Page 57 of Mrs. Rathore

My throat tightened. Rhea let out a sharp gasp. Mrs. Rathore visibly flinched, while Saurav averted his gaze, pretending he hadn't heard a thing.

Aryan was hurling accusations right in front of everyone.

"Aryan, what are you saying?" Mrs. Rathore hissed quietly, glancing toward the kitchen to ensure no one else was overhearing the argument.

Aryan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and stared right at me now. His voice was quiet but laced with poison.

"Should I sugarcoat it for you, Mom? Or should I remind everyone that Ira almost died because..."

He went silent, sighing heavily.

"I didn't mean..." I started, meeting his eyes, but he cut me off.

"You didn't mean to?" His voice was sharp, cutting as he hissed in my ear. "That's rich."

"Enough," Mrs. Rathore said, her voice shaky but firm. "She's your wife, Aryan."

"No," he said, cold and final. "She's just someone I married. And trust me, I regret every damn second of it."

His words dropped like a stone in the room.

Rhea's eyes darted between us, helpless. Mrs. Rathore looked away, jaw tight. Saurav felt embarrassed as he came at the wrong time. Even the clink of cutlery had stopped. I sat frozen, my breath shallow, my heart breaking all over again even though I thought it couldn't hurt more.

"I don't care if she's fasting for me or against me," Aryan said, rising from the table. "Don't expect me to play house."

He walked away without looking back. No apology. No softening of the edge. Just raw, brutal truth.

The silence that followed felt endless.

I swallowed, feeling my throat burn, but refused to look hurt. Not here. Not in front of them.

I straightened my spine, looked at everyone, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

But even I didn't know if it was for the accident, for surviving, or for staying in this house.

Rhea reached out and gently placed her hand over mine. "You don't have to fast if your heart isn't in it, Bhabhi."

I smiled faintly and shook my head. "It's not about him. It's about people I love."

Mrs. Rathore let out a heavy sigh and shot me a glare as if I were the one who had caused the scene. Saurav still wouldn't meet my eyes. I silently wished he had come at a different time. I actually enjoyed talking to him, he was charming and funny, unlike his cousin.

As the morning sun poured into the room, golden and warm, it was ironic how cold I felt inside.

I rose from the table a few minutes later and grabbed my crutches, walked slowly but with as much dignity as I could gather back to my room.

I sat by the window, my fingers brushing over the blank ghungroos.

Once, they had been a symbol of pride.

Now, they were just a reminder of who I used to be.

And maybe... who I needed to become again.

______

Chapter 21

ARYAN

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