Dev’s dad steps forward. “How dare you decide what my son deserves? Talk about your own actions. You’re the one who filed an FIR.”
“Yes. And I am not guilty about it,” I shoot back, refusing to flinch.
His eyes blaze. “I’ve had enough of you dragging my family’s name through the mud. This time, I’ll make sure you’re punished.”
A chill runs through me, but I refuse to let it show, just as Dev speaks up. “Dad, no.”
“You will not interfere today!” his dad thunders. “She will leave this house immediately. I will not have her under my roof.”
Samarth, who has been quiet until now, grips my wrist. “Let’s go, Meera. You don’t need to stay here.”
“Yeah, Bhabhi, listen to your friend and get the hell out of here,” Veer sneers, a smug curl lifting his mouth. “Unless you’re itching to drag yourself into even more trouble.”
“Enough!” Dev roars. In one swift, furious motion, he yanks Samarth’s hand off my wrist and steps between us. “The only reason you’re still breathing is because of my wife. But don’t mistake my patience for weakness. If I can tolerate you for hersake, don’t think I won’t act the moment you even think of taking her away from me.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Rathore.”
A voice interrupts us, and I turn to see a tall, dark, muscular man in his forties standing a few feet away.
“Raghav, come in,” Dev signals.
I shoot him a questioning look, and Dev explains, “He’s a private investigator. I hired him to find out about your attack.”
A heavy knot of shame settles in my stomach.He hired someone? He was trying to uncover the truth?And I doubted him, convinced he would side with his brother… while all along he was doing everything a husband should do.
Raghav steps up beside us and gives a nod to everyone in the room.
“Raghav, what news do you have?” Dev asks.
“It wasn’t a targeted attack, Mr. Rathore,” Raghav begins, his tone cool and professional. “The attacker was already on the run from the police. He was involved in a robbery, and when he saw Mrs. Rathore, he panicked and tried to harm her, thinking she might alert the cops.”
Dev glances at me, the sting of hurt in his eyes twisting my heart with pain.
Samarth clears his throat. “If you’re saying it was a random accident, then what about the note Meera received?”
“As for the note, it was actually from Mrs. Rathore’s father, not the attacker,” Raghav reveals.
“What?” I whisper.
“It was from your father, Mrs. Rathore,” Raghav repeats.
I shake my head. “No… that’s not possible. Why would my dad send me a note with Samarth’s name on it?”
“Well, that’s something only your dad can answer, Mrs. Rathore,” Raghav replies.
“Call your dad and put him on speaker,” Dev says.
I nod, my hands suddenly icy as I pull my phone from my bag. I dial my dad’s number and put it on speaker.
“Meera, beta,” Papa says the moment he answers.
I inhale shakily. “Papa… did you send me a note? The one with Samarth’s name on it?”
There’s a startled pause on the other side, then he exhales heavily. “I… I did, beta. I was missing you. I wanted to see you so badly. You hadn’t been calling, and you didn’t come to meet us. I was worried sick. I thought I’d come myself and give you a surprise. That’s why I sent the note with Samarth’s name. But before I could meet you, your mom pulled me away, saying not to do anything that might get you into trouble. She said you would contact us when you were able to.”
The room feels eerily silent as his words sink in.
My eyes slip shut. “Papa…”
