Chapter 25 #2
‘Is this how you speak to your father?’ he yelled, each word laced with cold indignation. ‘You’ve clearly lost all sense of shame.’
Betrayal and humiliation burned like smoke in her chest, so much so that she thought she might suffocate.
Rage exploded out of her as she said, ‘Okay. Let’s talk about shame.
You parade around this house like you built it brick by brick, like the name Kashyap was born from your ambition, hard work ,and sacrifices. ’
Kartik went still, and Siya saw the flicker of warning in his eyes but she didn’t lower her gaze or shrink the way she once might have.
‘Tell me, Dad, when exactly did you become a Kashyap? Was it the day you were born or the exact moment you married my mother, and with it, came this empire that you never could’ve built on your own? ’
All colour drained out of his face and his eyes widened. Sharda gasped and Dhruv turned to look at Kartik, disbelief crossing his face.
‘Arohi Jairaj Kashyap, in case you’ve forgotten who is the real heir of Kashyap empire,’ Siya declared proudly.
‘She doesn’t understand what she’s saying. She’s gone insane,’ Kartik tried to wave it off with a panicked laugh.
‘I understand more than you think. I understand that the man who loves to call himself the backbone of Kashyap heritage was originally born Kartik Sharma. I understand that before you married my mother, you were another small man from a smaller world who saw her as a ladder rather than a wife.’
His jaw clenched, and the vein in his temple pulsed erratically, but Siya was unwilling to bend anymore.
‘You took her last name because it opened doors for you. When she died, instead of mourning her, you erased your past and took over everything because Mom was an only child and we were too young. You inherited all of this from the woman and her family you claim to love but refuse to respect.’
The room had gone completely still. Even Sharda had lost her edge, her lips parted in shock. She didn’t need any evidence. Kartik’s silence was loud enough to prove it. Anger shone in his eyes, but there was a hint of fear in their depths.
Sharda lost her cool. ‘You ungrateful bitch! Kartik is your father. How dare you speak to him in such an abhorrent manner?’
The old barrier she’d built around herself with polite submission broke down.
‘Because for years, I’ve listened to people call him a visionary when all he did was put his name on my mother’s designs.
Every article, every award speech, every press release has been carefully crafted by his PR to create the myth of his golden child persona.
But none of it is real. You built it all on her grave. ’
‘I built this empire from nothing,’ Kartik boasted. ‘I took this failing brand that your mother left and turned it into a brand that people envy.’
‘You built nothing but debts. You begged for loans, you bet on scams, you banked on favours, and when everything dried up, you used my inheritance and sold my family jewels.’
His face contorted, the last remnants of his mask finally slipping off and Siya saw her father in all his merciless glory. ‘You’ve lost it if you think I’ll allow you to twist your lies into facts.’
‘You forced me to become a lawyer, Dad. Did you honestly believe I wouldn’t dig into my own family? Maa is the true Kashyap blood. You’re just her husband, and don’t you dare forget it.’
Kartik pushed back his chair, coming at her in anger, but suddenly, Abhay was standing behind her before she could even register him moving. His hand slid across her waist, and his chest touched her back as he aligned against her like a shield.
‘If you take even a step toward my wife, I’ll bury you so deep down in the ground that you’ll finally be in hell, exactly where you belong,’ Abhay said, dangerously calm, but wrath was radiating off him in waves.
‘Watch yourself,’ Kartik warned, but Abhay couldn’t care less.
‘Try it, I dare you.’
Kartik recoiled slightly as if he’d struck him and he stopped mid-step, his eyes flicking between Abhay and her.
Mihit stood up in an instant, and his threat rang through the room. ‘Siya is our daughter-in-law. If you harm her, we will burn Kashyap Luxe down to ashes by tomorrow.’
Her heart dropped into her stomach at the sincerity in his tone.
‘You’re foolish if you think you can ruin us,’ Sharda taunted.
Neena followed suit. ‘Sharda ji, you underestimate our power. If we come down to use it for nefarious purposes, your empire will crumble into dust within a day.’
‘You would do nothing that will threaten the girl you’re so fiercely fighting for,’ Sharda said, amused at the notion.
