The Saxena Complexity

Betrayal

~|| CHAPTER 13 ||~

Anaisha stormed back into her room, her face marred with indignation. The air crackled with the heat of her anger as she forcefully shut the door behind her. With a resounding thud, she plopped onto the bed. Her fingers clenched the bed sheet tightly, the fabric bearing the brunt of her fury as her knuckles turned white. The room seemed to echo with the low grumble escaping her lips, a symphony of discontent. 

Her mind kept replaying the tumultuous scenes that unfolded downstairs. Her brain repeatedly coerced her to picture the look on Aahana Di's face when she was getting reprimanded by her father-in-law. An expression of being fed up with everything.  Each word uttered by him reverberated through the corridors of her thoughts, a haunting echo that refused to dissipate. 

She took audible, deep breaths, the weight of the recent argument pressing heavily on her chest. Finally, the emotional dam broke, and tears cascaded down her cheeks. The source of her distress was the poignant realisation that she fought with her sister for these people, a painful admission that adds a layer of sorrow to her tears. The room was filled with the soft, steady rhythm of her quiet sobs, an intimate symphony of anguish. 

As Rakshita walks past Anaisha's room, a furrow forms on her brow, and a cloud of confusion settles over her expression. The muffled sounds of Anaisha's tears reach her ears, casting a shadow of concern across Rakshita's face. Pausing, she hesitates for a moment, contemplating whether to intervene or respect Anaisha's privacy.

With a sudden surge of concern, she abandons all hesitation. Swiftly, she races towards Anaisha's room, her footsteps echoing the urgency of her worry. A mix of empathy and alarm crosses Rakshita's face, and without a second thought, she closes the distance, reaching out to offer comfort.

At the sight of her of crying face, Rakshita tries to lighten the mood by a lame joke. "Hey, Anaisha. Why are you crying? I mean sure you crying is hydrating your skin but not this much. Your skin looks hydrating enough."

It seemingly does the work as the corners of Anisha's mouth twitch up slightly. The waterfall slows down by a bit and she vehemently shakes her head. She slowly turns her head towards Rakshita and says, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. As long as it stops you from crying."

"Is it wrong of me if I didn't support my sister in front of elders?"

"Depends. Was your sister wrong?"

"No. Fundamentally, she was the right one."

"Then, it was wrong. Age is not a factor when we are talking about the right or wrong. The wrong always remains wrong no matter who or what it is applied for. And vice versa too," advised Rakshita. 

"How do you always know the correct thing to say at the correct time?"

"I guess, unlike most, I did get wiser with age."

"That you did." lightly laughed Anaisha. Anaisha couldn't stay mad for a long time. Even the slightest of efforts or optimism would have her reeling back to her old self. Cheerful, sweet and most importantly, adamant.

They engaged in a buoyant conversation. Rakshita adeptly steered the discussion toward lighthearted and random topics, infusing the room with an air of positivity. Laughter became the medicine for the moment, and their banter, filled with inside jokes and spontaneous humor, succeeded in momentarily dispersing Anaisha's troubles. Eventually, as Rakshita prepared to leave for work, the room held a lighter atmosphere, and Anaisha was left with a heart warmed by the genuine effort of her friend to bring cheer to her day.