Chapter : When truth resurface

Chapter : When truth resurface

Sanyogita sat motionless on the cold , tiled floor, eyes still remained fixated on Prithvi's retreating silhouette, which grew smaller as he walked away. Salty tears had dried on her cheeks, leaving faint stains behind. For a moment , she completely forgot her own existence. What had happened just a minute earlier felt like a vehement nightmare.

"Agar itni hi problem thi…”

“toh mujhse shaadi kyun Kiya?”

“ Bolo Sanyogita ? Kya main tumhare saath zabardasti ki thi ?”

" Aagar tumhari yehi iccha hai… toh hum rishtey ko yahin khatam kar dete hai.."

His words echoed in the room; reverberating in her mind . Sanyogita's hands flew over ears , as if shutting out the sounds could somehow protect her from the pain and confusion it caused .

Then , slowly her expression hardened as realisation struck her . She wiped her eyes with trembling hands and stood upright with a newfound resolve, knowing what she needed to do first.

*******

Knock…knock..

The door swung open slowly.

Rishabh's eyes widened astonishingly ; lines of paternal concern etched on his forehead as his eyes flickered to his daughter. His gaze softened with worry .

“Sanyogita ….what happened to you ? Yeh kaisi halat banake rakha hai?” he asked gently, noticing her swollen, red eyes and dishevelled hair .

"Come inside ," he said tenderly , stretching an affectionate hand to her shoulder , inviting her inside .

Once she stepped inside , Rishabh quickly locked the door behind her .

Placing a reassuring hand over her shoulder, he asked, concerned, intensifying in his voice “kya baat hai beta?” His tone softened , as he gently inquired “Kuch hua hai kya ?”

Suddenly, his words felt like a sharp sting against her skin , as if hitting a raw nerve.

" Kya Prithvi se jhagda hua hai?”.he asked , his brows crumpled with concern.

A bitter smirk curled on her lips as she held his hand loosely. Her composure broke , and all the bottled-up melancholy, condemnation flared up in a flood of emotions " Aapne Aisa kyu kya, Dad?” she demanded, her voice trembling with pain while eyes brimmed with hurt, betrayal . " Aakhir kya mila hume aisi saza dekar?” she choked .

However, Rishabh’s expression appeared indifferent , as if immune to her distress " “what are you talking about, ?” he asked flatly, “ Kya bol Rahi ho , beti?"

“ Beti ?” Sanyogita smiled painfully “Aapne haatho se apni hi beti gala ghot diya aapne, … and still you're asking what happened to me?”

Rishabh's face hardened " Sanyogita… behave yourself!” he snapped firmly.

Nevertheless, Sanyogita had already lost her grip on sanity. " If you ask me to kill myself , I willingly do it but — " her voice choked with rage and despair “ aapne toh hume jite jee mardala... .Dad, why did you kidnap Yash …?”

Rishabh looked at her still, unable to utterly lose in words.

Sanyogita loathed out further “ Aaj mera past mere saamne khara hai ... .na hum Yash ke pass ja sakte hai , aur nahi hum Prithviraj Singhaniya ke ban pa rahe hain. Aapni hi beti ke sath aap itni neech harkat kaise kar sakte hai ?”

“ Aap ko pata hai , Dad, Prithvi humpe bhaut bharosa karte hain…woh mujhe chodne pe bhi taiyaar hai, sirf hamari khushi ke liye . Kya betegi unpar jaab une pata chalege unke pit-piche itna bada saazish racha gaya hai ?” Sanyogita said with disgust, then her eyes suddenly softened “ Aur Yash, “ she paused, her voice again trembling “ aapne use kidnapped karke rakha, taki hamari shaadi Prithviraj Singhaniya se tei ho sake .”

“Waha Dad, waha! She clapped hands with bitterness “ Apni beti ka sauda kaise karna hai , koi toh aapse seekhe !"

Rishabh's eyes dropped, casting a shadow of shame in his face.

Her eyes burned with pain and rage “ Aap ko pata hai , I used to think that …perhaps some part of you still cares for me , but tonight , I realised that you have no heart at all. " Tears keep rolling down on her cheeks, tracing the curve of her neck but she forgot to wipe it.

Sanyogita's heart was exploding as she spat more from helplessness on her father than anger . “Najane aise kitne log hain , jo aulad ke liye bheekh mangte hain..magar unhe Maa- Baap banne ka sukh bhi nahi milta, lekin aapko dekh lakta …hum koi aanth hote toh achha hota”

“Sanyogita….!!” Rishabh's voice thundered like strom.

However, Sanyogita's composure didn't falter. “ Kyun ? agar hum koi aanth hote toh kya hota?" Her fist clenched , “kam se kam hume yeh dukh toh nahi hoti ke mere apne pita ne hamari zindagi ka sauda kardiya hain .” she retorted defiantly.

It was then , something shifting in Rishabh's demeanour ..He stood still , turning his back to her , gripping the edge of the table tightly, as if it was an anchor , helping him stood steady.

“ Sanyogita …. bahut raat ho gai hai, apne kamre mein jao!” He commanded sternly.

" Kiske kamre mein jaun!…aur kis Risthey se jaun…?" Sanyogita's mocking words dropped slowly, her hand clutching her chest , the fabric shrunk in to her grip “ Aab yeh rishta bhi nahi raha ….“Toh bataiye… hum kaha jaayein?” she swallowed a pang of emotions.

And that silence shattered the last thread inside her.

Her gaze suddenly landed on the fruit knife lying beside the table.

"Aap ek kaam kijiye …" She picked it up with shaking hands. “ Take this knife and kill me. “

Rishabh remained still, something tumultuous stirring inside him .

Tears streamed endlessly down her face, “Agar tab bhi aapko shanti na mile ….tukre tukre kar dijiye hamare….!”

Sanyogita's expression cracked “ Thik hai, Dad…hum hi khudko khatam kar dete hain ..” she took the knife, placing it in her hand but before she could act, Rishabh spun around in a flash , snatching the knife away and threw it .

The knife crashed against the marble floor, with a metallic clang .

While breathing unevenly, he grabbed her shoulders. At first his eyes looked terrified. But then he pulled her into his chest as she was the only thing keeping him alive.

Sanyogita broke instantly. All the rage collapsed into helpless sobs as she buried her face against him.

Rishabh held his eyes shut firmly. His own hands trembled around her, still threatened by what could have happened.

Then slowly his grip loosened around her. But his hands still remained on her shoulder as if he was scared she would collapse the moment he let go.

Sanyogita's hand wiped the tears roughly, though they refused to stop.

The room abruptly had fallen into eerily silent. Only the tickling of the wall clock remained.

Rishabh bent down , picked up the knife from the floor, and placed it far away from her reach.

Sanyogita's gaze softened, witnessing an ache in her father's eyes. However , she was determined not to let emotions overwhelm her.

Rishabh walked towards the window , keeping hand behind his hips . A gust of cold breeze brushed his skin . For several seconds he said nothing.

And somehow… that silence frightened Sanyogita more than his anger ever had.

Finally without turning back, he spoke. “ You know what the biggest curse of this family is ?"

His voice sounded exhausted. “We love too much.”

Sanyogita stared at him silently, her brows puckered as confused dawned over.

Rishabh's voice drifted softly “But hum apne pyaar ko bachane ke liye…” his throat tightened slightly, “…galat faisle le lete hain.”

Then slowly, he turned toward her. His eyes no longer held authority, but a hint of guilt flickered there .

“ Tujhe jaana hai na…tera villian Dad ne kyun aisa kya ! Why did he treat you like a prisoner ? Listen…but after hearing me …you won't ask anything…

Sanyogita's expression darkened, almost frightened.

Rishabh's words became hesitant as he began “ Yeh Kahani aaj se 24 saal purani hai … “His voice turned distant.

“At that time, Papa and Tauji had only a small jewellery shop in our village. We were not that wealthy… but we were respected.”

A faint bitter smile appeared on his lips “When I turned eighteen , I thought of dropping studies and helping them in business but Papa wanted me to continue with studies, so one day I could expand our business beyond the village . That is why I left for the city to purchase higher studies . “

Sanyogita listened silently.

“Life was normal…” he murmured. “But simple.” Then his expression darkened suddenly. “Until I met someone in college.”

Rishabh paused for a moment. His cheeks flashed , voice turned hesitant “Tushar.”

The name lingered heavily in the room.

“We became close.” His fingers tightened behind his back. “Bahut zyada close.” He swallowed. “And before I realized it… I had fallen in love.”

Sanyogita's expression turned pale as she had a different vision for her father , not judgement rather a curiosity as if she learned a completely new chapter in her father's life , for the first time..

Rishabh looked away instinctively. His face reddened yet softened instantly, even after decades, speaking about that chapter aloud seemed dangerous.

He muttered, slowly, “Tusar was… different from everyone around me.”

Another paused to settle in the room. Sanyogita's breathing hitched. For the first time in her life , she noticed her father didn't look powerful, instead he looked lonely.

“Uske saath mujhe pehli baar laga tha… ke mujhe koi aur banne ki zarurat nahi hai.” his eyes were a pool of joy as he added “No expectations, no pressure of pretending. And no fear of being judged.”

Sanyogita's face turned sombre , a hollow ache pinched in her chest upon realising how much her father had gone through..

Then slowly,...the spark vanished from his eyes when he said “Hume darr tha,” he admitted quietly. “Log kya kahenge… society kya sochegi… hamara parivaar barbaad ho jayega…”

“Hum jis duniya se aate the, wahan log sirf rishton ko nahi dekhte. Woh naam dekhte hain. Pehachan dekhte . Khoon dekhte hain. Izzat dekhte hain.” His jaw tightened. “ Gaon mein sab hassenge mera parivaar padh. Tarha tarh tarh ki baatein hongi. Aur ek din humare parivar barbaad hojayega. “

" And I was weak . The confession came bluntly but painfully honest. “I couldn’t fight them.”

Sanyogita’s eyes softened despite herself.

“I thought sacrificing my own happiness would protect everyone.” A hollow laugh escaped him.

“Lekin insaan jab ek jhoot jeena shuru karta hai na… phir usse har sach se darr lagne lagta hai.” He spun around and looked directly at her now. “That fear destroyed your bua.”

The room froze silently. Sanyogita's eyes narrowed, curiosity grabbed her better.

Rishabh slowly sat down on the chair nearby, as if the memories themselves had aged him. “Sangeeta…my younger sister ” his voice trembled faintly, “she was nothing like me.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“ She was only six years younger than me . She laughed loudly, danced as if the whole world belonged to her.”

For a moment Rishabh's gaze softened with affection as if old memories resurface before his vision . “Maa adored her. Papa used to call her our ghar ki Lakshmi… because after her birth, our business suddenly began flourishing.”

A faint smile appeared on his cheeks briefly. “She used to roam around the courtyard during rain while Maa screamed at her for ruining her clothes. And Papa used to pretend he was angry. But he loved her so much. He considered her Lakshmi , because with her birth prosperity kissed our fate . Jaise jaise woh badi hui, log uski khoobsurti dekhkar hairaan reh gaye. Jab woh solah saal ki hui, toh rishtedaar humare ghar aane lage, lekin Papa ne inkar kar diya.”

Papa was very keen about his children's education. He insisted on sending her to the city for education , so that the remaining parents would allow their children to educate . With this our small business shifted to the city .

Sangeeta took admission in a college. Books could never hold her attention for long , instead it revolved around artistry. Singing and dancing both were her soul . Maa scolded her, often for that but it was I who encouraged her and supported her dream.

Sanyogita stared at her father , something flickering in her eyes; surprise, that hadn't missed Rishabh’s sagacious gaze.

“Since my education was completed, I jumped straight into our family business, ignoring Papa's suggestions to join some company. I worked relentlessly day and night for our business to thrive . And

Meanwhile, Sangeeta was admitted to Kerala, where her dancing talent had huge potential. Anyhow I convinced Papa and Maa to let her stay there , although she’d to stay in the girls' hostel.”

Rishabh paused momentarily. Looking at the floor, he was looking a little tired.

Sanyogita stood still , clasping hands over her chest , something brewing inside her , curiosity and confusion. Nevertheless, she intended to hear the whole story.

Rishabh's voice came slowly “Sangeeta came to visit us during her intercollege competition. That very day , she caught me with Tushar….”

Sanyogita's breathing slows down .

Rishabh's words were hesitant at first ,“ Yet , surprisingly , she understood everything..I was terrified, anticipating embarrassment, judgement in her eyes. “ He smiled painfully. " But instead she embraced me warmly . I wondered how my sister, who was then just seventeen years only , young , could be so wise and understanding.

A few months later , Papa arranged my marriage with Saloni.

Sanyogita looked at her father flabbergasted. “And you agree to marry Mom?"

Rishabh's eyes went solemn , “ I had no choice . Because I knew sacrificing myself would only save us . Or perhaps I was too scared to fight for us."

Sanyogita's gaze filled with empathy “ and what happened to Tushar? Did he question you ?"

A bitter smile flickered Rishabh’s cheeks.“He didn’t stop me.”

That somehow sounded even more painful.

“but I saw disappointment in his eyes when I told him about the marriage. But surprisingly, instead of a silent treatment , he asked me to celebrate the end of our relationship — asked for one last evening together.”

Rishabh’s gaze turned distant. “That night he told me… that maybe in another life, we would not have to hide.”

His face lit slightly as the fragile memory of that day flashed in his mind.

“He told me he knew that part of my world neither my parents nor Saloni had ever seen. And that's why he’d always remain special to me.” His throat tightened. “And even today…”His voice lowered. “…I think a part of me still lives that night.”

Rishabh smiled painfully “ he was right . I always feel free when I'm with him . Perhaps trust with him, I can be what I'm , not the person I pretend to be ."

Sanyogita moved closer , putting her hand softly around his arm" Dad , phir kya hua ? What happened to Sangeeta bua ?”

The moment the question left her lips , Rishabh's smile faded. All warmth vanished from his face instantly. For several seconds, he couldn’t speak.

A fog of sadness filled in his eyes. " Sangeeta continued her studies and dance. Everything was going well . I was trying to restart my life with Saloni. Then, two years later , Saloni became pregnant again “ his expression trembled " our first child never came to this world — died in miscarriage.

Sanyogita's eyes welled up..her demeanour stirred slightly.

Rishabh swallowed hard , before his lips parted again , this time slightly quivering “ one day, just before Sangeeta’s birthday , I visited to pick her up . But I found out she had left the hostel one month earlier , and I was driving around desperately until I saw a girl standing nearby a river clif. When I rushed to her ,I saw that the girl was Sangeeta. I managed to save her from harm."

Sanyogita shivered, her heart thudded violently.

Rishabh said “ Sangeeta told me she was in love with Mohit, a wealthy film producer who she met in a programme . “He praised her dancing. Made her believe she was special . He encouraged her to pursue acting because of the kind of beauty she had. At first, she was reluctant and also frightened , but she was smitten by him . "

Rishabh's eyes hardened with self-hatred “ He looked perfect – successful, charming, sophisticated. Everything an innocent eye dreams of .”

Sanyogita's gaze lowered slowly. Because somewhere she could understand that vulnerability.

Rishabh whispered no one in particular, “When a girl spends her whole life craving freedom even a cage decorated with love starts looking like heaven.”

Silence poured into the room . Sanyogita stood utterly defenseless before her father.

Rishabh’s jaw clenched " Gradually , they began meeting secretly. He asked her to hide their relationship from friends and family to avoid jealousy and gossip unless they would bring problems…Mohit took her in his car , on the way to her college, spending time together.”

After six months , he claimed he was leaving India to shoot in foreign . But he never returned . And we were so busy with our work that we forgot to meet her but Sangeeta talked to us on landline very rarely , saying busy with exams and practice. But she was already six months pregnant then.

The world around Sanyogita seemed to stop.

“She was terrified,” he whispered. “She tried hiding it… tried denying it… even tried hurting herself.” His eyes filled with fury. “But when she finally told Mohit the truth…”

His eyes burn with pain and fury as he added " . Mohit finally returned . And Sangeeta confronted him sharply telling him she was going to be the mother of his child. “ Rishabh’s expression turned vengeance “Mohit questioned her whether the baby was really his . “

Sanyogita’s lips parted in horror. “ What ?" Words dropped even before Sanyogita could stop them “ how could he have thought so horrible? It's disgusting!" She retorted defiantly

Rishabh nodded silently. " That angered her tremendously. She demanded they have to get married , but Mohit asked her to abort the pregnancy, fearing it would ruin his career. She refused , even as he arranged for a doctor, he didn't go with her to the clinic. When she visited there the doctor said her pregnancy had exceeded six months along, making the procedure not only dangerous but also illegal. "

The world around Sanyogita seemed to stop. She clutched her mangalsutra’s gold chain tightly .

" Frightened and desperate, she left her hostel that day, and rented a house with the help of one of her close friends who had shown her back to her once but finally agreed. Despite the turmoil, she chose to carry the pregnancy and bring the baby into the world , even if she had to go through a tumultuous strom. However , she warned Mohit that unless he married her, she would reveal the truth about the baby.

But she found out another horrible truth. Mohit was already with another woman. That revelation shattered her trust — she’d believed in his charm , his words, but overlooked his actions. Now, everything was crystal clear…”

“That day,” Rishabh said slowly, “my sister broke completely.” His gaze softened painfully. “She said… Sab mujhe chhod sakte hain, Bhaiya… lekin yeh baccha kabhi mujhe akela nahi chhodega.’”

Tears rolled freely down Sanyogita’s cheeks now.

Rishabh continued quietly, “I hid her in Mumbai. Lied to everyone. I try to protect her the best I could.” “But fate…” his voice broke, “…fate was cruel.”

Sanyogita's expression turns somber as she listens to her father's words.

Rishabh continued, voice trembling with emotions “ I asked her why didn't she tell me everything earlier. Sangeeta said she was frightened because Papa will be hurt and angry and his stubbornness was dangerous. I decided to take her with me to Mumbai, I was with her…But she requested me not to tell about it, warning that they would kill her child.”

Fearing of losing a child, that pain was familiar to me. Since I lost my first baby . Yet, I wondered how she still felt so much affection for that baby, even after knowing it could ruin her life and damage our family's reputation.

I took Sangeeta with me, but decided to keep her safe in a single flat with whatever money I had. I hired a nanny to take care of her .

“ Then I was also doing my own search to find out that evil producer who had destroyed my sister's life. But then I got information that he had died while boating, in an ocean. Shark gulped him alive ”

Sanyogita's eyes widened, goosebumps sprouted through her skin.

“ Fate had given him justice but ..what after? My sister was carrying the child of a man and even if she gave birth to the baby …I couldn't watch her being pissed off by society's cruel words. She loved a man who took advantage of her innocence but society would blame the woman not the man .”

Rishabh's expression darkened as he said “So I decided ..once the baby was born ” his voice faltered , slightly embarrassed " I'll send it to an orphanage, fabricating a story that the child had died .

But fate had other plans. Since I used to visit Sangeeta in secret, Saloni suspected I was having an affair. Our fights grew fierce, but I couldn’t tell anyone about my secret promise to my sister.

Then one night, when I was with Sangeeta, she had labour pain and I needed to hospitalise her.

Before the delivery, Sangeeta clutched my hand and begged “ Bhaiya…promise me…if anything happens to me, you'll take care of my child. You'll never let any evil shadow darken her life . Give your name to the baby. And if it were a girl , promise to always protect her —keep her away from music, dance , any glamour of the world.”

Those words struck me like lightning, still haunting me at night. I desperately wanted to shout, to tell her to be careful , but I was numb thinking the worst came to her .

Sanyogita's stiffness, something shifting within her — dark conjecture grasped her . She clutched her chest tightly, the gold mangalsutra chain dug in her palm.

Rishabh added further “ Meanwhile, Saloni’s labour pain also surged , and fate intertwined our destinies as both were rushed to the same hospital. I met her there . Relieved to find out parents weren't around but her sister had arrived.

I was in a tumultuous strom which side to support first : my wife or my sister.

Once the OT was over, the doctor approached me with news that shattered everything: my wife was safe , but the baby did not survive .. I stared , memories flooding back. Saloni lost in her first miscarriage, shrinking into a shell of loneliness. Stay silent and distant . She had turned into a lifeless being. Nor did she cry nor eat. Only looking outside of the balcony watching other women’s children playing..

I asked the doctor not to reveal the devastating news about the lost child to Saloni. I'll tell her myself , and he agreed. But that night was simply cruel .

