The days following the devastating blow to Atharv’s business blurred into a whirlwind of tension. Atharv barely spoke anymore. He spent his time locked in his study, consumed by endless phone calls and meetings. Every evening, Jiya watched as the man who once charmed her with his quiet confidence slipped further away. His silence was like a wall between them, and she felt its coldness seep into every corner of their life.
Jiya sat by the window in their bedroom, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her saree. She had tried to reach out to him, but each attempt was met with polite distance. The guilt gnawed at her, growing heavier by the day. How could she undo what had been done?
Her phone buzzed on the table, shattering the silence. She glanced at the screen—her brother. With a sigh, she picked it up, dreading the conversation.
“Jiya,” her brother’s voice came through, sharp and impatient. “It’s been weeks. What are you waiting for? Atharv’s vulnerable now. You know what you have to do.”
Jiya closed her eyes, the familiar wave of nausea rising in her stomach. “He’s already been hurt enough,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Not enough,” her brother spat. “He destroyed us. Our business, our lives. You can’t forget that, Jiya. This is our chance to finish what we started.”
She pressed her fingers to her temples, the pressure building. “I… I don’t know if I can do it,” she admitted, her voice shaking. “He’s not what I thought he was. He’s kind, he—”
Her brother cut her off, his voice cold. “Don’t forget who you are. Don’t forget what he did to us. You have a responsibility to this family. We’re counting on you.”
The line went dead, leaving Jiya sitting there, the weight of her family’s expectations crushing her. How had she ended up here, caught between loyalty to her family and the love she could no longer deny for Atharv?
That evening, as she prepared dinner, Atharv walked into the kitchen, his expression as distant as ever. His shirt was wrinkled, and the shadows under his eyes told her he hadn’t slept much.
“How was your day?” she asked softly, not expecting a response.
He paused, glancing at her as though seeing her for the first time in days. “Fine,” he muttered, before walking past her to grab a glass of water.
Jiya bit her lip, her heart aching at the distance between them. “Atharv,” she called, her voice gentle but firm.
He turned, leaning against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. “What is it?”
She hesitated, then forced herself to speak. “You’ve been working nonstop. I thought… maybe we could take a break. Just the two of us.”
Atharv frowned, exhaustion and frustration clouding his features. “Jiya, I can’t afford to take a break right now. Everything is falling apart.”
“I know,” she said quietly, stepping closer to him. “But maybe that’s exactly why we need to get away. You need to clear your head, and… we need time. Together.”
He studied her for a moment, his brow furrowed, as though weighing her words. Then, to her surprise, he sighed, nodding. “Maybe you’re right.”
Two days later, they found themselves in a secluded mountain resort, the air crisp and clean, the sky a brilliant shade of blue. The retreat was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the city.
Jiya felt her heart lighten just a little as they checked into their suite, the view of the sprawling hills taking her breath away. She hoped this would be the escape they both needed.
That evening, they sat by a roaring fireplace in their suite, a bottle of wine between them. Atharv seemed more relaxed than she had seen him in weeks, though the shadows of his business troubles still lingered in his eyes.
Jiya reached for his hand, gently entwining her fingers with his. He looked up at her, surprised by the touch.
“I’ve missed this,” she said softly, her eyes searching his. “I’ve missed us.”
Atharv’s expression softened, his thumb gently brushing over the back of her hand. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice low. “I’ve been so caught up in everything, I didn’t realize how much I was neglecting you.”
“You’re not neglecting me,” she said, shaking her head. “I understand what you’re going through. But… I need you too, Atharv.”
He stared at her for a long moment, as though seeing the depth of her emotions for the first time. “I’m here, Jiya,” he whispered. “I’m always here for you.”
His words, though sincere, felt like a knife to her heart. How could he be so sure of her when she was hiding so much from him?
She opened her mouth, the confession on the tip of her tongue, but before she could say anything, Atharv leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. The kiss was slow, tender, and full of the unspoken promises they had yet to make. Jiya’s breath hitched as she kissed him back, losing herself in the warmth of his embrace.
As the night deepened, their connection intensified. Atharv’s hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, and Jiya’s heart raced as the tension between them melted into something deeper, something more. Every touch, every kiss, made her question whether she could ever go through with the plan her family had set in motion.
They made love that night, their bodies moving together with a passion that left Jiya breathless. For the first time in weeks, she let herself forget the betrayal, the lies, and the secrets. At that moment, it was just them—Atharv and Jiya, husband and wife, sharing something real.
Afterwards, they lay tangled in the sheets, the cool night air washing over them. Atharv pressed a kiss to her forehead, his hand resting gently on her back.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he murmured, his voice soft and full of emotion. “You’re my strength, Jiya. You make everything better.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away, burying her face in his chest. How could she ever destroy this? How could she betray the man who had given her everything, who had opened his heart to her in ways she never expected?
But even as she held him close, the weight of her family’s warning hung over her like a dark cloud. She was running out of time, and soon, she would have to make a choice.
One that could either save her marriage—or shatter it forever.
