PATHS OF HEART

20

Anuj's heart raced as he approached the front door of Kapadia Mansion. His mind was consumed with guilt, the marks on his neck a burning reminder of his mistake. He knew that no matter how hard he tried, there was no way to undo what had already been done. He had betrayed Anupama in the worst possible way. His stomach churned with dread as he placed his hand on the doorknob, bracing himself for what awaited him on the other side.

As the door creaked open, the scene that greeted him was one of heartbreak and devastation. Anupama sat in the living room, her face streaked with tears, her body trembling as Sushma and Meera hovered around her. They were trying to feed her, urging her to eat for the sake of her health and the baby she was carrying. Anupama's face was pale, her eyes swollen and red from crying. She looked frail, like she could break at any moment.

Anuj's breath caught in his throat as his gaze locked onto her. His heart shattered at the sight of her in such a vulnerable state. He knew that he was the cause of her pain, and the weight of that realization threatened to crush him.

Anupama hadn't noticed him yet, her attention focused on Sushma, who was gently trying to get her to take a bite of food. "Beta, please, just one bite. For the baby's sake," Sushma urged softly, her voice trembling with concern.

Anupama shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "I can't... I can't..."

Meera placed a comforting hand on Anupama's shoulder. "Anu, you have to take care of yourself. Stress isn't good for the baby. Please..."

It was then that Anupama's eyes flickered upward, and she saw him standing there. The room seemed to freeze in that moment. Her expression changed, her tear-filled eyes widening in disbelief and betrayal. For a long second, the two of them just stared at each other, the silence between them heavy and suffocating.

Anuj took a hesitant step forward, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Anu, I can explain..."

But Anupama didn't respond. Instead, her gaze dropped to the faint marks on his neck. Her face twisted in anguish as the realization of what those marks meant hit her like a tidal wave. Her hand instinctively flew to her chest, as if she could physically stop the pain that was ripping through her heart.

"Anuj," she whispered, her voice shaking, "What... what did you do?"

Her question hung in the air, and Anuj felt his throat tighten. He tried to find the right words, some explanation that would make this all go away, but there was none. The truth was too damning.

"I—It wasn't what you think," he stammered, trying to sound convincing, but even he could hear the weakness in his voice.

Anupama's eyes blazed with anger and hurt. She stood up, her legs wobbling slightly, but she steadied herself. "Don't lie to me, Anuj! I saw the pictures. I saw everything!" Her voice cracked, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "How could you do this to me? To us? I trusted you! I loved you!"

Anuj's heart shattered as he saw the devastation in her eyes. He tried to reach out to her, but she flinched, stepping back as if his touch would burn her.

"Anupama, I—" he began, but she cut him off, her voice rising in pitch.

"Do you think I'm blind? Do you think I wouldn't notice those marks?!" Her hand gestured toward his neck, her voice filled with raw pain. "How long have you been lying to me? How long, Anuj?!"

Anuj could only shake his head, his mind racing. "It was a mistake, Anu. I was drunk, I didn't—"

"Don't you dare blame this on the alcohol!" Anupama's voice was laced with fury. "This isn't just about alcohol, Anuj. This is about trust. This is about our marriage, our baby, our family!"