As Anamika rested against the hospital bed, Ishita sat beside her, gently placing a reassuring hand on hers. The warmth of Ishita's presence felt comforting, something Anamika hadn’t felt in a long time. 

“You’re so lucky, Ishita,” Anamika said softly, her voice filled with admiration. “You have such a loving husband and a sweet daughter. It’s like a perfect little family.” 

Ishita smiled, her eyes twinkling with love. “It’s a dream come true for me as well, Anamika. Sometimes, I still can’t believe it.” 

Anamika tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her gaze. “How long have you and Raman been married?” 

“Two years,” Ishita replied with a content smile. 

Anamika frowned slightly, confusion evident on her face. “But Roohi is seven years old…” 

Ishita chuckled at Anamika’s reaction, as if she had expected the question. “Roohi is my stepdaughter. She is Raman’s first wife, Shagun’s, daughter. Shagun left her when she was just an infant.” 

Anamika’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? She abandoned her own child?” 

Ishita nodded solemnly. “Yes. She walked out on Raman and Roohi, choosing another life over them. Raman was shattered, and he fought for Roohi’s custody. That’s when we got married—not for love, but for Roohi. He needed a stable home, and I wanted to be Roohi’s mother.” 

Anamika looked at her in awe. “And now?” 

Ishita’s smile deepened as she glanced at Raman, who was standing outside the hospital room talking to the doctor. “Now, we’re deeply in love. It wasn’t planned, but love found us. Roohi is our world, and Raman… he’s my everything. I consider myself lucky to have them both.” 

Anamika felt a strange warmth in her heart as she listened to Ishita. There was something so pure and beautiful about the way Ishita spoke of her family. A love that wasn’t just about passion but about care, respect, and devotion. 

She smiled faintly. “You really are lucky, Ishita. You have what every woman dreams of.” 

Ishita squeezed her hand. “And you will, too, Anamika. Happiness has its own way of finding us.” 

But deep down, Anamika wasn’t sure if happiness was meant for her anymore. 

Just then, Raman entered the hospital room, his face carrying a mixture of concern and curiosity. He glanced at Anamika, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “you're pregnant, huh? Where is your husband? Call kiya usse?” His tone was light, but the question held weight. 

Anamika’s fingers instinctively clenched the bedsheet. She hesitated, avoiding his gaze. “I… I’m not with my husband anymore,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I don’t want to discuss it.” 

Raman immediately realized he had touched a sensitive topic. He glanced at Ishita, who subtly signaled him not to push further. Understanding her cue, he sighed and straightened up. “Alright, I get it. I won’t ask anything else. Just take care of yourself, okay?” 

Anamika gave a small nod, grateful for the retreat. Raman gave Ishita a meaningful glance before stepping out of the room, leaving the two women alone. 

For a while, there was only silence. Ishita sat beside Anamika, observing her closely. She noticed the way Anamika’s grip on the bedsheet tightened, the way her breathing became uneven, as if she was holding back emotions that were threatening to spill. 

Ishita reached out, gently placing a hand over Anamika’s. “You don’t have to hold it in,” she said softly. 

That was all it took. Anamika’s barriers crumbled, and her shoulders shook as the first sob broke free. She covered her face with her hands, her entire body trembling. “I… I don’t know how things went so wrong, Ishita. I loved him so much… we were supposed to be happy…” 

Ishita didn’t rush her, didn’t interrupt. She simply held Anamika’s hand tighter, giving her the space to let it all out. 

Anamika took a shuddering breath before she began to speak. “Vineet… he was my world. I thought we had something unbreakable. But then things started to fall apart. He left me. He accused me of not understanding him, of being selfish. And now… now he’s with someone else…” 

Ishita frowned, listening intently. “You mean he’s in another relationship?” 

Anamika laughed bitterly, tears rolling down her cheeks. “His assistant, Shikha. She was with him when he came to see me today. She accused me too, Ishita. Said I wasn’t a good wife, that I couldn’t keep my husband happy… and the worst part?” Her voice cracked. “He didn’t stop her. He let her say those things.” 

