Page 24 of Lawfully Yours
She wasn’t naïve. She knew Kushal cared on some level.
But care didn’t erase the past.
It didn’t erase the reason she was divorcing him.
Kushal Nair had married her for Verma & Associates.
Andthat, she would never forgive.
Just then, her phone rang again. This time, it was her uncle Raj Verma. She instantly answered.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“Aru, did you take your painkillers?” Raj Verma’s deep voice came through the receiver.
Arundhati exhaled. “I’m fine without them, Uncle. The pain is almost gone. It’s just a scar now.”
“A scar on the outside doesn’t mean you’re completely healed. What if you get headaches at night?”
“Then I’ll deal with it.”
“Aru…”
“Uncle,” she cut in, a small smile playing on her lips, “I appreciate your concern, but stop worrying so much. I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
Raj sighed heavily. “It shouldn’t have happened at all. But I’m glad Kushal stepped in at the right time.”
There was a brief silence as he paused, recalling that Arundhati didn’t like discussing Kushal or their marriage besides professional reasons. Arundhati returned to her bedroom, sat on the bed, leaning her back against the headboard, and stared at the ceiling.
“The trial is the day after tomorrow,” she said after a long pause.
“I remember,” Raj sighed. “And you’re still set on calling me as a witness?”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes.”
Raj was silent for a moment, then let out a heavy breath. “Aru... I don’t want this. You’re not just my niece, you know that,” Raj continued. “You’re my daughter in every way that matters. And I hate seeing you go through this.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to stand in court, between you and Kushal, watching your marriage being dragged into legal arguments.”
She closed her eyes, fighting the exhaustion that wasn’t just physical.
“It’s too late for any repair, Uncle. This was over the moment Kushal’s true reasons for holding onto this marriage surfaced before me.”
“Aru, you’re being too hasty. Don’t you think you’re taking things too fast? You and Kushal just need to sit down calmly and talk. Just the two of you. Without your lawyers’ minds, without the case, without the past accusations.”
Her eyes snapped open.
“Talk?” she repeated, almost laughing at the absurdity of it. “Uncle, haven’t you and I talked about this a hundred times? What more is left to say?”
“That there might still be a way to fix this.”
“There isn’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
She gritted her teeth, sitting up straighter. “Because I know him, Uncle. And because I know myself. There’s nothing left to try now.”
