ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

58

This chapter has almost 4000 words and ends with a question so make sure you read till the end ❤️

Target for next chapter: 1400 votes and 750 comments

***Vinod ***

I slowly closed the door of my office and turned back to face Shanthi, who was struggling to hold back her tears.

"Shanthi, sweetheart—" I began, but before I could finish my sentence, she immediately threw her arms around me, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Thank you, Vinnu," she cried against my chest. "Thank you so much! You have no idea how grateful I am for what you did today."

Her voice broke as she looked up at me, eyes shimmering with emotion.

"I... I never thought anyone would ever let me share my ideas with the world," she said, her words tumbling out between sobs. "I never thought my own husband would stand beside me and help me pitch my ideas to the General of the state... It all feels like a dream... it..." She stopped mid-sentence, as if the overwhelming excitement and joy had rendered her speechless.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"I promise," she continued, looking at me with fierce determination. "I won't bother you with anything else again. This is more than enough for me. I will be your ideal wife. I will stop thinking, I will stop everything and—"

"Shanthi, sweetheart," I interrupted gently, placing my hands on her shoulders. "You and I both know that's never going to happen. In your own words, you are incapable of not thinking."

"True," she admitted through her tears. "But I will try, and—"

"You cannot," I cut in. "Not when you now know and have seen your own potential."

She fell silent.

"Every minute I waited outside, I tried my best not to step in," I confessed in a low voice. "I kept telling myself that I would be setting off a chain of events if I openly supported you. But then..."

I paused, gathering my thoughts.

"Then I remembered your words—how you feel like dying every time you have to suppress your ideas. And I knew... I knew you weren't exaggerating because I am familiar with the look in the eyes of someone who wants nothing but to die. I've seen it countless times in the torture room. And to see that same look... to see that same despair in my wife's eyes..." My voice broke. "A part of me died when I saw that."

Shanthi stared at me, still sobbing softly.

"This won't stop," I continued, wiping away my own tears. "I know that. And you know that too. But can we agree to keep it controlled?"

"Yes," she whispered, nodding.

"You can come up with ideas, as many as you want. You can pitch them to the General, and I will support you," I assured her. "But limit it to within the soldiers' compound. The soldiers' compound is a safe haven. The rest of the world is not. Can you do that?"

"Yes," she nodded again.

"Also," I continued, "I will get you books and pens so you can record your ideas in your own script. But don't ask me to teach you the common language. If you know the common language, you will want to read more. And if you read more, you will start having ideas beyond the soldiers' compound. Then, it will be the same story all over again... except this time, I won't be able to protect you. The world will tear us both apart. They will question whether I am 'man enough,' and they will question whether you are 'woman enough.' Can we agree on that?"