Faded Ties, Rekindled Hearts

Chapter 14

Down in the living room, Arnav was fuming with anger, his voice sharp as he scolded Aarti. "I want you to leave, Aarti. I don't ever want to see you in this house again," he commanded, his fists clenched in frustration.

Aarti, with tears streaming down her face, fell to her knees. "Bhai, please... I'm sorry! I never meant for any of this to happen. I've apologized so many times. I'll leave, I won't come in front of you again... but please... don't throw Avni out. She's innocent; she did nothing wrong."

Nearby, Avni, trembling in fear, looked at Arnav and Ishita with wide, pleading eyes. "Mama, please... I was just a child when all of this happened. I only did what my mother told me to do. Please, don't throw me out. I like it here with Mami... Please, let me stay."

Tanya stood at the top of the stairs, watching the entire scene unfold. Her chest tightened with a mix of anger and sadness. Wow... she gets to be with Mumma and she's begging to stay? What about me? I spent all these years far away from this house... And now I'm back, but it still feels like I don't belong here.

She bit her lip, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. But I shouldn't think about this. Just two more years... That's it. I'll be free, and I'll leave this place for good.

Downstairs, Ishita's anger bubbled over. She turned toward Avni, her voice cold and firm. "Why did you lie, Avni? Why did you say Tanya pushed you when she didn't? You let us all believe that she was at fault when you knew the truth this entire time."

Avni's face paled, her eyes brimming with guilt. "I-I'm sorry, Mami... I was scared. Mama told me to say those things... I didn't know it would get this bad. Please, don't make me leave."

But Ishita's resolve had hardened. She shook her head, her heart filled with disappointment. "No, Avni. You lied, and because of your lies, my daughter suffered. I cannot allow you to stay here."

Arnav, with a heavy heart, made the final decision. "Both of you—Aarti and Avni—you need to leave now."

Aarti sobbed, clinging to Arnav's feet, but he stepped back. "I've had enough of your excuses. This ends today."

With no other choice, Aarti and Avni tearfully packed their bags. As they left the house, Tanya, still watching from above, couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of vindication and sorrow. She whispered to herself, "So, it ends like this... they're gone. But does it change anything for me?"

She watched them leave, feeling no triumph, only a hollow emptiness.

At the dinner table, Ishita was excited, her heart full of hope as she set out all of Tanya's favorite dishes. She had spent the entire evening cooking, hoping this would be a small step towards mending their fractured relationship. Smiling softly to herself, she called out to a servant, "Please go and call Tanya down for dinner. Tell her I made all her favorite dishes."

The servant nodded and went upstairs to Tanya's room, only to find her sitting on her bed, quietly nibbling on a ready-to-eat snack. The servant hesitated before speaking, "Tanya madam, your mother has prepared dinner for you. She made all your favorite dishes."

Tanya didn't even look up. Her voice was cold and detached as she replied, "Tell her I'm not hungry. I can take care of myself. She doesn't need to worry about me now, especially when this sudden care doesn't sit well with me. It's a little hard to digest."

The servant, feeling uneasy, quietly left and went back downstairs to deliver the message to Ishita and Arnav.

When Ishita heard what Tanya had said, her face fell. Her heart broke a little more as she looked at the untouched dishes she had prepared with so much love and hope. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she swallowed them back. She turned to Arnav, her voice barely above a whisper, "You should eat, Arnav... I'm not hungry."