THE UNWANTED DAUGHTER -IN- LAW

EPISODE 10- THE TRUTH COMES OUT

The Sharma mansion had never been this quiet.

For 9 episodes, it was full of whispers, side-eyes, and the sound of Anaya’s footsteps being watched. Today, it was silent. The kind of silence that comes right before a storm.

Anaya stood in the kitchen at 5:30 AM, like she had every day for the past 6 months. But today her hands weren’t shaking while she made tea. Today, her back was straight.

“Beta, jaldi karo. Aaj ghar mein mehmaan aa rahe hain,” Mrs. Sharma’s voice cut through the quiet. Sharp. Cold. The same tone she’d used since the day Anaya entered this house as Aarav’s wife.

Anaya didn’t answer. She just placed two cups of tea on the tray. One for Mrs. Sharma. One for herself.

For the first time.

---

*1. THE GUESTS ARRIVE*

By 11 AM, the living room was full.

Not just the Sharmas. Today Mrs. Sharma had called everyone. Her sister from Delhi. Aarav’s college friends. Even the neighbors who loved gossiping about “that unwanted bahu.”

And in the center, sitting on the sofa like she owned the place, was *Simran*.

Simran. Aarav’s ex. The girl Mrs. Sharma had wanted as her daughter-in-law. The reason Anaya was called “unwanted” from day one.

Simran looked perfect. Designer suit. Fake smile. “Aunty, I missed your tea so much,” she said, touching Mrs. Sharma’s feet.

Mrs. Sharma’s face softened. Something it never did for Anaya.

Aarav stood near the window. He hadn’t spoken to Anaya in 3 days. Not since she found the old photos in his drawer. Photos of him and Simran. With a note behind it: _“I’ll always choose you.”_

Anaya watched all of it from the kitchen door. Her heart didn’t break. It hardened.

---

*2. THE INSULT*

Lunch was served.

As usual, Anaya served everyone first. She was about to sit in the corner when Mrs. Sharma spoke.

“Ruko.”

The whole room turned.

“Simran beta, tum yahan baitho,” Mrs. Sharma patted the seat next to her. “Anaya, tum kitchen mein kha lena. Mehmaan hain na.”

Simran smiled sweetly. “Aunty, it’s okay. Anaya didi bhi yahin baith jayein.”

The word “didi” cut deeper than any insult.

Anaya looked at Aarav. He looked down.

That was the moment. The moment she decided she was done being quiet.

“No,” Anaya said. Her voice was calm.

Everyone froze.

“No?” Mrs. Sharma’s eyebrows shot up. “Kya matlab no?”

“I said no,” Anaya repeated. “I’m not eating in the kitchen. I’m not invisible. And I’m not going to sit here and watch you insult me in my own home.”

The word “my” echoed.

Simran’s smile faltered. “Anaya, gussa mat karo...”

“I’m not angry,” Anaya said. She walked to the center of the room. “I’m done.”

---

*3. THE TRUTH*

Mrs. Sharma stood up. “Tumhari himmat kaise hui mujhse aise baat karne ki? Bhool gayi tum is ghar mein kaise aayi thi?”

“Oh I remember,” Anaya said. “I was forced into this marriage because Aarav got drunk and signed papers to save your company. I was the ‘compromise.’ The ‘unwanted’ one.”

Aarav’s head snapped up. “Anaya, stop—”

“No. I’m not stopping.” She turned to him. “You told me that night, didn’t you? ‘I don’t love you. I never will. This is just business.’”

The room went dead silent.

Simran laughed nervously. “Aarav would never—”

“He did,” Anaya cut her off. Then she pulled out her phone.

She pressed play.

Aarav’s voice filled the room. Clear. Drunk. 6 months ago.

_“I don’t want this marriage, Mom. But if I don’t do it, the company is gone. Fine. I’ll marry her. But don’t expect me to act like her husband.”_

Mrs. Sharma’s face went white.

“That’s not—” Aarav started.

“Wait,” Anaya said. “There’s more.”

