Chapter 47: When Love Was Tested

The silence in the house did not last long.

Ridhima stepped forward, her eyes filled with anger, pain, and something far more dangerous.

“I am alive,” she said, her voice shaking. “How could you marry someone else?”

Veeresh’s expression hardened.

“Where were you all these years?” he asked, his tone sharp. “Do you even know what we went through?”

Ridhima did not answer that.

Instead, her eyes moved around the room.

“Mannat…” she whispered.

She walked forward, trying to pick her up.

But Mannat did not go to her.

Instead, she clung tightly to Poornima, burying her face into her, holding her as if she was her only safety.

That moment broke something.

Not quietly.

Violently.

Ridhima’s face twisted with rage.

“You took my husband and my daughter,” she shouted. “You… whore.”

The word had barely left her mouth.

Before a sharp sound cut through the air.

Veeresh slapped her.

Hard.

The room froze.

“One more word against her…” Veeresh said, his voice dangerously low, “and I will not stay quiet.”

His eyes were filled with anger.

“I married her legally,” he continued. “How dare you call her names?”

Ridhima stared at him, stunned for a second.

Then something shifted again.

Something darker.

“If she does not leave this house,” she said, her voice trembling, “I will slit my hand.”

Before anyone could react, she grabbed something sharp and cut her wrist.

“Ridhima!” voices echoed around.

Chaos broke out instantly.

But Poornima…

She stood still for a moment.

Her heart pounding.

Her mind racing.

Then she made a decision.

Without creating a scene.

Without saying anything.

She took Aryan’s hand quietly.

“Mumma…” Mannat cried immediately, holding onto her saree.

Poornima bent down, her eyes already filled with tears.

“Shona…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “For some time, you stay here. Mumma will come and take you.”

Mannat cried harder.

“No… Poonu… please…”

The word hit her deeply.

Poornima’s hands trembled.

She picked her up and held her tightly for a second.

Then slowly…

She let go.

Ridhima, despite her injury, stepped forward and took Mannat.

Mannat screamed.

“Mumma…!”

Poornima’s heart shattered.

Tears rolled down her face, but she did not turn back.

Because if she did,

She knew she would not be able to leave.

She walked out.

With Aryan.

Each step heavier than the last.

She reached her parents’ house, right next to the mansion.

The moment she entered the room,

She broke.

Completely.

She cried.

Not quietly.

Not controlled.

But like everything inside her had finally given up holding.

Aryan stood near her, scared, not understanding fully, but knowing something was wrong.

Back in the mansion,

Veeresh stood still for a moment.

Everything around him felt chaotic.

His parents were trying to manage Ridhima.

The house was no longer peaceful.

It felt… broken.

He could not stay there.

He left.

Straight to the bar.

Drink after drink.

Trying to silence everything.

But nothing stopped.

Not the memory of Mannat crying.

Not the image of Poornima walking away.

Not the fear of losing everything he had built.

Yashoda and Rajeev stood helpless.

Worried.

Not just for him.

But for all of them.

Because in one night,

The life they had carefully built together

Had begun to fall apart.