Sanyogita stood still, something within her shifting , something she wasn't ready to believe.

Rishabh's lips trembled. “ When I asked about my sister, doctors said they were looking at her. Her bleeding isn't stopped..but the baby is healthy. It's a baby girl.

I took the child in my arms, waiting for the recovery of my sister.

But that night time was cruel. Last I heard, Sangeeta was no longer with us. I stood there, frozen in shock. I stood there motionless. I lost two precious people — one is my sister and another is my child.

The doctor who advised me, I had the power to bring two lives back . But how ? How could I save my sister and my child ?

Pain flashed violently across his face.“One woman lost her life. And one woman lost her baby. And I…”His voice trembled. “…I did the unforgivable.”

“He told me — my wife and niece both can have a new life . Only if I want. I understood everything.”

Sanyogita stared at him through tears. A dull heaviness settled deeper within her chest . Her hand dropped beside her waist. She stood frozen.

Rishabh looked at her with shattered eyes.

“From that day onward… you stopped being my niece.”

“You became my daughter.”

Sanyogita’s body shuddered and she was barely able to stand . She stammered “Matlab…” her lips quivered as she whispered, “Jo mujhe itne saalo se paal rahi thi…she wasn't “ Her voice choked .

The world beneath her crumpled silently. She stumbled backward. As if the ground beneath her feet had disappeared. Her breathing became uneven. “No…” she whispered faintly, her hands , flew over her ears , as if they could halt their truth reaching her mind. “No… this can’t…”

Rishabh stood upright from the chair instinctively and stepped to her , his gaze softened as he caught her by shoulder helping to balance her posture.

“Saloni is your mother in every way that matters. She raised you and gives you her love , affection. She did everything a mother does for their child.”

Sanyogita's face turned deadly pale, her expression ghostly. Her lips quivered as she whispered, “Matlab… jo mujhe itne saalon se paal rahi thi... she wasn't my mother... my real mother was someone else!" Her eyes filled with tears.

“My mother…” her voice broke, “my real mother…”

Rishabh closed his eyes, his hand curled into a fist “Sangeeta.”

The name echoed like grief itself. For several seconds, Sanyogita said nothing. Then suddenly she laughed painfully

“So this is why…” tears rolled endlessly down her face, “…you hated music…”

Rishabh’s jaw tightened instantly. “I never hated it.”he retorted back as he made her sit on the couch.

His voice came rough. “I was terrified of it.”

Sanyogita looked at him , she truly understood. Every restriction. Every harsh rule. Every cold warning. Not hatred but fear.

“She died because she trusted the wrong man,” Rishabh whispered. “And every time I saw you dancing…”

His throat bobbed painfully. “…I saw history repeating itself. Your eyes are very similar to your mother, Sanyogita.”

Silence consumed the room.

Rishabh's eyes remained fixed on the floor for several moments. The room was cloaked in an oppressive silence.

Outside, the night wind rattled softly against the windowpanes, but inside, even the silence seemed suffocating.

Sanyogita stared at her father ,only absorbing the truth , unable to process that she was dreaming, her identity since her childhood was a lie ? Her entire existence suddenly felt unfamiliar.

Then slowly, her lips parted ..

"Did Mom know?" she asked weakly.

Rishabh nodded slowly. "Saloni knew the truth. " His voice had become quieter now. "But not in the hospital."

Sanyogita shivered.

A shadow crossed Rishabh's face, exhaustion etched into his features. He seemed drained — not angry, not even strict —just tired , as though carrying a weight of decades.

"When Papa and Maa arrived..." he began hesitantly , "...everything had already fallen apart---

The words scraped painfully against his chest . Rishabh walked toward the window and stared into the darkness beyond.

"Papa was furious when he found out I had hidden Sangeeta from everyone." His jaw clenched. "He felt betrayed." A bitter smile touched his lips. " And when he learned she had been pregnant..." Rishabh's painful smile vanished. "Something inside him broke."

Sanyogita listened quietly.

"People think anger is loud," Rishabh said softly. "But the most frightening anger is silence." His eyes turned distant. "Papa didn't shout. "He didn't create a scene. He simply stood beside Sangeeta's body and looked at her.. A flicker of emotion crossed his face, as if unable to comprehend how his little girl had become a memory."

Sanyogita's chest tightened. Rishabh's voice grew distant.

“Woh bed par bilkul shaant leti hui thi... jaise bas so rahi ho.” He swallowed.

“Maa toot chuki thi. Lekin Papa... Papa chup the.” A bitter smile touched his lips. “Kabhi kabhi insaan itna dukh mehsoos karta hai ki uske paas aansu bhi nahi bachte.”

" He touched her forehead." Rishabh swallowed hard. "Just once.Then he stepped back."

The room seemed colder than before. Sanyogita shivered.. her chest was squeezing.

"The doctor asked whether he wanted to see the baby."

Sanyogita's breath caught. "What did he say?" She whispered, curiously .

Rishabh laughed softly. The sound held no joy. "He refused."

Her eyes widened. "Why?" Sanyogita's chest twisted with unbearable pain .

For several seconds, he didn't answer. Then he spoke. "Because he was afraid."

Sanyogita stared at him. " Afraid?" She retorted, confused. "Her grandfather?The man everyone feared?" Her mind was haunted by a familiar thought.

Rishabh nodded , as if hearing her unspoken question .."Papa wasn't afraid of society at that moment."He said, lowering his voice . "He was afraid of himself.

The words hung heavily between them.."He knew that if he looked at that child...".Rishabh's gaze dropped. "...if he held her even once..." His voice broke. "...he would accept her as his granddaughter."

Tears burned in Sanyogita's eyes.

"And if he accepted her..." Rishabh continued, "Then he would have to live every day haunted by what happened to Sangeeta. Woh Sangeeta ki maut ko kabhi bhool nahi paate.”

His jaw clenched. “Papa kamzor nahi the, Sanyo.Woh darr gaye the. Darr gaye the ki agar ek baar us bacchi ko god mein utha liya... toh usse chhod nahi payenge.”

The room fell silent again.

"He couldn't save his daughter." Rishabin a h said softly, pain flashed across his face.."And he couldn't bear looking at the last thing she left behind." A hollow laugh escaped him. “Isliye unhone aasaan raasta chuna. Unhone bacchi ko dekha hi nahi. Aur Sangeeta ka naam lena bhi band kar diya.Jaise sach ko nazarandaaz karne se dard kam ho jayega.”

Sanyogita felt her heart ache— not from anger, but from grief. Because suddenly she understood.. Her grandfather hadn't rejected Sangeeta; he was destroyed by losing her. And instead of facing the pain, he buried it.

Rishabh continued quietly. "Maa cried every night, " His gaze drifted toward the darkness.."I often heard her sobbing behind closed doors. Yet, in front of Papa, she never mentioned Sangeeta's name."

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Our house became a graveyard full of living people."

The words struck Sanyogita harder than anything else , nobody had healed; everyone had simply stopped talking.

