The Rathore's Family

"Hidden love"

The clock struck ten as Drishti and Vihaan sat in the hall, quietly scrolling through her phone. The silence was broken by the sound of unsteady footsteps. Tej stumbled into view, clearly inebriated, barely able to walk straight.

Drishti noticed his condition and stood up to help him, but Vihaan caught her hand, gesturing for her to sit back down. "Bhaiya, we should help him," she whispered, concern lacing her voice.

Vihaan shook his head. "No need, Bhabhi. Let him manage himself."

Despite Vihaan's words, Drishti's eyes remained fixed on Tej as he staggered closer, finally collapsing into a chair across from them. Vihaan stood up, turning to Drishti. "Bhabhi, let's go to the room. It's getting late."

Tej chuckled, his laughter slurred and mocking. "So, this is what you've learned from your brother, huh?"

Ignoring him, Vihaan gestured for Drishti to follow him. They took a few steps towards the stairs when Tej's voice rang out again, taunting and bitter. "Advait ki biwi," he sneered, then added with a cruel laugh, "Or should I say, Advait's forced wife? That suits you much better."

Vihaan's fists clenched, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Tej. "Bring me a glass of water," Tej demanded, his tone authoritative and dismissive.

Vihaan hesitated, but as he turned to fetch the water, Tej's voice cut through the air again. "I said to her, your brother's forced wife. Tell her to bring me the water."

Vihaan's temper flared. "Dad, stop this nonsense," he snapped, his voice tight with barely controlled rage.

"So asking for water is nonsense in this home now?" Tej barked back, his voice rising. "ANJALI! ANJALI!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the hall.

Drishti flinched at the loud sound, her heart racing. "I... I'll bring it," she stammered, rushing towards the kitchen with shaky hands. She filled a glass with water, her fingers trembling as she carried it back.

Anjali had entered the hall by now, trying to calm Tej, but he was beyond reason. Drishti handed him the glass, but her unsteady hand caused a few drops to spill onto him.

Tej's red, alcohol-glazed eyes narrowed dangerously. He threw the glass to the ground, shattering it. "Aehh ladki! Don't you have any manners?"

"S-sorry..." Drishti stammered, stepping back in fear, her whole body trembling.

"Calm down, please," Anjali pleaded, trying to hold onto Tej's arm, but he jerked away, his glare deadly as it shifted between Drishti and Anjali.

He looked at Drishti, sneering, as he spoke to Anjali. "So, everyone says I've ruined this family's lives, but let me tell you-you ruined your son's life with these hands of yours," he spat, his words laced with venom. "If he had married Sagun ..."

"Mr. Rathore," a cold, firm voice echoed through the hall, cutting off Tej mid-sentence. Advait descended the stairs, his presence commanding and tense. Silence fell as everyone turned to look at him.

Advait's eyes fell on Drishti, who stood there with her head bowed, tears glistening in her eyes. His gaze softened for a brief moment before hardening again as he faced his father.

"Why are you taking so much stress for me nowadays?" Advait's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made everyone uneasy.

Advait's calm, commanding voice cut through the tension in the room, leaving no room for argument. "Drishti, go to the room."

Drishti's eyes widened as she looked up at him, searching his face for some sign of support, some defense against the harshness of the situation. She had hoped-believed even-that he would stand up for her. But those words crushed the hope she clung to.

"But... I didn't..." she began, her voice trembling as she tried to explain and defend herself.

Advait's gaze remained steady, his tone unwavering. "I said go."

The finality in his voice left no room for protest. Her heart sank, and she felt a sting of disappointment, but she had no choice. Unwillingly, she turned and walked away, her steps heavy with the weight of unsaid words and unfulfilled expectations.

As she made her way to the room, the sting of tears blurred her vision. She wiped them away quickly, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and hurt. The words she had longed to hear, the protection she had hoped for, had been denied her, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

The room was tense, and the weight of unspoken emotions was heavy in the air.

He took a deep breath and turned to his father. "This is enough. Whatever you have against me, don't take it out on her."

Tej chuckled as if the entire situation was some kind of joke. "You're saying that you actually care for her..."

Advait's expression remained stone-cold, his voice firm. "It shouldn't be your concern."

He looked at Vihaan and said, "Help him.".

Vihaan nodded, leading Tej down the hallway, who continued to mumble incoherently. The sound of Tej's drunken muttering faded as they disappeared from view.

Advait's gaze shifted to his mother, who was standing nearby with a worried expression etched on her face. "Mom," he called out softly, trying to gauge her thoughts.

"Why did you shout?" she asked suddenly, her voice carrying a hint of concern that caught him off guard.

"On whom?" he asked, confused by the question.

"On your wife," she clarified, her tone slightly accusatory, as if she was upset with him.

Advait sighed, his expression softening. "I didn't shout at her, Mom," he said calmly. "I just didn't want her to be involved in all of this. She shouldn't have to deal with these things."

His mother's face softened, but there was still a lingering worry in her eyes. She understood his intentions, but the tension between her son and Drishti was unmistakable.

Advait's mother walked closer to him, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. Her touch was soft, filled with the warmth only a mother could offer. "I'm just waiting for the day when you'll say she isn't forced on you... that she-" Her voice faltered as she searched for the right words, but before she could continue, Advait interrupted.

"Mom, go and rest," he said, his voice firm but not unkind, trying to deflect the conversation.

She nodded slightly, accepting his words, but there was sadness in her eyes. Before leaving, she turned back to him, her voice soft but carrying the weight of her wisdom. "Yes, I'm going, but let me tell you something, beta. Jo pyaar karte hai, wo darte nahi. Aur jo darte hai, wo pyaar nahi kar sakte kabhi."

As his mother's footsteps faded into the distance, Advait stood rooted in place, her words echoing in his mind. A heavy sigh escaped him, and he found himself lost in his thoughts. I'm waiting too, Mom, he thought, his heart aching with an unspoken longing.

"I'm waiting for the day when she'll finally be comfortable with me, when she won't look at me with fear in her eyes, when she'll be able to speak to me freely, without hesitation or dread. I'm waiting for the moment when she'll feel safe enough to share her worries with me, to trust me with her burdens, to know that I'm here to support her, not to judge her."

His chest tightened as he realized how far they still had to go. He wanted more than anything to bridge the gap between them, to break down the walls that had been built by circumstances beyond their control.