ᴍɪʜɪᴛʜᴀ-𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷

chapter 42

              Author's pov

The soft glow of the evening sun bathed the room in a warm, golden light. Mihitha sat by the window, watching the leaves rustle in the gentle breeze, her thoughts heavy yet calm. It had been months since Nila was born, and their lives had begun to fall into a rhythm, a sense of peace settling over the small family. But despite the love that blossomed between them, something still lingered unspoken, unresolved.

Rudhransh had been gentle, patient, and loving in the time since Nila’s birth. He had transformed in ways Mihitha never thought possible. But the scars of their past, the darkness they had endured, still haunted them both. Rudhransh was a man who had inflicted deep pain, both knowingly and unknowingly. And though their hearts had grown closer, forgiveness had yet to be spoken aloud.

Mihitha knew it was time. Time to finally release the weight she had been carrying. Time to offer him the words that would heal them both.

She heard the door creak open behind her and turned to see Rudhransh stepping into the room. He had just come back from checking on Nila, who had fallen asleep after a long day of playful giggles and tiny milestones. His face softened when his eyes met hers, the love in his gaze unmistakable.

“Mihitha,” he said softly, crossing the room to where she sat. “Are you alright?”

Mihitha nodded, though her heart beat a little faster in her chest. She took a deep breath, knowing that what she was about to say would change everything. She gestured for him to sit beside her, and he did, his hand instinctively reaching for hers.

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of unspoken words between them. Rudhransh could sense that something was on her mind, but he didn’t push her. He had learned to give her space, to let her speak when she was ready.

Finally, Mihitha turned to face him, her eyes searching his. “Rudhra,” she began, her voice soft but steady, “there’s something I need to say to you.”

His heart clenched at the seriousness in her tone, but he nodded, urging her to continue.

“I’ve been thinking a lot,” she said, her gaze dropping to their entwined hands. “About us. About everything that’s happened.”

Rudhransh’s jaw tightened, his mind racing with memories of all the pain he had caused her. The betrayal, the cruelty, the heartbreak. He had tried to make amends, to show her the man he could be, but he knew that no amount of love could erase the past.

Mihitha looked up at him again, her eyes soft yet filled with a quiet resolve. “I want you to know that I’ve forgiven you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rudhransh’s breath caught in his throat. For a moment, he wasn’t sure he had heard her right. Forgiven? How could she forgive him after everything he had done?

“Mihitha, I....” he began, but she gently placed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

“I’m not saying it was easy,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “There were days when I didn’t know if I could ever forgive you. Days when the pain felt like it would never go away.” She paused, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “But then I look at Nila. I look at what we have now, what we’ve built together, and I know that holding on to the past will only hurt us more.”

Rudhransh’s heart pounded in his chest as her words washed over him. Forgiveness. It was something he never thought he deserved. The weight of his past actions had been a constant shadow, one that he feared would always stand between them. But here she was, offering him something he had longed for but never dared to ask.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he reached for her hand, clutching it tightly as if afraid she might slip away. “Mihitha,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve you.”

Mihitha shook her head, a small, sad smile playing on her lips. “None of us are perfect, Rudhransh,” she said softly. “We’ve both made mistakes. But forgiveness isn’t about deserving. It’s about letting go, about choosing love over anger, hope over pain.”

Her words pierced through him, and for the first time in a long while, Rudhransh felt the weight on his shoulders begin to lift. He had carried the guilt of his actions for so long that he had forgotten what it felt like to truly breathe.

Mihitha cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs gently wiping away the tears that had begun to fall. “I love you, Rudhransh,” she said, her voice filled with all the tenderness she had held in her heart. “I love the man you’ve become. The father you are to our daughter. I love the way you’ve cared for me, protected me, and shown me that people can change.”

Rudhransh closed his eyes, letting her words sink in. He had always prided himself on being strong, on never letting his emotions rule him. But now, in this moment, he felt utterly vulnerable and he didn’t mind. With Mihitha, vulnerability wasn’t a weakness. It was a gift.

“I love you, too,” he whispered, his voice breaking with the force of his feelings. “More than I ever thought possible.”

For a moment, they sat in silence, their foreheads resting against each other, their breaths mingling in the space between them. There was no need for more words. Everything that needed to be said had been spoken.

After a while, Mihitha shifted slightly, her lips curving into a soft smile. “You know,” she said playfully, “you look pretty cute when you cry.”

Rudhransh chuckled, shaking his head in mock exasperation. “I’m not crying,” he protested, though the evidence of his tears was still fresh on his face.

Mihitha laughed softly, the sound filling the room with warmth. “Sure, you’re not,” she teased, leaning in to kiss the corner of his mouth. “But it’s okay. I kind of like this softer side of you.”

Rudhransh grinned, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time. “Only for you,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.

As they sat there, holding each other, the weight of the past seemed to fade into the background. They had been through so much pain, betrayal, heartbreak but here they were, on the other side, stronger and more united than ever before.

Later that evening, they found themselves lying in bed, Nila sleeping peacefully in her crib beside them. The room was quiet, save for the soft sounds of their breathing and the occasional rustle of the sheets. Mihitha lay nestled against Rudhransh’s chest, her head resting on his shoulder, their hands intertwined.

“I never thought we’d get here,” Mihitha whispered into the darkness, her voice filled with wonder.

“Neither did I,” Rudhransh admitted, his hand gently tracing patterns on her arm. “But I’m glad we did.”

Mihitha tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes shining with love. “I’m glad too,” she whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips.

The kiss was gentle, tender, filled with all the love and forgiveness they had found in each other. It wasn’t a kiss of passion or desire, but one of quiet intimacy, the kind that comes from truly knowing and accepting each other.

As they pulled apart, Rudhransh rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closing as he savored the moment. “I promise you,” he whispered, his voice filled with quiet determination, “I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you and Nila are happy.”

Mihitha smiled, her heart full. “I know,” she whispered back. “I believe you.”

And in that moment, as they held each other close, the weight of the past finally lifted, leaving behind only love, hope, and the promise of a future they would build together.

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To be continued .