As Arvind had said he made all the papers ready by evening and on top of it he called all his friends to celebrate our anniversary. It was his usual practice, to call all his friends and then humiliate me in front of them.

Today he was actually happy and didn't use any offensive words to humiliate me. Maybe our lives will change after tonight. Maybe he will believe that I am not after his money and never manipulated dadu to marry Arvind. I liked him but I always thought he was out of my league so marrying him was never my dream.

“Attention everyone” Arvind called out, clicking the champagne glass. He had gone overboard with the celebration. Our whole house was decorated with fresh flowers and candles, Food spread was exotic and champagne was unlimited.
He even sent a beautiful saree and makeup artist to dress me up for the occasion. He himself was dressed in a black tux, the one he wore for special occasions. No doubt he was handsome but today he had put in extra efforts in dressing up as if today was the most important day of his life.

I wanted to be happy but somehow at the back of my mind something felt wrong. I was getting a bit restless as if a huge storm was waiting for me. I pushed that feeling aside and concentrated on Arvind.

“Today is our ….” He started but looked at me from across the hall
“Which anniversary sweetheart?” he asked with a sweet smile

“F.. fourth…” I replied

“Ahh…Sorry, my bad, Today is our fourth anniversary and my beautiful wife is giving me the best gift of my life.” He said, giving a shy smile. I must say he was great at acting all charming and loving towards me. By each passing minute my heartbeat was increasing. Arvind was being extra sweet, which is so not him.

“She is going to give all her wealth. I mean I have her heart, what else do I need but she insisted on signing off all her belongings to me.” He huffed.

“So…”he walked up to me and extended his hand forward. I looked at him with questioning eyes. Why he had to create a drama in front of everyone?

“Let's do the honours darling” he still had his hand extended and smirked at me. I reluctantly placed my hand in his. He squeezed my hand a little hard and took me towards a desk that had some papers and a pen. There was a huge clapping around us as he took the pen and gave it in my hands.

“Come on, or are you having second thoughts?” He whispered glaring at me.

I don't mind giving him my share but there seems more to all the drama, but I pushed the thought and started to sign the papers. There were a lot of papers to be signed.

“You should read the paper before signing them” I heard Vikram say. Vikram is Arvind's lawyer and best friend. I am sure he himself must have prepared the papers, so why is he asking me to read it? Vikram is the only one who never joined Arvind in humiliating me. He is a stone with no expressions and his demeanor is colder than ice.

“Ya, ya read them, if you don't trust me” Arvind interjected.

I don't want to upset him by not showing my trust. This whole transfer part is to gain his trust and what else is he gonna take from me, I don't have any other property personally.

“No it's okay, I trust you”. With that said I signed all the papers. He snatched the papers as soon as I signed the last paper.
His eyes were twinkling and had a mischievous sight as if he was up to something.

“Thank you so much wife you just made my day and …my life”  he went and stood in the middle of the hall.

“Oh sorry, not wife, but… EX WIFE.” he jested happily

“Ex wife?” I mumbled.

“You sure are not that smart. I was unnecessarily giving you credit for being smart enough to manipulate dadu. After all, I am smarter than you. You know, Vikram was right, you should always read before signing.” He mocked, and flipped through the papers and turned it around to show me.

“Look what you did, you signed the Divorce papers.” He said acting sad. My eyesight had turned blur due to tears but when I focused on the papers, earth slipped from under my feet. My heart stopped beating, the whole room started spinning in front of me.

Did he deceive me? I was feeling suffocated.

“Ar..Arvind…” I tried to grasp some air

“MR SINGHANIA” He hollered
“I don't allow people like you to call me by my name, just imagine my trauma that you were flaunting my name with yours.” I flinched at his words. He was spitting venom in the form of words.

“What do you call yourself? Mrs Nandini Arvind Singhania? Tum is laayak bhi ho kya?”

“Tum sirf Nandini ho, aur kuch nahi. Na koi aage, na koi piche.”

“Dadu ne thodi daya kya dikhadi tum anatho ko, tum to sar par chadh gayi”
You thought this party was for you? No gold digger ex wife. This party is for my freedom.” He said spreading his arms. The whole room erupted laughing with him.

He kept hurling insults towards me. The whole room listened without speaking anything. They just stood there witnessing my downfall. Each word felt like a knife stabbing my soul.

I was shattered. At that moment I lost everything, my confidence, my self respect, my dignity. I was begging this person for a chance?

I don't know when I slumped on the floor. I was a crying mess but I had decided, I won't ask him for any chance nor ask any questions. It was over. Everything was over. He came towards me and grabbed my arm harshly. With force he made me stand.

“Bohat maze ho gaya, bohat aish karli durso ke paise se, ab bus. Apna saman bandho aur niklo yeha se.” He pushed me towards the door. I stumbled a bit but took hold of the door knob for support. I looked at him once and left from there.