The night had never felt so long at least, not in my entire life. I waited painfully for the sun to rise, counting every minute as if the darkness would never end. The moment the first ray of sunlight touched my window, I got ready quickly, even though Geetha madam wouldn’t arrive until ten in the morning to pick me up.
I wore a simple saree and decided to visit the nearby temple before leaving for court. I bid goodbye to Aarthi, and she wished me luck for my new beginning.
I walked to the temple, offered my prayers, and sat in the premises for a while, letting my mind drift through the painful journey I had endured. And today… today would be the beginning of something new.
I returned to the hostel and had my breakfast before going back to my room. I waited impatiently, scrolling through reels to distract myself, but my mind was too restless. I knew I wouldn’t be able to breathe peacefully until everything was finally settled.
By 9:30, I received a call from Geetha madam informing me she had arrived at the hostel entrance. I immediately locked my door and rushed downstairs, spotting her car waiting.
“Good morning, madam,” I greeted her and got into the passenger seat.
“You look good and you’re smiling, but your eyes say something else, Meera. Don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong. The judge will question you and Rakesh to confirm that you both want to settle this mutually. Once you give your consent, it will be done. We’ll have to stay for a while to sign the documents, and after that… you will be free forever.” she said gently.
I smiled faintly in response.
We reached the court soon after, and the moment I stepped out, my hands began trembling unknowingly. I spotted Rakesh and his mother. Both of them were shooting daggers at me. Their lawyer stood beside them, whispering something. A little farther away, my parents were waiting my mother crying silently, pressing her pallu to her mouth to muffle her sobs.
Geetha madam placed a reassuring hand on my back. “Be strong,” she whispered, and we walked toward Rakesh and his lawyer.
“I hope your client makes his stand clear today and settles this. Otherwise, I have the petition ready to file for domestic violence and marital rape.” Geetha madam said firmly.
Rakesh grit his teeth. “You don’t have to repeat it. I’m happy to get rid of this useless woman.”
Before I could react, Geetha madam stepped forward with a deadly glare. “Mind your words. It is Meera who is sparing you today. Otherwise, you would spend the rest of your life in prison and not just you, your lovely mother too. So choose your words carefully.”
Rakesh’s face went pale.
Geetha held my hand and led me inside the building, straight to her office. “We will go to the bench as soon as my assistant calls,” she said, settling behind her desk.
I sat on the chair opposite her table, my heart pounding, hands trembling slightly as the reality of the moment sank deeper.
After a few minutes, Geetha madam received a call from her assistant and my heart dropped to my stomach.
Geetha madam held my hand firmly. “Come, Meera. This will all be over soon.”
We walked through the corridor, the sound of footsteps echoing against the old courthouse walls. Rakesh and his lawyer followed behind us, while his mother continued glaring as if her stare alone could destroy me.
Inside the courtroom, the magistrate was already seated, stern, composed, and scanning through the files.
The court clerk announced our case number followed by both my name and Rakesh.
Rakesh and I stood side by side, and the magistrate adjusted her glasses and looked at us.
“Both parties are present?” she asked.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Geetha madam and Rakesh’s lawyer stepped forward.
The magistrate glanced at the application. “This is a petition for mutual consent divorce under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act. Before proceeding, the court needs confirmation from both parties.”
She looked at Rakesh first, “Mr. Rakesh, do you willingly and without pressure agree to dissolve this marriage?” she asked.
Rakesh scoffed. “Yes, Your Honor. I want this marriage to end.”
Then the magistrate turned to me, “Mrs. Meera, do you willingly and without any force agree to this mutual divorce?”
“Yes, madam, I want this marriage to end.” I said loud and clear. I have never been so confident in all my life.
The magistrate studied my face for a moment, “Have you both agreed voluntarily to the terms of settlement? Mrs. Meera, if you need time to reconsider your decision the court will grant you. “
“No madam, I m clear in my decision so I don’t need anymore time. ” I said and the magistrate nodded making a note.
“Very well. The court finds no legal impediment to proceed. The petition is accepted. Both parties will sign the consent documents. Upon submission, the decree of divorce shall be granted.”
I exhaled in relief. Rakesh seemed impatient, tapping his foot like he wanted to run out the moment he was freed from me.
The magistrate spoke one last time, “The court hopes both parties move forward peacefully in their respective lives. You may proceed to sign the documents.”
He signaled the clerk and moved on to the next case.
Geetha madam gently placed her hand on my back. “Come, Meera.”
We walked out and I returned to Geetha madam’s room since we had to wait until we would be called to sign the documents. An hour later we were called and I signed my name Meera, the smile was so evident on my face that Geetha madam pat my back.
When Rakesh signed his name, he tossed the pen aggressively.
A strange stillness settled inside me, Relief, freedom. Everything mixed.
Geetha madam squeezed my arm lightly, “It’s done, Meera. You’re free.”
I let out a breath I had been holding for years and saw my parents crying in the corner but I least cared about them now.
Geetha madam assured me that she would collect my copy of the divorce decree and send it to me. With that, we walked out of the building.
