The Sisodia heirs stood unrivaled in control and possession, their world a testament to their might. To onlookers, their lives were a manifestation of perfection, with their family and surname commanding respect, prestige, and reputation.
Yet, behi...
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The bathroom door creaks open, and Tarini emerges, her face freshly washed.
"Why are you awake?" she asks Aviraj, who was waiting for her in their bedroom.
Aviraj looks up at her, and stands from the bed. He approaches her, his hand rising to caress her face.
His touch was soothing, and Tarini feels a lump form in her throat, as he asks, "How could I sleep when you were troubled?"
He knew her too well, knew she hadn't been able to sleep, knew she was troubled and had been tossing and turning in bed, unable to shake off the weight of her thoughts and their confrontation.
Tarini wanted to speak, to say a lot, but the words felt heavy, stuck in her throat. She looks at Aviraj, hoping to find the right words. She didn't know how to apologize for lashing out at him, for not understanding his intentions.
"Let's go," Aviraj says, brushing her hair with her hands and reaching out for her.
"Go where?" Tarini's bafflement was evident, and she glances at the clock on the bedside table. It was well past midnight. "At this time?"
"I don't think there's a problem with that." Aviraj's response was unbothered, and he leads her out of the bedroom, leaving her with no choice but to follow.
~
The car glides through the night, and Tarini gazes out the window, her mind wandering back to the evening's events. She recalls the discoveries she had made, their conversation, the hurt and anger poured out of her, and the way Aviraj had dealt with her.
She was aware her outburst had been nuanced, driven by the emotional rollercoaster she was still trying to cope up with. Her anger towards Aviraj for not telling her about his actions didn't entirely make sense, not when she had secrets of her own that she hadn't shared with him.
Memories of the past, her parents, flood in her mind, and she feels a pang of sadness. Secrets — yes, they were her secrets, but not the kind she wanted to hide from him, rather the kind she herself didn't want to confront.
There was a time when she was threatened by the pain and loss. But she had found strength within herself, reshaped her weaknesses, and learned to face the world with courage and confidence.
She was happy in her life now, but despite the healing, a shadow of her former self still lingered—the same shadow had haunted her for being a failure and had became a reason for her outburst today.
The car stops and Aviraj gets out, heading to her side. He opens the door for her, and his call breaks her trance. Tarini realizes that the car had halted, and she steps out with her gaze immediately drawn to her surroundings.
They stood in an open, empty road before a lawn-like space. The place was aglow with fairylights strung overhead, illuminating the darkness with their ethernal glow. The lush greenery surrounded the area, the branches of the towering trees lightly swaying in the breeze, their presence more comforting than ominous.
