Flashback...

Anamika stood in front of the dresser, lost in thought as she absentmindedly adjusted her earrings. The soft hum of the ceiling fan filled the room, but her mind was miles away. It had been another long day, and though she tried to shrug off the constant nagging thoughts, they crept in. Vineet's parents still hadn't warmed to her, and despite the years that had passed since they got married, their coldness weighed on her.

Just then, the door creaked open. She didn't turn, already knowing who it was from the familiar soft footsteps. Vineet, her husband, had just returned from the office. Without saying a word, he quietly walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, pressing a tender kiss to her neck.

Anamika smiled softly, momentarily letting her worries fade away. She could feel the warmth of his embrace, the silent reassurance that he was with her, no matter what.

"I missed you," Vineet whispered, his voice deep and filled with love. "I know it's been tough... but you know I'm always here, right?"

Oh!! How can he always know what's in her mind?

Anamika leaned back into him, letting herself melt into his comfort. "I missed you too," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just hard sometimes, Vineet. Maa, Papa... they still haven't accepted me. I don't know where I went wrong? Main bahut koshish kar rahi hoon par..." she sighs.

Vineet sighed, tightening his hold on her as if that would shield her from the pain. "I know," he said softly. "But I'll make it right, Anamika. They don't see what I see... how incredible you are. But I'll do everything I can to show them. You're a part of me, a part of this family, even if they refuse to admit it. And I'm very sure, bahut jaldi they'll accept you!"

She turned in his arms, facing him, her eyes searching his. "You don't have to do more, Vineet. I don't want you to feel like you need to prove anything to me."

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't need to prove anything... but I want to. I want to make sure you always feel like you belong here, because you do. More than anyone else. I don't care what others think all I know is that you belong to me!"

Anamika's eyes softened, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. In that moment, the world outside didn't matter-their bond, their love, was enough. Vineet might be fighting a battle with his family, but in his heart, Anamika was already home.

"Thank you," she whispered against his chest. "I love you."

Vineet kissed the top of her head, holding her tight. "I love you too... always."

For many moments they didn't move until Anamika looked up at Vineet, her fingers gently tracing the lines of his face. A flicker of doubt crossed her mind, something she hadn't voiced before. "Vineet," she began softly, her voice hesitant, "Will you always love me like this? Even if... things don't change with your parents? Even if it gets harder?"

Vineet's eyes softened, and he took her hand in his, pressing it to his chest where his heart beat steadily beneath. "Anamika," he said, his voice firm yet tender, "I'll always love you. No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says, my love for you will never change. You're my world, and I promise, I'll be the same, no matter what."

She searched his eyes for any sign of doubt, but all she found was the unwavering love he had always shown her. A tear escaped down her cheek, but Vineet gently wiped it away, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

"We'll face everything together," he continued, his voice a quiet reassurance. "You and me, against anything. I'm not going anywhere, and I won't let anyone or anything change what we have."

Anamika felt a surge of warmth and relief wash over her, his words wrapping around her like a shield. She leaned into him, her fears easing. "I believe you," she whispered. "I just needed to hear it."

Vineet smiled and hugged her tighter. "You'll hear it as many times as you need to. I'm not letting go, Ana. Ever."

And in that moment, she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would always have each other.

Anamika leaned into Vineet's embrace, feeling the warmth of his words settle deep in her heart. Just when she thought the moment couldn't get any more perfect, Vineet gently pulled away, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Wait," he said, reaching into his pocket with a playful glint in his eyes. "I brought something for you."

Anamika raised her eyebrows in curiosity as he pulled out a small bundle wrapped in a thin cloth. Slowly, he unwrapped it, revealing a delicate string of fresh jasmine flowers-gajra, her favorite.

Her eyes lit up in surprise, a smile spreading across her face. "You got this for me?"

Vineet nodded, stepping closer to her, gently brushing her hair back from her shoulder. "I saw it on the way home, and I thought of you. I know how much you love the scent."

Anamika's heart swelled with emotion as she watched him carefully place the gajra in her hair, his fingers gentle and full of care. The sweet fragrance of jasmine filled the air around them, adding a layer of tenderness to the moment.

She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent, feeling the love Vineet always managed to show her in the smallest of ways. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice soft with gratitude. "Thank you."

Vineet smiled, his eyes warm as he admired the way the flowers nestled perfectly in her hair. "You're beautiful," he said quietly, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "I just wanted to remind you."

Anamika laughed softly, feeling lighter than she had all day. "You always know how to make me feel special," she said, reaching up to touch the flowers in her hair.

"That's because you are special," Vineet replied, wrapping his arms around her once again, holding her close. "And no matter what, I'm always going to do everything I can to show you that."

She smiled, resting her head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. In that moment, with the scent of jasmine around them and Vineet's arms wrapped securely around her, Anamika felt a sense of peace. Despite all the challenges they faced, she knew one thing for certain-Vineet's love was unwavering, and that was all she needed. She may lose anything but not him, she knows!

...

Anamika closes her eyes, letting the tears flow as she sat there, lost in the warmth of her memories-Vineet's tender embrace, the scent of jasmine in her hair, the soft way he would whisper his love into her ear. She had been replaying those moments in her mind, clinging to them like lifelines, hoping they could drown out the harsh reality that now stared her in the face.

But as her eyes fell back onto the crumpled newspaper in her hands, the weight of the present came crashing down on her. Vineet had changed.

Her breath hitched as she came out of her thoughts, and the sweet memories suddenly felt like a cruel contrast to the life he was now living. There he was, smiling with another woman. The smile she once knew, the warmth she once felt-it was now shared with someone else.

Anamika's heart shattered all over again. The love she had believed was forever, the promises he had whispered so sincerely, now felt like lies, broken pieces of something she had desperately held onto for too long.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the newspaper tighter, sobs wracking her body. She had believed him. She had trusted that his love would never change, that they could overcome anything together. But now, it was clear that somewhere along the way, Vineet had drifted, and she had been left behind, clinging to a love that no longer existed.

She wiped her eyes, trying to catch her breath, but the sobs only came harder. The image of Vineet with that woman burned into her mind. She had always known it would be difficult with his parents never fully accepting her, but she never imagined this-that one day, she would be the one on the outside, looking in at a life Vineet had moved on from.

"I trusted you," she whispered, her voice shaking as she spoke to the empty room. "You said you'd always love me. You promised. You broke your promise! Why are you punishing me like this baby, why?"

Her words hung in the air, unanswered. The silence that filled the room was unbearable. Anamika broke down again, curling into herself as the pain of betrayal overwhelmed her. She had loved him with everything she had, and now, seeing how easily he had moved on tore her apart.

She didn't know how long she sat there crying, but it felt endless. The ache in her chest grew heavier with each tear, each realization that Vineet had changed-that the man who had once made her feel like his world was now someone else's.

As the tears flowed, Anamika knew one thing for sure: the Vineet she had known, the one who had brought her gajra and kissed her forehead, was no longer the man in her life. That man was gone.

And with that, a deeper sadness settled over her, the kind that came from accepting that something beautiful had truly ended.

.....

To be continued..