Reeta's eyes were drawn to her husband, Mayank. The sadness in his gaze as he watched his ex-wife with another man tugged at something deep within her. Why does this still hurt?
Turning to General Surya, she forced a smile. "It seems your relationship with your wife is strong," she said, trying to divert her own thoughts.
Surya smiled back, warmth lighting his features. "I am fortunate. But may I ask—who are you?"
Reeta felt a jolt of embarrassment. He doesn't know who I am. "I'm the minister's wife," she replied, gesturing toward Mayank.
Surya's expression shifted to one of recognition. "Thank you," he said sincerely.
Confused, Reeta furrowed her brows. Why is he thanking me? "May I know why?" she asked, glancing around as others leaned in, curious.
Surya took his wife's hand, genuine affection in his eyes. "Because of you, I was able to marry my love. I will always be grateful."
His words lingered in the air, reminding Reeta of a shared past. She and Mayank exchanged uneasy glances.
Maira, Surya's wife, shifted nervously, unsure of how to react.
Mayank felt a pang in his heart. What if I never met my first love? What if we never had a child? What if we never divorced? The ache of what might have been consumed him.
Reeta, sensing his distress, squeezed his arm. "My husband has always loved me. He married another because she pressured him. Otherwise, we would have been together."
Surya regarded her thoughtfully. "If I'm not mistaken, this is your second marriage. You eloped with another man when your current husband struggled."
The truth stung, and Reeta felt a flush of shame. The onlookers' whispers rippled through the room, and she could see the discomfort on the faces of other women. What if this woman steals their husbands?
To protect her reputation, Reeta quickly added, "No, it's not like that. That was a mistake. He was a fraud who manipulated me. I was naive back then. But after some time, I realized my true feelings and went back to find him."
She took a deep breath. "When I met Mayank again, I knew he felt the same way. I never intended to disrupt his married life; I just couldn't help myself."
Mayank listened closely, recognizing the weight of her words. He had known she was married when they first met, yet he had been unable to resist her. She seemed so pitiful in her struggle.
He felt nothing wrong wrong in it .
He never wanted to break his marriage and thought ,he will hide his relationship with his love . He will fulfil his duties as a husband and live his whole life like this .