Threads of Destiny

Chapter 32: Home at Last

Maitree and Manasi were traveling in the car, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. Tears threatened to spill from Maitree's eyes as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.

Sonakshi, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Rudra, her fingers tightening around her phone. They had prepared for the possibility that Manasi wasn't Maitree's mother. The tickets were booked—all three of them were supposed to fly out right after the results. But this? This, they weren't prepared for.

Maitree's hands trembled as she typed, "I have a mom." A single tear slipped onto the screen before she hit send.

Sonakshi read the message, her heart pounding. She quickly typed back, "You have a mom."

__________

Manasi opened the door to her house, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She didn't know how to react—what to say or even how to look at Maitree.

Maitree followed her inside, her steps slow and hesitant. Sonakshi stayed right beside her, silent but present. No words were exchanged, no reassurances given.

Without a word, Maitree made her way upstairs, her body moving on instinct while her mind raced. Sonakshi trailed behind but stopped just outside the door as Maitree closed it behind her, shutting herself in.

Downstairs, Rudra shifted uncomfortably before clearing his throat. "Would it be okay if I stayed the night? I can crash on the couch." His voice was calm, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable.

Manasi nodded without uttering a word, her expression unreadable. She turned away, heading toward the kitchen as if searching for something to do, something to ground her in the midst of the storm raging inside her.

Rudra glanced at Sonakshi, who was still standing at the foot of the stairs, staring at Maitree's closed door. He let out a quiet sigh before setting his bag down near the couch. "It's going to be a long night," he muttered.

Sonakshi finally turned to look at him, her face troubled. "Yeah... it is."

____________

Maitree gripped the towel tightly, her breath hitching. The letter. Her father's letter.

She had promised herself—after the DNA test, she would open it. But now, with the truth staring her in the face, she hesitated. What if the test had been wrong? What if the letter held something she wasn't ready to know?

Slowly, she stepped back from the sink, her heart pounding. She turned toward her suitcase, where the letter had been kept safe all this time. Her fingers trembled as she unzipped the pocket, pulling out the envelope addressed "To my Mai" .

Taking a deep breath, she sat on the edge of the bed and carefully slid out the letter from the envelope. Opening the letter her father's handwriting stared back at her, each word holding a weight she wasn't sure she was ready to carry.

But she had to.

With one final, steadying breath, she began to read.

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To My Dearest Mai,

If you are reading this, then I am not there to welcome you home. I am sorry, my darling. No matter how many times I apologize, I know it will never be enough.

My love, I know your mother will find you soon. And when she does, you will be everything I always knew you could be—strong, kind, and extraordinary. Just like your mother.

Maitree let out a soft laugh, wiping a stray tear before continuing.

When Khushi was born, I was filled with joy, and I decided to name her after my mother. But you—the moment I found out you were on your way, I knew you would be just like Manasi—beautiful, smart, and kind. So, I decided right then that you would be named after her mother. But, of course, I let your mother believe it was her idea—one of the many joys of marriage is that the wife is always right.