The following night, Aditi lay in her plush hotel room in Bali, staring at the ceiling. The golden light from the ornate chandelier danced across the walls, but her mind was elsewhere. The echoes of the world she had left behind in Delhi—Kabir’s cold demeanor, the tension in the air—haunted her. She had come here to escape, to find herself beyond the constraints of her marriage.

The photo she had posted was meant to be a declaration of independence, a chance to reclaim her identity, but she had underestimated the ripple effect it would cause. Kabir's possessiveness had always been evident. But it didn't mean she's going to play the role of submissive wife and dance on the tune of her husband and his family. She was always left alone to fend for herself and now she's not going to bow her head down to anyone.