𝑨𝑵𝑰𝑫𝑰𝑻𝑨: 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐞 - Yours With All My Heart

|55|•ɢᴏᴏᴅʙʏᴇ ᴄᴜᴍ•(🌶️)

ANIRUDH

I agreed to let her leave.

But deep down, I never wanted her to go. Not like this. I know she's still angry. She doesn't show it outright-her composure is as strong as ever-but I can feel the weight of her frustration, the way it lingers unspoken.

I want to stop her, hold her back, but I can't. Not after yesterday. She told me she didn't want to be touched, didn't want any intimacy between us, and thought I'd... force her.

I would never do that.

It stung more than I cared to admit, hearing her think that of me. But I stayed silent, respecting her space. If I tell her not to go home now, I'll become that stereotypical, controlling husband-the very thing I despise, the very thing I promised myself I'd never be. So I let her go, convincing myself that when she comes back, I'll fix this. I'll fix us.

Right now, she's upstairs in our room, packing her things. The sound of her moving around echoes faintly, sharp and final. Meanwhile, I'm in the hall, barely holding myself together as Kaka's voice grows louder, cutting through my thoughts.

I could feel Kaka's glare burning into me as he crossed his arms, his voice growing harsher with every word. "Anirudh, don't you think your wife is going out of hand? First staying at a man's house all night, and now leaving like this? What will people say? Have you no shame?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, the pounding in my head intensifying. "Kaka, enough-"

"No, it's not enough!" he interrupted, stepping closer. "You're letting her walk all over you. A woman like that needs to be controlled. What kind of wife spends a night outside and thinks she can just come and go as she pleases?"

His words hit like a slap, each one cutting deeper. I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. "Kaka, listen to me-"

"I've listened enough!" he shouted. "This is why you're losing control of your marriage. If you don't put her in her place now, she'll-"

"Stop it!" I roared, my voice echoing through the hall. The sudden silence was deafening. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me before I spoke again, quieter this time. "Kaka, Bondita wasn't out yesterday alone."

His brows furrowed in confusion, but he stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.

"She was with me," I admitted, my voice steady but firm. "We were at Kabir's house together. I asked her to stay because I needed time to think, and that was my mistake."

Kaka opened his mouth, but I didn't let him speak. "If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was the one who was wrong-not Bondita, and not Kabir."

I paused, the words catching in my throat as Kaka's eyes narrowed. My mind raced, but I refused to falter. "Bondita and Kabir..." I hesitated, then forced myself to say it. "...are just friends. Nothing more."

Kaka snorted, his disbelief evident. "Friends? A married woman and another man as friends? Don't be naive, Anirudh!"

"Enough!" I snapped, my voice sharp. "You don't know Bondita like I do. She's loyal, kind, and fiercely independent. She doesn't deserve to be judged like this."

Kaka shook his head, his expression full of disapproval. "You're too blinded by your so-called love to see the truth. Mark my words, Anirudh-this path you're on will only lead to destruction."

As he stormed off, his words lingered, heavy and suffocating. I ran a hand through my hair, turning toward the staircase again. The sounds from our room had stopped. I could feel her silence, her hurt, and her anger even from here.