Sold to the Thakur's

Jinal and reyansh is married

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Reyansh's eyes narrowed as he closed the distance between them, each step a storm. His gaze locked onto the line of sindoor at her hair parting. Every fraction of red seemed to burn him, like fire on his skin.

"How... how could you?" he hissed through gritted teeth, his voice low, trembling with a mixture of fury and disbelief. "You... you're still wearing this... after everything?"

Jinal flinched, tears streaming freely now, her hands shaking as she tried to pull back—but Reyansh's presence was overwhelming, leaving her no escape.

"Don't you even feel—" he cut himself off, the anger in his chest nearly consuming him. He slammed a fist against the wall beside her head, making her flinch, heart thudding in terror and confusion. "I'm asking you something, Jinal! Answer me!"

She nodded weakly, her voice barely a whisper, "No... I haven't signed the papers..."

Reyansh's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His eyes flashed, a dangerous mix of rage and incredulity. "Fuck! You mean... you're still married to me? You didn't sign them?"

Jinal's lips quivered as she raised her gaze to his. "Do... do you really think it was that easy, Reyansh? Just... just sign the papers and forget everything?"

Reyansh exhaled sharply, fury rolling off him like a storm. "It takes one minute, Jinal! One minute to sign! And you... you don't even think about how it affects me? About us?"

Tears cascaded down her cheeks, her voice breaking. "Don't you have any... any emotions, Reyansh? Was it really that easy for you?"

His eyes darkened, and he closed the last few inches between them, so close that her breath mingled with his. His fingers twitched as if he wanted to reach out but was restrained by a deeper, unspoken tension.

Reyansh's voice dropped to a growl, low and threatening, but laced with a raw vulnerability. "Do you even realize what you've done, Jinal? How careless... how reckless...? At least tell me, at least let me know... goddammit!"

Jinal tried to speak, to defend herself, but the words lodged in her throat. She could only stare at him, stunned and trembling, seeing the storm in his eyes, feeling the weight of every unsaid word and suppressed emotion.

Jinal's lips trembled, her chest tightening as if someone had crushed her heart with bare hands.

"It's... nothing to you?" she whispered again, her voice breaking.

Reyansh's jaw hardened, his eyes like fire. "Nope. Nothing. Not at all interested."

Her tears slipped down, burning against her skin, but she didn't look away. "You can say it a hundred times, Reyansh... but your eyes don't lie."

Reyansh froze, his breath hitching for a second before he masked it with anger. He grabbed her wrist tightly, dragging her hand toward her mangalsutra.

"Then prove me wrong, Jinal. Remove this. Wipe away that sindoor. End this fucking drama once and for all!"

Her hand shook violently in his grip, her throat too choked to speak. The mangalsutra dangled between them like a chain binding their souls.

Jinal's tears blurred her vision, but her voice came out firm, raw.

"I can't. Because for me... this is not drama. This is my truth, Reyansh."

For the first time, his mask cracked—his grip loosened, his breath ragged, eyes flickering with a storm he couldn't name. He wanted to shout, to deny, to push her away... but his heart betrayed him, pounding against his ribs, louder than her words.

The air between them turned heavy. Their faces were so close, their lips just a trembling inch apart, hearts screaming what their tongues refused to admit.

Jinal's face went pale, her voice barely leaving her lips.

"Nothing to you...?"

Reyansh's eyes were like burning coal. "Yes, Jinal. Nothing. That so-called marriage is meaningless. Don't bind me to it."

Her chest tightened, her tears threatening to spill, but she refused to look away. "Maybe it was meaningless for you... but for me, every sindoor line, every thread of this mangalsutra... it's real. It's my truth."

Reyansh's breath grew heavier. He slammed his palm against the wall beside her, caging her completely. Their faces were so close, his words brushing her trembling lips.

"Your truth? You've lost your mind, Jinal. You're chaining yourself to something that never existed."

Her voice broke but her eyes held his.

"Then why can't you look at me and say it doesn't affect you? If it's really nothing... why are you this angry, Reyansh?"

The silence that followed was deafening. His grip on the wall tightened, veins popping in his forearm, while his heart betrayed him with every violent beat.

Jinal clutched the mangalsutra at her throat as if her life depended on it, her voice trembling.

"Don't you dare touch what's mine."