"He warned everyone not to reveal the true reason behind Sangeeta's death." Rishabh said quietly. "He said people would laugh at our family. They would judge her and us." Rishabh said softly, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"At that moment, I thought he cared more about society's opinion than his own daughter."

His gaze drifted toward the outside world through the window. "But years later, I realised there was more to it."

Sanyogita silently listened to her father.

Rishabh's voice softened farther "I understood why he wanted the truth buried." His jaw tightened. "But I made my own choice."

His eyes met hers. "I never told anyone about the child."

Truth clogged in Sanyogita's throat— bitter and painful

"Everyone believed Sangeeta's baby had died with her." His voice grew heavier. "When in reality... she was alive." Tears gathered in his eyes. "And I accepted that child as my own."

The room was cloaked with another heavy silence.

"Days went by ." His face clouded with disappointment . "Papa stopped speaking to me. It wasn't anger, though."

He spoke quietly, each word deliberate. "Anger fades, but hurt..hurt settles deep inside." Rishabh's throat tightened.

Sanyogita's brow puckered with deeper worry. Her eyes shimmered with helplessness and hurt , her father faced after her biological mother was gone.

"And I think what wounded him most wasn't Sangeeta's mistake." Rishabh's voice lowered, his eyes turned distant as if reliving distant memories. "He never got the chance to talk to her, not to scold her , but to forgive her. To tell her he loved her."

A dull ache squeezed Sanyogita's chest as she kept absorbing the truth.

"And that regret haunted him forever " Rishabh looked down at his hands. "One day, he finally called me into his room."

A faint, nostalgic smile appeared on his lips . "For the first time since her death." He said. "He didn't ask about me , nor about business or anything else. He didn't even ask about you ."

Rishabh's voice grew tender , to get with warmth , " Because Papa already adores you more — your eyes always remind him of his lost daughter. "

Sanyogita felt her heart flutter with a mix of longing and curiosity; she had never seen her biological mother, but her eyes bore an uncanny resemblance. At least she shared something with her—though her entire essence was shaped by the woman who carried her in her womb . Even when she could have easily been aborted, her mother chose life over despair, choosing her over everything else.

Rishabh's voice suddenly shattered her delicate thoughts . "He asked about the producer."

Sanyogita's brows furrowed in surprise, her heart pounding wildly.

His gaze hardened , a flicker something astounding dancing in his eyes . "When I told him everything...I saw something in his eyes." His jaw clenched. "Hatred."

The word landed heavily , thick with implication.

Sanyogita's eyes widened, staring at her father in shock, her breath caught in her throat.

"The kind of hatred only a father feels for the man who destroyed his child." A muscle twitching in his cheek. "But then..." His voice softened. "I told him the producer had died. He had been lost at sea..gone forever."

Silence enveloped them again . However, a shared pain lingered silently in the room.

"For a second..." Rishabh exhaled slowly, a single breathless moment of relief flickering across his face. "...I saw relief. Not joy or satisfaction. Just a solace . Because the man responsible would never hurt another daughter. The man who had shattered Sangeeta's life would never escape consequences. Fate had punished him before any father could. But the relief lasted only a moment." His eyes grew distant, clouded with pain again. "Then grief returned."

A deep sadness settled over his features.

"Because no punishment could bring Sangeeta back. No punishment could let him hear her laughter again. No punishment could give him one final conversation with his daughter. Rishabh swallowed hard.

"And after that..." His voice became barely audible. "No one spoke her name in our house."

"Not Papa. Not Maa. Not me. The silence became part of our lives as if speaking about her would reopen a wound none of us knew how to heal. But the truth is..." Rishabh's eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "We never forgot her. We simply learned how to suffer quietly."

Silence poured into the room like profound darkness, heavy yet suffocating.

Sanyogita clutched her chest tightly, as if those could hold her from shattering.

Rishabh's face shadowed with exhaustion and life long agony .

Finally, his voice sliced through the thick silence . “I wanted to tell Saloni everything. Every single truth ." But when the doctor placed you in her arms… “

Sanyogita's breath hitched.

For the first time that night, warmth flickered in his eyes, " she cried, " he said " She wept like never before — not out of sadness . Because she was happy. Saloni held you against her chest , refusing to let anyone take you . " His vision blurred beneath unshed tears .

"We had already lost one child before," his chest tightened. " I saw her fall apart — day after day, she stopped laughing, eating. As if she'd turned into a shell, lifeless inside.." His hands curled into fists. "And that night..."

He looked at Sanyogita, his voice heavy with emotion "For the first time in years, I saw light return to her eyes."

Sanyogita's tears flowed freely now.

"I couldn't do it." Rishabh admitted quietly. "I couldn't tell her." His voice cracked beneath the weight of the truth. "Main usse kaise batata ke jis bacchi ko woh apni samajh kar seene se laga rahi hai... woh uski nahi, meri behen ki hai? One part , my dead sister. The other part, my shattered wife . And then there I was , caught in the middle . I couldn't bear to lose anyone."

A long silence filled the room.

Then, he whispered, "That night I didn't decide to lie." His eyes filled with guilt. "I simply lost the courage to tell the truth."

The confession echoed through the room, heavy with raw honesty.

Sanyogita's eyes were red from prolonged crying.

“It's not necessary, every truth should be revealed " Rishabh whispered, voice trembling . " When the truth can only bring sorrow in life and can shatter a person deeply."

Sanyogita swallowed hard , her body shaking as the echo of the revelation sank in.

“She loved you from the very first moment.” Rishabh murmured, his gaze landed on her . “Sometimes… I think she loved you even more than I did.”

A heavy silence settled again.

He stepped closer and gently placed a trembling hand against Sanyogita's head.

"You were never a burden." He said, his voice filled with compassion . "You were never a mistake."

His gaze softened , gently resting his hand over Sanyogita's head . "You were the only good thing left after the worst night of our lives."

Sanyogita's tears burst forth anew, streaming down her face. And in that moment , she finally understood : the secret that had shaped her entire life had not been born from cruelty. It had been born from grief. From fear. From two broken people desperately trying to survive.

The room filled with silence again.

As Sanyogita looked at Rishabh gently wiped her tears “ Sanyo, I know…the truth is harsh and bitter , but nothing can change that . You're my daughter. I've done everything I can to give you a good life .”

He whispered quietly “Maybe I chose the wrong ways… maybe I became cruel…” His breathing turned heavier. “But every decision I made… was out of fear of losing you too.”

Sanyogita broke again. “Dad…”

Rishabh immediately pulled her into his chest. And this time , he cried too. Not loudly or dramatically — just silently. Like a man exhausted from carrying decades of guilt alone.

After several moments, he finally spoke again. “And Yash…”

Sanyogita stiffened immediately. Rishabh noticed, his gaze darkened slightly. “I still don’t know why he suddenly returned as Shauryash Singhaniya.” His jaw tightened. “But when I learned about your past with him…”He looked away briefly. “…I panicked.”

