It was meant to be the most beautiful day of her life, the day after her wedding. The start of a new chapter, of love and companionship. But reality felt nothing like the dream she had held in her heart.

Trisha had always been an early riser. That morning, like every other, she woke early. She instinctively turned to her side, expecting warmth, expecting him. But her fingers touched nothing but cold sheets. The bed was untouched. It was evident Vardaan hadn't returned that night.

Her heart sank. A hollowness spread through her chest. She wanted to cry, scream, ask what had gone wrong, but whom would she ask? There was no one. And even if there was, what could she say?

Dragging herself out of bed, she walked to the washroom. Her body moved like it had learned to survive without feeling. She cleansed her face, moisturized her skin, each act a distraction from the ache inside. She draped herself in a red saree, the one Vardaan had said was his favorite. She had once imagined wearing it for him with joy glowing in her eyes. Now, she wore it to remember what used to be,what she thought was love.

She sat on the ottoman, carefully applying kajal, lipstick, and finally, the sindoor in her hairline. The sindoor and mangalsutra were supposed to mark the beginning of her new life, yet they felt more like chains now, silent reminders of a promise broken too soon.

Her eyes wandered to the clock. She still had time. As she fidgeted with the hem of her saree, a memory crept in, uninvited yet vivid. She remembered the day Vardaan gifted her the saree. It was the day their wedding date was fixed.

"Yeh lo, tumhare liye kuch laya hu," he had said, eyes glowing with mischief. ["Here, I got something for you."]

She had opened the box and gasped with delight. "Kitni sundar saree hai, yeh aap mere liye laaye ho?" she'd twirled with joy. ["What a beautiful saree! You brought this for me?"]

He had smirked. "Nahi, Diksha ke liye laya hu." ["No,I brought it for Diksha"]

She had playfully pushed him in protest, and he had used that moment to gently hold her arms, pull her close, and kiss her softly. That kiss had turned intense-passionate. They were lost in each other until her brother, Dhanay entered the room unannounced, coughing to announce his presence, a habit from childhood he never outgrew.

The memory hit her like a wave, warm, painful, and distant. Tears welled up in her eyes. That was the man she fell in love with. The man she married. Where was he now?

She needed him. Needed reassurance. Needed an explanation. Maybe something had gone wrong. Maybe he had a reason. She picked up her phone, determined to call him.

But before she could, her mother-in-law's voice echoed from downstairs, "Trisha beta, agar tum taiyyar ho gayi to niche aa jao. Tumhari pehli rasoi hai aaj." ["Trisha dear,if you're ready, come downstairs. It's your first cooking ritual."]

She composed herself and made her way to the kitchen. Every dish she cooked was one of Vardaan's favorites. She poured her heart into the food, hoping he would notice, hoping it would remind him of her love.

Her in-laws sat at the dining table-Niharika and Tribhuvan. She served them with a smile that barely masked the storm within. Her eyes scanned the room repeatedly. He was still not there.

Trying to sound casual, she asked, "Mom, dad...Vardaan kaha gaye hai?" ["Mom,dad... where has Vardaan gone?"]

Niharika gave her a look of disappointment, then sighed, "Iss ladke ko aane do. Apni biwi ke pehli rasoi mein bhi gayab hai." ["Let this boy come.He is even missing his wife's first cooking ritual."]

She glared at Tribhuvan, "Sab aapke wajah se hua hai. Aapka beta aapke jaise workaholic. ["It's all because of you. Your son is a workaholic just like you "]

Beta this father son duo will make me mad one day.Now you are here to take away half of my problems-men of this house love to work, their first wife is their office and then we women are their second priority. Your dad doesn't take care of himself so I have to look after him, it's nearly impossible for him to stay here and leaving him alone means he won't be eating well. So I have to leave but I am nearby, if Vardaan does something wrong, I am just one call away. Aur aap Tribhuvan apne bete ko samjha dena" ["And you Tribhuvan, please talk some sense into your son."]

Tribhuvan joked, "Theek hai memsahab, mai usko samjha dunga." ["Alright madam, I'll take to him."]

Everyone chucked, but Trisha's heart felt heavier with each passing second. Once breakfast ended, Niharika informed her that they would be heading back to their mansion in the countryside. Trisha pleaded with them to stay, but Niharika gently reminded her that newlyweds need their space, and Tribhuvan's work couldn't wait.

And just like that, they left. The silence of the massive mansion wrapped around her like a suffocating fog. She wandered back to her room, her footsteps echoing too loudly in empty halls.

She sat on the bed, debating whether to call Vardaan. Her finger hovered over his contact when the door creaked open.

He was here.

