It's done! Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan are officially divorced.
After months of speculation about a possible reconciliation, the star couple have finally called it quits, legally. Just a day after the two appeared for a Justin Bieber concert alongside their son Arhaan, the couple were spotted stepping out of a Mumbai family court.
Both of them had court papers in their hands and rushed towards their cars almost immediately after they were granted a divorce, ending their 18-years marriage.
While most of their fans were saddened by the news, there were also those who speculated about them having monetary conflict. But the reality was far from it.
THIS is what Malaika received as alimony!
According to the a leading entertainment portal, Malaika had demanded Rs 10-15 crores as her final divorce settlement. Besides this lump sum amount Malaika also demanded monthly maintenance and other charges for her son.
But as it turns out, it was all rubbish.
The real truth is that Malaika Arora Khan did not demand any alimony or property from her estranged husband. In fact, soon after the separation was announced, Malaika moved out of the house the couple shared together and started living separately.
At the time, the couple released a joint statement sharing, "Yes, it's true that we are separated. The truth is, we have taken a break, but that doesn't mean people can presume, assume and speculate things of such malicious nature. We are taking out time to figure out our lives. We have maintained a dignified silence till now but it is causing us too much confusion and is disturbing for our families. To put all of the speculation to rest, we are giving out this statement."
Terms of their divorce
Since the couple had filed for divorce under "mutual consent" they were undergoing joint counselling. It is ordered by the court for six months before granting of divorce to see if the couple want to get together.
But in their case, it was not to be.
Arbaaz had earlier shared, "I look back and see 22 years of togetherness — five years of courtship and 17 years of marriage and a child. And I wonder why this and why that and what could have been corrected. And if there were mistakes from my end or her side. We just couldn’t work around it. We did our bit of counselling..."
Custody of Arhaan remains with Malaika
While Malaika did not ask for alimony, she did want her 14-year-old son Arhaan's custody and has reportedly been granted one. Based on this grant, Arbaaz can visit Arhaan anytime he so desires.
With this divorce settlement, Malaika and Arbaaz have become another celebrity couple to quietly move on from each other and remain friends, just as exes Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Bhabani.
Also, the grace with which these two have handled their divorce and come out in public together shows that they have moved on and are in a happy space right now. As for their son, they have clearly helped him cope with the change, given how they often come together as a family.
This is one of the many ways divorced parents can help their kids cope with their broken relationship.
3 ways you can help your child cope with your divorce
- Be honest with your children: Let them know you still care about them and that they're not being replaced or forgotten. Invite them to express their thoughts and emotions, and be open to making changes in how you handle the transition.
- Empathise with their feelings: Regardless of your children's ages, remarriage evokes strong feelings that they may not understand or be able to communicate. Children see remarriage as a loss — often at the end of a string of losses. Validate your children's feelings by listening to and acknowledging their concerns.
- Allow them to take time to adjust: While children may eventually embrace the new relationships, few do so at first. Be sensitive to this need for time to adjust. Do not force children to accept the situation. You can, however, expect them to be courteous and respectful.
Read: 5 ways to divorce-proof your marriage
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(All images courtesy: Instagram)
