Mafia's Heartbeat

chapter 12

[Engagement look ignore the dupatta in aravs kurta]

HAVELI – EVENING

The grand hall glows gently in warm marigold and soft fairy lights. The scent of sandalwood floats in the air. But inside… hearts thump for different reasons.

[Nikhil holds Aarav’s hand, fingers intertwined — but Aarav barely says a word. Dressed in emerald green, Aarav keeps his eyes down, his breaths shallow.]

Nikhil (teasing):
“Still quiet. Maybe I need to propose again for you to believe it?”

[Aarav doesn’t answer. His hand tightens slightly in Nikhil’s. Nikhil stops walking, leans close, voice softer now.]

Nikhil (gently):
“You don’t have to say anything, Aarav. Not tonight. I’ll wait till you’re ready.”

[Aarav finally looks up, lips part as if to speak… but he just nods. A soft pink flush colors his cheeks.]

🧸 Meanwhile

[Tanuj hides behind Nishant’s tall figure, his dupatta slipping. His eyes are wet, fingers fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve.]

Tanuj (muffled whisper):
“Too many… I don’t like… big noise…”

[Kritika kneels next to him, holding up a teddy Keychain .]

Kritika (smiling):
"Here.He’s small, brave… and you are too."

[Tanuj smiles slightly, letting her help. Nishant watches silently-- but proud.]

[Rahul and Anjali step forward. Anjali cups Aarav’s cheek, eyes soft.]

Anjali:
"You remind me of the good I always prayed would enter this house."

Rahul (to Tanuj):
"You’re the gentle in Nishant’s fire. Thank you for holding onto him."

[Both boys bow shyly as the parents bless them. Nikhil grips Aarav’s shoulder — but Aarav still can’t meet his gaze. Nikhil doesn’t push.]

[Raj stands near Kai at the edge of the stage, arms folded. His eyes never leave the couples.]

Raj (quietly, no smile):
“Next time, Kai… you better be the one kneeling. I want my ring too.”

[Kai smirks, but there's real heat behind his eyes. He doesn’t joke back.]

[Far back, Komal sips her drink slowly, eyes locked on Tanuj.]

Komal (muttering):
“They think softness survives weddings. Let’s see how soft he stays when things burn.”

Kamolika (fanning herself):
“Let the little porcelain boy enjoy. We'll see how long it lasts.”

[The guests have started to leave. The lights are dimmer now — golden and low. The sound of laughter trickles from one corner of the haveli courtyard.]

[Tanuj is sitting cross-legged on the floor, still in his peach kurta, now loose and slightly crumpled. He’s playing with Kritika — tossing soft petals in the air, catching them, naming them silly names. His laugh is high-pitched and pure. Like a child who forgot how pain feels.]

[Aarav stands a few feet away, leaning against a pillar. He’s not smiling, not crying. Just… breathing in peace that feels almost foreign.]

---

Aarav pov :

It’s been years since I saw him like this.
Free.
Not pretending to be someone the world can tolerate.
Just Tanuj.
I used to hide him. Not because I was ashamed… but because the world was cruel.
Kids wouldn't sit next to him.
Teachers called him "slow." Relatives said he'd ruin our family name.
Even our own parents… they called him "broken."

[He looks down, fingers tightening on the edge of his stole.]

But he's not broken.
He never was.
The world just didn’t know how to love someone so soft.
---

[Aarav lifts his eyes again. Tanuj has placed a marigold behind Kritika’s ear and is clapping. Kritika is laughing loudly now, holding a teddy above her head like a trophy.]

[Aarav doesn’t realise when it happens, but a soft tune escapes his lips. Something half-forgotten. A lullaby maybe. One he used to hum to Tanuj when no one else could calm him.]

(softly under his breath):
"Chaand ke neeche... tu hi mera aangan..."
"Saath ho toh... dard bhi ho jaye bachpan..."

[He stops suddenly, startled at his own voice. But when he looks back — Tanuj is still laughing.]

[He doesn’t realize someone’s behind him.]

*[Nikhil stands quietly beside Aarav, not saying anything at first. He listens to the melody. Watches Tanuj. Then looks at Aarav  really sees him.]

Nikhil (softly):
“You’ve been protecting him your whole life, haven’t you?”

[Aarav flinches slightly, but nods.]

Aarav (voice low):
“They hated him for being soft. I had to hide his toys,  his little voice.”
“They made him feel like he was wrong. And no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t stop it all…”

*[His voice cracks — not in volume, but in grief. The kind that’s sat in the bones for too long.]

Aarav (barely audible):
“I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself… but tonight… for the first time… he laughed. With someone else. Not because I made it safe. But because someone chose to love him anyway.”

[Nikhil is quiet. Then, with a gentleness that surprises even him, he places a hand on Aarav’s shoulder.]

Nikhil:
“Your love saved him. That’s what made this possible.”
“But now… maybe it’s okay to let someone else carry it

*[From behind them, Nishant walks in — having overheard. He’s holding Tanuj’s soft shawl, beacuse he easily catches cold . He looks straight at Aarav.]

Nishant (firm, quiet):
“I know I don’t deserve him yet. Not really.”
“But I swear to you, Aarav… on my last breath, I will protect him. Through hell, blood, war — whatever comes. I will hold him, even when he doesn’t remember how to hold himself.”

[He places the shawl into Aarav’s hands.]

Nishant:
“I’m not just marrying him, Aarav. I’m becoming your brother too. And I’ll carry this weight with you.

*[Aarav looks down at the shawl. Then at Nikhil. Then finally meets Nishant’s eyes really meets them. And for the first time in years, he lets someone else hold the pain. Just a little.]

Aarav (softly):
“…Take care of my baby.”
“Please… don’t let the world break him again.”

Nishant (hand over his heart):
“I swear… it never will. Not while I breathe.”
---

[In the background, Tanuj with Kritika, holding a stuffed bunny in one hand and petals in the other. He looks up and smiles right at them.]

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