She only laughs harder. “What? Don’t tell me you’re still not aware of that. Or that you don’t have those same feelings for him.”
Her smile only deepens as I stay silent.
“I might not say it aloud, but I can see everything that has been happening between the two of you these past few days.” Her voice softens. “I’m happy that things are progressing.”
She is?
“I know the way your marriage began wasn’t ideal, Siya,” she continues gently. “Sometimes life takes us down the wrong path before leading us to the right destination. And I truly believe Raghav is the right guy for you. He may not be very open about what he feels, and that’s okay. Men like him don’t express themselves through grand speeches. They reveal their hearts in the little things, in the ordinary moments, when they think no one is watching.”
I lower my eyes.
“Now we both know his intentions were never wrong. Whatever happened... happened because he wanted to protect you and couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. A man doesn’t become this protective or possessive without reason. He becomes like this when his feelings run deeper than he himself realises. I’m telling you this from my own experience. The kindof feelings Raghav has for you don’t come easily, Siya. There are women who marry the man they love and still spend their entire lives wishing to be loved with even half the intensity that he loves you.”
She cups my cheek.
“You both deserve happiness. He deserves everything life has stolen from him, and so do you.” She smiles again before asking, “Do you remember how you used to dream about your prince charming?”
I laugh softly.
“I used to think men like that only existed in fairy tales. But today, when I look at Raghav, strangely enough, I don’t think anyone else could fit into that place better than your own Dark Prince.”
Warmth creeps into my cheeks.
“So now listen to me carefully.” She gently holds my hands. “If you have feelings for him, don’t spend your life hiding from them.” Then she pulls me into a hug and kisses my forehead. “I’m so happy for you, Siya.”
I am happy too.
“Now stop worrying and go find your husband.” She gently nudges me towards the hallway. “Whatever is keeping him away... bring him home.”
With that, Mom disappears into her bedroom. I simply stand there watching her. Until now, I’d kept brushing aside every emotion growing inside me, convincing myself it was too soon, too complicated, too impossible. But hearing Mom say those words aloud feels different. As though she has gently spoken the truth I’ve been too afraid to acknowledge myself.
When did this happen? When did Raghav stop beingjustthe man I was married to? When did his smile begin affecting my mood, his silence began bothering me, and his happiness somehow became tied to mine?
I honestly don’t remember. All I know is that when I imagine home now, I think of him. When I imagine tomorrow, he’s there too… standing beside me, arguing with me, teasing me, protecting me, making me lose my patience, making me laugh, and making this strange, impossible marriage slowly begin to feel like the life I never knew I wanted.
That future doesn’t scare me anymore. Mom is right. Maybe life really did take us through the wrong roads before bringing us exactly where we were meant to be.
A man I once wanted nothing to do with… is now the only one I can picture spending the rest of my life with.
I really am in trouble.Sweet trouble.
Taking a deep breath, I pull out my phone. There’s only one person who would definitely know where Raghav is.Haider.
The call barely rings twice before he answers.
“Where’s Raghav?” I ask.
A short pause follows before he sighs. “Raghav specifically told me that if you called, I shouldn’t tell you where he is.”
“What?” I almost laugh in disbelief. “Seriously? After everything I did for you and Esha?”
“And what exactly did you do for us?” he asks, confused.
“I made Raghav talk to you about Esha and find out how you feel about her. Which means I opened up your path towards your love story... and now you’re blocking mine?”
The words leave my mouth before I even realise what I’ve admitted. Haider suddenly laughs, and I freeze. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh like that before. A smile slowly spreads across my face too. Love really does change people. No matter how stubborn, reserved, or stone-hearted someone appears, the moment they allow another person into their heart, something softens inside them. Even Haider isn’t an exception.
“He’s at the Clay House,” he finally says.