Reyansh's jaw flexed, his eyes flashing with fury. "Stop this stupidity, Jinal! What if someone sees you like this? Do you even realize the storm it will create in this haveli?"

Her tears spilled, but her tone hardened. "I don't care. I am married—and I cannot marry that Oberoi."

His nostrils flared as he stepped closer, almost growling.

"No, you are not married! Remove this nonsense from your head, wipe off that sindoor, throw away this mangalsutra, and for once in your life—listen to me!

It was all in the past. Sign those divorce papers and end this drama. Did you hear me?"

Her lips trembled, a broken hiccup leaving her throat as she pressed her back harder against the wall. She looked so small, so helpless. "Reyansh... please... don't say it like this..."

He closed his eyes, dragging his hands through his hair in frustration, trying to cage his temper. His voice came out like thunder. "Stop it, Jinal. Just... fucking stop it!"

Her tears blurred everything, yet she still managed to choke out, "No, Reyansh... marriage isn't gudda-guddi khel. It isn't some child's game you play and throw away. Please, understand..."

He opened his eyes, bloodshot with restrained rage. His voice was low, guttural. "That's exactly what I'm saying, Jinal. This is not some game. And because it's not—end it. End this right now."

"Please, Reyansh... it's paining, stop saying this..." Jinal's voice cracked as tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

Reyansh inhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling heavily. They were so close—too close.

Her trembling fingers touched his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt as if that alone could hold her together. "Please... please don't say that it doesn't matter... because... I feel it, Rey."

His jaw tightened, his eyes still shut as if by keeping them closed he could deny the storm raging inside him.

"Please, Reyansh... don't let me break like this. I don't know if what I'm doing is right or wrong... but let me... please... I need this..." Her voice was a desperate whisper, raw and pleading.

Before he could process, Jinal closed the distance. Her fist clutched his shirt tightly as her lips pressed against his.

Reyansh's eyes flew open in panic—shock flooding every vein in his body. His breath hitched, hands hovering mid-air as if unsure whether to push her away or pull her closer. The warmth of her lips, the taste of her tears—it shattered his restraint in ways words never could.

For a moment, time froze. The only sound was the wild thundering of both their hearts.

Neither did Reyansh kiss her back, nor did he push her away. He just stood there—rigid, torn, burning inside.

Her lips lingered on his for a heartbeat too long, her tears sliding down her face and brushing against his skin like fire. Her trembling hand clutched his shirt tighter, as if begging him to respond, to not stay silent.

He felt everything—her shiver, her pain, her desperate love—but he didn't move. Didn't breathe. Didn't even blink.

Finally, Jinal pulled back, her chest heaving. The warmth of her lips left his, but the weight of her touch and tears remained like scars.

Their eyes locked immediately—dark, heavy, suffocating.

Her eyes were wet, pleading, filled with questions.

His were stormy, furious, yet conflicted, as if fighting a war he could never win.

Neither spoke. Neither blinked.

Just two souls staring at each other—like predators circling, like prisoners chained, like lovers forbidden.

The silence screamed louder than words ever could.

Her words hung in the air like a bomb dropped between them.

The world seemed to stop. The ticking clock faded. Even their breaths felt suspended in time.

Reyansh froze, his lips parting slightly, but no sound escaped. His eyes, usually sharp and unreadable, widened with something Jinal had never seen before—shock, pain, and something dangerously close to longing.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. She didn't blink, she didn't move—afraid if she did, this fragile, unbearable moment would shatter.

Reyansh clenched his fists at his sides, every muscle in his body tightening. He leaned even closer, their lips just an inch apart, his breath brushing against her trembling mouth. His voice, when it came, was hoarse, almost breaking, "Don't... Jinal. Don't say that."

Tears spilled from her eyes, but her gaze never wavered. "Why not? It's the truth. I love you, Reyansh. I always have. Even when you hurt me, even when you ignored me, even when you—" her voice cracked, "even when you tried to erase what we are... I still—"

"Stop!" he barked suddenly, slamming his palm against the wall beside her, making her flinch. His face twisted with anguish, his jaw clenched so hard it ached. "You don't know what you're saying. You don't understand what this means, Jinal."

She shook her head, her tears falling freely now. "I understand more than you think. You can run from it, deny it, curse it all you want... but it doesn't change the fact that I am still yours. And somewhere deep down, you're still mine."

