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This chap is affectionately dedicated to Chimera1206 -
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"Too many thoughts for one brain, too many anxieties for one heart..................."

The moon cast a silvery glow over the common balcony, where Vatsal and Vishal stood, leaning against the railing. The night was still, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence. Vishal had just finished his work call and now turned his attention to his younger brother.

“You got quite late,” Vishal remarked, his tone neutral but carrying a hint of concern. “Though Dad didn’t say anything, his annoyance was hard to miss.”

Vatsal shook his head slightly, as if the news didn’t surprise him. “I kind of purposely came late to avoid any interaction with him. I already had a quite eventful day.”

Vishal sighed, understanding the tension that always seemed to hover between Vatsal and their father. “If Dad says anything in the morning, just hear him out. Cross-questioning won’t be favourable.”

Vatsal frowned, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “So that means, in the fear of that, I should forever be a coward?”

Vishal shook his head. “In front of parents, if one doesn’t question much, that doesn’t mean he’s a coward. That’s called honoring.”

Vatsal laughed hollowly, a bitter edge to his voice. “Honoring, wow!”

Seeing the sour expression on Vatsal’s face, Vishal placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Everything will be fine. Don’t be like this now.”

Vatsal shrugged off Vishal’s hand, his voice sharp. “I can’t be like you. Neither do I want to be like you.”

The talk went on till late at night, their conversation oscillating between moments of heated exchanges and quiet reflections. Eventually, Vatsal felt the exhaustion of the day catch up with him. He bid his brother goodnight and returned to his room.

As he entered, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. The room was familiar, yet it felt different. He was used to seeing it disarranged, a kind of empty playground that reflected his chaotic mind. But now, it was neatly arranged and occupied. Shubhita had made it her own, and the presence of her belongings subtly marked her territory.

Vatsal stood in the doorway for a moment, taking it all in. He couldn’t deny the small pang of loss he felt for the disarray that had once been his sanctuary. Now, it was a shared space, and that meant acknowledging the changes both in his environment and in his life.

He quietly made his way to the bed, careful not to disturb Shubhita, who was already asleep. As he lay down, he glanced at her peaceful face, feeling a mix of emotions. There was so much left unsaid between them, and he knew that bridging the gap would require more than just words.

With a heavy sigh, Vatsal once again chanced a glance at Shubhita. Just then Shubhita’s eyes opened up as she sensed a shift in the mattress when Vatsal climbed into bed. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the moon filtering through the curtains, casting a delicate light on the walls.

“Shubhita,” Vatsal started, his voice hesitant. “I...”

She didn’t let him finish. “You should rest. It’s been a long day,” she said, her tone neutral. She knew they needed to talk, but the weight of the day’s events left her too drained to engage.

Vatsal sighed, recognizing her reluctance. “Yeah, you’re right. Go back to sleep.”

She quickly turned her back towards him, as if facing him while sleeping would bring her nightmares. The distance between them felt insurmountable, a chasm filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

Vatsal lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of the day and the strained interactions with his family. The silence in the room was thick with tension, making it hard to find any sense of peace.

As Shubhita lay there, she closed her eyes, trying to block out the turmoil in her mind. She was too tired to confront their issues now, but she knew they couldn’t avoid the conversation forever. For now, she just wanted to escape into sleep, hoping that tomorrow would be a different day, a less harder day.

Vatsal, on the other hand, found it difficult to relax. The neatness of the room, the presence of Shubhita so close yet so distant, everything seemed to emphasize how much had changed.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and Vatsal’s eyes grew heavy. As he drifted off to sleep, his last thought was of Shubhita and the hope that somehow, they could find a way to make things right.

_

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_

The next day, Vatsal woke up late, around 10:30. He found the room empty, the other side of the bed neatly made. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten properly the night before. He quickly brushed his teeth and headed out of his room, calling for his mother and asking for breakfast.

“Maa... Maa...”

In the hall, his mother sat with his father. Mr. Kashyap was recounting an anecdote about how his father used to cycle 7 kilometers daily to reach his workplace.

“Maa, I’m hungr...” Vatsal’s voice lowered as he entered the hall, seeing his father looking directly at him.

“Sit first,” his mother responded immediately, then turned a pointed look at Shubhita. “Now, do I need to send you a special invitation?”

Before Mrs. Kashyap could finish, Shubhita got up to head to the kitchen, understanding her mother-in-law wanted her to serve Vatsal.