Sanyogita lowered her gaze slowly.

“ I did this to save your life because I was scared of losing the last symbol of my sister.” Rishabh answered instantly..“And that is why I chose Prithvi.”

A faint tired smile appeared on Rishabh’s face. “Do you think I would hand my daughter to just anyone?”

Her eyes lifted toward him slowly, surprised and curious.

“ He’s a very emotionally grounded and responsible man . But he is loyal to his words. Meine bhaut soch samajh ke , uske bare mein sab kuch janne ke baad hi ish Risthey ke liye haan Kiya tha .”

That line shattered something inside her completely. Because despite everything this man did – he had loved her all along. In his flawed, frightened, broken way.

But fear had returned to her eyes. “If he finds out…” she breathed shakily, “what will happen if his family learns the truth?”

“Sanyogita..”

“No!” she stood abruptly. “You don’t understand!” Her voice cracked under panic. “He trusts me blindly… he respects this family… what if he feels cheated?”

Rishabh frowned deeply. “Prithvi is not that kind of man.”

“But society is!” she cried.

The words echoed sharply.

“He belongs to a family where reputation matters more than breathing!” Pain flashed across her face. “What if one day someone calls me illegitimate in front of him?” Her lips trembled violently. “What if they say his wife is the daughter of a woman who got abandoned by a producer?”

“SANYOGITA.” Rishabh’s tone turned firm instantly. “You will never call yourself illegitimate again.” The authority in his voice stunned her silently. “You were born from love.” His eyes glistened painfully. “Not sin.”

A tear slid down Sanyogita’s cheek. Rishabh gently cupped her face. “The people who failed were us. We couldn't look after our sister when she needed us the most .” His voice cracked. “Not you.”

For the first time that night, Sanyogita saw guilt instead of authority in her father’s eyes.

The room had fallen silent again.

Only the faint ticking of the clock echoed through the heavy air while Sanyogita sat motionless on the couch, staring at nothing. Her fingers still trembling around the edge of her saree.

Everything felt unreal.

Her entire world had shifted within a single night. Every memory of her childhood suddenly felt unfamiliar. Even her own reflection no longer felt like hers.

Rishabh was sitting quietly near her, his shoulders exhausted beneath years of unspoken guilt. For the first time in his life, he did not look frightening. He looked tired. Old and broken.

A cold breeze entered through the half-open curtains, brushing past them both. Then slowly, without looking at her, he spoke , “Do you know what the biggest mistake of my life was, Sanyo?”

Sanyogita lifted her swollen eyes toward him silently.

Rishabh smiled faintly, but there was no happiness in it. “Humne hamesha past ko present se zyada importance diya hai.”

His voice sounded distant. “Logon ka darr… society ka darr… naam kharab hone ka darr…” he paused bitterly, “aur unhi daron ne humse sab kuch cheen liya.”

Sanyogita lowered her gaze slowly. A painful lump settled in her throat.

“Dad…” her voice cracked faintly, “Hamne kabhi nahi socha tha… hamari zindagi…”

“Zindagi kabhi waise nahi hoti jaise hum sochte hain.” Rishabh interrupted softly.

He finally met her gaze . “But ek baat yaad rakhna…” his expression hardened slightly with seriousness, “insaan agar sirf apne guzre huye kal mein jeena shuru karde na… toh woh apna aaj bhi barbaad kar deta hai.”

Those words hit somewhere deep inside her..because wasn’t that exactly what she was doing? Trapped between, Yash and Viraj , now revelation of her biological mother , her tragedy , her family…her guilt . Everything felt tangled beyond repair.

Her lips trembled. “Par hum kya karein, Dad?” she whispered helplessly. “Sab kuch itna complicated hogaya hai…”

For several moments, he simply looked at her quietly. Like a father trying to memorise his child’s pain.

Then he spoke gently— “Yash tumhari zindagi ka ek hissa tha.”

Sanyogita stiffened slightly.

Rishabh noticed it instantly. “Lekin har woh insaan jisse hum emotionally attached ho jaate hain…” his gaze softened, “…zaroori nahi hum usse mohabbat bhi karte ho.”

Sanyogita’s breathing slowed unconsciously..Because somewhere… Those words felt true. Very true.

Rishabh continued carefully, “Sometimes… we mistake comfort for love.”

Silence stretched between them..Then he added quietly— “Yash tumhari aadat ho sakta hai… tumhara sahara ho sakta hai … tumhara dost ho sakta hai … lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ke woh tumhari manzil bhi ho.”

Sanyogita stared at him blankly. Something restless stirred inside her chest. But she couldn’t understand it yet.

Rishabh leaned back slightly, exhausted.

“Tum abhi confused ho.” he said gently. “Aur confusion mein liye gaye decisions… zindagi barbaad kar dete hain.”

Sanyogita’s eyes welled up again. “Humne toh already sab barbaad kar diya…” she whispered painfully.

“No.” Rishabh’s voice turned firm immediately. “Abhi kuch barbaad nahi hua.” His expression softened once more.

“Lekin agar tumne darr ko apne upar haavi hone diya…” his jaw tightened slightly, “…toh tum bhi wahi galti karogi jo maine ki thi.”

The room fell silent again.

Sanyogita looked down at her trembling hands. Then after a long pause—

“Par agar unhe sach pata chal gaya toh?” her voice broke softly. “What if he hates me?”

Rishabh stared at her quietly for several seconds.

Then he answered in a low voice .“Jo insaan tumse sach mein mohabbat karta hoga…” his eyes dimmed painfully, “…woh tumhare past se zyada tumhari takleef dekhega.”

Her throat tightened instantly, the words replayed in her mind.

Rishabh gently placed his hand over her head. “Lekin pehle tumhe khud decide karna hoga…” he whispered. “Tum kis direction mein jaana chahti ho.”

Sanyogita closed her eyes briefly.

Yash’s memories….Prithvi’s silence…his concern…his anger…his protectiveness…

Everything suddenly felt heavier than before.

Rishabh looked at her one last time before speaking quietly “Past ko respectfully yaad rakhna galat nahi hota, Sanyo.”

A pause.

“Lekin uske saath zindagi bhar bandh ke rehna…” his voice turned tired, “…insaan ko jeene nahi deta.”

Tears slipped silently from Sanyogita’s eyes. And somewhere deep inside her heart… For the very first time— Prithvi’s name hurt differently

Rishabh quietly poured a glass of water and handed it to her..Her trembling fingers accepted it, though she barely drank.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then finally, Rishabh exhaled heavily , pulling her into his arms letting her head resting over his shoulder as she spoke softly .“Sanyo…” his voice came softer now , “Zindagi humesha hume dusra mauka nahi deti.”

She lowered her gaze, her finger curled into a fist as if that would hold every essence of her spilling on the ground.

“Maine apni puri zindagi past mein jee kar dekhi hai.” A hollow smile touched his lips. “Aur sach bataun? Past kabhi kisi ko jeene nahi deta.”

