Chapter 25: Chapter 22

Raghav stood on the basketball court, bouncing the ball between his hands, but his mind was miles away. He tried to focus on the game, to push aside the weight of expectations and the pressure that never seemed to loosen its grip on him.

The ball felt heavier with every bounce, as if it were a reminder of the battles he faced—both on and off the court.

His teammates whispered among themselves, glancing at him with sympathetic eyes. They could see it; the tension in his posture, the way he avoided conversation about his family, the wounds he kept hidden behind a mask of stoic indifference.

His father’s shadow loomed over like a storm cloud, but Raghav kept it at bay. At least for now.

On the sidelines, a few teachers cheered him on, their voices full of encouragement.

“Come on, Raghav! Show them what you’ve got!” Mr. Kapoor, his English teacher, called out.

“You’ve got this, Desai! Leave everything else off the court!” Mrs. Mehta added.

Raghav nodded at them, a faint smile pulling at the corners of his lips. But the cheer didn’t quite reach his eyes. His father’s voice rang in his head, the guilt gnawing at him. “Family comes first”.

He clenched his jaw, determined not to let it show. He had a game to win—if only for himself.

Meanwhile, in their room, Siya was hurriedly packing her bags, something inside her told her she couldn’t leave Raghav to face everything alone. Not when the weight of his father’s anger had been suffocating him.

On the other hand, with a determined will, Siya left the room, as she had already promised Raghav she would stand by him, no matter what.

As Siya approached the court, her heart pounded in her chest—not from nerves, but from the tension she felt watching Noorie. She saw her now, standing near the bleachers, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on Siya like a predator sizing up its prey.

“Well, well,” Noorie said, examining her with a malicious smirk. “Look who decided to play the dutiful wife. Didn’t think you’d show up for something so beneath you”.

Siya’s jaw tightened, but she stood her ground, refusing to let Noorie’s words rattle her. “I’m here to support Raghav. Unlike some people, I don’t thrive on making others miserable”.

Noorie’s eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. “Support? That’s rich. Do you even know Raghav well enough to support him? Or are you just playing house for the sake of appearances?”

Siya’s voice was calm but ice-cold. “Oh Noorie, I would have call you an imbecile but that would be cruel as you wouldn't be able to spell it”.

Noorie’s face flushed with rage. “You—”

Siya cut her off, her words sharp and biting. “Shut it and save your jealousy for someone who gives a damn. I don’t have time for you. Maybe if you didn’t waste so much time tearing people down, you’d realize what you lost. But then again, with an IQ as low as yours, I too feel sorry for you”.

Noorie took a step back, visibly stung, her usual confidence faltering in the face of Siya's unexpected fire. “You—”

“Exactly,” Siya interrupted, her tone firm, unyielding. “You can stand there and throw insults all you want. I’m here for Raghav. No one else.”

With that, Siya turned her back on Noorie, walking away with her head held high, the power of her words leaving Noorie speechless, her anger simmering but unable to break through the wall Siya had built around herself.

Siya reached the bleachers, where Rudra and Gauri were waiting. They waved excitedly as she approached.

“Siya!” Rudra called, his grin wide.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Gauri added with a teasing smile.

“In fact I didn't expect you, but couldn’t let him stand alone,” Siya said, holding up the poster with a fierce smile.

The three exchanged a quick, knowing grin before Siya added, “Let’s make sure he knows we’re here.”

The match was in full swing, and Raghav was doing his best to stay focused. His movements were sharp, his body flowing with the rhythm of the game. But in the middle of a tense play, he heard a familiar voice cutting through the noise of the crowd.

“Come on, Raghav! You’ve got this!”

He turned, his heart skipping a beat. There, standing with Rudra and Gauri, was Siya, holding up her bold, colorful poster: GET THEM, RAGHAV!

For the first time that day, Raghav felt the weight on his shoulders lighten. A wide smile broke across his face, one that reached his eyes for the first time in what felt like forever. His teammates noticed the shift immediately.

“Is that your wife?” one of them teased.

“Looks like you’ve got your own cheerleader,” another added with a grin.

Raghav chuckled, the knot in his chest unwinding. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

Despite their best efforts, Raghav’s team lost the match by a narrow margin. The scoreboard didn’t matter though. For Raghav, the presence of Siya, her unwavering support, had made the day feel like a victory.

Siya ran to court excitedly, “You did great. The team is awesome”.

“You did see us losing the match right?”, Raghav chuckled. His smile is soft. “Thanks for coming. It... it really meant a lot.”

Siya smiled, her eyes warm. “You don’t have to thank me, Raghav. I wanted to be there.”

At Mansion

The warmth of the day disappeared the moment they stepped into the mansion. Mr. Desai was waiting in the hall, his eyes dark with rage.

“What the hell is this? Who do you think of yourself huh?” he barked, his voice like a whip. “You were supposed to be at the temple for the ritual, Siya. Instead, you’re gallivanting around, making a spectacle of yourself!”

Siya felt her pulse quicken, but she didn’t flinch. She didn't not cover. “I thought supporting Raghav was more important today,” she said, her voice steady but firm.

Mr. Desai’s eyes blazed with fury. “Supporting Raghav? You’re his wife, not his cheerleader. Your priorities are all wrong, Siya.”

Raghav stepped forward, his voice a protective growl. “Dad, it’s not—”

“You, stay out of this!” Mr. Desai snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “This is between me and your wife. And as for you,” he turned back to Siya, “you need to learn the lesson and better be quick. You will not leave this house for any rituals until I say so, even if it includes your home. Maybe some time here will teach you your responsibilities.”

“Enough!” Mrs. Desai interjected, her voice soft but resolute. “You’re being too harsh.”

“I said enough!” Mr. Desai roared, his anger so terrifying it felt like the walls might crack.

Siya straightened, the fire of defiance in her eyes. “If staying here is what you want, then so be it”. But don’t mistake my compliance for weakness.

Mr. Desai’s face turned crimson with rage, his fists clenched at his sides. But he said nothing, turning away to storm off, leaving the room thick with tension.

Later that night, Raghav found Siya sitting by the window, staring out at the sky. The weight of his father’s anger still hung over him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, sitting beside her, he holds her hands. “I should’ve done more to stand up for you.”

Siya turned to him, her expression soft but firm. “You did enough, Raghav. And that means more to me than you know.”

Raghav looked up at her, guilt and frustration twisting inside him. “I hate that you have to deal with this. You deserve better.”

Siya smiled, a glimmer of warmth in her eyes. “Don’t worry about me. Honestly, I didn’t even want to go to my parents’ house. Being here… it’s better than being there.”

Her words, simple but sincere, cut through his guilt like a knife. He nodded, silently vowing to do more for her, even if it seemed impossible. He would find a way to make it right.

For now, they found solace in each other, weathering the storm together.