Life is always unpredictable, and when it comes to luck and fate, mine has always been a little too special — unpredictable in the worst ways. Exactly the same happened this time.
Twenty-four hours passed, and I waited painfully for the papers to be delivered. Geetha madam insisted that the papers be sent to his office since he wouldn’t be home until later in the evening. I was serving lunch when I heard a car stop outside with a loud screech. The door opened, and Rakesh got down the car. The rage in his eyes — along with the envelope in his hand — confirmed the reason behind it.
Finally, it had happened. I took a long, exaggerated breath and braced myself for the outcome.
Rakesh slammed the door shut with a bang that startled his mother. She stopped eating and turned to him with an irritated frown.
“What has gotten into you? Are you planning to break the door? And why are you panting like you’ve just run a marathon? Did someone chase you all the way home?” she asked sharply.
Rakesh ignored her completely and stormed toward me, throwing the papers right in my face. His jaw was clenched, his eyes bloodshot with fury. Before I could react, he grabbed my hair and slapped me hard. My lips split instantly, and I tasted the metallic tang of my own blood.
“How dare you, bitch? After everything I’ve done for you and your family, you send me divorce papers?” Rakesh shouted, his voice echoing through the room. His mother gasped in shock.
“She sent divorce papers? Didn’t I tell you, Rakesh? She’s an ungrateful brat. A useless woman.” she shrieked, turning to him.
She turned towards me then and looked at me like she wanted to kill me.
” My son bought you, and you better repay every single rupee before you step out of this house. My son fed you, clothed you, gave you jewels and this is how you repay him? Have some shame” she screamed at my face.
“Useless and ungrateful slut,” Rakesh spat, his eyes burning with disgust.
That was it. I’d had enough of these demons.
“Shut up” I screamed right into his face. Everyone froze. Even his mother’s jaw dropped at the sound of my voice.
“Don’t you dare call me a slut. You’re the man whore, a filthy bastard who can’t stay loyal to one woman. And you call me names? What did you think, that I didn’t know who you are? Let me tell you, Rakesh, I know everything — everything about you and your so-called family. You’re a sick satyriasis, and a bastard who was married twice before you married me.” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
A heavy silence followed.
They didn’t expect me to know the truth, the same truth that would free me from this bastard. He gave a sick smile and shook his head, as if mocking me.
“So you knew the truth. Fine. I don’t have to pretend anymore,” he sneered.
“Yes. You don’t have to pretend I didn’t see you with a maid the first night I arrived. You don’t have to pretend I didn’t know I was the third wife to a man who only cares about himself. I won’t live in this hell any longer. You and your family can rot for all I care. I’m leaving.” I stepped toward the room where I’d packed my bag, but he had already locked the door from the outside.
“Rakesh, open this door, let me go, or it won’t end well for you.” I shouted, pounding.
“I’ve already called your useless parents. We’ll have this discussion with them here until then, enjoy being locked in.” His footsteps faded down the corridor.
I slapped my forehead — my phone was in the kitchen. If Radhika didi called or messaged, she’d get caught, I’d already cleared their logs and messages as best I could still I don’t want to pull her into my mess.
I didn’t know how long it would take my parents to arrive, so I had to wait. I refused to let him have peace. I tore open his wardrobe, flinging his clothes across the bed and shredding them one by one.
A little revenge felt necessary for everything he’d done. I rifled the drawer for the papers, almost tearing them, but realized it was too risky and shoved them back. I lay down on the bed, trying to force some sleep before whatever storm came next. I had nothing to eat — only a bottle of water on the nightstand, which I sipped slowly, knowing he wouldn’t let me out easily.
The next morning I dressed quickly and zipped up my bag. My parents could arrive at any moment, and I planned to seize the first opportunity to leave as soon as the door opened.
Around nine, the door opened and Rakesh dragged me down to the ground-floor hall. My parents sat there, staring at me as if I had committed a sin.
“Ask your daughter what she’s done, She brought shame on this family. She sent divorce papers to my son, the same man who showered her with money and let her live like a queen. You people are ungrateful” the witch — my mother-in-law — screamed at them.
My mother folded her hands and burst into tears. “Please forgive us. We’ll talk to her and make her stop. She must be confused,” she pleaded, her voice trembling.
