Priya and Rohan had been married for more than two years when she became pregnant with their first child. By the ninth month, her belly was heavy, she had difficulty walking, and her limbs were swollen. Rohan, her husband, had recently become indifferent and cold, often absent from home with excuses such as “going on business trips”, “meeting partners” or “projects in other cities”. Priya, despite being tired, still believed in her husband and patiently waited for the day he would come back with her to pick up their child.

This time, Rohan said he was going on a business trip to Goa. Priya was about to give birth, and she hesitated and did not want her husband to go. He reassured her: “I’m only going for a week, there are still more than three weeks left until my due date.” So Rohan still went.

That night, Rohan posted a photo on social media showing off the scene at the beach. Priya went to see it and was shocked to see her husband hugging a young woman. Just a few seconds later, the photo was taken down, leaving only group photos. Her intuition told her that her husband’s trip was for another woman.

Suddenly, Priya felt a sharp pain in her stomach, a sign of early labor. She called her husband. She called him ten times without success, until the eleventh time, Rohan picked up the phone, his voice cold: “If you are pregnant, you have to give birth, your job is to give birth. Don’t bother me anymore, I’m busy, don’t be suspicious for no reason.”

After saying that, he hung up. That sentence was like a knife stabbing into Priya’s heart. She held her mother-in-law’s hand tightly, whispering: “Mom, save me…”

That night, Priya was taken to the delivery room. The pain lasted for nearly six hours. Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Meera, stood in the hallway, her eyes red, her hand tightly holding the phone, not knowing whether to call her son or not.

Early in the morning, the sound of a baby crying rang out. The doctor came out, smiling: “Mother and child are safe.”

Mrs. Meera burst into tears. She looked at the little grandchild being held out by the nurse, gently stroked her silky hair and whispered: “Poor grandchild, just born and already having to suffer the betrayal of his father.”

She personally took care of her daughter-in-law, without a word of complaint.

When Priya woke up, she coaxed her grandchild and said: “Don’t worry, Rohan will pay the price. I will never forgive a man who abandons his wife for his mistress.”

At the same time, in Goa, Rohan and his lover were in a luxury hotel when the receptionist called to say that someone she knew was looking for them. Thinking it was a partner, Rohan brought his lover down. The person who met him was a middle-aged woman.

“Don’t you recognize me? I came to your house twice when you had just graduated from university, when I took my daughter to Delhi to study. I was your mother’s high school classmate, married here… My name is Kavita.”

“Yes, hello, Kavita. Long time no see… What business do you have with me?”

“Your mother asked me to inform you: your wife has given birth to a safe and sound child. She told you that if you left your wife for your lover, you should just leave and not come back. She has already sold the house and bought another one to live with her daughter-in-law and grandchild. I will send your belongings here for you.”

The lover’s eyes widened: “You already have a wife and children? Oh my god, you said you two were separated! You lied to me! You bastard!” She stood up coldly, threw her handbag at Rohan’s chest and left.

When Rohan returned to Delhi, the old house belonged to a new owner. His wife had filed for divorce. His mother and wife and children had moved elsewhere. He had to rent a house. And perhaps, the day Rohan lost everything was the day he understood – the price of betrayal was not only losing his wife, but also losing his most tolerant mother.