Chapter 13

Priya stared at him, her lower lip trembling slightly. She didn't know what to say anymore. She wished it was all a bad dream and she was waiting and waiting but no- she was not waking up. This was not a dream. This was real.

"M- mom?" Rhea's small voice echoed throughout the silent room.

"Leave" Priya said to Daya. Her voice was amazingly calm.

"What?" Daya asked.

"Leave right now. I can't be with you under the same roof tonight. Not after all this. Please leave me and my daughter alone for heaven's sake" Priya said in a stony voice.

"Priya -"

"DAYA LEAVE!"

"Fine!" Daya said, grabbed his car keys and stormed out of the house.

Priya kept staring at the door for a long time after Daya had left.

"Mom, are you okay?" Rhea asked in timid voice which evoked no response from Priya.

"Mom, dad's not gonna leave us, is he?' Rhea tried again.

"Can you go to your room and try to sleep? It's late" Priya said to her.

"What? No way mom, I am not leaving you in this state. I-"

"Rhea please, go to your room. I need to be alone for sometime. Please" Priya pleaded.

"Okay mom" Rhea said and reluctantly turned to go.

"Rhea, don't you worry. Don't think about it. I will make everything right." said Priya

"It's okay. I already know" said Rhea.

Priya attention snapped back on her daughter. "What? You know? How could you..."

"I saw her... them together... they were..." Rhea closed her eyes shuddering slightly as her mind's eye pictured her father and Shreya in a compromising position in the forest.

"What did you see ? Where? When did this happen? Why didn't you say anything to me?" Priya bombarded her with questions.

"I was walking home the day and I saw them in - in the forest. They were... well... kissing and stuff... and I just couldn't see dad and her and then I ran home and smashed everything. I was so angry. I didn't know what to do... and I-"

"So that's why you left home. That's why you... oh god, Rhea I am so sorry" Priya said hugging her daughter tightly, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

"I am sorry mom, I shouldn't have left like that. It caused you so much trouble.."

"Oh no baby, don't apologize. It's not your fault. I should have realized Daya was... oh god I can't even say it. I should have never agreed for Shreya to come and stay with us. S - she... that bitch... she destroyed everything. She broke apart my family...I am going to make her pay.. just wait... she will pay for everything she has done to us" Priya said, shaking with fury.

"I confronted dad. I told him to stop seeing her else I would tell you everything. But I think they were still meeting in secret. how did you find out? Did dad tell you?" Rhea asked.

"No he didn't" said Priya.

"So how did you find out?" Rhea asked again.

"I just did" said Priya taking a deep breath. "Listen, I know it's hard but at least try to get some sleep"

"What about dad? Is he going to leave us forever?" Rhea asked.

"I will talk to your father. I promise. We will figure it out" said Priya. " Go get some sleep"

"Mom, I don't want dad to leave us. Not for her. I don't want her to win. She just can't destroy everything and get away with it" Rhea said sniffling slightly.

"She won't get away with it. I promise you. I will make her pay" Priya said in a determined voice though she was feeling rather exhausted than rebellious.

Priya was hurt. She couldn't believe it. How could Daya do something like that? How could he hurt her and their daughter? She closed her eyes, thinking. She remembered that the chord between just wasn't right. She remembered how many times they had quarreled since a past few months. He had always seemed disinterested and silent whenever they were alone. She had to rack her brains to remember when they had last made love. Now she came to think of it, Daya had always seemed different around Shreya. She couldn't quite put her finger on but something had changed for sure. But she had never thought he would cheat on her.

"I love her!" Daya's words echoed in her head again and again making her dizzy. Priya just couldn't make her tears stop. She wondered since when Daya and Shreya had been in a relationship. Had they made love? Ofcourse they had, else why would he have said her name when he was... had they made love in their bedroom? on their bed?

Priya couldn't think straight after a few moments. She didn't want to think but the thoughts kept coming to her one after another. She cried herself to sleep on the couch that night.

Next Day morning Priya woke up with a start. Rhea face came into view as she opened her eyes still feeling groggy from sleep.

"Dad is here" Rhea said.

"Wha- Daya? He is here?" Priya asked her sitting on the couch with a jolt.

"Yes. He says he wants to talk to you... alone" said Rhea.

"Where are you going?" Priya asked.

"Friend's place" said Rhea.

"Okay. Be back soon" said Priya.

"Mom, you will convince him, won't you?" Rhea asked her, eyes brimming with tears.

"I will honey, I will" Priya said, her heart hammering loudly.