His breath hitched, his eyes searching hers like a man drowning looking for air. For a long, unbearable beat, neither moved. Their eyes locked, speaking volumes their tongues refused to say.

And in that moment—it wasn't about the mangalsutra, or the sindoor, or even the marriage. It was about the truth neither could bury anymore.

The truth blazing in their eyes, desperate, aching, forbidden.

Reyansh's jaw clenched, his breath harsh as he grabbed Jinal's shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"I said it's over, Jinal," he growled, his voice sharp enough to cut through her trembling heart. "Do you hear me? It's all over."

Her lips quivered, her tears unending, but he didn't soften.

"You are going away from me," Reyansh continued, each word like venom. "Neither do I love you, nor will I ever in my entire life. Do you hear that clearly? I don't love you, Jinal Thakur. And we—" his grip tightened, his gaze burning into her— "we are not married."

Her knees almost buckled, but he didn't let her fall. He wasn't finished.

"I'll make new divorce papers tomorrow," he said coldly, like he was signing her death sentence.

"And this time you will sign them. End it.

Start your new life. Forget everything." His voice dipped lower, harsher.

"The kiss... the confession..." he scoffed, eyes hard as steel.

"It's nothing to me. Nothing. I'll forget it by morning, and so should you. "

Her heart shattered into pieces she couldn't even gather, but he still didn't stop.

"From now on, don't you ever step into this room again." His words came like fire, burning away the last sliver of hope inside her. "You are going to be someone else's now, so learn to keep your distance from strangers. Did you hear me, Jinal?"

His tone was final, merciless.

And with that, he let go of her shoulders like she was nothing but air—leaving her to stand in the wreckage of her own breaking heart.

Jinal's chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes burning through the blur of tears. For a moment, she just stared at Reyansh in disbelief. Then suddenly, her trembling hand reached for the vase on the nearby table—and with one swift motion, she smashed it against the wall.

The shattering echoed through the room like thunder, her scream following it.

"So my confession doesn't matter to you, right?" she spat, her voice shaking with rage. "My tears, my pain, my love—it's all nothing to you?"

Reyansh flinched but didn't move, his jaw tightening.

"Fine!" she screamed, her fists clenched, her whole body trembling. "Listen to me, Mr. Reyansh Sehgal—just as you said, let's become strangers. Strangers who never shared anything. Like nothing ever happened in our lives. Like we never met."

Her voice cracked, but she pushed through, eyes blazing with fury.

"I wish... I wish I never met you. I wish you never, ever entered my life.

You destroyed me, Reyansh. You made me hope, you made me believe—and now you're telling me it was all nothing?

" She stepped closer, her anger spilling in waves.

"You want me to erase everything? Fine. From today, you are dead to me.

A stranger. Just a mistake I'll curse myself for every single day. "

Her words sliced like knives, her tears now mixed with fire.

"And let me tell you one last thing, Reyansh Sehgal," she said, her voice lowering into a furious whisper.

"You can shout at me, you can push me away—but you can never erase the truth.

You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me.

Because whether you like it or not... what happened between us matters. "

Her breath hitched, her eyes still locked on his as the broken pieces of the vase glittered on the floor—just like the pieces of her heart.

Jinal wiped her tears harshly, as if she was punishing herself for shedding them in front of him. Her voice turned icy, her eyes no longer pleading but spitting venom.

"You know what, Reyansh?" she hissed. "You're not just heartless—you're a coward. A man who hides behind cold words because he's too scared to admit what he feels. You think rejecting me will make everything disappear? No. It only proves you're weak."

Reyansh's eyes flickered, but she didn't stop.

"You say this marriage is nothing?" she laughed bitterly. "Then let me tell you—you are nothing. You're not worth the love I gave you, not worth the tears I wasted on you. I'll curse the day I let you into my heart"

Her hands shook, but her words cut sharper than any blade.

"You can fool everyone with that stone face, Reyansh Sehgal, but not me. I've seen the man behind it—the one who hides every time he feels. And trust me, one day this mask will shatter, and when it does, you'll remember these words."

She stepped back, her breathing ragged, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper.

"Until then, live with your lies, your arrogance, and your empty pride. Because from this moment on... you're dead to me."

With that, she turned sharply, her dupatta brushing against his arm as she stormed out, leaving the room heavy with silence, broken glass, and the venom of her last words.

