29-06-2026, 11:35 AM
Chapter 82: Tears that tells the truth
Nikitha sat on the edge of the luxurious hotel bed, her mind in complete chaos.
She had tried so hard to convince herself that she was moving on. That leaving Jay was the right choice. That Tharun’s warmth and attention were what she needed.
But the image she had witnessed just minutes ago kept flashing before her eyes — Sharmi pushing Jay into the room, her hand over his mouth, the door closing with a soft click. It looked intimate. It looked like they were already comfortable with each other. Like a couple who had been in a long, secret affair.
The audacity of it hurt.
Why didn’t Jay stop her? Why didn’t he stop me from going with Tharun?
She had expected him to fight. To reach out. To show some sign that he still cared. But he had stayed silent. He hadn’t called her after she left. He hadn’t come to the hostel. And now he was letting Sharmi get so close.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
If this is what he wants… then let it be. Why should I suffer?
But the truth crashed over her like a wave.
Damn it… did I love him so much that it hurts this badly?
The tears flowed freely now. She tried to hold them back, but they kept coming.
Tharun, who had been unpacking quietly, noticed immediately. He walked over and sat beside her, concern etched on his face.
“Nikki… what happened? Why are you crying?”
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. The sobs grew stronger.
Tharun didn’t push. He simply pulled her gently into his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest. His embrace was warm, steady, and comforting — exactly what she needed in that moment.
“Cry as much as you want,” he whispered softly, stroking her hair. “I’m here.”
Almost twenty minutes passed in silence, broken only by her quiet sobs. Tharun held her patiently, not asking questions, just offering his presence.
When the tears finally slowed, he gently lifted her chin.
“What happened to you?” he asked softly.
Nikitha’s voice was hoarse, broken.
“Looks like… my husband is with another woman now. And he seems to have chosen her.”
Tharun’s expression softened with understanding.
“You mean… with that friend you mentioned earlier?”
She nodded, fresh tears spilling.
Tharun pulled her closer, hugging her tightly.
“Then you should move on too… when he can move on.”
She shook her head against his chest.
“All these days I pretended I didn’t love him. It looks like I cheated myself by telling that lie. Every time he steps away, my heart hurts. I didn’t know how deeply I still loved him. But lately, when I finally realized it… he kept deviating from me. He kept disappointing me. Earlier, when I neglected him, he used to challenge me that he will prove i loved him.. But when i realise, he seemed to be choosen someone else now… I realized he has moved away from me.”
Tharun held her in silence for a long moment, his hand gently rubbing her back.
He was happy inside — the only real block in his path seemed to have removed itself. He didn’t know who her husband truly was, but he was grateful the man had chosen someone else.
He spoke calmly, his voice full of quiet assurance.
“Nikki… I know this will be hard for you. But this is the reality as well. My arms and my heart are always open for you. Get yourself together. I’m glad Sharmi chose to stay in a different room with Jay… otherwise you wouldn’t have come to me to vent it out. I didn’t know how long you had stocked inside your.. you needed me this much since the trip started. Now I realize why you wanted to stay with me from the flight onwards.”
They stayed like that for another ten minutes — Tharun holding her, Nikitha slowly calming down in his embrace.
Meanwhile – In the Other Room
Thirty minutes earlier.
Sharmi fell onto the bed with a heavy thud, her hand pressed against her burning cheek. Her vision started blurring as the room spun around her. The slap from Jay had been hard — not just physically, but emotionally devastating.
Her eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open. The world grew hazy, colors blending into darkness.
She was fainting.
Jay stood over her, breathing heavily, his anger still simmering.
But even in his rage, a flicker of regret crossed his face as he saw her losing consciousness.
The storm inside the room had reached its peak — and Sharmi was the one caught in its eye.
Nikitha sat on the edge of the luxurious hotel bed, her mind in complete chaos.
She had tried so hard to convince herself that she was moving on. That leaving Jay was the right choice. That Tharun’s warmth and attention were what she needed.
But the image she had witnessed just minutes ago kept flashing before her eyes — Sharmi pushing Jay into the room, her hand over his mouth, the door closing with a soft click. It looked intimate. It looked like they were already comfortable with each other. Like a couple who had been in a long, secret affair.
The audacity of it hurt.
Why didn’t Jay stop her? Why didn’t he stop me from going with Tharun?
She had expected him to fight. To reach out. To show some sign that he still cared. But he had stayed silent. He hadn’t called her after she left. He hadn’t come to the hostel. And now he was letting Sharmi get so close.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
If this is what he wants… then let it be. Why should I suffer?
But the truth crashed over her like a wave.
Damn it… did I love him so much that it hurts this badly?
The tears flowed freely now. She tried to hold them back, but they kept coming.
Tharun, who had been unpacking quietly, noticed immediately. He walked over and sat beside her, concern etched on his face.
“Nikki… what happened? Why are you crying?”
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. The sobs grew stronger.
Tharun didn’t push. He simply pulled her gently into his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest. His embrace was warm, steady, and comforting — exactly what she needed in that moment.
“Cry as much as you want,” he whispered softly, stroking her hair. “I’m here.”
Almost twenty minutes passed in silence, broken only by her quiet sobs. Tharun held her patiently, not asking questions, just offering his presence.
When the tears finally slowed, he gently lifted her chin.
“What happened to you?” he asked softly.
Nikitha’s voice was hoarse, broken.
“Looks like… my husband is with another woman now. And he seems to have chosen her.”
Tharun’s expression softened with understanding.
“You mean… with that friend you mentioned earlier?”
She nodded, fresh tears spilling.
Tharun pulled her closer, hugging her tightly.
“Then you should move on too… when he can move on.”
She shook her head against his chest.
“All these days I pretended I didn’t love him. It looks like I cheated myself by telling that lie. Every time he steps away, my heart hurts. I didn’t know how deeply I still loved him. But lately, when I finally realized it… he kept deviating from me. He kept disappointing me. Earlier, when I neglected him, he used to challenge me that he will prove i loved him.. But when i realise, he seemed to be choosen someone else now… I realized he has moved away from me.”
Tharun held her in silence for a long moment, his hand gently rubbing her back.
He was happy inside — the only real block in his path seemed to have removed itself. He didn’t know who her husband truly was, but he was grateful the man had chosen someone else.
He spoke calmly, his voice full of quiet assurance.
“Nikki… I know this will be hard for you. But this is the reality as well. My arms and my heart are always open for you. Get yourself together. I’m glad Sharmi chose to stay in a different room with Jay… otherwise you wouldn’t have come to me to vent it out. I didn’t know how long you had stocked inside your.. you needed me this much since the trip started. Now I realize why you wanted to stay with me from the flight onwards.”
They stayed like that for another ten minutes — Tharun holding her, Nikitha slowly calming down in his embrace.
Meanwhile – In the Other Room
Thirty minutes earlier.
Sharmi fell onto the bed with a heavy thud, her hand pressed against her burning cheek. Her vision started blurring as the room spun around her. The slap from Jay had been hard — not just physically, but emotionally devastating.
Her eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open. The world grew hazy, colors blending into darkness.
She was fainting.
Jay stood over her, breathing heavily, his anger still simmering.
But even in his rage, a flicker of regret crossed his face as he saw her losing consciousness.
The storm inside the room had reached its peak — and Sharmi was the one caught in its eye.
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