I sank against the wall, clutching the envelope to my chest. My mind screamed, my soul ached. They had chained me with fear, but somewhere deep inside, a spark of defiance refused to die.
I wasn’t going to let them win. Not forever.
_______
Chapter 9
SAURAV
I paced back and forth, my fingers tangled in my messy hair, my breath uneven. Was this really happening to me? My life was now upside down, twisted by a woman who had walked in and claimed it as hers. Kavya. She would soon wear our ancestors’ clothes, drape herself in the jewellery my mother left behind, pretending to be the perfect wife.
My eyes fell on the saree my mother had worn on the second day of her wedding, its fabric still carrying the faint scent of her presence. The jewellery, heavy gold bangles, intricate necklaces, anklets that sang with every step were all hers once. Now they belonged to Kavya. These things were the reason she married me. And tonight, she would finally have them all.
“Knock knock!” Rhea’s voice pierced through my storm of thoughts. Nosy, relentless Rhea. “May I come in, Sir?”
I rolled my eyes, refusing to turn. She stepped inside anyway, her footsteps light but her words heavy.
“Finally, you settled with a woman you never wanted to be with. I wondered how she made you marry her… I mean, marriage was never your thing, was it, Saurav Bhaiya?”
Her words sliced through me. My jaw tightened, teeth grinding. “Shut up and do as I say. You need to help Kavya get ready for the reception party.”
Rhea tilted her head, studying me like I was some puzzle she couldn’t solve. “You’re not you, are you?” She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. Then her eyebrows shot up. “Holy shit! That look on your face!”
I turned away, trying to cage the fury clawing inside me. If I let it loose, Rhea wouldn’t be standing here in one piece.
“Bhaiya… ” she said hesitantly, her voice softer now. “I thought it was a love marriage…”
“It is,” I forced out, each word sharp as broken glass. My chest rose and fell with a sharp breath. “The thing is, I wasn’t ready to commit this soon. But anything for Kavya…”
The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. And then I saw Avni’s reflection in the mirror. She was stepping into the room, her face lighting up with relief at my words.
“I was just mad at my father,” I added quickly, my voice steadying. “You know how shattered our relationship is, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Rhea smiled, though it was hollow, her eyes betraying doubt. “Bhabhi… ” She looked past me, her gaze landing on Avni. “When did you arrive?”
“Just a few minutes ago,” Avni’s voice was calm, but her smile was unsure. I turned to her, forcing the best smile I could manage. But it was hard, it was so damn hard when everything inside me was burning.
Avni’s eyes lingered on me, searching, questioning. Did she know the truth? Had Kavya whispered the same lie to her thatshe had fed everyone else? If she ever did… if she ever dared to expose me with her twisted version of reality… I swore I would forget I was human. I would kill her with my bare hands.
“Are you not saying hi to him?” Rhea interrupted, breaking the silence.
Avni smiled again, stepping closer. “I expect you to make my friend happy. Will you?”
Her words were gentle, but they carried weight. I nodded, my smile still forced, still hollow.
“Help Kavya get ready,” I ordered them, my voice clipped. “The program starts in an hour.”
Relief washed over me as they finally left. Alone at last, I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. The silence pressed against me. It was making me suffocate.
I missed my mother. God, I missed her.
Reaching into the drawer, I pulled out her letters, the old paper trembling in my hands. Her familiar handwriting was a lifeline.
My dear son,
I know you have been upset as Mommy did not come as promised, but I tried to reach you. I was just standing outside the villa, watching you sit on the garden bench, lost in your world. You might have been thinking about me but…
Her words blurred as my mind drifted somewhere else. The ache of her absence was unbearable. She had been my anchor, my truth. And now, with Kavya’s shadow looming over everything,even her letters felt like fading echoes of a life I could never return to.