STORY ABOUT YOU AND ME

Episode 9: The Bitter Divide

It was an ordinary morning when Ishani opened the door to a visitor she never expected—a visitor who would change everything. Standing at her doorstep was none other than Rudra’s mother, a woman whose poised and regal presence demanded attention. Ishani's heart skipped a beat as she recognized her, and before she could utter a word, Rudra’s mother stepped inside, her eyes cold and sharp, scanning Ishani's humble home with disapproval.

“Ishani,” she began, her voice dripping with disdain, “I didn’t expect to find you living in such... modest conditions. It’s hardly fit for the daughter of someone who could potentially be a part of my family.”

Ishani’s mother, who had been quietly preparing breakfast, froze in place, sensing the tension in the air. She exchanged a brief, uncertain glance with her daughter, who could already feel the weight of what was to come.

“Mrs. Bhardwaj,” Ishani said, trying to maintain her composure despite the mounting anxiety. “What brings you here today?”

Rudra’s mother didn’t hesitate. Her eyes hardened as she looked Ishani’s mother up and down, before she finally spoke, her words like daggers. “I’m here to make something clear. My son is meant for a life of privilege. He’s the heir to a vast legacy, something you and your family can’t possibly comprehend. And let me be honest, the idea of him marrying a girl from a middle-class family like yours is—well, frankly, ridiculous.”

The words hit Ishani like a physical blow. Her mother’s face flushed with humiliation, and the bitterness in her chest rose like an uncontrollable tide. She had known Rudra’s family was wealthy, but this was something different—something more hurtful, more cutting. She glanced at her mother, who was trying to keep her dignity, but her eyes betrayed her hurt.

“I don’t think you understand,” Mrs. Bhardwaj continued, as if she was lecturing a child, “This union was never going to happen. My son has responsibilities far beyond your dreams. And no matter how much he cares for you, there are some things that can never be changed. He will marry someone of his own stature, someone who can fit in with his world.”

Tears threatened to blur Ishani’s vision as she tried to hold back the floodgates of pain. "Why does it have to be like this?" she thought. It wasn’t just that Rudra couldn’t choose her—it was that his world was so different, so far removed from hers, that the very idea of their love felt like a foolish fantasy.

Before she could find the strength to say anything, Rudra’s mother turned sharply, about to leave. “I suggest you tell your daughter to move on. She deserves better than someone who will never be able to give her the life she’s truly worthy of.”

With those final words, she left, the door slamming shut behind her, leaving Ishani standing in the wreckage of her emotions. The silence in the room was deafening, and Ishani’s mother, eyes welling with unshed tears, stepped forward, holding her daughter close.

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Later that evening, after hours of restless tossing and turning, Ishani couldn’t bear the weight of her thoughts anymore. The crushing reality of her situation was too much. She needed answers. She needed closure, no matter how painful it might be.

Without telling anyone, she slipped out of her apartment and made her way toward Rudra’s family mansion. The night was dark and cold, but the chill she felt inside was far worse. She didn’t know exactly what she would say or do once she arrived, but she had to see him. She had to confront him—if only for the peace of her heart.

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Meanwhile, Rudra sat alone in his room, staring out the window, lost in thought. He had spent the day trying to block out the harsh words of his mother, trying to convince himself that it wasn’t his fault. He had his duty, his family’s expectations. But deep inside, he couldn’t deny the guilt gnawing at him—the guilt that had been consuming him since he walked away from Ishani.

His phone buzzed, a message from his wife, but he ignored it, knowing it would only pull him further away from his thoughts of Ishani. The night was filled with the echoes of his longing for her, and yet, he knew he couldn’t do anything about it. His mother had made it clear—he was bound to a life he didn’t choose, a life he never wanted.

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Ishani finally arrived at the mansion. She hesitated for a moment, heart pounding in her chest, before knocking on the door. The door creaked open, revealing Rudra’s butler, who gave her a puzzled look.

“I need to see Rudra,” Ishani said, her voice trembling but determined.

The butler nodded, leading her through the grand halls until they reached Rudra’s room. He knocked on the door, and a quiet voice called from inside, “Come in.”

As the door opened, Ishani was greeted by the sight of Rudra sitting by the window, his back to her. The moment he turned around, their eyes met, and for a fleeting second, the world seemed to fade away.

“Ishani,” Rudra’s voice cracked with the weight of unspoken words. “What are you doing here? My mother... she—”

“I know what your mother said,” Ishani interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper. “And it’s all true, isn’t it? You can’t marry me. Your world is too far from mine.”

She took a step closer, her heart breaking with every word. “But I can’t move on, Rudra. I can’t forget you. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, but your family... your life... it will never accept me.”

Rudra stood, his hand reaching out for hers, but the distance between them seemed insurmountable. “Ishani, you know I don’t want this. I never wanted any of this. But I’m trapped in a world I can’t escape. I’ve tried to fight it, but I can’t.”

Tears filled his eyes as he stepped back. “I wish I could change things. I wish I could make it right, but I can’t. My family... they’ll never let me be with you.”

Ishani closed her eyes, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill. She took a step back, her heart shattering all over again. She knew this moment would come. She had always known.

“I understand,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’ve always understood. But that doesn’t make it any easier, Rudra.”

She turned, walking away from him for the last time, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. This was the end—the end of her love for him, the end of their story. But as she walked away, her heart ached with the knowledge that she would never truly be able to leave him behind.

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