Tangled Beliefs

Chapter-50: Hidden Melodies

Dedicated to Veenaxyz (Happy Birthday dear...here's your birthday🎁)

I wasn’t used to someone choosing me, protecting me. But he did—and it broke something open in me.

Nandini’s POV,

Dinner ended, and we all moved to the living room.

I wasn’t in the mood to sit and chat, but I had no choice. Not when Prisha Bhabhi had called me here with so much love.

Ansh sat beside me, playing with the toys Cabir Jiju had given him. His giggles were the only pure thing in this house.

I sighed, leaning back, trying not to think about the dinner conversation.

But then, Dad spoke.

“Manik, Nandini, I think it’s time you both disclose your secret marriage.”

My body stiffened.

I had seen this coming, yet it still ruined my mood.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Of course, you do and It’s hard to listen to advice from people who’ve never really been there.”

Dad’s jaw tightened. “This is enough, Nandini. It’s been days. How long do you both plan to hide this? The media already suspects something. Do you have any idea how this affects us?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Dad. Of course, it’s always about how it affects you. Not me, not my life, not my wishes—just you.”

Manik sat beside me, silent. Observing.

But I could feel his presence—strong, steady, unshaken.

Dad exhaled sharply. “Enough with your sarcasm. You’ve been this way ever since—”

“Ever since you sent me away to New York?” I cut him off, tilting my head. “Or since you started treating me like an outsider?”

His fingers curled into fists. “Watch your tone, Nandini.”

“Or what, Dad?” I snapped, standing up. “You’ll disown me? Oh wait, you already did that the day you sent me away.”

His face turned red. “You are crossing your limits!”

I let out a dry laugh. “What limits? The ones that you drew around me? The ones that made sure I never had a say in my own life?”

“Nandini—” Mom tried to calm me, but I wasn’t done.

“Tell me, Dad,” I continued, my voice shaking but strong, “why do you even care? I mean, it’s not like you ever asked if I was happy in this marriage. You just want me to declare it to the world so your name doesn’t get dragged into a scandal, right?”

He slammed his fist on the table. “Enough!”

The room went silent.

Even Ansh stopped playing, his tiny hands clutching his toy.

Dad’s next words came out cold and sharp.

“You are Nandini Murthy. No matter what happens, you will always be a Murthy. You can’t erase that.”

Silence.

I felt my breath hitch.

A strange heaviness filled my chest—a familiar one.

He always did this. Always reminded me that no matter what, I would still be a Murthy.

As if it was a curse I could never escape.