Without wasting a second, she rushed to him and clutched his arm. "Vardaan, kaha the aap, raat ko aye bhi nahi ,office gaye the kya?" ["Vardaan, where were you? You didn't even come last night. Were you at the office?"]

He didn't answer. He didn't even look at her. He walked past her, into the washroom.

She waited.

When he came out, freshly showered, towel wrapped around his waist, she tried again. Her heart beat faster, not in love, but fear. His silence was sharper than any slap.

She knew a hungry Vardaan meant trouble, so she hurried to bring the food she had lovingly prepared. He was at the mirror, buttoning his shirt. She called out his name, gently at first, then louder desperate to break through the walls he was building "maine veg rolls,paneer, chole bhature aur kheer sab aapke pasand ke banaaye hai." ["I made veg roll, paneer, chole bhature , and kheer, all your favourites."]

He ignored her.

Panic rising in her chest, she walked over, placed a hand on his shoulder, and turned him toward her. "Vardaan, kya hua hai aapko? Aap ignore kyu kar rahe hai mujhe?Hadd hoti hai, aisa kya ho gaya hain? agar itna hi attitude dikhana hai to shaadi kyu ki mai jaa rahi hu apne maaike" ["Vardaan, what's wrong with you? Why are you ignoring me? This is too much attitude, why did you even marry me? I'm going back to my parents' home,"]

Again, no response.

Frustrated and heartbroken, she lightly pushed him-a habit from the past. A small, harmless act.

But something inside him snapped.

He shoved the plate from her hand. It shattered on the floor.

Her heart stopped.

"Pagal ho gaye hai kya aap? Khana kyu feka aapne?" she screamed, her voice trembling with confusion and hurt. ["Are you out of your mind? Why did you throw the food?"]

That was the final spark. He slapped her. Hard.

The world blurred for a second. Her head turned sharply, her cheek stinging. She touched her face in disbelief. Tears poured from her eyes.

"Bloody dimwit samajh nahi aata tujhe? Nahi dekhni teri shakal mujhe, aur na hi tere haath ka khaana khana hai. Aur kya kaha tha maaike jayegi tu? Teri itni aukaat nahi, tere baap ki aukaat nahi thi ki shaadi ka kharcha utha paye.Shaadi chhod, yeh jo tune saree pehen rakhi hai yeh bhi tere baap ke aukaat ki bahar ki hai. Kis duniya mein jee rahi hai? Agar maine tujhe ghar se nikala to tera agla ghar footpath hoga maaika nahi, tujhe kahi aur rehne ke layak nahi chhodunga. Teri taange tod dunga agar ek kadam bhi ghar se nikala to. Chal nikal yaha se ab." ["Bloody dimwit, can't you understand? I don't want to see your face, nor do I want to eat the food made by you. And what did you just say? You'll go to your parents' house? You don't have that kind of status, your father couldn't even afford the wedding expenses. Forget the wedding, even the saree you are wearing is beyond your father's reach. What kind of dream world are you living in? If i throw you out of this house, your next home will be the footpath, not your parents' house. I won't leave you fit to live anywhere. I'll break your legs if you even take one step out. Now get out of here."]

His words cut deeper than the slap. But she couldn't hold back anymore.

"Yeh kya bol rahe hai aap? Mai... mai papa ko bata dungi." ["What are you saying? I...I'll tell my father."]

And with that, the last shred of peace shattered.

He grabbed her hair, yanked it violently, and slapped her again.

"Kya kaha? Apne baap ko batayegi? Hai himmat tere mein? Biwi hai tu meri. Agar humari ek baat bhi iss kamre se bahar gayi to anjaam bura hoga. Bhool mat, tera bhai mere company mein kaam karta hai. Mere tukdo pe palte hai tere gharwale." [What did you say? You'll tell your father? Do you have the guts? You're my wife. If a single word about us leaves this room, the consequences will be severe. Don't forget, your brother works in my company. Your family lives off my scraps."]

Trisha stared at him, broken, shaken to her core. "Aap... aap mujhe dhamki de rahe hai?" ["You...you're threatening me?"]

He smirked, the cruelty in his eyes now unmistakable.

"Dhamki? Kaide mein nahi rahegi to dhamki ko sach mein badal dunga." ["Threat? If you don't stay in line, I'll turn that threat into reality "]

Then he pushed her hard.

She stumbled backward and crashed onto the floor.

Her body ached. Her heart cracked. Her spirit,what was left of it, collapsed with her.

The cold floor beneath her was the only thing holding her up now. Tears spilled endlessly, her sobs quiet and choked. The weight of everything-the loneliness, the betrayal, the violence, everything overwhelmed her.

And as darkness took over her senses, she fainted. Alone. Afraid. And deeply broken.