My name is Aarohi, I am 36 years old, living in Mumbai, and working as an Operations Manager in a clean food company. I had been married to Rohan, an IT technician, for over ten years – so long that I thought I knew the man.
Until that night.
Whispers that shook me to the core
That night, I was packing my luggage for a four-day business trip to Bangalore. My eight-year-old son, Veer, was suddenly standing at the door of the room. He held his Pikachu toy tightly, his eyes were red, like he had just cried.
I was shocked: “Veer, why haven’t you slept yet?”
He spoke softly, and came closer to me and pulled my sleeve: “Mom… Dad is with someone else… And they will soon take all your money…”
I stood stunned. It’s as if time had stopped in the whole room.
I sat at the level of his eyes: “Hero… Where did you hear that?”
He said tremblingly: “I… I heard my dad talking on the phone. Papa said, ‘Give him (Aarohi’s) signature, he won’t know’. And then a woman laughed… I was scared and ran to my room. ”
My hands went cold. Rohan had changed a lot recently: he was often on the phone, came home late at night, and looked for excuses to avoid family dinners. But I thought it was because of the work. Now everything came to me in an instant.
I looked at the open suitcase, then at my son. And I knew what I had to do.
I immediately canceled my business trip. Without delaying a moment.
Day 1 – Investigation begins
The next morning, Rohan went to work unusually early. I acted as if I didn’t know anything.
As soon as the door closed, I immediately opened the laptop, logged into bank accounts, digital wallets, joint savings accounts — everything related to our shared assets.
In just a few minutes, I found out:
Three days ago, a transaction of ₹5,00,000 (Rs five lakh) was transferred to the account of a woman named Priya.
I went numb. I knew him.
Priya – The same cashier where Rohan used to work. Handsome, young, and whenever I went to pick them up, she would smile at Rohan.
I continued to investigate and found that other small, but frequent transactions were also made. There was no longer any doubt left.
I immediately called the lawyer Mr. Sharma, who had helped my company with some legal matters. I told them everything.
Mr. Sharma said in a serious voice: “Aarohi ji, this is not just a matter of extramarital affair. I think they are trying to move the joint property. Especially when you were going to go on a trip, it would have been a lot easier for them to do it. ”
Hearing this, my heart sank.
Mr Sharma instructed: “You stay calm. I will send someone to check the bank and related transactions. The results will be out in three days. ”
Three days. Three days to find out if my husband is trying to take everything away from me.
Day 2 – Hidden Documents
The next evening, I went to pick up Veer. After getting into the car, he whispered: “Mom… This morning I heard my dad on the phone again. Papa said the paperwork would be finished tonight. ”
I shuddered.
At night, when Rohan was taking a bath, I went to his office room. The computer had a folder named “Work”. I tried to open some files, there was nothing in them. But there was a password on one of the folders.
Rohan was not tech-savvy, so after a few attempts, I was able to open it.
There were three files in that folder:
I almost collapsed.
Rohan wanted to sell the house? Withdrawing all the money? Pledging joint property? Why? on what account??
I clenched my fists. Eleven years of faith… And this in return.
Day 3 – Uncovering the Truth
In the morning, the lawyer, Mr. Sharma, called me. “I’ve got the information. You have to be very calm. I held my breath. “Both Rohan and Priya were preparing to open an online gaming shop together. They wanted to use your savings as capital. I was stunned. “But that’s not the worst thing,” Mr. Sharma added. “I’ve found out that that gaming shop isn’t real. All this was Priya’s plan to grab money. He has cheated on some people in the past. “My heart sank. If I had gotten on a plane… If I hadn’t listened to my son… If I had believed in Rohan one more time… All my money, my house, Veer’s future could all be gone.
Evening – the decisive moment
At 6 pm, Rohan came home. He seemed to be in a hurry. “Ascendant, I need your signature on some papers. I asked with a cold smile: “Which papers, dear?” “It’s just a small investment. You just sign,” Rohan said as if I were a naïve child. I looked straight into his eyes: “You were preparing to sell the house, withdraw money from the savings account, and take out additional loans in my name… So that he can give it all to Priya, right?” Rohan’s face turned white. “You… What are you saying?” “I know everything. I said, emphasizing every word.
At the same time, lawyer Sharma came in with a bank representative. Rohan shouted: “How dare you trap me?!” This is the protection of my son and family’s property. The bank representative announced that all joint accounts have been temporarily frozen to investigate unusual asset transfers. Rohan was asked to leave the house temporarily.
Veer was standing behind me, he held my hand tightly. I saw the fear in her eyes, but she was also relieved after telling the secret.
