Chapter I: Mad Woman
"It's a Terrible Day"
The morning had taken an eerie turn. Aradhana, who considered herself a bit superstitious, couldn't shake the feeling that stepping out of the house today might not be the wisest choice. It all began on an unfortunate note when her pinky toe scraped against the table's foot by accident, and it spiraled from there.
Heading downstairs in search of her helper, she lost her footing, slipping on a couple of steps, but just barely managed to regain her balance in time. Her heart raced with a mix of adrenaline and fear, but she brushed it off.
To add to her already disastrous start, her breakfast plans were thwarted when she realized the salad she loved so much didn't have cucumber in it. It may seem like a trivial detail, but to Aradhana, it felt like yet another setback on her already eventful morning.
However, amidst the chaos, a phone call from her husband's assistant changed the course of her day. Kaishav had requested a meeting with her at his office. A spark of excitement danced in her cat-like eyes as she twirled a dark curl around her finger, a subtle smile gracing her lips.
Seated with her cup of coffee, she took a sip, wrinkling her nose. "What on earth is this?" she muttered, disappointed by the bitter taste. Aradhana had always been a fan of sweeter flavors, and this bitter brew was far from her preference.
Normally, she might have snapped at Rohana, her helper, for yet another mistake. But today, she restrained herself. 'Stay calm, Aradhana. It's not worth it.'
Taking deep breaths to regain her composure, she shot a stern glare at Rohana. "I won't let this ruin my day. The coffee doesn't matter as much as the meeting with my husband."
Her husband's personal driver arrived to pick her up, a gesture that instantly lifted her spirits. He usually chauffeured her husband exclusively, so having him at her service brought a sense of importance.
Aradhana caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror, admiring her reflection. Today, she had chosen to wear the same dress she had worn on the day she first laid eyes on her husband, a day she would never want to forget, even if she could.
Taking her mobile phone out of her green embroidered purse, a cherished and only gift from her husband, she checked the time. The meeting was scheduled for 1 pm, which meant she had a couple of hours to spare.
An idea struck her, and she instructed the driver to make a stop at the restaurant her husband often frequented—a piece of knowledge she had gathered from numerous tabloid articles to learn more about Kaishav.
As she perused the menu, her eyes landed on a tempting dish: Thai peanut noodles. This particular dish gained immense popularity after a well-known tycoon was spotted enjoying it during a public appearance.
She discreetly covered her face and hair with a scarf, donning a pair of oversized sunglasses to ensure she remained incognito. Aradhana was no stranger to the limelight, being an actress within the same company as her husband. She made her way through the halls, blending into the crowd.
Trying to enter her husband's office, she was stopped by his assistant, Veer. His outstretched hands were poised to take the items from her, but she swiftly withdrew them. "I'll hold onto these."
"Is my husband inside?" Lifting her sunglasses to rest atop her head, Aradhana tried to see through the blurred glass walls, attempting to catch a glimpse of her husband. However, her line of sight was blocked by Veer's mop of dark hair. He was as tall as her, and large round glasses partially shielded his face. Aradhana couldn't help but scrunch up her face.
"Madam, the president is currently in a meeting. It should conclude shortly. You're welcome to wait here in the waiting area until he's available."
Aradhana furrowed her perfectly shaped brows. "I'll wait inside."
Veer tried to stop her from entering the office. "Madam, no one is allowed inside without the president's permission."
Aradhana brushed off his warning, flicking his hand away. "I don't need permission. I'm his wife." With a swift motion, she pushed open the door and entered the room. Veer followed closely behind.
"You don't need to keep an eye on me. I won't snoop through his things like last time. I'll just set the food on the table."
As Aradhana began arranging the table, her eyes caught sight of an envelope lying prominently. Bold letters on the envelope spelled out: DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
A wave of panic surged through her, her hands trembling as she tore open the envelope and pulled out the papers. Her name was written at the end, and her heart sank as she began to read the words. "This divorce agreement is made and entered into as of this 31st day of May 2007."
