Secret wife

Chapter 28

Jaws dropped all around.

Leena looked at him in shock and mouthed, "What the..."

"Yes, she is my mistress," repeated Rajiv.

Mahadevan glanced at the horrified faces of his relatives, struggling to stifle his laughter. He hadn't expected Rajiv to make such a wild statement.

Finally, Swaminathan spoke up. "Rajiv, what are you saying? This room has your mother, father, aunts, uncles, and even your own children. How could you say something so disgusting here?"

Ravi and Abhi were still reeling from the shock.

"If it's the truth, then there's nothing else to say," said Rajiv, cringing at the word he had used to describe his own wife.

"Such a shameful thing to say, Rajiv," said Gomati.

"You've ruined our reputation," said Padmanabhan, filled with disgust.

Rajiv bit his lip, then turned to Janaki and said, "Chechi, please take Leena upstairs."

Janaki, snapping out of the moment, nodded. She went to Leena and gently helped her up from the chair. Leena looked at Rajiv, silently pleading with him not to continue, but Rajiv gave her a firm glance, urging her to go. Leena followed Janaki to the upstairs bedroom.

Rajiv then turned to Mani and said, "Please move her luggage from the annex into my room." Mani smiled and nodded.

"This is it. I'm done. You've insulted all of us," shouted Gomati.

"I have insulted no one. I love someone, and I've decided she should live with me," Rajiv replied.

"Then do it the honorable way—get married to her. This is ridiculous," said Swaminathan.

"How can he? He's still married to the other woman," quipped one of his aunts.

"I have no intention of divorcing my wife," Rajiv said calmly.

"Oh my God, this is getting worse," muttered one of his uncles.

"You've made your choice," said Gomati, walking out of the room. Kiran, who had been hiding outside, listening in awe, scurried away. The others followed Gomati, except for Mahadevan and Rajiv.

"Do you think I went too far?" Rajiv asked Mahadevan.

"Yes, you did. But what else could be done? Now, go after ettathi," Mahadevan advised.

Outside the room, Gomati turned to the relatives. "Thank you all for coming when I asked. Unfortunately, Rajiv has made his choice, and there's nothing we can do. He's not a young man who can be scolded back onto the right path," she said.

"We all saw that, Chechi," said Swaminathan.

"This house is no longer welcoming to me or my husband," she said, looking at Padmanabhan's grim face. "I think it's time we leave." She then turned to the boys and said, "Listen, your lives will be ruined by the shame of what just happened. Why don't you three come with me? We'll protect you."

The boys exchanged glances.

"Your father having a mistress will be the talk of the town. You won't be able to show your faces to your friends. Ravi, your marriage will be ruined, and so will the rest of yours. So, why don't you come with Achamma?" urged Swaminathan.

Kiran headed upstairs looking upset while Ravi and Abhi stood in silence.

"Say something, Ravi," pressed Swaminathan.