As soon as the door slammed shut behind Jinal, silence fell—but only for a heartbeat.

Reyansh's chest heaved, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. Her venomous words echoed in his ears like thunder, ripping every corner of his composure apart.

With a guttural roar, he grabbed the nearest lamp and hurled it against the wall. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces, just like the restraint he had been clinging to.

He swept his hand across the table, sending files, pens, and his laptop crashing to the ground. A vase followed, then a chair. His breath grew harsher, heavier, as if each second was choking him.

"Damn you, Jinal!" he shouted, his voice raw with fury and something he refused to name. "Damn you for making me feel!"

He slammed his fist into the mirror—the glass cracked, splitting his reflection into jagged shards. His own face stared back at him in fragments: broken, furious, and haunted. Blood oozed from his knuckles, dripping onto the floor, but he didn't care.

Every corner of the room bore the mark of his wrath—papers torn, furniture overturned, glass scattered.

Finally, he collapsed onto the edge of the bed, his body trembling, his chest heaving. He pressed his bloody hand against his face and whispered in a voice no one was meant to hear:

"Why the hell does it matter... why does it hurt?"

But the silence of the room answered him with nothing but her absence.

Jinal stormed into her room, slamming the door shut with trembling hands. Her back pressed against the wood, and the moment she was alone, everything inside her broke loose.

She slid down to the floor, clutching her chest, her sobs shaking her entire body. Tears poured endlessly, blurring her vision, soaking her dupatta.

"Why, Reyansh... why does it always have to be me?" she whispered between hiccups, her voice cracking, raw.

She buried her face in her palms, crying until her lungs burned, until her throat felt torn. Every word he had thrown at her—nothing to me... not married... sign the papers... stranger—stabbed her deeper than any blade could.

Minutes, maybe hours passed in the storm of her grief until finally, she forced herself to breathe. Inhale... exhale... She wiped her face with the back of her shaking hand, her eyes swollen but blazing with a flicker of defiance.

"No more tears, Jinal," she whispered to herself. "Not for him. Not anymore."

She got up slowly, facing the mirror. Her reflection was ruined, messy hair, kohl-smudged eyes, but her jaw set in determination.

"He is nothing to you from today onwards," she told her reflection, voice trembling but firm. "Nothing. You don't need him, you don't need his love, his care, his poison. You don't need him."

Her hand brushed against her mangalsutra, and for the first time, instead of clutching it for comfort, she let it fall back against her skin with indifference.

"You hear me, Jinal?" she whispered. "He doesn't exist anymore. From this moment, you live for yourself. Crying is over. Now, it's your turn."

She inhaled deeply, squaring her shoulders.

Her tears may not have dried completely, but her resolve had hardened.

.

.

.

.

Evening draped the haveli in quiet, but inside Rivan's office, the only sound was his steady, commanding voice echoing through the laptop speakers.

His eyes were sharp, fixed on the screen, discussing figures and strategies with his board members.

Devyani peeked in, her little face lighting up—only to pout immediately. Again with this chamakti hui machine... she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms.

"Monster pati ji is so busy... with this shining machine," she whispered to herself, tilting her head as if the laptop had stolen her husband.

She tiptoed inside, standing near his chair. He didn't even glance. Not once.

Devyani's lips drooped in frustration.

She circled around his big office table, dragging her fingers along its surface, peeking at papers, files, pens—her curious eyes widening at some sharp-looking tools and documents. But she quickly shrugged them off, not understanding half of it anyway.

Still, he didn't look at her. Not even a word.

Finally, she marched right back beside him, leaning over, her pallu brushing against his arm. "Hmph... ignoring me again," she whispered under her breath.

And then... with the most innocent but deadliest pout, she said out loud—

"You... you fuck everyone..." her big doe eyes blinked at him, "then why don't you fuck me?"

The laptop meeting froze in chaos.

Rivan's hand froze mid-air. His jaw tightened, eyes snapping away from the screen for the first time, locking onto her. His entire boardroom on the other side of the call went silent, confused at the sudden pause.

"Excuse me, Mr. Thakur?" one of the men on the call asked carefully.

Rivan slammed the laptop shut in one swift motion, veins bulging in his neck. His glare could burn through stone.