“I’m not confused, for the first time in my life, I know what I want. You sold me to this family, and I’ve been abused here. I was treated like a slave, a maid and that bastard called and treated me a slut every day.” I said, steady and cold.
The words had barely left my lips when Rakesh grabbed my hair and slapped me. For the first time, I raised my hand to hit him back, but my mother caught my wrist and pulled me away.
“What are you doing, Meera? Why are you ruining your life? Look at the home you live in — Rakesh has given you everything. Why insult him? You must be worried about not having a baby after two years, but we’ll consult a doctor. Once you have a child, everything will go back to normal. You and Rakesh will be happy. Calm down, Meera,” she coaxed.
I wrenched my hand free. “Are you listening to me? I said they’re abusing me. He’s harassing me every day, and all you care about is getting a baby for this monster? Do you even know I’m not his first wife? He was married twice before me. I’m sure he abused them too. And as for a baby — God forbid. I’ve been taking pills so I never carry his child.”
The truth hit them like a blow. Everyone was stunned into silence. I smirked and looked at Rakesh, he was livid, about to grab my hair again, but I took a step back and clenched my teeth.
“Don’t you dare touch me. Did you think I don’t know about your latest affair? I’ve noticed the late-night messages, the secret calls, and that new perfume on your shirt. Tell me, is it that maid Leela again, or someone new this time?” I demanded.
“Shut up. You have no right to question me. I bought you, and you’ll do nothing but obey me. Whom I meet or sleep with is none of your business,” he spat.
“Of course, a manwhore like you would have no shame saying that,” I snapped.
He lunged forward to slap me, but the sound of multiple footsteps stopped him. All our heads turned toward the door just as Geetha madam entered, followed by an Inspector and a lady constable.
“Don’t you dare touch her, or the consequences will be worse than you can imagine. If you want to save your reputation, meet me at my office and settle this mutually. Otherwise, I’ll drag you through the public eye, and you’ll regret every second of your life.” Geetha madam warned coldly.
I couldn’t help but smile at her words.
“Mrs. Meera, I can arrest them right now if you’re ready to file an official complaint,” the Inspector said, looking at me.
Before I could respond, my father interrupted. “Inspector sir, please… this is our family matter. We’ll handle it ourselves. My daughter is upset — we’ll talk to her. Nothing is wrong here, just a misunderstanding between husband and wife. We’ll sort it out privately.”
Geetha madam scoffed in disgust. “I don’t care if this is a family problem. If Mrs. Meera is ready to file a complaint, I’ll arrest Rakesh and his family right now.”
The Inspector’s gaze shifted to Rakesh, who stood frozen, while his mother cowered behind him.
“Meera, let’s go home, We’ll come back after a few days. You need time to think. There’s no need to involve outsiders in our personal matters.” my father said softly.
I shook my head firmly.
“Wow, I didn’t know you could speak with respect. But I’m sorry, I have nothing to do with either of you anymore. The divorce will happen, and I will win my freedom. I won’t let anyone dictate my life again,” I said firmly.
Geetha madam placed her card on the table and looked straight at Rakesh.
“I’m leaving my card here. You have twenty-four hours to decide if you want to end this mutually. Meera will not live here anymore,” she declared.
Everyone stood in shock, but she ignored their reactions and turned to me with a gentle smile.
“Let’s go, Meera,” she said, and I nodded, picking up my bag. Just as I reached the door, I stopped and turned back to face Rakesh.
“I’m not taking a single thing you bought for me. These are just the old sarees given by my grandmother and mother,” I said, then paused for a moment. Slowly, I removed the nuptial chain from around my neck and threw it at his face.
“Meeraaaa” my mother screamed, but I ignored her and walked out beside Geetha madam.
When we reached her car, I stopped and looked up at the sky. I didn’t know what awaited me next, but I knew one thing for sure — I would never again be in the hands of any man. I might not have three meals a day or fine clothes to wear, but I would finally live on my own terms.
The sun blazed mercilessly, yet every breath I took screamed freedom through every drop of blood in my body.
Without looking back, I sat in the car beside Geetha madam, a faint smile on my face.
The car started — carrying me toward a better tomorrow.
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A/N:
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