Chapter 36
Aditya
“I’ve been waiting for you all,” Mom says, rising to her feet the moment Sana, her mom, and I step into the living room.
“Mom,” I say, pressing a kiss to her cheek. A knot forms in my chest as I catch the look on her face. It’s the kind of expression that signals something is about to happen.
“Sana,” she says, giving her a look that is far from welcoming. Yet, Sana offers her a warm smile.
“Hello, Aunty,” she greets politely.
Sana’s mom steps forward with a gracious smile. “It’s lovely to see you again, Samdhanji.”
Mom nods at her, but her expression remains guarded, her lips pressing into a thin line as she gestures toward the couch. “Have a seat. We have things to discuss.”
The tense atmosphere unsettles me. I want to figure out what’s going on, but I push the thought aside for now.
I’ll talk to Mom later. She and I have a lot to discuss—there are still things we need to settle.
I’m still upset about the stunt she pulled with the prenup, and then showing up at Sana’s house with the dresses—not to mention letting her friend hurl insults at Sana like she had any right to judge her.
Mom really needs to let go of this stubbornness.
Her constant refusal to fully accept Sana and me has to end.
We take our seats. Mom and Sana’s mom settle on the couch, while I sit across from them, next to Sana.
My gaze flickers around the room. Where’s Dad? He knew we would be here to talk about finalizing the wedding date. Then why isn’t he here?
“Dad’s not here?” I ask Mom quietly.
“It’s better he’s not here for the discussion I’m about to have,” Mom says, her tone clipped.
My fingers curl into fists against my thighs.
“Mom, can you stop beating around the bush and just tell us what this is about? Then we can get done with it and go back to what we’re actually here for—setting the wedding dates.
” Frustration creeps into my voice, but I can’t hold it back.
Something about her demeanor tells me this won’t be pleasant.
Mom sighs, a gesture that feels more like a warning. “That’s exactly the problem. Setting the wedding date when we don’t plan to go ahead with this marriage.”
A heavy silence settles over the room. Sana and her mother exchange a tense glance, while I straighten, my spine stiffening.
“What do you mean by that?” A slow wave of anger washes over me. Trust Mom to come up with a new drama every single day.
Mom looks me straight in the eye. “We know the real reason why you chose a girl like Sana.”
“Mom,” I growl, warning clear in my voice.
“Don’t ‘Mom’ me.” Her tone is icy. “I’m aware of you two spending the night at your farmhouse. And let’s not pretend this sudden wedding isn’t a result of it. She’s clearly blackmailing you.”
A sharp gasp escapes Sana’s mom as I freeze, my pulse spiking with pure rage. How could Mom just blurt out something like that?
I glance at Sana, who has turned pale. Squeezing her hand reassuringly, I push myself to my feet, my hands clenched at my sides. “Did you seriously just say that? Mom, do you even realize how disgusting that accusation is?”
Mom crosses her arms, unbothered by my anger. “I’m simply stating the facts. I can’t accept a girl like this into our family. God knows how many men she’s…”
“Mom, don’t you dare finish that sentence,” I say, my voice sharp and burning with fury. “Don’t you dare insult the woman I love.”
Mom meets my gaze, unfazed. “I’m only saying what needs to be said.”
“No. What needs to be said is that you’re wrong. Dead wrong,” I bite out. “You have no right to disrespect Sana, and you damn well have no right to drag her through the mud just because of your personal issues with her.”
“I’m only trying to protect you from girls like Sana, Aditya,” Mom says firmly.
I let out a hollow laugh. “Protect me? From what? From a woman who’s done nothing but love me with her whole heart?
Who’s never once used me or taken advantage of me?
Who signed that damn prenup just to prove how committed she is?
Who has always shown respect and never complained, even when you enjoy throwing insults at her?
Mom, if you’re too blind to see that, then I truly pity you.
But make no mistake—Sana is the one for me.
No amount of your baseless accusations will change that. ”
Mom’s eyes flash with steel. “Enough. End this now.”
I step closer, my voice dropping dangerously low.
“You’re right, Mom. It’s enough. Your insults against Sana end now and if they don’t, trust me, there will be consequences.
” My glare hardens. “Look, I don’t care what state of mind you’re in, but you have no right to sit here, demean my private life, and pass judgment.
” I exhale sharply, fists clenched at my sides.
“I just won’t tolerate you degrading the one who’s a part of me. Not now. Not ever.”
Mom’s jaw tightens. “Why can’t you get it, Aditya? As your mom, I’m trying to prevent you from making a mistake.”
I look at Mom squarely. “Loving and respecting someone isn’t a mistake, Mom.
But tearing them down just because they don’t fit your narrow view— that’s a huge blunder.
” I step back, my chest tightening. “You’re so blinded by your own prejudice, you don’t even realize how cruel you sound.
If this is your idea of being a mother, then I want nothing to do with it. ”
“Aditya, don’t do that. Don’t tear apart your family for some cheap girl like Sana who —” Mom doesn’t get to complete her sentence as Sana’s mom cuts in, rising to her feet.
“That’s enough!” she snaps. “Not a word more about my daughter.”
“I won’t stay quiet, especially when my son’s life is at stake,” Mom says, rising to her feet with a bitter scoff, turning her glare toward Sana’s mom. “If you think I’m going to let my son marry a girl whose character is questionable, you’re mistaken.”
Sana’s mom straightens, fury blazing in her eyes. “My daughter’s character is not questionable! Maybe you should take a closer look at the people around you before throwing stones.”
Mom’s eyes narrow. “Look closer? Funny, coming from someone who’s blind to the chaos their daughter brings.”
“Sana doesn’t bring chaos. My daughter is my honor and dignity,” Sana’s mom snaps back.
