Page 131 of Lawfully Yours
He offered a polite nod to Kushal. “Hello, Sir.” Then turned to Arundhati. “Ma’am… these need your signature.”
His eyes flicked toward Kushal in between.
Arundhati took the file without a word. She flipped open the pages, and almost instantly, her expression changed.
“What papers are these?” Kushal asked Akash sharply in suspicion.
Akash hesitated. “Uh… formalities, sir. Next week is the second hearing for your and ma’am’s divorce case. As per court directions, we need to file an Affidavit of Evidence from ma’am’s side, along with the updated rejoinder to the written statement filed by you, sir. These require her signature before submission.”
The air changed.
Kushal turned slowly toward Arundhati, who was still reading the documents in silence, her face showing no reaction. No argument. Just quiet calm that only fuelled the storm rising in him.
“Leave,” Kushal said curtly, not taking his eyes off her.
Akash blinked, unsure. “Sir?”
“You’ve done your part. We’ll take it from here. Please leave.”
Understanding the tension in the room, Akash nodded and backed away. “I’ll be in my cabin, ma’am. Just let me know once you’re done, and I’ll have them collected.” He slipped out quickly.
Kushal watched Arundhati as she placed the file on the desk, reached for the pen beside it, and began flipping to the signature fields.
She didn’t hesitate. Not for a second.
He didn’t move to stop her, but his entire body was tight, locked in place, heart hammering against his ribs like it wantedto break out. He waited, almost daring her to look up at him. But she didn’t.
And then…she signed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
That was it.
His restraint snapped.
Before she could even cap the pen, Kushal lunged forward and snatched the papers from the desk, clutching them in his hand like they were evidence of a betrayal.
“What is this?” he demanded, his voice shaking with the fury he hadn’t let out until now.
Arundhati simply looked up, and crossed her arms.
“You seriously just signed these?” he barked. “Without even blinking? Without eventhinking?”
She still said nothing.
“Why, Aru? After everything we’ve been through? How could you?”
“I didn’t do anything you weren’t aware of, Kushal. Even you know the next trial date is coming soon.”
He laughed bitterly, holding up the papers. “Yes, I know, but something has changed between us after Dalhousie. What about that?”
She tilted her head. “What about Dalhousie?”
That was the final straw.
