At my second wedding, I burst out laughing when I saw my ex-wife working as a waitress, but thirty minutes later, a cruel truth emerged — and I was speechless.
That day, the luxurious hotel in New Delhi gleamed in all its glory. I — Rajesh Malhotra, a forty-year-old man — entered, holding the hand of my young and beautiful fiancée, under the admiring gazes of the guests.
My wedding ceremony was magnificent: fresh flowers everywhere, top-quality wine, live music — soft Indian love melodies filled the air. I felt like I was on the peak of happiness and success.
But at the moment I raised my glass for a toast, my eyes suddenly landed on a corner of the hall. In a simple uniform, hair neatly tied, and holding a tray of drinks, stood a painfully familiar figure.
For a moment my heart froze, and then I laughed.
It was her — Anita, my ex-wife. The woman who had once been my spouse, the one who cooked me simple homemade meals every day. And now, while I was in a designer suit with a young, beautiful wife by my side, she was serving the guests at my wedding.
Friends whispered quietly:
— Isn’t that Rajesh’s ex-wife?
What irony! A successful man finds a new wife, while the former becomes part of the service staff.
I listened and simply smiled, thinking this was a sweet victory after the divorce.
Thirty minutes passed — and the truth came out.
As the party reached its peak, an older guest approached my table with a serious expression. It was Mr. Sharma — an important business partner I had dreamed of collaborating with for many years. Smiling, he raised his glass for a toast:
— Congratulations — you’ve found new happiness.
I replied enthusiastically:
— Thank you, it’s an honor to see you here today.
But suddenly, his gaze shifted to the corner where Anita was still clearing tables. He set down his glass sharply and stood. His voice was firm:
— With your permission… I’d like to say a few words.
The room immediately went silent.
He pointed to Anita:
— Few know, but this woman… saved my life. Three years ago in Jaipur, I was in a car accident. If she hadn’t plunged into icy water to pull me out — I wouldn’t be here today.
Guests gasped in surprise. I was speechless.
Mr. Sharma continued, his voice trembling:
— And not only that. She is a co-founder of a charity I support. After the divorce, she quietly left, leaving all her wealth to her ex-husband, and began working physically to support her elderly mother and young son.
It was a blow.
His words hit like a thunderclap on a clear day. I looked at Anita. She stood there with tears in her eyes, yet still bowed her head and continued working as if nothing had happened.
Guests whispered:
— My God, I never imagined she was such a noble woman.
And I — Rajesh — had dared to laugh at her?
My face flushed, sweat ran down my forehead. Pride instantly turned into humiliation. What I had considered a “victory” after the divorce was actually pettiness and selfishness.
The woman I had abandoned and humiliated had turned out to be the lifesaver of my most important business partner — and a respected member of society.
At that moment, the music and laughter in the hall seemed to fade. My soul felt cold as I realized that the happiness I had today did not make me noble. My cruelty and arrogance made me the lowest person in this sparkling room.
I wanted to approach Anita, I wanted to apologize. But my legs felt like lead. She only looked at me — calm, without anger — and then turned away.
And in that moment, I understood: I had lost something priceless forever — not just a wife, but a woman with a kind heart, whom I would never meet again in my life.
This story is a work of fiction and is not based on real people or events.
Any resemblance to real persons or events is purely coincidental.