Mr. Kashyap took the opportunity to indirectly taunt, “It’s astonishing. Others are preparing for lunch, and some are still worrying about breakfast.”

Vatsal, feeling both hungry and frustrated, responded immediately, “One shouldn’t have to make indirect taunts, especially in their own house. I won’t be depending on this food much longer, don’t worry, since I’ll leave for Noida tomorrow. I’m not being paid to stay here and depend on your food after all.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick. Mrs. Kashyap’s face tightened with disapproval, but she said nothing. Mr. Kashyap’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing at his son’s defiance. Shubhita, who had just entered the kitchen, paused at Vatsal’s words. She resumed preparing his breakfast, her mind racing. She appreciated Vatsal standing up for himself, but worried about the consequences.

As she brought the breakfast to the table, she heard her father-in-law pointedly ask her husband, “Oh really? I’d like to know about the palace you’ve built in Noida that you’re so proud of. It’s details please!”

Vatsal’s eyes flashed with anger. “Enough, Dad, enough. Don’t interfere in my stuff when I do not do so in yours. And as for my ‘palace’ in Noida, it’s a thousand times better than your this palace. At least there, no one is constantly putting others down or making snide remarks.”

His mother interjected, her voice trembling with concern, “Vasu, what are you saying?”

“I’m speaking the truth, Maa. It’s far better for me to live on the streets than stay here. Most fathers do everything for their children, but all I ever get from him are taunts.”

“These disrespectful talks of yours are something I absolutely dislike,” Mr. Kashyap retorted, his voice rising.

“And what do you like about me?” Vatsal shot back.

Mr. Kashyap leaned forward, his tone cutting. “What have you ever done that I would like you? You always run away from every task and responsibility.”

Vatsal’s face tightened with hurt and defiance. “I heard that parents’ love is unconditional, but it seems yours always came with conditions for me. But no matter, this house, this palace of yours, and your these followers – you can have it all. I’m leaving right now only instead of waiting for tomorrow morning.”

“You’re only fit to wander the streets. Go wherever you want, but you’ll take this responsibility with you too,” his father said, looking pointedly at Shubhita. Everyone’s eyes followed his gaze.

His mother immediately interrupted, her voice firm, “Shubhi will not go anywhere, she’ll stay here.”

“Fine, keep her then,” Vatsal snapped back with disinterest.

Mr. Kashyap’s voice was like steel. “I’ve already said, if he’s leaving this time, he has to take Shubhita with him. Otherwise, no one is going anywhere.”

“Is this even a decision?” Mrs. Kashyap, desperate, addressed her husband,

Mr. Kashyap’s eyes bore into his wife. “Shubhita is not some prize you can hand out. She will stay with the person she’s meant to live her life with. And it’s final. She will stay with her husband or go back to her own home.”

Mrs. Kashyap pleaded, “Just send her back to her own home then. Don’t burden Vatsal with this responsibility right now.”

Mr. Kashyap’s voice was cold. “And who gave you the right to make this decision, Ranjana?”

Vatsal, seething with anger, cut in, “You don’t have the right either, Dad. Only Shubhita and I will decide where we will reside.” He impatiently turned to Shubhita, “Shubhita, come on, decide right now.”

The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone’s eyes turned to Shubhita, waiting for her decision. She felt a rush of panic rise within her chest, her mind racing but finding no clear thoughts. She couldn’t really understand anything, couldn’t get a handle on the situation. It had all escalated way too fast. At her own home, nobody used to talk like this. Playful banter was common, but not seething arguments filled with such venom.

Shubhita stood frozen, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the edge of the dining table. Her gaze darted around the room, catching the expectant faces of her in-laws, her husband, and even the ticking wall clock which seemed to have stopped in it’s track, witnessing the family drama unfold.

“Shubhita,” Mrs. Kashyap’s voice broke through the thick tension, “say something, beta.”

Shubhita opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She felt like an outsider in this sudden storm of emotions and accusations. Her heart ached seeing Vatsal so angry and hurt, but she also felt the weight of her father-in-law’s stern expectations pressing down on her.

“Come on, Shubhita, decide,” Mr. Kashyap said, his voice laced with impatience.

She looked at Vatsal, who was still fuming, his eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and pain. She wanted to support him, to stand by his side, but the fear of worsening the situation made her hesitate.

“I... I don’t know,” she finally managed to whisper, her voice barely audible. “I can’t think right now.”

Vatsal’s expression softened for a moment, seeing her distress. “Shubhita, it’s ok, I didn’t mean to drag you into this,” he said, his tone gentler now.

