Page 194 of Lawfully Yours
Kushal and Arundhati exchanged a long look, the kind that said they’d seen this before. Another marriage on the edge, not because of betrayal, but because of stubbornness, pride, and the refusal to bend.
“Parth won’t sign for mutual consent,” Devika continued. “He says divorce is a failure, that it’ll ruin him and his family’s image. And his family’s image is everything for him. Can you believe, no one has ever had a divorce in their family so far? So, tell me, what choice do I have? If I say the truth, that we’re just incompatible, I’ll never get out. But if I accuse him of cruelty orinfidelity, I at least have a ground to stand on legally. You call it lying; I call it surviving and getting my freedom back.”
Arundhati couldn’t stop herself this time. She turned to Devika.
“Mrs. Malhotra… every couple is poles apart, but they still learn to live under the same sky. The problem isn’t that you’re different. It’s that you’ve decided difference means defeat.”
Devika’s lips parted, startled at the bluntness as Arundhati continued.
“You call your husband’s simplicity a cage. But sometimes, that simplicity is what saves you from chaos. The quiet people in life, the grounded ones, they don’t dim your shine, they protect it. Maybe you’re too angry right now to see it, but one day you might look back and realise you walked away not from boredom, but from balance.”
Kushal watched his wife with a faint flicker of admiration in his gaze, the same admiration he always felt whenever he saw her handle a case.
“Divorce isn’t just about signing papers and splitting wealth,” Arundhati continued. “It’s about two people agreeing that there’s nothing left worth saving. And from what I’ve seen—” she paused, meeting Devika’s gaze directly, “that’s not what’s happening here. You and your husband aren’t separating because of abuse, infidelity, or neglect. You’re separating because you are not willing to try blending into each other’s lifestyles. Because both of you stopped trying to listen before assuming the worst. And that, Mrs. Malhotra, is not a valid reason to destroy a marriage.”
Devika’s shoulders stiffened, her eyes flickering with both guilt and irritation.
“I’m not saying your emotions don’t matter,” Arundhati went on, softer now. “They do. You’re angry, hurt, disappointed…that’s valid. But you also have to see the consequences. Once youwalk into that courtroom, you can’t walk back out as the same two people. Divorce changes everything, not just your name, or your finances, but the way you look at love ever again.”
Devika folded her arms tightly, glaring back at her.
“Think about it,” Arundhati added. “If there’s even one percent of love or emotional compatibility left between you and Parth, talk to him. Don’t make this about winning. Because once it’s over, there are no winners, but only two people who learn to live with what they’ve lost. You’re not wrong to want your freedom. But the way you get it matters. Lies may win you a battle in court, but they’ll destroy your credibility, and ours too, in the process.”
“Now you are talking like my in-laws,” Devika snapped. “You’remylawyer, not the Malhotras! You’re supposed to defend me, not interrogate me!I’mpaying you, remember? And if you can’t win this case my way, there are plenty of other firms that will!”
Kushal’s patience finally snapped. “Every time we take up a case, we demand complete honesty from our clients, Devika,” he said. “We need every fact as it is, not the way you wish it to sound. Your one lie to us, or one secret you hide, can turn the entire case against you in court. And when that happens, it’s not just you who loses,ourreputation is at stake too. We wouldn’t like to lose only because our clients weren’t honest with us, despite our fighting so hard for them.”
Devika rolled her eyes, but he didn’t stop. “We’ll fight your case, but only on the grounds that arereal. If you’re still sticking to this story about your husband’s affair, which our investigation proves isn’t true, then we won’t take it up.”
Arundhati watched him, shocked, the corner of her lips curving faintly. All this time, she had been the one who fought strictly by the rulebook of law, while Kushal had worked the other side of the line—using pressure, persuasion, evenmanipulation to win. Once upon a time, he had been the master strategist who twisted evidence for victory. But today, he stood on the side of truth, refusing to fabricate evidence. Her heart swelled with pride.
Devika’s chair screeched as she stood abruptly. “Fine,” she spat. “You two aren’t the only top divorce lawyers in the city. I can find someone who’ll fight the casemy way.Someone who won’t lecture me about morals when all I want ismyfreedom.”
She snatched her handbag and stormed out.
Arundhati watched the door swing shut behind Devika before exhaling slowly. She rose from her chair, rounded the work desk, and, without a word, she lowered herself gently onto her husband’s lap, curling her arms around his neck.
Kushal didn’t waste a heartbeat. His hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, adjusting her on his lap so she fit perfectly against him. Her thumb brushed his stubble.
“Are you sure we’re not taking this case?” she asked quietly, searching his eyes.
He caught her hand, turned it over, and pressed a kiss into her palm.
“I’m sure,” he said. “I can’t stand watching an innocent man being painted as a cheater just to suit someone’s bruised ego. Besides…” He looked at her, a faint smile curving his lips. “Living with my wife again has made me pick up some of her principles, too. Manipulations are fine in the courtroom, but not when it comes to tearing apart some innocent’s image. That’s against my conscience now, Aru. So yes, let Devika find another firm. Verma & Associates doesn’t need cases like this to stay on top.”
Arundhati grinned. “I hope Raj Uncle doesn’t start thinking that ever sincewebegan working together, we’ve been rejecting more cases than accepting them.”
Kushal chuckled because, well, she wasn’t entirely wrong. These days, Arundhati had turned half her legal sessions into something that resembled marriage counselling. She’d started making it a point to talk to every couple seeking divorce, unless there was genuine abuse or infidelity involved, about the value of fighting for what they once had. Her calm logic, gentle persuasion, and hard truths had helped patch up more than one broken relationship. Which, naturally, meant fewer divorce cases and fewer billable hours, much to their boss Raj Verma’s pragmatic annoyance.
But Kushal? He didn’t mind. Not anymore.
He slid a hand around her waist again, tugging her a little closer. “Leave your uncle to me. I’m still his golden boy, remember? I’ll convince him why we couldn’t take the Malhotra case. Though…” his grin turned wicked, “I’ll expect my fees for the effort.”
Before she could even roll her eyes or scold him, his lips were already on her, claiming and melting her right where she sat. For a few seconds, she let herself get lost in him, in his taste, the heat, the familiar rush that always came with Kushal. Then, breathless, she pulled back and pressed her hand to his chest.
“Enough,” she whispered. “I have a hearing at court for a case today. Need to leave.”
He groaned softly, rolling his eyes as she slid off his lap and straightened her saree.
