A Love unspoken : An Unseen Affection

chapter:6

The early morning sunshine filtered through the sheer curtains of the Rajbari, painting golden patterns on the polished marble floor. Aarish was groggy but ready for breakfast. The house felt unusually silent, save for the occasional murmur of conversation. As he walked into the dining area, a sense of unease hit him. His father and grandfather were sitting close, heads bowed in deep discussion. Servants flitted around with trays, their steps hurried, while his mother stood by the window, her brows furrowed with worry.

“What's going on?” Aarish asked as he pulled a chair.

His mother turned to him, her voice laden with concern. “Your great-grandfather isn't feeling well. We've sent for a doctor from the city.”

Aarish frowned and his appetite evaporating. His great-grandfather was the pillar of the family, a man who rarely showed any signs of fragility. Seeing his mother’s worry, Aarish knew it wasn’t something trivial. He didn’t press further, allowing the conversation to flow in quiet whispers while the family waited for the doctor.

The doctor arrived an hour later, his demeanor professional but empathetic. After a thorough examination, he addressed the family gathered in the living room.

“There’s no major physical illness,” the doctor began, glancing at Aarish’s father, “but he's anxious—deeply so. This tension is affecting his health, making his ill. He needs rest and peace of mind.”

" please address the things which is worrying him and resolve it. "The words didn’t bring much relief. Anxiety was harder to cure than any physical ailment. Aarish watched his mother’s face twist with worry as the doctor left.

“I’ll go speak with him,” Aarish announced, determined to understand the source of his great-grandfather’s distress.

---

Aarish entered his great-grandfather’s room and found him propped against the pillows, a blanket draped over his frail frame. The old man’s sharp eyes softened as he saw Aarish approach.

“How are you feeling, Thakurda?” Aarish asked, taking a seat by the bedside.

The elder waved a dismissive hand. “Ah, I’m in old age. This is how it is.”

“You are stronger than all of us,” Aarish replied lightly, trying to lift his spirits.

But his great-grandfather wasn’t smiling. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his voice steady despite his evident exhaustion. “Aarish, I know my time is near. These aches in my bones, they tell me things you cannot hear.”

“Dadu, don’t talk like that,” Aarish interrupted, uncomfortable.

“It’s reality, beta,” the elder continued. “And you must listen because it concerns the future of this family.”

Aarish leaned back, unsure of what was coming but sensing its gravity.

“Do you know what keeps me up at night?” his great-grandfather asked. “It’s not the our business, that’s in safe hands of you and your father. Nor is it fear of death. It’s this family, Aarish. I worry about what will happen after I’m gone. A family stays strong because of its traditions, its values, and its unity. But unity, my boy, is crafted by the women of the household. They are the roots that hold the family firm.”

The words sank into Aarish’s mind like stones into water.

His great-grandfather reached out, his hand trembling as it rested on Aarish’s. “You are the heir, Aarish. The responsibility of this family will one day fall on your shoulders. And I want to leave knowing that our family’s legacy is safe, that our traditions will be upheld. That’s why I want you married, Aarish, to a girl who will nurture this family, who keep all together.”