“I hope you rot in hell. You sucked the money out of my son and ruined our family,” my ex–mother-in-law spat, her voice echoing through the courtyard like venom.
I turned to her slowly and smiled, a calm, cold, victorious smile. The kind that silenced her instantly.
My mother rushed toward me and engulfed me in a hug, but I stood stiff, unmoving like a wall built from years of hurt.
“Meera… please come with us to the village,” she pleaded softly.
I stepped out of her embrace. “No. I can take care of myself. Don’t try to ruin my life again. Just… stay away from me.”
Her eyes widened in shock and pain. “Meera, where will you go? You can’t live alone in this city. Please, come with us. We will manage “
“You haven’t even seen twenty percent of the world I have seen and survived, so don’t teach me or preach to me about living. I can build my own life.” I said, my voice steady, sharp.
Without another glance, leaving behind the old ghosts I had just buried, I walked toward Geetha madam, who was discussing something with her assistant.
“Meera, I’ll book an auto for you to return to the hostel. I have some urgent work, so I won’t be able to drop you,” Geetha madam said, turning to her assistant. She instructed him to book an auto for me.
But I stopped him.
“I need to learn to do this myself. Please show me how.” I said.
He nodded and patiently guided me through the process. I booked the auto on my own, thanked them both, and walked out of the court premises feeling strangely… lighter.
The auto ride back to the hostel felt like a quiet victory.
Once I reached, I changed into a comfortable nighty and played music on my phone. For the first time in years, my body moved freely. My steps were clumsy, awkward even but I didn’t care.
I danced, not with grace, but with freedom.
And for the first time in a long, painful time… I didn’t just smile. I laughed loud, unrestrained, and alive.
Later, breathless and happy, I collapsed onto the bed.
A new life was waiting for me. And I was finally ready to live it.
The next morning, I woke up early and left for work. I didn’t want to be late on my first day so I took a share auto and reached the restaurant in twenty minutes. The place was already buzzing. Staff members were moving briskly, the fragrance of fresh flowers mixed with the scent of agarbathi from the cash counter filling the air. It felt warm and welcoming.
I greeted the manager, and he offered me a polite smile.
“Welcome, Meera. Since you’re new, you’ll start by cleaning the tables. Watch how the staff works. Depending on how you handle customers, I’ll decide whether you can start taking orders later. We have three shifts for you to choose from:
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — salary ₹10,000
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. — salary ₹12,000
8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. — salary ₹12,000
Any tips from customers are yours, but you shouldn’t demand anything. So tell me, which shift do you want?” he asked me.
“Sir, I’ll work the 6 to 9 shift,” I replied.
He nodded and called out to a woman nearby. “Sumathi, take her and explain her duties.”
I thanked him and followed her.
“My name is Sumathi. What’s yours?” she asked with a friendly smile.
“My name is Meera,” I replied.
“Meera, since you’ve chosen the 6 to 9 shift, you must report before 5:45 a.m. and sign the attendance register. You’ll wear this coat and hair cap for the entire shift. There’s a small room behind the kitchen where the staff sits and eats. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to everything in a few days.” She said and handed me a blue uniform shirt and a hair cap.
Then she showed me the trolley I would be using to collect used plates and clean the tables.
I thanked her softly and took a deep breath.
Before putting on the shirt and the cap, I whispered a silent prayer.
A new chapter had begun.
Customers began to arrive, and a wave of nervousness washed over me but I reminded myself that I could do this. One of the supervisors called out to me, asking me to collect the used plates. I pushed the trolley toward the table and approached the customers with a polite smile.
I picked up the first plate, scraped the leftovers into the waste bag, and continued collecting the rest. Then I took the wiper, cleaned off the crumbs and spills, sprayed the disinfectant, and wiped the table again until it looked spotless.
The man at the table handed me a five-rupee coin with a faint smile. I accepted it gratefully and thanked him with folded hands.
I returned to the corner and looked at the five-rupee coin resting in my palm. My lips curved into a small, beautiful smile. Around 10, Meena sister called me to join her for breakfast during the ten-minute break. After that, the rest of the day flew by busy… far too busy. Customers poured in nonstop, and I found myself running from one table to another without a moment to breathe.
By 7 p.m., my legs ached and my body felt heavy, but I still had two more hours left in my shift. I pushed through, reminding myself why I had chosen this path. Finally, at 9, I approached the supervisor and informed him that I would be leaving. Shanthi aunty from the kitchen handed me a plate of idlis, warm and soft, and I thanked her sincerely before stepping out.
It was 9:20 by the time I walked out of the restaurant. I was too exhausted to wait for a bus, so I boarded a shared auto and reached the hostel at 10:10, the traffic moving at a snail’s pace. The room door was slightly open, Aarthi was on a work call, so I slipped in quietly without disturbing her.
I took a quick bath, changed into my nighty, and finally lay on the bed. A single tear slid from the corner of my eye as the pain in my legs throbbed but I didn’t mind it. This pain was bearable… because it would give me something priceless, an identity, self-respect, and the strength to build a new name for myself.
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A/N:
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