She remained sitting on the couch for a long time. It felt as if she had lost all strength in her legs. She had promised her daughter that she would make everything right. What if she couldn't? What if Daya decided to leave her for Shreya? Rhea would be heart broken. How was she going to handle her? No, No way.. I will make him understand. He would have to stay for his daughter at least if not for me.

With a heavy heart, Priya dragged herself up from the couch and walked to the washroom. She splashed her face with cold water When she came outside, she found Daya sitting on the couch, his face unreadable.

"Hey" Priya said softly.

"I am sorry Priya. I really am" Daya said.

"No, it's... I am sorry. I shouldn't have told you to leave yesterday night" said Priya.

"Don't apologize please. Don't make me feel any more guilty than I already am" said Daya.

"No I-"

"Um... I wanted to talk" said Daya.

"Yes" said Priya looking at him, her heart thudding wildly.

"I want a divorce" said Daya.

Priya's face drained of what little colour it had. She wasn't sure she had heard him properly. So she asked again. "Wha - what?"

"I want a divorce. We can't be together anymore. Not after all this. I have been wanting to tell you this since a long time... but I think now is the time"

"This - this is utterly ridiculous Daya" Priya half laughed- half cried. "This just can't happen. We are not getting a divorce"

"I have the papers ready with me" Daya said ignoring her words. He handed her an envelope. Read them and sign on them. If you have any questions, we can discuss and sort everything out"

"Shut the hell up!" Priya said snatching the envelope from his hand and throwing it away in frustation.

"What the -" Daya said in agitation and bend down to retrieve the envelope.

"I can't Daya. Please, let's give this a chance. I am never going to sign that. Ever" Priya said, her eyes tearful.

"Please don't make this any harder than it already is Priya. Just sign the divorce papers" said Daya.

"Why are you doing this? Okay, I accept that you made a mistake. I forgive you. I know you love me and Rhea and we both love you too. Forget about that girl. Let's start over. You, me and Rhea" said Priya.

"No Priya, no! We just can't keep doing this. We can't keep pretending to be happy our entire lives!" said Daya.

"Pretending?! We have a daughter, Daya! A love child. We didn't pretend to be happy all these years! We really were happy. I don't know what nonsense that girl fed you but I am sure it was just an infatuation-"

"IT IS NOT AN INFATUATION" Daya said his temper rising.

"Oh, relax Daya please. Just calm down and think. You will realise what I am saying. Just think back about those days when we were so happy... when she wasn't here, we were so happy." said Priya.

"We weren't happy!" Daya said angrily. "We used to quarrel almost every day and there was absolutely no conversation left between us"

"Every couple quarrels! That's not a big deal" said Priya.

"Why do you keep denying the fact that we are not in love? We were never in love Priya! We got married when we were young and that too due to wishes of our elders! Why don't you understand that we are very different people. We can't be together. Please, please try to understand" said Daya desperately.

"What is it about her, huh? What does she have which I can't give you even though I am your wife?" Priya asked now positively crying.

"Priya please... I am not comparing you with her. It's just that Shreya and I have a connection. I just can't explain it" said Daya.

"I shouldn't have let her stay here. She tore apart my family. I AM NOT GOING TO LET HER GET AWAY WITH IT, YOU GOT THAT? I WILL KILL HER" Priya roared in anger.

"Stop creating a scene, Priya! It's not her fault. She didn't do this. And I am not going to tolerate this nonsense anymore. Don't you dare do anything to Shre-"

"I WILL DARE! I WILL, YOU GOT THAT?" Priya shouted spit flying from her mouth. And then she broke down completely, crying her heart out.

"Priya please" Daya said.

"What about Rhea? Do you know how tensed and worried she is since yesterday night? She will fall apart if you leave her, Daya. You know how much you mean to her. She loves you. Please don't this to her. Stay, atleast for your daughter. We can go counselling if you want" Priya said, looking at him with puffy eyes.

Minutes passed. Silence hung around them which seemed to stretch on forever.

Finally Daya spoke in a hoarse voice. "I am keeping the divorce papers here. I will come back in a week's time to collect them. And don't worry about Rhea. I will talk to her. She has to understand that life can be hard sometimes. She is a strong girl. I know she will understand."

"I am not going to sign the papers" Priya said her voice quavering in anger.

"So now you want to fight?" Daya asked her.

"I will do whatever it takes to protect my family. I won't let her win, you got that? I am not giving you a divorce." Priya said in a determined voice.

Daya was silent. He stared at her, his eyes flashing dangerously. " Priya -" he began but she interrupted him. "I don't want to hear anything. Goodbye, Daya" she said and walked upstairs leaving Daya standing alone in the living room.

Sneak peek into last chapter - Daya has big decision to make. Will he end up with Shreya or Priya?