10. Heartbreak and Rising Strong

Author's POV

She decided to go to the study to call for Sahil, but as she approached the door, her steps faltered when she overheard their conversation.

Her uncle's voice, usually warm and inviting, was now laced with demand. "Sahil, I need you to do me a favor," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

"I told you, Uncle, it can't happen," Sahil replied firmly, his voice unwavering.

"Help me, just for the sake of your wife," her uncle pressed, desperation creeping into his words.

The study room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the request hanging heavily in the air. Ishika's heart raced with anticipation, each beat echoing in her ears.

Then Sahil's voice cut through the tension like a knife "You're giving her too much credit. If you think I'm going to give you any benefits just because you're my in-laws, let me make it clear Ishika isn't worth that much."

Ishika listened to Sahil's reply, a bitter smile forming on her lips. Who was she kidding? she thought, her heart sinking. Sahil would never compromise for even true love, let alone for someone like her, who was nothing more than a fleeting presence in his life. The realization settled heavily in her chest, an unbearable weight of disappointment and resignation.

Turning away from the study, she walked down the hallway, her mind racing. Each step felt heavier than the last, the vibrant colors of the evening fading into a dull gray. She needed to meet her aunt one last time before they departed, to hold onto something warm and familiar amidst the coldness that had enveloped her.

As she entered the living room, she found her aunt tidying up the remnants of dinner, a soft smile gracing her face. Ishika forced a smile in return, but it felt hollow. "Aunty, I just wanted to say goodbye before we leave," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Her aunt turned, concern flickering in her eyes. "Are you okay, Ishika? You seem a bit off".

"I'm fine," Ishika lied, her heart aching as she fought to maintain her composure. "I just wanted to thank you for tonight. It was nice to see you again."

Her aunt reached out, pulling Ishika into another warm embrace. "You're always welcome here, dear Don't forget that."

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Their car arrived at Aditi's apartment, and Ishika immediately reached for the door, eager to leave. Just as she was about to step out, Sahil's voice cut through the silence.

"Remember the other part of the deal. You still have to attend a business party with me."

Ishika turned slightly, her expression cold and impatient. "I remember, Mr. Malhotra. You don't have to worry about that Just tell me the date and venue, and I'll be there."

Before she could fully step out of the car, Sahil grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. As she remembered the earlier conversation she had overheard between Sahil and her uncle. His dismissive tone, the way he spoke about her as if she had no value in his life, stung deeply. The memory twisted in her chest, filling her with disgust at even being near him.

"I'll send the driver to pick you up tomorrow evening," he said, his voice low and controlling. "Just be ready."

She clenched her teeth, fighting the urge to snap at him Instead, she forced herself to nod "Fine," she muttered, eager to end the conversation.

The moment he released her, she stepped out of the car, her movements quick and deliberate She couldn't stand to be near him for another second, the weight of his earlier words still fresh in her mind. As she hurried toward her apartment, she didn't look back, even as his car pulled away. To him, she was nothing but to herself, she knew she had to be more.

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As she entered, the clatter of dishes being washed by Aditi filled the kitchen. Aditi greeted her warmly, but she could only muster a weak smile in response before heading straight to her room. The weight of the day pressed down on her, each step feeling heavier than the last. Once inside the bathroom, she shut the door and leaned against it, her body trembling as she slid to the floor. The tears she had been holding back broke free, flowing uncontrollably as the memory of his words echoed in her mind.

"You're giving her too much credit. If you think I'm going to give you any benefits just because you're my in-laws, let me make it clear-Ishika isn't worth that much."

The coldness of his voice sliced through her like a knife, and with every recollection, her heart shattered anew. She had always known, deep down, that she meant nothing to him-that her presence in his life was more an inconvenience than a blessing. Yet, hearing those words aloud, spoken with such venom, struck her harder than she ever imagined.

She had convinced herself that she had moved on, that the walls were strong enough to protect her heart. But now, as her body shook with sobs, she realized that those walls had been nothing more than illusions. The hurt, the betrayal, the unspoken dreams that once tied her to him-they all surged back to the surface, drowning her in an overwhelming tide of pain.

Why was it still so raw? Why did her heart still ache for someone who had made it abundantly clear that she held no value in his life? She should have felt nothing-she wanted to feel nothing. Yet, the bitterness of his rejection clung to her, a reminder of every moment she had loved in vain.

She wiped her tears with trembling hands, her breath still hitching from the sobs that wracked her body. As she sat there, vulnerable and broken, something stirred deep inside her-a flicker of strength buried beneath the pain. She wouldn't let Sahil, or anyone else, tear her apart like this ever again. Her heart had suffered enough.

With the last remnants of her tears wiped away, she stood up on shaky legs and stepped toward the sink. She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water over her face, feeling the chill jolt her back to reality. The woman she saw in the mirror wasn't the one she wanted to be-not anymore.

Her reflection stared back at her, eyes swollen from crying, her skin pale from exhaustion. But behind that fragility, there was something else now-an ember of defiance. She clenched the edges of the sink, her knuckles turning white as she forced herself to look deeper, to see past the tears and the heartbreak.

"From tomorrow onwards," she whispered, her voice steadying, "there will be a new Ishika. One who won't let anyone crush her again."

The words felt like an oath, a promise to herself that she would no longer be the woman who let her worth be defined by others, least of all Sahil. She would rise from this, stronger, unbreakable. The scars he had left on her heart would no longer be a symbol of her pain, but of her survival.

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End of the chapter.

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