36|Separation

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Thakur Palace

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Thakur Palace

As Chandni walked out of the house, Virendra stood by the window, watching her retreating figure with a hollow ache in his chest. The sound of the main door slamming shut echoed in the silence, snapping him out of his daze. He turned around to find his parents, Kirti and Harish, standing in the living room, their faces taut with anger and disbelief. His elder brother, Viraj, stood nearby, his arms crossed, glaring at Virendra with a mix of disappointment and fury.

Kirti was the first to speak, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. “What have you done, Virendra? Chandni walked out of this house, and you just let her go? You didn’t stop her?”

Virendra exhaled deeply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Ma, I couldn’t stop her. She deserves better than what I gave her.”

“Better?” Harish’s voice boomed, filled with outrage. “Do you even understand what you’re saying? Divorce is not an option in this family, Virendra! It has never happened before, and it won’t start with you.”

Viraj stepped forward, his gaze sharp and accusing. “You’ve brought shame to this family. Do you have any idea what people will say? That you couldn’t keep your wife in control? That you failed as a husband? This is a stain on all of us.”

Virendra flinched at his brother’s harsh words but didn’t respond. He knew they wouldn’t understand. They had never seen the pain Chandni had endured, the wounds he had inflicted on her, both physical and emotional.

Kirti’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. “I warned you, Virendra. I told you that marriage is a sacred bond. But you—” Her voice broke, and she covered her face with her hands. “You’ve destroyed everything. You’ve ruined this family’s honor.”

Harish paced the room, his anger intensifying with every step. “Do you think this is about you and Chandni? It’s about the Thakur family name! Divorce will bring disgrace upon us. No one will respect us in this society anymore.”

Virendra’s fists clenched, his guilt replaced by frustration. “You’re all so concerned about what society will think. What about Chandni? What about the hell I put her through? Doesn’t she deserve to live a life where she’s respected and loved?”

Viraj scoffed. “Oh, so now you’re suddenly the noble one? Don’t act like a martyr, Virendra. You’re the one who destroyed her life in the first place. And now you think letting her go will fix everything? It’s cowardice, not redemption.”

The words stung, but Virendra didn’t flinch. “Just shut up.”

Harish stopped pacing and faced him, his voice cold and cutting. “If you cared about making amends, you would’ve changed yourself. You would’ve won her back instead of giving up. But no, you chose the easy way out.”

Kirti stepped closer to her son, her tear-streaked face full of pleading. “Virendra, think about this carefully. Don’t make a decision you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Bring her back. Apologize, beg her if you have to, but don’t let this divorce happen.”

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