The Royal Contract

Shattered Bonds

The air between them was thick with tension, an invisible wall growing higher with every unspoken word.

Rajveer stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of their bedroom, his fingers curled into fists, his jaw clenched tight. The city lights flickered in the distance, but inside, it was suffocatingly dark. Meher stood near the dresser, her arms crossed, her eyes blazing with unshed tears.

“How long, Rajveer?” Her voice trembled, but her stance was firm. “How long were you going to keep me in the dark?”

Rajveer exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. “Meher, it’s not what you think—”

“Oh, really?” she cut him off, stepping closer, her eyes flashing with hurt. “Because it seems pretty clear to me. You don’t trust me.”

He turned to face her, his own frustration bubbling over. “It’s not about trust! It’s about protecting you, Meher!”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Protecting me? Or protecting yourself from the truth?”

Rajveer flinched at her words, his heart hammering against his ribs. He had never seen her this hurt before. Never felt her slipping away from him like this.

“You don’t understand,” he muttered, his voice lower now, strained with emotion. “I didn’t want to burden you with things that could put you in danger.”

Meher’s hands clenched at her sides. “Danger?” she repeated, her voice rising. “What kind of danger, Rajveer? You don’t think I deserve to know? I am your wife!”

The word wife cut through the air, heavier than either of them had expected. A reminder of the bond they had forged, the vows they had taken. And yet, here they stood—on opposite sides, as if the foundation of their marriage was crumbling beneath them.

“I did it for us,” Rajveer insisted, stepping closer, but Meher took a step back. The distance between them had never felt this vast.

“No, Rajveer,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “You did it for yourself. Because deep down, you still don’t believe I can handle the truth.”

Silence.

Rajveer felt the weight of her words crush him. She was right. He had made decisions on his own, assuming it was best for her, without ever giving her a choice.

Meher wiped at her eyes angrily, refusing to let the tears fall. “I need space,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need to think.”

Rajveer’s heart sank. “Meher, please—”

But she turned away, walking out of the room before he could say another word.

And for the first time in his life, Rajveer Rathore felt truly alone.

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