Each word was a knife to my chest.
"How did this happen? How did she get hit?"
Uncle's face crumpled.
"She came to visit me today. She was in a good mood, so happy. And then... then Avija came home. She was so angry, Armaan. I have never seen her that angry. She told Viya everything."
The world tilted.
"What do you mean everything?"
"Everything. About the prophecy. About the arrangement. About you and Avija planning to get married. About how Viya was only supposed to be temporary. About how I lied about my health to convince her to agree to the marriage."
My legs gave out. I stumbled backward and caught myself against the wall.
No. No, this could not be happening.
"Viya just... she could not process it. She ran out of the house. I tried to follow her, tried to stop her, but she was not listening. She was in shock, walking without seeing where she was going. She stepped into traffic and a car hit her."
I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold hospital floor, my head in my hands.
This was my fault. All of it. If I had told her the truth myself, if I had not waited, if I had been honest from the beginning, this never would have happened.
I heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Dadi and Papa hurrying down the corridor. Ramesh was with them, looking worried.
"Armaan!" Dadi rushed to me, her face pale with fear. "Where is Viya? Is she alright?"
"She is in surgery," I said, my voice hollow. "They do not know yet."
Papa helped me to my feet, his grip steady and strong. Then he turned to Uncle Vinay.
"What happened? How did this accident occur?"
Uncle repeated the story, his voice breaking several times. I watched Dadi's expression shift from fear to horror to something that looked like guilt.
"This is my fault," she whispered. "I insisted on the prophecy. I pushed for this arrangement. Oh god, what have I done?"
Before anyone could respond, I heard sharp footsteps echoing down the corridor. I turned to see Avija and Sangeetha aunty approaching.
Avija's eyes were red from crying, but there was something defiant in the set of her jaw. Something unrepentant.
Rage, white hot and all consuming, flooded through me.
"You," I said, my voice dangerous and low. "This is your fault."
"My fault?" Avija's voice was shrill. "How is this my fault? I just told her the truth. Something you should have done weeks ago."
"You told her out of spite! Out of jealousy! You wanted to hurt her!"
"Of course I wanted to hurt her!" Avija screamed. "She ruined my life! She took everything that was supposed to be mine! So yes, I told her the truth. I wanted her to know that you never wanted her. That she was just a convenient placeholder!"
I took a step toward her, my hands clenched into fists. Papa grabbed my arm, holding me back.
"If something happens to her," I said, my voice shaking with fury, "if something happens to my wife because of what you did, I will never forgive you. Never."
"Your wife?" Avija laughed bitterly. "She is only your wife because of a stupid prophecy. Because my mother wanted to protect me. You married her for me, Armaan. For us."
"I married her because I was a coward. Because I went along with a cruel plan instead of standing up for what was right. But I love her now. I love her more than I have ever loved anyone. And if she does not survive this, if I lose her because you could not keep your mouth shut, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."
