Raj's Apology

                                        

                                              
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The day dragged on painfully for both Raj and Rashi. Despite being in the same house, their paths didn't cross even once. Rashi kept herself busy organizing files for an upcoming event, while Raj locked himself in his study, pretending to be engrossed in work. But neither of them could shake the lingering weight of their earlier argument. 
By late afternoon, Rashi found herself pacing her room, her emotions in turmoil. Every time she thought of Raj's sharp words, her chest tightened. *Why does it always have to be this way?* she wondered. 
A knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. It was Karthik, her brother-in-law, holding two mugs of steaming coffee. 
"Hey, sister!" Karthik greeted, her smile warm but laced with concern. 
Rashi tried to muster a smile. "Hey, bhai. What brings you here?" 
Karthik walked in without waiting for an invitation and plopped onto the couch. "I thought you could use some company. Plus, I made coffee!" he handed a mug to Rashi. 
Rashi sat down beside him, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. "Thanks bhai." 
Karthik studied her for a moment before speaking. "rashi, are you okay? You seem... off." 
Rashi hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Karthik's earnest expression made it impossible to deflect. "I'm fine, bhai. Just... tired." 
"Is it raj?" Karthik asked bluntly, cutting straight to the point. 
Rashi's eyes widened slightly. "What? No, why would you say that?" 
Karthik raised an eyebrow. "rashi, come on. I'm not blind. I see the way you two act around each other. And I know my brother can be a royal idiot sometimes." 
Rashi sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's... complicated, bhai. He doesn't want this marriage, and I don't want to force him into something he doesn't want." 
Karthik frowned. "Do you not want this marriage, rashi? Or are you just saying that because raj keeps pushing you away?" 
Rashi didn't respond immediately, her silence speaking volumes. 
"rashi," Karthik said gently, placing a hand on her arm, "I know my brother. He's not as heartless as he pretends to be. He's just... scared. Of what, I don't know, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with you. Give him time." 
Rashi nodded, though her heart still felt heavy. "Thanks, bhai. I appreciate you checking in." 
Karthik smiled. "Anytime, my little sister you are also like my princess. And remember, you're not alone in this." 
Meanwhile, Raj sat at his desk, his head buried in his hands. His mind was a chaotic mess of guilt, frustration, and something he refused to acknowledge as longing. 
Samaira's words from earlier kept echoing in his head: *She's trying so hard, Bhai, and all you're doing is tearing her down.* 
He hated to admit it, but his sister was right. Rashi was trying-trying to make their marriage work, trying to understand him, trying to care for him. And all he had done was hurt her. 
He replayed the scene from that morning in his mind, wincing at the memory of her calm words: *"I just want you to be happy."* 
Her selflessness only made him feel worse. She deserved better than the mess he was. 
Raj glanced at the small picture frame on his desk. It was a photo of him with his late father, taken years ago. His father's words from their last conversation rang in his ears: *"A strong man doesn't run from his responsibilities, Raj. He faces them head-on."* 
Taking a deep breath, Raj stood up. He couldn't keep running from this. He needed to talk to Rashi, to clear the air, to at least try to fix the damage he had caused. 
Rashi was sitting on the balcony attached to her room, lost in thought, when she heard a knock at the door. 
"Come in," she called, expecting her mother-in-law. 
But when the door opened, it was Raj. 
Her surprise quickly turned to caution. "Raj? Is everything okay?" 
He stepped onto the balcony, his expression unreadable. "Can we talk?" 
Rashi nodded, though her heart was pounding. 
Raj leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "About this morning... I'm sorry." 
Rashi blinked, caught off guard. "What?" 
"I said I'm sorry," Raj repeated, turning to face her. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. It wasn't fair." 
Rashi studied him, trying to gauge his sincerity. "Why are you apologizing now?" 
Raj sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Because I was wrong. I took out my frustration on you, and you didn't deserve that." 
Rashi's lips pressed into a thin line. "You've made it clear how you feel about this marriage, Raj. I'm not expecting anything from you." 
Her words stung, and Raj felt a pang of guilt. "Rashi, I know I haven't been... easy to deal with. And I know I've hurt you. But..." He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. 
"But what?" she prompted, her voice soft. 
He met her eyes, his expression conflicted. "But I don't want to hurt you anymore." 
Rashi's heart skipped a beat at his words, but she forced herself to remain guarded. "Why the sudden change of heart?" 
Raj hesitated, torn between wanting to protect her and wanting to be honest. "Because you matter to me, Rashi. Whether I like it or not, you matter." 
Her breath caught in her throat. It wasn't a declaration of love, but it was something. 
For a moment, they stood there in silence, the distance between them both physical and emotional. 
Finally, Raj spoke again, his voice quieter. "I don't know how to do this... this marriage, this relationship. But I'm willing to try, if you are." 
Rashi's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. "I've always been willing to try, Raj. I just didn't think you were." 
His gaze softened, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "I don't know if I can be what you deserve, Rashi. But I'll try. That's all I can promise." 
A small smile broke through her guarded expression. "That's a start." 
Raj nodded, relieved but still uncertain. They had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt like they were moving in the right direction. 
As they sat down for dinner together, Raj made an effort to engage Rashi in conversation. It was awkward at first, but gradually, the tension began to ease. 
For the first time in weeks, there was a glimmer of hope between them. And while the road ahead was still uncertain, both of them silently vowed to take it one step at a time. 
Little did they know, however, that the challenges ahead would test their newfound resolve in ways they could never have imagined. 
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Bas guys yahi tha iss chapter mein ye chapter ajj isiliye kioki iski update miss ho gayi thi or iss Thursday next chapter aayega toh vote or comments karna mat bhulna basssss .......