Two Brothers: Shadows of Deception

Chapter 32

A Nightmarish Journey to Healing

(Niharika)

"Harika, I know I was not a good mother. I know that I was sometimes more concerned about Ananti and ignored you. I'm sorry for not being there for you always when you were always there for us. Even if you were calling me mother; I always yearned for a baby of our own. And we were blessed with Ananti after a long time of treatments and prayers. I may be biased but I loved you Harika. I never wished anything bad for you. Please trust me. I was not aware of Karan's behavior till you came home after that incident. Please forgive me for being such a bad parent." My mother said, wiping her tears. We were sitting on the sofa, her grip on my hands tight.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to my mother's heartfelt confession. The weight of past grievances suddenly felt lighter, and I could see the genuine remorse in her eyes. "Mom," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion, "I forgive you. I understand that you faced your own struggles, and it's never too late to make things right." I squeezed her hands in return, conveying my acceptance and willingness to move forward.

After I had made the decision to go to Mumbai, I called my sister to inform her. They arrived at our home early in the morning, just before I was about to leave. Ananti's eyes were filled with tears as she tried to be authoritative. "You know that you can come home whenever you want, right? Don't listen to father. It is my home, and you are always welcome there," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

I smiled at her, touched by her offer of solace and support. Nodding my head, I replied, "Thank you, Ananti. Your words mean the world to me. I'll remember that I have a safe haven with you." The bond between us had always been strong, and her reassurance gave me a sense of comfort in the face of the unknown.

Vedant entered the room, interrupting our emotional exchange. He informed us that it was time to leave, indicating that my luggage had already been loaded into the car. Standing up from the sofa, we embraced one another, cherishing these final moments together. I hugged my mother, holding her tightly as tears streamed down our faces. It was a bittersweet farewell, filled with both regret and hope for a better future.

Turning to Kavya, my closest friend, I held back tears as I embraced her. "I will miss you so much," I whispered, my voice trembling. Kavya's eyes mirrored my sadness as she wiped away my tears, her voice filled with determination. "Me too. Remember what I said. I will come and kick his ass if he hurts you," she whispered fiercely, a small smile tugging at her lips. I chuckled through my tears and replied, "Take care of my house, okay?" She smiled back at me, her eyes filled with warmth. "With pleasure," she assured me.

Saying our final goodbyes, Vedant opened the car door for me, and I climbed inside. As he walked around the car and settled into the driver's seat, the engine roared to life. The chauffeur steered us onto the road, embarking on the journey toward my new destination. Sitting in the backseat, a sense of apprehension gripped me. The future lay before me, uncertain and unknown. Insecurities and doubts began to swarm my mind, casting shadows on my resolve.

Feeling overwhelmed, I leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes, hoping to find solace in the darkness. A single tear escaped, rolling down my cheek. But to my surprise, a warm hand gently wiped it away, bringing me back to the present moment. Opening my eyes, I found myself captivated by his deep, black gaze, filled with concern, guilt, and a myriad of emotions I couldn't decipher.

He took a deep breath, his voice breaking the silence. "Can we talk for a moment?" he asked, his words laced with sincerity. Nodding in agreement, I waited for him to continue, my curiosity piqued.

"See, I know you have so many doubts and tensions," he began, his voice tinged with determination. "I know this marriage was not intended to happen. But I am a man who takes his responsibility seriously. When I can be sure that you are safe from those men, I will set you free from this relationship. Or if you find a person whom you can trust with everything you have, even before what I said earlier, I will give you the divorce. But for now, please trust me. Hurting you is not my intention. I know you are not able to trust me because of the stunt I pulled, and I admit it was a shameful act. I'm sorry for that. You don't have to be committed to me. I won't pressure you for any type of relationship. Anyways, I am not good with relationships too. So you are free to live your life. I just want to take responsibility for what I did. I just want you to be free from the mess I created. Till everything gets cleared, let me keep you safe," he said firmly, his gaze unwavering.