After some time, the low rumble of an engine filled the air as a sleek black car came to a stop in front of Rathore Mansion. Meher stood near the window, her heart thudding in her chest as she recognized the car—it was her brother's.
"He's here," she whispered to herself, feeling the weight of the upcoming confrontation settle heavily on her shoulders.
Outside, the car door swung open, and Arjun Chauhan stepped out. Dressed in a sharp suit, his face was set in stone, his jaw clenched with determination. He didn't waste time—his long strides carried him towards the entrance of the mansion, each step brimming with intensity.
Vikram, who had been observing Meher from a distance, noticed the shift in her demeanor. She looked anxious, her usual composed self faltering. His gaze then shifted towards the door, anticipating the arrival of this new guest.
The doorbell rang, breaking the tension in the house like the first clap of thunder before a storm. Meher exhaled sharply, bracing herself, and went to open the door. The moment their eyes met, Arjun's face was a mixture of anger, disbelief, and something else she couldn't place—pain.
As he stepped inside, his gaze landed on the large framed picture of Shanaya in the hallway, her smile frozen in time. He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as emotions surged through him. Everyone in the room went silent, their eyes on the new arrival.
Vikram's eyes narrowed as he sized up the stranger who had just entered his home, but before he could say anything, Arjun broke the silence.
"Mai Meher ka bada bhai Arjun Chauhan," (I'm Meher's elder brother, Arjun Chauhan,) he said,
his voice steady but cold as his eyes swept the room, lingering on Vikram for a moment longer.
"Beta, khana kha ke jaana," (Dear, go after having dinner,) Dadi-sa said before Dadu-sa and Maa-sa walked away, leaving the youngsters in the hallway, tension hanging thick in the air.
"Yug, Aarvi ko leke upar jao," (Yug, take Aarvi with you and go upstairs,) Meher instructed, trying to create some distance from the escalating conflict.
"Bhai, mere saath aao," (Brother, come with me,) Meher added, gesturing for Arjun to follow her.
"Kyu, apne pati ke samne baat nahi karegi?" (Why don't you talk in front of your husband?) Arjun shot back, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her, his anger simmering just below the surface.
Vikram, who was still trying to piece together the situation, could sense the tension escalating.
"Arjun, jaise tum—" (Arjun, as you—), he began, but his words were cut off as Arjun stepped closer, his voice rising.
"Toh kaisa hai, haan? Ki ek biwi mar gayi toh uski dost se shaadi kar li, taki uske bhi maz—" (So what's the deal, huh? Your wife died, and you married her friend to enjoy—) Arjun's words were cut off suddenly as someone slapped him hard across the face.
It was Meher.
The sound echoed through the hallway, leaving Vikram in shock as he looked at Meher, bewildered.
"b-bhai "when she ralised what she did she step forward but arjun showed her hand and left from there angrily.
"What i have done"she whispered to herself.
She looked back at vikram and left from there and went upstairs.
Meher jolted awake, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her chest tightened as the remnants of the nightmare clung to her mind. "No... no..." she murmured, shaking as cold sweat covered her forehead.
She quickly got out of bed, her body trembling. Her hands fumbled as she desperately searched for her medicine. "You're not that anymore... shhh...," she whispered to herself, trying to calm her racing thoughts. But the fear, the panic, had already taken over, making her limbs weak.
Her hands shook violently, almost knocking over the water glass as she finally found the pills and took one. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes as she tried to slow her breathing. The fear of her past gripping her like a shadow she could never fully escape.
Minutes passed, the silence heavy around her. Once the medication began to work, her heartbeat gradually steadied, but the emotional exhaustion left her feeling hollow.She stood there for a while, her back against the wall, wondering how long she could keep pretending to be strong when the memories threatened to break her.
YOU ARE READING
Bound by a Promise
General Fiction"Bound by Promise" is a story of betrayal, resentment, and an unexpected bond. Vikram Singh Rathore, a successful businessman, is trapped in a marriage of convenience with Meher, the best friend of his late wife. Blaming her and their daughter, Aarv...
