✨Chapter 5✨

Darkness and Thunder

The sudden darkness swallowed the haveli whole.

Outside, thunder cracked violently across the sky.

Meera's breath hitched as Veer's hand closed firmly around her wrist.

Warm.

Strong.

Steady.

For one terrifying second, she forgot how to breathe.

"Relax," Veer said quietly from somewhere very close. "It's just the electricity."

His voice sounded deeper in the dark.

More dangerous somehow.

Meera swallowed nervously.

"I know that."

Another flash of lightning illuminated the hall briefly.

Just enough for her to see him sitting in front of her, his fingers still wrapped around her wrist.

Neither of them moved.

Rain poured endlessly outside while silence stretched between them.

Then the darkness returned.

Veer slowly released her hand.

The loss of warmth felt strangely noticeable.

"I'll get candles," he said calmly.

Before Meera could answer, footsteps echoed away through the dark hall.

She stood there awkwardly, heart still racing from the unexpected touch.

Why did every small interaction with him feel so intense?

It made no sense.

They barely knew each other.

Yet somehow, Veer's presence affected her far too easily.

A few moments later, warm candlelight flickered through the darkness.

Veer returned carrying two candles.

The soft golden glow transformed the hall completely.

Shadows danced across the walls.

The rain outside seemed louder now.

More intimate.

Meera watched silently as Veer placed one candle near the table.

His wet hair had fallen slightly across his forehead.

The rolled sleeves exposed strong forearms marked with faint scars.

For the first time, he looked less like a powerful sarpanch...

and more like a man exhausted by responsibility.

"You should sleep," he said without looking at her.

Meera hesitated.

"You didn't answer my question earlier."

Veer finally looked up.

"What question?"

"What tragedy happened in this haveli?"

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Something cold entered his expression again.

Lightning flashed outside.

Veer leaned back slightly, eyes unreadable.

"Curiosity creates problems."

"That's not an answer either."

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then Veer surprised her.

"My father died in this house."

Meera blinked.

She hadn't expected him to answer at all.

"He was sarpanch before me," Veer continued quietly. "Three years ago, someone shot him outside the village temple."

The softness in his voice disappeared completely while speaking.

No grief.

Just controlled emptiness.

Meera's chest tightened unexpectedly.

"I'm sorry."

Veer's jaw shifted faintly.

"People still whisper about it because the murderer was never found."

A chill crawled down Meera's spine.

Suddenly the strange tension in the village made more sense.

The whispers.

The fear.

The silence surrounding this family.

Before she could say anything else, another loud thunderclap shook the haveli.

The candle flame flickered wildly.

Instinctively, Meera flinched slightly.

Veer noticed immediately.

"You're afraid of thunder?"

"No."

Another flash of lightning exploded outside.

Meera jumped again.

Veer raised one eyebrow very slightly.

Heat rose to her face.

"I said no."

Something almost resembling amusement appeared briefly in his eyes.

Almost.

Then suddenly-

the wind blew harder through the open corridor nearby.

One candle went out instantly.

Darkness spread across half the hall again.

Meera stepped backward automatically.

Her foot caught against the carpet edge.

Before she could fall-

a hand grabbed her waist.

Strong fingers tightened around her instantly.

Meera froze.

Veer pulled her upright effortlessly.

Too close.

Far too close.

Her palm landed against his chest accidentally.

Warm.

Solid.

She could feel his heartbeat beneath the thin black fabric of his kurta.

The realization made her breath uneven.

Veer looked down at her silently.

Neither moved.

The storm outside roared louder, but somehow the world inside the hall felt completely still.

Meera became painfully aware of everything.

His hand still resting against her waist.

The scent of rain and sandalwood surrounding him.

The intensity in his eyes.

Her heartbeat spiraled dangerously.

Then Veer's gaze dropped briefly toward her lips.

The tiny movement sent heat rushing through her instantly.

Oh God.

For one reckless second, Meera thought he might kiss her.

The thought terrified her.

And affected her far more than it should have.

Veer seemed to realize the same thing because his expression hardened suddenly.

He stepped away immediately.

Distance flooded back between them.

"Be careful," he said calmly, though his voice sounded rougher than before.

Meera stared at him speechlessly.

Did that moment affect him too?

Or was she imagining things?

Before she could understand anything properly, footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Veer's mother appeared holding a lantern.

Her sharp eyes moved between them instantly.

And narrowed.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

"What are you both doing downstairs at this hour?"

Meera stepped back awkwardly.

"I couldn't sleep."

Veer answered before his mother could continue questioning.

"The electricity frightened her."

Meera looked at him in disbelief.

Frightened?

Really?

His mother sighed sharply. "This is exactly why city girls don't survive village life."

The insult landed perfectly.

Meera lowered her eyes silently.

But before the humiliation could settle-

Veer spoke coldly.

"She is surviving better than most people expected."

The older woman fell silent instantly.

Not because his words were loud.

Because they carried warning.

Veer's mother looked displeased but said nothing further.

"Go rest," she finally muttered before leaving upstairs again.

Silence returned.

Meera looked toward Veer slowly.

"Why do you keep defending me?"

He stared at her for several long seconds.

Then-

"Because people here mistake silence for weakness."

The answer lingered heavily between them.

Meera's chest tightened strangely.

Nobody had defended her like this before.

Not even in her own house.

And somehow, that realization hurt.

Veer picked up the candle again.

"You should sleep now."

This time, Meera didn't argue.

She followed him quietly through the dim corridors upstairs.

The candlelight cast shadows across the walls while rain echoed endlessly outside.

When they reached her room, Veer stopped near the doorway.

For one moment, neither spoke.

Then Meera whispered softly-

"Thank you."

Veer looked at her.

Really looked at her.

Something unreadable moved behind his dark eyes again.

Slowly, he handed her the candle.

Their fingers brushed briefly.

Tiny contact.

Dangerous effect.

Meera immediately looked away.

But Veer didn't move.

His gaze remained fixed on her face for several silent seconds before he finally spoke.

"Lock the balcony doors tonight."

Her brows pulled together slightly.

"Why?"

Veer's expression turned cold again.

"Because not everyone in Devgarh is happy about this marriage."

A chill moved down Meera's spine instantly.

Before she could ask what he meant-

Veer walked away into the darkness of the corridor.

L

eaving her standing there alone...

with thunder outside the haveli-

and fear slowly settling inside her chest.

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