Prologue

  Dark clouds loomed grimly in the sky, casting an eerie shadow over the land. The air grew heavy, thicker than usual, and the place that should have been felt alive with noise stood unnervingly quiet.

Inside the house, Dhanrajgir Mansion was enveloped in grief as the family mourned the loss of Raghav Dhanrajgir and his wife Payal Dhanrajgir. Twelve days had passed since the couple lost their lives in a car accident. Leaving behind a void in the heart of the family that nothing could ever truly fill.

Once a lively and bustling house. Now there was a silence, broken only by quiet sobs and mourning of those left behind.

Ronit Dhanrajgir, elder brother of Raghav and patriarch of the Dhanrajgir family, sat in front of the sacred pyre performing the Havan. A man who is the pillar of his family, known for his strength and controlling nature, always taking charge, set in his ways.

Today, his heart was filled with sorrow. As Ronit’s hand offered grains into the sacred fire, the flames danced, and the smoke rose, while his thoughts spiraled with a mix of emotions.

Raghav was not just his younger brother but his confidant, his best friend, and the one who was there to shoulder his burdens in the darkest of times.

Ronit’s eyes misted ever so slightly before he swallowed down his tears. He believed in keeping his emotions on a tight leash. His brother’s voice echoed in his ears, the laughter they shared, the promises they made, and the bond between them; everything faded away in the background, becoming a memory that will be engraved on his heart forever.

The Pandit (Priest) sitting beside Ronit asked the family members to come forward and pay their respects.

Sakshi Dhanrajgir, Ronit’s wife and Payal’s sister-in-law, stepped forward, her glassy eyes reflecting her inner turmoil.

Sakshi was a woman of contrasts. The lady had an aura that demanded respect and attention, fierce and commanding. A woman whose standards were high. She expected nothing less than excellence and perfection, whether it be at home or work, and that was enough to admire as well as instill fear in everyone around her.

As she offered grains into the sacred fire, the sadness and anguish were palpable, but behind it all, there was a glint of fury in her eyes. The grief she felt was intense, but so was the anger that coursed through her veins, yet she kept her emotions in check, if not for herself, then for the sister-in-law, who was more of a sister to her and the brother-in-law she had lost.

Arjun, the second eldest son of Ronit and Sakshi, looked on as his mother stepped back, and he moved towards the sacred pyre.

At twenty-five, he is a young man who keeps his feelings blunt and to the point rather than beating around the bush or wearing a mask. He believes in facing situations head-on, no matter how harsh or unpleasant the reality might feel.

As grains spilled into the sacred fire, his eyes displayed a cold distant look. There was no sorrow in those dark hazel orbs, except for the emptiness filled with disdain. Though his heart berated him for his unpleasant thoughts, he knew well what Raghav and Payal were like, or better yet, even his siblings knew it.

Except for his parents, who were blinded by love or truth, to be told they were just like them, unable to accept their true nature.

Abhishek, who stood at a distance, looked at Arjun, his elder brother, who signaled him to do the needful.

Abhishek’s eyes hardened as he gazed at the pyre.

One can’t deny the harsh realities in front of them. The lessons that should have been learned outside the house in the real world, thanks to Raghav and Payal. At 16, they give him a closure to see cruel the world can be, stranger or family no one truly cares!

His fist clenched as he tried to squash the ongoing storm within him. The rituals and the solemn faces, everything felt like a facade to him.

Arjun stepped forward, and Abhishek met his brother’s gaze. The communication in silence spoke volumes about the bond they shared.

Abhishek tilted his head to the side, glancing at Radhika, their younger sister, who stood there silently. With teary eyes and a face devoid of any emotions, a scene that broke his heart and added fuel to his anger.

What was he supposed to feel for those who were so unkind and indifferent towards their own daughter?

How could he muster the feeling of sorrow for the individuals who had inflicted so much emotional pain on his fifteen-year-old sister just because they thought they could?

The flickering flames of the sacred fire seemed to mock his inner turmoil. He felt a surge of anger and frustration. A family bound by traditional beliefs and superficial appearances mourned for the loss of people who had sown the seeds of bitterness and discord.

The brothers knew that their thoughts were inhuman, but also their reality; they couldn’t feign the emotions they didn’t even feel.

“Radha,” Arjun called out to his sister softly.

Radha looked up at him blankly. She tried to unsee the truth, the reality in front of her eyes, but the more she tried, the more it bore down on her, making it impossible to escape the pain she was feeling.

Arjun stepped forward and held her wrist gently, guiding his sister towards the sacred fire. His eyes scanned the room, looking for his elder brother, Mahir. Not finding him, he took it as a sign that he might be out handling the guests.

Just as Radha took two steps forward, letting Arjun guide her, Sakshi blocked her way.

Radha looked up at her Badi maa. The glint in Sakshi’s eyes made her step back, but Arjun held her in place.

Sakshi glared at her son and spoke harshly, “Take her to her room. Right Now.”

Arjun ignored his mother’s words and walked past Sakshi, still holding Radha’s hand, walking towards the Havan.

With two long strides, Sakshi closed the distance. Turning to Arjun harshly, she delivered a tight slap on his face, making everyone in the room gasp in shock.

“Didn’t you understand when I said it the first time?” Sakshi fumed. “I SAID TAKE HER TO HER ROOM!”

