𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓣𝓸 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 ♾️

✨BROKEN BUT NOT DEFEATED-CHAPTER-20

Third pov:

 Just then, Karthik, accompanied by Lalitha, arrived at the door. He was returning Nithya's forgotten phone, which Anitha had called, and his chithi was guiding him since he didn't know the room's location.

Nithya was in one corner, helping Kavitha adjust her heavy half-saree skirt. They were giggling, whispering, completely unaware of the storm about to hit.

Then the door creaked.

And that voice slithered in like a cobra in silk saree—Kanaga with her signature Sugary tone, venomous words.

"Paavam that Karthik... such a waste. Could've had a better life if he hadn't married that bank-clerk girl."

Kavitha's hands paused on the skirt. Nithya didn't move. Not yet.

"Sweet girl, yes, but let's be real. His family's been renting for decades. What does she bring to the table? No car, no land, not even a gold chain thicker than a thread!"

Kanaga scoffed and continued her bitching rants and other ladies listening "Years ago, his parents came to ask for my Gayathri. I said no with dignity. How can I give my daughter to a man who doesn't even own the walls he lives in?"

Some ladies nods thier head not wanting to interfere here. Kavitha's eyes grew wide.

"But look—My Gayathri married rich and still ended up divorced within a year because that fellow is a trash . And with a big heart I offered my daughter to marry Karthik, I told Radha, why not now? 

Another aunty dared to ask, "Oh is it?"

And Kanaga didn't blink.

"Karthik is a just tuition master with EMIs and bike petrol problems. We even offered, if he marry my daughter, We'll give him a post in our company, let him stay in our house, feed him, clothe him. What more does he want? Respect? After how he spoke to me on call, he's lucky we're even offering this!"

Kavitha's breath hitched, but Nithya didn't even blink. Her back straightened. Her fingers gently adjusted her pallu.

And Kanaga? She was just warming up. Like every nosy auntie with too much time and not enough self-awareness, she opened her mouth again.

"Even now, I want to speak to that poor girl... Nithya. If she listens properly, I can explain. She doesn't realise what she's walking into. The future she'll face."

She turned to the other women, eyes rolling. "Today itself... only one gold chain she wore to the function. ONE. Thin bangles, small earrings. What kind of married girl is that?"

One Aunty chuckled nervously. Another Aunty  gasped like she just heard a crime.

"If she vanishes tomorrow, what's left? Karthik becomes single again. His parents won't have a choice. They'll beg us to marry him into our family."

She said it casually. Like talking about buying vegetables.

Right outside the half-open room door, Karthik's hand curled into a fist.

And Nithya?

Nithya's fury snapped like a lightning bolt across a summer sky.

She turned back—slowly.

Walked straight to Kanaga again, her calm gone. Her eyes weren't fire anymore—they were lava.

"Hello, Aunty," Nithya said with a soft smile. "Looks like I came at the right time."

"N-Nithya ma, we were just—"

"Oh I know. Rewriting my husband life like a mega serial episode, is it?"