Chapter 83: The Weight of Choices
Anandhi sat motionless on the bed, her back resting against the headboard. Every word Rahul spoke landed on her chest like a stone. She could feel the pain behind his calm tone, the quiet storm he was trying to contain. His voice didn’t shake, yet she sensed the depth of his mental agony. She wanted to interrupt, to explain, to defend herself and Suriya, but something stopped her.
Rahul wasn’t speaking in anger. He was speaking from a place of raw honesty, laying bare his heart without raising his voice. His calmness unnerved her more than any outburst would have. She realised he had already thought this through—perhaps for days. So she decided to listen. For once, she owed him that much.
Rahul paused when he noticed the plate in her lap was empty. He rose from the bed without a word and walked towards the kitchen.
“Rahul, wait,” Anandhi called softly. “I’m full. Two idlis are enough.”
He turned back, a gentle smile on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No. You need to eat more. For the baby.”
Before she could protest, he returned with two more steaming idlis, generously drizzled with chutney and a spoonful of sambar. He sat beside her again, tore a piece, and brought it to her lips.
Anandhi opened her mouth obediently, but her eyes never left his face. She understood now. This feeding wasn’t just care—it was strategy. By keeping her mouth occupied, he ensured she couldn’t interrupt or argue. He wanted her to listen, fully and without resistance. And strangely, she didn’t mind. This was the Rahul she had always known—thoughtful, calculated, and deeply protective of what he considered his.
When she finished the last bite, Rahul quickly set the plate aside. He leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, then caught both her hands in his, holding them firmly yet gently.
“Listen to me carefully, Anandhi,” he said, his voice low and steady. “What I’m about to tell you is not coming from possessiveness, jealousy, or ego. I’m not speaking as a husband who feels threatened. I’ve thought about this deeply. I’ve analysed every angle. This is coming from me as the head of this family—from someone who wants what’s truly best for the three of us… and for the children.”
Anandhi nodded, her full attention on him, her fingers tightening around his.
“In the morning, when I said I won’t share you with Suriya, that was purely from my heart as your husband. But what I’m saying now is different. It’s from the perspective of our future as a family. We chose this life together—against our parents, against society. We don’t have the luxury of breaking it apart ourselves just because we feel guilty or grateful.”
He took a slow breath before continuing.
“We are happy in our marriage, Anandhi. We still are. But we’re trying to force someone else into this sacred space only because we made a hasty decision in the past. Let’s not ruin what we have built by trying to fix someone else’s pain at the cost of our own peace.”
Anandhi remained silent, absorbing every word.
Rahul leaned closer. “Let’s analyse the possibilities honestly, without emotion for a moment.”
First Case - Me or Suriya, we are not ready to Share you..
“First possibility: Suriya lives with us as your second husband. Practically, I cannot accept that. I would have to move out. Tell me, will you be okay with that?”
Anandhi’s eyes widened. “No,” she whispered immediately.
Rahul gave a small nod. “Exactly. And in the first place, would Suriya have ever entertained the idea of sharing you with me?”
Anandhi looked down. “No… he also didn’t want to share me with anyone.”
“It means both of us want full ownership of you,” We dont consent to let other man have a share of the wife.
So its going to be only one of us. One of us have to sacrifice.
Second Case: If one of us has to sacrifice- Lets say i'm moving out
Now, let’s say I take the blame. I move out because it was me who pushed you towards him. What happens to the kids then? Who will they call ‘Dad’? They’ve been calling Suriya ‘uncle’ all this time. Suddenly he becomes ‘Papa’? Won’t they feel confused? Won’t they feel odd? And what about me? I’m still alive, still present. How will the children process that their mother is living with another man while their real father is somewhere else?”
Anandhi had no answer. Her throat felt tight.
Rahul continued, his grip on her hands never loosening.
Third Case: If one of us has to sacrifice- Lets say Suriya moving out
Everything Remains Same, We need not bother about anything, but we will have a pain, pain of letting one suffer, pain of giving hope and snatching it back.
Anandhi Opened her mouth, i didnt want that,
Rahul said i know, even i would feel a pain.
I'm just trying to analyze what if will happen.
Now Next case, you are feeling Suriya is broken, and we must take responsibility
Fourth Case: Lets say, looking you suffering because of it. I decided to let Suriya to be around you.
Like We are Still married and I allow Suriya to be with you physically/emotionally, but I remain the family head and your legal husband. We all saw what happened at the hospital today. He was sidelined completely. He has no legal standing. Whatever happens between you two will be confined to these four walls. Outside, you will have to act as my wife. He will never be able to openly claim you. He will keep facing humiliation like he did today. Are you ready to put him through that pain every single day?”
Anandhi said: No, it would look cruel, in the morning i decided to sit with him, because i saw how he was pushed in hospital..
Rahul said yea he would face many of that..
He paused, letting the words sink in.
Fifth Case: Lets say, i even lower level a bit, just to make Suriya get some respect , so i dont have other option other than divorcing you
and let him get married to you. But Then I will become the outsider. The world will ridicule me. The kids will see me as a failed man. Some will even call me… worse names like a cuck. Are you ready to see me like that, Anandhi?
Anandhi instantly said No....
Rahul after a silence said, I know you don’t love Suriya the way you love me. You want me for love. You want him out of guilt and gratitude. Your heart is divided, but not equally.”
Im here just to pass some sense in you, make right from wrong.
Tears welled up in Anandhi’s eyes as the complexities and future consequences finally hit her with full force. She hadn’t allowed herself to think this far.
Anandhi Asked:“Then what should we do about him? I hurt him. I gave him hope. I made promises on your behalf.
