That night when Shaurya returned from the hospital, he just sat there in the darkness and silence, feeling lethargic to even turn on the lights.

After some time his phone rang, he answered his phone even though he didn't want to.

"Hello, Shaurya," Lucky's voice greeted from the other side. "I dropped them off."

"Thank you." Shaurya curtly replied. "Bye!"

"Wait!" Lucky said when Shaurya was about to hang up. "I am sorry." He spoke after a short spurt of silence.

"I can't believe you were a part of this," Shaurya said. The hurt that one of his closest friends had betrayed him like this was evident in his tone.

"I was just-"

"Nothing you say is going to make this right." Shaurya interrupted. "I'll talk to you later." He quickly ended the call. Right now, his emotions were all over the place, and he didn't want to say anything that ruined his friendship forever.

As he sat quietly, he tried to give Dhvani the benefit of the doubt. Think of justifications for her actions, but he couldn't. Even if she didn't want to continue their relationship, they could have at least be co-parents to Dhruv.

Dhruv.... his son.... whose first six years of life he had missed because of his wife's ego.

Looking up to the ceiling, he half laughed, and half cried at his fate. What sins had he committed that his personal life had turned out like this? Ever since he was 16, he had decided that there were only two people that he wanted to work hard for- Dhvani and his father.

"Papa!" He called out. "Do you hear me?" He asked. "Remember what you always used to say to me? 'Take care of Dhvani. She is a very good girl and loves you a lot. Don't break her heart.'" He laughed out loud and wiped his tears and nose with the back of his hand. "But I wish you told her the same thing... How could she hide such a big thing from me? What if Dhruv hates me for not being there for him in the last six years?" That's when he remembered how upset he was when he found out that his father wasn't going to be there at his birthday party. He hated that his son was ridiculed for not having a father like he was dead.

As he sat on the bed, the same overwhelming feeling of being lost and being a total failure took over just like that uneventful night when he returned home and realized that Dhvani had just left home without any explanation or discussion. She had even left her phone there. What did that mean?

Angry and frustrated at her, he never called her or tried to make any contact with her for the next three days. He finally went to her father's house to talk to Dhvani after his father had forced him to.

"Sorry, Sir." The security guard shook his head. "I can't let you in without Haripraksh Sir's permission."

Shaurya chuckled in disbelief. "You are new here. Aren't you?"

"Just joined last month." The security guard replied.

"I am Dhvani's husband." Shaurya clarified. "You know Haripraksh Mishra's daughter."

"I know who Dhvani Madam is, but I don't who you are." He looked at him in suspicion.

Shaurya groaned in annoyance. He hadn't expected his father-in-law ever to like him, but this was even a new low for him. "Fine, then can you please call Dhvani and tell her that her husband is here to take her back home."

"I don't think so, but-" the security guard began, but just then, the guard that Shaurya was acquainted with came by.

"Sultan bhai," Shaurya smiled at the older guard. "This guy doesn't recognize me, but can you please let me in? I need to talk to Dhvani."

The man shook his head, looking solemn. "I am sorry, Sir. Haripraksh Sir has strictly said that we don't let anyone in without his permission."

Shaurya's smiled dropped. Taking a huge breath to calm the anger bubbling in his chest. "Fine. Then can you please ask him to see if I can enter his palace and meet my wife?"

"He is busy right now." The new security guard chimed in.

However, Sultan nodded and picked up the phone to call Haripraksh. He also made sure to put the phone on speaker.

"Hello, Sir. Shaurya Sir is here."

There was a long pause, and then Haripraksh spoke. "Who is here?"

The security guard felt uncomfortable at the reaction. He had worked for a long time in the Mishra household, so he knew his boss's rudeness, but his blatant rude behaviour with his son-in-law was shocking to him. "Shaurya, Sir. Dhvani baby's-"

"Okay. Well, I told you not to disturb me under any circumstances. Tell him to wait." He ordered dismissively.

"I'll open the gate and-"

"What were the instructions given to you, Sultan? Don't let anyone into the house without my permission."

