Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter-40: When the World Stopped

My Most awaited Chapter .
Ever since I started writing the story, I was waiting for this chapter.
Enjoy....
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The Sharma family sat in the living room, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Inaara sat quietly, her hands clasped in her lap, her face pale but resolute.

She hadn't spoken a word since returning home the previous night.

Mousumi, Inaara's mother, broke the silence, her voice sharp and laden with frustration.

"Why, Inni? Why did you slap him in front of everyone? Don't you understand the consequences of your actions?"

Inaara remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Before anyone could respond, Gayatri, her chachi, chimed in.

"Didi, what are you saying? That minister deserved it for what he did to Avni. But..." she hesitated, glancing at Inaara, "Inaara should have spoken to Atharv first. This wasn't something to handle impulsively."

Mousumi nodded, her frustration growing.

"Exactly! Inni, you're not a child anymore. You're the daughter-in-law of the Rajvansh family. At least think about their reputation before taking such rash decisions."

The words hung heavily in the air, each one like a small dagger stabbing into Inaara's chest.

She wanted to scream, to tell them all that she wasn't wrong, that she was tired of prioritizing the Rajvansh name over what was right.

But she stayed silent, unwilling to defend herself to people who refused to see her side.

The room fell into a tense silence until Sanny, Inaara's elder brother, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly stood up.

His voice was firm and sharp as he said, "Enough."

All eyes turned to him as he continued, his tone brooking no argument.

"You're all so quick to point fingers at Inni for slapping that man, but none of you are talking about how Atharv treated her last night. He dragged her away like she was some...some object. Is that acceptable? Is that how a husband should behave?"

Mousumi opened her mouth to retort, but Sanny raised a hand, silencing her.

"No, Mamma. You can lecture Inni later if you want, but right now, she needs some peace."

Sanny walked over to Inaara, gently taking her hand and helping her to her feet.

"Come, Inni," he said softly, leading her outside.

The air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden.

Sanny guided Inaara to a small bench under the shade of a large tree.

"Sit here for a while," he said, his voice gentle now.

"You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. Not to Mamma, not to Atharv, and not to the Rajvanshs. Just...breathe. You've done enough for everyone else. Now, think about yourself."