Village meets city love

chapter 34:- Reflections of Heartbreak💔

Flashback

After Lavanya left for her parents' village to spend a few days with her family and attend a function, the house felt unusually quiet. Even though Meena and Aarti were still there, a strange silence hung over the home.
Both women went through their daily chores and routines, carefully avoiding any direct confrontation, yet the underlying tension between them was palpable.

Without Lavanya's presence, the usual warmth and laughter were missing, replaced by an unspoken distance that neither Meena nor Aarti dared to cross. The house, once filled with conversations and shared moments, now felt empty and subdued. Their interactions were limited to polite nods and brief exchanges, each woman absorbed in her own world, avoiding any direct mention of the underlying tension.

The day after Lavanya left, Meena and Aarti settled into their routines with a quiet efficiency, each woman lost in her own thoughts. The clatter of utensils in the kitchen, the soft hum of the washing machine, and the faint sounds of the television were the only noises that broke the silence. The house had become a place of muted activity, where the absence of Lavanya’s lively presence was acutely felt.

Meena, who normally found solace in her daily tasks, now performed them with an almost mechanical precision. Her mind wandered frequently, reflecting on the unresolved issues that lingered in the quiet house. Meanwhile, Aarti, equally absorbed in her own concerns, moved through the house with a heavy heart, each sound and movement a reminder of the strained atmosphere between them.

---

It was a Thursday, and Meena left the house earlier than usual to visit the temple, as was her habit. The house seemed even quieter without her presence, and Aarti found herself alone with her thoughts.

As she went about her tasks, Aarti’s phone suddenly rang, startling her. She glanced at the screen and saw her mother’s name flashing. A surge of mixed emotions washed over her—hope, longing, fear. It had been a long time since her mother had called, and Aarti dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, her parents were ready to accept her marriage to Arun.

With a deep breath, Aarti answered the call, forcing a smile even though her eyes were already filling with tears. "Amma?" she said, her voice trembling with anticipation.

But Geetha’s tone was cold and distant. "Meet me at the Perumal temple in half an hour," she said abruptly, without any greeting or warmth. The call ended before Aarti could respond, leaving her staring at the phone in confusion.

Despite the brusque tone, Aarti clung to the hope that her mother wanted to speak with her in person, perhaps to reconcile. She quickly informed her father-in-law, Raghavan, that she was going to the temple. Raghavan gave her an understanding nod, and she sent a quick message to Arun, letting him know where she was headed.

As Aarti entered the temple, her eyes searched desperately for her mother, ignoring everything else around her, including the deity’s statue. She spotted Geetha standing near a less crowded area of the temple, close to a mandapam. Aarti’s heart swelled with the urge to rush to her mother and embrace her, but as she approached, Geetha held up a hand to stop her.

The moment Aarti had longed for—a warm reunion—was shattered by the icy expression on her mother’s face. "I haven’t forgotten anything," Geetha began, her voice laced with disdain. "I’m not here to accept you or your marriage. Don’t act as if things have changed."

Aarti’s heart sank, and she struggled to hold back her tears. "Amma," she began, but Geetha cut her off with a sharp sigh.

"We received a call from your college," Geetha continued, her tone accusatory. "They said you’re planning to discontinue your studies. Is that true?"