Sultan saw Shaurya's face go red in anger and embarrassment. He was surprised that Shaurya still stood there even after being insulted like this. "But, Sir. He is your son-in-law."

"Just follow the instructions given to you. Now, don't disturb me." He said and hung up immediately.

Shaurya hit his fist against the door of the security room and began walking away. He had been humiliated several times by his father-in-law on several occasions; however today he had crossed all limits. Shaurya knew and understood that Dhavni's father would never be able to love him because of his class and status, but could he not even try to be civil with him because of his daughter?

Remembering why he was doing this, he returned to the Mishra house and continued to wait there. With every passing second, his humiliation and embarrassment grew. He was being treated like an unwanted beggar who couldn't be let into the house. The guards tried to give him a chair so he could sit comfortably rather than on the ground, but he refused. He wanted to see how far Haripraksh Mishra could take this. He just wanted to speak Dhvani once and try to clear her misunderstanding. He didn't know how the idea that he was having an affair with his manager Priya Sinha had gotten into her head, however, he would clear everything for once and for all.

After nearly four hours of Shaurya waiting in the scorching heat, the gates opened.

"Sorry, Sir." The security guards whispered in unison.

"Not your fault." Shaurya patted Sultan and tried to smile. "You were just following the rich man's orders."

"Have a seat," Haripraksh ordered gruffly as soon as Shaurya entered the living room.

"It's fine," Shaurya said with a mock smile. "I don't want to ruin your expensive couches."

Haripraksh didn't seem affected by the taunts at all. "Where is the tea I asked for?" He ordered loudly in the direction of the kitchen without offering anything to Shaurya.

"I want to speak to my wife. Where is she?" Shaurya asked.

"She doesn't want to speak to you," Haripraksh said, picking up a thick bunch of papers and hurling it at him. "She has asked me to give this to you."

Shaurya was stunned at the papers. "Divorce? What?" He spoke, flabbergasted. "Where is Dhvani? Let me speak to her. Our relationship hasn't gotten that bad that we need a divorce. It's just a little misunderstanding that I can-"

"She said she doesn't want to speak to you. What part of that did you not understand?" Haripraksh Mishra said sipping on the tea that the house help had served.

"Dhvani!" Shaurya roared as he made his way to the stairs that led to Dhavni's room. He kept calling her name as he ran around the house trying to find his wife.

"She is not here. She has gone to London and has given me a power of attorney." Haripraksh calmly stated when Shaurya returned to the living room. "She doesn't even want to see your face."

"This all your doing." He screamed and charged at his father-in-law. "You never wanted us to be happy. You have always wanted her to leave me."

Haripraksh scoffed and slowly stood up. "You know Dhvani has always been a very kindhearted and loving child. She would pick up stray dogs and cats and bring them home just like she picked you because she felt pity for you. You were the lost and hurt puppy that no one wanted, so she brought you home thinking she loved you, but when in reality, all she felt for you was sympathy. It is better late than never. She has woken up and understood that you aren't worthy of love. Sympathy, yes, but love? No."

Shaurya's anger knew no bounds as he tried to punch his father-in-law, but in the nick of time, Sultan and his other security guard pulled him back. "Sir, please." The guard begged as they pulled Shaurya away from Haripraksh despite Shaurya's flailing.

"You know what?" Shaurya said, pulling himself free out of the security guard's hold. He bent down to pick up the divorce papers and signed it hurriedly with the pen on the table. "Congratulations! This is your dream come true. I am signing these because I deserve better. I deserve someone who trusts me and not someone who is looking for opportunities for me to mess up, so she can saunter out of my life. Your daughter is not worthy of my love, Mr. Haripraksh Mishra. If over a misunderstanding, she can go ahead and sign these papers without letting me even explain my stance then..." he scoffed and threw the papers on the floor and walked right out of the Mishra house and Dhvani Mishra's life.

Author's note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter❤ Please vote and comment if you guys did. Really really would mean a lot to me.