The Silent Betrayal

21. Confusion & Comfort

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2800+ words.

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Abhimaan was sitting in his office, flipping through some paperwork when his phone buzzed. An unknown number had sent him a series of images. Frowning, he unlocked his phone to check the pictures. The first one was of Taani walking in the college corridors, her face expressionless but eyes holding a certain heaviness. The next few were similar, showing her moving from one part of the college to another.

But then the last one hit him like a punch in the gut.

It was a picture of her in the washroom, her face buried in her hands, her body trembling as she sobbed. Her red eyes, her pained expression — they screamed of the agony she had been holding inside. Abhimaan’s blood boiled as he realized someone had been stalking his wife, capturing her most vulnerable moments without her knowing.

How dare they!

His thoughts immediately shifted to Taani. What had happened to her in college? Why was she crying? He couldn’t stand the idea of her being in pain, especially when she hadn’t shared anything with him. And without a second thought, he grabbed his car keys and left the office, speeding towards her college.

The sun had dipped lower in the sky by the time he reached, and students were already trickling out of the gates as the college day came to an end. He parked his car at a distance and waited. His eyes scanned the entrance, looking for her familiar face. His heart pounded in his chest, his anger simmering just below the surface. Whoever had done this to Taani would pay.

After a few minutes, he saw her walking out. She looked drained, her face pale, and her eyes slightly swollen and red, as if she had been crying. His chest tightened as he watched her. He wanted to run to her, wrap her in his arms, and take away all her pain. But he stayed put, watching her approach the car.

Taani noticed his car and hesitated for a second before opening the door and slipping inside. She didn’t say a word, didn’t even look at him. Instead, she turned her face towards the window, staring blankly at the passing scenery.

Abhimaan glanced at her red, swollen eyes, feeling a sharp pang of guilt and frustration. He started the car and began driving, the silence between them thick and heavy. Neither of them spoke during the ride home, but Abhimaan couldn’t stop stealing glances at her. She was clearly upset, and it hurt him to see her like this but he didn’t want to push her right now.

When they finally reached home, Taani didn’t wait for him. She quickly stepped out of the car and headed straight to their bedroom without uttering a word. Abhimaan watched her retreating form, his brows furrowed in concern. Something was seriously wrong, and he needed to know what it was. He parked the car and followed her inside, but by the time he reached the bedroom, Taani had already locked herself in the bathroom.

Inside the washroom, Taani stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. The day’s events played on a loop in her mind — the gossip, the taunts, the cruel notes in her locker, the endless humiliation she had faced.And worst of all, the news about Rey and the D3 team winning and coming back. They had gotten everything they wanted — their dream, the victory. But what had she gotten in return? A broken heart, a shattered life.

Taani took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. But the weight of her emotions was too much to bear, and she stayed in the washroom longer than she intended. When she finally gathered enough strength to step out, she found Abhimaan sitting on the edge of the bed, his phone in hand.