CHAPTER LXVII
I stood frozen in the doorway, my breath caught in my throat. It felt like I had stepped into a nightmare I couldn't wake from. My father's words echoed in the air, sharp and merciless, and the judgment in everyone's eyes pierced through my brother like knives.
Manav didn't flinch. He stood there quietly, his hand brushing against the boy beside him for comfort, though their fingers didn't dare intertwine under the weight of so many hateful stares. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders squared as if to shield himself from the poison being hurled his way.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear through the suffocating silence, to shout at them that Manav had every right to love who he wanted, that Rama deserved freedom, that we all deserved to live without fear. But my voice felt trapped somewhere deep inside my chest. My hands trembled as I clutched the banister, knuckles white.
"Manav," my father said again, his voice booming, "This nonsense ends here. You're my son, and you will not shame this family."
Manav's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not shaming anyone," he said softly, though his voice shook. "I just… want to live my life. That's all."
My mother scoffed, tears brimming in her eyes—not of pain, but of anger and disappointment. The boy beside my brother shrank under their judgment, his head lowered, but he didn't step away. That simple act of bravery—standing by Manav's side—brought tears to my own eyes.
My heart pounded against my ribs. Rama's voice from just moments ago still rang in my ears: "Vedu, please, get me out of here…"
I was torn in two—one half of me wanted to run to her, to save her from the nightmare unfolding in her home, while the other half stood paralyzed, watching my brother's spirit being crushed in front of me.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.
"Papa," I finally whispered, my voice trembling. Everyone turned to look at me. I could feel their sharp gazes like arrows. "Please… stop talking to him like that."
"Vedehi," my father barked, his eyes narrowing at me. "You don't understand. This is wrong. He's sick. We will fix this."
Fix. That word felt like acid burning my skin. My chest tightened as I glanced at Manav, who stood there, silent, his pain so well hidden it made me want to cry. I knew what that word meant. I had heard the whispers about sending him away, about therapy, about "correction." The bile rose in my throat.
Suddenly, I couldn't stay silent anymore.
"You don't get to 'fix' him," I said, my voice shaking but louder this time. "He doesn't need fixing. He just needs you to love him."
The room fell silent for a moment. Everyone stared at me in shock, my words hanging in the air like a challenge.
But I didn't care. My heart was racing, tears welling up in my eyes, because I knew in that moment—between Rama's desperation and Manav's quiet bravery—that I would never forgive myself if I let them both suffer in silence.
That was the moment I decided I'd fight for all of us… no matter the cost.
That day, as I stood in my own home watching the fight erupt, I felt like the walls were closing in around me. Every word thrown across the room felt like a dagger, slicing deeper into a part of me I had tried so hard to protect. My chest tightened with fear—not just for my brother, but for myself. Somewhere deep down, I was terrified that one day, I too would be forced into a life I didn't want, trapped in chains I could never break, living a story that was never mine to write.
My father's face was red with rage, his voice booming through the house like thunder. But Manav… my brother stood tall, his voice calm but unshakable as he faced him. "I'm marrying RK," he said, every syllable steady and defiant. For a second, the world seemed to freeze. My father's eyes darkened with fury, my mother gasped, and a suffocating silence fell over the room.
Then, without another word, Manav turned away, his hand reaching for RK's. Their fingers intertwined, a small act of rebellion, but one that carried the weight of their entire lives. Together, they walked out of that house, out of that suffocating storm, leaving my parents standing in stunned disbelief.
Something inside me snapped awake in that moment. I couldn't let them go alone. I couldn't stay trapped here, paralyzed by fear, while Rama's desperate voice echoed in my head: "Vedu, please, get me out of here…"
I grabbed my bag and followed them out, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. The cool air outside hit my face like a slap, but I didn't stop. I ran until I caught sight of their car pulling away. Without thinking, I chased after them, waving my hands. "Stop! Wait!"
Manav slammed on the brakes, concern flashing across his face as I hurried to his window, breathless and trembling.
"I… I need your help," I gasped, tears stinging my eyes. "It's Rama. Her family… they're forcing her to marry a man twice her age because they found out she loves me. She called me, Manav… she's terrified. Please, I can't do this alone."
For a moment, my brother's expression softened, all the tension in his jaw melting into a look of deep understanding. He exchanged a glance with RK, who gave him a small nod, and then he reached over to unlock the door for me.
"Get in," he said, his voice firm, steady, the voice of someone who had already made up his mind.
As I slid into the backseat, my heart thudded in my chest—not from fear this time, but from a burning determination. That was the moment I knew… tonight, we wouldn't just save Rama. We'd save ourselves.
To be continue....