Sanyogita’s fingers tightened around the glass.

Rishabh continued quietly, “Insaan sochta hai… agar woh purani galtiyon ko pakad ke rakhega toh shayad kisi din sab thik ho jayega.” He shook his head faintly. “Lekin hota ulta hai. Hum apna present bhi barbaad kar dete hain.”

A tear rolled silently down her cheek.

“Dad…” her voice broke weakly, “Hum confused ho gayi hai.”

“I know,” he said softly.

She looked at him helplessly. “Yash mera past tha…” she whispered slowly. “Ya shayad sirf ek ehsaas… ek attachment…” Her brows knitted painfully. “Mujhe khud nahi pata main kya feel karti hoon.”

Rishabh listened silently.

“But jab bhi Prithvi ki taraf dekhti hoon…” she swallowed hard, struggling to explain herself, “aisa lagta hai jaise… main unhe hurt karne ka chooch bhi nahi sakti .”Her voice turned quieter. “Phir bhi… har baar unse kuch na kuch chhup jaata hai.”

Rishabh stared at her for a long moment before speaking. “Kyunki tum darr rahi ho.”

Sanyogita didn’t deny it.

“Tumhari maa bhi dari thi.”

That line hit her instantly..Rishabh’s gaze softened with pain..“Fear destroys relationships faster than hatred ever can.”

The words settled heavily inside her.

He leaned back slightly, exhaustion visible in his posture. “Sanyo… pyaar sirf feelings se nahi chalta.” His voice turned deeper. “Trust se chalta hai. Safety se chalta hai. Aur sabse zyada… sach se.”

Sanyogita lowered her eyes slowly. “Main jaanta hoon tum abhi toot gayi ho.” He gently placed a hand over her head. “Lekin ek baat yaad rakhna… tumhara past tumhari identity nahi hai.”

A pause.

“And neither is Yash.”

Her eyes lifted toward him.

Rishabh smiled faintly. “Kabhi kabhi hum kisi insaan ko pyaar nahi karte…” he said carefully, “hum bas uss version ko pakad ke rakhte hain jo hum unke saath hua karte the.”

Sanyogita froze silently. Because somewhere… that felt true..

As Rishabh's words settled into the silence, Sanyogita found herself drifting into memories she had not visited in a long time.

Yash.

The boy who had understood her dreams when no one else did. She had believed that whatever she felt for him was love. Perhaps because he had been present during a vulnerable chapter of her life. Perhaps because he had understood her dreams when nobody else did. Perhaps because he represented the freedom she always wanted. The music she wanted to live in, die in . I hope she believes one day everything would be alright

A future she had once imagined for herself.

He reminded her of a version of herself untouched by responsibilities and expectations. A girl who still believed that life could be simple.

But now, sitting in front of her father, she found herself questioning something she had never dared to question before.

Was it really love? Or was it simply familiarity? A shared history. A connection born from loneliness. A bond created by two people who had once helped each other survive difficult days.

The realisation unsettled her. Because whenever she thought of Yash, she remembered memories.

But whenever she thought of Prithvi, she thought of the future.

The difference struck her unexpectedly. A forgotten conversation surfaced in her mind.

A few weeks ago, she had asked Prithvi a question. A dangerous question that had secretly terrified her.

"What if one day this marriage doesn't work?"

At the time she had expected anger, his possessiveness in response or perhaps even a warning. Instead, Prithvi had looked at her quietly for a long moment before answering.

"I will do everything in my power to make sure that day never comes." His voice had been calm, steady and certain.

He said in a steady voice "Marriage is not sustained by love alone, Sanjh. It requires trust, compassion, loyalty and respect."

She remembered listening silently. Then she asked the question that truly mattered. "And if those efforts still fail?"

For a moment, he had simply looked at her. Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Then I will let you go."

She remembered the gentleness in his eyes.

"I will never cage you, Sanjh. The entire sky belongs to you. Who am I to imprison you ?"

The memory tightened something inside her chest. At the time she had not understood why those words had affected her so deeply. But tonight she did. Because Prithvi had never treated her as something he possessed..He never demanded proof of her affection. Never asked her to choose him over everyone else. Never asked her to abandon herself for his sake. He simply stood beside her , again and again. Even though he stepped back from when he saw her frightened — his name , his power could shadow her hard work, her identity; Without condition, without bargains, and without emotional debts.

And those just couldn't be only out of responsibility for a marriage. Wasn't it ? The question crossed through Sanyogita's mind.

A painful realisation washed over her. Because suddenly she understood something.

Yash had often asked her in the past , "If I lost everything, would you still choose me?"

At the time she had considered the question romantic. Now she understood what it truly carried --- Fear. The fear of being left behind. Every conversation with Yash somehow ended with the same question. The need for reassurance. As if she constantly had to prove her loyalty.

As if love had become a promise she owed him. A responsibility, a debt . The need to know that he would always come first.

But Prithvi had never asked her whom she would choose. Instead, he had given her the freedom to choose. And perhaps that was why she felt safe with him.

For most of her life, every relationship had come with expectations --- Family expectations, social expectations, emotional obligations. People wanted her --- to become something, to prove something, to sacrifice something.

But Prithvi had never asked for any of it. He simply accepted her presence. And somehow, in that acceptance, she found something she had been searching for all her life.

Peace.

Her eyes slowly filled with tears. Because she finally understood why his absence frightened her. Why did his disappointment hurt her? The thought of losing his respect felt unbearable.

It was because, somewhere along the journey, he had become her safest place. She realised, Love --- was not ownership, not even control . It was not constantly proving your devotion .

Love was freedom.

The freedom to be completely yourself without fear of judgment. The freedom to stay. And even the freedom to leave.

And perhaps the most beautiful thing about love was this: When someone truly gave you that freedom... You no longer wanted to leave.

Her lips trembled. And for the first time, she admitted the truth to herself. Not to her father. Not to Yash. Not even to Prithvi.

Only to her own heart. "I don't want to lose him."

The realisation hit her with breathtaking force.

Not because he was her husband. Not because her family had chosen him.Nor because society expected her to stay with him. Not because he was a Singhaniya.

It was never an obligation. And it certainly wasn't gratitude.

But because somewhere along the way—

Prithviraj Singhaniya had become her home.

Yash had always been connected to her past. The wounded girl , lonely girl. The girl searched desperately for a place where she belonged.

But Prithvi...Prithvi knew every version of her. The stubborn one, the angry one, the broken one and the frightened one. And somehow, he never asked her to become someone else. He simply made space for all of them.

For the first time, without even realising it, Sanyogita was no longer holding onto the person she had once been. She was quietly falling in love with the man who accepted the person she had become.

Rishabh noticed the conflict flickering inside her eyes.

Sanyogita's profound thought was shattered by Rishabh's soft voice, comforting like balm.

“Prithvi perfect nahi hai,” he admitted honestly. His hand creased her head , soothing Sanyogita's wounded heart “Usme gussa hai. Ego hai. Control karne ki aadat hai.” A faint smile appeared. “Kabhi kabhi mujhe bhi chinta hoti thi..”

