Chapter 16

Mayank had never intended for things to turn out this way. Reeta had entered his life during the war, a time when he needed solace. She was vulnerable, a reflection of the pain he felt inside, and the connection blossomed effortlessly between them.

He found it impossible to forget his first love, and eventually, they had a daughter together. When he brought their child home, he decided to introduce Reeta as his doctor, crafting a flimsy façade that he believed would hold up.

In his mind, life could continue in this way. He never contemplated the notion of divorce; Maira was everything he had ever wanted—perfect and virtuous in his eyes. Their life together seemed secure, or so he thought.

But Maira wouldn't even glance his way anymore. The spark of love and trust she once held for him had been extinguished. She had revered him like a god, believing every promise he made, only to have her world crumble when she learned that Mayank had chosen another woman and had a child with her. The lavish life he had provided for Reeta and their daughter felt like salt in the wound as he neglected Maira and their little girl.

As the ritual to break the marriage string commenced, Mayank's reluctance was palpable. But Maira was resolute; the pain he had inflicted no longer mattered to her. With a swift motion, she severed the string herself, an unexpected wave of relief washing over her.

But for Mayank, the heartbreak was unbearable. The woman who had stood by him for sixteen years, who had once treated him like a god, was now slipping away from his life forever.

Reeta couldn't contain her joy. She stepped forward, linking her arm with Mayank's in full view of the crowd, the triumphant smile on her face telling everyone that her desires were finally fulfilled.

As the elation of the moment engulfed him, Mayank felt numb, too stunned to react.

Just then, their daughter Pari spoke up. "I want to do another ritual."

Mayank's stomach dropped. He instinctively moved to stop her, but Reeta held him back, her grip firm.

"I want to break the bond with my father too," Pari declared, a new strength in her voice. "And I want his blood to be removed from my body. I will be my mother's daughter only."

Gasps spread through the crowd; they had heard whispers of such a ritual but had never witnessed it. The emperor nodded gravely, signaling the beginning.

Mayank's desperation grew as he shouted "No!" She was the only proof of Maira's love for him, the last connection he had left. But it was too late.

The ritual began, a swirling red fog enveloping the three of them, marking the intensity of the unfolding moment. As the procedure concluded, Mayank felt an overwhelming sense of defeat. He collapsed to the ground, dazed and broken.

In stark contrast, Maira felt a rush of freedom. But as she looked at her daughter, something had shifted. Pari's features appeared softer, her smile brighter, and a dimple emerged on her cheek—a beautiful reflection of who Maira had once been.

As Maira embraced her daughter, joy radiated between them. Meanwhile, Prince Veer observed the scene and felt a stirring in his heart; this girl was anything but trash.

When the crowd began to disperse, Mayank remained frozen, unable to comprehend that Maira and Pari were no longer tethered to him. With Reeta's reluctant assistance, he stumbled back home.

Upon entering the mansion, he made his way to Maira's room. Everything appeared in its rightful place, but then he froze. The shelves once filled with cherished jewelry and clothes were bare. Maira had taken only what was hers before their marriage. Everything he had given her during their years together remained untouched.

Realization struck him like a blade: she had wanted nothing of his—she had fully severed their ties. Faced with this harsh truth, the weight of despair became too much to bear, and he fainted, collapsing on the cold floor, completely consumed by the loss of his wife and daughter.