Eternal Souls

Chapter Ten: The Breaking Point

Pallavi had barely left her home when Sulochana,
Starts to say something and the anger in her voice was palpable. "Pallavi, you shameless slut! How dare you disgrace this family like this?"

Pallavi's jaw tightened, her eyes flashing with fury. "Shut up, Sulochana! What do you even know about me?" She was done with the family's drama and accusations. "I've had enough. I'm not afraid to take anything from you anymore. I was walking out even before you called me this time. It's about my character, and you need to know the truth."

Sulochana's sneer grew wider. "What truth? That you've been caught in a scandal with Raghav Rao?"

Pallavi's voice was steely. "Yes, and let me set the record straight. The picture you're using was taken out of context. Raghav saved me when I was falling. Those images were from a different angle and made to look compromising."

Sulochana's face twisted with disdain. "Don't try to make excuses. You were always a burden to this family."

Pallavi's eyes blazed with hurt. "If Mansi and Amruta were in my place, would you have treated them this way? No, you wouldn't. You would never have done this to them because I was just your daughter-in-law. I was only valued when I was of use to you. I was made to work tirelessly, like a servant."

The words cut deep, and Pallavi continued, "I was never truly considered your daughter. I was just a means to fulfill your needs. After everything, you've treated me as if I was disposable. And now, after hearing this from you, my whole world has turned upside down."

Sulochana's expression faltered, but her harshness remained. "So what are you planning to do now?"

Pallavi's voice was calm yet resolute. "You know what? I'm done with this place. I was never legally married to Mandar. As per the law, I am still Pallavi Sawant, not Pallavi Deshmukh. My biggest mistake was staying here. I shouldn't have."

She gathered her belongings and prepared to leave. Raghav, who had followed her, approached cautiously. "Pallavi, are you alright?" he asked gently.

Pallavi looked at him with a mix of gratitude and sorrow. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."

"I'm really sorry for everything that's happened," Raghav said, his voice full of regret.

Pallavi shook her head. "It wasn't your mistake. This family never truly considered me their daughter. I was always treated differently."

Raghav looked at her sympathetically. "If you don't mind sharing, can you tell me your story?"

Pallavi sighed, her eyes distant as she recalled her past. "I married Mandar Deshmukh right after my final year exams. Because of my exams and assignments, I never had a chance to come to Hyderabad to register the marriage. We planned to do it after the wedding."

She paused, her eyes filling with tears. "On the day of the wedding, Mandar went out for a walk, promising to return in an hour. But he never came back. The police found out he had met with an accident the night before. His body was never recovered, and they declared him dead."

Raghav's expression softened with understanding. "I'm so sorry. That must have been incredibly painful."

Pallavi nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "It has been. I only returned to Kolhapur a month ago to be with my Dada and Vahini."

Raghav thought for a moment and then offered, "When are you planning to leave?"

Pallavi looked uncertain. "I have my train tickets booked for next month, but I'll need to rebook them for next week."

"If you don't mind," Raghav said, "you can stay with me until then. I have a mansion with three rooms on the ground floor. You can stay there, and no one will disturb you. I promise you'll be safe."

Pallavi hesitated but nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Raghav. I appreciate your offer."

Raghav guided her to his car, and as they drove to his mansion, Pallavi felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. With nowhere else to go and no other choice, she accepted his offer. The mansion would provide her with the sanctuary she needed, even if it came with its own complexities.