𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆- 𝑾𝒂𝒓 𝑶𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝟑𝟒. 𝐍𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄

Author's POV

Another week passed with heavy hearts and broken souls but finally because of Vidya's recovery, doctors decided to discharge her, igniting a spark of happiness among the family members. Akshita broke the news in front of Vidya and others and immediately everyone's face gleamed with happiness but Vidya remained emotionless.

Mridha and Akshita exchanged knowing glances, their eyes locking onto Vidya's impassive face. Mrityunjay stood beside them, attempting to decipher her unreadable expressions. Akshita tried to break the silence, asking Vidya if she was okay and offering to stay with her until she fully recovered. However, Vidya remained unresponsive, her silence a familiar and haunting refrain. The weight of their last conversation still lingered, deepening Mrityunjay's guilt and Vidya's emotional scars.

A few days ago, Akshita had grown suspicious of Vidya's silence. Worried, she examined her vocal cords, conducted countless tests, assuming she might have lost her ability to speak due to nerve damage—but all the reports came back normal. She had the ability to speak... but perhaps she had chosen not to anymore.

Shantanu, interpreting her silence as refusal, interjected,
"Why would she live with us? She has a home, and Jamai sa will look after her."

"Bade Papa!" Akshita snapped, "You really think I'll let him come near my sister in this condition?"

"Akshita! Mind your words. He's your brother-in-law—and it was just a mistake." Shantanu defended sharply.

"The kind of mistake you're used to making." Vidya's voice cut through the room like a sudden gust of wind, leaving Shantanu stunned.

He was about to respond, but Mrityunjay stepped forward and stopped him. He turned to Vidya and firmly said, "She'll come with me."

"She won't," Akshita countered, locking eyes with him.

"She will. Maa, please tell her—my wife will return with me," Mrityunjay said, turning to Mridha, who sat silently by Vidya's side.

"I think Vidya should decide where she wants to stay. I won't force her to live with a man who once told her to stay away," Mridha said gently. Her support only deepened the guilt in Mrityunjay's heart.

Mrityunjay clenched his jaw, about to reply, when Akshita's words landed like another blow.
"Exactly! You're only doing this out of guilt—and we all know that."

"Whatever I'm doing, I'm doing as her husband. She's coming with me. That's it. Do you have a problem, Uncle?" he asked Shantanu, who shook his head.

"If Uncle has no problem, then no one else should jump in like a kangaroo between me and Vidya." His voice turned cold. He looked at the nurse and said, "Get us the discharge papers."

" But I do have a problem," Vidya snapped. "And I'm not going with you."

Mrityunjay turned, stunned, but she refused to meet his eyes. Before he could say anything, Mridha intervened,
"That's fine, beta. You can stay with your father. I'll keep visiting you."

"I don't want to stay with him either," Vidya said quietly. Then she turned to her sister,
"Akshi, I'll stay at your flat with you. I don't want to disturb anyone else."

Shantanu stepped forward, eyes glistening, "That's your home. You can stay there—I have no objection."

Vidya looked up at him, a tear escaping her eye. "Humara koi ghar nahi hai Papa, humara Ghar bas humari maa ki god me tha. Jis din wo gayi humara Ghar bhi chin gaya."