“मेरी तन्हाई का मुझे गिला नहीं, क्या हुआ अगर वो मुझे मिला नहीं, फिर भी दुआ करेंगे उसके वास्ते खुदा, उसे वो सब अता करे जो मुझे मिला नहीं!”

-गुलज़ार

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The Rathore mansion bustled with activity as Veda prepared for the evening's family dinner. Their family always had this rule to eat earlier and each member was expected to be present at the time of dinner. As always Veda wanted everything to be perfect. She double-checked the dining table settings, ensuring the silverware and fine china were aligned precisely.

As she fluffed the cushions in the living room, Aadita, Adyant's sister, entered the room, wearing a crisp, tailored navy blue pantsuit, complemented by a crisp white blouse with subtle sheen. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and minimalist silver jewelry adorned her ears and wrists. Her professional outfit reflects her sharp business acumen.

Aadita had joined the family business as a fashion designer after completing her graduation from one of the most prestigious fashion schools of Paris and from then on, she has been one of the huge supporters of the Rathore empire. She had created her own name and identity into the fashion world making her family proud. Aadita always had a genuine bond with Veda especially considering the fact that Veda was younger than Aadita which made her treat Veda as a little sister despite Veda being her elder sister in law.

Aadita smiled softly as she hugged Veda. “Stunning as always. Having a wife like you is truly a blessing. My poker-faced brother really got lucky, huh.”

Veda's eyes met Adyant's father, Advith, who smiled kindly. "I can't wait to taste the delicious dinner made by my favorite daughter-in-law.”

Aryan, Adyant's younger brother, broke up in a fit of laughter. “Favorite daughter-in-law in law? You only have one daughter-in-law, dad–”

Aryan soon zipped his mouth up after getting a good glare from his father.

As they sat down to dinner, Adyant's younger brother, Aryan, teased Veda good-naturedly.

"Bhabhi, why are you feeding me so much? I'm getting fat!"

Her father in law spoke again, his tone firm. “No Aryan, Nobody will tease my daughter.”

Adyant’s uncle, Aarav and grandfather, Virendra Singh Rathore nodded as well, signaling the youngest Rathore to shut up before they took away his new car keys meanwhile Aarav's wife Divya and Adyant’s grandmother, Aaradhna just laughed.

Aryan pouted as his cousins Avyukt and Avyan laughed, teasing and mocking Aryan playfully but the naughty pair of identical twins got a glare from Divya, their mother and that's where they knew that they're also in the red radar of the elders now.

Veda smiled, feeling a sense of belonging among Adyant's family.

Only if she felt the same with Adyant as well.

Her mind screamed and she felt the same pain shot through her body again.

The pain of a breaking heart…

Adyant entered the room, his expression unreadable. "Sorry, I'm late," he said, kissing his mother's forehead.

Nalini beamed. "Adyant, beta, go and get fresh and up, then we will all have dinner together."

As dinner progressed, Veda's sorrow grew.

Adyant's distance was palpable, and his monosyllabic responses were enough to make her feel like she was the reason for his sour mood again.

Her heart clenched in pain as she blamed herself for his detached behavior again. She knew he had lost his apletite after looking at her face. He had told her this many a times before and she knew their daily cycle was repeating as it always did.

The family didn't notice much since Adyant had always been a serious and introverted person since childhood. As usual they took his silence as his normal self.

Aadita attempted to engage Adyant in conversation, but he remained aloof.

Nalini, Adyant's mother, noticed the tension. "Adyant, beta, what's wrong? You seem distracted."

Adyant forced a smile. "Nothing, Ma. Just tired."

Veda's heart ached. She knew the truth. She was the reason for this, yet again.

As the evening drew to a close, everyone went to their respective rooms but Veda's thoughts remained unmoved, hurting her with their constant reminder of a ruined life and shattered vows of a sacred bond like marriage.

Adyant sat on the luxurious couch, working on his laptop while Veda helped the kids with their puzzles.

Eira pouted as she looked up at her mother, "Mama, Papa's not playing with us."

Veda forced a smile. "Papa's busy, baby. Let's finish our puzzles. Let your Papa work, okay?”

Vedansh chimed in. "Papa, play with us!"

Adyant's face, who was stoic and emotionless a few seconds ago, suddenly lit up with a warm smile. "Okay, okay! What game do you want to play?"

Eira's eyes sparkled. "Hide and seek!"

Adyant laughed, scooping up Eira and Vedansh in a hug as he kissed both of their little foreheads. "Alright, let's play!"

As Adyant played with the kids, Veda watched, her heart heavy with sorrow and despair. She knew Adyant's love for their children was genuine, but his affection for her was nothing but a facade.