“Honor and dignity? Then help me understand—why was she alone with my son at his farmhouse? Why would a decent girl spend the night with a man before marriage?” Mom’s voice drips with accusation
My blood turns to ice. I step forward, my voice a razor’s edge.
“Because it’s none of your business!” I glance at Sana, who remains frozen, her face pale.
Turning back to Mom, my jaw tightens. “Because we’re adults who make our own choices.
” I force myself to stay calm, though every muscle in my body is wound tight.
“And you’re not just humiliating Sana, you’re humiliating me. Your own son.”
“Humiliating?” Mom clicks her tongue in disbelief. “I’m not the one humiliating anyone—it’s this girl.” She looks down at Sana, her voice thick with contempt. “Tell me you knew exactly what you were doing, spending the night with my son.”
Sana flinches, but before she can speak, her mom lashes out.
“Are you not ashamed? As a woman, how can you speak about another woman like this? Just because she loves your son doesn’t mean she has an ulterior motive.
Maybe it’s time you stopped seeing the worst in people and started trusting your own son’s judgment. ”
“Why should I feel ashamed? Don’t forget, it’s our reputation on the line.
We have every right to do whatever it takes to protect it—even if that means getting your daughter out of my son’s life.
” Mom seethes, then adds, “And I might trust his judgment if he weren’t so blinded by emotions that make him reckless and blind to the obvious.
” She glares at Sana’s mom. “Have all the faith you want in your daughter. But I can’t.
No respectable woman puts herself in situations that invite disgrace. ”
“Respectable women?” I scoff. “Mom, you want to talk about respect? Then maybe start by showing some yourself.”
“Aditya…” Mom starts, but I cut her off. Her words have already done enough damage.
“Mom, do you really think I’m some naive fool who doesn’t know his own mind?
” I shake my head, exhaling harshly. “I’m telling you this one last time, Mom—what happened at my farmhouse is none of your concern, and it sure as hell isn’t something you get to twist into some disgusting accusation.
Sana doesn’t have to prove her worth to you or anyone else.
” My jaw sets firm as I hold her gaze, unflinching.
“And if you keep pushing this—if you keep disrespecting the woman I love—you will lose me.” I take a steady breath, my eyes still locked onto hers.
“Now, are we going to discuss the wedding dates, or are we leaving?”
“A cheap woman like her can never be the daughter-in-law of this family!” Mom spits out. “I don’t mind paying her a hefty sum to get her out of your life. But I will never accept her.”
Rage roars through my veins, ready to unleash hell. But before I can even open my mouth, Sana’s mom speaks. “We are—” she begins, her voice trembling, but she never gets to finish her sentence. A strangled gasp leaves her lips, and in the next second, she sways on her feet.
“Mom!” Sana cries out as she lunges forward just in time to catch her before she hits the floor. I’m already moving, my heart pounding.
“Aunty!” I kneel beside them as I watch her body go limp in Sana’s arms.
Sana cries as she strokes her mother’s cheek. “Mom, please… wake up,” she whispers, her voice cracking with panic.
“We need to get her to the hospital, now!” I say urgently, already sliding my arms beneath her.
Sana nods frantically, tears streaming down her face.
Wasting no time, I scoop Sana’s mom into my arms and rush towards the door. Sana stumbles beside me, struggling to keep up.
We burst out of the house and race to my car. I yank the door open and carefully lay Sana’s mom in the backseat. Sana scrambles in beside her, clutching her mother’s hand tightly. Her whole body trembles, her eyes wide with sheer desperation as she looks up at me.
“Drive, please!” she pleads, her voice breaking.
I press a quick kiss to her forehead before slamming the door shut and rushing to the driver’s seat.
In one swift motion, I start the car and hit the gas, speeding toward the hospital.
Stealing glances at the rearview mirror, I catch Sana sobbing beside her unconscious mom, her hands gripping her mother’s, fear etched across her face.
Ten minutes later, I pull up in front of the hospital entrance and jump out. “Help! We need help here!” I shout, rushing to the backseat and yanking the door open.
A couple of hospital staff rush towards us with a stretcher just as I lift Sana’s mom into my arms again. Her head falls back against my chest, her face ghostly pale, her breathing still worryingly shallow.
Sana jumps out right behind me, her hands trembling as she clings to her mom’s arm. The nurses rush over, helping me carefully place her onto a stretcher before immediately wheeling her inside.
“What happened?” one of them asks as they push her towards the emergency room.
“She collapsed suddenly,” I say, my voice tight.
“We’ll take it from here. Please wait outside—we’ll update you as soon as we assess her condition,” the nurse says.
Sana grips my arm tightly as we watch them wheel her mom through the double doors, disappearing from sight. The moment the doors swing shut, she lets go and starts pacing back and forth, her breathing erratic.
I exhale sharply, running a hand through my hair before stepping in front of her, gently stopping her movement. “Sana, she’s in good hands now,” I say softly. “The doctors will take care of her.”
She doesn’t reply. The worry in her eyes doesn’t fade as her eyes flick towards the doors, her lips pressed into a thin line as if she’s barely keeping her composure.
“Sana,” I try again, reaching for her hand, but she jerks away, shaking her head.
“No,” she says sharply. “Don’t tell me she’ll be okay. Don’t tell me to calm down when your mom…” Her voice breaks, and she turns away, wrapping her arms around herself as she tries to steady her breathing.
I exhale, my jaw clenched as I watch her, hating that it was my own mom who caused this. Hating that I can’t do a damn thing to ease her pain. My fists tighten at my sides, but I push the anger down. I’ll deal with my mom later.
Right now, the only thing that matters is the woman standing in front of me, and making sure she doesn’t fall apart.