Chaotic Relations

Chapter 44

Hi guys! The new chapter is here!

Chapters 45-54 are already uploaded on Scrollstack. If you want, you can check them out. The link is on my profile.

Enjoy reading!

The morning sun cast long shadows across the marble floors of the Agnihotri palace as Ruhanika prepared for what would perhaps be the most difficult conversation of her young life. She stood before her mirror, adjusting the simple yet elegant kurta that Divyank had chosen for her—deep blue with silver embroidery that complemented her heterochromatic eyes.

"Ready, Anika?" Divyank's voice came from behind her as he entered her room.

She turned to face her eldest brother, drawing strength from his unwavering presence. "As ready as I'll ever be, bhaiya."

The secure property where Smita was being held was a modest haveli on the outskirts of Jodhpur, surrounded by high walls and discreet security. As their convoy approached, Ruhanika felt her heartbeat accelerate. This woman had been instrumental in tearing her away from her family thirteen years ago, yet had also risked her life to help her escape just days ago.

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Smita Rajput sat in the simply furnished room, her injured shoulder still bandaged, staring out the barred window at the desert landscape beyond. The sound of approaching footsteps made her turn, and her breath caught when she saw Ruhanika enter, flanked by Divyank and Adhiraj.

"Beta," Smita whispered, rising unsteadily to her feet. "You came."

Ruhanika studied the woman before her—the same person who had played the role of a loving aunt for the brief time she had known her but also someone who had betrayed her family's trust for over a decade.

"Sit down, Smita Aunty," Ruhanika said, her voice neither warm nor cold, simply factual. "We need to talk."

Adhiraj and Divyank positioned themselves near the door, close enough to intervene if necessary but far enough to give the conversation privacy.

"I know you hate me," Smita began, tears already forming in her eyes. "And you have every right to. What I did was unforgivable."

"Tell me why," Ruhanika interrupted, taking a seat across from her. "I need to understand. Was any of it real? The love you showed me when I first came to your house? The way you helped me adjust?"

Smita's composure cracked completely. "Haan, beta. Bilkul sach tha." Yes, child. It was absolutely true. "When I saw you again after thirteen years, saw how much you had suffered, how alone you had felt... my heart broke. You were supposed to live like a princess, not like an unwanted burden."

"But not enough to stop you from supporting Mahendra's plans," Ruhanika observed.

"I was trapped," Smita sobbed. "Maine socha tha ki main tumhe bachaa sakti hun, tumhare saath rehkar." I thought I could protect you by staying close to you. "But Mahendra... he threatened to expose everything if I didn't cooperate. He said he would ruin Jai and my boys."

Ruhanika felt a pang of sympathy but forced herself to remain objective. "So you chose to protect them at my expense. Again."

The accusation hung heavy in the air. Smita had no defense, no justification that could erase thirteen years of a stolen childhood.

"I tried to make it right at the end," Smita whispered. "When I saw what he really planned to do to you, I couldn't—"

"I know," Ruhanika cut her off. "And that's the only reason you're sitting here having this conversation instead of..." She left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear.