It was like a blow to my chest, which took away my breath. I couldn't hear a single word Ved yelling at me. How come something like that happened? I came back to my sense when I was pushed back by Ved. I stumbled but was able to maintain my balance. I looked at Ved in shock. He was walking towards the satires to his room. I ran to him and stopped him by holding his wrist. He turned towards me. "You don't believe it right. You know I can't do such a thing." I looked at Ved with hope. He can't think of me like that. After everything we went through he won't think like that about me. "Tell me Ved. You are just drunk and angry right. You know that I won't do that. There must be some misunderstanding. We will find out tomorrow okay." I looked at him. My eyes were flowing. He looked at me like he was thinking about what I said. He moved closer, he reeked of alcohol. He raised his hands to touch my cheeks but stopped midway. Then he moved away.

"Woman can do anything. They are good at pretending to care and then backstab at the same time." He said venomously and walked into his room and closed it with a bang. I flinched. I closed my eyes tightly. He is just drunk. He is not thinking straight. He will be fine by morning. He will come around. He is just exasperated by the loss. I said to myself trying to be calm. I weakly walked towards my room and flopped on the bed. But nothing was giving me a peace of mind. I cried till sleep took over me.

I woke up when my phone started to ring. I groaned and sat up on the bed slowly. I reached for my phone but it stopped ringing. I sighed and rubbed my face. That's when everything came back to me. I looked at my phone. It was almost 8 in the morning. Shit. I walked into the bathroom to get ready to office. I wore a formal pants and light blue shirt. I took my hand bag and went downstairs. I saw Ved standing in the living room in his usual suit, ready to go office. I sighed. I slowly walked towards him. I was nervous and scared. I hope he will listen to me. I reached near him and cleared my throat. He turned around and looked at me with a frown. He didn't have his usual smirk. From his look itself I could tell that he is still mad. "I. I want..." I opened my mouth to talk but was cut off by him. "Where do you think you are going?" he asked harshly. I looked away and then lowered my head. "To office." I said in a low voice. "Office?!! After all these you think you will be going to my office again?" He asked angrily. I looked at him startled by his words. I was getting angry. "Why not?!! I haven't done anything. I want to see myself what happened? I am being framed Ved. Why can't you believe me? Please Ved, I didn't do it. I swear. I could take any blame but this I can't. I. I will never betray you. I can't do that." I plead and my cheeks became wet again. "And why shouldn't I doubt you? I know what I did to you was wrong. Very wrong, but I did apologise for it. I give you my word that I won't harm you in anyway and I kept my word. I tried everything to protect you from those bastards. For God's sake I was even ready to give us a chance and I thought you are happy about it." He said his voice hoarse. He sighed and closed his eyes. He took deep breaths and then looked at me again. "It's not the land I'm worried for, it's about trust Niharika. And it is confirmed that the mail was sent from your PC. Tell me who else do have access to your PC?" He asked through gritted teeth. I looked at him and swallowed the sob that came to my throat. I took a deep breath and gulped hard. "No one." I said and looked down. He nodded his head in knowing. "See, that's what I said. And you want me to believe you. Why should I believe you?" He asked. I could feel his anger stirring up. I looked at him. Why can't he believe me for once? I feel myself annoyed and angry. I wanted to shout at him. "I didn't do it Ved. I can't do such a thing to you, because I..." Before I could complete the sentence his phone rang.

He took out the phone from his pocket and answered. "Yes, Sid. Yeah I know. I'm on my way. Bring them to the conference room and start the meeting I will be there in 20 minutes. Okay." He said and disconnected the call. "I'm going and you are staying here. Understand?!!" He asked, gritting his teeth. I bit my cheeks to stop me from breaking down in front of him. I nodded my head in a yes. He walked out of the house without another word.

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I looked at the wall clock. It was already 9.30 PM and Ved was still not home. I didn't know how I passed the full day. Nirmala asked a few times about my mood swing. I somehow managed to say something to convince her. I was getting nervous with each passing second. I have to talk with Ved. I tried his phone but he was not answering my call. I tried one more time but it was not connecting now. Did he just block my number? I was pacing around the living room when my phone rang. I quickly took it and saw Sid calling me. I sighed in disappointment but anyway I attended the call. I don't know what Sid will be thinking of me. Hesitantly I attended the call.

"Hey Sid." I said in low voice. "Hello Sis-in-law. What's up? Didn't see you in office today, all good?" He asked. A sob escaped my mouth. "Hey sis, are you crying?" He asked concerned. "Sid, do you also think that I can do something like that?" I asked. He was silent. I couldn't hold it back. "I didn't do it. I didn't Sid. I swear. Please believe me." I broke down. "Hey sis, I. I believe you." He said. "You do? Really?!!" I asked in between the sobs. "Yes." He said. "Then why can't Ved believe me? How come he can accuse me for something I haven't done? It's killing me Sid. He doesn't even let me explain." I said while sobbing heavily.

"I understand sis. It's not that he don't want to believe you. It's just that he has this trust issues. It's really difficult for him to trust someone. I don't know why but I know deep down in his heart he knows you didn't do it. He is just angry and he is taking it out on you. I will talk to him tomorrow. Okay. I will explain it to him. I promise, from tomorrow he will be back to normal" He said. I hummed in response. "Okay then, take care. Now go and sleep. Good night sis." He said and disconnected the call.

I was lying on my bed. I was twisting and turning for a long time now. Ved hasn't come back yet. I think he will not be coming back tonight. Where is he? Is he okay? Will he drunk and drive? The weird feeling inside me increased. I sighed. I want to talk to him. It's important to clear the misunderstanding between us. I closed my eyes. Then I heard front door opening. He is back. I sighed in relief and sat on the bed. Should I go now? Will he be still angry? I think I should let him rest tonight. I will talk to him in the morning. I sat on the bed for few more moments but I feel this uneasiness in me. I feel like something was wrong with him. Sighing I throw away the quilt from my body and walked out of the room towards Ved's room.

