They Don't Know about Us

Chapter 35 - A Storm of Bleeding Hearts

Chapter 35 - A Storm of Bleeding Hearts

The moment the doors closed behind Riddhima, something inside the Malik haveli collapsed. The lights felt too bright. The mandap flames flickered as if reacting to the storm that had just torn through the hall.

Every guest stood frozen in mid-motion, like even breathing would be disrespectful in the wreckage of what had just happened. The mandap flames crackled faintly, the only sound left, and even that felt too loud in the carnage Anjali had created.

Mrs. Joshi was the first to react. Her trembling hands clutched her saree pallu. Her eyes, wide, disbelieving, horrified, moved slowly from where she was standing, to Anjali standing in the center of the hall, lehenga glittering like broken glass.

Atul took one step toward his bride, and then stopped. He looked into her eyes like he didn't recognize her. Something inside him broke.

Audibly. Visibly. Fatally.

"Anjali..." His voice was gravel, scraping against grief. He looked at her the way someone looks at a ruin that used to be a home. She was unrecognizable.

She turned to him sharply, her eyes red, her chest heaving. Still furious, still feeling humiliated over her brother's new-found love. Still unwilling to understand the tsunami she had unleashed.

"Atul," she choked, "you aren't actually upset over her, right? You saw what she did! She betrayed me, she ruined our wedding—"

"Stop." The word didn't rise. It fell, heavy and cold. "You ruined our wedding". His words came out in a surprised tone. Anjali blinked, startled. Atul's face was pale as chalk, jaw tight, hands shaking, not from fear, but from restraint.

Anjali's nostrils flared. "Oh, don't start. Don't make me the villain here. SHE lied. SHE betrayed me. She deserved—"

"She deserved that?" Atul's voice cut like steel, his gaze locked on her, unblinking. "Tell me one thing, Anjali, why is she the only one you're punishing?"

Anjali stiffened.

"At least explain that much to me." He took a step closer, not in anger — in disbelief. "Your brother was standing right there with her. He hid it from you too. He knew you wouldn't approve. He knew you'd explode like this. But somehow you're only tearing into her?"

Her face twisted. "Because—because she—"

"No." He held up a hand, silencing her.

"Don't lie. Not right now." Her breath faltered. "You keep saying she betrayed your trust," Atul continued, voice low but hard-edged. "But Armaan hid it as well. He stayed silent. He chose privacy. He chose her. If this is about betrayal—then why isn't your anger pointed at him?"

Her mouth opened—but no words came. Atul shook his head, devastated.

"You know why." A beat. "You never expected anything from him." Anjali stiffened. "You never demanded anything from him." Another blow. "You never felt threatened by him." His voice rose—not loud, but sharp, each word slicing.

"Because deep down, you always believed he couldn't be taken from you. You believed his loyalty was guaranteed, unquestionable, yours by birthright. So you targeted the easier victim."

Anjali's breath hitched sharply.

"You punished her," he whispered, "because it was never about betrayal." A pause. "It was about possession." Atul glared at her, he looked down laughing sarcastically to himself, shaking his head, "and it's a shame I am just realizing it now".