Part 2 Chapter 9

 Chapter 9: Parted and Puzzled

2001

 Hamid’s Betrayal

For months, Tara had sensed something was off. Hamid had grown distant, often coming home late with vague excuses about work. The warmth, though faint, that once lingered in their marriage had completely vanished. One evening, while sorting through laundry, Tara found a receipt for an expensive dinner at a restaurant they had never visited together. Her stomach churned. She knew she couldn’t ignore the signs any longer.

That night, as Hamid walked in, she confronted him.

“Hamid,” she began, holding up the receipt, “where were you last Friday night?”

Hamid froze for a moment, his eyes darting to the receipt in her hand. “It was a work dinner,” he said too quickly, avoiding her gaze.

“Work dinner?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Do you think I’m stupid? You’ve been distant for months, and now I find this? Who is she, Hamid?”

“Tara, calm down,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration. “You’re making a scene over nothing.”

“Nothing?” she snapped, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. “You’ve been lying to me. Coming home late, avoiding me, and now I find this? Don’t you dare tell me it’s nothing!”

Hamid sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he muttered. “You want the truth? There is someone else.”

Tara felt as though the ground beneath her had crumbled. Her breath hitched, and tears welled up in her eyes. “You… you cheated on me?”

“It’s not like that,” Hamid said defensively. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I was unhappy, Tara. We were unhappy.”

“We were unhappy?” she echoed, her voice breaking. “And your solution was to betray me? To destroy our family?”

Hamid looked away, guilt flickering across his face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“But you did,” she said, her voice low and trembling with pain. “You didn’t just hurt me, Hamid. You broke me. You broke the trust we had, the family we built. How could you do this to me? To our children?”

“Tara, I—”

“Save it,” she said, cutting him off. “I don’t want your excuses. You’ve made your choice, and now I’ll make mine. I won’t stay in this marriage, Hamid. I deserve better than this.”

The Fallout

The days following the confrontation were some of the hardest Tara had ever endured. Hamid moved out, leaving Tara to explain the situation to their children. She struggled to find the words, but her oldest, sensing the tension, finally asked:

“Is Dad coming back?”

Tara knelt down, tears streaming down her face. “No, sweetheart,” she said softly. “Dad won’t be coming back. But I promise you, we’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her nights were filled with tears and restless thoughts. She felt humiliated, abandoned, and deeply betrayed. But she also felt a spark of determination. She refused to let Hamid’s betrayal define her or break her spirit.

One Last Time

A few weeks later, Tara met Hamid to discuss the divorce proceedings. As they sat across from each other at a small café, the tension was palpable.

“I want full custody of the kids,” Tara said firmly, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Hamid frowned. “Tara, don’t be unreasonable. I’m still their father.”

“You lost the right to call yourself their father when you chose her over us,” she said coldly. “You think you can waltz in and out of their lives after what you’ve done?”

“Tara, I know I made a mistake,” he said, his tone softening. “But don’t take the kids away from me.”

“A mistake?” she said, her voice rising. “You didn’t just make a mistake, Hamid. You destroyed our family. And now you expect me to pretend like nothing happened? To let you play the victim?”

Hamid looked down, unable to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

“Sorry doesn’t fix this,” Tara said, her voice breaking. “Sorry doesn’t undo the pain you’ve caused. I trusted you, Hamid. I gave you everything, and you threw it all away.”

She stood up, her hands trembling. “I’ll fight for what’s best for our children. And I’ll make sure they never grow up thinking this is what love looks like.”

As she walked away, Tara felt a mix of anguish and resolve. She knew the road ahead would be hard, but she also knew she had the strength to face it.

A Fateful Encounter

A year after the divorce, Tara’s life had settled into a rhythm, though it wasn’t easy. She worked long hours, cared for her children, and endured the whispers of judgment from those around her. But one rainy evening, everything changed.

She was at the grocery store, rushing to grab a few items before heading home. Her mind was occupied with the endless list of things she needed to do, and she didn’t notice the man in front of her until she collided with him.

“I’m so sorry—” she began, but her words faltered as she looked up.

“Tara?”

Her breath caught. “Arman?”

It had been nearly two decades since she last saw him, yet his warm eyes were instantly familiar. Time had changed them both—lines of experience etched on their faces, streaks of gray in their hair—but in that moment, it felt like no time had passed at all.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief and something else—something like hope.

“I… live nearby,” she said, her heart pounding. “And you?”

“I moved back to Tilehill recently,” he replied. “After my divorce.”

Tara blinked, startled. “Divorce?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice soft. “It didn’t work out. And you?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Same here.”

They stood there for a moment, the rain falling around them as the weight of their shared history settled between them.

“Would you like to grab a coffee?” he asked suddenly.

She hesitated, but then she smiled. “I’d like that.”

Over the next few months, Tara and Arman began to see each other more often. Their conversations were filled with memories of their youth, the dreams they had shared, and the lives they had lived apart.

One evening, as they walked through the park, Arman turned to her.

“I’ve thought about you so many times over the years,” he admitted.

“Have you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded. “You were my first love, Tara. And honestly, you were the only person who ever really understood me.”

Tara looked at him, her heart swelling with a mix of joy and sadness. “I thought about you too,” she said. “But life… it got in the way.”

“It did,” he agreed. “But maybe this is our second chance.”

Building a New Life Together

After a year of rekindling their relationship, Arman proposed. It wasn’t a grand gesture—just the two of them sitting on the couch, talking about the future.

“Tara,” he said, taking her hand, “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but loving you was never one of them. I don’t want to waste any more time. Will you marry me?”

Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “Yes, Arman. I’ll marry you.”

Their wedding was small and intimate, surrounded by close friends and family. For Tara, it was a dream she never thought she’d get to live.

Shortly after, they welcomed their son, Indra. He was a source of joy and love, a symbol of the life they had built together. But their happiness was not without challenges.

The Challenges of Love

Blending their families was no easy task. Tara’s older children struggled to adjust to having a new father figure, and financial difficulties added strain to their lives. Arman’s career faced setbacks, and Tara had to juggle work and motherhood while supporting her husband.

One evening, as they sat together after a particularly difficult day, Tara turned to Arman.

“Do you ever regret this?” she asked quietly.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with determination. “Never. You’re my home, Tara. No matter how hard it gets, I’ll always choose you.”

Tara smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. “I’ll always choose you too.”