INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

Chapter : 30

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Ananya sat at her desk, the room filled with quiet as she sifted through the files on her table. Her office was immaculate, a reflection of her disciplined nature. Across from her, Rihaan was munching on snacks, lost in his own world. His childlike demeanor brought a calmness to the room that she had come to cherish. After all the chaos of the past few days, these peaceful moments were a much-needed reprieve.

"Anya, can I have more chips?" Rihaan asked, holding up the empty packet with a hopeful grin.

Ananya glanced up from her work, her lips curving into a small smile. "Of course, Rihaan. Let me ask Dev to bring more."

Just as she reached for her phone to call Dev, the door to her office burst open. Mrs. Sharma and Rahul strode in, their faces pale and desperate. Dev tried to stop them, his voice stern. “Ma’am, they insisted on coming in. I tried—"

“It’s alright, Dev,” Ananya interrupted, raising a hand to calm him. “I’ll handle this. You can go.”

Dev hesitated for a moment but then nodded and left, closing the door behind him. The room was thick with tension as Mrs. Sharma and Rahul stood before Ananya’s desk, their eyes pleading, their bodies stiff with anxiety.

Mrs. Sharma was the first to speak, her voice shaky, as if she had been rehearsing her words but was unsure of how to deliver them. “Ananya... Please... We’re sorry. We never meant for any of this to happen. You have to understand—things spiraled out of control.”

Rahul stood beside her, his expression more closed off, but his discomfort was evident in the way he clenched his fists. “Please, Ananya. Our accounts have been seized. We’ve lost everything. We have no way to survive. We... we’re begging you to help us.”

The desperation in their voices was palpable, but Ananya remained calm, her face unreadable. She watched them silently, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk as she considered their words. For a moment, she said nothing, allowing the weight of the situation to sink in for both of them.

Rihaan, who had been watching the scene unfold with wide, curious eyes, looked up at Ananya. His confusion was evident. “Anya, who are they?” he asked innocently, his voice breaking the tension in the room.

Ananya turned her gaze to Rihaan, her expression softening immediately. "They are my... ," she said, she turned her gaze to them. “ ... servant, They take care of my manor.”

Rihaan nodded thoughtfully, though it was clear he didn’t fully understand. “What are they doing here then?”

“They want money from me,” Ananya explained, her voice patient. “As a way to help them. They don’t earn anything on their own.”

Rihaan tilted his head, considering this for a moment. “You should help them,” he said earnestly, his voice filled with that innocent compassion that always touched Ananya’s heart.

She looked at him for a long moment, her eyes softening as she leaned towards him. “Should I?” she asked, her tone light but probing, wanting to hear his honest thoughts.

Rihaan nodded again, more emphatically this time. “Yes, Anya. You’re always so kind. You should help them. Then they won’t have to worry.”

Ananya turned her gaze back to Mrs. Sharma and Rahul, who were watching the exchange with wide eyes. For the first time since entering the room, a flicker of hope crossed Mrs. Sharma’s face. Rahul remained tense, but there was a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes now. They were hanging on her every word, waiting for her decision.

Ananya’s eyes hardened slightly as she looked back at them. She wasn’t cruel, but she wasn’t going to let them off easily either. She called out to the doorway, her voice clear and commanding. “Dev.”

Within seconds, Dev reappeared, his usual efficiency making the atmosphere in the room even more tense. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Bring the papers,” Ananya said, her gaze never leaving the Sharma family.

Dev disappeared for a brief moment and returned with a stack of papers in his hands. He placed them neatly on Ananya’s desk before stepping back, his presence silent but steady. Ananya calmly signed the documents, her movements measured and deliberate. When she finished, she slid the papers across the desk toward Mrs. Sharma and Rahul.

“These are the deeds to Sharma Manor,” Ananya said, her voice cold but controlled. “I’m giving it to you. Take care of it, and of yourselves.”

Mrs. Sharma gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as she reached for the papers, her hands trembling. “Th-thank you, Ananya. I... I don’t know what to say...”

Rahul, though more composed, exhaled a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” he muttered, though his voice lacked the genuine emotion his mother displayed.

Ananya, however, didn’t acknowledge their gratitude. Her gaze remained fixed on them, cold and unrelenting. “I hope you’ll live your life without interfering in mine from now on,” she said, her voice dangerously calm. “Or you know what will happen. I trust you’re not like your husband.”

Mrs. Sharma flinched at the mention of her husband, her face paling even more. She nodded quickly, her head bobbing up and down as if the movement alone would save her from any further wrath.

“Of course,” Mrs. Sharma stammered. “We... we’ll stay away. We won’t bother you anymore.”

Ananya’s eyes narrowed for a split second before she gave a slight nod. “Good. Now leave.”

The words were a dismissal, and both Mrs. Sharma and Rahul knew better than to linger. They clutched the papers tightly and hurried out of the room, not daring to look back. Dev, ever attentive, held the door open for them, watching with an impassive expression as they scurried out like frightened mice.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, the tension in the room evaporated. Ananya exhaled slowly, her gaze softening once again as she turned back to Rihaan, who had been watching the whole thing with wide, curious eyes.

“They seemed really sad,” Rihaan remarked, his voice quiet and thoughtful.

Ananya smiled gently at him. “Yes, they were.”

“Do you think they’ll be okay now?” he asked, tilting his head.

Ananya nodded, her heart warmed by his concern. “They will be. But sometimes, people need to learn from their mistakes before they can truly be okay.”

Rihaan considered her words for a moment before nodding as if he understood. He then reached for the bag of chips on the table, holding it out to Ananya with a grin. “Want some?”

Ananya chuckled softly, shaking her head. “No, thank you. You enjoy.”

Rihaan smiled and happily dug into his snack, the lightheartedness of his actions bringing a sense of peace back into the room. Ananya watched him fondly, her heart swelling with affection.

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