Supriya looked at Rajalakshmi’s frail face, and her heart ached. She couldn’t leave—not yet. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile and walked back inside.

"I was just stepping out for some fresh air, Maa," she said softly.

Rajalakshmi sighed in relief. "You are my strength, dear. If you ever leave, I don’t know what I’d do."

Supriya bit her lip to stop her tears. She had stayed for Rajalakshmi before, and once again, she would endure.

The Pain Continues…

Mahesh continued to ignore her, spending more time outside the house. Some nights, he didn’t return at all. Supriya no longer asked.

One evening, she accidentally overheard a conversation between Mahesh and Shivani in the study.

"I can’t do this anymore, Shivani," Mahesh’s voice was low but firm. "I feel trapped."

Supriya’s heart pounded.

"Just divorce her, Mahesh! Why are you still holding back?" Shivani’s voice was sharp.

Mahesh didn’t respond immediately.

"My mother will never accept it," he finally said.

Tears streamed down Supriya’s face. She had spent five years trying to win his heart, only to realize he had never even considered her as a wife.

A Silent Decision

That night, she sat beside Rajalakshmi, brushing her hair gently. "Maa, if I ever leave, will you hate me?" she asked softly.

Rajalakshmi looked at her, surprised. "Why are you asking this, dear?"

Supriya smiled weakly. "Just wondering."

The older woman held her hand. "I want you to be happy, Supriya. You have sacrificed so much. If leaving makes you happy, I won’t stop you."

Supriya’s heart clenched.

Maybe it was time to think about herself.

But before she could make a decision, something unexpected happened…

A Twist of Fate

Late one night, Mahesh came home drunk. It was the first time Supriya had seen him like this. He staggered inside, his eyes unfocused.

"Why are you still here?" he muttered bitterly. "Waiting for love that will never come?"

Supriya swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t reply.

He laughed coldly. "You know, sometimes I wonder... what if I had fallen for you instead?"

For a moment, hope flickered inside her.

But then, he looked away. "Too late for that now," he mumbled before collapsing onto the couch.

Supriya stood frozen.

_______

The next day, Supriya called Mahesh and asked to meet at a café. He agreed, assuming it was just another one of her desperate attempts to talk to him.

As he sat across from her, Supriya took a deep breath and said firmly, "I want a divorce, Mahesh."

Mahesh froze. His fingers tightened around the coffee cup.

He scoffed, leaning back. "Are you making a new plan to get my attention? Please stop."

Supriya didn’t flinch. She silently took out the divorce papers and placed them in front of him.

Mahesh stared at the papers. A strange feeling settled in his chest—tight, uncomfortable. He should have felt relief, but instead, an unfamiliar uneasiness crept in.

"You’re serious?" he asked, his voice lower now.

Supriya nodded. "I’ve waited enough. I’ve loved enough. But now, I need to love myself."

Mahesh couldn't understand why her words unsettled him. Wasn’t this what he had wanted all along?

For the first time, he felt like he was losing something... but he didn’t know what.