ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ

Adyant stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Veda's tears still echoed in his mind, but he couldn't muster any empathy inside him.

How can he feel empathy for a woman he considers hates with his guts?

His insides screamed and with that ue stepped out of the mansion.

Their marriage was a hollow shell, a mere facade of happiness. Adyant's resentment toward Veda grew with each passing day and he felt suffocated to be in the same house with her.

He entered his office, seeking some solace in work. A few minutes later, Rohan, his efficient assistant, looked up from his desk.

"Sir, the merger meeting is scheduled for 10 am. Shall I brief you?"

Rohan asked, handing Adyant a thick file.

Adyant nodded curtly, his thoughts still consumed by his tumultuous marriage as Mehek's memories surrounded him yet again.

As he scanned the documents, his mind wandered to the countless arguments, the unfulfilled dreams, resentment towards him and own wife and the stifling silence that filled their home.

Veda's innocent face flashed in his mind, but Adyant's anger quickly suppressed the image. He couldn't forgive her for being a constant reminder of his sacrificed happiness. He couldn't forgive how that stupid girl from a mere village turned his whole life upside down.

Veda, for him have always been a gold digger who accepted to marry him for the wealth and status of Rathore family and he will make sure to make her regret this decision every single day of her life.

He wished to divorce the wench called Veda after a year of their marriage but unfortunately for him, she fell pregnant, that too with twins.

He was careful enough to always use protection every time they had sex but sometimes we don't always get what we want from life and soon his plans failed and he had to act like the perfect, loving husband of the woman he hates the most.

His first instinct was to get rid of the problems growing inside that woman's womb but soon he found himself getting attached to those tiny lives.

Adyant would lie if he ever says that he dislikes his children.

For him, Eira and Vedansh are the most beautiful part of his life. He had never thought that he would come to love the children born out of that distasteful woman this much.

He loved his children more than anything. Especially his baby daughter, Eira. She has him clearly wrapped around her tiny little finger that he's sure of.

Coming out of his thoughts he looked at Rohan, his assistant with a firm look in his eyes.

Rohan, get me the Johnson report," Adyant barked, diverting his attention to the task at hand.

Rohan hesitated, sensing his boss's agitation. "Sir, is everything-"

"Just get the report, Rohan," Adyant interrupted, his tone sharp which made Rohan tremble slightly. The poor guy knew what kind of man his boss was.

As Rohan scurried to obey, Adyant's gaze fell upon their wedding photo on his desk. Veda's bright smile and his own forced grin mocked him.

He suddenly felt the bitterness building up inside his chest.

Adyant hated how his mother had put this wedding picture on his desk.

Everyday he felt a sudden urge to break the picture of that cursed day into pieces and burn it to ashes.

He turned away, the image burning into his memory.

Rohan hastily exited the office, leaving Adyant alone with his thoughts. The silence was oppressive, weighing heavily on his shoulders as his mind and thoughts wavered back to Veda.

Adyant's gaze drifted to the city skyline outside his window. The hustle and bustle of Mumbai's streets was a stark contrast to the stagnation of his marriage and the bitter emotions inside of him.

Oh how much he wished for Veda to disappear....

He thought back to the arguments, the hurt, hate, the unspoken resentments and Veda's attempts to please him only fueled his frustration.

He hated how that woman wished for him to behave with her like a real husband.

She was a witch who ate all his happiness and now she wants him to be her perfect husband?

His lips curled up in a bitter chuckle as he thought about her and how he Will have to behave like a good husband in front of all his family

Adyant took his phone out of the pocket and scrolled through the dating app swiping left and right.

It gives him a sick satisfaction when he talks to all those women in calls or chats with them in front of Veda.

He loves it when he shows their picture to his wife and compares her to them.

He feels content to see the hurt in Veda's face when he gives attention to those educated and high class women who want him desperately and most of all he loves the way it shatters Veda's self esteem into tiny pieces.

He revels in her pain and agony.

"Sir, the Johnson report," Rohan announced, returning with the file.

Adyant took the report, his eyes scanning the pages without registering the content. His mind was elsewhere, trapped in the cycle of anger, hate and conflicted emotions.

Just as he began to focus on the report, his phone buzzed.

His jaw clenched and his face hardened as Veda's name flashed on the screen.

"Adyant, please-"

"I'm busy," he cut her off, his tone firm.

Veda's voice trembled. "I just want to talk-"

"Later, Veda. Not now." Adyant ended the call, his jaw clenched and annoyance visible in his face.

"But Adyant-"

"I've meetings to handle here, Veda. I don't stay at the mansion all day and enjoy free luxuries."

He spoke, the venom was visible in his voice and with that Veda was broken, yet again and the phone went off.

Rohan cleared his throat, sensing the tension surrounding the room. "Sir, perhaps-"

"No, Rohan. Just leave it." Adyant's warning glance silenced his assistant.

The office fell silent once more, the only sound was the hum of the air conditioner and silent echoes of Adyant's hate for an innocent heart.

***

In the Rathore mansion

Veda stood in the bedroom, her eyes fixed on the door Adyant had slammed shut. Tears streamed down her face as she wondered what she had done wrong this time.

With each passing day, his cold demeanor was leaving her feeling isolated and alone.

What did she do wrong?

She married a man she was betrothed to since childhood.

Is loving him her only fault?

The pain shot through her heart as tears continued to pour like niagara falls from her beautiful brown eyes.

She has always remained loyal to him. She had loved him ever since she learnt to know the meaning of love.

From her teenage years, Veda learnt all the things which Adyant liked.

She wanted to be perfect for him.

What did she do to deserve this treatment from the only man she has loved with all her heart?

The questions swirled in her mind and her tears poured like a heartbreaking rainfall.

Veda's gaze fell upon their children, Eira and Vedansh, playing quietly in the adjacent room. Her heart swelled with love and affection as she looked at their innocent faces.

She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. For her children's sake, she had to keep trying to make this marriage work.

"Mommy's fine, babies," Veda forced a smile, joining Eira and Vedansh.

Eira, her 3 year-old daughter, looked up with concern. "Mama, why are you crying?"

Veda hugged her tightly. "Mommy's fine, babies,"

Veda forced a smile, joining Eira and Vedansh.

Just a little tired, sweetie. Let's have breakfast."

Vedansh, Eira's twin brother chimed in, "Mama, I want Papa!"

Veda's heart ached as she looked at her innocent children.

"I want him too, baby."

She mumbled softly with her heart breaking from inside.

"Papa will come home soon, beta," Veda replied, trying to sound convincing.

As they sat down to eat, Veda's mind wandered to her own family.

Her parents, who had passed away, would have been devastated by her marriage.

They had always wished nothing but happiness for her.

They were sure that she would be happy with Adyant.

Only if they knew....

Her in law's loved her like her real parents but happiness was a far away word for her now.

She knew how to act happy in front of her in law's but only she knew how hollow she was from inside.

She was a hollow shell of a person who was losing herself everyday.

She was a broken doll just like her fractured marriage and destroyed destiny.

━━━━━━━━━━

So how was the first chapter you all?