THE RAJHANS SISTERS

THE DIVORCE NOTICE

Nitya was impatiently waiting for Aniket, pacing back and forth in the room. She kept glancing at the clock, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The moment she heard the front door creak open, she rushed downstairs, eager to share her news. But what she saw stopped her in her tracks.

Aniket stood in the hallway, but he wasn't alone. A woman stood beside him, his hands around her waist. They were speaking in hushed tones, but Nitya could hear them clearly.

"Darling, tonight will be the most special night," said the woman.

"Of course, you're so special, how can the night not be special?" Aniket replied, his tone unrecognizable to Nitya.

Nitya watched, her heart sinking. Gathering her composure, she stepped forward, forcing a smile.

"Oh! Nitya, you're still awake? I thought you had gone to bed," Aniket said, his voice feigning surprise. "Meet her, this is Sonya. Sonya, this is Nitya."

"Who is she?" Nitya asked, her voice tight with restrained emotion.

"She is my guest... and please, I want some privacy with my guest, so you should go and sleep," he replied dismissively.

"Oh! So, she is your 'hot guest'?" Nitya asked, her voice edged with sarcasm.

"Yes," Aniket responded, his eyes challenging her.

"And you want privacy with her?"

"Yes."

Nitya felt a surge of anger mixed with pain. She turned towards Sonya, her smile gone. "Sonya, right? Take all the privacy you want... but not in this house... outside," she said sternly. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Sonya's hand and forcefully dragged her towards the door.

"What are you doing, Nitya? What is this behavior?" Aniket demanded, stepping forward.

But Nitya didn't listen. Her resolve was unwavering. She opened the door and pushed Sonya outside. The woman stumbled, looking shocked and confused.

"Is this how you treat guests, Nitya?" Aniket snarled, his voice laced with anger.

Nitya's eyes blazed as she turned to face him. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just giving you both the privacy you asked for. What do you want? " she countered, her voice unwavering.

"Do you want more drama, or is tonight enough?" she asked sternly. "You've crossed the line, Aniket... always something or the other..." She turned to Sonya. "What are you still standing here for, watching the show? Leave," she said, her tone icy.

Sonya, looking flustered, glanced at Aniket before quickly leaving the house. The door closed behind her with a definitive click, leaving Aniket and Nitya alone in the tense silence.

Nitya's gaze didn't waver. "No, I think... you don't like a simple life, Aniket. You can't be at peace until there's some new drama. If you had to create a spectacle, you should've brought a well-trained actress to make it believable. Disgusting!" she spat out the words before turning on her heel and heading to her room.

Aniket watched her retreating form, his face a mix of frustration and guilt. He followed her to the bedroom. He went to the washroom, splashing water on his face as if trying to wash away the turmoil inside him.

Nitya, meanwhile, threw herself onto the bed, her thoughts racing. "Aniket spoiled my entire mood. I thought... I thought I'd tell him... share the most special news of his life, but no... Nitya, why do you forget... your husband is bipolar... huh! Tomorrow, before Aniket leaves, I'll tell him... maybe hearing this will change his confusing nature," she murmured to herself, pulling the blanket over her and closing her eyes, trying to shut out the painful reality.