Page 67 of Since You Stole My Heart

Dhruv chuckled, but there was no humour in it. ‘He has a way of effortlessly pushing people to that point.’

‘You say that like you know what it feels like.’

Dhruv sighed. ‘I do. When you grow up with someone like him, someone who can turn your emotions into a weapon, you learn to suppress it all. Though it’s harder on days like today. Did she say anything when you guys left after dinner?’

‘Just enough to thank me for closing her car door. That’s it,’ Swayam recalled, his chest feeling heavy. ‘It didn’t feel right seeing her like that.’

‘No, it didn’t,’ Dhruv agreed. ‘But that’s what Dad does to people, especially his own blood.’

Swayam shifted forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ‘How did you deal with it?’

‘I didn’t. Not really. I don’t think either of us got through those years without some scars to show for it.’

‘Is that why you care about them? Because you understand their pain?’

‘I care about them because they’re my sisters. Just because it’s complicated doesn’t make it any less real.’

‘Why didn’t you help them earlier then?’ Swayam asked, trying to understand.

‘I did, but I couldn’t make it obvious. If Dad had found out, it would have made things worse. So I did what I could without drawing attention to it. I know it wasn’t enough, but I’m not giving up. Siya and I are working things out, and things aren’t as tense as they used to be. But with Kashvi…’

‘Yeah, she doesn’t let people in easily,’ Swayam said, speaking from experience.

‘I know,’ Dhruv replied. ‘The kind of connection we have is difficult to put into words. It’s more like I recognise pieces of myself in her. I wish I could have been there for her.’

‘For what it’s worth, you were there today. That matters more than you think. If you hadn’t brought the NOCs, Karthik would have found a way to make our lives hell,’ Swayam said.

Dhruv brushed it off. ‘It was the least I could do.’

‘How did you know that’s what he’d threaten with?’

‘I know how he thinks. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s useful. I knew he’d go to the board members because he can control them, so I wanted to limit his options.’

Swayam hummed. ‘Well, you didn’t have to do this, and I don’t think anyone expected you to either. So thank you. Kashvi may not say it, but I’m sure it means a lot to her that you did this.’

‘Kashvi keeps me at a distance, and I can’t blame her for that, but I’d like to change it. Slowly, if that’s what it takes.’ Even without seeing him, Swayam could hear the vulnerability in his voice.

With a sigh, Dhruv added, ‘I called hoping to wish her, but I didn’t know if calling her directly was a good idea, so I thought I’d check with you first.’

Swayam glanced at his watch again as it ticked closer to midnight. ‘I’ve been sitting here trying to decide if I should knock on her door or just wait until morning.’

‘I know it’s futile, but I do wish he hadn’t done this the day before her birthday,’ Dhruv said, bitterness threading his voice.

Anger surged through Swayam as he recalled the cocky smirk on his father-in-law’s face in that meeting room. What he would have given for two minutes alone with the man, just so he could say exactly what was on his mind.

‘Karthik can do whatever he wants with his own life, but he doesn’t get to keep doing this to her. Not anymore,’ Swayam vowed. ‘We’re going to keep her away from him as much as we can. She needs space from all this toxicity if she’s ever going to heal.’

Dhruv was quiet for a moment before he said, ‘I understand.’

It was the quiet acceptance in his voice that made Swayam pause. He thought about it for a moment before finally saying, ‘I wasn’t including you in that.’

‘You weren’t?’ Dhruv asked, unable to hide his surprise.

Swayam sighed, trying to untangle his mixed feelings when it came to his brother-in-law. They had butted heads over the years, so civility didn’t come easily to him. ‘I won’t lie. A while ago, I might have. But over the last few months, you’ve given me reasons to reconsider that.’

‘That means more than you know,’ Dhruv said after a heavy pause.

‘I’ll let her know you called to wish her.’