Meenakshi and Aakash walked out of their room after hearing unfamiliar voices. In the hall, Meenakshi saw Padma and Balaram smiling warmly at a couple around their age. Padma was hugging a young woman who looked stunningly beautiful.
“Who are they?” Meenakshi asked Aakash.
When she didn’t get a reply, she turned to look at him.
He stood frozen. His face had turned pale, as if he had seen a ghost. His hands trembled slightly, and she saw him gulp hard as if he was having a panic attack. Before she could question him further, Padma called out to him.
“Aakash, Look who is here. Come and greet them.” she said with a wide smile holding the hands of the young woman.
Aakash looked as though he might collapse at any moment. He forced a faint smile at the older couple but carefully avoided looking at the girl.
“He is my best friend, his wife and their only daughter, Aishwarya. They moved to Bangalore a few years ago and have come now to invite us to her wedding,” Balaram said, introducing the family to Meenakshi as he hugged his friend.
But Meenakshi’s attention was entirely on Aakash.
“Aakash, you have a meeting now. Go and log in before your manager calls you,” she said quickly to save him from the difficult situation.
Aakash simply nodded and almost rushed back to the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Once inside, he slid down and slumped onto the floor. His body began to tremble as memories from the past came crashing through the door he had tried so hard to keep shut.
He covered his ears, yet the voices from outside still reached him.
“Aishwarya will soon be part of our family. She is the one my nephew will be marrying in three weeks,” Padma said excitedly.
Aakash held his head, which felt like it would explode at any moment.
Meanwhile, in the hall, Meenakshi served coffee and snacks to the guests while they continued to laugh sharing old memories.
She then walked into Padma’s room with a tray. Inside, she saw Aishwarya sitting with Lavanya and Sharmi, chatting and laughing together.
“Who is she?” Aishwarya asked, picking up a glass of coffee from the tray.
Lavanya rolled her eyes casually. “She’s the one Aakash bro married,” she said nonchalantly.
Meenakshi shot her a sharp glare before quietly turning and walking out of the room.
The guests didn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon and Aakash could no longer bear their presence or their voices. Without informing anyone, he grabbed his bike keys and walked out. However, Meenakshi noticed the haste in his steps.
She also noticed how comfortably Aishwarya moved around the house, as if she already belonged there. Meenakshi didn’t miss the mocking smile Aishwarya exchanged with Lavanya every time they whispered something to each other.
Finally the family left and Meenakshi stood in the veranda, waiting for Aakash to return. She heard someone clear their throat and turned around to see Padma and Lavanya standing behind her.
“Did you see Aishwarya akka? She was supposed to be the daughter-in-law of this house. Aakash bro liked her a lot. They were very close. But then Aishwarya akka and her family moved to Bangalore.” Lavanya said and sighed paused before continuing.
“Aakash bro was completely lost after that. He stopped talking to everyone. He loved her so much. In fact, he didn’t want to get married at all but Appa blackmailed him into marrying you. Today, after seeing her again and realizing that she is going to marry our own cousin, he couldn’t take it. I’m sure he still misses her.” Lavanya said mocking Meenakshi.
With that, Meenakshi silently walked past them into the bedroom.
” Could it be true that he loved her? But then why did his body tremble when he saw her… as if he had seen a ghost? If this were simply about a past love, his reaction would have been different. There must be something else that I don’t know ” she wondered.
” Where did he go ? ” she thought and her thoughts were interrupted when Padma entered the room, her face twisted in anger.
“Are you happy now after what you did today? Aren’t you ashamed of letting my son suffer? You don’t want to work, you want to live comfortably and now he has to carry the burden of financial struggles. I have never seen a selfish woman like you. He was never like this before. You changed him. Now he talks back to me and looks at his own brother and sister as if they are enemies. Is this what your parents taught you?” Padma continued angrily.
Meenakshi’s anger slowly began to rise.