Her eyes snapped to the signature at the bottom, confirming that her husband had already signed the divorce papers. Just then, the gate swung open, revealing the only man who could make Aradhana's heart tremble and vulnerability seep into her every pore.
Kaishav's gaze shifted from Aradhana to the papers in her hands. "You saw them."
Aradhana's voice rose in anger, "You saw them? Is that all you have to say?" She tossed the papers into the air, her face flushing with a mix of anger and betrayal.
Kaishav moved closer, his eyes flickering from the table to her. "Our relationship isn't going anywhere. You don't even know I'm allergic to peanuts. It's time we face reality and get divorced. You don't have to worry; I'll take full custody of Kairav and provide you with enough alimony that you won't have to be an actress."
Aradhana turned red with embarrassment. "Custody?"
Kaishav sighed heavily, "Yes, you don't even care about Kairav. On his birthdays, you are busy with after-parties. When he wants to know something, he seeks his nanny rather than you, and he barely knows you. I married you for him. If you don't care for him, then there is no reason left for us to remain together."
Aradhana stared at her husband, Kaishav Mehra, the renowned ruthless businessman known to the world. He had always been charming, and Aradhana had been too blind to see the devil behind his loose-fitted suits. Five years of her love had been dedicated to him, only for it to be shattered in an instant with a single signature.
Her hands clenched into fists as she picked up the divorce papers. "I won't divorce you!" she exclaimed, ripping the papers into shreds.
"Aradhana!" Kaishav's eyes bore into her. Even if he was angry, his demeanor was calm, not a single strand of hair had left its place.
"I won't divorce you," she whispered again, wiping the tears streaming down her cheeks. She stormed out of his office, leaving the mess behind.
"Why would I divorce him? It's not possible. I will never do this," she muttered.
Aradhana stepped out of the office building, her mind still reeling from the confrontation with Kaishav. She desperately needed a moment alone to gather her thoughts. Raising her hand to hail a passing taxi, her sight blurred with tears.
Arriving at the nightclub where she was a regular member, her friends greeted her. They questioned the sudden gathering.
“What happened? Why were we called so suddenly?” a woman grabbed Aradhana’s arm.
“Yeah, I was with my boyfriend,” another lady muttered, rolling her eyes.
“I’m angry; let me have a drink first,” Aradhana replied.
Without further discussion, they all went in and started drinking. As the night progressed, Aradhana indulged in an array of cocktails, losing herself in laughter and conversation.
As the night wore on, Aradhana suddenly felt sweaty, and her stomach began to hurt. At first, she brushed it off, attributing it to the excitement of the evening. However, the discomfort grew, making her feel increasingly unwell. She struggled to her feet and tremblingly walked toward the door, but a hand clutched onto her.
“Where are you going?” Staring into her violet eyes Aradhana felt a shiver run down her spine. As a famous actress, Mahira’s knowledge of any trouble could harm Aradhana’s reputation.
“I need to use the restroom,” Aradhana murmured
“Let her go, Mahira. She drank too much. Maybe it’s really urgent,” another woman chimed in, snickering.
Aradhana excused herself and made her way to the restroom just outside the private room. Alone in the dimly lit space, she leaned against the cool tiles, her heart racing.
Amidst her vomiting, she noticed traces of blood, sending shockwaves through her. Panic washed over her as she realized she had been poisoned.
Desperate for help, Aradhana struggled to compose herself and return to her friends. But the poison’s relentless grip on her weakened body made her movements unsteady, attracting curious glances from her companions, who assumed she was simply intoxicated.
Summoning her strength, Aradhana tried to call her husband, but her weakened voice was drowned out by the nightclub’s music and lively chatter.
Terrified for her life, Aradhana managed to retrieve her phone from her purse and dialed her husband’s number. Before she lost consciousness, someone noticed her distress and came to her aid.
"I knew it was a terrible day."
