Page 53 of When Love Trespassed

Grandpa looked shaken. He had always known Nandini to be his gentle girl, someone who never raised her voice and was a picture of obedience, and this was a side of her he had never witnessed before. Strong, resilient, fiercely and undeniably in love.

“I never thought I’d hear you talk like this,” he whispered, more to himself than her.

“Neither did I,” Nandini replied softly. “You can disapprove of our love. You can be angry. But I won’t pretend anymore. I won’t lie about what I feel. Not anymore.”

For the first time in their argument, there was silence. Grandpa looked at her long and hard, as if trying to find the little girl he’d once raised in the woman who was now standing so resolutely before him.

And for the first time, he couldn’t find her.

“My decision won’t change,” he finally uttered with the same determination. “Forget about Shaurya. That’s the only choice I am giving you, Nandu.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “Daadu…”

“If you don’t,” he continued, his voice edged with a finality she’d never heard from him before. “I’ll never talk to you again. Consider that you never had a grandfather.”

Her breath hitched. “ Daadu !” she cried out, horrified.

But he had already turned away, and was walking towards the stairs. He didn’t stop. Didn’t look back.

Lakshmi, who had witnessed everything, rushed to Nandini’s side. The girl looked frozen, her face drained of colour, shattered by her grandpa’s parting words. The moment Lakshmi’s arms wrapped around her, Nandini collapsed into her chest, her sobs wracking them both.

Lakshmi held her tight, whispering soft reassurances. That’s all she could offer. “It’ll be okay… just give him some time.”

But deep down, Nandini knew the truth. Time wouldn’t heal this. It wouldn’t soften Grandpa. It would only strengthen his resolve to keep her and Shaurya apart forever.

*****************

Next Morning

The next morning, Nandini stirred to the loud ring of her phone. Her body ached with exhaustion, her eyes red and swollen from a night spent crying into her pillow. She hadn’t really slept, just drifted off for a brief moment as dawn crept in, surrendering to weariness more than rest.

The phone rang again. She reached for it with shaky fingers. It was Shaurya. She answered instantly, still curled beneath her blanket, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Hello…”

“Thank God,” came Shaurya’s voice on the other end, laced with both relief and worry. “I was starting to panic. You didn’t respond all night. How are you?”

That simple question, ‘How are you?’ broke whatever composure she was holding onto. All she could do was sob softly in response.

Shaurya didn’t push. “Lakshmi told me what happened with your grandfather last night. I knew he wouldn’t accept this easily. I was prepared for resistance. But Nandini… we’re going to fix this. I promise.”

She tried to speak, but her throat felt raw. When she spoke, it was a broken whisper between tears. “How?”

There was a pause. She heard movement on the other end.

“I’m switching to video,” he said. “I need to see you.”

“No,” she murmured quickly, her voice shaking. “I can’t. I don’t want you to see me like this. All broken and shattered.”

“Broken or not,” he said gently, “I have every right to see the woman I love. To stand with her when she’s falling apart. To be her strength when she has none left.”

Her sobs deepened at his words. Then, after a long, reluctant breath, she accepted the video call request with trembling fingers.

The screen lit up, and there he was… Shaurya.

He was dressed in a simple maroon T-shirt, his hair slightly tousled, and a hint of stubble on his jaw.

It was unusual to see him like this. Normally, by this time in the morning, he was already in a suit, suave and ready to begin his workday from home.

But not today. He had cancelled everything. Today, he was only hers.

His eyes softened the moment he saw her.

Nandini sat curled up on her bed, wrapped in a blanket like armour, as though trying to shield herself against the world.

Her face was pale, her cheeks stained with the remnants of dried tears.

Dark circles bloomed under her eyes, and her usual glow was nowhere to be found.

Her hair was a tangled mess, her posture small and fragile.

Shaurya’s heart sank. “God, Nandini…”

She didn’t try to fix herself, didn’t try to look away. If anything, she seemed numb to her own appearance. She just watched him with glassy eyes, her lips quivering as she held the phone.

“I’m going to talk to him,” Shaurya said, more determined now, watching the pain on her face deepen. “Your grandfather. He’s heard your side. Now he needs to hear mine.”

“No, Shaurya,” she said, wiping her eyes. “You don’t know him the way I do. He’s not going to change his mind. He’s... he’s too stubborn.”

“Then you should know me by now,” he replied with a faint, defiant smile. “I’m the antidote to his stubbornness.”

She let out a tearful laugh, bitter and soft. “He’s forbidden me from seeing you.”

Shaurya let out a frustrated sigh. “Then I’ll find a way. I’m not staying away from you, Nandini. Not when I know what we have is real. Until he accepts our love, I’ll keep showing up, one way or another. We will not give up on our love just because he is standing in the way.”

She shook her head slowly. “You make it sound so easy.”

“I don’t know if it’s easy,” he said. “But I do know one thing. I’m not losing you. I’ve already lost too much in my life. Not this time. I’ll fight for you, Nandini. Whatever it takes.”

His words settled into her like a balm, soothing the tightness in her chest just a bit. She drew a deep breath.

“You just focus on your work,” he added, reassuring her. “Leave the rest to me. I’ll fix this.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

He frowned.

“If you’re going to say I love you in that weak, teary little voice,” he teased, “I swear I’ll come over right now and kiss the hell out of you… just to give you the strength to say it louder.”

A real smile curved her lips for the first time in hours. “I love you, Shaurya,” she said again, this time clearer, stronger.

“That’s more like it,” he said, grinning. “But I might still show up… just for that kiss.” He gave a playful wink.

“No way,” she laughed softly. “Daadu is home.”

“I can sneak past him,” he offered. “He won’t even know I was there.”

She shook her head, her voice calm now. “No more secrets. No more hiding. If you’re going to come here and kiss me, I want it to be in front of Daadu, with his knowledge and his acceptance.”

Shaurya paused, then smiled.

“Challenge accepted. That day will come soon.”

The call ended, but Nandini sat there for a moment longer, staring at the now dark screen. She let out a long, weary sigh. Hearing his voice, seeing his face… it didn’t fix everything. But it had helped. The ache in her chest had eased, even if just a little.

She wasn’t whole yet, not even close. The fight for their love had only just begun. And now, she was ready to fight too.