I am 35 years old, at the age of 25 I was married to a gentleman, civil engineer, in Mumbai. Life may not be good, but it is not painful either. Bus… After 10 years together, I feel like I’m living with a roommate – no feelings, no romance, no cares.

My husband, Rajesh, is quiet, cold-tempered, works all day, comes home at night and hugs the phone and goes to bed early. I tried to pull them out of their shells, but finally tired I gave them up.

Then – my husband’s younger brother – returned from abroad after studying in Singapore and doing a 7-year residency.

Arjun – A 30-year-old male, young, charming, intelligent and extremely sophisticated. My mother-in-law also always said:

“If a daughter-in-law married Arjun, she would be happy for the rest of her life…”

I just smiled, but my heart hurt. Rajesh was also once an ambitious person like Arjun. But the years have made him tired, and Arjun is like a light in my gloomy home.

Since Arjun came back, I often had headaches, dizziness, stomach aches… Various types of diseases have started to occur. Partly because of my health, but partly because of it. Because I had found an excuse to call Arjun to meet me.

Every time he brought a medical bag, gently asked questions, put his hand on my forehead and measured my temperature, I felt my heart beating faster. I knew it wasn’t right. But I couldn’t stop my feelings.

Then one day, it was raining heavily in Mumbai. I called up Arjun as he had a severe stomach ache. He came in the middle of the rain, drenched, and ran restlessly inside the house.

I sat on the couch holding my stomach. Arjun sat in front of me, gently put his hand on my wrist to check my pulse, then held my hand – longer than usual.

I looked up, met his eyes – very different today. It was no longer the face of a doctor, but the face of a man who was struggling with something in his heart.

He didn’t say anything. But he didn’t let go of my hand.

I was breathing heavily, my heart was pounding, and electricity ran through my whole body. I withdrew my hand and stepped away.

Arjun… Don’t be like that…

He stood up, stared at me for a long time, and said:

I’m not happy, you know. But if we go on like this, we will both be proved wrong.

He left the house, leaving in my heart a storm that was bigger than the rain falling outside.

From that day onwards, Arjuna never came again. I told myself to forget it. But in my heart… It was a wound that was difficult to heal.

“Brother-in-law” – just those two words, but they made me live forever in pain, regret and a nameless longing…

Part 2 – Storm at Sharma Villa Three weeks after
that rainy season, Arjun and I almost avoided each other. During family meetings at Sharma Villa, he would simply speak cold and polite words and then leave quickly.

But my heart was different… Every time I met his eyes, a storm would rise.

By then, one Saturday evening, my mother-in-law – Savitri Devi – had suddenly called all the children and grandchildren to a family meeting. Reason: There was an important matter related to the Sharma family’s legacy.

The large living room was lit up. On a large wooden table lay a pile of papers and a certificate of land neatly placed. Rajesh was sitting next to me, while Arjun was standing in front, his arms crossed in front of his chest, his eyes avoiding me.

Savitri Devi said softly:-
Rajesh is the eldest son, but Arjun will manage the entire hospital and family property.

The whole room was silent. Rajesh knocked loudly on the table:
“What are you saying, Mom? You are the heir, why did you give all this to Arjuna?

Savitri calmly said:

Because Arjun deserves it more. And you… To his wife…

She stopped, her eyes fixed on me, her voice as cold as ice:

– … She crossed the line with her husband’s younger brother.

I was stunned. Rajesh turned to look at me as if he had just heard something unbelievable. Arjuna took a step forward and interjected:

–No! You misunderstood.

But Savitri took out an envelope from her saree bag and threw it on the table. Inside were pictures of Arjun and I on a rainy day when he held my hand and stared at me for a long time.

The whole family was stunned. My heart sank.

Rajesh stood up:

So that’s why you always pretend to be sick and call Arjun home?

I tried to open my mouth:
– It’s not as you think…

But Savitri interrupted:
“I don’t care what you two have done. That was enough to tarnish the family’s reputation.

Rajesh ran out of the room. I wanted to run after him, but my feet were stuck to the marble floor.

Arjuna looked up at his mother, her voice loud:

“If you try to separate us, you will fail.

There was silence in the room. I was stunned – “us”? Did he just … Agreed?

Savitri smiled with a cold smile:

–good Then get ready, because from now on this game is not about love. Rather, it will be a life-and-death battle for power and honour for the Sharma family.

His eyes were cold, and I knew…