Chapter 25
Verma his jaw flexed as if fighting the anger, frustration… maybe both.
He looked away first. When he spoke again, his tone was flat, almost businesslike. “Some of your stuff is still in our closet. There’s no point keeping it there when it’s decided you’re never returning. So…” he exhaled, “…whenever you have time, come and collect it.”
He didn’t wait for a response. Didn’t give her a chance to speak. Just picked up the last file and walked out.
Arundhati remained still, stunned. Yes, she’d left things behind—bridal sarees, jewellery boxes, accessories… little pieces of a life she had abandoned without looking back. For ten months, she hadn’t thought twice about them. But now, hearing him tell her to take them away felt like a final hit.
And God, it hurt.
*****************
Kushal had almost made it to the elevator when Raj Verma called him.
“Kushal. My cabin. Now.”
His tone left no room for negotiation.
Kushal turned slowly, meeting the older man’s steady gaze, and without a word, changed course toward the familiar oak door.
He followed Raj Verma inside, who stood by his desk, his one hand idly tapping the wood.
There was a pause before he spoke, as though deciding how to play this.
Kushal wasn’t the kind of man who shared his feelings when pressed.
If anything, he would retreat further. So, Raj chose the safer ground first.
“There’s another high-profile divorce case coming in,” Raj began, sliding a file across the desk. “The client’s loaded, public image to maintain. I want you to take it.”
“No,” Kushal said without hesitation, not even glancing at the file.
Raj’s brows lifted. “No?”
“Give it to someone else.”
Raj just studied him. In all the years he had known this man…watched him climb from junior associate to one of the firm’s most formidable lawyers…he had never heard him reject a case without reason. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m taking a break,” Kushal replied. “I can’t take any more cases for now.”
“Break?” Raj sighed, agreeing. “Fine. Take a month.”
“No.”
“Two months then—”
“Two years,” Kushal interrupted.
Raj’s mouth fell open. “Two… years? Are you planning to quit Verma & Associates?”
“You know I’d never do that,” Kushal replied. “I just need… time. Away from all of this.”
Raj narrowed his eyes. “And Aru? What about her? You’re still fighting this divorce battle with her, to save your marriage… what about that?”
“I’ve told her I’m ready to divorce her.”
The older man blinked, the words landing like a punch. “You what?”
“At the end of the day, you and I both want her happiness. She’s not going to stop chasing the divorce. So, I’m not going to make her wait anymore. On the next trial date, I’ll agree to a mutual divorce.”
Raj stared at him, his jaw tightening. “You’re not doing the right thing, Kushal. I mean… why would you do this? What happened to all those arguments, all that effort to stop her from ending the marriage? You can’t be serious. I had so many hopes from you.”
Kushal’s eyes hardened, but he looked tired now, even to explain. “I’ve given up, Sir. I can’t do this anymore if she doesn’t want it. So, I quit.”
“No,” Raj shot back. “You can’t quit. You hear me? You can’t just walk away like this.”
Kushal didn’t respond, but Raj continued.
“I knew something really bad had happened between you two after that press meet, which went wrong. That day, after you left, Aru came to me… and she cried her heart out. She didn’t say a word about what happened, but I could sense it.
And then you stopped answering my calls.
You didn’t work from here but from your penthouse.
So this is what happened?” His voice dipped.
“Do you think she’s happy with all this?
No, she is not, Kushal. I know her… she’s my niece. ”
Kushal stayed silent.
“Aru’s like that—once she decides something, it’s hard to change her mind,” Raj went on, his voice softening with memory.
“When she was ten, she became obsessed with climbing Mount Snowdon in Wales. I refused at first because it’s too dangerous.
But Aru refused to listen. She skipped six months of school just to train for it.
Wouldn’t hear a word against it. Eventually, I gave in.
She made it to the summit, stood there in triumph…
but when she came back, she saw what she’d missed.
Her best friend moved to another city, she missed her final exams, had to repeat the year.
One goal achieved, but a lot left behind.
“What I’m saying is—right now she’s stubborn about the divorce. But when you give it to her, she might realise what she’s losing… and feel guilty enough to turn back.”
Kushal, who listened without interrupting, finally broke the silence now. “Maybe. But this divorce isn’t some childhood obsession she’ll outgrow. And I don’t have the patience left to wait for her guilt to make her give us another chance.”
Raj’s voice edged into a plea. “Kushal, think again. Don’t do this.”