Ishita’s expression darkened. “That’s not right. No matter what happened between you two, no one has the right to belittle you like that.” 

Anamika wiped her tears angrily. “I tried to move on. I tried to be strong. But it still hurts, Ishita. I don’t want to need him, but sometimes, I can’t help it. And now, I’m carrying his child, and he doesn’t even know because I don't want to tell him.” 

Ishita squeezed her hand. “it's totally your choice, but sometimes communication is all you need.” 

Anamika shook her head, more tears falling. “No. I won’t beg for love. I won’t tell him just so he’ll feel guilty and come back. If he truly cared, he would’ve seen my pain. He would’ve stayed. But he didn’t.” 

Ishita sighed, brushing a strand of hair away from Anamika’s face. “You’re stronger than you realize, Anamika. You don’t need to beg for love, but you do need to let go of this pain. Whether you tell him or not, do it for yourself, not for him.” 

Anamika let out a shaky breath, the weight of her emotions settling deep in her heart. She didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t going to break. 

Not anymore. 

Anamika wiped her tears, taking a deep breath as if gathering the courage to reveal the truth that had been suffocating her for so long. Her voice was heavy with exhaustion, her emotions raw. “Ishita… Vineet is in love with another woman. A one-sided love.” 

Ishita’s brows furrowed. “What?” 

Anamika gave a bitter chuckle, shaking her head. “Her name is Vandita. She’s married. But that hasn’t stopped Vineet. He’s obsessed with her. He…” Her voice trailed off, pain flickering in her eyes. “He doesn’t love me anymore. He’s too busy chasing a woman who will never love him back.” 

Ishita’s entire body stiffened. A strange silence filled the room. It was as if the air had been sucked out, leaving nothing but shock behind. 

“Vandita?” Ishita repeated, her eyes widening in disbelief. 

Anamika nodded slowly, confusion creeping into her expression at Ishita’s reaction. “Yes… you know her?” 

Ishita let out a heavy breath, her fingers tightening into fists. “I don’t just know her, Anamika… Vandita is my elder sister.” 

Anamika’s eyes widened. “What?” 

Ishita leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples, trying to process everything. “I knew someone had been bothering Vandita. She told me a man had been crossing boundaries, following her, calling her despite her rejections. I warned him, Anamika. I told him to stay away from my sister. But I didn’t know… I didn’t know that man was Vineet and he was married.” 

Anamika’s breath hitched as reality sunk deeper. “You’re saying you confronted him before?” 

Ishita nodded, her jaw tightening in frustration. “Yes. I warned him multiple times, but he never listened. And all this time, I had no idea he was married. I had no idea that his wife was… you.” 

A long silence stretched between them, both women lost in the storm of realization. 

Anamika swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart aching with betrayal all over again. “He abandoned me and now he's behind your sister, Ishita. He left me alone, made me feel like I was nothing… while chasing after a woman who never even wanted him.” 

Ishita closed her eyes, her own frustration bubbling up. “I can’t believe this. I should’ve done more, should’ve figured out who he was. If I had known, I would have put a stop to this sooner.” 

Anamika looked away, her voice distant. “It wouldn’t have made a difference, Ishita. Vineet only sees what he wants to see. He only hears what he wants to hear. No amount of warnings would have stopped him.” 

Ishita exhaled sharply. "I don't think even Akka knows that he's married, that he’s your husband?” 

Anamika shook her head. “No. And I don’t think it would even matter to her. She has a family. A husband who loves her. She would never destroy her home for Vineet.” 

Ishita’s hands curled into fists. “I need to talk to her. And I need to confront Vineet again. This has gone too far.” 

Anamika let out a shaky breath. “Do what you think is right. But I’m done. I’m done chasing, crying, hoping. I just want to move on, Ishita.” 