Arjun glared at his mother, “The ones who aren’t with us today. They weren’t just your sister or brother-in-law. They were Radha’s parents too...”

“The same parents she killed,” Sakshi spat, her glare fixed on Radhika.

Radhika stepped back with a gasp. Her eyes welled up tears.

“N-no... no, Badi Maa. I didn’t...” Her words trailed off as Sakshi slapped her hard.

“MOM!” Arjun fumed, pushing Radha behind his back.

“Don’t you dare yell at me!” Sakshi snapped, pointing at her son.

“I asked you to take her to her room, but you dared to defy my words. “

“And you...” Pushing Arjun aside, she grabbed Radhika by her arms, “What did you say? You didn't do anything? Did you forget? Payal never wanted to leave, but you kept insisting until she agreed. And now you expect me to believe in that innocent look on your face?” She slapped Radhika all over again without any remorse.

Arjun tried stepping in between to stop his mother, but ended up being collateral damage as Sakshi pushed him aside.

Radhika winced in pain as Sakshi’s nails dug into her arms, who shook her violently.

“You think you can manipulate everyone with your tears, but you are wrong, Radhika. You can’t fool me. You are the reason Payal isn’t with us anymore. You are the reason my brother-in-law is gone....”

Just as she raised her hand to strike Radhika again, a firm hand held her wrist, stopping her.

“Leave my hand, Mahir,” Sakshi ordered, glaring at her elder one.

Mahir let go of his mother’s hand before pushing Radhika behind him, locking his eyes with Sakshi.

“Do you even realize what you are doing, Maa?” His icy tone sliced through the air.

Sakshi fumed, “What? Did I say something wrong? I only spoke the truth! It’s all because of this girl. Our family is mourning today is all because of her…” She took a threatening step towards Radhika.

But Mahir stepped back as Radha clutched his T-shirt from behind.

“Enough, Maa.” Mahir’s voice was polite yet steely.

He had just been outside, talking to the guests, when Abhishek came running, prompting him to rush in. Shock would be an understatement for what he saw before him.

His parents were cruel; he had seen it before. Yet every time, the reality felt like a slap to his face. How could his mother blame a 15-year-old girl for something that was beyond anyone’s control, and the fact that something she hadn’t even done?

How could his father be so quiet?  But then, it had always been like that.

“You are too caught up in your emotions, Maa, to understand what you are saying and doing.” Mahir continued, “This isn’t the way to handle things. You are hurting Radha with your actions when we should be standing with her.”

Sakshi’s anger flared. “I am hurting her? She has…”

“Radha,” Mahir called out softly, interjecting Sakshi’s words. “Bacche, aapne room mai jaa Abhi ke sath (Bacche, go to your room with Abhi). I will be there soon.”

Radha nodded without a word and ran up the stairs, followed by Abhishek.

If it had been sadness or grief, Radha would have ignored Sakshi’s words.

But hate.... Even after so many years, the pure soul of hers couldn’t digest the fact that her own family elders hated her. Eventually, Sakshi’s accusation broke her.

Radha closed the door to her room, locking it behind her, even before Abhi could enter.

Picking up the vase, she hurled it onto the floor harshly. And just like that, she began throwing everything, one by one, with the same intensity.

Her heart ached, and tears streamed down her face as Sakshi’s words rang in her ears on repeat. Her breath grew uneven as the realization dawned upon her.

Gloomy thoughts created havoc, raging war in between her mind and heart.

Soon, Mahir would think the same.
Then Arjun.
Then Abhi.
Soon, her brothers will hate her.

They would leave her. They would blame her. They would distance themselves. They would abandon her, just like her parents and her Badi Maa, Bade Papa did.

Radha’s fingers grasped her throat, desperately trying to breathe, but she felt choked.

Even in the room full of oxygen, with the windows open, she felt suffocated. Unable to feel anything except for the darkness ready to consume her alive.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor with a thud, clutching the bedsheet and leaning against the bed as she gasped out loud.

“Radha, darwaja khol! (Radha, open the door!).” Mahir’s voice penetrated through her thoughts.

Radha tried to move, but her legs felt shackled and her body bound.

Once again, she gasped loudly for breath.

“Radha, Bacche, open the door, please...” Mahir pleaded, banging on it.

“Radhika!”

Mahir almost yelled, but the only response was the crashing sound from inside, which panicked him further.

Arjun rushed to the side table in the corridor, grabbed the spare keys, and hurried back to unlock the door.

Mahir’s eyes widened as he saw Radha struggling to breathe the moment Arjun swung the door open.

He rushed to her side, pulling her into his warmth.

“Radha... Radha, look at me,” Mahir coaxed gently.

Arjun hastily fetched the medicine from the drawer and passed it to Mahir.

Mahir took out the pills and helped Radha gulp them, making her drink water as her hands trembled. Her body automatically leaned heavily against him. He held her in place, wrapping his arms around her shoulders protectively.

His eyes glinted with anger. Ten years and his sister had suffered enough.  Earlier, he had been bound by so many reasons, but today, Mahir was determined to break free from everything that once held him back.

He was determined to heal his sister, no matter who came in his way. But the question was...

Will he be able to heal someone who was beyond repair?

 

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