CROWNED WITH LOVE : A JOURNEY OF TRADITION AND TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 31 : Painful Past

HAPPY READING

Today had been a particularly hectic day at the office for Vihanna. She returned home, but instead of winding down, she remained engrossed in her work on her laptop. She was in the midst of something crucial when suddenly her laptop charger stopped working.

"Shit. Isko bhi abhi hi kharab hona tha," she muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her tone.

She turned to Aadhyant and asked, "Can I use your charger? Mine is not working." He nodded and replied, "Yeah, it's in my cupboard, take it."

As she got up to retrieve the charger, something caught her eye. She peered into the cupboard and, while grabbing the charger, she noticed something familiar. Taking a closer look, she was shocked to see that it was the same painting she had seen at the exhibition.

Carrying the painting with her, she approached Aadhyant and inquired, "What is this doing in your cupboard?"

When he saw she was holding the painting, he closed his eyes, knowing he was caught red-handed, and cursed under his breath, "Shit." He looked around frantically, searching for excuses but found none. "Umm... Well, actually..." he began, but she interrupted firmly, "I am waiting."

He huffed in frustration and finally admitted, "You were not supposed to find it."

She asked, "Why?"

He answered, "I bought it at the exhibition." Hesitantly, he added, "For you. I was going to surprise you on your birthday. When I saw you gazing at this painting, something inside me just clicked. I instantly knew it was important for you. So I went ahead and bought it."

He waited for her reaction, but she gave none, just staring at him. Impatiently, he asked, "Say something."

Finally, she said, "You are crazy. It was expensive." He smiled and replied, "Good thing I'm a prince then."

Her eyes filled with tears, and without saying anything, she just hugged him tightly. His heart raced at her sudden action. Unable to hold back her pain any longer, she began to sob into his chest. He didn't ask her anything; instead, he started rubbing her back slowly, trying to calm her down. In between her sobs, he murmured softly into her ears, "Shhh... It's okay, Anna. I am here for you."

He recognized the weight of her pain, understanding the depth of emotions she harbored within. With a gentle touch, he wiped away her tears, his fingers tenderly cupping her cheeks before he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Scooping her up in his arms, he cradled her with care, lowering her onto the bed with utmost gentleness. As he tucked her under the comforting embrace of the duvet, he settled down beside her, their bodies turned to face each other in the dim light of the room.

Vihanna began, her voice tinged with emotion, "It was my sister. The artist of the painting is my sister. I was adopted when I was six. My birth parents died in a car accident, leaving my sister and me alone in this world. With no relatives left, we were sent to an orphanage. For a year, we were each other's only family. Despite being four years older than me, she cared for me like a mother, and we found happiness together.

After a year, my parents came to the orphanage and adopted only me. I resisted going with them; I didn't want to leave my sister. She begged them not to take me away. I threw tantrums, did everything a seven-year-old could to stay. But it was all in vain, and they took me with them. I still remember her crying at the orphanage gate, screaming my name. She was the only family I had. I don't even remember my birth parents, only her.

I begged my parents to adopt my sister too, and after a week, they finally agreed. When we returned to the orphanage to take her, I learned that she had run away. That was the last day I saw her, the final memory I had of her was her crying out my name at the orphanage gate. I had left her all alone. I was the only one she had. She must have hated me for abandoning her there.

Last year, while I was working at the same orphanage where I spent my childhood, I learned about her. She had become a world-renowned artist. Considering all she had been through, I couldn't imagine how difficult it must have been for her to achieve such success. I am proud of her."

A lone tear escaped her eye. He gently wiped it away with the pad of his thumb and asked, "You didn't try to meet her?"

She shook her head. "No. I don't have the courage to face her. She must hate me for leaving her alone."

He took her in his arms, engulfing her in a comforting embrace. "It was not your fault. You did everything you could to be with her. You are a great sister and an even better human being. I am sure she doesn't hate you. When you meet her, she'll tell you the same," he reassured her.

With those words, he kissed the top of her head, providing the comfort she truly needed.

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