Ishita softened, placing a comforting hand over Anamika’s. “You will, Anamika. And you won’t be alone. I promise.” 

Anamika looked at her, eyes filled with gratitude. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she had an ally. Someone who truly understood her pain. 

And maybe… just maybe… she wasn’t as alone as she thought. 

......

Ishita couldn’t keep it to herself. After her conversation with Anamika, she rushed back to Raman and told him everything—about Vineet’s obsession with Vandita, his abandonment of Anamika. Raman listened, his expression darkening with every word. 

“This is disgusting,” Raman muttered, pacing the room. “Leaving his own pregnant wife and running after a married woman? He has lost his mind. Aab tak lag toh pata hi nahi tha that he's married toh laga he's in love but ye toh neech harkat hai uski.” 

Ishita sighed, her frustration evident. “haan Raman, ye aadmi puri tarah paagal hai. Ek taraf tph ye akka ke piche pada hai dusri aur uski secretary ke saath bhi uska relationship headlines mei hai, samajh nahi aata kitna neeche girega wo. Nahi Raman, I can’t keep this from my akka, we have to tell her.” 

Raman nodded firmly. “Then let’s go. I want to see the look on Vineet’s face when he’s confronted with the truth.” 

Without wasting time, they informed Bala and Vandita, asking them to meet at Vineet’s place. Vandita was confused at first, but when Ishita told her about Vineet’s truth, she was horrified. Bala, on the other hand, was furious. 

“He has been following Vandita?” Bala clenched his fists. “And he oversee his pregnant wife for this madness? Kaisa aadmi hai ye?” 

With all of them determined to put an end to Vineet’s delusion, they drove to his apartment. 

--- 

Vineet had been sitting in his living room, lost in thought. Ever since Ashok’s call, guilt had been gnawing at him. He hadn’t stopped thinking about Anamika, about the pregnancy, about everything he had ruined. But before he could dwell too deeply, the doorbell rang. 

When he opened the door, he wasn’t expecting what stood before him—Raman, Ishita, Vandita, and Bala, all with expressions ranging from disappointment to fury. 

Raman didn’t waste a second. “Are you out of your damn mind, Vineet?” he thundered, stepping inside. “What the hell is wrong with you?” 

Vineet frowned but didn’t respond. 

Bala pushed forward, his voice sharp. “You’ve been following my wife? Harassing her? And all while you had a wife of your own? A wife who is carrying your child?” 

Vandita, standing beside Bala, looked at Vineet with pure disgust. “I never encouraged you, Vineet. Not once! You made up stories in your head. And while you were chasing after me, your pregnant wife was suffering alone?” 

Ishita crossed her arms, her tone cold. “I warned you before, didn’t I? I told you to stay away from akka. But you didn’t listen. And now, you’ve abandoned your own wife, left her to deal with her pregnancy alone, while running after a woman who never wanted you.” 

Vineet stood there, frozen, his face unreadable. 

Raman took a step closer, pointing a finger at him. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? You called Anamika selfish, but the truth is, you’re the most selfish person I’ve ever seen! You left her, accused her, humiliated her, and now she’s in the hospital because of stress!” 

That made Vineet’s eyes flicker with something—pain, regret, guilt. But still, he remained silent. 

Bala scoffed. “You don’t even have the guts to defend yourself? No excuses this time?” 

Vineet clenched his fists but didn’t say a word. 

Ishita let out a bitter laugh. “See, that’s the difference between you and Anamika. She loved you selflessly, while you… you let your obsession blind you. And now, she doesn’t even want you to know about your own child.” 

Vineet flinched at that, but still, he stayed silent. 

Raman shook his head in disgust. “You’re pathetic, Vineet. Truly pathetic.” 

Bala turned to Vandita. “Let’s go. There’s nothing left to say.” 

One by one, they all walked out, leaving Vineet standing in the middle of the room, his mind spinning, his heart heavy. He had never felt so lost, so empty. 

All he realized was he had destroyed everything. 

--- 

To be continued...