Three days later – Rohan’s downfall
Three days later, lawyer Mr Sharma called again: “Rohan had transferred more than ₹7,00,000 to Priya’s account. And that… It has disappeared. I sighed. It was sad, that even though Rohan had betrayed me, it still pained me to hear this. The lawyer said: “Due to your timely action, you saved your home, savings and your personal property. Otherwise, you would have lost everything. I looked out onto the courtyard. Veer was playing ball, smiling innocently, as if there had never been a storm in his life. I felt my mind lighten.
The end — but also a new beginning
I filed for divorce. Rohan apologized, saying that he had been seduced, that he had been confused about the business. I simply replied: “No one seduced you.” It was your own choice. He bowed his head and remained silent.
Eventually, the court gave me custody of the child. I allowed Rohan to meet Veer as he is still his father, but all financial matters were clearly separated. One evening, when I was reading a book, Veer came into my lap and hugged me and whispered: “Mother… I’m sorry that I made you sad that day…” I hugged him tightly. “No, my son. You were the one who saved the mother.” ”
And I knew, after that storm, my son and I would be fine. My new life began from the moment I heard my son’s whispers.
A Different Morning (6 months later)
Six months have passed since the court formally divorced me and Rohan. That house in Mumbai is still the same, but the atmosphere has completely changed. There is no longer any hidden tension, no futile waiting evenings, and no shadow of betrayal hovers over the dining table.
This morning, I, the ascendant, woke up at 6 a.m. The morning sunshine filtered through the light curtains and drew golden streaks on the wooden floor. I stretched and felt lighter than ever. The new life, though not easy, brought the peace I had lost long ago.
In the kitchen, the hero was already sitting at the table, pouring milk and cornflakes for himself. The eight-and-a-half-year-old boy is now freer and wiser than ever. As soon as the phone rings, he no longer holds Pikachu tightly.
“Mom, I have to take the cheese roll to lunch today,” Veer said, his eyes sparkling.
“Great! I’ll make it right away. But today, will you help me make a list of groceries?”
“Yes, I will write very beautiful!”
Previously, I was always busy with my work as a manager, and at the same time had the burden of saving a broken marriage, so I couldn’t really find time for Veer. I still work hard, but I’ve learned to set boundaries. I am always at home at 5 p.m., and that time is Veer’s time.
Despite being mentally prepared, the post-divorce process was fraught with challenges.
Illusion and reality
I thought that after Rohan left, I would immediately become a strong, independent woman. But the truth was that the pain didn’t disappear overnight. There were some evenings when Veer would fall asleep, I would sit alone in the living room and look at the empty space where Rohan used to sit. It wasn’t the pain of missing him, but the regret of losing the man I thought he was and the family that was once ours.
I realized that the hardest part of betrayal was not losing money or a husband, but losing faith in myself and my decision-making ability. How could an intelligent, clever woman who took over an operational department with dozens of employees be so blind to her spouse for eleven years?
Advocate Sharma had advised me to seek psychological help. In the beginning I refused, because I always thought I was strong enough. But once I saw Veer secretly hiding Papa’s old jacket under his pillow, I burst into tears and knew that I needed help.
Strength from therapy
I met counsellor Priya (different from the third-person Priya), who was a calm and understanding woman. They helped me understand that the reason for my blindness was actually my complete faith and devotion to the family. I was too focused on my career and the belief that Rohan was trustworthy, and I ignored the warning signs.
“Aarohi, you were not blind,” said counsellor Priya. “You were just a good wife, who allowed yourself to be believed. It’s not your fault. The fault lies with the person who misused that trust. ”
These words were like an antidote. It freed me from the guilt and sense of self-criticism. I began to write a diary, recording my complex emotions, anger, disappointment, hope, and gratitude.
If there’s one best thing that’s happened after all this, it’s the depth of my relationship with Veer.
The child no longer had to keep any secrets. The burden that an eight-year-old child should not have borne was now lifted.
One evening, when we were baking cookies together, Veer suddenly asked: “Mom, Papa, is okay?” “Papa is fine, Veer. He now lives elsewhere. You know, Dad made a big mistake. They made mom and you sad. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. “So why did they do it?” “Because sometimes, older people act thoughtlessly, especially when others mislead them. Papa chose that path instead of protecting our family. I chose to save you and our home. The hero was silent for a while, then said: “I’m glad I told mom.” I was very scared. “My son, you are my hero. You saved my mother. You showed the courage to tell the truth. I love you so much for that. ”
Since then, the heroic has opened up more. He was open about meeting Papa (always under supervision) and was not afraid to mention Rohan. He understood that Papa was still his father, but Mom was the one who protected him.
