Shadows & Sunshine

Ch : 7

The next morning, Priya arrived at the office with a noticeably lighter mood. She greeted everyone with a cheerful "Good morning!" Her colleagues exchanged surprised glances, whispering among themselves about this unexpected change. When she came to Neha, Neha couldn't contain her curiosity.

"What's with this mood? I haven't seen you like this in ages! What's going on with you?" Neha asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

Priya chuckled and replied, "Oh, nothing. I'm just feeling a bit good today." She gave Neha a mysterious smile and entered her cabin.

But Neha wasn't ready to let it go so easily. Determined to uncover the reason behind Priya's newfound cheerfulness, she followed her into the cabin.

"There must be some reason," Neha insisted. She paused, a thought crossing her mind. "Oh wait, is this because of the therapy classes you have joined lately?"

Priya's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She hesitated for a moment before responding with a soft smile, "Maybe."

Neha nodded, satisfied with her detective work. "I knew it. Therapy can really make a difference, huh?"

Priya simply nodded, feeling a warm sense of relief and gratitude wash over her.

While they were conversing, the receptionist appeared at the doorway and interrupted with a polite but urgent tone, "Ma'am, your mom is here to see you. She's waiting outside. Should I send her in?"

Priya, taken aback, exchanged a puzzled glance with Neha before nodding, "Yes, send her in."

Moments later, Mrs. Sharma walked in with an air of quiet determination. She cast a quick look at Neha and then turned her attention to Priya. "Can I have a word with you alone?" she asked, her voice firm yet gentle.

Neha, sensing the gravity of the situation, excused herself immediately. "Of course, I'll give you both some privacy," she said, and with a supportive smile towards Priya, she slipped out of the room.

Priya felt a pang of guilt for Neha's abrupt dismissal but remained composed, She took a deep breath and gestured to the chair in front of her desk, "Please, Mom, have a seat."

Mrs. Sharma sat down, her eyes softening as she looked at her daughter. Priya braced herself for the conversation, her mind racing with questions and concerns.

Mrs. Sharma fixed Priya with a stern gaze. "What is wrong with you? Why are you living in your apartment when you have a house?"

Priya, taken aback, asked, "Who told you this?"

"Ved and his mom came to our house yesterday," Mrs. Sharma replied. "Priya, why are you creating a scene out of a small fight?"

Priya was stunned. "Small fight? Is that what he said to you?" She scoffed, her voice rising with disbelief. "I can't believe this, Mom. I caught him with another woman. He's been lying to me—I don't even know for how long."

Mrs. Sharma paused, absorbing the weight of her daughter's words. Then she said, "So, what do you expect from men? Is it that easy to maintain a luxurious life? You have to make compromises. Priya, your father is joining politics with your husband. You just can't leave him now—it's about your father."

Priya felt a deep, piercing hurt. "Is money and power all that matters to you, Mom? What about me? Am I not your daughter?"

Mrs. Sharma's expression hardened. "Don't be emotional. Be practical. You are the daughter-in-law of one of the most prestigious families in Mumbai. Are you trying to let down all of them just because you're being emotional?"

Priya's heart ached as she listened to her mother's words. She felt a sharp divide growing between them, a chasm of values and expectations. As she looked at her mother, she realized the depth of their differences and the painful decisions she would have to face.

Mrs. Sharma's voice softened slightly as she made her plea, "I request you, please, until your father secures his position, stay with Ved. As a daughter, you can do this for us, right?"

Without waiting for a response, Mrs. Sharma rose from her seat. "I think I should leave now," she said, her tone final. She turned and walked out, leaving Priya behind, engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions.

Priya sat motionless, her mind a storm of confusion and heartache. Her mother's words echoed in her head, clashing violently with her own principles and desires. She had always believed in standing up for herself, in the sanctity of trust and love. Yet, here she was, being asked to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of familial duty and societal expectations.

The room felt suddenly smaller, its walls closing in on her. She thought of Ved, of the betrayal and the lies, and then of her father, his aspirations, and the weight of the family's reputation. It seemed as if her entire life had been built on a fragile foundation, ready to crumble under the pressure of reality.

Neha knocked gently before entering, sensing the heaviness in the air. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

Priya looked up, her eyes filled with unshed tears and a deep sense of conflict. "I don't know," she whispered. "Everything feels so wrong."

As Neha sat beside her, offering silent support, Priya grappled with her thoughts. She was caught in a painful dilemma, torn between her duty as a daughter and her right to happiness as an individual. The people she trusted and loved seemed to be playing roles in a script she hadn't agreed to, leaving her isolated in her struggle.

In that moment, Priya realized that her conception of life, love, and loyalty was being tested like never before. She would have to find her own path, amidst the expectations and pressures, and decide what truly mattered to her. And in doing so, she hoped to emerge stronger, with a clearer understanding of who she was and what she stood for.

The following night, Priya sat in front of the mirror, her brush gliding through her hair in long, steady strokes. The room was quiet, save for the soft whisper of the bristles against her strands. Suddenly, Ved appeared behind her, his presence warm and unexpected. He leaned down, his lips brushing her shoulder in a gentle kiss, his hands sliding down her arms in a tender caress. Priya's face tightened, her eyes squeezing shut in irritation.

Abruptly, she stood up, the brush clattering onto the vanity. She turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger. "What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice sharp and unforgiving.

Ved blinked, taken aback. "What am I doing?"

Priya's gaze hardened. "Do you think I am one of those whores you are sleeping around with? One day you cheat on me, and the next day you think you can drag me into bed just to have sex? Is it that easy for you?"

Ved's mouth opened, but no words came out.

"Let me make myself clear," Priya continued, her voice low and fierce. "I came back for a reason, and that reason does not include you. So stay within your limits."

With that, she swept past him, leaving Ved standing in stunned silence, the echo of her words hanging heavy in the air.

Inside the washroom, Priya locked the door behind her with trembling hands. The click of the lock echoed through the small space, a final barrier between her and the turmoil outside.

Tears streamed down her face, hot and unrelenting, as sobs wracked her body. She buried her face in her hands, the weight of her reality pressing down on her like an invisible shroud. She was living a life far removed from her own choices, a life dictated by circumstances beyond her control.

The washroom's cold tiles offered no comfort as she cried, her anguish filling the room. Every breath felt heavy, every thought a reminder of the compromises she had made.

The burden of staying strong, and the longing for a freedom she had almost forgotten.

In the quiet solitude of the washroom, her tears fell unchecked, a silent testament to the battles she fought every day, both seen and unseen.