Rajas : Passion Unveiled

Chapter 87

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Author's POV

Ishaan and Vidhi's anguished sobs drenched the air. Aradhana sat on the bed, her hand covering her mouth in horror as silent tears flowed down her face. Trilok tried to rein in his tumultuous rage, his hand clutching Aradhana's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, no matter how futile it proved. Shreyansh and Shreya were standing quietly, their faces solemn. But Ishani's eyes were fixed on Ayansh.

She looked into his eyes and for a moment, all the rage in the room narrowed into that single, burning gaze. It wasn't just anger; it was a storm barely contained behind his pupils, fierce and raw, as if he could scorch the world just to undo her pain. But beneath the fire, she saw something else too. Grief and helplessness. 

The fury in his eyes was evident yet hidden. Chaotic yet controlled. It simmered, deep and personal, like he was holding it in with everything he had. For her. Like her pain had become his, and he didn't know where to put it except in clenched fists and a clenched jaw.

Ayansh looked at her. Really looked at her and what he saw unsettled him more than what she had just revealed. She was calm. Too calm. Her voice had barely wavered when she told them. Her eyes had barely watered. She looked like a hollow shell. A void. It was like she had shoved that part of her into the depths of her mind that it was nothing but a shadow a now. A mere whisper.

And it broke his heart. Because it wasn't her strength that he saw. It wasn't the courage that he usually saw. It was surrender. Exhaustion. Resignation . it was like she had just accepted and moved on. Like she had given up on trying to fight that part of her life and accepted that it was a wound she could never heal.

Ishani's gaze drifted down to her brother, crouched on the cold floor before her. His hands trembled as they clutched hers. When he looked up into her vacant eyes, the guilt hit him like a tidal wave. "I'm sorry, Ishu," he sobbed. Ishani swallowed hard.

"I'm sorry, Ishu", he sobbed. Ishani gulped. "I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I'm  sorry I couldn't see your pain. I'm sorry I didn't dig deeper. I'm sorry for not being there for you ,Ishu", each word set a new wave of grief through Ishaan and Vidhi alike. "I failed you, Ishu. I'm sorry for being such a horrible brother. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry...." he wept resting his head on her hands. She did not move. Did not speak. Did not reach out to comfort him. He kept apologizing, spiraling between begging for forgiveness and convincing himself he didn't deserve it. Shreyansh sighed and went towards him. He guided him and Vidhi out of the room.

Once the door shut, Ishani let out a quiet breath and turned towards her in-laws—no, her parents. She rose and sat beside Aradhana on the bed. "It's ok maa. I'm fine now", she said quietly. But Aradhana would hear none of it. She embraced her tightly and held in her tears. "Aru", Trilok tried to get her to calm down while his own eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Aradhana pulled back and looked at her, cupping Ishani's face with trembling hands. Her voice was strong, unwavering.