Rivan shut his laptop with a heavy thud, exhaling through his nose. His knuckles cracked as he rubbed his temple. It's okay. She's just a kid. Doesn't know a thing. Control yourself, Rivan...

His cold eyes shifted toward Devyani, who was still standing there with the biggest toothy smile, swaying her Pallu like she had just cracked the code of the universe.

"What does that mean?" he asked in a dangerously calm tone, his jaw tight.

Devyani clapped her hands together proudly. "Ohhh, it means care! Reyansh bhaiyya said so. When you say fuck, it means caring!"

Rivan blinked once. Twice. His entire world tilted. Reyansh... you bastard.

He forced a smile—so sharp it could kill. "Kitten..." his voice dropped low, like thunder before a storm, "why don't you go out and play for a while, hmm? I'll definitely fuck you after my meeting."

Her eyes lit up like Diwali lamps. "Realllly??" she gasped, clasping her hands, her cheeks pink with excitement.

Devyani, clueless, nodded eagerly. "Okay pati ji!" She skipped toward the door, humming, her anklets jingling.

And just before leaving, she whispered to herself with sparkling eyes, "Yayyy... pati ji is going to fuck me! No more scoldings!" Then she vanished down the hallway in pure glee.

Rivan leaned back in his chair, eyes dark, whispering to himself, "Reyansh... your grave is ready."

Devyani came hopping down the corridor, her anklets making happy ching ching. She looked like a little kid carrying the world's biggest secret.

Payal spotted her and smiled. "Bhabhi, you look... very happy today. What happened?"

Devyani leaned in, cupping her mouth dramatically. "Psst... don't tell anyone, okay? But today... pati ji will fuck me."

Payal's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!" She almost choked on her breath, her eyes bulging. "W-what the hell did you just say??"

Devyani frowned. "Arrey, don't shout! It's a secret. Pati ji said after his meeting he will fuck me. No more scoldings! He said it with his own mouth."

Payal slapped her forehead.

For a moment the entire air froze.

Payal's smile vanished, her eyes widening in shock. Her lips parted but no words came out.

Just then Yashodha entered with a pooja thali. "What's going on? Why are you both standing like this?"

Devyani turned to her with the same glowing face and chirped, "Maa, pati ji said he will fuck me today. That's why I am so happy."

The thali slipped slightly in Yashodha's hand, the diya flickering dangerously. She stood frozen, her eyes wide, completely shaken.

Payal's breath caught in her throat, her face pale with disbelief. Both stood there, stunned into silence, unable to process what they just heard.

Meanwhile, Devyani swayed happily, humming to herself, completely unaware of the storm she had just stirred.

Upstairs, in his office, Rivan's knuckles turned white as he closed his laptop with a loud snap, his jaw tightening like steel. His voice was a dangerous whisper meant only for the walls around him—

"Reyansh..."

The hall was filled with chatter, all faces glowing with excitement.

Virendra leaned back in his chair, his tone steady but pleased. "So, Samar... what do you think about this proposal?"

Samar smiled faintly. "Bhai sa, what should I say? If you are okay, then I am also okay. Right, Rekha?"

Rekha gave a warm nod. "Yes, bhai sa. If the family is good, why not? Oberois are very respected."

Virendra's eyes glinted. "I know Rajveer personally. I've met him a few times. He's a good man—young, successful, disciplined, but most importantly... he's respectful. That matters the most."

Yashodha clapped her hands lightly, her voice sweet. "So, it's decided then? Should we prepare for Mumbai?"

Rajmata raised a hand, her expression calm but commanding. "Hmmm... if it's a good family, we'll see. But don't forget—the final word should come from Jinal herself. First ask her."

Just then, the heavy footsteps echoed. Rivan walked in, tall and unreadable, his stormy presence instantly cooling the cheerful air. He wasn't even looking at them, his eyes sharp, scanning the corners like a hunter searching for someone—Reyansh.

He was about to walk past, when Samarveer's deep, commanding voice stopped him.

"Rivan. Wait. We are discussing something important."

Rivan halted mid-step, jaw tightening. His voice was sharp, dismissive. "I am not interested."

"Boy, you never listen." Samarveer's voice hardened. "Proposal came for Jinal... from Oberoi. Everyone is happy with it."

The air thickened. For a second, no one breathed.

Rivan stilled, his broad back stiffening. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes narrowing. The room went silent under that dark stare.

