Shadows & Sunshine

Ch : 21

The next morning, the Khanna household was filled with an uneasy quiet as everyone gathered for breakfast. The clinking of cutlery and the murmur of subdued conversation were the only sounds, a stark contrast to the usual morning bustle. Priya entered the dining room, her face set in a mask of resolve. The moment Varsha saw her, she made a move to leave, but Mrs. Khanna quickly held her hand.

"Varsha, sit here. Things can't go on like this. We need to sort out this matter," Mrs. Khanna said firmly. "You made a small mistake, and you promised me you would never do it again. Now your mom will apologize to you, and everything will be fine."

Priya, taken aback, stared at her mother-in-law in disbelief. "Apologize? I should apologize to my daughter?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Mrs. Khanna nodded, her expression stern. "Yes, because you hurt her."

Priya's eyes widened with incredulity. "Have you heard what she said to me?"

Mrs. Khanna waved her hand dismissively. "I said she promised me she will never do that again."

Priya's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "But she didn't apologize to me," she retorted, her voice rising with each word.

Varsha, unable to hold back, interjected angrily, "Why should I?"

Priya took a deep breath, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and determination. "I have had enough of all this," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "Now I have to say this."

The room fell silent, everyone turning to look at Priya. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she held her ground, feeling a surge of strength.

The dining room, which had momentarily found a fragile peace, erupted once more into a storm of emotions. Varsha's accusation hung heavily in the air, and Priya, her patience stretched to its limit, could no longer hold back.

"Varsha, you just went away to London for a couple of years," Priya began, her voice steady but filled with a lifetime of pent-up frustration. "Before that, didn't you ever see your dad with other women? Have you ever asked him about it?"

Ved, his face flushing with anger and fear, yelled, "Priya, what are you doing? She is our daughter!"

Priya turned to him, her eyes blazing. "Yes, that's why she should know. I feel she is adult enough to understand. I am just fed up with this happy family show. I trapped my soul here—why? Because of you, Varsha. I let down my dreams, my feelings, my everything to be with you. And in return, what have I got? Nothing. If I couldn't be an ideal mother to you, then maybe we should break our terms."

Varsha sat silently, her face pale, as her mother's words pierced through the facade of their seemingly perfect life.

Priya continued, her voice shaking with the weight of her confession. "And I was never sleeping around with other men. If you feel your mother could do that, then I think you never got to understand my true self—or never wanted to."

Mrs. Khanna, who had been silently observing, tried to interject, "Priya, stop this. We are a family. We need to—"

"Maa, please," Priya cut her off, her voice rising. "Stop faking a family. And you, Ved," she turned to her husband, her voice filled with a finality that sent chills down everyone's spine, "I want a divorce. I can't keep on like this."

With those words, Priya stormed out of the room, leaving behind a silence that was deafening in its intensity.

Varsha, tears streaming down her face, looked at her father, who stood frozen, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and sorrow. Mrs. Khanna sank into her chair, her head in her hands, as the reality of their fractured family set in.

Outside, Priya felt the weight of her decision pressing down on her, but for the first time in years, she also felt a glimmer of liberation. Her heart ached for Varsha, for Ved, and even for Mrs. Khanna, but she knew she could no longer live a lie.

As she stepped out into the fresh morning air, she breathed deeply, feeling the first rays of the sun on her face. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew she had taken the first step towards reclaiming her true self. And that, despite everything, filled her with a sense of hope she hadn't felt in years.

The courtroom was somber, the weight of the impending decision pressing down on everyone present. Priya stood on one side, her posture resolute, while Ved, Varsha, and Mrs. Khanna sat on the other, their expressions a mixture of sorrow and desperation.

As the judge called for a recess before the final proceedings, Ved took the opportunity to approach Priya. "Priya," he began, his voice pleading, "please, let's not do this. Think about Varsha. Think about our family."

Varsha, tears in her eyes, joined her father. "Mom, please don't go through with this. We can fix things. We can be a family again."

Priya looked at her daughter, her heart aching. She had always hoped Varsha would understand, but she knew this was something she had to do for herself. Taking a deep breath, she began, "I thought this family belonged to me, but it never was. I gave everything I had, but it was never enough."

Ved's face fell, the reality of her words sinking in. "Priya, I'm sorry. I know I've made mistakes, but we can work through them. We can start over."

Priya shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "Ved, this isn't about starting over. This is about me finding myself again. I can't live a lie anymore. I need to be free, for my own sake."

Mrs. Khanna, who had been silently watching, spoke up, her voice trembling. "Priya, we can change. We can make things right. Please, don't do this."

Priya turned to face her, her expression softening. "Maa, I understand your feelings, but I've made my decision. This is what I need to do."

The judge returned to the bench, signaling the end of the recess. Priya walked back to her position, her heart heavy but her resolve unshaken. The judge reviewed the final documents, then looked up. "Are both parties ready to proceed?"

Priya glanced at Ved and Varsha one last time, then nodded. "Yes, Your Honor."

The judge handed her the pen. "Please sign here to finalize the divorce."

With a deep breath, Priya took the pen, her hand steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. She signed the papers, each stroke of the pen a step towards her liberation. As she finished, she felt a sense of release wash over her.

The judge declared the divorce finalized, and Priya handed the papers back. She turned to leave, feeling the eyes of her family on her back. As she reached the door, she paused and looked back at them, her expression a mix of sorrow and determination.

She hailed an auto-rickshaw and decided to start her journey at Marine Drive. As the auto weaved through the crowded streets, Priya felt the wind in her hair, a small smile playing on her lips. The city, which once seemed suffocating, now felt like a playground of possibilities.

At Marine Drive, she got out and walked along the promenade, the Arabian Sea stretching out before her. The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing. She found a spot on the seawall and sat down, letting the serenity of the moment wash over her. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden hue over the water.

Next, she wandered through the narrow lanes of Colaba, where the lively chatter of street vendors and the scent of street food filled the air. She indulged in a plate of pani puri from a roadside stall, savoring the tangy, spicy flavors that burst in her mouth. Each bite felt like a celebration of her newfound freedom.

Priya then made her way to the Gateway of India, the majestic monument standing tall against the backdrop of the setting sun. She took a ferry ride, the cool breeze and the panoramic view of the Mumbai skyline invigorating her spirits. As the boat gently rocked on the waves, Priya closed her eyes, feeling the tension and pain of the past months ebb away.

For the first time in years, she felt truly alive, connected to the city and to herself. She realized that while her journey had been painful, it had also led her to a place of self-discovery and strength. As she gazed out at the Mumbai skyline, Priya knew that this was just the beginning of her new chapter, one where she was free to be herself and embrace life on her own terms.