Whisper of the Night

Chapter 27 : Healing the Wounds of Time

Kaira's POV

The aroma of freshly baked cake filled the kitchen, a sweet distraction from the knots twisting in my stomach. I carefully applied the final touches, smoothing the frosting with meticulous precision. This cake wasn't just a dessert; it was a symbol of the bridge I was trying to build between Rishav and Meera's parents. I took a deep breath, steadying myself for the challenge ahead.

"Everything will be alright," I whispered to myself, more as a mantra than a certainty.

I arrived at Meera's parents' house, cake in hand. Meera's mother greeted me warmly, but her father remained distant, his eyes clouded with unresolved grief.

"We're celebrating your anniversary today," I announced, trying to infuse some cheer into my voice.

Meera's mother smiled softly, her eyes misty. "Thank you, Kaira. It's very thoughtful of you."

As we gathered around the table, I could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. I decided it was time to reveal the truth.

"I have something to tell you both," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "I'm not actually Meera's friend. I'm Rishav's girlfriend."

Meera's father's face turned stony, his jaw tightening. "Rishav's girlfriend? How dare you come here under false pretenses!" he shouted, his voice echoing with years of pent-up anger. "He claimed to love Meera, and then moved on so easily?"

"No, it's not like that," I pleaded. "Rishav still loves Meera. He hasn't moved on. There's a room in his house, filled with her photos. No one is allowed in there, not even me."

I showed them the video of the room, every inch covered with memories of Meera. Meera's mother gasped, tears streaming down her face. Her father's anger slowly melted into a deep, aching sadness.

"He... he never forgot her?" Meera's mother whispered.

"No," I replied softly. "He hasn't."

Meera's father looked at me, his eyes softening. "There are many seats empty here. If you want, you can call anyone close to you."

I took a deep breath and called Rishav, my heart pounding. "Rishav, can you come to Meera's parents' house? It's important."

There was a pause on the other end. "Kaira, what's going on?" he asked, his voice edged with confusion and concern.

"Just trust me. Please," I implored.

When Rishav arrived, his face was a mask of mixed emotions. This house held so many painful memories for him. He walked in, his steps hesitant, as if the weight of the past was pulling him back.

As he sat down, he avoided looking at Meera's father. "I... I never stopped loving Meera," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She told me her parents couldn't live without her for more than three months. We thought we would come back with a wedding invitation. But... that accident..."

His voice broke, and for the first time, I saw tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm so sorry for everything."

Meera's father looked at him, the anger gone, replaced by a sorrowful understanding. "I blamed you for her death," he said, his voice trembling. "But it wasn't your fault. I see that now."

Rishav nodded, struggling to hold back his tears. "Thank you for understanding. It means more than you know."

After a long, emotional conversation, it felt like a weight had been lifted. Meera's parents seemed to find some solace in knowing Rishav had never forgotten her. As we left, Rishav was silent, his eyes reflecting the turmoil inside him.

On the drive back to his house, the silence was heavy. I reached over and took his hand, offering silent support.

Rishav's POV

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I moved through the house, trying to focus on anything but the growing unease in my chest. Kaira had been distant lately, her usual cheerfulness replaced by a contemplative silence. I could sense something weighing on her, but she kept it to herself, leaving me to grapple with my own worries.

I buried myself in work, attempting to maintain a facade of normalcy while my mind raced with thoughts of the past and the challenges ahead. The reality of Kaira's questions and the shadows of my past loomed large, and I knew I had to be ready for whatever came next.

The call from Kaira came unexpectedly, pulling me from my thoughts. "Rishav, can you come to Meera's parents' house? It's important," she said, her voice steady but urgent.

"Kaira, what's going on?" I asked, a mix of confusion and concern flooding my mind.

"Just trust me. Please," she implored, her words tugging at my heart.

When I arrived at Meera's parents' house, a wave of emotions crashed over me. This place held so many painful memories, and stepping inside felt like opening old wounds. As I walked in, my steps hesitant, I could feel the weight of the past pulling me back.

I sat down, avoiding eye contact with Meera's father. The silence was suffocating, the tension in the air palpable.

"I... I never stopped loving Meera," I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "She told me her parents couldn't live without her for more than three months. We thought we would come back with a wedding invitation. But... that accident..."

My voice broke, tears welling up in my eyes. "I'm so sorry for everything."

Meera's father looked at me, his anger melting into a sorrowful understanding. "I blamed you for her death," he said, his voice trembling. "But it wasn't your fault. I see that now."

I nodded, struggling to hold back my tears. "Thank you for understanding. It means more than you know."

The conversation was long and emotional, each word a step towards healing the wounds that had festered for so long. Meera's parents seemed to find some solace in knowing I had never forgotten her. As we left, I felt a strange mix of relief and sorrow.

The drive back was silent, the weight of the past still heavy on my shoulders. Kaira reached over and took my hand, offering silent support.

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