Mrs. Kashyap stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. “Let’s all calm down. Shubhi, you don’t have to decide anything. Let’s give one another some time and everything will be fine.”

But Mr. Kashyap wasn’t ready to let it go. “No, she has to decide. We need to know where things stand.”

The pressure was unbearable. Shubhita felt like she was being torn in different directions, each pull demanding a part of her she wasn’t ready to give. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Vatsal again.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can’t think of anything properly right now.”

Vatsal took a deep breath, his anger simmering down as he saw her distress.

Mr. Kashyap’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, clearly displeased with the lack of a resolution.

Mrs. Kashyap looked relieved, stepping forward to put a comforting arm around Shubhita. “No worries! You go to your room.”

Shubhita nodded, grateful for the reprieve, but knowing deep down that this was only a temporary escape. The tension in the household wasn’t going to disappear overnight. They would have to face these issues eventually. But for now, all she could think about was finding a moment of peace amidst the chaos.

She rushed back to the room while Vatsal walked out of the house, without eating, needing space to clear his head. As he stepped outside, he took a deep breath, hoping to find some respite from the suffocating atmosphere inside.

Back in the hall, the silence lingered. Mrs. Kashyap looked at her husband, her eyes pleading for some understanding. Mr. Kashyap sighed deeply, shaking his head. “He needs to learn many things, especially respect,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Mrs Kashyap watched her husband silently, her heart heavy. She knew things couldn’t continue like this, but she felt powerless to change the dynamics of the household.

She turned her gaze to the closed door of Vatsal’s room. A wave of annoyance washed over her. This girl, she thought, was supposed to bring some semblance of peace and order, but instead, she seemed to be a constant source of friction.

She stood up and walked over there slowly. She knocked gently before entering, finding Shubhita sitting quietly by the window, staring out at Vatsal who was aimlessly taking a stroll in the empty building lawn.

“You don’t need to worry about all this. This is just a family argument. You know how these things can get,” Mrs. Kashyap said, her voice deceptively kind, taking a seat beside Shubhita.

Shubhita turned to her with sheer surprise.

Mrs. Kashyap sighed, her gaze momentarily dropping to her hands clasped in her lap. “I know today has been... difficult,” she began carefully. “Vatsal can be quite headstrong. He doesn’t always consider the consequences of his actions.”

Shubhita didn’t know how to respond to that, unsure where Mrs. Kashyap was leading with this conversation.

Studying Shubhita for a moment, Mrs Kashyap further added. “Things get a bit heated sometimes,” she began, her tone softening further. “But you see, Vatsal, being very impulsive, doesn’t always think things through.”

“I just want what’s best for my son,” Mrs. Kashyap continued, her eyes searching Shubhita’s face. “And for you too, of course. But sometimes, it’s important to tread carefully.”

Shubhita shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of Mrs. Kashyap’s words. She sensed a subtle attempt to sway her thoughts.

Mrs. Kashyap continued, her voice gentle but laden with concern. “You see, Vatsal lives in a small 1 BHK flat in Noida. It’s really not suitable for a girl like you.”

Shubhita furrowed her brows, listening intently.

“He barely has any furniture there, and the place lacks basic amenities,” Mrs. Kashyap elaborated, her tone tinged with disapproval. “Living there would be quite a downgrade from the comfort you’re used to here.”

Shubhita’s heart sank as Mrs. Kashyap painted a bleak picture of Vatsal’s living situation. She hadn’t realized it was so bare.

“And Vatsal, bless him, is so careless,” Mrs. Kashyap continued, shaking her head slightly. “You’d find yourself managing everything, from cooking to cleaning, with little help. It would be such a burden on you, Shubhi.”

Shubhita’s mind raced with Mrs. Kashyap’s words. She had always been independent, but the thought of struggling in an unfamiliar place weighed heavily on her.

“I just want what’s best for you,” Mrs. Kashyap added, her voice now tinged with urgency. “Staying here with us, you have everything you need. We can take care of you. Going to Noida... it would be such a hardship.”

Mrs. Kashyap patted her hand reassuringly, her touch calculated to convey warmth and authority. “I know you’ll make the right decisions. Just think about what I’ve said.” With that, Mrs. Kashyap stood up to leave, leaving Shubhita to ponder the implications of their conversation.

As Mrs. Kashyap closed the door behind her, a faint smile played on her lips—a small victory in her ongoing efforts to mould Shubhita’s decisions to fit her own vision of family harmony.

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This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.

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