TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-58: When the Past Returns

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Vikrant, overwhelmed by seeing Vishakha after so many years, moved towards her with trembling hands. He reached out, trying to touch her arm, but before he could, Mahir swiftly intervened, roughly pushing Vikrant back.

"Stay away from her!" Mahir's voice was sharp, filled with anger and protectiveness. His eyes blazed with fury as he placed himself between Vikrant and Vishakha, shielding her.

Bela, equally outraged, stepped forward and pointed a warning finger at Vikrant. "Don't you dare come near her again, or I swear you'll regret it."

Everyone else in the room was stunned by their aggressive reactions. Nandini and Navya exchanged confused glances, trying to understand what had just happened. They had never seen Mahir and Bela so angry, especially toward someone who was supposed to be a guest.

Navya, her voice trembling with confusion, asked, "Dad, Mom... how do you know him? Why are you behaving like this?"

Nandini, equally bewildered, added, "What's going on here? Someone, please explain!"

Before anyone could answer, Soha, who had been standing quietly beside her father, looked at him with concern. "Dad, what's happening? Why are they being so rude to you? How do you know them?"

Vishakha's heart sank deeper as she heard Soha call Vikrant "Dad." The word echoed painfully in her mind, confirming what she had feared. She realized then that Vikrant had moved on with his life, had a daughter, and had built a family of his own. The finality of it hit her like a tidal wave, and she struggled to control her emotions.

Vikrant, his gaze flickering between Nandini and Vishakha, suddenly pieced together the relationship. His voice was laced with bitter sarcasm as he addressed Vishakha, "So, this is your daughter, Vishakha? You have a family now, huh? I guess moving on wasn't that difficult for you after all."

The cruel accusation in his words was too much for Vishakha to bear. Without thinking, she stepped forward and slapped Vikrant across the face, the sound of the impact echoing through the room.

"Never, ever talk to me like that again!" Vishakha's voice was trembling with fury. Her eyes were blazing as she glared at him. "You're a closed chapter, Vikrant. A chapter I've buried and moved past. Don't you dare to bring it up again."

Everyone in the room was left speechless by what had just transpired. Manik, Nandini, Navya, Mahir, Bela-everyone stood frozen, trying to process the scene that had just unfolded before them. The shock was palpable, and the tension in the air was almost suffocating.

Vishakha's hand was still trembling as she grabbed Nandini's hand, pulling her toward the door. "We're leaving," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument.

"Mumma, wait!" Nandini cried out, struggling against her mother's grip. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to understand what was happening. "Please, stop! I need to know what's going on. What happened between you and him? Why are you doing this?"

Vishakha stopped in her tracks, her back still turned to Vikrant. She didn't want to face him or anyone else in that room. "I'm doing this because I can't let you make the same mistake I did," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "I can't let you marry someone who has any connection to him."

Nandini's heart shattered at her mother's words. She couldn't understand why Vishakha was being so harsh, why she was dragging her away from the man she loved. "But Mumma, listen."

Vishakha's grip on Nandini's hand tightened as she started pulling her again, this time more forcefully. "We're leaving now," she said coldly, her voice devoid of any emotion. "I won't discuss this any further."