Finally, his voice dropped like thunder—low, dangerous.

"Not until Jinal herself says she is ready."

And without waiting for another word, he strode out, leaving a trail of silence in his wake.

The discussion slowly fizzled out. Everyone knew—when Rivan spoke, it was final. Until he said something further, there was no point dragging the matter. One by one, voices died down, leaving the hall heavy with silence.

Then Virendra's sharp eyes shifted. Across the hall, little Devyani was sitting, her cheeks glowing pink, her lips stretched in the widest grin as if she was hiding the sweetest secret in the world.

He raised a brow. "Devyani... today you are smiling so much. What happened? Something good?"

Instantly, every head turned towards her. The room's mood softened, curiosity flickering in everyone's eyes.

Devyani's eyes sparkled. She leaned forward, her voice excited and innocent. "Haa... today na, pati ji is going to—"

Before she could finish, Yashodha's hand shot out, covering her mouth. "Bas! Nothing... nothing!" She forced a laugh, her tone a little too sharp. "Devyani is just happy because she was with me today. Right, Devyani?"

The entire family blinked in confusion, frowning at Yashodha's sudden panic. Devyani looked up at her with round, puzzled eyes, muffled words slipping out against her palm.

Yashodha didn't give her a chance to continue. She quickly stood, clutching Devyani's wrist. "Come, beta. I'll teach you cooking today. Yes, come with me."

She almost dragged Devyani out of the hall, leaving behind a family full of curious, suspicious stares.

In the kitchen, Yashodha finally let go of Devyani's hand and leaned against the counter, exhaling heavily. Thank god... today Rivan is safe.

Devyani tilted her head, her big eyes blinking curiously. "What happened, maa?"

Yashodha gave a nervous laugh, trying to hide her panic. "Nothing. Just... you tell me, you love me, right?"

Devyani's face lit up with a wide smile. "Yes maa, I love you!"

Yashodha cupped her cheeks with a forced smile. "Then do one thing for me. Please... stop using that word... that fuck. Okay? Only use it with your husband, no need to say it in front of everyone."

Devyani blinked, confused. "Oh... why maa?"

Yashodha's eyes widened. This girl! She stammered, "Umm... because... because you can't question me. Just do as I say, hmm?"

Devyani pouted, her lips forming a small pout. "Okay maa... if you say so." She turned and skipped out of the kitchen, humming to herself.

The moment she disappeared, Yashodha pressed her hand against her forehead, groaning.

"Hey bhagwan... aaj toh Rivan bach gaya.

If anyone heard her complete that line..

." She shook her head, muttering a silent prayer.

.

.

.

.

Rivan knocked once.

Silence. He knocked again, harder. Just as his patience was thinning, the door finally opened.

Jinal stood there, dupatta clutched tightly in her fist, her face pale but forcing a weak smile. "Sorry, bhaiyya... I was in the washroom."

Rivan stepped inside without another word. His eyes scanned the room, sharp as always. He sat on the couch, his presence heavy, while she shifted nervously near the bed.

"I heard," he began, his tone calm but piercing, "Oberoi's proposal came. Their elder son... Rajveer Oberoi."

Jinal's throat went dry. "Haa... I heard about that." Her lips curved into a faint, shaky smile.

"So... you're okay with it?" His eyes didn't blink, watching her every twitch.

Jinal's fingers gripped her dupatta tighter. "Yeah... if everyone is happy, I don't have any problem."

Rivan leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharper. "I'm not asking about everyone, Jinal. I'm asking about you."

She hesitated, then forced a nod, her voice uneven. "Haa... bhaiyya. Like... haa, I'm okay."

"Sure?" His tone deepened, suspicious.

"Yes... sure."

But Rivan's eyes narrowed. His silence was heavier than words. He studied her face, her eyes, the tremble in her hand. "Your eyes are telling something else. Don't try to fool me."

Her breath hitched. Quickly, she covered with a nervous laugh. "No bhaiyya, actually... it's just... very new for me. Till now I never thought about marriage, na? That's why. But I'm okay. I'll... meet him once."

Rivan leaned back, exhaled through his nose, but didn't look convinced. "Hmm." He stood up, towering over her, and with one last unreadable glance, he left the room without another word.

The moment the door clicked shut, Jinal collapsed on the bed, her chest heaving. She buried her face in her palms, whispering, "Please bhagwan... don't let bhaiyya know..."

