Chronicles Of My Darling Husband | ✓

128. Sneh (Part 3)

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Jagdish dipped low, his right hand brushing against his mother's feet. "Maa..." he murmured, the word thick with longing.

Yashoda's touch on his shoulder was brief, a mere formality. "Jeete raho," she mumbled, her blessing devoid of the warmth he craved. Then, she turned away, her arms reaching out to Krishna for a tight embrace.

It hurt him.

A dull ache settled in Jagdish's chest. It wasn't just the absence of a kiss on his head, a ritual as familiar as his own name. It was the lack of eye contact, the way she seemed to rush past him, her focus entirely on his brother. Wasn't he her Sher? Wasn't he her star and moon and world? How could he have been her everything and now be so easily cast aside?

A silent tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down his cheek. He blinked furiously, trying to force back the dam threatening to burst, but the effort felt futile. He shut his eyes in an attempt to not cry and spoil his brother's day.

But when he finally opened them, his gaze landed on Subhadra. Her usual playful smirk was replaced by a look of profound empathy. Her eyes were full of tears, mirroring his own grief.

--

"Where's Papa?" Subhadra inquired while tearing into her garlic naan. "You mentioned he'd be joining us."

Yashoda said nothing, her gaze drifting to Jagdish, who kept glancing at her. Finally, she sighed and replied, "He's at Mathura," her voice strained. "Some people wouldn't have appreciated his presence here today."

"Maa, who wouldn't want him here?" Krishna's voice wavered slightly. "It's my birthday, and I was really looking forward to seeing him."

"He'll meet you later," Yashoda said, taking a bite of her paratha. "He's planning to come here in two days and then head straight to his office."

Jagdish's voice barely rose above a whisper. "So, he won't be here while I'm here?"

Yashoda's stare remained cold, unforgiving. "I believe I've made myself perfectly clear," she said, her voice laced with ice.

"Maa," Jagdish choked out, the word catching in his throat. He couldn't bear the suffocating silence any longer. Unlike his siblings, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface, he couldn't ignore his mother's attitude anymore.

"Don't you think I deserve some explanation?" His voice, tight with barely suppressed emotion, scraped against the suffocating silence. "I know I made a mistake, begged for your forgiveness, but all I get is this... this wall of silence. Why, Maa? Don't I deserve an answer?" A tremor ran through him, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his composure. "The truth is, I was always in the dark about the past. All I saw was you, year after year, carrying the weight of the family on your shoulders, while he... he wasn't there. What else was I supposed to think?"

"We are in a restaurant. I don't think—"

Jagdish scoffed. "I asked in the privacy of your room, Maa. And you kept silent." Anger surged through him, and he spilled over. "Where was I wrong? Shouldn't you tell me if I'm at fault? Why Papa—"

"Enough, Jagdish!" Yashoda snapped, making him startle. "Enough! My Veer is not a selfish man! His love for you is boundless, a love you clearly never understood. He almost gave his life protecting you and me, and you have the audacity to call him... that?" With a furious flick of her wrist, Yashoda sent the morsel flying onto her plate. "How can you be so blind? How are you even my son?"

Krishna and Subhadra picked at their food, their gazes fixed on their plates, unable to see their lovely brother's pain.

Jagdish stuttered angrily, "If that's the...the case, I don't think I am required here."

Yashoda didn't mind as she started eating again.

His eyes welled up, and tears spilled down his cheeks. He couldn't bear it any longer. Abruptly, he stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. There was no yelling, no fighting—just the quiet, piercing sting of his mother's words cutting him deeply. He couldn't bear to see his mother loathing his existence anymore. All he felt was a desperate need to cry. He longed for Nishita, his wife, to hold him together. Leaving the restaurant, he hurried away, tears blurring the world around him.

--

A loud bang on the door jolted Nishita awake. It was late in the night, and she wasn't expecting anyone at this hour. Her heart raced as she wondered who could be at the door. Was it them again? Fear gripped her as she hesitated, trying to decide whether to open the door or stay hidden.

"Nishu... Nishu!"

Panic clawed at her throat as she recognized Devika's frantic voice calling her name. She scrambled out of bed, throwing off the covers. Her heart pounded as she rushed to the closet. There, hidden amongst his clothes, lay the object Jagdish had mentioned for emergencies. She'd never touched it, never truly wanted to. But fear was a powerful teacher, and right now, it was all she had.

Taking a deep breath, Nishita gripped the gun tightly. The irony struck her hard—despite Jagdish's thorough theoretical lessons, she had no idea how to actually use it. But at that moment, facing the unknown threat at her door, she was willing to try anything. It was fight or flight, and tonight, she wouldn't back down.

Well, if things were going south this quickly, who could change fate? Tonight, she'd either discover a hidden talent for handling this funny weapon or be reunited with her lovely Nanu in heaven... or hell? Well, hopefully, heaven.

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A/N

Action, drama, romance, comedy, tragedy... Wait a minute, is my story turning into a Bollywood Masala movie? All that's missing is an item number! Time to cue "Munni Badnaam Hui" XD (No, not adding that song here, lol)

Well, "Koi Faryad" by Mustahasan Khan just climbed to the top of my sad playlist. It's perfect for those "cry-your-heart-out-to-feel-better" moments. I adore the original, but this cover? Pure magic. I thought it kinda fits crybaby Jagdish's mood.

I might not be updating any more chapters today because I'm in a moody bitch phase and can't seem to write more about Jagdish and Nishita. Out of nowhere, Veer and Yashoda are demanding my attention, so I'll probably write a chapter of "Pretty And The Powerful" instead. Hopefully, I'll be back to continue here tomorrow!

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