As the pregnancy progressed, Meera's health began to decline. She experienced complications that could have been addressed with proper care, but Pradyuman was too lost in his own world to notice. His guilt gnawed at him, but instead of stepping up, he withdrew even further.
His parents, absorbed in their traditional mindset, failed to recognize the emotional and physical toll on both Pradyuman and Meera. They saw Meera's pregnancy as a natural progression of marriage—nothing more. Raghav's words echoed in Pradyuman's ears: "You're a man now, Pradyuman. Act like one."
But Pradyuman didn't feel like a man. He felt like a boy, trapped in a situation he had no control over. His father's expectations only pushed him deeper into isolation, and his mother, though kind, was too bound by tradition to offer real support.
One cold December night, everything fell apart. Meera, only seven months pregnant, woke up in agony. Pradyuman panicked, fumbling to call for help. They rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. Meera's condition was critical.
Hours passed as Pradyuman paced outside the delivery room, his heart pounding. The guilt weighed on him like never before. He hadn't been there for her when she needed him. He had failed her.
When the doctor finally came out, his face was somber. "The baby survived," he said softly. "But I'm sorry... we couldn't save your wife."
Pradyuman felt the world collapse around him. Meera was gone. He had failed the girl who had trusted him, who had needed him to be stronger. And now, all he had left was their daughter—a small, fragile reminder of his mistakes.
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Burden of Tradition
Hayran KurguSummary: ACP Pradyuman, trapped in the traditions of his youth, is forced into a marriage at 16, leading to his wife Meera's tragic death during childbirth. Haunted by guilt, he raises their daughter Naina with overbearing control. As Naina grows, P...
