INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

Chapter : 14

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The night was quiet, the soft hum of crickets the only sound that filled the air. Ananya sat on the balcony, her legs curled up beneath her on the cushioned chair. The sky above was a vast expanse of dark velvet, dotted with countless stars that twinkled like diamonds. The sight had always brought her comfort, a sense of calm that was hard to find in her busy life.

She had spent many nights like this, sitting alone under the stars, letting her thoughts drift with the gentle breeze. But tonight, there was a restlessness inside her that she couldn't quite shake. It gnawed at her, an unease that seemed to come from nowhere, yet refused to leave her alone.

Behind her, through the open balcony door, Rihaan slept soundly in their bed. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his face peaceful and innocent in sleep. Ananya glanced back at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. Seeing him so at ease usually put her own mind at rest, but tonight, even that wasn't enough.

She turned her gaze back to the sky, hoping the familiar sight would bring her some peace. But the stars, beautiful as they were, couldn't quiet the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. She couldn't pinpoint the source of her anxiety, but it was there, lurking just beneath the surface.

The night stretched on, and she considered going back inside, maybe lying down next to Rihaan in hopes that his presence would soothe her. But just as she was about to move, her phone, which had been resting on the small table beside her, vibrated. The sudden sound made her jump slightly, breaking the stillness of the night.

She frowned, wondering who could be calling at this hour. Most people knew not to disturb her this late, especially since she valued the rare moments of peace she got in her hectic life. But when she picked up the phone and saw the name on the screen, her frown deepened.

Mr. Sharma. Her father.

Ananya stared at the name for a moment, her heart giving a small, involuntary jolt. It wasn't fear or concern that she felt, but something more complex-something she had long since buried. Her relationship with her father had always been strained, distant. He had never been the warm, loving figure most people associated with fatherhood. To him, she had always been an afterthought, something to be managed rather than cherished.

She sighed, resigning herself to whatever this call would bring. It was rare for him to contact her directly, and when he did, it was never good. She had learned long ago to keep her expectations low when it came to him.

With a steadying breath, she answered the call. "Hello, Mr. Sharma," she greeted him, her voice formal and devoid of emotion.

There was a brief pause on the other end, as if he was deciding how to approach the conversation. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp, completely ignoring her greeting. "Ananya," he said, the name sounding more like an accusation than a greeting. "Why did you fire Shivya?"

Ananya's grip tightened around the phone, her jaw clenching slightly. Of course. This was about Shivya Khurana, the spoiled daughter of Dhiraj Khurana, a businessman her father had been desperate to keep in good standing with. She had expected this call ever since she made the decision to terminate Shivya's employment, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with.

Shivya had been a nightmare from the moment she was hired. Ananya had only given her the job because of the pressure from her father, who insisted it was a necessary move to keep Dhiraj Khurana's favor. But Shivya had proven to be utterly incompetent, more interested in using her father's name and money than actually doing any real work. Ananya had tolerated it for as long as she could, but when Shivya attempted to sexually harass Rihaan, she had crossed a line that Ananya couldn't ignore.