Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter 60-Silent Reconciliations

Seven days had passed since Inaara returned to the Sharma house.

The warmth of home, the love of her family-everything had helped her regain a sense of peace.

Yet, a lingering feeling of something unfinished remained at the back of her mind.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen, her fingers pausing mid-air. Atharv.

In these past days, he hadn't called her, and truthfully, she hadn't expected him to.

A part of her had thought he wouldn't, at least not so soon.

But now, seeing his name flashing on her screen, she felt a strange hesitation before finally picking up.

"Inaara... hi," his voice came softly through the receiver, unusually careful. "Are you busy?"

"No," she replied, her tone blank, unreadable.

Silence followed.

She waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

The pause stretched long, almost uncertain.

"Did you call just to stay mute?" she finally asked, her voice laced with impatience.

"No," Atharv responded quickly, fumbling for words.

"Actually... umm... I just wanted to say-whenever you decide to come back, tell me. I'll come and pick you up."

Inaara's brows furrowed. Her grip on the phone tightened slightly.

"Why?" she asked, her voice sharp, laced with a hint of challenge.

"Do you think I forgot the way to the penthouse just because I stayed in Delhi for four months?"

Atharv was quick to respond, his voice firm yet cautious.

"No, it's not like that. I just... I want to apologize to your family. As much as I am your culprit, I am theirs too. I broke their trust as well. So, I want to make amends and, with dignity, bring you back home. If I have done wrong, I should be the one to correct it. So..."

Silence.

Inaara didn't respond immediately.

Her mind processed his words, searching for any hint of pretense, but she found none.

A few seconds later, she finally said, "You can come on Sunday."

The relief in Atharv's voice was evident. "Thank you, Inaara. Good night."

She didn't reply, simply ended the call and placed her phone aside.

Leaning back against the pillow, she closed her eyes.

There was an unexplained softness in his voice tonight-one she couldn't quite figure out.

She knew about his recent decisions. He hadn't posted the written apology she had signed four months ago.