‘She will be fine,’ Neena said confidently. ‘She is talented, driven, and someone who has the ability to build a name on her own.’
‘Siya?’ she laughed. ‘Oh don’t kid yourselves. She can’t even cook. A girl like her has no guts to build something like this.’
Sharda’s delight in tearing down her self-respect was evident in her eyes. How Siya could stomach growing up around her all these years, Abhay didn’t know. He couldn’t bear to think of just how many such family dinners she’d suffered through.
‘My grandfather did it, my mother did it, and so can I,’ Siya declared with conviction.
‘And with the Agrawal empire backing her up, she’ll be unstoppable,’ Abhay announced.
‘Why are you so desperate to protect her?’ Sharda asked, confused.
‘Because she’s a part of our family, and unlike both of you, we protect our kids,’ Neena said and Mihit held her hand in show of support.
‘I still don’t understand. Why are you wasting all this effort on someone who clearly doesn’t belong in your family when you should be focused on getting your son remarried.’
‘Have you lost your mind?’ Abhay shouted loud enough for the staff to flinch. She felt his whole body tremble behind her. ‘How could you even suggest something so horrible?’
Sharda leaned forward and addressed the Agrawals. ‘Why not? Take Kashvi, for example. What’s the difference between her and Siya? Why not just replace Kashvi with the defective sister?’
Kartik chimed in. ‘Well, if you agree to it, we can find a way to spin this. If Abhay were to get publicly involved with Kashvi, and Siya retreats somewhere out of sight, I’m sure the media can be guided to accept it.’
‘Stop right there. Do you think I’m livid because I want to be connected to your brand name?
I could care less. I didn’t choose Siya because of what she could give me.
I chose her for who she is and for everything she makes me feel.
If you can’t see that, then I’m not interested in your worthless opinion. ’
Sharda didn’t back down. ‘And what would you rather have me say? You’re the only son and you married someone who cannot give the Agrawals a successor. I’m only pointing out the practical implications, however harsh it may be.’
Abhay turned fully toward Sharda, and the tension in his jaw made his words sound more like a growl. ‘If I wanted a woman only for her ability to reproduce, I’d have picked a surrogate instead of a wife.’
Sharda studied him for a moment. ‘You know, Abhay, I didn’t know you have such a saviour complex. I just wonder if you’ll still feel the same way ten years from now, when everyone else you know has children and your defective wife still has empty hands.’
Siya flinched, and something inside her broke, slow and soundless. The voices around her blurred into muffled echoes. Sweat dampened her forehead and her world shrunk down to her grandmother’s words.
It hit her then, the gravity of what she’d lost. There had been times in the past when she’d resented being a guardian as a teenager, but every time Kashvi came home with an award, tried her hand at cooking Siya’s favourite dish, held her when their father hurt them yet again, it all felt worth it.
Siya wanted that to be her future too. She didn’t know when but she’d begun to envision a life with kids running around, as Abhay playfully got on her nerves, as usual. That dream of a home filled with laughter and love was now turning into dust, piece by piece.
And Abhay… Though he was defending her now, what if that defence didn’t last forever? What if the life they build can’t withstand something as monumental as the absence of a child?
What if he would never say it aloud, but someday, the emptiness in their home would start to echo louder than their love?
‘Defective? You think I would trade my wife like she’s property? Have you no fucking heart?’ he roared, his angry words bouncing off the marble walls.
Sharda shrugged, unbothered by his outburst. ‘My son had the sense to do it. I’m so glad he made the wise choice by getting involved with Dhruv’s mother when Arohi couldn’t produce a son. Family business runs on continuity and stability, Abhay, but you seem too weak to make difficult choices.’
Siya felt tears prick behind her eyes. It felt like the air had turned to glass shards, slicing across her flesh. But Abhay’s arm around her anchored her in the storm raging within.
‘I love Siya with everything I am, and if that makes me weak in your eyes, then so be it. My wife will stay right here in my arms where she belongs.’
‘That’s you, but what about your parents?’ Sharda turned to them with a vicious smile. ‘Will you both be truly content living without a grandchild? Isn’t that a void in your life that cannot be erased by your son’s happiness and Siya’s talent?’
