6. Where is Ishika

Author's POV

Ishika arrived at Aditi's house, suitcase in hand, filled with some of her old clothes from before her marriage to Sahil. She intentionally left behind everything that had been purchased with Sahil's money, including the jewelry he had given her. The only piece she wore was her mother's pendant, a cherished gift from her 18th birthday. Among her belongings were a few pieces of jewelry gifted by her family for her wedding-a bittersweet reminder of a loveless married life.

Ishika took a deep breath, her heart racing, before ringing the bell at Aditi's house. Moments later, the door swung open, and Aditi's face lit up with a warm smile upon seeing her best friend. But that smile quickly shifted to confusion and concern as she noticed Ishika's suitcase. After a brief moment of shock, Aditi stepped aside, urging her to come in.

As they settled at the kitchen table, Aditi prepared tea, her eyes never leaving Ishika's face, filled with worry. Ishika, feeling the weight of her friend's gaze, let out a heavy sigh.

"I asked for a divorce from Sahil," she finally admitted. Aditi's eyes widened in disbelief, her shock rendering her momentarily speechless.

Encouraged by the silence, Ishika poured out everything that had transpired the night before and earlier that afternoon. Her voice trembled as she recounted the heartbreak, the arguments, and the feeling of being trapped. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and Aditi instinctively moved closer, enveloping her in a warm, reassuring hug.

"I'm here for you," Aditi whispered, holding her tight. In that embrace, Ishika felt a mixture of grief and relief-grief for the life she thought she'd have, and relief at the decision she had made.

Aditi stroked her hair gently, offering the comfort that only a best friend could provide, as the two women shared a moment heavy with unspoken understanding and love.

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At Sahil Malhotra's House

Sahil stepped into his home after a long, exhausting day, greeted only by darkness and silence. The emptiness of the house felt unnerving. "Ishika?" he called out, but no response came. Frowning, he pulled out his phone, using its flashlight to find the switch. As soon as he flipped it on, the house was bathed in light, but the eerie silence remained, sending a chill down his spine.

He went to the kitchen-empty. Then he checked the bedroom, but it was too deserted, the bed perfectly made, untouched. A glance at his watch only fueled his frustration.

"Where could she be at this hour without informing him?" he thought.

Annoyed, he opened the wardrobe to grab his nightwear and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Afterward, he sat down, trying to distract himself by scrolling through emails on his phone, but his irritation grew as time passed. An hour later, still no word from her.

Unable to hold back any longer, he called her, his frustration mounting. The phone rang, but she didn't answer. His temper flared. He called again. Nothing.

"Where the hell is she?" he muttered, anger simmering as he stared at his phone.

As the minutes ticked by, Sahil's frustration turned into hunger, and he gave up on calling her again. His stomach growled, pushing him toward the kitchen. He opened the fridge-nothing. He checked the stove, the counters-still nothing.

His irritation grew. She hadn't even prepared dinner.

Angry now, he dialed her number again. After the third ring, she finally picked up.

"Hello?" came her voice.

Sahil clenched the phone, trying to control his rising frustration.

"Where the hell are you, Ishika?" His voice boomed through the entire house.

On the other end, Ishika flinched. Trying to steady her trembling, she replied in a calm voice, "I'm at my friend's house."

"What are you doing at your friend's house? Have you even seen what time it is? And why the hell you didn't make dinner?" His voice came out harsh, the edges sharp as he struggled to keep his growing anger in check.

"I'm not living with you anymore, Sahil, like I said-I want a divorce. And don't call me again, you're disturbing my sleep," Ishika's voice was calm but icy, with a sharp edge. "Oh, and one more thing-make your own dinner from now on. I'm done cooking for you."

Before Sahil could even respond, the line went dead. She had hung up, leaving him in stunned silence.

For a moment, Sahil just stared at his phone, frozen in disbelief. Did she really just tell him not to disturb her and make his own food? The audacity of it hit him like a wave, and his anger flared.

His grip tightened around the phone, knuckles turning white, as frustration surged through him. Fuming, he slammed it down on the table and stormed to the kitchen, gulping down water in a desperate attempt to cool the fire inside him. But the hunger gnawed at him, and now, a headache began to pound behind his eyes.

With a frustrated sigh, he stomped upstairs, his mind racing with fury and disbelief. All he wanted was to sleep and escape the chaos in his head, but even that felt out of reach.

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On the other hand, Ishika stared at her phone for a moment, memories flooding back as she reflected on her life with Sahil. She thought of their marriage, recalling the joy she had felt when her uncle arranged the union. The day she got engaged to him had been one of the happiest of her life-the first time she had experienced true happiness after her parents' death.

But now, those cherished memories felt burdensome, like a weight she couldn't shake. She let out a deep sigh as the reality of her situation settled in.

Feeling overwhelmed, she curled up in bed, trying to push the thoughts away and drift into sleep.

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End of the Chapter.

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