She played another audio. This one from last week.

Mrs. Sharma’s voice.

_“Beta, just tolerate her for one year. After that we’ll get you divorced and bring Simran back. No one will question it.”_

Simran stood up so fast her chair fell. “Aunty, you said—”

“I said what I had to,” Mrs. Sharma snapped at Simran, then turned to Anaya. “You recorded us? You snake!”

“I learned from you,” Anaya said quietly. “You taught me to survive in this house.”

---

*4. AARAV BREAKS*

Aarav looked between his mother, Simran, and Anaya. For the first time in 6 months, he really _saw_ Anaya.

The dark circles from waking up at 5 AM to serve tea.

The bruises on her wrist from where Mrs. Sharma had grabbed her last month.

The way she still made sure everyone else ate first.

“What did you do to her?” he whispered.

“Me?” Mrs. Sharma scoffed. “I gave her a home! She should be grateful!”

“Grateful for what?” Aarav yelled. The first time he’d ever raised his voice at his mother. “For treating her like a maid? For calling her unwanted every single day?”

He walked to Anaya. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you told me on day one that you didn’t care,” Anaya said. Tears finally fell. But her voice didn’t shake. “So I stopped asking you to.”

---

*5. SIMRAN LEAVES*

Simran grabbed her bag. “This is drama. I’m leaving.”

“Stay,” Mrs. Sharma said desperately. “Simran beta—”

“No, Aunty.” Simran looked at Anaya. Really looked at her. “I didn’t know it was this bad. I thought... I thought you were just being dramatic.”

She turned and walked out. Without looking back.

The door closed. And with it, 6 months of lies.

---

*6. THE DECISION*

Mrs. Sharma sat down heavily. “What do you want?”

Anaya wiped her tears. “I want a divorce.”

The word hit like a bomb.

“What?” Aarav said.

“You heard me. I want out. I’ve been unwanted here since day one. I’m not going to beg to be wanted anymore.”

“But the company—” Mrs. Sharma started.

“I don’t care about your company,” Anaya said. “And Aarav, you don’t have to stay married to save it. My father already pulled his investment last week. The company is yours to fix. Or lose. Not my problem anymore.”

Aarav stared at her. “You... you did that?”

“I had to,” Anaya said. “For me.”

---

*7. THE LAST NIGHT*

That night, Anaya packed one bag.

Clothes. Her degree certificates. The purple mic she bought herself. That was it. 6 months, and it fit in one bag.

Aarav knocked on her door.

“Can I come in?”

She nodded.

He looked terrible. “I’m sorry,” he said. It was the first time he’d said it and meant it. “For everything. For not seeing you. For letting her—”

“Stop,” Anaya said. “I don’t need sorry. I need peace.”

He handed her an envelope. “What’s this?”

“Papers. Divorce papers. Already signed by me.”

Aarav took it with shaking hands. “Anaya, we can—”

“No, Aarav. We can’t. You had 6 months to choose me. You chose silence. Now I’m choosing myself.”

She walked past him. Down the stairs. Past Mrs. Sharma, who didn’t say a word.

At the gate, the driver was waiting with her cab.

She didn’t look back at the mansion.

---

*8. EPILOGUE - 1 MONTH LATER*

Anaya’s apartment was small. 1BHK. But the sunlight came in every morning.

She had a job now. Teaching music to kids. She used the money to pay rent herself.

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.

It was a text from Aarav.

_“The divorce is finalized. I’m sorry it took me so long to see you. I hope you’re happy.”_

She didn’t reply.

Another message. From Mrs. Sharma.

_“The house feels empty.”_

Anaya deleted it.

She picked up her mic. Turned on her camera. 12 people joined her live stream.

“Hi guys,” she smiled. Real smile. “Welcome to Episode 10 of my life. And this time... I’m the one writing it.”

Outside her window, Ambala was noisy and bright.

For the first time in 6 months, Anaya was not unwanted.

She was free.

*END OF EPISODE 10*

TO BE CONTINUED.