chapter 2
Chapter 2 — Lines That Were Never Crossed
Mornings didn’t change.
They repeated.
Perfectly.
Predictably.
Emotionlessly.
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Kavya learned very early what belonged to her…
and what didn’t.
The left side of the wardrobe—hers.
The right side—untouched.
The guest bedroom—hers.
The master bedroom—never mentioned again.
The dining table—shared space.
His time—never hers.
---
There were no rules spoken out loud.
But Aarav Malhotra didn’t need to say them.
His silence did it better.
---
That afternoon, Kavya was invited to a family gathering.
A Malhotra tradition—something she had attended exactly twice since their marriage.
Both times alone.
---
“Will you be coming this evening?”
She asked him before he left for work.
Her tone was calm. Neutral.
Not hopeful.
---
Aarav adjusted his watch.
“No.”
A pause.
“I have something more important.”
---
Kavya nodded.
“Alright.”
No disappointment.
No reaction.
Just acceptance.
---
He didn’t notice the way her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table.
Or maybe—
he did.
And chose not to care.
---
The Malhotra estate was loud.
Warm.
Full of voices and laughter that didn’t belong to her.
---
Kavya stood at the entrance for a moment before stepping inside.
A perfect daughter-in-law.
A perfect wife.
A perfect stranger.
---
“You came alone again?”
The words weren’t cruel.
Just curious.
But curiosity… could cut deeper than mockery.
---
Kavya smiled politely.
“He’s busy.”
---
Someone laughed softly.
“Always busy.”
---
She didn’t respond.
Didn’t need to.
Everyone already understood.
---
Dinner was worse.
Because there was an empty chair beside her.
And no one bothered to pretend it wasn’t.
---
“You should tell him to prioritize you more.”
An older relative said, half-heartedly.
---
Kavya shook her head gently.
“He has responsibilities.”
---
She defended him.
Out of habit.
Not out of belief.
---
By the time she left, the smile on her face felt heavier than anything else she carried.
---
That night, Aarav didn’t ask where she had been.
Didn’t ask how it went.
Didn’t ask anything at all.
---
And Kavya didn’t tell him.
---
Because somewhere along the way—
she had learned something important.
Some lines…
weren’t meant to be crossed.