INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

Chapter : 28

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The Sharma residence was eerily quiet, an oppressive silence hanging over the once-grand mansion. Mrs. Sharma sat alone in the living room, staring blankly at the television, the news of her husband's life sentence playing on a continuous loop. Vikram Sharma, once a man of great influence, was now just another criminal, his name forever tarnished. She couldn’t comprehend it, couldn’t process the reality that her husband had been convicted of killing his own brother and sister-in-law.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she fumbled to turn off the TV. She had been crying for days, ever since the trial started, but this—this was too much. Her body felt weak, and her mind swirled with a dizzying mix of disbelief and horror.

The front door creaked open, and her son, Rohan, walked in. He had been on vacation for the last few days, unaware of the magnitude of what had unfolded while he was away. The relaxed smile he had worn faded instantly when he saw his mother’s tear-streaked face and the dark circles under her eyes.

"Mom?" Rohan's voice wavered, his usual confident tone replaced with uncertainty. "What happened? What's going on?"

Mrs. Sharma tried to speak, but no words came out. She simply handed him the newspaper, her hand trembling. Rohan took it, his brows furrowed as he scanned the front page. His expression quickly shifted from confusion to shock as the words registered.

“Vikram Sharma sentenced to life imprisonment for murder…”

Rohan’s hands shook as he read further, each word a dagger to his heart. His breath quickened, and he dropped the paper onto the floor.

“What… what is this? Mom, what’s happening?” His voice broke, panic creeping in.

Mrs. Sharma let out a sob, her face contorted with grief. “Your father… he killed them. He killed Ananya’s parents for money… And now he’s… gone.”

Rohan stumbled back, his knees nearly giving out. The room spun around him as the gravity of the situation sank in. His father, the man he had looked up to, was nothing but a murderer. The weight of the betrayal was suffocating, leaving him gasping for air.

*****

At Mehra Manor, the atmosphere was tense as the family gathered around, discussing the shocking events. Raj Mehra had just read the news aloud, his voice steady but his hands clenched tightly around the phone. Priya sat beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder for support. Mr. and Mrs. Mehra were huddled together on the couch, exchanging glances filled with disbelief.

“I can’t believe it,” Priya muttered, shaking her head. “Vikram Sharma… a murderer. How could anyone do something like that? To their own family…”

Raj let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in his chair. “It’s beyond comprehension. But at least justice has been served. Ananya’s parents… they can finally rest in peace.”

Priya, wide-eyed, looked at her in laws. “What about Ananya? Where is she?”

Everyone turned to look for her, realizing she had quietly left the room without a word. They exchanged knowing glances, understanding that Ananya needed time to herself after everything that had transpired. No one made a move to follow her.

*****

Ananya drove through the empty streets, her mind numb from the overwhelming storm of emotions. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but her hands seemed to know the way. Soon, she found herself in front of an old bungalow—a place she hadn’t been to in years.

The bungalow was untouched by time, still as she remembered it. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by the scent of old wood and dust, though the house was not dirty. It was almost as if it had been waiting for her.

Ananya walked to the center of the living room, the familiar warmth of the space washing over her. She could almost hear the faint laughter of her parents, feel their presence surrounding her. It was too much.

Her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor, sobs breaking free from her chest. For the first time in her life, Ananya allowed herself to cry. She cried for her parents, for the injustice they had faced, for the years of loneliness she had endured, and for the relief that finally, after all this time, justice had been served.

Her cries echoed through the small house, filling every corner with her grief. The dam of emotions she had held back for so long burst open, and she sobbed harder with each passing second. She cried for hours, her tears soaking into the cold floor beneath her, her body trembling from the weight of it all.

Her sobs eventually quieted, her body too weak to continue. Exhaustion took over, and Ananya collapsed, her mind finally shutting down from the sheer emotional and physical strain.

*****

Hours later, when she awoke, the sun had set, and the world outside was dark. Her eyes felt heavy, swollen from crying, but the weight in her chest had lifted ever so slightly. Ananya slowly got to her feet, her body sore and weak, and made her way back to her car.

When she returned to Mehra Manor, the house was quiet. The atmosphere was quiet and everyone had retired for the night. She moved through the hallways like a ghost, her footsteps silent as she made her way to her and Rihaan’s room.

Rihaan was already there, sitting on the bed, looking at the time in worry. His face lit up when he saw Ananya, but as soon as he noticed the serious look in her eyes, his expression worried.

“Ananya?” he said in concern, sensing something was wrong.

Ananya didn’t say a word. She simply walked over to him and sat down beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. Rihaan, though confused, instinctively wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

“It’s okay, Ananya,” he murmured, his voice full of innocent sincerity. “Everything will be okay.”

Ananya closed her eyes, letting his warmth comfort her. She hugged him tightly, hiding her face in his chest as tears threatened to fall again. But this time, the tears were different—not of sorrow or pain, but of gratitude for the simple, pure love that Rihaan gave her without hesitation.

They stayed like that for what felt like hours, Rihaan whispering soft, comforting words to her, even though he didn’t fully understand why she was sad. Ananya didn’t need him to understand. She just needed him to be there, and he was.

Eventually, they lay down, still wrapped in each other’s embrace. Rihaan held her close, his grip tightening protectively. Ananya buried her face in his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. The warmth of his embrace eased the lingering ache in her heart, and slowly, they both drifted into sleep, holding each other through the quiet night.

No confessions were made, no words of love exchanged, but in that moment, Ananya knew—this was where she belonged.

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