Tying The Knot With Ex's Brother

FORGIVEN, NOT FORGOTTEN

A soft knock on the door stirred the stillness in the room.

Ragini turned her head. Her mother's gentle voice followed.

"Ragini, it's late. You both should get some rest now. And... we've informed Sparsh's parents. So you don't need to worry."

Her mother hesitated for a moment longer, as if she wanted to say something else. But instead, she offered a faint, tired smile and turned toward the door.

At the threshold, she paused and looked back. "Try to rest, both of you. It's been a long day."

They both nodded silently.

They lay side by side, facing away from each other. The silence was heavier now. Not uncomfortable-but uncertain. Wounded hearts still learning how to beat beside one another again.

After several long minutes, Sparsh slowly turned to face Ragini. He watched her back rise and fall with each steady breath. He hesitated, then gently placed his hand on her back, his fingers trembling slightly.

She froze at his touch.

After a moment, Sparsh moved closer and rested his forehead lightly against her back.

Ragini didn't turn. Shele simply closed her eyes and let the silence wrap around them.

"I'm sorry," Sparsh whispered into the quiet, his voice barely more than a breath. "For everything."

Ragini felt her heart grow heavy at his apology, the weight of his words sinking deep into the quiet between them. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came-only the ache of everything they had been through.

So instead, she simply turned toward Sparsh and said, "Let's talk tomorrow. It's late."

He looked at her for a moment, searching her eyes for something-resentment, forgiveness, anything.

He then nodded and slowly loosened his embrace, letting her rest without pressure.

No more words were spoken. Just the sound of rain outside...

The night passed quietly, wrapped in the hush of rain and the warmth of unsaid things. Sleep came slowly but gently. When the first light of dawn slipped through the curtains, soft and golden, it found them no longer apart.

Ragini was the first to wake up. The morning felt quiet and calm around her. She slowly opened her eyes and was taken aback. Sparsh's arms were around her, holding her close, protective but gentle, as if even in sleep he was afraid of letting go. Her face rested lightly against his chest, their legs tangled beneath the blanket.

She didn't move. Instead, she let the moment settle around her. His heartbeat was steady, familiar. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

Sparsh shifted slightly, his arms instinctively tightening around her as he woke up.

His voice, still hoarse with sleep, murmured against her hair. "You're awake?"

She nodded, not lifting her head. "Yeah."

He didn’t speak again, and neither did she. They just lay there. A minute passed. Then two. Slowly, Ragini pulled away and Sparsh looked at her with love and sadness.

"I'll go for a shower. They must be waiting for us."

He saw her taking out some clothes from her wardrobe and then sliding into the bathroom. He continued lying on the bed and hoped for the best.

Ragini stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a soft pink suit. She looked at him briefly and said in a quiet, steady voice, "You should shower too."

Ragini walked over to the cupboard, pulled out a neatly folded set of clothes, and handed them to him without meeting his eyes.

"You left these here… last time," she said softly.

Sparsh took them silently. Clutching the clothes, he gave a small nod and headed toward the bathroom without a word.

When Sparsh stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from his shower, his eyes immediately found Ragini. She was fully dressed, her soft pink suit glowing in the morning light, her soft hair falling gently over her shoulders. She looked beautiful—graceful, calm, and heartbreakingly familiar.

But then again, she always looked beautiful.

It wasn't just the way she looked—it was the weight of time, the distance between them, and the ache of not having seen her like this for so long. Something in his chest tightened.

Without thinking, he crossed the room in a few quick steps and wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her close, his voice trembling.

"I love you," he whispered, his breath warm against her shoulder. "I love you more than anything. I'm sorry, Ragini... for everything I've done to hurt you. For not listening. For not trusting you."

She didn't speak. But she didn't pull away either.

His hold tightened slightly, his voice breaking with desperation. "Hate me if you need to. Be angry, be cold… but please, don't leave me. I can't lose you. Not again. Please, come back to me."

There was silence, except for the sound of their breathing.

Ragini slowly turned to face him, her eyes steady and filled with restrained emotion.

"Do you remember what you called me that day?" she asked quietly. "Or should I remind you?"

Sparsh dropped to his knees, his hands clutching the edge of her kurta as he bowed his head to her feet. His shoulders trembled as quiet sobs escaped him.

"I know I can't take back what I said… or what I did," he choked out. "But all I can do now is beg for your forgiveness. Please, Ragini… forgive me."

Ragini slowly knelt down beside him, her eyes filled with pain that hadn't yet faded.

"I forgave you last night, Sparsh," she said softly, her voice trembling. "But tell me… how do I forget that you called me a slut?"

Her words hung heavy in the air, cutting deeper than silence ever could.

Sparsh flinched, his eyes filling with fresh guilt. "I didn't mean it… I was angry, confused—"

"That doesn’t excuse it,” Ragini said, her voice steady. "You looked me in the eye and called me that. You broke something in me, Sparsh."

He bowed his head. "I know. And I'll never forgive myself for it. But I'll spend every day trying to earn back your trust… your heart."

Ragini's expression softened, though her pain lingered. "I forgave you. But forgetting… that will take time."

He nodded, tears slipping down his cheeks. "I'll wait. As long as it takes."

A quiet knock came at the door. Her mother’s voice followed, "Ragini… Sparsh’s parents are here."