Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh (Completed)

Chapter 108 Emotions

Manvi, overhearing the conversation, quickly approached. Her steps were calm, though her heart ached with the heaviness of the moment. Gently, she placed a hand on Aarav's arm and addressed the inspector. "Inspector, Aaravji Maya ka antim sanskar karenge... aap formalities puri kijiye," she said firmly but with a compassionate grace, her eyes reflecting a quiet strength.

The inspector nodded, thankful for Manvi's understanding and practicality. He gave a respectful salute and walked away to handle the remaining formalities.

Aarav turned to Manvi, his eyes wide with incredulity and frustration. His voice trembled as he struggled to comprehend her stance. "Kis mitti ki bani ho tum, Manvi?" His words were raw, filled with disbelief and the lingering bitterness of betrayal. "Us aurat ne itna sab kiya, phir bhi tum chahti ho ki main uska antim sanskar karun?"

Manvi stood firm, her gaze soft but unwavering, meeting his turmoil with a calm born from the depths of her own suffering. She knew the weight of her words and the pain they would stir in Aarav's heart, yet her voice remained steady, gentle, yet resolute.

"Haan, Aaravji," she began, her tone measured, each word laced with the quiet wisdom that had carried her through countless storms. "Maya jaise bhi thi, par usne hamari beti ko janam diya hai. Rishta toh uska aapse tha... aur ab wo jaa chuki hai." Her voice was like a balm, soothing in its clarity and compassion, yet firm with a sense of duty that transcended personal pain. Her words hung in the air between them, fragile yet undeniable, a truth that could not be ignored.

Aarav's jaw clenched as he listened, his chest heaving slightly with the force of his emotions. He could feel the tug of her reasoning, but the wounds Maya had inflicted were deep, still festering with unresolved anger and sorrow. Manvi's calm, however, seemed to cut through that storm, gently pulling him toward a place of reluctant understanding.

Manvi stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his, her voice carrying the same quiet strength. "Hamara farz banta hai ki hum uska antim sanskar karke use mukti de, aur prarthna karein ki agle janam mein wo yeh sab na kare."

Her words, simple yet profound, struck a chord within Aarav. He could see in her eyes the essence of what made her who she was—the grace, the compassion, the innate ability to rise above bitterness. She wasn't asking for forgiveness for Maya, but for closure. For the release of the past, and for peace.

Aarav sighed deeply, the weight of her request settling into his bones. His hands clenched into fists as he struggled against the tide of emotions that threatened to drown him. The memories of betrayal, of hurt, of the battles fought against Maya raged within him, yet the unshakable love and understanding in Manvi's gaze began to soften that rage.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his shoulders slumping as the anger slowly ebbed away, replaced by a heavy, exhausted resignation. His eyes, filled with a storm of emotions, flickered with something softer—perhaps acceptance. After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally nodded, his voice thick with grief.

"Thik hai... sirf tumhare liye main karunga."

His words, though begrudging, were a surrender to the love and wisdom that Manvi had shown him time and time again. It wasn't just about Maya—it was about letting go, about finding a way to close the chapter that had haunted them for so long.

As they stood there, the air heavy with the remnants of their shared sorrow, Aarav knew that this final act, though painful, was necessary. It was a step toward healing, a gesture of release not only for Maya, but for themselves. For their family. For the future that still lay ahead, scarred but not broken.

Maya's body was brought to the Malhotra mansion, draped in white, a haunting contrast to the life she once lived. The atmosphere was heavy, laden with the quiet murmurs of mourners and the soft rustling of the wind. Aarav stood at the threshold, staring at her still, lifeless form as she was placed gently on the floor for the final rituals. For a long moment, he remained motionless, his heart pounding in his chest, fighting the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to tear him apart.