Before I can throw back another poison-laced reply, the door suddenly swings open. I jerk and turn towards it, my breath catching painfully as my eyes land on my mom.
“Meera beta, where have you—” Mom begins, but freezes when her eyes land on Dev.
“Meera…?” she whispers, her voice trembling. “What’s… happening? Why is he…?”
Dev steps forward before I can speak.
“Namaste, Sasuma,” he greets, dipping his head with mock politeness.
Mom flinches back, her eyes snapping to mine, wide and trembling… pleading with me, questioning me, shattering all at once.
“Meera, what is this?” she breathes.
I open my mouth, but Dev’s hand slides to the small of my back, a taunting touch meant to remind me how much he’s enjoying every second of this hell I am in.
“Let me answer, Sasuma. Your daughter and I got married.”
At the word ‘married,’ my mom’s face drains of all colour. She stumbles back a step, her hand clutching the doorframe for support.
And just like that, my world begins to crack—right there in the doorway of my own house, at the sight of my mom breaking.
“Meera… what… is he saying?” Mom asks.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. No words. No explanations. Just guilt.
“All your questions can wait, Sasuma,” Dev answers smoothly. “Right now, you should welcome your daughter and son-in-law. After all, we’ve come for the first time after marriage.”
Pain, betrayal, anger. Every bit of emotion is written on Mom’s face, and each passing second feels like a new shard driving into my chest.
“Ma… please…” I whisper.
And just then, my dad’s voice comes from inside.
“Who is it at the door, wifey?”
My breath stutters as he comes closer. His gaze finds me first, softening for a single heartbeat, then hardens with sharp concern the moment it lands on Dev.
“Beta… why is Mr. Rathore here?” he asks cautiously.
“Sasurji, we got married, and we’re here to seek your blessings,” Dev replies and bends to touch Dad’s feet, but Dad steps back. His gaze snaps to me instead, wounded in a way that makes my heart slam painfully against my ribs.
“Married?” His voice cracks. “You got married… without telling us?”
Tears sting my eyes. “Papa… I-I didn’t plan… Everything happened too fast—” I don’t even finish the words forming on my tongue when Dad snaps.
“Too fast? So fast that you forgot your parents even exist?”
“Sasurji…”
“Don’t you dare call me that,” Dad growls at Dev.
“Let’s… go inside and talk,” Mom says hesitantly, trying to hold the moment together, but failing miserably.
Dad’s eyes snap to her. “They are not entering my house.”
I squeeze my eyes shut as tears slip down my cheeks. “Papa… I am sorry. I am really sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” His gaze slams into me. “You’ve humiliated us, Meera. Do you even realise what you’ve done?”