That almost made her smile weakly through tears. “But one thing I know…” his expression turned serious, “woh tumhe kabhi jaan bujhkar hurt nahi karega.”

Fate listened silently from somewhere afar.

Rishabh continued, “Tumhe apna present choose karna hoga, Sanyo.”

Her breathing slowed.

“Past ko lekar insaan sirf do cheezein kar sakta hai…” he murmured. “Ya toh usme doob jaaye… ya usse seekh kar aage badhta hai .”

A tear slipped from her eyes again. “Par agar sach jaan kar unhone mujhe accept na kiya toh…?”

Rishabh immediately turned toward her.“Mujhe duniya par bharosa ho ya na ho…” his voice became firm, “lekin Prithvi par hai.”

Sanyogita looked at him quietly.

“Woh gusse wala hai… arrogant hai… ziddi hai…” he admitted. “Lekin apne aoslo ka pakka hai.”

His eyes softened..“Agar ek din use sach pata bhi chal gaya…” he paused carefully, “toh pehle woh khud tootega.”

Then almost like a father praying for his daughter’s future, he whispered. “Lekin tujhe tootne nahi dega.”

Sanyogita’s eyes welled up instantly.

Because for the first time….someone had spoken about her future with hope instead of shame.

And somewhere deep inside her chest , the fear of losing Prithvi didn't feel confusing anymore.

******************

Prithvi didn’t remember how he reached the club. One moment he was standing outside their room, hearing the sound of Sanyogita’s muffled sobs behind the door and the next..he was sitting alone in the darkest corner of an elite lounge in Udaipur, a half-finished glass resting untouched between his fingers.

The music around him was loud. People laughed. Glasses clinked. Someone danced near the stage. But none of it reached him. Because for the first time in years ..

Prithviraj Singhhania felt… unwanted.

His gaze remained fixed on the amber liquid swirling inside the glass. Still. Silent. Then suddenly , her words echoed again.

“Yeh shaadi… yeh rishte… humhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha…”

His jaw tightened. A sharp breath escaped him. He tilted his head back against the couch, closing his eyes briefly.

Why did that hurt so much? He had faced betrayal in business. Faced humiliation, competition and loss . But this — this felt different, completely personal. And unbearable . Because it wasn’t his pride bleeding tonight ; It was his heart.

A bitter smile touched his lips. “Stupid…” he muttered to himself.

Maybe he really had misunderstood everything. Maybe all those smiles, those shy glances ,her care , the way she waited for him at night , and perhaps their kiss ..

Prithvi’s hand flew to his lips — the touch still lingered there ; memory of her soft lips against his sweeter than any dessert he knew.

Maybe none of it had meant what he thought it did. Maybe she was only trying. Trying to become a good wife. Trying to adjust. Trying to survive a marriage she never truly wanted. His fingers tightened around the glass. The veins in his hand surfaced sharply. Then another memory flashed.

The way she froze when he asked—

“Kya main tumhare saath zabardasti ki thi?”

She hadn’t answered. That silence was killing him now. She didn't fight him, hadn't stopped him, and nor had she even tried to explain herself. She had simply sat there ; shattered, confused, exhausted. And somehow that frightened him more.

Because if she truly wanted to stay, why did she look as though she was already losing something?"

As if ending the marriage was not impossible for her. His throat burned more from the realisation of the truth than the alcohol.

He finally lifted the drink and swallowed it in one shot. The alcohol hit hard but not enough, nothing seemed to be enough tonight. A faint laugh escaped him suddenly, humorless and painfully hollow.

“Look at you, Prithviraj Singhhania…” A voice mocked internally. “Ek ladki ne itna kamzor bana diya.”

For years people feared him, respected him, no one had ever possessed the power to shake his control.

Except her.

Only her.

And that terrified him. Because somewhere along the way, Sanyogita had stopped becoming merely his wife. She had become a habit.

His solace in the middle of each chaos . And gradually becoming his home, he always wanted to return. The one person he searched for unconsciously in every room,her absence made silence unbearable.

He leaned forward slowly, rubbing a tired hand over his face, his gaze flickering to his wedding ring. He rubbed gently over it, as if he could feel her touch there .

What if she truly regretted marrying him?

The thought alone made his chest tighten violently.

Another memory surfaced , her sleeping leaning over him, clutching his night suit tightly, she was frightened but because she trusts him. And then her beautiful blue-grey eyes— dangerously intoxicating burned when other women try to grab his attention.

The way she whispered Viraj…

No. That couldn’t be fake. Could it?

His breathing turned uneven. For the first time in years, doubt entered him.

Not about her character. Never that, but about himself. Maybe he was too controlling, too possessive, too intense.

Maybe he loved too hard. Maybe she felt trapped beside him. His eyes clouded with painful darkness . Even while breaking apart herself.

A bitter smile touched his lips. The irony wasn't lost on him.

Prithviraj Singhhania could negotiate contracts worth hundreds of crores without blinking. He could convince investors, close impossible deals, and make entire boardrooms agree to his vision.

Yet he couldn't earn certainty in the heart of the one woman who mattered. His fingers tightened around the glass.

What a strange defeat. The world called him powerful. But what use was power when it couldn't answer a single question?

Did she truly want him?

Women had fallen for his charm, his name, his success, his confidence. Some had mistaken attraction for love after a single glance.

Yet here he was. Reduced to doubts by one woman. Weakened by one pair of blue-grey eyes. A humourless laugh escaped him.

He was the Vice Chairman and CEO of an empire people spent lifetimes trying to build. Thousands worked under his leadership. His signature could move crores in minutes.

But he couldn't write his name upon her heart.

And perhaps that was what terrified him most. For the first time in his life, he had found something that could not be won through power, influence, money, or determination.

Love.

And he no longer knew whether he possessed it... or had only imagined it.

Prithvi lowered his gaze. A dangerous silence settled over him.

Then quietly, almost helplessly, he whispered, “How do I let you go, Sanjh…”

The words nearly broke on his tongue.

And the cruelest part was that he already knew the answer. He couldn't.

If she chose freedom, he would step aside. If she chose another path, he would not stop her. If she wanted the sky, he would give it to her. But loving her? That was no longer a choice.

Somewhere between her laughter, her stubbornness, and the way she whispered his name in the quietest moments.

Despite everything, even after hearing her confusion, after believing she wasn’t happy, he still couldn’t imagine a life without her in it. And that realisation destroyed whatever remained of his composure. His eyes reddened slightly. Not from alcohol, but from love, from fear of losing her.

Prithviraj Singhaniya had already lost that battle.

He rested his elbows on his knees and lowered back his head on the headboard of the couch.

For the first time in so long ,Prithviraj Singhaniya felt completely alone.

A lonely tear traced down his cheek, spark like a tiny diamond . First there was one , then two…gradually more.

And Prithvi seemed to have forgotten to wipe them.