I stood there for a few seconds holding the knob. I feel nervous and scared. Finally determined to face him I opened the door. And scene in front of me broke my heart into a million pieces.

There stood Arohi with her back pressed against the wall and her front is pressed against Ved's chest. Her fingers were running through Ved's hair and his one hand was in her waist gripping it tightly and the other one was firmly holding her cheeks. And they were kissing like they are desperate. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. The sight of their closely pressed bodies made the bile rising in my stomach. My breath got stuck and I stumbled back and accidently hit the vase kept on the door side table. It fell down and broke into pieces. It made both of them to pull apart from the kiss and look at me startled. Ved looked at me in shock and then looked at Arohi. He quickly removed his hands from her body like her body is in fire and it burned him. He then turned to me with a shocked and guilt ridden face. I looked away, my breath was getting heavy and my legs were giving away. I held the side table to balance myself. How could he do this to me? I thought there is nothing between them. But were they seeing each other behind me? Then why did he ask me for a chance? He was cheating behind my back and he is telling me that I'm not trust worthy. I could feel the sadness in me getting replaced by rage. I turned to look at them. I was furious. My heated glare fell upon them, if look could kill then they both be dead by now. I stalked towards them. I stood in front of them. Ved looked away, guilt and regret flashed in his face. But Arohi looked not at all remorseful; instead she had this small evil smirk on her face. Which ignited my already fired anger. My fingers fisted in rage. Then I did it. I slapped her hard that she stumbled back. Ved held her from falling and looked at me in shock. Arohi was also having the same look. There was a small spilt at the corner of her mouth. "Get out." I said coldly. She frowned and looked at me. "Don't make me repeat it. Go now." I said through my gritted teeth. She was about to say something but Ved stopped her by holding her wrist. My anger was firing up. "Arohi leave." He said. She looked at him shocked. "Ved, how..." She opened her mouth but Ved cut her off. "Arohi, not now. We will talk about it later. Now leave." He said firmly. She gave me a killing glare and walked out.

I heard the opening and closing sound of the front door. We both stayed silent for a few moments. I tried to make my breath calm but my blood was boiling. My face heat up with anger. "How could you do this to me? Were you seeing each other behind my back all these time? And you are telling me that you couldn't trust me when you are the one who cheated on me." I yelled in his face. He didn't meet my gaze. I was getting furious. I moved closer and held his collar. The smell of alcohol makes me want to throw up.

"Why are doing this to me? What did I do to you to be treated like this? Firstly you married me without my concern, then you said you don't want commitment, then you asked for a chance and when I was getting along you did this to me? Why, Ved? Why?!!" I screamed. My hold on his collar tightened. I was feeling weak. I panted.

He looked at me for a moment. A flash of guilt crossed in his eyes but he masked it quickly with his cold stare. Then he held my wrist and removed my hands from his collar forcefully. "Don't act so innocent Niharika. I came to know what type of woman are you exactly? Don't call me a cheater when you were also doing the same thing behind my back." He said. He sounds furious too. "What? What are you talking about?" I asked confused. He pulled out his phone and kept it in front of my face. I was shocked. It was a picture of me and Karan. He was holding me to his chest. It was the picture of the same day when he last came to my apartment to apologise. I didn't remember being in his arms. When did this happen? I think the picture was taken in front of the lift of my apartment building in Pune, when I fell unconscious. But from the angle it has taken, the picture looked like we were hugging each other. There was Kavya too but she was nowhere in the picture. Who took this? And how did he get this? Who want to create this much misunderstanding between us? "How did you get this?" I asked him unbelievably. "Does it matter? Han!! So you are not going to deny it. It's true. You both met each other. Is this why you went to Pune? To reconcile with your ex- husband? Is this your entire ploy together to ruin me? Is he the one asked you to sell me out? It should be him right. Or does that man whom you call father is also involved in this? So now tell me who the cheater is?" He asked gritting his teeth. I looked at him stunned; there was no gentleness in him. He was beyond furious. There was only hatred and disgust in his eyes. My heat was getting heavy and my eyes were burning. "Do you really believe like that? You think so low of me? You think after everything we shared I will stoop this low?" I asked with my trembling voice. He didn't speak. Something flashed in his eyes but he averted his gaze. He took a deep breath. I waited for an answer but the silence continued.

That's it he don't trust me anymore. Whatever I tell, it is going to fall in duff ears. That's what happened to me in the past, always begging for mercy and trust. I'm tired of explaining and proving myself. I'm so fed up of begging with everyone. I was getting tired from being treated as a door mat, being taken for granted. I sighed. I couldn't stop the tears flowing down from my eyes. But I tried not to sound weak. "I think we lost our chance." I said in a low but firm voice. I looked straight in his eyes. Something deep flashed in his eyes. His stare softened and his lips parted but no word came out of his mouth and with that I walked out of his room without bothering his response.

Once I reached my room I rushed to the bathroom and emptied my stomach content into the water closet. I washed my mouth and slide down onto the bathroom floor. I cried till no tears left. I sat there till I couldn't feel my back and legs. After pulling myself together I slowly got up from the floor and washed my face and looked into the mirror. My face looked pale and my eyes were red and puffy. I took a deep breath. This is it. I had enough. This will be the last time I cry for a man. I can't go through a miserable relationship again. I'm tired of begging and crying. I can't compromise my self respect for someone who can't trust me. Someone who will go to another woman without a second thought. I can't lose my leftover dignity. I have to be strong for myself. I felt determined. I took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom. I sat on the bed and took my phone from the side table. I searched my contacts and dialled the familiar number.

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