INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

Chapter : 17

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Ananya entered the grand foyer of the Mehra manor, her heels clicking against the marble floor with a rhythm that matched the frustration simmering inside her. The events of the day played on a loop in her mind, amplifying her already miserable mood. As if the confrontation with her father and Dhiraj Khurana wasn’t enough, the gnawing pain of her period cramps made every step feel like a challenge. All she wanted was to collapse into bed and forget the world existed.

The warm, familiar scent of home greeted her, and as she rounded the corner into the living room, she paused. Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Mehra, was standing with her arms crossed, a stern expression on her face as she chastised her husband.

"Raghav, you can't just leave your shoes lying around like that! How many times do I have to tell you?" Mrs. Mehra's voice carried the kind of mock severity that only years of marriage could temper.

Mr. Mehra, with his usual sheepish grin, shrugged and muttered something about forgetting, which only earned him a playful swat on the arm. Ananya, despite her foul mood, felt a small smile tug at her lips. Their relationship was the kind of old-fashioned love she had always admired—filled with bickering, teasing, but also an undeniable warmth that permeated everything they did.

As if sensing her presence, Mrs. Mehra turned, her expression softening when she saw Ananya. "Oh, Ananya, you're home. How was your day?"

Ananya’s smile faltered slightly, the weight of the day pressing down on her. "It was... long," she replied, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. "But it's good to be home."

Mrs. Mehra nodded sympathetically. "Why don't you have some dinner? It might help."

Ananya shook her head gently. "I’m not hungry right now, Ma. I think I’ll just head up to my room."

"Alright, dear," Mrs. Mehra said, her eyes full of understanding. "But if you change your mind, there's some fresh soup in the kitchen."

Ananya nodded her thanks and made her way upstairs, her steps growing heavier with each passing moment. By the time she reached the door to her and Rihaan's room, the cramps had worsened, and she could feel her patience wearing thin. All she wanted was to curl up in bed and sleep.

She pushed open the door and was greeted by a sight that momentarily made her forget her discomfort. Rihaan was sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by his soft toys, his favorite one—Boba—clutched in his hands. He was deep in conversation with the plush toy, his voice animated and full of enthusiasm.

"...And then Anya came to pick me up, Boba. She was busy, but she always makes time for me. Isn’t she the best?"

Ananya leaned against the doorframe, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips. There was something so endearing about the way Rihaan interacted with his toys, his childlike innocence a stark contrast to the harshness of the world outside. For a moment, her frustrations faded, replaced by a tender affection for the man she had married.

She didn't want to disturb him, so she quietly slipped into the room, making her way to the wardrobe to change out of her work clothes. Rihaan was too engrossed in his conversation with Boba to notice her, and she was grateful for the brief moment of solitude as she pulled on a pair of comfortable pajamas.

Once she had changed, Ananya turned to see Rihaan still chattering away, his face lit up with excitement. She knew he had been to the amusement park today, and she could already sense how eager he was to share his day with her. But right now, all she wanted was to lie down and escape the pain throbbing in her lower abdomen.