Forever Entwined [ Slow Updates ]

chapter 18 : unexpected relation

- Author pov:

Everyone gathered at the breakfast table. The air filled with awkwardness. Having Devaansh and Sudesh at the table along with a new member , made the family hesitant and slightly awkward.

Devika sat in between Devaansh and Saanvi. She felt a new connection growing with the people here yet she couldn't deny the awkwardness and weirdness she felt being there.

Shalini sat quietly beside Ahaana while Sudesh was already filling his plate , seated at the head chair.

"Where is Rishi?" Saanvi questioned. Shalini looked hesitant and instead of her Ahaana prompted "did you tell him?"

Shalini nodded, her voice trembling as she said "yes... he didn't say anything after learning about him and just left my room" she looked at Ahaana, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she showed concern for her son .

"He is an adult, don't worry. He'll understand the situation and will come back to his normal self after some time" Sudesh , in his usual firm tone, stated and addressed his son and daughter "Give him your time and support and he'll be okay" his firm and reserved tone masked the concern he had for his nephew.

"I'll go and bring him" Saanvi stood up from her chair and moved to the door but it opened before she could reach and in came Rishi. His soft and funny aura changed into a silent and distant one.

He silently went and sat beside his mother. Giving a glance at Devika, he progressed with filling his plate with breakfast and started eating, making everyone else follow suit.

Once done, Sudesh looked at Rishi , his gaze a little soft which was covered with seriousness a second later. "Rishi?" He asked for his attention

Rishi gave his baday papa a look, filled with pain and unshed tears. Without responding to him , he looked at Devika "I am sorry"

The air felt heavy with tension as the three elders of the family now looked at Rishi with a little confused faces. "Ri-"

He cut his mother off "Devika Vaishya" , his firm tone echoing in the silence of the room. No doubt, the man was studying law and thought about the situation rationally.

Devaansh held Devika's hand under the table, their gazes fixed on Rishi. He spent the night thinking about the same events and the dots clicked but he was still unsure of how to make the ends meet.

The gravity of the unspoken words weighed heavily in the room. Each person looked at Rishi and then at Devika. Their gazes, a mix of shocked and anxious.

Sudesh, recovering from the shock , initiated "Devika Vaishya?.." Comprehension dawned , and with it , a deep sadness.

Devika, taking anxious breaths, nodded. Rishi stood up from his chair , walking to where she was sitting. "I am sorry, Devika. All this time we were searching for who did this to you and we had our suspect but we never mentioned it to you knowing we weren't sure and I... I could never imagine that it could be my own father.... I don't know where he is or even if he is alive or not but..."

He took her hands in his, softly squeezing them "but I'll make sure to protect you..." a few tears rolled down his cheeks. Devika looked down at their hands, her heart beating insanely with tension "I'll make sure to punish him whenever we will find him..." his gaze turned to his brother and Saanvi "I didn't know at first how you both must have felt thinking that your father was included in such a crime but... now I.. I ..."

He couldn't complete it as his voice trembled terribly. His words, leaving a heavy burden on each person present. Saanvi was the first person who hugged him, offering him comfort while rubbing his back tenderly.