Rahul inetruppted her: But we cannot destroy three lives to correct one mistake. He still has a future. He may feel cheated now. He may feel broken. But he has to move on. If he stays stuck with us, he will lose himself completely. Let him blame us. At least he will survive.”
Anandhi finally spoke, her voice trembling. “You want me to cut off the relationship abruptly? not even a friendship”
“I didn’t say that,” Rahul replied calmly. “We cannot be cruel. Let him stay here as long as he needs as a friend with a clear boundary. But eventually, he has to move out. This cannot continue forever.”
Anandhi hesitated. “He cannot just move out like that. This house… it’s not rented. It’s ours—mine and his. We purchased it together. It’s in both our names.”
Rahul froze, clearly shocked. “What? This is your own house? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Anandhi looked at him with a mixture of guilt and exhaustion. “From the day you returned, you were struggling with your memory. I was waiting for you to get better. It was Suriya’s savings. He sold his bike, a piece of land, and we could not arrange rest of amount, He even gave the lease of his gym to someone for additional money, its huge, right now he has no business, he just get a minimal share from leased GYM. That money, plus what you had transferred before you disappeared… we used everything to buy this place.”
This house has both sweat and tears of both of us, he is actually trying to start a new business, he don't have enough money to start what he wanted to start.
If you want him to move out we need to figure out and settle him the money.
Rahul went silent for a long moment, processing the information. Then, unexpectedly, a thoughtful look crossed his face.
Actually… this might be better than I thought.
If he forced Suriya out immediately, the man would only try to reconnect with Anandhi secretly. And Anandhi, with her soft heart, would sympathise with him for being “kicked out.” But if Suriya stayed under the same roof, at least Rahul could keep an eye on things.
Still, constant proximity was dangerous. Especially if Anandhi ever felt weak or emotional.
A plan began forming in Rahul’s mind—sharp, strategic, and practical.
Plan 1: Let him Stay, I can watch him closer
Plan 2: But I need to do something like he always have to be in distant, for business or something.
Why not make him a business partner and let me give him loads of work, like he has to stay in distant, again its similar to what once Suriya did to him, Suriya used to send Rahul (then Jeeva) to Gym, while he was looking after accounts, Suriya used to take Anandhi from college for lunch date, one instance, he even know took Anandhi for a full day sex at home, while loading him with account works at Gym.
He is not revening anything, but situations naturally comes.
He looked back at Anandhi, his expression softening again.
“I’m not asking him to move out tomorrow. Let him stay for now. But i have an idea or proposal. instead of just returning his money, I will offer him something bigger—a business proposal. A new venture where he gets a major share. It will require him to travel frequently. Even i dont have money, but i can get help from Madhavan doctor.
This way, he will feel we still value him and offers him a friendship. We wont feel guilt as he gradually withdrew from us. May be i will give him big share, In one or two years, once he’s settled and earning well, he can buy his own place and move out. This way, there will be a natural distance. You won’t feel burdened, and slowly… the emotional attachment will fade.”
Anandhi’s shoulders relaxed slightly. At least Rahul wasn’t being heartless. He was trying to find a practical solution that didn’t completely destroy Suriya.
But Rahul wasn’t done.
“I hope you’re with me on this, Anandhi,” he said seriously. “We need to present a united front this evening when we speak to him.”
“I am on your side,” she replied quietly,
“but… what if this baby is his?”
Rahul let out a soft laugh, though there was no mockery in it. He gently placed his hand on her belly.
“As long as I am your husband, the baby in your womb is mine. When Suriya was ready to raise my children as his own, why wouldn’t I do the same? I won’t even try to find out whose baby it is. For me, it’s our baby. I cannot differentiate. But Suriya might. He may treat this child specially and sideline mine. I’m not complaining—I’m just being realistic.”
He continued, “Still, I won’t deny him access to any of the children. That’s not fair.”
Anandhi nodded, though reluctance still lingered in her eyes.
Rahul asked what it still bothers you?
Anandhi said, it would hurt him, if his baby is growing with us and you are referred to as father.
Rahul said, lets first clear the base issue, it may take another 6-7 months to verify whom the real father of baby, im not interested in knowing it, if he wants let him do with your consent. We will figure out that time. Until then lets clear the boundary first and start living a life respectable.
Rahul squeezed her hands. “One more request. When we speak to him this evening, tell him you’ve been feeling weak lately. That the doctor advised complete peace and no stress. No fights. No emotional drama. He cares about you deeply. The only way he will step back without creating a scene is if he believes your health and the baby’s safety are at risk.”
Anandhi looked at him, slightly surprised. “But I’m perfectly healthy…”
“I know,” Rahul said gently. “But this is the kindest way to help him accept reality. He won’t fight if he thinks you need calm. He will try to understand. He may even convince himself to move on for your sake.”
Anandhi remained quiet for a long moment, then finally nodded.
“Alright.”
Rahul searched her face one last time.
“And when the three of us sit together this evening… no emotional drama. Be firm. Tell him that for the sake of the children, for the sake of everyone’s future, you have chosen to stay with me. Only me. Can you do that?”
and its better you begin all the talks, let him feel it was your choice, it coming from your heart.
Anandhi took a deep breath, her eyes glistening, but her voice came out steady.
“I can.”
Rahul pulled her into his arms and held her close, his chin resting on her head.
For the first time since the morning, a faint sense of relief washed over him.
Rahul looked at the watch it was 12.10 PM. Its time let me cook something..
The conversation with Suriya evening would be game changer, that put everyone in their place.. as Rahul wanted.
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