Chapter Ninety: The Breaking Point
The morning of the third day arrived heavy and gray.
Clouds covered the sun. The mansion felt like a tomb.
Jay hadn't come out of her room since the slap.
Keifer hadn't moved from the living room couch.
Everyone walked on eggshells.
---
Shreya couldn't take it anymore.
She climbed the stairs. Knocked on Jay's door.
"Jay. It's me. Please open up."
Silence.
"Jay, you've been in there for two days. Keiran is asking for you. We're all worried. Please."
Nothing.
Shreya's voice rose. "You can't just hide forever! We're your family! We're trying to help you!"
The door flew open.
Jay stood there. Red-eyed. Hollow. But angry.
"Help me? You want to help me? Then leave me alone!"
"We can't leave you alone! You're destroying yourself!"
"I'M NOT DESTROYING MYSELF! I'M TRYING TO SURVIVE!"
Shreya stepped back. "Survive what? WHAT is so terrible that you can't even talk to us?"
"EVERYTHING! The baby! The grief! The weight of pretending I'm okay when I'm NOT! And now Keifer—" Her voice cracked. "I hit him. I actually hit him. What kind of person does that?"
"Someone who's hurting."
"THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE!"
---
Shreya grabbed her arms. "Jay, listen to me—"
"NO! YOU LISTEN! You don't understand! None of you understand! You're all so happy with your perfect relationships and your perfect lives and I'm just—I'm falling apart and no one sees it!"
"We see it! We're TRYING to see it! But you won't let us in!"
"BECAUSE I CAN'T!"
"YES YOU CAN!"
"NO I CAN'T!"
Their voices were screaming now.
Akshi appeared at the top of the stairs. "What's happening?"
Chethan behind her. "Shreya—"
Shreya spun around. "STAY OUT OF THIS!"
Chethan froze. "I was just—"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! I DON'T NEED ANYONE'S HELP!"
---
She ran.
Down the hall.
Into her room.
Door slamming.
Lock clicking.
---
Akshi stared. "She... she never yells."
Chethan's face was pale. "What do we do?"
Mithun appeared. He'd heard everything.
He walked to Shreya's door. Knocked softly.
"Shreya."
Crying from inside.
"Shreya, it's Mithun. Please let me in."
"No." Her voice was broken. "Go away."
"I'm not going away."
"PLEASE."
"I'm staying right here."
---
Minutes passed.
He didn't move.
Inside, her sobs grew louder.
"Shreya, I'm here. I'm not leaving. Whatever you need—space, silence, someone to yell at—I'm here."
The door opened a crack.
Her face appeared. Destroyed. Tears everywhere.
He opened his arms.
She fell into them.
---
He held her while she cried.
Great, heaving sobs that shook her whole body.
"I'm sorry," she gasped. "I'm sorry I yelled. I'm sorry I—"
"Shh. No apologies."
"But I—"
"No. You're hurting. That's allowed."
"I was so mean to her."
"You were scared. There's a difference."
She cried harder. He held tighter.
---
Downstairs, Jay stood in the living room.
She'd heard everything.
Heard Shreya's screams. Heard her run. Heard Mithun's quiet voice.
She looked at Keifer on the couch.
He looked back. Silent.
She climbed the stairs.
---
Shreya's door was open.
Mithun sat on the floor, Shreya in his arms, still crying.
Jay appeared in the doorway.
Shreya looked up.
Their eyes met.
"I'm sorry," Jay whispered.
Shreya scrambled up. Crossed to her.
Threw her arms around her.
"I'm sorry," Shreya sobbed. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I didn't mean to—"
"No, I'm sorry. You were trying to help and I—"
"We're both sorry."
"We're both messes."
They held each other, crying.
Mithun watched, heart aching.
---
Jay pulled back. "I love you. You know that, right?"
"I know. I love you too."
"I didn't mean what I said. About your perfect life. It's not perfect. None of our lives are."
"We're all just figuring it out."
"Yeah." Jay wiped her eyes. "We are."
---
They sat together on Shreya's floor.
Mithun stayed, a quiet presence.
"You need to talk to Keifer," Shreya said softly.
"I know."
"Not now. But soon."
"I know."
"He loves you."
"I know."
"He's hurting too."
Jay's eyes filled again. "I know."
---
Downstairs, Keifer sat alone.
Keiran climbed onto his lap.
"Pappa?"
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Is Mamma still sad?"
"Yeah. She's still sad."
"Rex says we should wait."
"Rex is right."
"And love her anyway."
Keifer hugged him tighter. "Rex is very smart."
"Rex knows everything."
They sat together.
Waiting.
Loving anyway.
---
The fight wasn't over.
But maybe, slowly, they were finding their way back.
---
End of Chapter Ninety