Not every bond is built on love and warmth. Sometimes, it is only a shadow of what it should have been. This is the story of such a bond—a loveless, painful connection between two people, where one heart kept beating with hope while the other had long stopped caring.
From the very beginning, Muskaan’s indifference was clear. She never gave Sahil the love and affection he yearned for. Although she was not openly cruel, her cold and distant attitude made it obvious that she was never truly connected to him. Her silence, her lack of warmth, and her habit of keeping him at a distance silently conveyed a message: there was no place for him in her heart. Still, Sahil stayed. He clung to love and hope, refusing to believe the painful truth that Muskaan had made up her mind long ago.
Her emotionless behavior wasn’t just a passing phase—it was a carefully maintained wall. Though she tried different ways to provoke Sahil, hoping he would one day get frustrated and leave her, he never did. He loved her too deeply and held on, thinking that patience and love could one day melt her frozen heart. Meanwhile, Muskaan silently plotted against him, weaving schemes and playing cruel games behind his back. But even these mean attempts failed to break his spirit.
Sahil believed love could overcome anything. He tolerated her coldness, indifference, and harsh silence. He thought if he remained kind and loving, one day she would recognize his worth. But as time passed, the burden of her emotional distance became too heavy. What started as neglect slowly turned into a quiet, deadly form of cruelty. Yet Sahil kept trying, hoping his endless love would one day soften her.
He poured his heart into the relationship, dedicating every moment, every ounce of energy, to a marriage that was already crumbling. Every kind gesture was met with indifference; every loving word ignored. Still, he believed that if he just held on a little longer, their bond could be saved. But deep inside, a part of him always knew the truth—their relationship was beyond repair. Muskaan had made her choice long ago, emotionally and physically distancing herself, leaving Sahil alone in a lifeless marriage.
In reality, Muskaan’s heart never belonged to Sahil. She carried arrogance, coldness, and a deep-seated resentment for him. Sahil realized this early in their marriage but chose to suffer silently. He preferred to live in this loveless union rather than break his family and watch his children’s lives fall apart. Even so, Muskaan made sure to sting him at every step. She tried to destroy his peace, dignity, and happiness. Her cruelty extended to poisoning their children’s minds against their father—a man who had devoted his life to them.
Muskaan was always supported by her family, who knew from the start that she had been unwilling to marry Sahil. She had been forced into the marriage. Sahil, on the other hand, had fallen for her at first sight. She was the first girl he had ever thought of marrying. He believed she loved him too. But soon, her actions—frequent visits to her parental home, ignoring his calls, and avoiding him emotionally and physically—told him otherwise. She used their innocent children as weapons in her silent war against him.
Her coldness was not just about lacking affection; it was a continuous, deliberate emotional rejection. The bedroom Sahil had lovingly designed for her became a cruel reminder of his loneliness. What he had hoped would be a sanctuary of love became a cold, unwelcoming space. No matter how much love he gave, he received nothing in return. Her indifference became a constant wound, draining him from within.
As years passed, Sahil was forced to face the bitter truth. The love he carried had turned into a burden. The sacrifices he made only drove them further apart. His love, patience, and tolerance—which had held the marriage together for more than a decade—slowly lost their strength. Their relationship was breaking, piece by piece. Sahil’s wounds deepened each day, and his heart remained heavy with the weight of his unreturned love.
In the quiet moments of his pain, something within Sahil began to change. He realized that holding on to a relationship where his love was neither valued nor acknowledged was not a sign of loyalty but a path to self-destruction. The marriage he kept alive through sheer will had lost its soul.
For the first time, Sahil understood that healing would only begin when he let go. This was not an easy realization. Memories of rare happy moments and dreams of growing old together haunted him. Still, deep down, he knew Muskaan had already chosen her path. Sahil couldn’t help but think that if she had only spoken openly—expressed her desire for separation honestly—she could have saved them both from years of silent pain.
Though the wounds of the past would always remain a part of Sahil’s story, he chose to rise above them. He would walk the difficult road of healing, unsure if his heart would ever fully recover, or if he would carry those scars for the rest of his life.
Only time would reveal whether his children would one day see the truth for themselves and return to the roots of their father’s endless love. And as for Muskaan and those who supported her cruelty, it remains to be seen what fate they will face in the Apex Court of Allah’s justice.
Syed Majid Gilani is a Government Officer and a writer who reflects on human emotions, family bonds, moral values, and heartfelt experiences drawn from the rich tapestry of real life. He can be reached at syedmajid6676@gmail.com
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