Supriya wiped her tears and made a decision—she would stay. Not for Mahesh, not for herself, but for Rajalakshmi, the woman who had always treated her like a daughter. She couldn't bear to break her heart.

Days turned into months, and Supriya endured the pain in silence. Mahesh remained distant, cold, and indifferent. Every time he looked at her, it was as if she didn’t exist.

One evening…

Supriya was setting the dinner table when Mahesh walked in, his shirt slightly wrinkled, the faint scent of perfume lingering around him. She didn’t have to ask where he had been. She already knew.

Rajalakshmi smiled at him. "Mahesh, sit down. Have dinner with us."

"I've already eaten," he said, not even glancing at Supriya, and walked away.

Supriya clenched her fists under the table, forcing herself to smile at Rajalakshmi, who sighed but said nothing.

The Silent Struggles…

Nights were the hardest. She lay awake, staring at the empty side of the bed while Mahesh stayed out. Some nights, she cried quietly. Some nights, she convinced herself that things would change.

But deep down, she knew—Mahesh didn’t care.

One stormy night…

Supriya was in the kitchen when she suddenly felt dizzy. The world spun around her, and before she could grab onto something, she collapsed.

When she opened her eyes, Rajalakshmi was by her side, tears in her eyes. "You’re not taking care of yourself, dear."

Mahesh stood near the door, arms crossed, looking away as if he didn’t care.

That night, as she lay in bed, she whispered to herself, "How much longer can I endure this?"

---------

Days passed, but Supriya’s strength was slowly crumbling. She kept up her smile for Rajalakshmi, but inside, she felt empty.

One day, everything changed.

Mahesh came home unusually early. Rajalakshmi, delighted, asked him to have tea with them. He sat down reluctantly.

Just then, his phone rang.

The name Shivani flashed on the screen.

Supriya’s hands trembled as she poured tea. Mahesh got up without a second thought and answered the call, his voice soft in a way it never was with her.

"I miss you too… soon, I promise."

Supriya felt something inside her shatter.

That night, as she sat alone in the dark, she whispered to herself, "I am nothing to him."

The Breaking Point

One evening, Rajalakshmi fell sick, and Supriya stayed up all night tending to her. The next morning, Mahesh finally spoke to her—not with concern, but with accusation.

"Are you trying to gain sympathy? Stop pretending like you care about my mother."

That was it. The last straw.

She looked at him, tired, broken, yet something inside her felt stronger than before. She had enough.

That night, for the first time, Supriya didn’t wait for Mahesh. She didn’t cry. Instead, she packed a small bag and stood in front of the mirror.

"I stayed for Rajalakshmi… but what about me?" she thought.

Just as she reached the door, Rajalakshmi’s weak voice called out, “Where are you going, beta?”

Supriya turned, her heart aching. She had no answer.