To help Veer get through this phase, I enrolled him in a survival skills course and pottery class. Both activities required attention and creativity, giving a positive direction to her negative energy.
Veer became obsessed with pottery. She made some colorful, but crooked cups and bowls. She said: “Mom, even though it’s not perfect, it’s mine. This made me realize that he was learning to accept life’s imperfections and find value in what he created.
In the company as well, I made major changes. I realized that being an effective manager doesn’t necessarily mean being a highly worked person.
I trained my subordinates so that they could make more decisions on their own, and delegated tasks that I had previously been doing on my own out of distrust. As a result, the operational department began to run even more smoothly, and I had time to rest.
I began to adopt a new principle: the principle of “no”.
It not only improved my mental health, but also motivated my team. They saw a strong, happy manager, and they also learned to prioritize their personal lives.
One day, my director, Meera, a sensible woman, called me into her office. “Aarohi, you know, since you got divorced, you’ve been doing even better.” You’re more focused, and you seem to have found peace. I smiled: “I’ve found peace, and concentration is because I know there’s a little hero waiting for me at home at 5 p.m., Mira.” ”
I remodeled our shared home with Rohan.
- Office Room: I converted Rohan’s old office room into a reading and art room for Veer. The walls were painted light blue, and together we hung paintings of Veer’s pottery there.
- Master Bedroom: To erase old memories I bought a completely new bedding set, golden in cream and earthy color. I started reading books instead of watching TV before bed.
- Garden: We started growing vegetables in the balcony – tomatoes, green chillies and coriander. It was a great therapy, where we cared together and waited for the results.
One day, while cleaning out the storeroom, I came across an old box of memorable moments associated with the wedding. I decided to face them instead of burning or throwing them away. I saw old wedding photos and letters. I didn’t feel pain, but rather felt pity for both of us — one who was betrayed and one who betrayed himself. After that, I put that box in the deepest corner of the storeroom, not to forget, but to accept. The memories were there, but they didn’t define me anymore.
A year after the divorce, Veer and I were ready for a new chapter.
I got an offer for the post of Operational Director (Director) in a big company, which had a much better salary and facilities. It was a big opportunity, but for that I had to shift to Hyderabad.
I sat down and talked with Veer. “Veer, mom has got a great job opportunity. It will make our lives better. But we have to move to a new city, Hyderabad. What do you think?”
Veer looked at me with the seriousness of an adult: “Hyderabad? Is there a big video game arcade?” I laughed: “Of course there will be, and there will be many other great things.” “So I agree, Mom. But will the new house have enough sunlight to grow tomatoes?” “I promise there will be a sunny balcony for tomatoes. ”
The boy did not ask about Rohan, nor did he show fear of change. He had learned that change is a part of life, and as long as mother is with him, everything can be transcended.
We sold the Mumbai house. I used that money to buy a spacious and modern apartment in Hyderabad. I decided to keep a large portion of my personal possessions and savings as an emergency fund for Veer, a reminder of the importance of preparation.
Before leaving, Rohan came to see me. He had lost his job after Priya’s deception, and he was now doing odd jobs. He looked tired and full of remorse. “Aarohi, I apologize. I made a mistake. I want you and Veer to be happy.” I looked at him calmly: “Thank you, Rohan. You know, your biggest mistake was not infidelity, but stealing your son’s future. But you didn’t succeed. Now we’re moving on.” I gave him the new Hyderabad address and new phone number, and reminded him of the child’s meeting schedule. “You are still Veer’s father. Remember this.” ”
There was no more hatred in my mind. I just felt pity, and a sense of ultimate liberation. Rohan himself was suffering the consequences of his decisions.
On the day of the shift, Veer and I stood on the balcony of the old apartment, watching the bustle of the city of Mumbai for the last time.
“Mom, we’re about to start a new adventure!” Veer said excitedly, holding his newly made Pikachu clay toy tightly. I held my son’s hand. “Yes, my son. An adventure in which only we will be two mother and son. From today on, we will write our own lives. ”
The flight to Hyderabad was not like the flight that I cancelled that day due to fear and bad feelings. This flight was full of hope.
I looked out the window, the new city was waiting for us. I had lost a husband, but I found myself again, and found my strength and courage in the love of my son.
Ascended and Veer’s new life wasn’t a story with a perfect ending right away, but rather a real journey: healing begins when you dare to take action.
And it all began, in fact, with the whispers of an eight-year-old boy.