Her attention jerked to her parents-in-law, childishly hoping they’d say yes, but her hope shattered when Mihit’s face paled and Neena opened her mouth as if to say something but then looked away.
Their silence stretched, thick and thunderous, and in that void, Siya heard the bitter truth. She wasn’t enough for them.
Her fingers trembled against her thighs as she thought of turning to look at Abhay but she couldn’t bring herself to do it from the fear of seeing the same answer reflected in his eyes.
She was tired of being vulnerable, peeled open under their gazes, and she’d had enough. Taking a deep breath, she held herself together. She’d managed to get through the toughest times of her life, and damn it, she would do it again.
‘I am enough for myself. If I am not a good enough daughter for you, or a good enough daughter-in-law for this family, then it’s your loss.’
With that, Siya turned and walked out of the room without a backward glance. When she walked out of the foyer, she snapped her fingers for the valet to throw her the keys. Her fingers shook as she got behind the wheel in Abhay’s car, and slammed the door shut with too much force.
The engine roared as she pulled out, and Abhay ran out just in time to see the tail lights fading down the driveway. His heart was lodged in his throat, sticky with fear. Pulling out his phone, he quickly dialled her number.
Again and again, it went unanswered. She’d taken his car, and his parents had sent their car home with the driver. In the time it’d take for Kishore to come back, he’d reach his place by cab.
Footsteps echoed behind him and he whipped around to see Dhruv run out after him.
‘Where is she?’ Dhruv asked, looking around.
Acting on wild impulse, Abhay grabbed him by the collar. He got up in his face and growled, ‘Now you fucking care about her? What the hell happened to you in there? Cat got your tongue?’
Dhruv looked bewildered, but with concern. ‘I get it that you’re pissed off, but believe me, if I’d defended her, they would’ve doubled down on their abuse.’
‘Stop with your damn excuses!’
Dhruv said, ‘Fine. If you want to kick my ass for my father’s sins, do it tomorrow. Where is Siya?’
The fog of anger lifted a little and Abhay could think straight. He shoved Dhruv away, and picked up his discarded phone from the ground. ‘She took off.’
‘Why the hell are you still here then?’
‘I love the hospitality. Why the hell do you think so? She took my car.’
Dhruv pushed his hand in his jean pocket and pulled out car keys. Throwing them at Abhay, he urged, ‘Take it. Just… just make sure she is okay.’
That’s what Abhay planned to do. He quickly got in the car and took off. His foot pressed harder on the pedal and the world narrowed to the route in front of him. His knuckles had turned white around the steering wheel.
Rage coursed through him, molten and roaring, as he thought of how Kartik and Sharda had finally pushed her enough to crack. The word defective twisted inside his gut.
When he finally reached the entrance to his penthouse, he parked the car haphazardly. He leapt out of the car, and rushed to the elevator panel. A voice in his head was screaming at him to find her.
As the elevator doors opened into the penthouse hallway, Abhay noticed that the lights were on. ‘Siya?’ he called out her name, his voice hoarse with dread, but the echo came back lonely.
He barely registered the clatter of keys on the floor as he rushed up the stairs. He pushed her bedroom door open but froze at the edge when he saw the empty room.
She was gone. Her closet, usually cluttered with a chaos only she could navigate, now stood empty. The bedside drawers were left half-open and hangers were strewn across the bed.
His eye caught on the note tucked under a pen on the table. His heart hammered as he picked it up and read.
I need time. I need space. Please don’t come looking for me right now. I’m sorry.
The letters blurred before his eyes even as he clutched the paper like it might blow away if he let go.
A sob broke in his chest, raw and ragged, and he collapsed onto the floor.
The tears came fast, unrelenting in its anguish force.
He pressed the note to his chest, inhaling the remnants of her perfume still lingering on it.
Abhay wanted to go back in time and rip her father apart for every cruel word he’d ever thrown at her and erase every insult from Sharda that’d wrecked her soul. White-hot fury blazed through him, directed at the people who had broken her down, one word at a time.
His soul was coming apart at the seams as he cried for her pain, cried for them and for their future. He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her absence in every corner of the place, and prayed, ‘Just… come back to me, jaan.’