“You are not even the beautiful wife my son deserves. At the very least, you could have been useful by doing the housework and keeping peace in this family. But instead, you are determined to ruin everyone’s peace. If only Aishwarya had stayed in this city, he would have married her. They would have made the perfect couple.” Padma scoffed.
That was the last straw. Meenakshi felt her blood boil.
“Am I the selfish one, Aunty? ” she asked calmly but firmly.
” I have never once complained to Aakash about how you treat me or how everyone in this house behaves toward me. He came back on his own to see how his wife was being treated. You pushed him into making that decision, so please don’t blame me. If anyone is ruining the peace of this house, it is you, Lavanya and your other son. I am still being respectful. I have never tried to turn Aakash against any of you. I am not that kind of person.” Meenakshi said looking straight at Padma.
“My parents raised me well enough to take care of a family and not to be burden to others. That is exactly what I have been doing.” she said further and with that, Meenakshi walked past her into the kitchen to prepare an early dinner.
Later, everyone had dinner and retired to their rooms but Aakash had still not returned. His phone was switched off.
Meenakshi sat on the sofa in the hall, waiting for him.
After some time, Aakash finally returned. His body was no longer trembling but he looked calm and completely devastated. He had spent hours at the beach, trying to quiet his thoughts before coming back home.
” Where did you go, Aakash? ” Meenakshi wanted to ask but she chose silence and simply watched him walk into the bedroom.
She placed two plates on the table and served dinner for both of them but Aakash never came out. When she entered the room, she saw that he was already asleep.
She quietly cleaned the kitchen and returned to the bedroom. A few minutes later, Meenakshi lay down on her side of the bed, watching his back.
Slowly, Aakash opened his eyes. Tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes.
” I’m sorry “, he thought silently before closing his eyes again.
The next morning, Meenakshi prepared breakfast and lunch and waited for Aakash. When he finally came out ready for work, he walked straight out of the house without speaking to anyone.
Meenakshi rushed outside and saw him tying the laces of his shoes.
“Aakash, breakfast is ready. I packed lunch too. You didn’t have dinner last night… please eat something before you leave,” she said softly.
” No… it’s okay. I have an urgent meeting. I’ll manage,” he replied without looking at her before quickly leaving.
Meenakshi stood there, lost in thoughts about his behavior. As she turned back toward the house, she saw Lavanya standing there, ready for college. The smirk on Lavanya’s face felt like a silent taunt directed straight at Meenakshi.
“Didn’t I tell you that he loved Aishwarya akka? Now that he has seen her again after all these years, he can’t even stand looking at you. Poor brother must feel miserable that he is stuck with you for the rest of his life when he could have married a real beauty like her. Get used to the reality.” Lavanya said mockingly.
Meenakshi placed the casserole on the table with a loud thud and looked at Padma, who stood there as a silent spectator before turning her attention to Lavanya.
“What happens in my life and your brother’s life is none of your concern. I am his wife, which makes me your sister-in-law. I’m sure your mother has taught you basic manners, so learn to respect people. It would be good if you learn some ethics before you get married.” Meenakshi said firmly.
“And try concentrating on your studies instead of wasting time watching reels. People may abandon you someday but your education never will.” she said and threw the kitchen cloth on the table before Lavanya.
Padma’s face darkened with anger. “Are you cursing my daughter now?” she demanded.
Meenakshi simply shook her head. “No, Aunty. I’m only doing what should have been done by you ” she replied calmly.
“I’m tired today, so I’ll rest.” she said and with that, she walked into the bedroom and frustration burned inside her.
Three days passed in the same suffocating routine. Aakash barely spoke to her.
Meenakshi’s patience was wearing thin and she felt ready to explode at any moment. To make matters worse, Padma and Lavanya continued to taunt her, constantly bringing up Aakash and his cold behavior.
Finally, Sunday arrived. That morning, Meenakshi decided she had enough of everything. She pulled out her trolley bag and began stuffing her clothes into it.
Aakash walked out of the bathroom just then and froze when he saw her packing. The towel in his hand slipped to the floor.
