Chapter 3: Silence, Screenshots, and the Agreement

That night, the ceiling fan whirred above, stirring the stifling air. I called Arjun. He picked up almost immediately, voice as relaxed as ever—as if nothing had happened, as if my world wasn’t burning.

“What is it?”

“Stop buying trending topics,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My bangles clinked as I gripped the phone tighter, breath catching in my throat.

He paused, then laughed lightly, “Why so down? Are you very sad?”

A wave of frustration hit me. “What exactly do you want?” My composure snapped, my voice cracking like a badly tuned sitar string.

He said nothing.

The words spilled out before I could stop them. “Watching me get exposed, called a homewrecker, Priya Group’s stock price falling—are you happy? Satisfied?”

I was shaking, each word costing me more than the last. My fist clenched, nails digging into my palm, as I blinked away sudden tears.

Who could be this cruel?

After a pause, Arjun’s voice came slow, deliberate: “Don’t cry, babe. Want to see me? I can come over now.”

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I was standing on the balcony, the city lights flickering in the distance, the night breeze cold on my damp cheeks. It felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff.

I could only manage two dry words: “No.”

He repeated, “No?”

“What do you mean, Priya?” His tone turned cold, the warmth gone.

“I don’t want to see you.” Summoning every last bit of strength, I hung up.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, the world spinning around me. Sleep was a distant luxury.

The trending topic was still number one, a digital slap across my face.

My relatives were busy in the family group, tagging me like they were passing judgement in some panchayat:

Until my younger cousin piped up: [“Honestly, if you can’t keep Arjun, don’t hog the spot. Do you know how much trouble this is causing?”]

Once the dam broke, the rest joined in:

A male cousin sent a facepalm emoji: [“So embarrassing, getting trampled by a mistress. If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to go out.”]

[“Arjun spends all his money on that influencer—has he ever spent anything on you, cousin?”]

[“How about just swapping the engagement? Anyway, Arjun doesn’t like you, cousin.”]

The group fell silent after that, the kind of silence that’s heavier than any insult.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

If only people were as easy to swap as soan papdi during Diwali.

But Priya Group was still my father’s fiefdom, and I, his only daughter—a pawn to be played, nothing more.

He wouldn’t let go of the Malhotra connection, not for all the gold in Karol Bagh.

I muted the group, thumb scrolling through my Instagram feed—anything to escape. The first post was from one of the city’s page-three types.

Front and center—Arjun and Riya. His hand rested on her waist, his gaze cocky for the camera. His friends, glasses raised, cheered them on.

An official couple photo, if there ever was one.

On a strange impulse, I double-tapped, liking the post before switching off my phone. Let them see I wasn’t hiding, wasn’t broken.

The WhatsApp forwards surged again:

[“Didi, don’t be sad. The MLA’s son is just pretending. We all know he loves you most.”]

[“Yeah, after his buddy posted that, he kept checking to see if you liked it.”]

[“He really wants to see you. You refused him tonight—he’s so sad.”]

[“Didi, call him. Tell him you’re jealous. He’ll come find you right away, hehe!”]

I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out their voices, the endless opinions and unsolicited advice. I pressed my fists to my eyes, feeling the sticky drag of mascara on my skin.

Time passed—minutes, hours, who knows? Eventually, I sat up, shivering in the night air. I texted my lawyer: “Send me the breakup agreement first. I’ll find a chance to give it to Arjun.”

One more day to transfer assets quietly, making sure neither Arjun nor my father caught wind.

After the reception, I’d take the midnight flight—out of India, out of reach.

Two copies of the agreement: one for my father, one for Arjun. Insurance, so they couldn’t make me disappear into another alliance overnight.

If I stayed, there would be no escape. My father would only find another powerful family, another alliance to bind me.