Chapter Eighty-One: The Day Everything Fell Apart
The morning started like any other.
Jay woke up in Keifer's arms, feeling surprisingly normal for once. No mood swings. No random crying. Just peace.
She kissed his cheek. "Morning."
He smiled, eyes still closed. "You're not yelling at me today?"
"Not yet. Give it time."
He pulled her closer. "I'll take the peace while it lasts."
---
Downstairs, the kitchen was quiet.
Akshi and Chethan had already left for an early class. Keigan was still asleep. Keiran was with the nanny in the playroom, Rex and Ganesha supervising.
But Shreya was there.
Sitting at the table. Pale. Hunched over. Looking miserable.
Jay noticed immediately. "Shreya? You okay?"
Shreya looked up with tired eyes. "Period."
"Oh no. Bad?"
"The worst. Cramps from hell. Exhaustion. The whole package."
Keifer, ever practical, grabbed a heating pad and made tea. Jay sat beside her, rubbing her back.
"Mithun know?"
"He had an early meeting at university. Some group project thing." She winced. "I told him to go. I didn't want to be dramatic."
"Period pain isn't dramatic. It's real."
Shreya managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Jay."
---
The morning passed slowly.
Shreya curled on the couch with the heating pad. Jay brought her tea and snacks. Keifer handled Keiran. It was quiet. Peaceful.
Then Shreya's phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Froze.
Jay noticed. "What?"
"Nothing." Shreya's voice was tight. "Just... nothing."
Jay didn't believe her, but didn't push.
Shreya stared at her phone.
A photo.
Some girl. Pretty. Arms wrapped around Mithun.
Cheek pressed to his chest.
Both smiling.
The caption: "So glad we worked together on this project! Best partner ever! 😘"
---
Shreya's world tilted.
She knew Mithun. Trusted Mithun. They'd only been together a few weeks, but she knew him.
But the photo...
The way she was holding him...
The kiss emoji...
Her stomach churned. And not just from cramps.
She put the phone down. Took a breath.
It's nothing. It's nothing. It's nothing.
She almost believed it.
---
Mithun came home at 3 PM.
He walked in smiling, ready to see Shreya.
She was on the couch. Pale. Not just from pain anymore.
"Hey." He crossed to her. "How are you feeling?"
She didn't smile back.
"Who was she?"
He blinked. "What?"
"The girl. In the photo. From your project."
He frowned. "What photo?"
She held up her phone.
The picture.
The girl hugging him.
The caption.
---
Mithun's face went through several stages—confusion, recognition, realization.
"Shreya, that's just Priya. She's in my group. The photo was from when we finished the presentation. She's a hugger. It meant nothing."
"A hugger? She's plastered to your chest."
"It was a quick photo. I didn't even know she posted it."
"And the kiss emoji?"
"I don't control her captions!"
She stared at him. Eyes red. Breathing uneven.
"Mithun, I—"
She swayed.
"Shreya?"
She tried to stand. Her legs gave out.
He caught her. "SHREYA!"
---
Jay heard the shout.
She ran from the kitchen.
Found Mithun on the floor, Shreya unconscious in his arms.
"What happened?"
"I don't know! She was asking about some photo and then she just—collapsed!"
Keifer appeared behind Jay. "Is she breathing?"
"Yes. But she's out cold."
Jay knelt beside them. "Her period. She said it was bad. Cramps, exhaustion. Add emotional shock—her body probably just shut down."
Mithun's face was white. "Is she okay?"
"She needs rest. She needs to wake up on her own. But she'll be okay."
---
They moved her to the couch.
Mithun refused to leave her side.
Jay sat nearby. Keifer stood ready.
Mithun held her hand. "I should have told her about Priya. It was nothing, but I should have mentioned it. She's been through so much—she was already in pain—and I—"
"Mithun." Jay's voice was firm but kind. "This isn't your fault. It's a misunderstanding. She'll wake up, you'll explain, and it'll be okay."
"What if she doesn't believe me?"
"She loves you. She'll believe you."
---
Twenty minutes passed.
Then thirty.
Finally—a flutter.
Her eyelids moved.
Mithun leaned closer. "Shreya?"
Her eyes opened slowly.
Confusion. Then memory. Then pain—physical and emotional.
"Mithun—"
"I'm here." He squeezed her hand. "I'm right here."
"The photo—"
"It was nothing. Priya is just a classmate. She's a hugger. She posted that without my knowledge. I didn't even know about the caption until you showed me."
Shreya stared at him.
"I love you," he said. "Only you. There's no one else. There never has been. There never will be."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I doubted you. I was already in pain and then I saw that and I just—I couldn't think straight."
"Don't apologize. It's okay."
"It's not okay. I collapsed because I was jealous."
"You collapsed because you're exhausted and in pain and your body couldn't handle one more thing. It's not your fault."
---
She sat up slowly.
He pulled her into his arms.
She cried against his chest—not the loud sobs of before, but quiet tears of relief.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too. So much."
"No more secrets?"
"No more secrets. I'll tell you everything. Every group project, every huggy classmate, every—"
She laughed weakly. "Okay. That's enough."
He kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry you saw that before I could explain."
"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions."
"We're both sorry. Can we be done being sorry?"
"Yes. Please."
---
Jay watched from the doorway, tears in her own eyes.
Keifer came up behind her. "They okay?"
"Yeah." She wiped her eyes. "They're okay."
"Good." He kissed her temple. "Our family."
"Chaotic."
"Beautiful."
She leaned into him. "The best kind."
---
Later that night, they all gathered for dinner.
Shreya was pale but better. Mithun didn't let go of her hand.
Akshi and Chethan had returned, full of questions about "the drama."
C.N. had been briefed via group chat and was already calculating.
Percy, who'd heard through the grapevine, had arrived with Honey and a bouquet for Shreya. "FOR SURVIVING DRAMA!"
Shreya laughed. "Thanks, Percy."
"YOU'RE WELCOME! ALSO MITHUN, IF YOU MAKE HER COLLAPSE AGAIN, I WILL FIGHT YOU!"
Honey pulled him back. "Babe, that's not helpful."
"I'M BEING SUPPORTIVE!"
---
Keiran raised Rex. "TO AUNTIE SHREYA FEELING BETTER!"
"TO SHREYA!" everyone echoed.
Shreya looked at Mithun.
Mithun looked at her.
They smiled.
Another storm weathered.
Together.
---
End of Chapter Eighty-One