Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter-59: A House of Healing

Women deserve equality in every sphere of life
Let’s celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere.
Happy International Women’s Day!!!

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As Inaara stepped into the Sharma house, a wave of warmth and nostalgia embraced her.

But before she could even take a full breath, she found herself engulfed in a tight embrace.

“Inni!” her chachi, Gayatri, cupped her face, her eyes scanning Inaara’s features with a mix of relief and concern.

“You’re finally here. We were so worried, bachha.”

Her hands trembled slightly as they traced Inaara’s cheeks, as if making sure she was real and not just a figment of her desperate prayers.

Then, in a voice laced with disapproval, she added, “Look at you! You’ve lost weight. Were you even eating properly in Delhi?”

Inaara let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head.

“No, Chachi, I ate sufficiently.”

But her reassurances did little to ease Gayatri’s motherly worry.

She gently pulled away and turned to her chachu, Raman, who had been standing nearby, observing her with misty eyes.

Without hesitation, Inaara stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.

“How is my little Inni?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion as he held her close.

Inaara smiled, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze.

“I’m fine, Chachu. Just missed home.”

She settled onto the familiar sofa, her eyes sweeping across the living room, absorbing the comfort of a place that had always been her sanctuary.

But something felt incomplete.

“Where are Shivi and Ishu?” she asked, expecting them to come running to her like they always did.

Gayatri sighed, “They’re in school, beta. Their exams are going on.”

Inaara nodded, understanding.

The house was quieter than usual.

Yet, even in the stillness, she sensed something heavy lingering in the air. A presence.

A silence that spoke volumes.

Her eyes flickered towards Raghav, her father.

He had been there the whole time—watching, listening—but not saying a single word.

Unlike Gayatri and Raman, he hadn’t moved towards her, hadn’t spoken, hadn’t even met her eyes.

His posture was rigid, his expression unreadable, yet Inaara could see the weight of unsaid words pressing down on his shoulders.

He was holding back. Holding back the emotions that were threatening to spill over.

Inaara’s heart tightened in her chest. She had expected warmth, she had expected concern, but she hadn’t expected this silence.