SHUBMAN

As soon as Samaira’s name flashed on my phone, I knew something was up. I picked up, my voice steady, but my heart racing.

“Shubman, can you… come over right now? It’s important,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, like she was holding something back.

I sat up straighter, alarm bells ringing in my head.

What now?

“Main aa raha hoon,” I replied without hesitation. I barely even heard myself say the words before I was already getting up, grabbing my car keys.

Janhavi and Ishan, who had been chatting lightly a few moments ago, looked up at me with questioning eyes. I needed to explain, but not too much.

“Emergency hai,” I said quickly, throwing on my jacket. “I need to go.”

Ishan raised an eyebrow. “Kaisi emergency?” he asked, his voice laced with concern and curiosity.

But before I could answer, Janhavi shot him a look, silently telling him to drop it. I nodded at her gratefully and dashed out the door.

In the car, my mind was a tangled mess. I hit the accelerator hard, the streets blurring around me as I sped towards Samaira’s house. What had I gotten myself into?

Just a few hours ago, I had asked her to marry me—an impulsive decision, sure, but at the time it felt like the right thing to do. But now, things were spiraling out of control. I didn’t even think she would agree. And to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to say yes. The idea of her marrying someone like Abhishek, someone I knew and respected, made me feel sick. He had no clue about any of this mess.

If they get married, could I ever see her as his wife?

The thought rattled me. Would I ever be able to be in the same room with Samaira and Abhishek without losing my mind?

Abhishek… I thought about him, the man who had always been solid, dependable, and a friend. He had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. It felt wrong, like breaking some kind of unspoken bro code. He was hopefully excited about this marriage, completely oblivious to the chaos brewing on the side.

Would I ever be able to respect Samaira as my bhabhi the way I respect Janhavi?

The questions clawed at me. I couldn’t shake them off. My mind went back to Samaira—how I was drawn to her, both physically and emotionally. There was no denying the attraction, no matter how much I wanted to. But could I really go through with this? Or could I marry her knowing that I was stepping into something that could destroy multiple lives?

I pulled up outside her house, my chest tightening as I walked up to the door. It was late, and the lights were dimmed inside. I knocked and waited, the air heavy with the tension I carried with me.

When the door opened, my breath caught in my throat.

Samaira stood there, her face a mess of emotions. Her eyes were red, swollen from crying, and there were tear marks streaking her cheeks. She looked exhausted, broken.

For a moment, I just stood there, frozen. It was one thing to be tangled up in my own confusion, but seeing her like this—so vulnerable—it broke something inside me.

I wanted to comfort her, to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.

She stepped back, letting me in, and we stood in the living room, the silence between us thick and suffocating.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mainne apne parents ko bata diya…”

I looked at her, confused. “Kya?”

“Maine unhe kaha ke main sirf tumse shaadi karungi, Shubman. I know jo main kar rahi hoon, voh bilkul galat hai... but I don’t see another option,” she said, her voice trembling.

Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. She was treating me like her last resort. Not a choice, not someone she loved, but an escape from something worse. My heart ached as the reality sank in.

She wasn’t choosing me because she wanted to—she was choosing me because she didn’t want anyone else.

I looked away, feeling the weight of the situation crush down on me. I had loved her in my own twisted way, but this—this wasn’t how I imagined it.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of the heavy silence between us. I fished it out and glanced at the screen.

Abhay calling.

My breath hitched. Abhishek.

I let the call ring out, my chest tightening with every passing second. The reality of it all hit me like a freight train.

I turned to Samaira, my voice strained. “Main tumse shaadi nahi kar sakta, Samaira.”

Her face crumpled in disbelief. “Kya?”

“I can’t marry you,” I repeated, this time more firmly, as I took a deep breath. “Abhishek… jisse tumhari shaadi hone wali hai, he’s my teammate. Mera bhai hai. Main uski shaadi nahi tod sakta.”

The color drained from her face as my words sank in. Her eyes widened with a mix of shock and anger.

“Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho, Shubman? Tumne khud mujhse shaadi ke liye kaha tha!” she yelled, her voice rising with each word. “Aur ab tum keh rahe ho ke tum shaadi nahi kar sakte? Tum jhoothe ho, Shubman! You’re a bloody liar!”

I winced at the anger in her voice, but I didn’t stop her. She had every right to be angry.

“Mujhe pata nahi tha ke you'll back out like this. Tum kya samajhte ho apne aap ko? What is so fucking wrong with you?” she continued, her voice thick with rage. “Mainne apne maa-baap ko bata diya hai! Tumhe idea hai ab main kya karoon? Huh? Tumhe pata bhi hai tumne kya kiya hai mere saath?”

I stood there, listening, absorbing her fury. Every word stung, but I knew she wasn’t wrong. I had made things worse. Much worse.

“Samaira—” I tried to get a word in, but she wasn’t done.

“Nahi, Shubman. Tumhe toh bas apne baare mein sochna aata hai. Tumhe kabhi kisi aur ke baare mein sochne ki zarurat nahi padti. Aur ab jab sab kuch itna bigad gaya hai, tumhe lagta hai tum bhaag sakte ho?” She was yelling now, her voice echoing through the room.

I felt my patience wearing thin. I had tried to listen, but now her words were cutting too deep. “Bas karo, Samaira,” I finally snapped, my voice sharp. “Tum mujhe kaise expect kar sakti ho ke main tumhe ab shaadi ke liye haan kar doon, jab tumne mujhse kabhi theek se baat tak nahi karti. You fucking insult me in every way possible?”

She stared at me, her chest heaving with anger. “Shubman, tum—”

“Nahi, sun lo meri baat.” I took a step closer, my voice low but firm. “Tum mujhe sirf last resort ki tarah dekh rahi ho. Tumhe samajh mein aata hai ye kya hota hai? Tumne mujhe kabhi apne life mein nahi chaha, ab bas ek aur shaadi se bachne ke liye mujhe yaad aa gayi?”

Her eyes flashed with fury. “Tumhara problem kya hai, Shubman? Tumne hi toh mujhse pehle shaadi ke liye kaha tha! Aur ab jab maine haan kiya, tum palat rahe ho? Tum jaise insaan ke saath shaadi karne se toh accha hai main kisi aur se hi kar loon.”

Her words cut deep, sharper than I expected. I clenched my fists, trying to control the surge of anger building inside me. “Tumhe koi haq nahi hai mujhe aise bolne ka, Samaira. Tumne kabhi mere emotions ko samjha hi nahi.”

“Emotions?” she scoffed. “Tumhe koi farq nahi padta, Shubman! Tum sirf apni izzat bachane ke chakkar mein ho. Tum waise hi selfish ho jaise hamesha the.”

That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Samaira, bas karo!” I shouted, my voice booming through the room. “Tum mujhe jab chahti ho use karti ho, aur jab chahti ho mujhe blame karti ho. Main tumhare saath aise nahi chal sakta.”

She glared at me, her eyes blazing with fury, but there was something else there too—pain.

“Get out, Shubman,” she finally said, her voice quiet but filled with venom. “I don't want to see this face of yours ever again.”

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