know how.
Geet watched him, her gaze steady and sure. She didn’t push, didn’t press for more than he could give in that moment. Instead, she simply nodded, her expression softening.
G- That’s okay.
She whispered.
G- I’m not going anywhere.
+++++++
It had been an exhausting few day.
The tension over the family shares had reached a fever pitch, and the suffocating atmosphere was starting to take a toll on everyone, especially Geet.
The weight of the ongoing drama was compounded by her complicated relationship with Maan, which remained as unspoken as ever. No confessions, no declarations, just a brewing storm of feelings neither of them had yet dared to confront.
Amidst all this, a new presence stirred the air.
Rajveer—about 26 or 27, tall, with a quiet but sharp demeanor—had returned after a long absence.
The family had mentioned him in passing, but Maan had barely paid attention.
Rajveer hadn’t been around much, even in the past.
His mother had married into the family after leaving his biological father, and although legally bound to the family, Rajveer was never fully embraced.
He’d always been treated as an outsider, and growing up, Maan had only vague memories of him at family gatherings—hovering in the background, mostly silent, and barely acknowledged by anyone.
Yet now, there was something different about Rajveer.
Despite the emotional distance from the family, he carried himself with a quiet strength, the kind that comes from surviving long-term rejection and turning it into resolve.
It wasn’t just that he had returned this year after missing the previous festival; it was the way he seemed to observe everything, as though he saw through the family’s thin pretenses.
One evening, Geet found herself alone in the kitchen, looking for some brief respite.
The whole family had exhausted her, the constant push and pull of hidden agendas draining whatever energy she had left.
She was pouring herself a glass of water, replaying the evening’s events in her head, when Rajveer strolled in, moving with the kind of casual grace that made his presence known without effort.
“Hey,” he greeted her, not with the cold politeness she was used to from the others, but with a tone that carried warmth.
He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge without glancing up. “Quite the spectacle today, huh?”
Geet, surprised by his sudden appearance, managed a small smile.
She wasn’t in the mood for company, but Rajveer’s tone had an ease about it that was disarming. “Yeah,” she said, voice soft but tired. “Quite the circus.”
Rajveer took a sip from his bottle, glancing at her with curiosity.
He seemed ready to leave, but then, as if reconsidering, he paused at the doorway, looking back over his shoulder.
“You know, you shouldn’t let them get to you,” he said, his voice suddenly more serious.
His eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, there was a shared understanding between them—something quiet but profound.
Geet blinked, taken aback by the unexpected insight. “I’m fine,” she said reflexively, though they both knew it wasn’t entirely true.
Rajveer stepped back into the kitchen, leaning casually against the counter. “You say that now, but trust me, these people will wear you down if you let them. I’ve been there. I know how this family works.”
Geet didn’t know how to respond at first. There was something genuine in his words, a sincerity she hadn’t expected. “I appreciate the advice,” she said, her tone softening.
Rajveer smiled faintly, shaking his head. “It’s not just advice. I mean it. You’ve done something most people in this house couldn’t. You’ve carved out a space for yourself. You’ve stood your ground, and honestly…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “It’s admirable. You don’t need their approval. You’ve built something on your own.”
The sincerity in his voice caught Geet off guard. It wasn’t the patronizing tone she was used to from other family members who either pitied her or dismissed her struggles.
Rajveer’s admiration was different. It felt… real.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “That means a lot.”
Rajveer gave a short nod, his expression softening further. “Don’t mention it. It’s just the truth.” He glanced at her again, and for a moment, Geet thought he might say more, but then he turned and left the kitchen, leaving her standing there with her thoughts.
++++
The next few days unfolded with a surprising shift.
Geet found herself running into Rajveer more frequently.
Their conversations, which began as casual greetings, evolved into something more substantial.
Rajveer had a way of making her feel understood without pressing her for details.
He listened, shared stories of his own struggles growing up in the family, and offered insights that Geet found refreshing. It was easy to talk to him, easier than she’d expected.
One evening, they stood in the garden, the cool breeze offering a welcome break from the stifling tension inside the house.
Rajveer leaned against the stone railing, his gaze thoughtful.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” he said, glancing at her. “How did you end up with Maan?”
Geet raised an eyebrow, surprised by the directness of his question. “What do you mean?”
Rajveer chuckled, a quiet sound that held both amusement and curiosity. “I mean, you don’t seem like the type to just… fall into something like this. You’re too smart, too independent. So how did you end up with someone like Maan?”
Geet laughed lightly, more to deflect than to answer. “It’s complicated,” she said, her tone playful but evasive.
Rajveer studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. “I see,” he said finally, though the curiosity lingered in his gaze.
He didn’t press the issue, but Geet could sense that he was still trying to understand her.
And in a way, that made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.
++++
Maan, however, couldn’t help but notice the growing rapport between Geet and Rajveer.
He saw the way they talked; the way Geet smiled more easily in Rajveer’s presence than she had around anyone else lately.
It bothered him in a way he couldn’t quite articulate.
He wasn’t jealous, or at least that’s what he told himself, but something about Rajveer rubbed him the wrong way.
It was one thing for Geet to have friends—Maan wasn’t the overbearing type—but something about Rajveer’s sudden interest in her felt off.
Maybe it was the fact that Rajveer had been so detached from the family for years, only to reappear and take a sudden interest in Geet.
Or maybe it was the fact that Maan couldn’t shake the feeling that Rajveer understood something about Geet that he himself hadn’t figured out yet.
One afternoon, Maan decided he’d had enough of the uneasy feeling gnawing at him.
He caught Rajveer alone in the hallway, where the sounds of the family’s chatter couldn’t reach them.
Maan leaned casually against the wall, blocking Rajveer’s path with an air of nonchalance that didn’t match the tension in his eyes.
“You and Geet seem to be getting along,” Maan said, his voice calm but with an edge that hinted at something deeper.
Rajveer raised an eyebrow, clearly not missing the undertone in Maan’s voice. “Yeah, she’s easy to talk to,” he replied with a casual shrug. “Why? Does that bother you?”
Maan’s jaw tightened imperceptibly, though his voice remained even. “No. But I’ve been wondering why you’re so interested in her.”
Rajveer studied Maan for a moment before responding, his voice as calm as ever. “I’m not interested in her the way you think. I just think she deserves better than what this family puts her through. She’s stronger than most of the people in this house give her credit for.”
Maan’s eyes narrowed slightly, trying to read between Rajveer’s words. “And what makes you think you know what’s best for her?”
Rajveer gave a small, almost pitying smile. “I don’t need to know everything about her to see that she’s too good for this place. Honestly, I’m surprised she’s still here, putting up with all of this.”
Maan’s fists clenched subtly at his sides, though he kept his voice measured. “Geet’s my wife. She’s here because she chose to be.”
Rajveer didn’t flinch at Maan’s words. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if considering something. “Is that what you tell yourself? That she chose this life?”
Maan’s breath hitched for just a second, though he covered it quickly.
He wasn’t used to being questioned like this—especially not by someone like Rajveer, who had always been in the background of the family. “Whatever you’re insinuating, it’s none of your business.”
Rajveer’s expression didn’t change, but his voice softened, becoming almost… sympathetic. “I’m not insinuating anything. I’m just saying, if there’s something you’re holding over her—something that’s keeping her here—I’d be willing to pay off whatever debt you think she owes you. Just let her go.”
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