Udaariyaan: Entangled Hearts

Chapter 6

A second chance

Kapoor House – Nehmat and Advait's Bedroom

Advait stood frozen, stunned by Nehmat's words—"It's better to end a loveless marriage than to stay trapped in one."
Her voice echoed in his mind, stirring emotions he had buried deep. His thoughts spiraled.
Is that what she wants? Is she saying we should part ways too?
His mind instantly flashed back to their shared night—the vulnerability, the intimacy, the unspoken confessions.

"Then what was that moment between us? Just a lapse in judgment? A mistake?" he thought, his heart sinking.

Nehmat's voice snapped him out of his daze.
"Advait? Are you even listening to me?"

He blinked, startled. "What... what did you mean?"

Nehmat looked him straight in the eyes, her tone calm but firm.
"I meant that when love ceases to exist in a marriage, staying in it only suffocates the people involved."

Her words pierced through him like a blade. Advait was pulled back to the earliest days of their marriage—the cold silences, the bitter fights, the resentment in both their eyes. He had once yearned to end it, to be free of what felt like a forced bond. He recalled his desperation back then to push Nehmat away, and even worse, his reckless choice to seek solace in another woman—Veronica.

"I was no different from Nikhil..." he thought bitterly. "I ignored Nehmat's sincerity, her efforts to make this marriage work. I insulted her love for Ekam, not realizing I was already falling for her—and that jealousy blinded me."

He clenched his fists, guilt coiling inside him.
"Why did I do that? But I've changed now... Haven't I? Nehmat changed me. She softened me, made me human again. I love her now—deeply. Don't I deserve another chance?"

He looked up, his voice tinged with hesitation. "So are you saying... Naaz doesn't deserve another chance to save her marriage?"

Nehmat paused, thoughtful. "That depends on both Nikhil and Naaz, Advait. A relationship deserves a second chance only if there is mutual love. If only one person is fighting for it, then there's no point in holding on."

Her words hit him with force—mutual love.

Advait stood there, silently absorbing every syllable. His heart wrestled with the fear that perhaps, despite his feelings, Nehmat didn't feel the same. Her concern seemed centered on Nikhil and Naaz, but what about them?

Unable to take the turmoil any longer, Advait muttered, "I need some air," and abruptly turned toward the door.

Nehmat watched him leave, confusion flickering in her eyes as she tried to understand the emotions behind his silence.

Kapoor House – Nikhil and Naaz's Bedroom

Naaz staggered back, her voice trembling. "What... what did you just say?"

Nikhil looked her in the eye, steady and unflinching. "You heard me, Naaz. I love someone else."

Her face contorted in disbelief and rage. "How dare you say that to me, Nikhil? Didn't you love me once?"

Nikhil's voice rose—not in anger, but in long-buried pain. "How could I fall in love with someone else? Maybe you should ask yourself what made me fall out of love with you. Ever since our marriage, all you ever cared about was more—more money, more status, more fame. You never cared about me. About what I wanted. You never even tried to understand my dreams."

Naaz's eyes narrowed. "You're blaming me?"

"I'm blaming the truth," Nikhil replied coldly. "You didn't marry me for who I am. You married into this family for the name and the riches. And after that, all you did was compare me to Advait Veere, push me to become someone I'm not, while trampling on my passions and calling me a failure."

Naaz's voice dropped to a bitter whisper. "So who is she? Who is this woman who gave you what I couldn't?"

Nikhil hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. He looked down, as if ashamed to utter the name.

"Speak up!" Naaz snapped. "You had the courage to cheat, now at least have the guts to tell me her name!"

Nikhil finally said, softly, "Mallika."

Naaz stumbled back as if slapped. "Mallika?" Her eyes widened with fury and disbelief.

Her mind reeled back to the past—to the wedding day when she had manipulated Mallika into leaving the venue and severing ties with both Nehmat and Advait. Her lips trembled.
Is this her revenge? Is Mallika trying to destroy my marriage in return for everything I did to her?

"No," Naaz murmured, clenching her fists. "I won't let this happen. I'll never let you be with her. Do you hear me? Never."

Nikhil looked at her calmly, his voice firm. "Do whatever you want, Naaz. I'm not scared of you anymore. I know one thing—whatever happens, Nehmat bhabs will be on my side."

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Naaz reeling—staring after him in stunned silence.

Kapoor House – Living Room

Nikhil stormed into the living room, frustration evident in his gait. As he turned a corner, he found Advait standing there, lost in thought.

"Veere? What are you doing here this late?" Nikhil asked, surprised.

Advait turned, startled out of his thoughts. "I should be asking you that. Why are you out of your room at this hour? Shouldn't you be trying to sort things out with Naaz?"

Nikhil blinked. "How do you know things are falling apart between me and her?"

Advait let out a half-smile, tinged with sadness. "Come on, Nikhil. I'm your elder brother. I know what's going on in your life even before you do. Now tell me—what's stopping you from making it work? Wasn't it you who insisted on marrying Naaz, no matter what we said?"

Nikhil looked down, a shadow of guilt crossing his face. "It's too late, Veere."

Advait frowned. "Too late? Why?"

Nikhil took a breath, then said quietly, "Because there's no love left between us. And without love, there's no point in holding on. Staying in a marriage without love only suffocates the ones in it."

Those words struck Advait like a lightning bolt.

His mind went blank.

No love. Suffocation. A loveless marriage...
Those were the same words Nehmat had spoken earlier.

As Nikhil quietly excused himself and walked off toward the kitchen, Advait stood rooted to the spot. A storm raged within him.

Does Nehmat feel the same? Is our relationship just a fragile bond of responsibilities, devoid of real love in her eyes?
Was that night just a moment of weakness? Does she love me—or am I clinging to a hope that doesn't exist?

He looked toward the staircase leading up to their room.

If she doesn't love me... is there even a second chance for us?

Advait felt a weight settle in his chest. One he wasn't sure he'd be able to lift.

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To be continued.