The Royal Contract

Broken Promises

Rajveer stood frozen in place, Meher’s words ringing in his ears like a death sentence.

I don’t even know if I trust you anymore.

The weight of those words crushed him, stealing the air from his lungs. He had spent years building an empire, forging his name in the corporate world with unwavering determination, but standing before the woman he loved, he felt powerless.

Meher turned her back to him, wrapping her arms around herself, as if shielding herself from the storm he had created.

“Meher…” he took a careful step forward. “I know I messed up. I should have told you everything from the beginning. I should have trusted you enough to—”

“To what?” she interrupted, spinning to face him. “To let me in? To believe that I deserved the truth?” Her voice cracked, the pain evident in her trembling words. “You think saying ‘I should have’ will fix everything, Rajveer?”

He exhaled heavily. “No, I know it won’t. But I don’t know how to make this right if you won’t even let me try.”

Meher let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You still don’t get it.”

Rajveer’s jaw clenched. “Then make me understand.”

She stared at him for a long moment, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Then, in a quiet voice, she asked, “Do you know what hurt the most?”

He swallowed hard. “Tell me.”

She took a deep breath, her fingers gripping the edge of her dupatta. “It wasn’t just the lies, Rajveer. It was the fact that you didn’t even consider me worthy of knowing the truth. That you thought I was too weak, too naive to handle it.”

“That’s not—” he started, but she cut him off with a look.

“Then why?” she whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Rajveer ran a hand through his hair, frustration and regret swirling inside him. “Because I was scared, Meher. I was scared of losing you.”

She let out a shaky breath. “Well, congratulations. You lost me anyway.”

---

The silence between them was unbearable.

Rajveer watched as Meher turned away from him again, as if looking at him was too painful. He wanted to fix this. He wanted to pull her into his arms, kiss away the hurt, and promise her that he would never make the same mistake again. But she wasn’t ready to hear that. And for the first time, he realized that maybe, just maybe, love alone wasn’t enough.

She needed trust.

She needed honesty.

And he had broken both.

“Meher,” he said again, softer this time. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how to make this right.”

She let out a hollow laugh. “You think there’s a quick fix for this, Rajveer? That one apology will magically erase everything?”

“No,” he admitted. “But I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

She finally turned to look at him, her eyes filled with an emotion he couldn’t quite place. “Then leave me alone.”

His heart clenched. “Meher—”

“I mean it.” Her voice was firm, unwavering. “I need time. I need space. And if you really care about me, if you really want to make this right, then you’ll give me that.”

Rajveer felt his chest tighten, but he nodded. “Okay.”

For the first time, he was letting go—not because he wanted to, but because it was the only way to hold on.

---

Three Days Later

Rajveer sat in his office, staring blankly at the contract in front of him. The words blurred together, his mind too distracted to focus. Ever since Meher had asked for space, he had given it to her. But every passing day felt like torture.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. His younger brother, Aryan, stepped in, his usual playful smirk missing.

“You look like shit,” Aryan said, plopping down in the chair across from him.

Rajveer sighed, rubbing his temples. “Thanks for the observation.”

Aryan leaned forward, studying him. “So… what’s the plan?”

Rajveer frowned. “What plan?”

“To win her back, obviously.”

Rajveer exhaled sharply. “She asked for space, Aryan. I can’t force her to come back.”

Aryan rolled his eyes. “Dude, this isn’t some business deal where you sit back and wait for negotiations. This is your wife we’re talking about. The woman you love.”

Rajveer clenched his jaw. “And what do you suggest I do? Show up at her parents’ house and beg?”

Aryan shrugged. “If that’s what it takes.”

Rajveer ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple.”

Aryan leaned back, crossing his arms. “Then make it simple. If you love her, show her. Prove to her that she means more to you than your ego, your pride, or whatever bullshit reason made you hide the truth from her in the first place.”

Rajveer was silent for a long moment. Then, he stood up.

“I need to go.”

Aryan grinned. “That’s more like it.”

---

At Meher’s House

Meher sat in the garden, sipping tea as the cool evening breeze played with her hair. She had spent the last three days trying to sort through her emotions, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t erase the pain Rajveer had caused.

A part of her missed him.

A part of her wanted to run back into his arms and pretend none of this had happened.

But another part of her—the part that had been betrayed—wasn’t ready to forgive.

She was lost in thought when the sound of a car pulling up caught her attention. Her heart clenched as she saw Rajveer stepping out, dressed in his usual sharp suit, but looking more tired than she had ever seen him.

He walked towards her with slow, deliberate steps, stopping a few feet away.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, keeping her voice steady.

“I needed to see you,” he said quietly.

She sighed. “Rajveer—”

“Please,” he interrupted, his voice raw with emotion. “Just hear me out.”

Meher hesitated but nodded.

Rajveer took a deep breath. “I messed up. I hurt you, and I hate myself for it. But these last few days without you have made me realize something.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

“That I don’t just want your forgiveness,” he said, stepping closer. “I want your trust back. I want us back. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Meher searched his face, looking for any sign of insincerity. But all she saw was honesty. Vulnerability.

Love.

Her heart wavered, but she wasn’t ready to give in just yet.

“I don’t know if I can forgive you so easily, Rajveer.”

“I don’t expect you to,” he admitted. “But I’ll wait. For as long as it takes.”

Meher let out a shaky breath, her defenses crumbling just a little.

Maybe, just maybe, they still had a chance.

---