But still, these were the only moments where she could live with the illusion of having a beautiful family which she had always dreamt of.

After the game, Adyant tucked the kids in, showering them with kisses.

"Goodnight, my little ones," he whispered to the kids, his voice laced with affection which people outside their family had never seen before

Veda's eyes met Adyant's, a mix of longing and pain visible in them.

"Adyant, can we talk?" Veda asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adyant's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with malice. "What's there to talk about, Veda? You know your place. Don't you? Then what's the use of starting the same topic again?”

Veda's eyes stung with tears. "Our marriage... Don't do this, Adyant. You're hurting me each passing day.”

Adyant sneered. "This marriage means nothing to me. You're just a village girl, Veda. You'll never understand my world. The only thing you're good at is doing those household chores which uneducated people like you do. Your world is small and it'll always be like this.

Veda's voice trembled. "My world is not smaller than your small thinking.”

Adyant's smile twisted and his eyes widened in surprise. She has never spoken to him like this. Usually she would just hang her head low and cry some tears and soon she would go back to her obedient wife self or so he thought.

Adyant's gaze darkened as he looked at Veda with pure fury. “You've got some tongue, haven't you, darling?”

Veda's heart thudded inside as fear gripped her and the pain was heavy enough to tear her apart.

“Sach bol rahe hain hum. You never wanted me, did you?"

She blurted out in aa the pain her in her intensified.

Adyant's eyes flashed with contempt. "No, I didn't. You were a convenient arrangement. An unwanted presence in my life. A burden.”

The silence between them grew, a chasm widening with each passing second.

Veda's voice cracked. "A convenient arrangement? That's all I was to you? Nothing more than an unwanted wife?”

Adyant shrugged, his shoulders barely rising off the couch. "You were a means to an end. And that's what you'll always be. You're a curse from which I can't get rid off.

Veda's eyes welled up in tears as her voice seemed to shake. "Am I a commodity for you, Adyant?”

Adyant sneered, his lip curling. "That's exactly what you are, Veda. A village girl with no education, no connections, no etiquettes. You're only good for one thing: warming my bed and stay inside this mansion like a caretaker

Veda's face stung from the venom in his words, her heart racing. "I try my best to be the wife you want me to be. I've always tried–”. Her voice shook as only a whisper came out. “I gave you everything.”

Adyant's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting like ice. "Everything? Yes, you sure gave me your all.”

He mocked,  his voice cold as ice.

“You're a constant reminder of what I lost. Mehek was the one I loved, the one I wanted to spend my life with. You ruined my life and here you've the audacity to speak as if you're the victim?”

Adyant's words were sharp as a knife which tore Veda's innocent heart again.

Veda's heart shattered into a million pieces, her voice trembling. "You're still in love with her, aren't you? Even after all these years."

Adyant's eyes flashed with anger, his jaw clenched. "Yes, I am. And I'll always love her, no matter how hard you try to replace her. You can never be her.”

Veda's voice cracked. "I never tried to replace her, Adyant. I just wanted to be your wife, to be loved by you.

Adyant laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that cut Veda to the core. "You? Loved by me? Don't be ridiculous, Veda. You're just a liability. Nothing more, nothing less. And you'll always remain one, get that?”

Veda's tears spilled over, her voice shaking. You never saw me, did you? Never saw the person I am? Did you never see my feelings for you?”

Adyant's expression remained cold, unaffected.

Veda's anger surged, her words pouring out in a torrent. "You used me, Adyant. You used me to please your family, you used me as you didn't want to disappoint them. Did you ever see me as something more than a bed warmer?

Adyant's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Enough, You're just being dramatic."

Veda's laughter was laced with bitterness. "Dramatic? You have no idea what it's like to be me, to be trapped in a relationship where I feel as if I don't even exist."

Adyant stood, his movements fluid and his face stoic. "I don't have time for this conversation."

Veda's voice stopped him. "Wait. Tell me one thing. Did you ever feel anything for me, even for a moment?"

The words came out of her mouth even before she could put a stop to them.

Adyant's gaze met hers, his eyes empty. "Yes, I did ."

Hearing him, a glimmer of hope lit up in her heart only to be extinguished by his next words.

“Hate, disgust and Contempt. I feel them everytime I see that face of yours.”

Something broke inside Veda again.

The silence was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words, unsaid hurt and her shattered dreams.

But unknowingly her words had struck a chord in Adyant's chest. It was the first time in their four years of marriage that she has spoken to him like this. He felt suffocated by different emotions,  each making him feel uneasy. But he shook his head and went on, trying his best to forget her words which continued to echo inside his mind like a broken record.

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