Tying The Knot With Ex's Brother

THE LONGEST NIGHT

The sky roared with thunder as heavy rain poured down, covering the empty streets like the sky was crying. Sparsh's car wipers moved quickly, but they couldn't clear the rain fast enough. He stopped the car in front of Ragini's house and got out, not caring that he was getting wet.

Sparsh rang the doorbell, and Ragini's mother opened the door. She gave him a gentle smile and welcomed him in. He bent down and touched her feet to take her blessings. Ragini's father was watching news on TV. Sparsh touched his feet too and exchanged few polite words.

Then Ragini's father called out loudly, "Ragini! Someone's here to see you!"

Ragini came out of her room, but the moment she saw Sparsh standing there, her face changed. Anger flashed in her eyes. Without saying a word, she turned around and rushed back to her room, slamming the door behind her.

With her parents' permission, Sparsh slowly walked toward Ragini's room. He stopped in front of the closed door and took a deep breath. Then, gently, he knocked.

"Ragini..." he said softly. "Please. Just one minute. I won't say anything you don't want to hear. I just want to talk... once."

There was no reply.

He stood there silently, waiting—hoping she would open the door. But inside, Ragini sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clenched in her lap, her heart pounding with a mix of hurt and anger. She heard his voice, but she didn't move.

Sparsh continued, "Ragini... I know I'm the last person you want to see right now. And I don't blame you. I made the biggest mistake of my life by not trusting you. I should have listened when you tried to speak. I should have stood by you instead of believing lies. But I failed you... as a husband, and as someone who promised to always protect you."

He took a deep breath. "I'm so, so sorry, Ragini. Not just for doubting you, but for breaking your heart. You didn't deserve even a moment of that pain. I don't know if you'll ever forgive me. I don't expect you to forget what happened. I just... wanted you to know how truly sorry I am. I'll wait—no matter how long it takes—because I still love you. And I always will."

Suddenly, the door swung open. Ragini stood there, her eyes burning with anger and pain.

Before Sparsh could say a word, she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the house. Her parents watched in shock, but no one stopped her.

Once they reached the front gate, she turned to him, tears in her eyes but her voice strong.

"Don't come here again. Do you hear me? I don't want to see you. I don't want to hear your voice. Not now. Maybe not ever."

Sparsh stood frozen, the rain still falling on both of them. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ragini raised her hand to stop him.

"You chose not to trust me when it mattered. And now it's too late. Saying sorry won't fix the damage you caused."

She turned and walked back inside, closing the gate behind her.

Sparsh didn't move. He just stood there, in the rain, watching the door she had disappeared behind—his heart breaking all over again.

Sparsh slowly sank down onto the wet road, right in front of her house. The rain had soaked through his clothes, but he didn't care. His eyes were fixed on the window of Ragini's room. The lights were still on.

He stared at that soft glow like it was his only hope.

He whispered to himself, "I know you still love me, Ragini. I saw it in your eyes... even through the anger."

He hugged his knees close to his chest and looked up at the window.

Inside, behind that light, Ragini stood hidden behind the curtain—watching him. Her hands trembled. Her heart ached. But her feet didn't move.

Ragini's parents watched from the window, their hearts heavy. Sparsh sat motionless in the rain, his clothes soaked, his eyes fixed on Ragini's window.

Her mother turned to her husband. "We can't just watch him sit there like this."

He nodded quietly. Together, they picked up two umbrellas—one to share, and one to give to Sparsh.

Stepping out into the rain, they walked slowly toward him, the soft patter of rain filling the silence. Their umbrella sheltered them both as they reached the gate. Her father held out the second umbrella toward Sparsh.

"Sparsh, come inside, son. You'll catch a fever like this."

Ragini's mother cried, "Please, for our sake. We"ll talk to Ragini. Come inside, you'll fall sick."

But Sparsh shook his head slowly. His eyes were tired, but his voice was firm.

"I hurt your precious daughter. I broke her trust... her heart. This is my punishment. I don't deserve comfort right now. I won't move from here until she talks to me."

Ragini's father said, "At least take this umbrella, son. You don't have to fall sick to show you're sorry."

Sparsh looked up, water dripping from his hair, his clothes clinging to his body like the weight of his guilt.

"I appreciate it, but no. I can't take it. I don't deserve it. I hurt your daughter. I broke her trust. This is the least I can do—to wait. If I go inside, it's like I'm asking to be forgiven too soon. I'll stay here... until she chooses to talk to me."

Ragini's parents exchanged a glance, moved by his words, but said nothing. Her father placed the umbrella beside him, just in case, and gently patted Sparsh's shoulder.

Without another word, they turned and walked back inside, glancing back one last time at their son-in-law sitting in the rain—for love, for guilt, for redemption.

Ragini sat on the edge of her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Her eyes were red from crying, and the sound of rain tapping against the window only made her heart feel heavier. She hadn't moved since she'd stormed back into her room, but her thoughts kept circling back to Sparsh—sitting outside in the cold rain.

Just then, there was a soft knock at her door. Her parents stepped in, carrying gentle expressions on their faces.

Her mother sat beside her while her father stood near the window.

Ma said, "He's still sitting there, Ragini. Soaked. Shivering. Waiting."

Papa held her hand and squeezed it, "We took him an umbrella. He refused. Said he'd stay until you speak to him."

Ragini looked away, her jaw tightening.

"I didn't ask him to sit there. He's the one who didn't trust me when it mattered. Why should I talk to him now?"

Ma said, "Because he's hurting. And so are you. You both loved each other deeply. What happened was terrible, but turning your back on love completely won't heal your pain."

Papa patted her hair and said, "He made a terrible mistake. Yes. And he knows it. But Ragini, he's not here for pity—he's here because he can't carry the weight of what he's done without trying to make it right."

Ragini's lips quivered, her voice barely a whisper.

Ragini:
"But he broke me, Papa. He didn't even let me speak... and now... now I don't know if I can face him without falling apart."

Her mother took her hand and said, "Then fall apart in front of him. Let him see the damage he caused. Sometimes, healing begins when the truth is finally heard—with nothing held back."

Her father stepped closer, his voice calm but sincere. "We're not asking you to forgive him. Just talk. Say what's in your heart. Whether it leads to peace or closure—at least you'll have spoken your truth."

There was a long silence.

Finally, Ragini wiped her tears and stood up slowly. She looked toward the window, then toward the door.

Her parents exchanged a hopeful glance as she walked past them, unsure of what she would say—but ready to say something at last.