“What happened? Why are you packing your things?” he asked, dread creeping into his voice.
Meenakshi completely ignored him and picked up another bag and shoved more clothes into it.
“Meena… please stop. I’m sorry. Please don’t leave.” he said softly. His voice was barely a whisper, filled with desperation.
Meenakshi turned to him and her eyes blazed with anger.
“Oh, so you can talk now? Where was this concern all these days when you were ignoring me?” she snapped.
“Why do you care if I leave now? If seeing your ex again has rekindled your feelings, then go to her. I’m done with your apologies. I’m done with your mother, your brat sister and your useless brother.” she said gritting her teeth and her voice trembled with pain.
“Why should I stay here and tolerate their constant taunts and mockery? Let’s just get divorced. I’m sure your mother will happily arrange your marriage with your beautiful, stunning ex. You and your family don’t have to live with a fat, ugly woman like me. Maybe I’m not beautiful but I’m still human. I have emotions. I deserve respect… if not love and care, which clearly I’m never going to get from you or your family.” she said and wiped her tears angrily.
Aakash watched helplessly as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her words stabbed straight into his heart. He realized how deeply he had hurt her once again.
Suddenly, something snapped inside him. He shut the trolley with force to draw her attention.
“Why do you think I would want her in my life?” he asked hoarsely.
“Yes, she is my ex… but she is the one person I despise the most in this world. I hate her with every bone and every cell of my body. She is the one who ruined my life. She is the reason I’m broken.” he said further and his chest rose and fell rapidly with rage.
His voice turned harsh. “She is a bitch… a shameless woman. No… she is not even a woman. She is a demon.” he vented and Meenakshi stared at him, confused by the intensity of his hatred.
“You can’t keep me in the dark anymore. If you can’t be transparent with me, then there is no point in me staying here like an unpaid maid.” she said firmly.
She grabbed the trolley and moved toward the door but Aakash stepped in front of it, blocking her path.
“Please, Meena. I should have told you about my past. But I was scared… scared that you would look at me with disgust.” he said and his voice trembled, his eyes filled with tears.
“I wanted to tell you everything after we became good friends… but I was afraid you might leave me.” he said further in a broken voice.
Meenakshi looked at him steadily. “Today I decided to leave because you chose to keep your distance from me. Whether I’m your friend or your wife, I deserve to know the truth about your past. You didn’t trust me enough to share your fears. And a relationship cannot exist without trust.” she said quietly.
Aakash nodded slowly.
“You are right. A relationship needs trust… but she… she destroyed me to the point where I couldn’t trust anyone with my pain.” he said and took a deep breath before continuing.
“We studied in the same school. We were friends. She had a lot of friends, but I had very few. We joined the same college too. Her circle kept growing, while I stayed the same. During the second year of college, I started seeing her as more than just a friend. I began dreaming about building a life with her. I was always a responsible and disciplined guy. No one really paid attention to me, even though people said I was handsome. But she… she was exactly opposite to me. She was the girl everyone wanted.”
“I wasn’t even sure she would accept my love. But I didn’t want to miss my chance and watch someone else propose to her. So during the beginning of our third year in college… I proposed to her. She accepted immediately.” Aakash said and his lips trembled slightly.
“I was so happy. Every day felt like heaven but I was still the same simple guy. Nothing was special about me. She used to visit our house too, since her family lived just two streets away.” he said and gripped the edge of the table tightly to steady himself.
“One Sunday, both our families were gone to the temple. We stayed back because we had exams. I cooked lunch for her and we watched a movie together. The most I had ever done with her was hug her. I had never even kissed her because I didn’t want to distract her from her studies.” he continued and his voice began to shake.
“But that day… she……she hugged me. She kissed me. I was shocked ” he whispered swallowing hard and disgust clearly visible on his face.
“She… she…” he began and unable to continue, his words trailed off.
Meenakshi gently held his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
“Did she force herself on you?” she asked softly.
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A/N:
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