Sarah 
The village of Devpur lay hidden in the heart of India, a place where time seemed to stand still. Surrounded by endless fields of golden wheat and dotted with ancient banyan trees, it was a world governed by tradition, where every action was weighed against the scales of honor and societal norms. Life here was simple, predictable, and unchanging until the day love quietly crept in, threatening to upend everything.
Seventeen-year-old Meera was the pride of her family. With her radiant smile and curious eyes, she carried an air of quiet rebellion. Unlike most girls in the village, Meera dreamed of more than just marriage and motherhood. She often wandered to the edge of the village, where the fields met the horizon, to read books borrowed from the tiny school library. It was during one of these solitary walks that she first met Rohan.
Rohan was a young man from the neighboring village of Shivpur. Charismatic and kind, he had a way with words that captivated Meera from their very first conversation. Their meetings became a secret ritual, stolen moments under the shade of the banyan tree, where they shared stories, dreams, and laughter. Over time, their friendship blossomed into something deeper, something neither of them had anticipated.
But their love was forbidden. Meera and Rohan belonged to different castes, a divide that was as old as the village itself. In Devpur, caste was not just a social construct; it was a boundary that dictated every aspect of life: whom you could marry, where you could live, and even how you were treated. The villagers held these traditions sacred, and any deviation was met with harsh judgment.
Meera knew the risks, but her heart refused to listen. She and Rohan met in secret, their love growing stronger with each passing day. They vowed to keep their relationship hidden, knowing that the consequences of exposure would be dire.
Meanwhile, Meera’s younger brother, Arjun, watched her with a mix of admiration and envy. At sixteen, Arjun was the apple of his parents’ eyes, a boy who carried the weight of their expectations on his shoulders. He idolized Meera, often seeking her advice and sharing his dreams with her. But Arjun was also deeply influenced by the conservative values of their family and the village. He believed in the sanctity of tradition and the importance of upholding the family’s honor.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Arjun returned home from the fields earlier than usual. He noticed Meera slipping out of the house, her face hidden behind a dupatta. Curiosity piqued, he decided to follow her.
Arjun trailed Meera to the edge of the village, where the banyan tree stood like a silent guardian. Hidden behind a bush, he watched in shock as Meera met Rohan. Their whispered conversations and shared laughter left no doubt about the nature of their relationship. Arjun’s heart raced as he realized the gravity of what he had discovered.
That night, Arjun confronted Meera in the dim light of their shared room. “What were you doing with that boy?” he demanded, his voice trembling with anger and disbelief.
Meera’s face turned pale. She had always been careful, but she hadn’t anticipated her brother’s vigilance. “Arjun, please,” she pleaded, “you don’t understand.”
“I understand enough,” Arjun snapped. “Do you know what will happen if anyone finds out? Our family will be ruined! How could you be so selfish?”
Meera’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s not selfishness, Arjun. It’s love. Why should caste decide who I can or cannot love?”
Arjun was torn. He loved his sister deeply, but the thought of bringing shame to their family was unbearable. “You have to end this, Meera,” he said firmly. “Before it’s too late.”
But Meera shook her head. “I can’t, Arjun. I won’t.”
The tension between them grew, and Arjun found himself caught in a storm of conflicting emotions. On one hand, he wanted to protect his sister and see her happy. On the other, he feared the consequences of her actions not just for her, but for their entire family.
As the days passed, Arjun became increasingly restless. He tried to reason with Meera, but she remained steadfast in her love for Rohan. The weight of the secret began to consume him, and he found himself questioning the very traditions he had always upheld.
Unbeknownst to Meera, Arjun’s internal struggle was about to take a dark turn. The seeds of anger and fear had been sown, and the quiet village of Devpur was on the brink of a tragedy that would change everything.
To keep reading subscribe to dipdives.com
About The Author