After Rivan left, Jinal closed the door behind him and exhaled sharply, letting out the tension that had built up inside her. Just before he arrived, she had been hurriedly fixing her makeup, trying to cover the redness around her eyes so that no one would notice how much she had cried.

She walked over to the mirror, staring at her reflection. "It's okay, Jinal," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "Move on. You can do this. Tomorrow... tomorrow I'll sign the divorce papers and finally put an end to all of this."

Her fingers unconsciously touched the mangalsutra resting against her chest, then traced the sindoor at her hairline.

"Yes... I can do this," she murmured. "Tomorrow, I'll remove this chain from my neck, and the red from my hair.

It's not a mangalsutra anymore. It's not sindoor.

It's nothing... just a part of the past I no longer need to carry. "

She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, trying to summon strength she didn't feel. "I'll start fresh... a new life. No past, no confusion, no games. Just me, Jinal. I can do this. I have to do this."

For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine a life without the weight of the past, without the sting of unspoken words and broken promises. A life where she could be free... even if it was just one small step at a time.

And then she forced a small, determined smile at her reflection, whispering again, "Tomorrow, I take back my life. Tomorrow... I'm done with all of this."

Rivan stormed into Reyansh's room, ready to scold him for "teaching his little wife some nonsense," his footsteps echoing against the walls. But the moment he opened the door, his eyes widened in shock.

The entire room was in chaos—papers scattered, books toppled, drawers left open, and items broken everywhere. The sight made Rivan freeze for a moment. This was unlike Reyansh. The younger man was usually calm, collected, and almost untouchable when it came to losing his temper.

Rivan's sharp eyes scanned the room, noting the severity of the mess. A tense knot formed in his chest. Something serious must have happened to push Reyansh to this point—something that made him lose control

Without wasting a second, he pulled out his phone and dialed Reyansh's number.

The first call went unanswered.

The second too.

By the third, Rivan's patience was about to snap when finally Reyansh picked up. His voice came through the speaker sharp, edged with irritation.

"If I'm not answering, it means I'm busy, Rivan. You can't just irritate me like this."

Rivan exhaled slowly, relief washing over him despite the anger boiling inside. "Where the hell are you?"

Reyansh's voice was clipped, businesslike. "Of course in a meeting. Where else would I be? Didn't you give me the deadline to finish this deal today?"

Rivan's gaze swept across the shattered room again, suspicion flaring. "Hmm. Fine. But tell me, why the fuck is your room looking like a battlefield?"

There was a pause, just for a second too long, before Reyansh replied flatly, "I wasn't getting my file."

The line went dead, leaving Rivan staring at the broken pieces in the room, unease crawling down his spine. Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.

Rivan stood in the garden, his gaze fixed on nothing, but his mind restless—circling around Reyansh's unusual behavior.

Something was wrong, he could feel it in his bones.

Footsteps broke his trance, and he didn't need to look to know who it was.

"Mr. Thakur, you have to say something?" he asked coldly, still not turning.

Virendra's voice was calm, almost too calm. "Hmm... did you talk with Jinal? What was her answer?"

Rivan's jaw tightened. "Hmm. She is okay. You can go to Mumbai."

Virendra gave a satisfied nod. "Then I'll start the preparations." After a pause, he added, "You are coming?"

"I don't have time for useless events," Rivan replied curtly, his eyes hard. "You and the family can carry on. I don't have time anyway. I am here only for one year—don't expect me to involve myself in everything."

A slow smirk curved Virendra's lips, one that carried both challenge and amusement. "Oh, ok. If you don't want to come, no one will force you. But..." his eyes glinted as he deliberately added, "we are taking Devyani with us."

The words landed like a stone in water. Rivan froze, his chest tightening, and for the first time in their conversation, silence stretched. After a long moment, he forced out, "Hmm." Then without another word, he turned and walked away, his rigid back betraying the storm within.

Virendra's smirk deepened as he watched his son retreat. "Let me see how you won't come to this trip, Mr. Rivan. I know exactly where to strike."

Glimpse:

Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them quickly

no, don't cry, Devyani.

Crying makes them angrier.

Crying invites more pain.

I folded my arms around myself, holding tightly as if I could protect myself from what wasn't even happening yet.

But my body didn't believe my mind.