Not My Little Sister

Chapter 54: The Lost Ring

Nithin rubbed his temples wearily, his gaze fixed on his sister sitting across from him. A wave of shame and regret washed over him.

He saw now the depth of his sister's struggles, the desperation that drove her to such drastic measures.

Regret flooded his heart as he acknowledged that he had failed her when she needed him the most.

He yearned to go back, to be tested as a match for his nephew, to offer his support and protection as a brother should. What if his nephew had not made it? Would he have ever been able to forgive himself?

For years, Nithin had carried the burden of feeling abandoned by those he loved—his sister, Mohan, Vinaya.

But now, as he sat face to face with Lakshmi, the truth of their shared pain and fractured relationships laid bare before him, he wondered if perhaps he was the one who abandoned her and Vinaya. He questioned his own worthiness of the love and forgiveness they had extended to him.

"I'm so sorry, chechi," Nithin's voice trembled with sincerity as he sought his sister's forgiveness.

Lakshmi, filled with compassion and understanding, extended her hand and gently rubbed his forearm, offering a soothing gesture of reassurance. "It's okay, Nithin. You didn't know. I used to dwell on what-ifs, how I could have changed things to keep you close. But looking back doesn't change our reality. We can only acknowledge our past and move forward," she imparted wisdom born of her own experiences.

"I should have trusted you above all else. I should have known that you wouldn't act so selfishly," Nithin shook his head, a wave of regret washing over him. It had been precisely because it was so out of character for her to have left them after stealing from them, that Nithin had felt as much rage towards her as he had done.

"It's okay, we have each other now," Lakshmi reassured him.

The conversation then shifted to Vinaya, "How are things with Vaava kutty? I read all those things they said about her and watched her interview..."

Nithin hesitated, contemplating how much to reveal to his sister. "It's been a bit of a struggle. After four years apart, getting married without truly reconnecting... The love remains, but trust... we're in the process of rebuilding that trust," he confided.

"Why didn't you talk to her for four years?" Lakshmi's asked, not able to understand.

"I wanted our parents' blessing. After what happened with you... I didn't want to hurt them. I wanted to convince them..." Nithin's voice was tinged with regret as he explained the complexities that had kept him from reaching out to Vinaya during those long years of separation.

"But in the meantime, you could have stayed in touch, kept the relationship alive..." Lakshmi probed gently, seeking to unravel the layers of silence and distance that had strained their bond.

"There had been resistance from her brother too. I didn't want her to choose sides, to break the bond she had with her brother. I didn't want her to go through what we did," Nithin confided as he looked pleadingly into Lakshmi's eyes. It felt as though, the part of him that was missing was finally whole.

"I'm sorry, I caused so much complication in your life," Lakshmi's voice carried a note of sorrow as she acknowledged the ripple effects of her own choices on her brother's life.

"No chechi, I would have acted recklessly if it weren't for you. I learned from your mistakes," Nithin reassured her, a sense of gratitude and understanding coloring his words.

Lakshmi chuckled, a lightness in her tone. "Well, I suppose that's one way to guide your little brother."

As the evening unfolded, Vinaya arrived with Nidhi. The conversation shifted, the mundane details of daily life blending with their shared history and healing bonds.