𝓛𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓕𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓼 [*Complete*]

Ch. 52 ⭐

Shikhawat house,
Delhi.
Later the day.

The tension in the Shikhawat mansion was palpable. Naina sat quietly, her face pale and her eyes clouded with unshed tears. Her hands trembled as she tried to hold herself together, but her heartbreak was visible to everyone in the room. Rajveer stood a few feet away, his expression filled with guilt and regret, but he remained silent, unable to find the right words to make things right.

Garima was the first to break the silence. "Rajveer Singh Shikhawat, do you have any idea what my daughter-in-law went through after your 'supposed death'?" Her voice was firm, trembling with anger. "She was devastated, shattered into a million pieces. She barely ate, barely slept. And you...you dared to doubt her love and loyalty?"

Madhumati chimed in, her hands on her hips. "Naina is not just your wife, Rajveer, she is the heart of this family! To think she could even think of harming you is the greatest insult to her love."

Khushi, Nandini, and Payel stood protectively around Naina. "Bhaiya," Khushi said, her voice trembling with emotion, "we love you, but we can't forgive you for this. You've hurt bhabhi beyond anything she deserves. Do you have any idea how much she loves you? Naina bhabhi didn't just lose her husband that day; she lost a part of her soul. She was utterly devastated by your supposed death. And now this—finding out that you doubted her love and loyalty? How could you?"

"Raj Bhaiya, we've always looked up to you as someone who values family and love." Nandini added, her eyes blazing with disbelieve, "But this? This is unforgivable. How could you believe, even for a second, that Bhabhi would betray you?"

Payel added, "She stayed strong for everyone else, but we've seen her cry herself to sleep every single night, clutching your photo. Do you know what that kind of pain feels like?"

Rishav chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're lucky she's even here, Bhaiya. If I were in her place, I wouldn't have stayed."

Shanno, always the fiery one, joined in. "You men and your so-called logic! Can't even see what's right in front of you! If this is how you treat your wife, then shame on you, Rajveer!"

The women's voices grew louder, their anger a fiery force in the room. Rajveer tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Every accusation was true, and he knew it.

The men of the Shikhawat family, who had been standing off to the side, finally decided to intervene. Shashi, his voice calm yet firm, stepped forward. "Enough, all of you. Do you think Rajveer doubted her out of malice? He was in shock, confused, and manipulated. Anyone would have struggled to think clearly in such a situation."

Lala nodded in agreement. "The boy has been through hell. You women can't expect someone to think clearly in a life-or-death situation like that. He thought he saw the impossible—that his wife had betrayed him. In that moment, he wasn't a soldier or a husband. He was just a man whose heart had been shattered."

Arnav, trying to soothe the situation, added, "Rajveer bhaiya believed what he saw in the moment. It doesn't mean he doesn't love or trust Naina bhabhi now. The situation was extreme, and anyone could've faltered. Bhabhi, Amma, Bua ji, we're not saying bhaiya was right. We're only saying that you should try to understand the state he was in before judging him so harshly."

Manik added, "Exactly. None of you understand the mental toll of what Rajveer bhaiya has endured. No one's saying Naina Bhabhi doesn't deserve support, but Bhaiya isn't entirely at fault either. You're being too harsh on him."

Dhruv, ever the peacemaker, raised his hands. "Look, everyone's hurting here. Let's just take a step back and—"

"Step back?" Garima's voice cut through like a blade. Dhruv flinched and stepped behind is father-in-law like a little boy.