Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter-38: Unseen Support & Resisting Control

Anjana sat stiffly on the high-backed chair in her room, her fingers drumming lightly on the polished wooden armrest.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, but her eyes gleamed with cold determination.

Thoughts swirled in her mind like a storm, each one more bitter than the last.

"Atharv was wrong," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with disdain.

"Snatching Trisha's company was one thing, but refusing Prachi's internship in Rajvansh Empire? That was the final straw."

Her gaze darkened as she leaned back in the chair, her smirk curling into something sharp and vindictive.

"And it's all because of her-Inaara." The name dripped from her lips like venom.

"If she weren't here, Atharv would never have turned his back on his family like this." Anjana's smirk deepened.

"But I'll fix that. Inaara will have no choice but to leave her job. Mark my words."

---

Inaara sat cross-legged in her small garden, the evening air crisp and filled with the faint scent of rain-dampened earth.

A cup of steaming tea rested in her hands, its warmth spreading through her fingers as she took a slow, thoughtful sip.

Dobby, her newest companion, lay sprawled at her feet, his floppy ears twitching at every sound.

Inaara's face held a faint smile, but her eyes carried a trace of weariness, a shadow that lingered even in her moments of peace.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the tranquil silence. She glanced at the screen, seeing Avni's name flash.

"Avni," she greeted warmly, placing the cup down beside her and picking up the call.

"Bhabhi, you're coming tomorrow, right? For the get-together Bua is organizing?"

Avni's voice was cheerful, but there was an unmissable hint of expectation behind her words.

Inaara sighed softly, her shoulders sinking slightly.

"I'll come, Avni," she replied, her tone gentle yet resigned.

They chatted for a while, the conversation light but tinged with the familiarity of family obligations.

Once they hung up, Inaara set the phone down and leaned back against the garden chair, her eyes falling to Dobby, who had perked up, his big, expressive eyes fixed on her.

"You know, Dobby," she murmured, her fingers reaching down to scratch behind his ears.

"Tomorrow is another one of those social gatherings." Her voice dropped to a softer, almost wistful tone.

"Another day of judgemental gazes and unsolicited advice."

She sighed again, her fingers pausing as she stared out at the horizon.

"Every day is a new struggle. They see me, but they don't really see me, do they?"

Dobby let out a small whimper, tilting his head as if he understood every word.