The door of the room was knocked as Varshini turned to look in that direction. She was conscious by now and was sitting on the bed after wearing new clothes.

Manisha opened the door and they were introduced with someone's back. She lowered her head and left the place. Varshini understood it was none other than Devadriptya as she steadied herself waiting for him to continue. His back was facing her as she sighed gratefully. She was already embarrassed to face him after she hugged him without his permission.

"If you're done then we have to leave now. It's already very late"

She heard him say and thought for a few seconds.

"C_Can someone drop me at my home? I want to go home" Varshini asked him nervously.

She didn't want to go with him to their wedding or any other place right now. She didn't want to face or talk to anyone right now. She didn't have that courage. She just needed some space.

"I haven't told anything to my family but I can't hide anything anymore from them. After the marriage you have to tell them yourself" Devadriptya said as she lowered her head looking at her lap.

She was so scared to face everyone and to face their reactions. She was feeling so dirty about herself.

"Come outside!"

She saw him going away without turning back. She sighed and prepared herself for the upcoming questions. She got down from the bed and went outside.

Varshini sat inside the car while Devadriptya was on the passenger's seat and they left towards their destination. The whole ride was silent and none uttered a single word.

◉♘◉

Their car stopped in front of the large gate of the marriage hall as they glanced at the entrance. Many people were standing there including the media and reporters.

Devadriptya came down the car and took some steps but the wired gazes and those hushed voices made him uncomfortable as he clenched his jaw. Without giving importance to any of them he entered the hall.

Varshini also came down the car and stepped forward not liking the extra attention she was getting. Her face and steps were filled with nervousness. She knew these would happen that's why she didn't want to come here. Her heart was beating so fast. There were so many people whom she had to face now.

As soon as he put his feet his eyebrows frowned in confusion. He could see the faces of all the family members. Gauri was crying continuously and Baldev was sitting on the wheel chair becoming lost somewhere, Aryamaan was standing in the middle like a statue, Jaya Sekhawat was holding a stern face, Ragini was saying something to Niraj continuously, Chetan and Kaveri were shouting at the Sekhawats, Tanishtha was sitting on the couch numb. Her eyes were fixed on the floor.

He slowly stepped forward to analyse the faces and understand the matter. When he came forward everyone snapped their heads at him. Suddenly he felt so awkward at their hard gazes. Most importantly, it wasn't of tension and worries but it was of something else. They were looking at him with disgust and hate. He frowned not understanding their gestures when Varshini stood beside him lowering her head a little.

Shankar Shishodia immediately came in front of them and hugged his daughter.

"I knew, my daughter knows her worth and values. She is the Queen and born to rule. She would never choose a man who wanted to make her a maid. You proved me right, you're my daughter" He praised her and patted her back making her frown.

He left her and stood beside her with a look of pride in his eyes. Varshini blinked her eyes multiple times trying to understand her father's strange behaviour and words.

Devadriptya who was standing beside her also got confused hearing the man's words. Moreover, he had no idea who the hell he was.

Tanishtha who was sitting on the couch till now with numbness and tears in her eyes got up slowly. Her legs trembled and body shook as she went towards the two. Her whole body was looking so pale and weak. Her eyeliner was smudged because of continuous crying, the veil was disheveled, dried tear stains on her cheeks and the dried blood stains on her palms.

She stood in front and looked at both of them with her angry eyes which were burning in fire. Without a second thought, she raised her hand and slapped Varshini making the girl stumble on her feet a little.

"TANISHTHA" Devadriptya yelled taking her name when she did something which was so shocking and unexpected for him.

Varshini placed her palm on her cheek wanting to believe that she just got slapped in real. The woman in front of her just slapped her out of nowhere. She felt so humiliated in front of everyone.

"Bas, Dev!" Tanishtha showed her palm in front of his face.

"You did enough and more" She wiped the tears off her face harshly and continued with her words.

"Ten years. For the last ten years I kept loving you without thinking anything. I never considered any other man because it was always you for me. I kept waiting and waiting. I did everything thinking one day you too will love me b_but it never happened. It never happened" She sniffed and again started.

"When I heard, you said 'Yes' and our families fixed our marriage, I thought now everything will be fine. I got my love. Maybe, one day you too will start loving me, One day you will also start feeling like that for me but again it never happened" She chuckled humorously and then again focused on him.

"I accepted everything whatever you did. Your ignorance, your lack of interest, your rudeness everything just because I loved you. I accepted everything because it was me who wanted you, it was me who dreamt about you and our future together. So, I shouldn't have any other complaints but after tonight, you broke me completely. YOU BROKE ME COMPLETELY, DEVADRIPTYA SHEKHAWAT" She shouted at last crying hysterically.

Aryamaan who was standing a little away from them felt like dying. Nothing could be more horrible than this. He felt like someone just pulled his heart out of his chest.

Devadriptya who had enough of everything glanced at Tanishtha and gave her a death glare.

"Stop behaving like crazy. Don't create a scene in front of everyone. I won't tolerate any such nonsense of your_"

"Nonsense?" Tanishtha mocked him.

"You made a joke of my life, Dev and my life was nonsense? IT WAS A NONSENSE FOR YOU?" She grabbed his collar and looked straight into his eyes pulling him closer to herself.

He held her wrist and removed himself from her. He pushed her a little making her stumble.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? DON'T FORGET YOUR LIMITS" He yelled grabbing her shoulders.

"Limits? You're talking about limits? And the hell you did?" She questioned which was holding the same intensity.

"What did I do?" He looked at her with those raging eyes boring holes on her body.

"YOU WERE CHEATING ON YOUR FIANCEE WITH YOUR OWN BROTHER'S GIRLFRIEND, HOW COULD YOU?"

The words started ringing in their ears making them go numb.

••••

The story is available in Wattpad for free.