TejRan - Arranged Love

🔅CHAPTER 22🔅

Back with this one. Enjoy reading!

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Tejasswi stood still, her eyes fixed on Karan. The whirlwind of emotions inside her was almost unbearable-guilt, regret, and an overwhelming sense of loss. She had been so sure of her decision last night, convinced that divorce was the only way forward. But standing here now, with the truth laid bare, she realized just how wrong she had been.

Her gaze softened as she looked at Karan. He had been silent since the revelation, his expression unreadable. Gathering her courage, she slowly reached out, hesitating for a moment before gently grasping his hand.

Karan flinched slightly at the unexpected touch, his eyes shifting down to their entwined hands before meeting hers. Tejasswi saw the flicker of emotions in his eyes-confusion, hesitation, and something else... something that made her heart ache even more.

Before he could say anything, Naitik stepped forward, clearing his throat. His voice was calm yet firm.

"You said you'd come back here as our daughter-in-law if everything went right," he reminded her, his gaze warm yet questioning. "Now, everything is right. Riya is not Karan's daughter, Anoosha will get the surgery she needs, and there are no more lies between us. So, what about you, beta?"

Tejasswi looked at Naitik, then shifted her gaze back to Karan. His face remained unreadable, and for the first time in a long while, she felt nervous. But she had made up her mind.

A small smile played on her lips as she turned back to Naitik. "I do what I say, Uncle... I mean, Papa," she corrected herself, her voice holding warmth. "I'm coming back here as your daughter-in-law... and as Karan's wife."

The moment the words left her lips, a wave of happiness spread through the family. Akshara smiled brightly, Vikram and Prachi exchanged relieved glances, and even Pragya, who had been worried about her daughter's future, exhaled softly, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

But just as the happiness began to settle in, Karan suddenly pulled his hand away from Tejasswi's grasp.

She looked up at him, startled. His expression had changed-there was no relief, no joy, just cold detachment.

The room fell into silence as Karan took a deep breath. His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm but laced with an unmistakable finality.

"You were ready to give me a divorce," he said, his eyes locked onto hers. "You believed Riya might be my daughter and thought she deserved what was right. You doubted me, Tejasswi. From the very beginning, our relationship lacked one thing-trust."

Tejasswi felt her breath hitch. "Karan-"

He held up a hand, stopping her. "What's a relationship without trust?" he asked, his voice carrying a quiet, painful edge. "What's a marriage if the foundation itself is weak?"

Tears burned in Tejasswi's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I was wrong, Karan," she whispered. "I should have believed in you."

Karan gave a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "But you didn't," he said simply. "You chose to walk away. And now, just because the truth is out, you think we can go back to how things were?" He exhaled sharply, taking a step back. "It doesn't work like that, Tejasswi."

Everyone watched in stunned silence. Akshara took a step forward, desperate to reason with her son. "Karan, beta-"

But he turned to her, his expression resolute. "I do what I say, Maa," he murmured. *
"I'm sorry."